Governance –
The Practice of Mindful Leadership
Our Board of Directors
Elizabeth Gibbs
Art Mandler, Ex-Officio
Administration
Rev. Teijo Munnich, Abbess
Rev. Chimyo Atkinson,
Head of Practice, Guest Manager
Ruthanne Kah, Office manager
The Great Tree Board of Directors members are elected by the membership in September of each year. Currently the executive committee meets monthly and the full board meets quarterly. Sangha members are defined by our By-laws as individuals who donate funds, pledge, volunteer, participate in practice or provide in-kind gifts of goods or services.
If you elect to join we add your name to our mailing list to receive our newsletter, email updates and invitations as well as other important mail. You can unsubscribe at any time. Please keep us informed of any change of address. Sangha members are welcome and encouraged to attend board and committee meetings.
Anyone interested in supporting Great Tree is welcome to attend board meetings. However, if you are interested in serving on a committee or on the board please contact us.
We welcome consulting sangha members to share their experience, creativity and problem solving. Do you have skills you wish to share or explore?
The full board meets four times per year, with planning and committee meetings monthly.
Please call to confirm the time and location of our next meeting. 828-645-2085.
We are a registered 501c3 religious organization. Donations and gifts are deductible as allowed by law. Member: WNC Community Foundation
Ruthanne Kah
Ruthanne Kah was a Board Member from 2006-2011, and is office manager of Great Tree. She and her husband John work and teach oil painting in their studio in the River Arts District of Asheville. They moved to Asheville in 1996.
Elizabeth Gibbs
Board Member since April 2019
I still consider myself new to this sangha, and have been asked to tell you about myself. I have been a manager, mother, team leader, educator, business owner, chef and farmer. I have served on several Boards of Directors of different organizations and worked closely with Boards as the Manager and Executive Director of two different Farmers Markets.
While not exactly a Jack of all Trades, I consider myself a generalist and do not operate from an “expert” mind. I try to ask good questions and seek answers collaboratively. Some of the skills that I bring to GTZT are: respect for differing points of view, big picture view and context, attention to detail, and the cultivation of my own curiosity. I can read a profit and loss statement and a balance sheet. I understand contracts. I am trying to be helpful with the branding and marketing process. My intent while serving on the Board is to make sure that we are working within the stated Mission of the Temple.
It is important to me to always consider the experience of those living in the Temple and to try to serve as a resource.