1/7/2026
Present: Elizabeth, Helen, Ka, Jennifer, Phil, John, Martha, Hassan, Karim
Opening Dance: “Ahavah Raba Ahavtanu”
Announcements:
January 17th event in Salem has more than 30 registered.
73 people are signed up for Trancones retreat in Mexico.
Gratitudes were expressed for support during Aramaic Lord’s Prayer and Global Peace Dance.
Voice for Peace: Karim
Treasurer’s Report: We paid through April at 7400 Woodlawn. Our total holdings are $5933. There are a few incidental ongoing costs; all major expenses are paid til summer.
Personal Check-ins
2025 Vashon Retreat
Evaluations: 43 were returned, and results were the same as last year. Martha sent out a summary earlier. Main concerns were a desire for more young folk, and for less fussing with mics. Most responded that they loved everything, with many mentioning the variety of leaders.
Finances: Profit is $1828. We got $1100 in donations, and gave 10 scholarships. That leaves an extra $100 for our scholarship bucket, which now totals $542. We had over 90 people registered and 83 actually came, so we took in more income than usual.
Proposal for additional Vashon expense: Helen proposed adding $100 each to the honorariums for Elizabeth and Martha. We agreed unanimously, which makes the profit $1628.
Website Update
Helen proposes using some of our profit to update our website. Our current web designer mentioned that she could make the current site more user friendly for a few hundred dollars. Martha also has an interest in creating an online registration form for next year’s fall retreat.
We had a lively discussion about several options. We agreed that we have enough funds to upgrade the website. Martha and Helen will form a subcommittee to explore options with our current web designer, and with a younger dancer who sometimes attends our circle, who is also a web designer.
Break for Gratitude:
Our open conversations. We have so many options. Care for website and minutes. Goodwill and ease of conversation. Diversity of ideas and care for people we work with. Keeping the dances alive. All of us contribute, not just one or two. Long history of dance-team work. Stability at 7400.
Spring Dances at 7400 Woodlawn:
January 24: Karim and Phil.
February: Jennifer and Hassan, and potentially a third leader.
March 28: Ka and Matin.
April: Elizabeth and Hassan.
May: Park dances resume.
Review of Indoor Fall Dances:
Oct 11: smaller attendance, Hassan brought the theme of fall/turning of the year. Karim felt supported before leading at Vashon.
Nov 15: Post-retreat, so material was ready and baraka from Vashon was flowing. Ka and Murad enjoyed leading together.
Dec 12/13 (Aramaic Lord’s Prayer): It was challenging for Karim due to timing back to back with Sema. Both leaders felt satisfied and want to work on details. Hassan regretted being blocked by floods,
Jan 1 (Global Peace Dance): Ka sent gratitude for all the people who supported it. She felt overwhelmed, and will want others to handle refreshments in the future. Felt good to see in the new year this way. Pacing was peaceful. New dancers were moved and likely to return.
Overall learnings: We will need careful planning of the timing and support needed for holiday-time dances.
Year-end Donations – we agreed to the following:
NW Harvest: $300
7400 Woodlawn: $200
DUPNA: $200
Next Meeting:
Date and time: March 25, 3:00-4:30 by zoom. We agreed we would set meetings for 1.5 hours, make an effort to attend the entire time, and notify the convener if unable to comply.
Convener: Karim
Scribe: Helen
Interim committee: Martha, Karim, John
Closing Dance: “Govinda Hare”
1/07/2026 View or download pdf
Fall Retreat Evaluation Summary: View or download pdf