Present:  Guy Semmes, Dana Semmes, Isabelle Robinson, LJ Milone

The meeting began with a period of centering prayer, and then with each individual giving a brief spiritual check-in.

 

 

Report on Virginia Service Team:

Isabelle reported on the Virginia Service Team's meeting and decisions.  They are calling the Post Living Flame Experience:  Fanning the Flame.  they have set tentaive dates and tentative formats.

 

Their 1st meeting is scheduled to be Oct. 11 or Oct. 18, 1-4 PM, an Open House for Questions and Answers for people new to the CP practice.  It shall consist of an opening, mini CP presentation and practice with Q & A, mini lexio presentation and practice wtih Q & A, a Groups presentation, handouts, and calendar.  The leadership team made suggestions to Isabelle to send info to Benedictine Center, church bulletins, Catholic Herald, Living Flame participants (to put in their own church bulletins) and group facilitators (to share with new members of their group and also to put in their church bulletins)  It will be held in Annandale - St. Ambrose - Mary Jane Ross' parish.  Will there be any cost to participants?

 

The Post Living Flame Experience will have 4 meetings;

Centering Prayer:  Nov 18 or 15

Lexio:  January 10 or 17

Welcoming Prayer:  March 14 or 21

Forgiveness Practice:  May 9 or 16

Sessions will run from 9 AM - 1 PM, cost $75 ? for 4 sessions and be held at St. Ambrose in Annandale.  The format will be 9-10, 2 periods of CP, a video or local speaker, small group sharing, ending with 2 periods of CP.  These 4 sessions will be for experienced practicioners.  The estimated cost for COMW would be $300 per session to cover church stipend, dvd rentals, speakers' fees, coffee and drinks, and copies.

 

June 6 is planned as a Visioning Day.

Action Item:  Write Check to Virginia Service Team

 

OR

 

Action Item:  Check Getting a 2nd Copy of the COMW Debit Card for VA Service Team

 

LJ spoke about his plans as CP Group Ambassador:

He hopes to visit one CP group a week, maybe sometimes 2 a week.  He will try to visit all of them by June.

The leadership team suggested certain materials that he might want to bring to the groups:

     A sheet written by Guy:  What is Contemplative Outreach of Metropolitan Washington (COMW)?  Action Item:  Guy, write and send to LJ.

     Copy of CO Newsletter

     Info Sheet on how to sponsor an Intro

     COMW's Book Inventory (On Wiki)

     Calendar of Coming Events

 

Action Item:  Basic Contact Info Sheet - Guy will prepare

Action Item:  Isabelle needs corrected contact infor for home page on website (Guy)

Action Item:  Send Henry Bourne's contact information to LJ re. Father Mark's group (Dana)

Action Item:  Send PDF of CP brochure to LJ (Dana)

 

Action Item:  Guy needs to get contact people together to think about creating a sheet for facilitators regarding How to Sponsor an Intro (What is this? - Dana)

 

Action Item:  Isabelle Concoct Welcoming Prayer Intro (What is this?  I don't remember. - Dana)

 

Website: 

Action Item:  Isabelle, put Bethany Retreat House in Pennsylvania into links to retreat houses

 

Bi-Annual Report to CO Due Sept. 1:

Action Item:  Guy will write a letter for CO Newsletter

 

Financial Report:

Dana gave the present balance in the checkbook: $15,298.17

Action Items:  Dana will write and send a check for $1,000 to Great Falls Presbyterian Church as a thank you for Living Flame II's use of their space, Guy will attach a letter

Dana will send a check for $1,000 to CO from Living Flame II as their 2007/08 tithe and a check from COMW of 10 % of  all 2007 deposits.

 

Update on recent and future Intro Workshops:

Action Item:  Guy will send info on Father Mark's upcoming contemplative prayer presentation in Frederick.

 

Contemplative Outreach 2008 Annual Conference

Some discussion regarding who was interested in attending and how much COMW could support members' attendance.  In the past, half or all of the Coordinator's flight, registration, and hotel reservation were paid. 

Action Item:  Because of the large balance in the account, Guy's registration and his hotel reservation will be paid.  He will be driving to Pittsburgh.  The leadership team agreed that COMW could pay half of other team members' registration fees and hotel costs. (I actually don't remember what we said.  Did we say 1/2 of registration and no hotel, or 1/2 registration and 1/2 of hotel? I have checked, and registration if done before 9/2 is $425, after that $450 for the 5 days, for the weekend it is $225 or $250 respectively.  Also staying at the Marriott Pittsburgh International Hotel where the meeting is held has CO group rates at $99 per single, $109 per double, plus tax, but they seem to be running out of space at those rate.  If you call the hotel directly, they may be able to finagle the rooms for you, but I also checked closeby motels like Comfort Suites and Days Inn which cost about 1/2 that - Dana )  No one will be taking a plane to Pittsburgh.