Momo Dumplings, Dancing, Staffing Changes and Thank-You’s

February 28, 2020 by Christopher Morel

 

 

Dear Halifax community,

Cheerful New Year! We are in the midst of a week of celebrations to welcome the Year of the Mouse.

Family Day Celebration

I would like to highlight the upcoming Family Day on Sunday March 1. The latest schedule is:

  • 9 AM Morning meditation (nyinthun), with child care offered by Donna and Ed Hanczaryk
  • 11 AM Momo-making, with Deborah Luscomb and Shari Vogler
  • 12 – 4 PM Potluck lunch, with momos (savoury Tibetan dumplings). Please bring a dish to share. Fort-building in the Main Shrine Room, Board games and crafts
  • 2 PM All-ages contra dancing, with Joe Pratt on the fiddle and Kat as caller
  • 3:30 – 4 PM Clean-up and farewell


Staffing Changes

Aimee Silver and I have officially ended our period of being interim co-directors. I have assumed the role of Centre Director, and Aimee is holding the position of Finance and Administration Director. While her position is vital, she is no longer a co-director.

On Shambala Day, we said good-bye to two staff members and welcomed one. Cyndi Levine, who has been our Practice and Education Coordinator stepped down, so she can pursue a career in graphics, animation, and video-editing. We are grateful to Cyndi for serving with cheerfulness and diligence, and for bringing her artistic skills to the job. Cyndi will continue as a volunteer to coordinate feasts and help with publicity.

Liza Matthews has agreed to become the new Practice and Education Coordinator. Liza is a strong practitioner of the contemplative arts of tea, calligraphy, and ikebana. She works part-time at the Lion’s Roar magazine, where she has worked for 40 years

Kaja Marinsek, who has been the building caretaker for three years, is also moving on. Kaja has spoiled us for those three years, with her sparkling presence, her impeccable cleaning and her unfailing attention to all manner of building maintenance issues. We are pleased that Kaja is now a landed immigrant and that she can pursue a career in her profession, engineering. But first she will spend a month in Mexico, doing programs at Casa Werma.

Aimee and I are currently looking to hire cleaners for the building. If you are interested, or if you have someone to recommend, please let us know. We are also asking the community to be particularly mindful of cleaning thoroughly after using the building for programs, meetings, feasts, and all other events.


Shambhala Day Appreciation

Finally, I would like to thank all the people who contributed to a very successful Shambhala Day. As someone reminded me today, “It takes a village!” Taras Melnychuk and Emily and Barbara Bibeau cooked and served a remarkable breakfast of crepes with sweet and savoury toppings; Kerstin Martin created a beautiful afternoon reception; Patricia Blaine provided numerous colorful origami mice; Bruce and David Wauchope re-assembled the sound booth; Chris Morel provided tech services for the broadcast; Torgny Vigerstad served as Kasung for the day; Shari and Bob Vogler organized Kalapa Dawn; Mark Nowakowski, Liz Richardson, and Mary Campbell led practice sessions; Kay Crinean was the emcee; the Shambhala Centre staff worked very hard, the ikebana group did their usual amazing job of beautifying the Centre, and many others stepped in to help as needed.

I look forward to seeing many of you on Sunday, March 1st, for Family Day and at other gatherings!


With warm wishes for the new year,

Meg

Meg Vigerstad
Executive Director