You may view previous editions of the bulletin from the listing to the right.
April is here...the seeds are down, and everyone is at full speed again, or still. Kwiker and I are just back from the National Council meetings that were held in Oakland, CA. I came back with a van full of stuff that I am still unpacking. It was quite a job just to get everything into the van. I almost had to leave Kwiker sitting at the curb in Oakland. Somehow, she squeezed in and made it back with me.
The National Council Meetings were packed with discussion on the Jodo Shinshu Center and Campaign BCA. The discussions and teh decisions impact all of BCA and each of us. Please read carefully the other articles on the National Council meetings in this bulletin. This year, we were very fortunate to have Howard Matsumura attend the National Council as Temple Representative. I was very happy to have one of our members there during such a critical time. Along with Mr. and Mrs. Iseri, Kathy Chatterton and myself, Howard joins the few of us who have been able to visit the facilities of the Jodo Shinshu Center. Each member of our Sangha should understand the difficulties we face and address them rather than ignore them within our own individual capacities. Please take the time to know what is going on and bring any questions to Mike Iseri, Howard Matsumura or myself for more details.
This month, the Hanamatsuri Family Service is April 15 at 11:00 a.m. The date was bumped back so that we could have guest speaker Rev. Dr. William Masuda of the Palo Alto Buddhist Temple join us. This service is to recognize and celebrate the birth of Shakyamuni Buddha. As we did last year, we would like to place the baby Buddha and his bath of sweet teain Lumbini Garden of our own making. We would like children and adults to bring small potted plant or flower and/or favorite stuffed animals to be placed in the garden just for the Service. After service, the animals will be taken home, and the plants can be used at the luncheon as table decorations and/or door prizes. Sweet tea will be poured over the baby Buddha as usual. Your participation is encouraged and necessary for the success of the service. Please join us.
Our temple will be hosting the Northwest District MAP Symposium April 13 and 14. A few of the Northwest temples will be sending their MAP participants to join ours for this day and a half gathering for practice and study. Rev. Masuda has graciously agreed to come early so that he could be the guest speaker during this MAP Symposium. District ministers Rev. Nakagawa of White River and Rev. Gibbs of Portland will also be joining us. Although the district ministers will have to get back to their own temples for Sunday Service, we will see if some of the participants could stay for our Hanamatsuri Service.
The Pet Memorial Family Service will be held April 29, 11:00 a.m. This service was begun last year so that we can remember some of the animals that became integral parts of our lives. Our pets teach us...learn from us...and share precious moments. It is through ego and arrogance that we diminish their role. This service gives us opportunity again to expand beyond "the little egg-shell world of me". If you are new or did not participate last year and would like to have your pet(s) name(s) read, please turn in names, dates, and type of animal to our office. Pictures are also welcome. Please join us...see you there.
.......GASSHO...........RAIHAI
Rev. Dennis
I think maybe Spring has sprung according to spring flowers starting to bloom. It always looks so cheerful to watch them pop out of the ground and all of sudden see the blossoms. The sign of sprinng is when people begin to stir around.
March Ohigan services were held on the 18th with Rev. Shinjun Fukuma of Tacome as our guest speaker. It was a Family Service where the Dharma School participated at the services. It was nice to see Hannah Mizuta playing piano solo and Keegan Mizuta (along with sister, Alia helping him), reciting the Golden Chain. Thanks to Mike Iseri for chairing the Ohigan services. A welcome dinner was held the night before for Rev. Fukuma at Far East - with 28 in attendance.
Another big event is coming upon us - it's our temple's 60th Anniversary. It will be celebrated on a lower key level. Chairpersons Debbie Tanaka, and Pamela Suyematsu and Advisor, Ann Nagaki had several planning meetings already since time is going by fast. We will have more details next month, but we want to have everyone mark your calendars for June 9th and 10th. Our home town boy, Rev. Marvin Harada will be our guest speaker.
Meals on Wheels ws done on March 12 - 15th under the direction of Midge Teramura and her helpers, Hideo Harada, Mae and Sanami Nakano, Kikue Hondo and Mary Nakamura. Thanks everyone.
Congratulations to Brady Kameshige for receiving the Niita Family scholarship of $500 to further his studies. It was awarded after the March Ohigan services by Rev. Fujimoto since Brady was home during Spring Break from college.
Hanamatsuri Services will be held on April 15th with Rev. Masuda of Palo Alto, CA as our guest minister. It will be a busy weekend because IOBT will be hosting the District MAP Seminar on April 13th and 14th.
Activity Day is still going on. Forgot to mention that Rev. Fujimoto made home made chili for all of us which was enjoyed by all. He tells us that he left his hot and spicy chili at home and brought the milder one for us. Thanks Rev. Dennis!
Congratulations to Grant Saito, for being elected Vice President of the NWYBL at the recent NW Buddhist Convention. We are proud of you, Grant.
March 4: Chairman: Grant Saito. Lois Saito had a class on meditation which was very interesting and we all learned a lot.
March 18: Ohigan Family Service. Hannah Mizuta played the piano and Keegan Mizuta led us in the Golden Chain. Thanks to all of you for your participation.
April 1: Chairman: Karen Hata, Theme - Family Day
April 8: Chairman: Mary Ann Shimojima, Theme - School Days
April 15th: Hanamatsuri Family Service at 11:00 a.m. Please bring stuffed animals or plants and a fresh cut flower to put in our Lumbini's garden. Guest minister - Rev. Dr. William Masuda.
April 22nd: Chairman: Sandy Belknap, Theme - Animal Day
April 29th: Family Service: Pet Memorial
We are in the planning stages of our summer trip. The tentative dates are July 20 - 23rd for 3 nights and 4 days.
Our pets are very important members of our families. In remembrance of our beloved family pets, we will have a Pets Memorial Service on April 29, 2007. You may bring a photo of your pet(s) if you wish to place it on a table in front of the Onaijin. The schedule has been changed to make this a Family Service. There will be no Dharma School Service that day.
Rev. Dennis Fujimoto and Howard Matsumura attended the National Council Meeting in early March. I'm grateful for their commitment and the time they have taken to represent our interests at this years meeting.
The issue of creating a mortgage (loan) pool passed. They are seeking accredited investors by March 31. This measure allows for voluntary participation by organizations or individuals. Qualifications for participation do exist. If you would like more information about the loan pool and the criteria around it, please contact Mike Iseri.
The issue of re-allocating existing BCA funds passed. This measure simply made sense to reduce/replace commercial debt using the BCA's own money. This amounts to almost $2.6 million.
The issue of a $59.18 special assessment failed. This measure would only have paid interest for the next year and presented all of us with a rather unpleasant manner of extracting money from Temples and members.
A propoal from the Coast District Ministers Association involved a $700 per member assessment. Fearing lack of support, a straw pole was taken which revealed an overwhelming negative response. The proposal, however, would have raised nearly $12 million, if the assessment was actually collectable. I have doubts that all of the temples and/or members would ever pay such an assessment.
A proposal from the Northwest District supporting a sale/leaseback option did not make the final cut for ideas, although they were successful in their revised proposal to try to pursue alternative funding from Ryukoku and Hongwanji.
Those voting at the National Council Meeting were very clear in their resolve to NOT support a special assessment. At the proposed $59.18 per member, this would have meant an unplanned and unbudgeted expense of over $11,000 for IOBT.
But, fund raising for the Jodo Shinshu Center through the Campaign BCA - the 21st Century is still of utmost importance if the BCA is to work their way out of this financial situation and avoid more issues like this next year. If you have not made a donation to this yet, please consider it. If your donation has already been made, perhaps an additional contribution would be in order. At any rate, the choice is each of yours to make on an individual basis. Thankfully, the National Council vote made sure that each of us have this right to choose.
It takes $11.9 million to retire the debt. At 16,753 members, it would take about $700 per member to pay it off. But that means no matter what you've paid so far, it would take $700 more. If we turn this a different way so all 16,753 of us paid our share of the total, that would take over $1400 per member, less credit for what each individual has already paid.
As daunting and hopeless as this may seem, look at the power of multiples. One persons $100 bill does little to pay an $11.9 million dollar debt. But if everyone paid $100, that's almost $1.7 million dollars; still doesn't pay the debt off, but, it makes a significant difference. I present these figures to you for the sake of illustration and in no way am I suggesting what you, yourselves, do.
Jodo Shinshu Center's immediate crisis has been averted. But over $4 million comes due this December. Another note exceeding $4 million comes due March 2009. So, you can see that success of the Campaign will be of critical importance to us all.
Thank you for your faithful support!
This month, Erin Tanaka interviewed Grandpa Russ Tanaka
Erin: What is your favorite chant?
Russ: Juseige
Erin: What is your fondest memory and what did you like to do when you were my age?
Russ: Playing baseball and going to baseball games
Erin: When you were my age, what was your favorite food?
Russ: Rice
Erin: What is your favorite food now?
Russ: Junk Food
Erin: What was your proudest moment?
Russ: Seeing my grandchild
Idaho Oregon Buddhist Temple
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