Betsuin Board Highlights

San Jose Betsuin Board of Directors Meetings

Thursday April 04, 2019

 

submitted by Joyce Iwasaki

 

Mission Statement

 

The mission of the San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin is to learn and to share the Jodo Shinshu understanding of the Three Treasures

Buddha, Dharma and Sangha

 

The intent of the Betsuin Board Highlights is to inform the Sangha of Board actions, decisions, special events and projects.  Please contact the Betsuin Board officers, directors or the ministers for details on any item.

 

Motions

 

It was moved, seconded, passed to accept the March Board Meeting Minutes as corrected.

 

It was moved, seconded, passed to approve a $250 sponsorship for the BCA Federation of Dharma School Teachers League Conference hosted by the Coast District Dharma School Teachers League on April 26, 27, and 28 held in San Jose.

 

It was moved, seconded and passed to mandate a 90-day moratorium on all new facilities requests to give the Board of Directors time to establish an updated version of the application and approval process.

 

It was moved, seconded and passed to grant the Generations Phase II Committee to hire a consultant to do a historical assessment of the entire Betsuin facilities on properties in Japantown not to exceed $5000.

 

It was moved, seconded, passed to grant Leadership San Jose the use of the gym on May 16, 2019 from 7:30 am to 1:30 pm for their Economic Divide Program.

 

It was moved, seconded, passed to grant Silicon Valley Invitational Tournament use of the annex on June 08, 2019 contingent on agreeing to specific and additional criteria.

 

Special Guest Presentations

 

Sangha member Michael Jones presented a program concept proposal to the Board of Directors of starting a discussion of creating a safer place for all people. He is beginning the planning process for an event later this year, which would focus on the LGBTQ community. Michael asked for direction as to which committee he should partner with to begin the conversation, to develop programs, presentations and opportunities.

 

Margaret Tamisiea, Director of Community Development of the Leadership San Jose, explained the facility request submitted by this group. Leadership San Jose (LSJ) is the region’s premiere leadership training program. With a class of 35 members, LSJ engages in a rigorous 10-part, application-based program that brings together emerging and established professionals within the San Jose metropolitan area and exposes them to a broad range of issues that impact the region’s economic prosperity and quality of life, with a goal of increasing participants’ civic, political, philanthropic and/or community service engagement. The group requests the use of the gym on May 18, 2019.

 

Ron Montano of the Silicon Valley Invitational Tournament explained the event request of its Zumbathon and Crab Feed on June 08, 2019. This event is a fundraiser for their 2020 invitational bowling event.

 

Sangha member Greg Aso presented information from two rooftop solar panel companies: Solar Technologies and CleanSolar.  He asked the Board members to study the information for further discussion at the May Board meeting.

 

Minister Report

Rev Mikame’s VISA application has been approved. Processing is currently being conducted by the consulate’s office followed by further processing by the Hongwanji headquarters in Kyoto.