Disembodiment of Long Term Decision Making Power

**download easy-to-print version of Surya's essay**

Structural Set Up

The By-Laws were structured to support a resident community where the majority of residents were continuing or caretaker members. This sub-set carried the long term vision and made the long term decisions as a steering force within the extended body of resident and non-resident members. All the power of implementation is given to those in residence. The only stated requirement of a non-resident continuing member (NRCM) is to attend annual meeting, OR send a letter to renew their membership.

The conceptual ideal of a continuing member is to live in residence at the Foundation, become a transmitter of “The Lama Way” and return to the world to do Lama’s greater work in service to the world. This is a functional set up only as long as there are multiple continuing members in residence which are either stable (3-4 yrs residence), or supported by a resident body with significant interest in becoming a continuing member.

How the Shift Began

Beginning in the early 90’s, the number of continuing members in residence began to decline. Committees were formed (physical plane, financial plane, social plane) that included NRCM’s and local trustees. In a sense, the core group function was expanded and reformatted to include non-resident members. Many local members got involved. This functioned to strengthen and support a resident body where participating members were the majority. Each summer, the resident body would shrink back to a handful, who would boldly take on up to 50% new members at fall meetings.

The “Lama Education” of each year’s new members was greatly supported by the variety of NRCM’s who were involved in Lama’s business through committee participation. Building the Community Center further expanded non-resident involvement by creating design committees and an off site fundraising office run primarily by trustees.

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