Organizational

Meeting (OM)

Saturday, August 2, 2008

Please see below for meeting notes

Om Amriteshwaryai Namaha!

*********************************************

Organizational meeting (OM) was held Saturday August 2, 2008

5:00 pm at the Woodland Hills Satsang.

Please see below for meeting notes.

WHO WE ARE ... 2008

Below is an outline of the active departments that are with Amma's Los Angeles satsang. If you have questions about any of the departments or would like to contact the coordinator to volunteer. Please email us your request.

* = department coordinator

COMMUNICATIONS		OUTREACH	FUNDRAISER & Specail Events	OTHER GROUPS
Communications	PR	Community Outreach	Fundraising	Music Group
*Pradeep	*Bhavesh Chetana Gopi Sudha Bhavagati Carole Wendell Anahita	*Visuddha Christel	Shashi Harishree Brian Sheri Bhavesh Vilas Saraswathi (donated goods)	*Shashi + Sundar Practice Scheduling Annapurna + Sudha Music Director Arpita
Satsang Hotline	Satsang Calendar	Mother's Kitchen	Community Satsangs	Finance
*Bhuvana	*Shashi Pradeep	*Elizabeth Chetana- Liaison Mukti Jagadeep Anahita + Scott Terry Sahaja	Shashi Karen Jill	*Gopi + Annapurna + Shashi Rupa
Email & Mailing List	SD + SB + OC Liaison	Circle of Love	Retreats & IAM Course	Mutual Acceptance
*Pradeep Gahana	*RSC(Regional Satsang Coor)- Harishree	*Anahita Susan Gahana Diana Ho Harishree Zellda	Anahita Harishree Sabu Stella Santosh Saraswathi Bhagavati Sahaja	*Anahita Vatsalan Bhishma Victoria Devika
	MA Center/ LA Satsang Liaison
	*NSC(National Satsang Coor) Gopi
Website	OM Meeting	Green Friends	Group IAM	Tour
*Chetana Pradeep Sajeev Gopi Bhagavati Imesol	*Gopi Shashi Anahita Harishree Pradeep	*Rita	*Sabu IAM Instructors Anahita Harishree Jagrati Gopi Sabu Stella	*Jagrati
Special Events Hotline	Steering Committee	Diaster Preparedness		Amrita Bala Kendra
Chetana Gahana	Gopi NSC Harishree RSC Shashi Pradeep Anahita + TBD	*Bhavesh + Karen		*Jayashree Eric Raducca Harishreee Arpita Swathi + Sundar Chetana
Event Phone Tree	Amita E-News & Immortal Bliss	Diaster Round Table Discussion Team		Amma Center
*Pradeep Gahana Susan Sheri Leila Vilas	*Chetana Rupa Sundar- photos Nigama-photos	Karen, Shashi, Anahita, Annapurna, Ann, Gopi, Diana Ho, Santosh, Harishree, Tejasri, Pradeep Arpita, Rupa, Gahana, Chetana		* Diana Ho Arpita, Pradeep, Tejasri, Harishree, Gopi, Kalidas, Gahana, Karen, Chetana, Shashi, Bhavesh, Anahita
Satsang Hosts	Meeting Note Takers
*Pradeep	*Chetana Zellda Arpita Imesol
	Writer Pool
	*Chetana Arpita Karunya Rupa Bhagavati

OM ARCHIVE

OM Organizational Meeting Notes

August 2, 2008

Attendeees:

Shashi, Harishree, Jayshree, Swathi, Annapurna, Tapaswini , Vishuda, Anna Baum, Jill, Sudha, Gina, Leila, Mommy, Gustavo, Sahaja, Steve , Sai Ra, Chetana

POTLUCK INGREDIENTS UPDATE- Shashi

Gopi’s report was read by Shashi. In short, there is no hard and fast rule on the food on the served during the potluck following satsang. It was suggested that perhaps there can be a mention if the dish contains egg.

Decision: If there are dietary considerations, it is the responsibility of the eater to inquire.

ANNOUNCEMENT – Shashi

For the time being, Gopi asks everyone to refers to the Steering Committee instead of her for all decision making issues. However, she will continue to do finance.

LA SATSANG MAILING - Pradeep, Shashi

Shashi made the announcement of the satsang mailing happening after satsang.

Action: Shashi will email satsang mailing content to Visuddha. Visuddha will email the same content to the Community Connection members.

FOOD SEVA COORDINATOR - Seva position needed from someone who can help the satsang get a food permit and oversee food safety.

Volunteers: Chetana, Sudha

JAI UTTAL FUNDRAISER - Harishree, Arpita

Harishree provided an update on this fundraiser prospect. It is still in the initial stages. If anyone is interested in helping please contact the coordinators.

FAIRS COMMITTEE – Harishree

Amma requests that we go to as many fairs as possible. Contact Harishree if you would like to be on this committee.

BOUTIQUE – Shashi

Shashi highlights the benefit of using the reusable rip stop polyester bags and metal bottles sold in the boutique.

Shashi read statistics on the malefic effect of plastic on the environment.

GREEN FRIENDS – Chetana

Chetana announced the intention of Green Friends to draft a petition for the purposes of approaching large corporations with our request to reduce the use of plastic packaging for products.

Action: Instead of drafting a new petition, Nivedita (Gina) will give the contact information of an existing group already underway with petitioning large corporations on the very subject of eco-friendly packaging for products/reducing the use of plastic.

Details of this project will be posted on the website and weekly email as they become known.

BLOG/MUSIC GROUP - Gahana/Sudha

Gahana will present about music group blog in the future.

AMMA'S BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION – Shashi

Announcement.

Need: PR is needed. flyers need to be distributed.

Action: Sudha will help Bhavesh. Sudha make sure that all the Southern California Satsangs know the details.

Action: The satsang will send an email which only contain the birthday celebration information.

Assistance: Gustavo will give us a good break on printing cost for post cards.

Need: Parking attendants

Need: Set-up, hosts (ask Jo Ann and Anna Baum), etc…

Notes: Shashi will arrange for recycling bins to be present at the event. A water station will also be present to reduce the waste of plastic bottles.

AMMA’S HEALTH

Annapurna asked Amma how can we help to reduce her physical pain. Amma says you can pray dedicate prayers and spiritual practices to Amma for her health. The Kathika Star dates are:

August- 23rd Saturday

September 19, Friday

October 17, Friday

November 13, Thursday

December 11, Thursday

If possible please chant the 1008 names and 108 names and dedicate to Amma on these dates:

Discussion: Suggesting was made to initiate a class to help Westerners learn the 1000 Names.

Action: (None)

SATSANG SANDALS OR NEW SILVER PADUKAS FOR THE SATSANG TO KEEP,

THE OTHER PAIR TO BE IN THE RAFFLE AT AMMA'S BIRTHDAY

VOTE: The satsang to keep Amma's old Sandals vs. new shiny Silver Sandals

Silver = 11

Old sandals= 4

Abstain= 5

BOUTIQUE- Nivedita (Gina)

Discussion: Where to apply the money earned by the boutique?

VOTE:

ALL money to Amma's Charities = unanimous

Need: Need help with the boutique, setting-up, and a back-up person in case Nivedita (Gina) is not around.

Note: Garage sale is in the works.

VOTE: Where should the money from the garage sale go?

50% to Amma's Charities and 50% to the satsang expenses = unanimous

CIRCLE OF LOVE

Discussion: Use index cards to write the names of loved ones in need of special prayer. Host can read the names. The card will be left on Amma's feet at the altar at Satsang

VOTE:

Keep what we have. Do not use paper= majority

MEDITATING AFTER 1000 NAMES- Sundar and Swathi

Discussion: few minutes meditation after 1000 Names. Suggestion to sit and maintain silence or quiet for 5 to 10 minutes.

VOTE:

Keep the same - 0
People can either sit in silence or move around and talk=4
Sit in mediation= 0
Keep in silence-9

108 NAMES – CHANT WITH LEAD OR WITH RESPONSE? - Sundar and Swathi

Discussion: Option of chanting names along with leader or simply responding with Aum Amriteswayai Namaha