We like to feature Subud artists in this Subud California Sun newsletter. If you have a work that you would like to share with other members, please send a high quality photo of it to the editor at: communications.subudca@gmail.com
Above: The Beloved Rolling Hills of California, by Halimah Polk
Opportunities at the 2024 Regional Congress
The Congress also offers opportunities for volunteers and for those who are interested in taking one of the many roles at the Regional level. These include:
– We will elect a new Chair and Vice Chair at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) during Congress. To learn more about the role of the Chair and Vice Chair, go HERE.
– There will be testing for new Regional Helpers at the Regional Congress. Interested? Find details on how to prepare for testing HERE
– Do you have music, dance, poetry, stories or other talents to share? Find out how to participate in entertainment night at Congress HERE
– Interested in taking a role on the Regional Council? Consider testing as Regional Member Councilor.
– Volunteers aged 15-20, are invited to take shifts at the coffee and snack bar. Find out more HERE.
The Subud CA Congress team seeks young people (age 14-20) to staff and manage the coffee & tea service during the 2024 Congress at UC Santa Barbara. Volunteers are needed for shifts from Friday afternoon, August 2 to close of Congress on Monday, August 5.
The team will brew coffee, ensure that snacks, paper cups, tea bags, and creamers are available, and collect payment. Those who participate will be helping to raise money for a youth fund for future congresses.
To learn more, email Raina Snyder: rainanotaryservice@yahoo.com
Our Regional Council serves a vital role in the oversight of business and financial aspects of Subud California. Each center appoints a councilor and members not associated with a center are represented by the Regional Member Councilor.
This role has been filled very ably for last two years by Rohana LoSchiavo. The current term end in August and there is an opportunity for someone else to step into it. The Regional Member councilor can be an unaffiliated member or a member of a center or group.
Please consider whether the time is right for you to be a Regional Member Councilor. It’s a great way to engage with members from across the Region! If interested in pursuing it, please email Hanafi Fraval at hanafi<at>myyahoo.com.
|
|
|
|
|
Dear Sisters and Brothers,
We will be handing over our Regional Helper roles to a new team this summer. We invite any of you who feel moved to take on the position of Regional Helper to test with a local helper, to see if you should put your name forward for more testing with Regional and National Helpers.
Our prime responsibility has been supporting local helpers from our Region (California and Nevada) along with members who are not part of a local group. There are many gifts and blessings that come with this job: courage, confidence, and maybe even some spiritual growth! We have experienced new friends, deeper connections, and the recognition that we are a small part of supporting the presence of Subud and the latihan in the world at this time.
with love from us all,
Sofia, Leanna, Helena, Hani’a and Isman
FRIDAY, AUGUST 5
Time Activity
10:30 am – 12:00 pm Regional Council Meeting
12:00 – 1:00 pm LUNCH
1:30 – 4:30 pm Reconvene Regional Council Meeting
Centerprises presentation: Hanafi Fraval
5:00 – 6:00 pm Latihan
6:30 – 7:30 pm DINNER
8:00 – 9:00 pm Bapak video talk with subtitles: 81 NYC 5
SATURDAY, AUGUST 6
9:00 – 10:30 am Latihan, followed by testing
Testing: quiet, deepening surrender, living my guidance
11:15 – 11:45 am ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
12:00 – 1:00 pm LUNCH
1:30 – 2:30 pm Annual General Meeting; continued
2:30 – 2:45 pm BREAK
2:45 – 3:45 pm Annual General Meeting; continued
6:30 – 7:30 pm DINNER
8:00 – 10:00 pm Entertainment: performances
SUNDAY, AUGUST 7
9:00 – 10:00 am Latihan
10:00 – 10:30 am Awareness testing
10:30 – 11:00 am BREAK
11:00 – 11:45 am Conclusion of Annual General Meeting, voting on next congress chair
12:00 – 1:00 pm LUNCH
2:00 – 3:15 pm Group testing
Testing: health, harmony and well-being of Subud; the future of Subud CA
6:30 – 7:30 pm DINNER
8:00 – 9:00 pm Entertainment: storytelling and group singing
9:00 – 10:00 pm Ibu Rahayu video talk with subtitles: 11 BGZ 1
MONDAY, AUGUST 8
8:45 – 10:15 am Closing circle
10:30 – 11:30 am Latihan
(onsite participants check out by 12:00 pm)
Information for Subud CA Congress Virtual Attendees
from the CA Regional Helpers
We requested guidance from the International Helpers for our “hybrid” (in-person and zoom) Congress regarding the testing of the Regional chair and vice chair. A statement was provided, signed by all 18 International Helpers. Contained within was this guidance:
“Bapak asked video of testing be omitted from his talks. There is a reason behind that. Please respect this and do not make testing a video event.
When we are all in person, we sit quietly in a latihan state to observe testing of new officers for Subud. This is not really the case in some cases with the use of Zoom. Other people may be walking in and out of the room with the computer or phone, people may be eating, etc. Keep the testing to the helpers and candidates at the congress location and with the normal protocol for those present to witness in person.
Please do not film the testing. If you need to do testing of a candidate for a position who cannot attend the congress that candidate should have at least 2 helpers physically present with him or her to witness the candidate’s testing and report back to the congress that is meeting live elsewhere.
We hope those not attending the congress will trust the helpers conducting the testing and supporting the selection for new positions. Presentations, discussions of issues, cultural events can certainly be done very well with Zoom… just not testing, filmed and broadcast.
It may be that someone who will not be attending the California Congress in person wishes to test for chair or vice chair. We strongly recommend if you have any inkling to put your name forward that you test with your local helpers OR we regional helpers are available to test with you.
The question to test is: “Is it correct for (your name) to put my name forward to test for Chair (or Vice Chair) of Subud California?” This test question is not to determine if you are correct for the position, it is to determine if you should put your name forward for testing.
If the testing indicates it is correct to put your name forward, please notify Luqman Katz, Chair of the 2024 Congress.
Please note that to conduct this testing with you not present at the congress, you will need to make arrangements to have two helpers physically present with you. The regional helpers will also be testing with the virtual candidates to add their receiving.
In accordance with our bylaws, Subud CA members present at the congress will vote on the chair and vice chair, following the testing procedure approved by the national helpers as used at our previous regional congresses.
Our policy is that all person attending on site at UC Santa Barbara must be vaccinated per these guidelines from the Region’s Executive Committee, communication to members in June:
Below is an outline of how we arrived at the decision to hold an in-person event and to establish and maintain this policy. It was indeed a challenging process, as many organizations, both Subud and others, chose NOT to meet in person this summer.
A foundational step for the regional helpers was testing on whether it was right to hold an in-person congress at UCSB. The receiving was affirmative for being onsite together and also for offering a virtual option. This corroborated members’ responses to a Congress survey, reported in our February 2022 newsletter.
However, with variations of Covid still emerging, it was clear that the planning team’s top priority must be to do everything possible to protect the health and safety of all attending onsite. Review of national and state guidelines confirmed that this meant requiring vaccination; also, many survey respondents commented that a vaccination requirement was a key factor in their decision to attend onsite.
For members who may not be vaccinated, it was imperative to offer a virtual congress option. While holding a “dual” event increases the complexity of organization and execution, it enables all who desire to do so to participate, especially in the kejiwaan activities
At time of contract signing, our venue at UCSB campus required both vaccination and masks for all students, faculty, staff, and visitors, which aligned well with our health safety priorities. In June, this requirement was waived for visitors or external groups holding summer events on campus. After considering the options, we decided to align our event with UCSB’s own Summer 2022 policy, which still requires vaccination for onsite staff and students. This ensures the safest possible environment for our members attending onsite.
It will be truly meaningful for so many of us to gather, both in person and virtually, and to have this opportunity to deepen our surrender together.
With love to all,
Subud CA regional committee, regional helpers & 2022 congress planning team