Dear Subud PNW Members,
This coming Friday we will be selecting our new committee and regional helper teams. I thought it would be good to reflect on where we are right now and where we might be able to go.
We are financially sound
We have put aside money in our housing fund and in our reserve account so that we currently have the ability to take care of our financial needs.
We have held a regular annual kedjiwan event for over 25 years
For over 25 years the Pacific Northwest Region has hosted a kedjiwan gathering at the Menucha Conference Center east of Portland. Organized by the regional helpers, this event has served thousands of Subud members in and outside of our region.
We have three centers we own
Our Portland, Bellingham/Skagit Valley and Seattle centers have buildings we use as places for the latihan, enterprise and hosting events throughout the year. These centers, assets created through the hard work and dedication of the members of these areas, are important in showing new members that we are able to work together to achieve something.
We have four other groups who meet for regular latihans
In Boise, ID, Spokane, WA, Flathead Valley, MT and Eugene, OR we have members who meet on a regular basis to continue their practice of the latihan.
We have regular monthly latihans two times a month
Due to the efforts of your regional helpers and a member who has regularly emailed the announcements and taken care of our phone-in system, we are able to offer regularly scheduled regional latihans for isolated members who are not near a group.
We have a regional website where we tell our stories and make announcements
During this term your committee, with the help of Paul Nelson, we created our new regional website. We have used the site to publish regional board minutes, tell each other stories and announce upcoming events. The power of this website is that, with MailChimp technology a regional newsletter is created and sent to every member of Subud PNW with the news of the week.
We have men and women interested in joining Subud
Recently, in Seattle and Portland, we have begun to have a new group of mostly young men and women coming to find out about Subud and getting opened.
How much time does it take?
I did a brief survey of your regional committee and helpers on the time they spent doing this work for you. Those details are below. Please review and consider: Are you willing to add your time and efforts to help Subud grow?
Are you willing to help Subud grow?
Both at our annual Kedjiwan event at the Menucha Retreat Center and in local meetings, I’ve heard the phrase: “We’re shrinking. What can we do about it?” If you will be willing to be a part of the many hands it takes to keep Subud growing by volunteering regionally or locally, we’ll find out together.
With Love and anticipation of a great Regional Congress,
Oswald Norton
Regional Helper
Time spent in Committee Work
| Role | Event | Time Spent Working w/others |
| Chair | Monthly Board Meeting Planning | 30 min |
| Chair | Monthly Board Meetings | 60 min |
| Chair | Helping in Menucha Planning | 1-2 hours/year |
| Chair | Helping Plan Arts Camp | 2 weeks |
| Chair | Coordinating with others on regional business | 2-3 hours/month |
| Vice Chair | Monthly Board Meeting Planning | 30 min |
| Vice Chair | Monthly Board Meetings | 60 min |
| Treasurer | Monthly Board Meeting Planning | 30 min |
| Treasurer | Monthly Board Meetings | 60 min |
| Treasurer | Quarterly Financial Reports | 1-2 hours |
| Treasurer | Paying Regional Expenses | 2-3 hours/month |
| Secretary | Monthly Board Meeting Planning | 30 min |
| Secretary | Monthly Board Meetings | 60 min |
| Secretary | Monthly Board Minutes | 1-2 hours/month |
| Website Edits | Adds content to SPNW website as needed | 1-2 hours/month |
Time Spent In Regional Helper Work
| Role | Event | Time Spent Working w/others |
| Woman RH | Monthly RH Meeting | 30-45 min |
| Man RH | Monthly RH Meeting | 30-45 min |
| Woman RH | Bi-Monthly Regional Latihan | 30-45 min |
| Man RH | Bi-Monthly Regional Latihan | 30-45 min |
| Woman RH | Monthly Regional Board Meeting | 30-45 min |
| Man RH | Monthly Regional Board Meeting | 30-45 min |
| Men & Women RH | Annual Planning Retreat | 1-2 days |
| Men & Women RH | Menucha Planning Retreat | 1-2 days |
| Men & Women RH | Menucha Event Leadership | 4 days |
| Men & Women RH | Visiting Centers and Isolated Members | 1-2 days every other month. Shared amongst the team. |
| Woman RH | Latihan Support Art’s Camp | 2-3 days |
| Man RH | Latihan Support Art’s Camp | 2-3 days |