Here we are at the end of another year. I hope you all have a revolutionary new year.
The end of this year is bringing some new challenges. I took my dog to the vet yesterday because she had stopped eating her regular food and was a bit listless. She seems to have a bit of arthritis in her hips and she perked up when I gave her the anti-inflammatory. The vet called today with the results of her blood work. She may have cancer and she is anemic and may have thyroid problems and they all may be related to the possible cancer. We adopted our dog, Jill, when we moved to Salinas. She is the family's first dog. I haven't told my kids about her - I will need to chant before I do that. My mood is not very positive right now, but I will chant for her and raise my positivity index over the next few days. She goes in for another blood test next week. I plan to chant up a better result. I'll keep you informed.
Tomorrow is the New Year celebration for our local SGI area. My kids are doing something with the youth division. Forever Sensei! Man, can't we find some new music? The new year meeting is always enjoyable because everyone comes - husbands, wives, siblings, mothers, fathers,kids, far-away members, everyone. I'm looking forward to it.
Have a safe and fun New Year's Eve and a peaceful new year.
I went to a meeting last night. These meetings are where the chapter and area leaders can talk about the management side of the local organization. We have had these once a month for quite awhile. Recently, Pres. Ikeda wrote a message to the Central Executive Committee of SGI. In this message, he talks about the need to develop new leaders. He stresses that the leaders are going to have to lead this organization into the future. The man keeps telling us to stand up and take responsibility for this organization. Maybe he is getting through to some of us.
Due to many factors, many of which I do not understand, my local organization is a very top down, managed area. It just worked out that way. This management style leads everything to go through the area leaders. There are two people in charge, but really there is one person in charge of everything. When we wanted to bring Victory Over Violence to our schools in honor of our murdered friend, we were not allowed to do it, it had to go through the area. There is just too much to do to be involved and in charge of everything. VOV never happened.
SGI is so much like any other organization - it has a management structure and people rise into management for many reasons, not all of which are management skill. In SGI, we have that pesky problem of faith. Our leaders wear many hats - manager, faith adviser, councilor, leader, motivator, speaker - you can add to the list. Some of us are good at some of these roles, but few of us are good at all of them. I can do all of the roles, but I lack the drive to do some of them well. I haven't excelled in the current management structure.
That may be changing. The local leadership is going to attempt to give the next step down, chapter leaders, autonomy. They are going to let the chapters move in their own direction, create their own culture, and thereby grow new capable leaders. This is great news for some of us and very scary for others. I can't wait to help my districts do what they want to do. To help them figure out what they want to do. It should allow the members to express themselves, become happier and just maybe invite others to join. But I noticed a few chapter leaders were not as enthusiastic about this. Mostly the newer leaders who have not developed the skills to lead yet. It may take a little time, but they will soon warm to this new process.
One of my districts has already struck out on their own. Three members from the district went to a local coffee shop Sunday afternoon and talked about The Buddha in Your Mirror. The district leader has big goals for this district and this is the first baby step to those goals. The idea is to get the members out in public talking about Buddhism. We start by just talking amongst ourselves, then move to talking to our friends about Buddhism and then, gasp, inviting them to a meeting. By the way, this district is having some great meetings.
I attended my monthly women's study meeting last week. We had a guest and the meeting was good. I always have trouble with some "shakabuku" concepts and this time I spoke up. When talking about what to chant about or for, the leader said to chant for your wishes. OK, kinda old school, but OK. A bit later, I told the guest that after getting some experience with this practice, we stop chanting for things and start chanting to better ourselves (I didn't say it that way, but that is what I meant). The leader, I think, took offense and we had to clarify this. If you absolutely need transportation, then chant for a car, but if you have a car, will a new car and the car payments really make you happy? We all have out own practice and we all have our own point of view. I don't like telling guests that this is a practice to get "stuff" so I do my best to explain. Each person takes away what they need.
At this meeting, there was talk of SGI being an organization that promote peace. I started thinking, what do we actually do to promote peace? As an organization, nothing really. Pres. Ikeda has his peace proposals, but what do we do? That led to a few moments of negativity until I realized that peace is up to each of us. So it is up to the smaller organizational units to promote peace in their own way in their own community. I started thinking about this. How can SGI in Salinas promote peace? I don't know, but I bet we can come up with some ideas. I am open to suggestions. I am looking forward to a chapter revolution! I keep you informed.