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Hello! We are moving into July and August...I hope it's hotter than last year. We move into these hot summer months with a very loud exhale. June was exceptionally active and busy. We still hear many positive and appreciative comments about the 60th Celebration. It took a major effort by many, and our hats are off to the Anniversary Committee. Japan Nite is another huge temple endeavor. It takes everyone and then some to pull it off. As I write this, we are still a few days away, but it looks like the Japan Nite Committee has come up with a successful and improved plan, to be enjoyed by many. One of the unexpected endeavors of the month of June was participation in the Weiser Fiddler Fest parade.
Some of you may have heard the story through the grapevine, or through Time to Share during service. IOBT had a float in the parade! This year, Mrs. Hoashi of Weiser was voted Queen of the Senior Prom at her nursing home. A picture of her with tiara was in the Weiser newspaper a few weeks ago. During our Fujinkai visit to the Weiser area, we found out that for the first time, the Queen of the Prom was asked to ride in the Fiddler Fest Parade. We have come to find out that the Fiddler Fest is a National gathering! As a one-time event, it is larger and more prestigious than anything in Nashville or anywhere else! Mrs. Hoashi had plans to ride in a bright red convertible, driven by daughter, Charlotte. They were looking for a white gown, sparkling jewelry, new shoes, and long white gloves so that she could wave at the crowd properly. As our visit went on, one of us had the thought to accompany Mrs. Hoashi...to announce her arrival...to be part of the Queen's entourage.
Although the deadlines for float applications were over, one of us was able to fennagle our way into the parade. A flat bed onion truck was donated by Murakami produce. Tracy Nakamura was designated driver. Sangha Taiko was asked if any members might be available to play the drums to signal the arrival of Queen Hoashi. Three players were available. A large decorative drum, painted to look like a taiko, appeared overnight, and was placed on the truck. Sangha Taiko readied two of their drums to be placed on the float. As a finishing touch, IOBT Sangha members, Nan, Sue, Aiko and Shiz agreed to accompany us and climb aboard the float. Tracy brought bales of straw to sit on. The bales were covered with blankets, and the ladies sat and waved and threw out candy to the children in the crowd. We drove in front of the bright red convertible, and announced the arrival of Queen Hoashi! At the end of the parade, we are happy to announce that everyone who got on the float got off. We didn't lose a single person along the way. Namandab!
We were told that this year's parade was the largest ever! With two days notice and a budget of zero, an incredible adventure unfolded. Ichigo-Ichiye...Once in a Lifetime. In reflection, all of us who took part will smile warmly and appreciatively whenever we think about this adventure that we shared. Being part of the Sangha...sharing life experiences...appreciating all of it...that is the Shin Buddhist life...the life of Nembutsu. Namandab...Namandab...Namandab.
Please come to the temple July 15 for the Obon/Hatsubon Family Service. It would be a meaningful gesture to support our families that will be observing Hatsubon. Rev. Joren McDonald will be our guest speaker that day. She is a most enjoyable speaker. She is making a big effort to get here. Do what you can to be in attendance. If we can get a big crowd to come for all of our guest speakers, they will want to come back. As part of the IOBT Sangha, we should all want this temple to be a place where people want to come. This would be true for both members and guests.
.......GASSHO...........RAIHAI
Rev. Dennis
I was able to attend the National Board Meeting this past June 2, 2007. One of the key concerns for the BCA is still the financing of the Jodo Shinshu Center. At the last National Council meeting, several proposals were made that asked for mandatory assessments. These proposals were voted down resoundingly by the members of the BCA. We let them know in no uncertain terms that mandatory assessments were not the way to go. The message from the members was that if money is needed from the membership, the members should be asked. Well, now we are being asked. The bickering and the blaming is gone. Everyone seems to be on the same page and working towards the same goal.
Some loans have been paid off. Others have been arranged with favorable terms. We need to come up with the money. Contributions have picked up and have been coming in. Contributions need to continue to come in.
What more can we do as a temple and as members? Some temples have charts and amounts displayed to remind and to guide their efforts. Some temples are looking for 100% member participation. Some temples are encouraging minimum amounts. $1500 per individual and $3000 per couple is a guideline.
What can we do? With my next paycheck, I will be tripling my own pledge. It is very difficult to ask, but please give it thought and do what you can. Do not hesitate to ask questions.
.......GASSHO.......
Rev. Dennis
I would like to thank everyone who came and helped with the Temple's 60th Anniversary. Many compliments were received by the Chairperson Pam Suyematsu, Debbie Tanaka, Susan Inouye, and Anna Nagaki (supervisor). Also, thanks to the golf tournament that was held in conjunction of the 60th and the Social Hour for our guest speaker, Rev. Marvin Harada from the Orange County Buddhist Temple. Joan Suyematsu and Isao Kameshige were the chairpersons for this event. It took so many hands to do all of this we can't thank everyone for your time and effort to make this a successful celebration.
A Shosanshiki (Infant Presentation) was held during Gotan-E Services. We had two infants at this presentation and they were: Jaque Martin Dubois & Ren Sarrata Grace Thomas-Helmer. Each infant received a mini infant ojuzu by Rev. Fujimoto.
Father's Day was celebrated with our famous BBQ chicken with the Sangha men doing the cooking. Once again it had some religious flavor in the chicken with Rev. Fujimoto with the cooks doing the sutra changing outdoors. Ontario Town did their Toban duties in the kitchen making the rice & salads. Others brought in side dishes which made up the menu. Afterwards raffle prizes were given to lucky winners...some stayed longer for some Shanghai (card game).
A joint affair with the Fujinkai & Dharma School will be our preparation of Happy Bowls at the Malheur County Fair on July 30th - August 4th. We will be needing lots of help for this. Those gardeners have extra veggies of Zucchinis, Japanese Cucumbers and Carrots that we could use at this time.
Thanks to Russell Tanaka (supervisor) and his gang for cleaning and waxing the floor at the Temple baseball. Looks very nice!
Japan Nite O-Bon Festival is around the corner. Let's give our support to our Chairpersons: Howard Matsumura, assisted by Brian Kameshige and Co-Chairperson Michelle Sadamori.
Fujinkai next meeting will be held on July 8th after the adult services.
Sue Uyeki has volunteered to be co-President!!!
Obon toban will be Ontario country. Chairpeople: Mae Nakano and Mary Kameshige. There is a new BWA directory, it is located in the niche under the wooden cupboards in the basement. The next BWA meeting will be on July 8th and there will not be a meeting in August. There will be new toban lists coming out. We will be adding men to the lists.
Busy month! Thank you to everybody who came to watch our performance at the Global Village. Sorry about the change in performance time and the very hot day. The next weekend we performed at the 60th Anniversary Celebration. Thank you very much for including us. We had a private gig in Boise on June 23rd. Then, we ended the month with Japan Nite. We are working on several new pieces and arrangements. Practices are on Thursday afternoon and after church on Sundays.
Mrs. Hoashi was named Sr. Prom queen at her nursing home and was going to be in the Fiddler Festival parade on Saturday. She was to be driven in a red classic convertible by her daughter, Charlotte. Sensei thought it might be fun to play taiko to introduce Mrs. Hoashi in the parade. Murakami farms lent us a flatbed truck. Tracy Nakamura was our driver. Sue, Nan, Aiko, Sachi and Shiz also rode on the truck and gave out candy. Sensei, Sharmon and I played taiko. Mrs. Hoashi looked very nice in a cream colored dress, rhinestone jewelry, gloves and her tiara.
It will soon be time for the Dharma School and Fujinkai's Happy Bowl booth. Please help. Contact Elynn Mizuta when you can work in the booth as she is in charge of scheduling.
If you can help cook, please contact Roy Hasebe.
If you are working more than one day/night, contact Mary Ann Shimojima for a workers pass, which is $10.00 and must be purchased before July 31st, otherwise the daily admission is $5.00.
Ann Nagaki is in charge of the women's association for kitchen duty. It takes a lot of help to run the booth for a week, so pitch in and help! Thanks so much.
Designated Memorial Service Years for 2007. To schedule a family memorial service, please contact Reverend Fujimoto. 1 Year = 2006, 3 year = 2005, 7 year = 2001, 13 year = 1995, 17 year = 1991, 25 year = 1983, 33 year = 1975 and 50 year = 1958.
Tak and Mary Kuwahara, Jim Mizuta, Bob and Kegan Mizuta and Hideo and Ruth Harada.
Shiz Inouye, Mary Nakamura, Hideo and Ruth Harada, Mary Kameshige, Sanami Nakano, Mae Nakano and Midge Teramura.
Idaho Oregon Buddhist Temple
286 SE 4th Directions
PO Box 397 (mailing address)
Ontario, Oregon 97914
541-889-8562 (office)
541-889-8662 (fax)
10:00 am - IOBT Choir Practice
10:30 am - Adult Study
10:30 am - Dharma School Service
11:00 am - Adult Service
11:00 am - Dharma School Class
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