Comments on: Initial Proposal Overview http://wildernessdharma.org/archives/2004/10/14/initial-proposal-overview/ meditation and leadership training in Nature en Tue, 06 Jan 2009 02:42:20 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=1.2 by: Brian B http://wildernessdharma.org/archives/2004/10/14/initial-proposal-overview/#comments Wed, 03 Nov 2004 22:27:12 -0800 6:8@http://wildernessdharma.org Wow, ambitious and very interesting! I’m glad you’re looking into it. My suggestion would be to start “simply", emphasizing initial workshops rather than the more paperwork- or fund-intensive activities such as 501c3 status and such. You could avoid non-profit paperwork by finding a “fiscal sponsor” which I’d look into. I’d also test out interest at various price levels, and take that experience into account before counting on any long-term financial projections. In general I love the outdoors and dharma, so keep me in the loop! Cheers, -Brian Wow, ambitious and very interesting! I’m glad you’re looking into it. My suggestion would be to start “simply", emphasizing initial workshops rather than the more paperwork- or fund-intensive activities such as 501c3 status and such. You could avoid non-profit paperwork by finding a “fiscal sponsor” which I’d look into. I’d also test out interest at various price levels, and take that experience into account before counting on any long-term financial projections.

In general I love the outdoors and dharma, so keep me in the loop!

Cheers,

-Brian

]]> by: ian giles http://wildernessdharma.org/archives/2004/10/14/initial-proposal-overview/#comments Thu, 04 Nov 2004 18:05:06 -0800 7:8@http://wildernessdharma.org Matt, I would love to be involved in some way in this project! It sounds fantastic - a combination of some of the most important things in my life as well. I’m studying education in Vancouver, B.C. and I won’t be finished until next August, but I sure would like to stay in touch and perhaps come down once I’m done. I wish you luck during the next few months, as you create your dream! Ian Giles Matt,
I would love to be involved in some way in this project! It sounds fantastic - a combination of some of the most important things in my life as well. I’m studying education in Vancouver, B.C. and I won’t be finished until next August, but I sure would like to stay in touch and perhaps come down once I’m done. I wish you luck during the next few months, as you create your dream!
Ian Giles

]]> by: Santideva http://wildernessdharma.org/archives/2004/10/14/initial-proposal-overview/#comments Thu, 04 Nov 2004 18:41:36 -0800 8:8@http://wildernessdharma.org Great project idea. I think this will fly. Be careful to spend your energy in the right places since you will carry a lot of weight for some time. Advice is cheap. Here goes. I echo Brian’s comment (don’t worry about paperwork or committees before you have it off the ground; the lawyer volunteers will come in time). Also, myself having done this already with one non-profit organization, it is important to have more than one core adult (you and someone else) who has a multiyear committment. Finally, the sooner you pick a place, the easier it gets. Fishing around in 4 major cities is very draining. Setting up retreats and then disassembling is very draining. Finally, young people come if you have a place for them. Before that, all you may get is babyboomers (?). See where the support is (probably Bay Area), then try to get to borrow some land in a place near where land may come available. Four hours is far; but cheaper. Two hours is better. But then the habitats are not maybe what you want (your technical terms elude me). Finally, ask Ajahn Pasanno what he thinks. He loves forest conservation and has been supportive of young people in the past. Great project idea. I think this will fly. Be careful to spend your
energy in the right places since you will carry a lot of weight for
some time.

Advice is cheap. Here goes.

I echo Brian’s comment (don’t worry about paperwork or committees before you have it off the ground; the lawyer
volunteers will come in time).

Also, myself having done this already with one non-profit organization, it is important to have more than one core adult (you and someone else) who has a multiyear committment.

Finally, the sooner you pick a place, the easier it gets. Fishing around in 4 major cities is very draining. Setting up retreats and then disassembling is very draining. Finally, young people come if you have a place for them. Before that, all you may get is babyboomers (?). See where the support is (probably Bay Area), then try to get to borrow some land in a place near where land may come available. Four hours is far; but cheaper. Two hours is better. But then the habitats are not maybe what you want (your technical terms elude me).

Finally, ask Ajahn Pasanno what he thinks. He loves forest
conservation and has been supportive of young people in the past.

]]> by: Sky http://wildernessdharma.org/archives/2004/10/14/initial-proposal-overview/#comments Fri, 05 Nov 2004 21:40:49 -0800 10:8@http://wildernessdharma.org Based on my experience with the Voter Rite of Passage Concert I worked on, there is no way I will ever start (even the second step) another logistical project without a solid and reliable partner, so I echo Santideva’s comment. This experience showed me it was much more vulnerable for me to find a partner than to just try to do it all myself. Also, an important practice I became aware of is what activities are essential to meet the nearest goal, and which would simply be nice to have happen. They probably won’t happen, so the essentials are a key place of focus. It is not easy, I find, to tell which is which. So, as said before, start small. It will certainly grow from there, according to the natural principles of our universe Based on my experience with the Voter Rite of Passage Concert I worked on, there is no way I will ever start (even the second step)
another logistical project without a solid and reliable partner, so I echo Santideva’s comment. This experience showed me it was much more vulnerable for me to find a partner than to just try to do it all myself.

Also, an important practice I became aware of is what activities are essential to meet the nearest goal, and which would simply be nice to have happen. They probably won’t happen, so the essentials are a key place of focus. It is not easy, I find, to tell which is which. So, as said before, start small. It will certainly grow from there, according to the natural principles of our universe :)

]]> by: Carolyn Dille http://wildernessdharma.org/archives/2004/10/14/initial-proposal-overview/#comments Thu, 02 Dec 2004 13:09:31 -0800 14:8@http://wildernessdharma.org Hi Matt, Inspiring, creative, thorough. It’s a natural, and I think you’ll find response. Re: naming. In my work of creativity and meditative awareness, I decided to not use ‘dharma’ ‘dhamma’ or any terms that could exclude. I’m open about the grounding of the meditative part of the work in Buddhist practices, but I think using ‘dharma’ adds a layer of exclusion. Of course, there are different views of this. I agree with commenters who advocate finding/making partnerships with others. This is a very personal matter, but very helpful. That reminds me, just on a talking-to level, have you contacted Terry Gustafson, who has a long dharma/wildernness practice, though not the leadership component as far as I know? He might have some pointers about some practical things. And, I echo those who suggest keeping things simple and small at the beginning. You’re a very good writer: clarity and sincerity shine in your descriptions. If you feel the need of input or feedback on a word level, I’d be happy to look at any text. It’s fine that you don’t take me up on this; I just know as a writer sometimes it’s helpful to have an editor-enabled person look at things. All good wishes for continuation and fruition on your path, Carolyn Hi Matt,
Inspiring, creative, thorough. It’s a natural, and I think you’ll find response. Re: naming. In my work of creativity and meditative awareness, I decided to not use ‘dharma’ ‘dhamma’ or any terms that could exclude. I’m open about the grounding of the meditative part of the work in Buddhist practices, but I think using ‘dharma’ adds a layer of exclusion. Of course, there are different views of this.

I agree with commenters who advocate finding/making partnerships with others. This is a very personal matter, but very helpful. That reminds me, just on a talking-to level, have you contacted Terry Gustafson, who has a long dharma/wildernness practice, though not the leadership component as far as I know? He might have some pointers about some practical things. And, I echo those who suggest keeping things simple and small at the beginning.

You’re a very good writer: clarity and sincerity shine in your descriptions. If you feel the need of input or feedback on a word level, I’d be happy to look at any text. It’s fine that you don’t take me up on this; I just know as a writer sometimes it’s helpful to have an editor-enabled person look at things.

All good wishes for continuation and fruition on your path,
Carolyn

]]> by: Art Jolly http://wildernessdharma.org/archives/2004/10/14/initial-proposal-overview/#comments Fri, 17 Dec 2004 10:25:57 -0800 15:8@http://wildernessdharma.org Matt, First I want to say that your interest in and pull to do this work is very inspiring. I’d be very interested in talking about it with you in more detail. I agree with some of the comments so far and disagree with others. I agree with starting small and getting some kind of program going initially, and I don’t think it makes sense to start with looking for land. My guess is that initially it’ll be about offering a couple programs until it picks up enough steam. For that, all you need is a location, private or public. I have a good friend who leads wilderness quests who does very well with national park and national forest land. At any rate, kudos for launching this and let’s talk soon. Art 510-558-3408 Matt,

First I want to say that your interest in and pull to do this work is very inspiring. I’d be very interested in talking about it with you in more detail. I agree with some of the comments so far and disagree with others. I agree with starting small and getting some kind of program going initially, and I don’t think it makes sense to start with looking for land. My guess is that initially it’ll be about offering a couple programs until it picks up enough steam. For that, all you need is a location, private or public. I have a good friend who leads wilderness quests who does very well with national park and national forest land. At any rate, kudos for launching this and let’s talk soon.

Art
510-558-3408

]]> by: Adam Kane http://wildernessdharma.org/archives/2004/10/14/initial-proposal-overview/#comments Wed, 29 Dec 2004 17:32:18 -0800 16:8@http://wildernessdharma.org Great idea Matt!! Your enthousiasm and vision are very inspiring. The core idea is exciting, it is very similar to a dream I’ve had for a while, and it is delightful to see it actually manifesting! I think that holding a few programs in National Forest or Wilderness Land might be a good place to start, and then as word gets around and support builds up, the logistics of looking for property would become clearer. In any case, I would definitely be interested in assisting, as my life revolves around dharma practice and nature. Keep up the good work! Adam 719-256-5348 Great idea Matt!!

Your enthousiasm and vision are very inspiring. The core idea is exciting, it is very similar to a dream I’ve had for a while, and it is delightful to see it actually manifesting! I think that holding a few programs in National Forest or Wilderness Land might be a good place to start, and then as word gets around and support builds up, the logistics of looking for property would become clearer.
In any case, I would definitely be interested in assisting, as my life revolves around dharma practice and nature.
Keep up the good work!

Adam
719-256-5348

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