Diary of a Chapter Leader

Happy New Year FWP

Finally, 2008 is over. It has been the most challenging year in memory. It has been 7 months since Greg died and almost 6 months since Byrd died. I'm ready to move on.

Monday night I met with two members of my former district. Though I'm a chapter leaders and not supposed to be attached to any district, I still feel a part of Salinas District. We talked openly about the future of the district and the area in which we practice. We are not growing. We noted that no one wants to bring a guest to our meetings and we need to make the changes necessary to fix that. If the members are not inspired, how can we inspire guests. And guests make almost any meeting inspiring? So how are we going to do this?

Practice, study and movement. Two years ago a new member transferred into my district. We chanted every Monday, just the two of us. Then another woman transferred and her friend started coming and then a few other members came. Suddenly we could have 7 or 8 members chanting on Monday nights. That is where we will start - consistent chanting as a district. Even if only 1 or 2 of us attend, we must be persistent.

Next we talked about study. We came up with different ideas, but finally decided to have a book study and we already chose the book. We will open this up to the chapter and then the area members. This first book is by Pres. Ikeda and I asked that the next book be something outside SGI. If you have any suggestions, lay them on me! We also have a chapter study every month based on PI's lectures on selected gosho. This month is "Winter Never Fails to Turn to Spring." I have also joined a women's study group in the San Jose area, so I'll be busy. I really want to study about Buddhism and not only SGI's version. The last year or more of Greg's life he studied everything he could get his hand on. He would talk about this very intense study. This stuff was way over my head, but I listened. I'm not ready to start on the academic literature, but I want to understand Buddhism. I want to help other members understand Buddhism. This year I must study!

Then there is the movement part of the triad. We want to visit other districts and travel to the Silicone Valley Community Center. At least one trip per month. We feel this will inspire us as well as the districts we visit. New or at least different members at a meeting is almost as good as a guest. My hope is that we bring guests along on those visits.

Tuesday night I did something I haven't done in many years. I brought a guest to a meeting. I attended the study meeting in The San Jose area and brought a friend who lives 10 minutes away from the meeting place. She follows a form of meditation Buddhism and won't join SGI, but I think she had a good time and enjoyed the discussion. Six days into the new year I bring a guest to a meeting. I really need to keep this up.

Tonight the Youth Division has a meeting. Both my daughters are going - on their own - no parental promotion. I have been asked to promote a YWD district leader in Salinas District. That means I have to pick between my daughters. One is more of a leader and the other has a better practice. It's a dilemma. I think we have come up with a creative solution. We can appiont one as YWD district leader and the other as chapter YD study leader (or some such title). Both kids like that option.

Happy 2009 from all of us at fraughtwithperil.com!

Posted by nt at January 8, 2009 09:59 AM