SLT Meeting Minutes from January 9, 2021

In attendance: Kathy Agnew, Elena Andrews, Linda Dollins, Parth Domke, Diane Langworthy, Deborah Llewallen, Rick Martin, Kathy Mendoza, Diane Oldfield, Joan Thompson, Susan Wheeler, Mary Williams. 

The Zoom meeting began at 9:35 with ten minutes of Centering Prayer.

COSD Liaison: Diane Langworthy

• Diane L. said she is not able to manage being liaison as she was recently elected to a major justice group.  She stated that there is not an urgency to find a liaison right now while recognizing the important need for managing the calendars of both COSD and CONSD.  She encouraged Mary Williams to talk with folks about the position.  

• Rick wants to be part of the discussion because of his work with the Intro program.  

• Kathy A. would like to be kept abreast of news between the two chapters.       

• Linda asked if Karen Downs has done Intro presentations on Zoom.  Linda mentioned that Rick could talk with Karen Downs because of her experience and expertise in the Intro program. 

• Rick said he has spoken with her several times. 

Media Librarian: Diane Oldfield

• Diane O. had to leave the meeting because of a health issue.  

• Deborah noted that her CP group has been using Rohr’s readings.  She thanked Kathy A for the info on the Keating video as being easy to do and a rich resource.  

• Kathy A. said that a person in her group has been doing the screen sharing and he said it’s illegal to show material on books without buying the book. They went to their legal council at the church who said you couldn’t do it.  They were told that everyone (in the group) had to buy the book in order to share the material online.  She contacted another source who said to go ahead and use the material.  In further research, she read that in using copyrighted material people can use parts of a book, but not the whole book.  During the pandemic, she noted that these restrictions have been a bit more relaxed.  She said to feel okay in using parts of the book.  

• Mary also said that it’s important to cite the author and book.  

• Kathy A. said the Univ of Delaware said the same thing; one can use part of the book, not the whole book.  Kathy also mentioned the Mary Dwyer video on The Welcoming Prayer as a great resource.  

• Mary noted that Keating's entire Spiritual Journey series is available on YouTube. (Click here and scroll down to find Parts 1 through 5).

Prayer Group Facilitator Support: Kathy Agnew

• Kathy A. plans to ask each facilitator to share on what they are doing in their prayer groups, their needs and any questions they might have.

• Diane L. said that she remembered Linda sending an email to request feedback from facilitators.  She asked if there was to be a retreat for facilitators.  

• Mary answered that they have talked about a facilitator retreat for 2021.  Also, CO Ltd on 2/26 and 2/27 are offering an online retreat and refresher for facilitators that will include extra training on Zoom.  There continues to be talk of a potential local gathering this year for facilitators.  

• Kathy A. concurred that such a gathering would be good also as a way to find out more what facilitators need.  

• Linda responded that she received “mixed” responses when asking facilitators for more information on their needs/desires.  She suggested that Kathy A. send something out to facilitators to request more feedback.  Linda also thanked Kathy A. for her Advent resources.  She said it was one of her group’s best activities.  They enjoyed the introduction to Ilia Delio that these resources provided.  

• Diane L. spoke of her CP group rewatching Cynthia Bourgeault’s Zoom retreat, Oneness: The Secret Embrace. This focuses on Thomas Keating’s book of 8 poems entitled The Secret Embrace.  She pointed out that they provided a tremendous sharing. Next week they are using a video on the Welcoming Prayer with Cynthia’s comments on how the Welcoming Prayer is affiliated with The Secret Embrace.  Many people in the SLT meeting requested that the resources be shared with them.  

• Mary offered to share the resources with all. 

• Susan gave thanks for Mary’s excellent leadership and noted especially Mary’s skills with the technology. 

• Mary thanked Susan and described her skills as “a work in progress”. 

• Susan noted her appreciation of Mary sharing her new expertise.

Financial Report: Linda Dollins (Treasurer)

• Linda shared that there is currently $10,856.00 in the CONSD treasury account.  It was noted that $3900 [not a part of the total that is currently in the account] had initially been held for the 2020 Deepening Retreat. CONSD pays a certain amount to Prince of Peace Abbey to hold the space for the retreat.  Eventually, when people pay for their retreat registration, this amount gets paid back to CONSD.  People were refunded their deposits after the earlier scheduled retreat was cancelled due to COVID.   

• Mary commented that she still has communication from Prince of Peace Abbey stating that they are holding this money ($3900) for a potential October retreat.

• Linda noted that scholarship requests have been received and granted.  In terms of donations, she stated that one person gives monthly and one person donates quarterly.  Three people collectively gave $800 as an annual end-of-year gift in 2020. 

• Rick asked how the donations come in to CONSD. 

• Linda said that they are received as checks in the mail.

• In terms of encouraging further donations, suggestions were made to use Venmo and/or to put a hyperlink on the website that connects directly to the CONSD bank account.

Treasurer Election: Mary Williams

• Linda noted that there was a need to officially elect a Treasurer for the bank’s validation.  Mary, as Coordinator, is always on the SDCCU account as well as the elected Treasurer.   

• Mary asked if anyone wanted to officially nominate Linda.  Parth Domke nominated Linda Dollins as Treasurer and Diane Langworthy seconded the nomination.  Everyone then approved the motion, thus officially removing  Merrilee Melvin from the position and officially installing Linda Dollins as Treasurer of CONSD.

Communications (Website & Newsletter): Mary Williams and Diane Langworthy 

• Mary spoke about the CONSD website, which relies on WordPress for formatting.  Mary is currently able to get in now and make changes and add in newsletters using the older WordPress edition.  She expressed a bit of nervousness to change to the newer version of WordPress and possibly lose the capabilities with which she’s familiar.  She would like to add a tab to make donations, but is not certain how to do this so as to connect it to the CONSD bank account.  She asked for help on WordPress.  

• Mary also said that Diane L. has offered to help with acquiring articles for the newsletter.  Mary feels a bit shy to ask folks for contributions while desiring to enhance the diversity of voices on the newsletter.  

• Diane L. said that Roxanne Rosengarten who co-facilitates with Diane loves to tinker with things like this, and she will approach Roxanne for help soliciting folks to contribute their writing to the newsletter.  Mary welcomed this.  Diane added that Pastor Carla from Gethsemane Lutheran wants to write something for the newsletter.  

• Mary noted that the next newsletter (February) will probably come out more towards the middle or latter part of the month.  There will be a retreat that COSD is going to give on January 30 called “Heaven at Home.” The info on this was included in a Mailchimp sent out to CONSD on Jan. 8.  Mary is planning to attend and could write an article about it for the newsletter, but expressed her welcome to someone else writing on it.   

• Diane L. will talk to people in her group about writing a review of the “Heaven at Home” retreat.  Mary and Diane will talk more about it between themselves.  

• Mary shared the suggestion of writing a book review on a book that a CP group is reading as an addition to other types of possible articles.  

• Rick wanted to know if he is listed on the Mailchimp list. 

• Linda said she will check on this.  Linda also mentioned that it’s a good idea for folks to check their spam or junk folder every so often.  She noted that the retreat is also listed on the COSD website.

Events: Linda Dollins and Mary Williams

• In the January 8 Mailchimp sent by Mary, it was shared that there are lots of events happening around the country; some require a fee and CONSD is willing to help with scholarships for these.  Some of these events include a two-part Welcoming Prayer course, The Holy Spirit Center’s “Smorgasbord” offerings, and presentations by Ilia Delio, Vincent Pizzuto, and Cynthia Bourgeault.  

• The CO/Denver Center for Contemplative Living can take large groups for their retreats.

• Fr. Bill Sheehan is leading an online retreat from February 26 - Feb 28 with the Holy Spirit Retreat Center in Encino using Keating material and CP sessions. To register, go to the HSRC website, click on the "Featured Events" tab, then click on the "Extended Retreats" tab. 

• Concern was shared that the Holy Spirit Retreat Center in Encino, which is owned and operated by the Sisters of Social Service, is on the verge of going under financially as it is 100% dependent on income from retreats. They are described as desperate and need support by more folks going on online retreats. Diane L. and Kathy A. said that they have a lot going on: e.g., Fr. Coffey, qigong, laughter yoga.  Their info is in the recent (Jan. 8) Mailchimp.  Hsrcenter.com is their website. 

• Mary added that many retreat centers are having the same dilemma with income and are trying to provide services online to bring in extra income. Parth suggested CONSD making a $500 donation.  Diane L. suggested people could make monthly donations and participate in the HSRC offerings.  Parth suggested doing a “both/and” with CONSD donation and member donations. Rick noted that banks like to see recurring donations.

        (At this point, Deborah needed to leave the meeting).

• Linda suggested Mary send something to the facilitators regarding introducing people in their prayer groups to the Holy Spirit Center which will also build participation in it.  Some encouragement from facilitators might help to get people participating in registering for events and/or donating.  Mary will add it to the next email to facilitators.  Diane L. said that she didn’t want to slight the other retreat center (St. Andrew's Abbey in Valyermo) mentioned by Mary, which was impacted by recent fire. A suggestion was made by Susan to make a donation to St Andrew's Abbey and, in the future, to organizations that have suffered such a difficulty.

Other concerns: All

• Diane L. said COSD is still finalizing the date for the Oliva Espin presentation on Therese of Lisieux.  

• Mary said that she saw the date listed for the United Day in Prayer as March 6 and that later the date was not listed. Linda noted that usually it takes place on the 3rd Sat in March.  Mary said that the date of 3/6 is tentative and she will verify it with us later.

• Linda pointed out that there could be one center (nationally or locally) that sets up a Zoom meeting for United Day in Prayer in which everyone could then participate online. 

• Diane L is not sure how to get more space on Zoom.  Linda replied that Zoom allows you to buy more space for special events, and Mary added Zoom allows you to consolidate with other groups for additional space. 

• Parth would like to participate in a Zoom meeting for facilitators to share ideas/resources and to have such resources contained in a shared Google doc to which people could add comments/ideas/resources.  It was also suggested by Linda to put such information on the “Be Still” blog.

• Mary mentioned Patti Smith, who volunteers at the Denver center as a presenter, and wondered over the possibility of her leading us in a course some time in 2021. Perhaps in May?  

• Linda: thanked Kathy Mendoza and Mary for their beautiful retreats. Over 80 registered even though not all were able to attend.  Linda acknowledged that the work involved in the preparation can be stressful.  She described it as “two beautiful mornings”.  Susan added that they “fed our souls; really beneficial in these times, thank you.“  Mary thanked them for the feedback.

• Mary noted the benefit and relevance of Lindsay Boyer’s “Spirit Leads Us Onward” article in the CO Ltd. newsletter.  Zoom has made geography less of a limitation on folks gathering together.  The Meditation Chapel has more than 100 facilitators.  There is no longer a sense that “I go to my particular church,” as we sometimes don’t know where the folks in the meeting are from.  

Calendar Items: 

• Next SLT meeting: April 10, 2021.

• United in Prayer Day: Mary will keep us updated on the finalized date and how it will be hosted.

• 2021 Events: Mary will keep us updated on any changes to the calendar (getting rid of the current question marks on the form).  She will also continue to share links and information on events and retreats from other centers and chapters.  

The meeting ended at 11:20 with a closing prayer read by Mary, the Casa del Sol Prayer of Jesus.

Respectfully submitted,

Parth Domke