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In
February 2008, the Great Tree Board conducted a written and telephone
survey for feedback to help us improve Great Tree and respond to
the Sangha's needs. (160 surveys were sent out by email; 63 responded;
91 people were called, with 61 contacts made.) Below are some of
the recommendations as a result of the survey. The Board
and Teijo discussed the requests during their meeting March 12
and 13. Great Tree's responses are included below in purple. Not
all recommendations are here; those listed below were repeated
themes. We would like to thank all of you for your responses and
your cooperation with our efforts. (If you did not receive a phone
call but would like to talk to someone, please contact info@greattreetemple.org with
your phone number and contact information.) |
Practice and Dharma Teachings
There were many very positive comments and Teijo and the practice at Great Tree.
The main themes were more teachings for daily guidance in the world, more
readily available and more often.
- Put printed dharma talks on the website. GT
response: Dharma talks will be added once per month to Teijo's
teaching page beginning in April.
- Put a recorded interview with Teijo on the website GT
response: We are looking at adding PodCasts.
- Establish a Teijo blog. GT
response: A one-way blog should be operational within the next
few weeks. The plan is to make the access portal from Teijo's
teaching page.
- Put a recommended reading list on the website,
especially for Jukai and beginners GT response:
Teijo will begin compiling a list. We will let you know by monthly
email update how to access it.
- More welcoming, less formal practice opportunities
for beginners; dharma discussions and community building for all
practitioners. GT response: see Sangha Saturdays
description on the home page.
- More one-day sitting opportunities. GT
response: more Days of Mindfulness planned soon.
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Website
The great majority (over 90% of those responding) were very happy with
the website and found it helpful and educational. There were a
lot of comments about putting teachings on the website and create
a spirit of Sangha on the website.
- More recent photos. GT response: GT will
ask participants to take photos
- Current financial status. GT response:
Summary will be made available in the April update with an Annual
Report to be sent out with the June pledge letter.
- Put the survey results on the site. GT
response: Done.
- No major changes to layout or design.
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Newsletter
- Include information on Great Tree finances. GT
response: Will add to the May newsletter.
- More teachings. GT response:
More will be made available on the website and Teijo's blog.
- Include stories from Sangha members about their
lives and work related to practice. GT response:
More articles by and for Sangha members are being planned.
- Publish results of the survey. GT
response: Here on the website.
- Make available on the website. GT
response: Planned for pdf format on the website.
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Pledge Letter
- Some donors want to know the amount they have
given during the year. Have donors email Maria if they want to
know their personal contribution history. GT
response: Remind donors they can email info@greattreetemple.org any
time for an up-to-date accounting.
- State the goals of the pledge campaign. GT
response: Thank you for reminding us.
- Prepare and Annual Report to send out with the
pledge letter and put it on the website. GT
response: Planned for June.
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General Comments
- There were a series of detailed recommendations
for access for the disabled. GT response:
We will begin implementing some of the recommendations. Unfortunately,
despite our best intentions to make GT totally accessible, budgetary
restrictions limit us.
- Hold discussions about practice among the sangha;
juggling practice with everyday life. GT
response: This has been brought to Teijo's attention.
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