Annual General Meetings Report
September 14, 2005
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Members
of the Ashram community gathered for the 2005 Annual General
Meeting on August 11 and 12. This year’s theme of
devotion was apparent throughout the presentations, discussions
and meetings. It has been 10 years since the passing of
Swami Radha, and so the focus of our meeting was to look
at where we’ve come from, what we’ve accomplished,
and where we want to be ten years from now.
Present were directors and members of Yasodhara Ashram Society
(YAS), Friends of Radha Foundation (FRF) and Association
for the Development of Human Potential (ADHP). Publishers
and Editors from Timeless and ascent, the publishing branches
of Swami Radha’s work, were at the meeting along with
a large group of yoga teachers who were back for re-certification
and renewal. The AGM was inspiring and meaningful for all
who attended. |
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Opening
Remarks—Swami Radhananda
Swami Radhananda, President of Yasodhara Ashram, welcomed
everyone to the meeting. She said that our chanting sounded
like bees flying to the centre of the flower where they gather
and stay and buzz excitedly. Some, she said, fly in buzz
around then fly away.
Ten years since Swami Radha’s passing have given people
the opportunity to evolve. Have we evolved? The answer is
yes. Teacher training is a good example—evolution happens
through change and the teacher training gives people the
opportunity to try out different approaches. Learning creates
both the teachers and the teachings. We have a space that
allows that. It holds us all: beginners, elders, children,
Young Adult, new teachers, experienced teachers.
The Ashram is where you come for the nectar of the teachings,
which is presented in so many different ways. We have a relationship
with the divine and an ability to see the divine in each
other. We need that space where we can centre ourselves again,
revitalize, refresh, just like the lotus that need the Light.
We’re that, too. We need the Light and need to keep
imagining it. Light is the basis of all our workshops.
What is being asked of us? The flowers are so generous. Bees
go straight to the flower where they pick up the nectar.
Then they give back. We have to continue to find ways to
be generous, to each other and to the people who come from
far away. Our responsibility is to take what we have and
translate it into our lives. That is where the real teaching
happens.
Even though the meeting looks like something else with all
the business reports, we’re coming together to say
that we are all Light. We keep the teachings pure by bringing
them deeper into ourselves, by doing the practices. On one
level, our business is the books, the magazine, the Ashram,
the centres. Our real business is making the teachings known.
So make use of your time here. Connect with each other and
the Light, and take space that is here for you. We’re
here to see what will be evolving over the next ten years.
Our teachings are simple: life, Light and giving back.
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Swami
Radhananda - President of Yasodhara Ashram |
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YAS
Treasurer’s Report for Fiscal 2005—Swami
Gopalananda
The Ashram Society finished the year in good financial shape
having most of its obligations from our operations and fundraising
income. A small amount was drawn from savings to finish the
year. Considering all that we do, this is a remarkable outcome.
Here’s a list of our fiscal commitments:
• teaching courses and guest accommodation
• support for our teachers through
summer teacher training retreats (2 weeks for the price of
1)
• a physical infrastructure that includes
16 buildings, 4 vehicles, a tractor, a waste disposal system,
a water delivery system for irrigation and consumption, heating
systems, a fully equipped woodworking and mechanical shop
for maintenance, construction and repair etc. In other words,
a small village.
• feeding and housing over 900 people
last year including 162 young adults participating in our Young Adult
program
• a bookstore
• a large organic garden and orchard
• an organically based kitchen operation
with professional cook
• an active, energetic intern program
which on average employs 15 to 20 young people a year…
• continuing support for a seniors
program
• our commitment to the continuing
growth of timeless and ascent
In last year’s Treasurer report, I said that our focus
for fiscal 2005 was to be on “…strengthening
the foundation and planning for the future, which means preparing
the ground for the next generation.” This is what we
have been doing and will continue to do. By developing housing
and residential accommodation alternatives, by steering ascent
and timeless through major changes, and by continuing to
support young people and their desire to be actively engaged
in Swami Radha’s work and teachings, we are strengthening
the foundation for the next generation. We are also committed
to maintaining a place for seniors in the Ashram.
An important new project to expand and improve our accommodations
is underway in the Ashram. What started as a renovation to
the shop at Buddha Loka has now become a major new construction
of the barn and former chicken house into enough rooms to
accommodate up to 34 people with classroom space as well.
Estimated project cost is $350 thousand including a geothermal
heat installation plus a waste disposal upgrade to accommodate
the increasing number of people coming to the Ashram.
All of this growth points to the fact that we need financial
help to keep it going. The foundation is strong, and it’s
clear that we’re growing in our service to many more
people. But it is now time for those who are committed to
Swami Radha’s work to help with the costs of building
a strong foundation for the next generation. That is our
work and our focus for the next decade |
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Swami
Gopalananda |
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Clair,
Leonie, Cyra, Sarah and Oliver. Some of this
summer's Young Adult interns. |
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The
old barn under constructon. Transforming it
into accommodation space. |
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Timeless
report—Andrew Wedman, publisher and Kendra Ward,
marketing
Last year was a big year for timeless. We offered a new edition
of Kundalini Yoga for
the West, Swami Radha’s collected poetry When
You First Called Me Radha, and The
Devi of Speech, the latest in the small book series.
In the midst of all this production, timeless moved from
the Ashram to a new office in the Parkdale neighbourhood
of Toronto.
Our fundraising campaign for the printing of Kundalini Yoga
for the West, was a great success. From our initial mailing
of 180 letters enthusiastic supporters of Swami Radha’s
work contributed over $60,000. A big thank you to all the
donors. Your support allows timeless to continue publishing
Swami Radha’s teachings.
In 2006, we’ll be releasing Inspired Lives: the best
of real life yoga from ascent magazine edited by Clea McDougall,
the new 20th edition of Hatha Yoga: The Hidden Language,
and Swami Durgananda’s much-anticipated In Durga’s
Embrace. As well we’ll be participating at ‘Word
on the Street,’ an independent literary festival in
Vancouver and Toronto in September, and ‘Yoga in Toronto,’ a
yoga trade show, in March 2006.
Canadian sales have doubled from last year. Our networkers
in Calgary, Vancouver and Ottawa in particular have been
busy, but we’ve also focused on developing relationships
with bookstores in Toronto and outlying areas. Julia Hambleton
will join the timeless team in September to help with the
sales strategy.
The beautiful timeless
2006 catalogue is avaliable. If you would like
to distribute catalogues to yoga studios or bookstores in
your neighbourhood, contact Kendra Ward at kendra@timeless.org |
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Kendra
Ward & Andrew Wedman |
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Inspired
Lives:the best of real life yoga. It'll be
in your bookstore just in time for Christmas! |
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ascent
report—Louise Quinn, publisher and Sarah Truman,
editor
ascent continues
to gain recognition as a unique, high-quality resource
for yoga and spiritual life. McLean’s and Vision
TV have contacted us recently and Sarah Truman was on
CBC Radio twice this spring. People know who we are and
they trust us.
ascent’s circulation numbers keep going up. In 2005,
we exceeded our goal of 10,000 paid active circulation which
is the total of newsstand sales and subscribers; our total
readership is almost twice that number.
Our new publisher, Louise Quinn, will be handling publishing
as well as advertising for the next few months. Ascent’s
editor, Sarah Truman, will move to the Ashram in October
and work from there. |
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ascent's
new publisher - Louise Quinn
and editor Sara Truman |
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Friends
of Radha (FRF) Report—Swami Lalitananda, Faith
Stuart, Deborah Pohorski, Janet Gaston, Carolyn Wong,
Swami Jyotihananda
This has been a time for acknowledging all that has been
established and strengthened over the last decade. We’ve
created a map showing the historical development of the centres
of Swami Radha’s work around the world, from Alberta
and British Columbia to as far away as Japan, Australia,
and now Trinidad. We also reported on the first 8 months
at radha yoga and eatery where events, lunches and outstanding
yoga class participation are changing the face of Radha Yoga
in Vancouver.
Looking to the Future
Just as ascent and timeless are now directed by Ashram young adults,
the FRF plans to open up more opportunities for young people
to step into teaching and help start new centres. We’re
supporting the increasing numbers of young adults who have taken
the 3-month Yoga Development Course (YDC) and want to stay
connected.
We’re also exploring a range of outreach opportunities.
This past year classes were given to youth at-risk, cancer
patients, high school and college students, street workers,
counseling staff, women in shelters and detox centres, businesses
and seniors. Partnering with community agencies and businesses
is increasing. We’ve also found that they are willing
to support some of our fundraising efforts.
Sustaining Teachers
Each year new teachers are trained and longer-term teachers
return to the Ashram for renewal. This is a vital aspect
of keeping the teachings open and current. Our connection
to the Ashram help keep alive our own learning and growth.
We are also actively supporting newly trained teachers.
One step is to have a ‘packet’ ready including
ideas for setting up classes in new locations; a description
of course content and hours for our teacher training; a
poster, an ad and ideas for marketing classes. We are also
developing personal contact with new teachers and encouraging
communication through the Radha Web.
Marketing
all three organizations of Swami Radha’s work are
going to be using a similar logo, which is currently being
designed. To distinguish what we offer from all the other
varieties of yoga, we are also defining ‘radha yoga’ to
help us all clearly and simply state what we offer. |
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Carolyn,
Faith, Deborah, Janet and Swami Jyotihananda |
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RADHA
ACTION on the Map |
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ADHP Report—Swami Radhakrishnanda,
Janet Brown, Swami Yasodhananda, Faith Hayflich, Sharon
Wobker
The Association for the Development of Human Potential (ADHP)
is the US organization for Swami Radha’s work. The
hub of activity is Radha Yoga Center (RYC) in Spokane.
We are continuing to reach out to the community. Free classes
are offered at the local Riverview Retirement Home and Isabella
House, a recovery center for young mothers. We also offer
two weekly health and healing classes with gentle yoga, the
Divine Light Invocation and Mantra. There has been a lot
of interest from people living with health issues.
Our plans for the upcoming year include furthering our work
in health and healing, supporting the introduction of Swami
Radha’s teachings in the eastern US, and fundraising
for the ADHP. We are also exploring ways to increase ADHP
membership. |
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ADHP
Board: Sharon, Faith, Janet, Swami RadhaKrishnananda,
Swami Yasodananda |
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The Combined Annual General
Meeting—Day two.
On day two of the AGM, the meeting formed into groups who
were interested in particular areas of growth over the next
decade. Louise Quinn headed up a general marketing group
where we looked at what’s worked and what we want to
see happening. Other groups focused on elders, young adults, publications
marketing, fundraising, radha teachers and outreach. Everyone
came back together later in the afternoon to present their
summaries.
From the two days of meetings it’s clear that our work
now is to continue to build a strong foundation for the next
generation. ascent and timeless are growing stronger, we
continue to expand options for young people and elders, and
we’re making new space available in the Ashram. This
10th anniversary AGM has given us the opportunity to identify
our progress over the past decade, and our direction for
the future.
There was no new business and the date for next years meeting
was announced—August 10/11th, 2006.
If
you'd like a long version word document of the AGM
report, please contact Swami Gopalananda: gopala@netidea.com |
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