Karmê Chöling
Barnet, VT 05821
November 20, 2009

The Past and The Future

Highlights

The Stupa That Conquers All Directions

Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche has asked us to make the Stupa That Conquers All Directions a top priority in 2010. The ritual preliminaries were set in motion last year when His Eminence Namkha Drimed Rinpoche performed a ceremony preparing the ground for building the stupa. This year Lama Pegyal joined His Eminence in September to perform a three-day puja: Dispelling the Obstacles to Shambhala. The last day of the puja was held on the ground where the stupa will be built. We are ready to go! Ms. Jane Mi has accepted the position of Project Coordinator and under her guidance we have begun the preliminary engineering studies, permitting and surveying to begin construction. Our intention is to break ground in the spring.

Scorpion Seal Retreat Cabin

The new Scorpion Seal Retreat cabin is being built in the Nirmanakaya meadow. The cabin that was in the meadow for many years has been moved to a new location. Design and drawings are complete. The permitting process is underway. The construction of the Scorpion Seal Retreat cabin will begin after the spring thaw.

Land Across the Way

Due to the enthusiasm and generosity of Karmê Chöling donors we were able to raise a down payment and purchase 177 acres of wooded land directly across the road. The purchase took place in May. The land has been heavily logged and the immediate plan is to let it recover for a time. No plans for development in the near future.

Building Our Team

Investing in staff is a top priority at Karmê Chöling. We are asking people to make a commitment of at least one year and are focusing on attracting a skilled team of committed practitioners. Acharya Suzann Duquette is working at Karmê Chöling this year in a position primarily focused on staff path and training. Brian Duncan is our new Chief of Staff, replaced in his position as Director of Personnel by Ms. Lisa Stanley. In this new position Brian will support the day-to day operations of Karmê Chöling so that the Executive Director can concentrate on guiding Karmê Chöling’s expansion for the next few years.

Melissa Howell is the Director of Programs and has put together an amazing team of coordinators and support staff to ensure the smooth running of all Karmê Chöling’s offerings. Under the leadership of Margo Shean we have two new faces at the registration desk. When you call or come to visit please welcome Dorothy Shostak and Lindsay Price.

Tom Plucinski is our new Head of Communications with Nicholas Eden-Walker taking Fred Meyer’s position as Communications Assistant. Fred is traveling and working in India before entering graduate school next year.

We all miss long time sangha member Arthur Borden. Arthur was diagnosed with cancer while he was on staff at Karmê Chöling in the Communications Department. He died in Burlington in August.

Julia Sable has taken the position of Director of Practice and Education since Cara Thornley’s departure to become the Druppon at Gampo Abbey. Christine Allan departed Karmê Chöling for sunny Florida in November and John Kozel has taken the position of Assistant in the Development Department. Jonathan Meyer returned to Tennessee to work in his family business and Andrew Highsmith has taken the Operations Coordinator position. We are fortunate to have Jason Winchester, a Vermonter and member of the Patneaude family, as our new Head of Facilities. Jessyca Goldstein left Karmê Chöling this fall to support her family through an illness and Courtney Greenawalt has taken the position of Assistant to the Executive Director and the Ashe Acharya.

Several of our summer volunteers have stayed on as permanent staff again this year and one of our garden staff, Joe Matyjewicz, will be working in the kitchen until it’s time to start up the garden again in March.

2009: Delightful Numbers and Fascinating Facts

Sutrayana Seminary in February with Ashe Acharya John Rockwell and Suzann Duquette had 63 participants from all over the US, including a large contingent from California as well many Canadian provinces, Ireland and the UK.

Shambhala Teens enjoyed a program called Touching the Earth in April taught by Adam Pattyantus and Leila Bruno. 27 teens explored their relationship to meditation and the natural world.

Kalapa Acharya Adam Lobel and Acharya Christie Cashman were joined by Acharya Judith Simmer-Brown in May to offer Teacher Training to 61 brave participants. The training was thorough and rigorous and resulted in a new crop of Shambhala teachers for Levels 2 and 3 as well as the first three modules of the new Way of Shambhala curriculum: Meditation in Everyday Life, The Way of Contentment and The Way of Joy.

We held the first Scorpion Seal Assembly in June. Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche offered training for the first week of the Scorpion Seal Retreat to 145 people.

The 3rd Applied Mindfulness Conference, under the auspices of Tail of the Tiger at Karmê Chöling, was attended by 43 people this year.

In July we held the 2nd Enriching Forest program with Jim Drescher. 14 people spent the weekend camping and exploring the magic of Karmê Chöling land.

His Eminence Namkha Drimed Rinpoche taught for the third time at Karmê Chöling this fall. He introduced 28 people, including Ripa Ladrong students, to Flight of the Garuda.

In October Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche returned to Karmê Chöling for a second visit. He conferred the Vajrayogini Abhisheka to 48 people and his first Vajrakilaya Abhisheka to 131. The abhishekas were followed by the Sakyong’s last teaching event before he goes into a year retreat. The Sangha Retreat was attended by 185 people.

So far in 2009 64 people have joined us for Ngondro retreats and 57 for Werma. We offered 4 dathuns and a variety of programs introducing people to meditation practice for the first time.

Our Simplicity program has introduced 82 people to meditation so far this year and 81 people have done Shambhala Training Level 1. In addition we have trained 29 Shambhala Guides and 25 Assistant Directors in Shambhala Training. And the year’s not over!

Our second Summer Volunteer Program was a huge success with 21 people working in the community anywhere from one month to the entire summer. As a result of this program we have 5 new core staff. Welcome Juliana McCarthy as the new Programs Assistant, Alfredo Campos, Andrew Highsmith and Andrea Haynes in Operations and we’re so delighted to have Evelyn Stack back at Karmê Chöling enriching the life of the Kitchen. Thank you so much to everyone who joined our community and worked and practiced with us this summer!

Financials

Karmê Chöling Sources of Funds
Karmê Chöling Uses of Funds
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION
2007 2008 2007 2008
REVENUE CURRENT ASSETS
Program Fees 764,503 1,010,836 Available Cash Accounts 85,600 32,084
Scholarships & Discounts (161,286) (164,050) Restricted Accounts 11,706 151,340
Room Rental 251,399 282,493 Accounts Receivable 148,320 153,288
Other Revenue 54,864 93,721 Inventory 6,507 6,630
Unrestricted 301,547 227,242 Pre-Paid Expense 21,751 31,412
Released from Restricted 43,410 58,469 273,884 374,754
1,254,437 1,508,711
LONG TERM ASSETS
EXPENSE Land & Fixed Assets 3,293,339 3,439,672
Cost of Programs 234,366 288,984 Accumulated Depreciation (1,229,965) (1,407,806)
Personnel 565,740 623,882 2,063,374 2,031,866
Administrative 133,004 162,805
Operations 367,673 441,952 TOTAL ASSETS 2,337,258 2,406,620
Outreach 88,775 61,280
1,389,558 1,578,903 LIABILITIES
Accounts Payable 92,069 87,831
NET REVENUE (135,120) (70,188) Program Deposits 86,253 84,609
Line of Credit 9,907
Adjustment to Cash Basis Mortgage Debt 628,392 625,958
Depreciation 173,880 177,841 806,714 808,305
Mortgage Principle (24,194) (22,848)
NET REVENUE, CASH BASIS 14,566 84,805 FUND BALANCE
Unrestricted Funds Balance 1,653,959 1,518,820
Capital Projects (32,310) (146,333) Donor Restricted at Year End 11,706 149,683
CHANGE IN CASH BALANCE (17,744) (61,528) Net Income (135,120) (70,188)
1,530,545 1,598,315
LIABILITIES & FUND BALANCE 2,337,258 2,406,620

Fundraising Report

January through October 2009

Donations from Programs

The Scholarship Campaign has accumulated $12,000 in 2009

Sutrayana Seminary raised $5,600

Teacher Training raised $5,500 for the Sakyong’s Zimthri in the Tenno Room

Scorpion Seal Assembly raised $11,500 for shrine room improvements

Sangha Retreat raised $7,625 at an auction that included an original calligraphy by Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR KIND GENEROSITY AND SUPPORT!

6 new Saddharma Association members so far in 09

74 new Kubera Association members so far in 09

Saddharma Association $78,645 Unrestricted Donations $ 69,883
Kubera Association $53,019 Restricted Donations $138,535
Total Donations as of November 1, 2009 $340,082

Program Highlights: Coming in 2010

2010: Projects We Need Your Help to Accomplish

OUR GOAL FOR THE 2009 YEAR END CAMPAIGN IS $55,000

Please go to the donations page of our website if you would like to make your donation online.