Karmê Chöling - Summer Volunteer Program

Summer Volunteer Program at Karmê Chöling

The Summer Volunteer Program (SVP) is the perfect way to spend all or part of your summer! The program is open to any individual who has a strong connection to or interest in the Shambhala Buddhist tradition. Join the core staff of Karmê Chöling and other volunteers for the precious opportunity to practice and study in this rich tradition, at one of the oldest Buddhist land centers in the United States. The program runs from May through September of 2010.

How to apply to the Summer Volunteer Program:

If you are new to Shambhala Buddhism, first learn about it on our website and at www.shambhala.org. Explore this tradition to see if it is of interest to you. A few great books to check out are: Turning the Mind into an Ally by Sakyong Mipham; Ruling Your World by Sakyong Mipham; Shambhala: Sacred Path of the Warrior by Chögyam Trungpa.
Read through the Department Overviews below to see where you might like to volunteer.
If you are not a US citizen or permanent resident, then you must pre-clear your immigration status with our Personnel Department to verify that you may enter the US to volunteer. Please call our Head of Personnel at (802) 633-2384 ext. 140.
Fill out an application below and be sure to list references. If you prefer, you may print out an application form and a Reference Request Form and mail them to us directly.
Interview with the Summer Volunteer Program Staff via telephone or in person. Staff will be available for interviews beginning the week of March 3.
If accepted as a Summer Volunteer, confirm your arrival date with the SVP staff.
Arrive at Karmê Chöling on one of the predetermined arrival dates (see below).

Work and Benefits:

For committing to:

-One month or more of volunteering
-Working 30 hours per week with 3-5 hours of additional community work

You receive:

-Room and Board (shared tents from June-September)
-Free classes within the Shambhala Buddhist tradition
-Several hours each day for practice and study
-Contact with a Meditation Instructor to discuss your practice
-Program Credit, which may be used to attend Karmê Chöling programs, accrued at a rate of $150/month
-The opportunity to apply for Core Staff Positions as they become available

Department Overviews:

Operations Help to uplift and maintain the buildings, shrine rooms, tents and grounds of Karmê Chöling. Experience with: painting, carpentry, construction, trail maintenance, landscaping, or plumbing is a plus!

Kitchen Spend your summer working with our Executive Chef to prepare meals for our staff and guests. Experience in an industrial kitchen and/or a background in culinary arts is ideal.

Programs Learn from our experienced team of Program Coordinators how to take care of the spaces where practice happens! Shrine keeping, shrine room set-up and flower arranging are all aspects of this job. A background in Shambhala Buddhism is helpful.

Development Assist the Development team with all aspects of fundraising, donor communication, event planning and execution.

Marketing Lend your skills in creative outreach and communications to raise awareness of Karmê Chöling around the world. Prior marketing experience, knowledge of HTML and graphic design are all highly valued.

Retreats Assist the Retreat Master with servicing our six year-round retreat cabins. Enjoy lots of time outdoors, chopping wood, servicing retreatants and maintaining cabins.

Guest Services Support the Guest Services team in ensuring a great stay for all our guests. A cheerful attitude, computer and telephone skills and a good understanding of the Shambhala Buddhist path of practice are very helpful.

Administration Assist with all aspects of Karmê Chöling's Administrative Services. Experience with bookkeeping, database management or network administration is welcome.

Garden Volunteer under our Master Gardener, Jan Enthoven, and assist with all aspects of tending our one-acre organic garden and flowerbeds! Garden experience preferred.

Dorje Kasung You know who you are! Spend your summer assisting the Iron Wolf Squad of Karmê Chöling with all aspects of Dorje Kasung practice. Officers are strongly encouraged to apply! Lifetime oath members preferred.

Aloka Children's Program Spend the days caring for children, spending time outdoors, and facilitating programming and activities that are based on Shambhala principles. Experience working with children is necessary.

Arrival Dates for the 2010 Summer Volunteer Program
TBA

If you have any questions, please contact the Head of Personnel: personnel@karmecholing.org

To apply, complete the online application below, or download an application and mail, fax or email it to us.

Our address is:
369 Patneaude Lane
Barnet,Vt. 05821
Phone: (802) 633-2384 ext 140; fax (802) 633-3012

First Name:
Last Name:
Gender (for housing purposes):	Female Male
Address:
Address (continued):
City, State, Zip:
Phone:
Cell or Second Phone:
Email Address:
Preferred Method of Contact:
Date of Birth:
Are you a US Citizen or authorized to work in the US?	Yes No
Have you ever been to Karmê Chöling?	Yes No
If yes, when?
What position(s) are you applying for?
When would you like to come to Karmê Chöling?
How long do you wish to stay?
Have you ever worked or volunteered for any Shambhala Organization?	Yes No
If yes, please provide details:

The following questions are not to determine if you are eligible for employment, but rather to give us information about your practice and training background as you enter our residential community. New and experienced Shambhala Buddhist practitioners are equally encouraged to apply.

Do you have a meditation practice?

Yes No

If yes, please describe what you practice, how long you have been meditating and what your daily/weekly time of practice is:

If no, please tell us why you wish to live and work at a meditation center:

Have you completed any Shambhala Training levels?

Yes – What is the last level you completed?
No, I have not taken any Shambhala Training levels

Have you taken any Shambhala Buddhist Classes?

Yes – What classes have you completed?
No, I have not taken any Shambhala Buddhist classes
I have attended Shambhala Vajrayana Seminary

What year did you attend?

What Shambhala Center are you affiliated with?
I am not affiliated with a Shambhala Center

Please describe your center activities or other dharma work, including if you are an MI, AD, SG or a member of the Kasung:

The following questions pertain to your education and training, work history and experience (including volunteer positions), and interests, hobbies and special skills.

You are welcome to email your résumé to personnel.

Most Recent Employer
Name:

Address:

City, State Zip:

Phone Number:

Supervisor:

Type of Business:

Dates of Employment:

Describe duties as they pertain to the position you are applying for:

May we contact this employer? Yes No

Employer 2
Name:

Address:

City, State Zip:

Phone Number:

Supervisor:

Type of Business:

Dates of Employment:

Describe duties as they pertain to the position you are applying for:

May we contact this employer? Yes No

Employer 3

Name:

Address:

City, State, Zip:

Phone Number:

Supervisor:

Type of Business:

Dates of Employment:

Describe duties as they pertain to the position you are applying for:

May we contact this employer? Yes No

Education and training (degrees, majors):

Special skills, hobbies, attributes you wish to share:

The following questions pertain to issues which may have an impact on our residential community:

Do you have any physical limitations we should be aware of?
Yes – Please describe:

No

Have you ever been convicted of a felony or placed on probation?
Yes – Please describe:

No

Do you have or have you had a substance abuse problem (including alcohol)?
Yes – Please describe:

No

Please answer the following questions:

What is your inspiration for coming to Karmê Chöling?

What do you feel you have to offer? What do you feel you have to learn?

Please comment briefly on one of the following slogans:
“Daring to let go, the warrior is great in friendliness.” OR
“Whatever you meet should be immediately joined with meditation.”

We ask for a minimum of three references, with at least one in each of the following categories:

Meditation Instructor or Spiritual Friend
Employer
Personal

Please list references that we may contact below. (If you prefer, you may download a Reference Request Form and ask your references to complete it and return it to us directly.)

Name, address, phone, email, relationship to you:

Thank you for your interest in working with us!
Someone in personnel will be contacting you shortly.

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Shambhala, Shambhala Meditation Center, and Shambhala Center are registered service marks of Shambhala International (Vajradhatu). Shambhala Training is a registered trademark of Shambhala/Nalanda Foundation. Website by Blue Mandala