Ventura County Interfaith Community Minutes

 

Regular meeting, October 12, 2006         (page 1 of 3)

 

Attendees:        Bahá’í – Renée

Buddhist – Debbie, OBT Pure Land;  Kim, SGI Nichiren;  Roz, SGI Nichiren

Christian –Teri, St. Columba’s Episcopal;  Lowell, LDS Mormon;  Linda, PS Catholic

                       

Devotional:       Renée   A reading from Seven Valleys and Four Valleys, an example of how prayers can be answered by what seems at first to be a curse.

 

Review of Minutes:  Minutes of the Sept. 14th meeting were approved.

 

Activity reports: 

 

Sept. 16  California Coastal Cleanup Day – Kim atttended solo wearing makeshift VCIC badge.

 

Sept. 24  Disaster Preparedness Seminar at St. Columba’s – The event was a success.  55 children were fingerprinted per Teri.

 

Upcoming events in our communities:

 

Oct. 14-15 S.F.Valley Arts Council’s Artist Studios Tour, tickets $20, contact Roz 818-425-4850

 

Oct. 17, Tues. next CSUCI Interfaith meeting

 

 

Oct. 20, Bahá’í Celebration of the Birthday of the Báb, Fri. 6:15 pm, Adolfo Room, Camarillo Library, 3100 Ponderosa; for information call 805-444-2302

 

 

October 22, VIC Mission to Serve, Power to Transform event, Sun. 1:30-5 pm, St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church, 3646 Coldwater Cyn., Studio City, CA, 818-763-9193 sponsored by Valley Interfaith Council—see flier at their website.

 

October 29, Combatants for Peace event, Sun. 3-5 pm, Northridge United Methodist Church, 9650 Reseda Blvd at Superior; former Israeli and Palestinien fighters talk about how dialogue, not war, will solve the Middle East crisis.  See www.combatantsforpeace.org.

 

 

October 29, SGI Halloween Festival for children, Sun. 2-5 pm, SGI Oxnard Comm.Ctr., 2340 Wankel Way, Oxnard.  Contact Kim 805-795-3508.

 

 

October 30, Building Bridges Conference, Mon. 6-9:30 pm, Methodist Church on Anacapa in Camarillo, admission $10.

 

 

Nov. 9   VCIC FEAST OF FAITHS, Thursday, 6-8:30 pm, $25; reserve by Nov. 1 with Teri

 

Nov. 10, 6 pm, and Nov. 11, 10 am, (main event) VCIC members are invited to Charlotte Kreitzer’s Bat Mitzvah at Temple Ner Ami.

 

December Holiday Fundraiser hosted by Susan, date TBA.

 

Feb. 4, Blood Drive and Amer. Heart Assoc. CPR class at St. Columba’s Episcopal

 

 

VCIC minutes page 2 of 3, October 12, 2006 

 

PROJECT:  FEAST OF FAITHS

 

Publicity and flyers

 

Press release: Per Teri, Susan did press release for the Star;  Happenings and Acorn to be verified.

 

VCIC promo: ACTION-ALL – Promote event in respective communities.  Kim suggested that each core team member take personal responsibility for promoting 5 to 10 attendees.

 

Mailing: Status of mailing list and labels for local churches and VIP’s unknown, Susan not present.

 

After group discussion, we decided NOT to invite VIP’s who might hijack our event for PR purposes.

 

ACTION-TERI:  Write letter inviting local churches; contact Susan re: mailing.

 

Program, agenda, music

 

Opening:  OBT Taiko drummers are confirmed, per Debbie.  After discussion, we decided they

would open the program.  Linda suggested they provide the “punctuation” for a moment of

silence for attendees to offer their own faith appropriate prayers or grace prior to the dinner.

 

MC:  Lowell.  ACTION-LOWELL:  Find an inspiring non-denominational story to spark

discussion to be read before dinner.

 

Agenda: ACTION-KIM:  Type agenda for event (prepare for poster or hand-out)

 

Table topics:  Group brainstormed a starter list.  Final topics will include the following

 

faith

hope in times of crisis

peace

prayer

marriage

money

global citizenship

ending prejudice

why have interfaith dialogue?

what’s in a name?

afterlife

reincarnation

karma

healing

education

miracles

relationships

death

service

 

poverty

justice

integrity

free will

What would you like to share with others?

What have you learned that you wish you knew earlier?

What would you like to be remembered for?

 

ACTION-LINDA: Produce these as colorful strips as part of table decorations.

 

Closing song:  ACTION-KIM:  check availability of Sus Corez, professional singer who might be

willing to perform an inspirational song for free.   We’d like to end on a good “note.”

 

Food

 

Sheila’s catering:  good to go per Debbie

 

Drinks:  VCIC to provide;  ACTION-DEBBIE handle coffee and punch (?)  ACTION-KIM bring

creamer and sugar suppplies left from our January forum.

 


VCIC minutes page 3 of 3, October 12, 2006

 

Decorations and name tags

 

ACTION-LINDA:  Coordinate ALL—tablecloths, centerpieces, decor and name tags with Percy. 

            Teri mentioned that she has candle plates available for centerpieces.

 

Literature table

 

Per Debbie, not necessary because of extensive literature rack in lobby. 

ACTION-RENÉE make copies of VCIC brochure. 

(VCIC members may/may not bring own fliers?—secretary is unclear on this point)

 

YOUTH AUTHORITY SERVICE PROJECTS –Report by Linda on talks with Ruby Gaston

 

Citizens Advisory Group meets 2nd Thurs each month; because of YA’s background check, 2 week

notice required for anyone who plans to attend.  Linda will attend on November 9.

 

Volunteer tutors in math and science still greatly needed.  Contact Jerry DeVillers 484-7428.

 

Re: gifts for Alvarado mental health unit, nice shampoo & cond., toothpaste, soap, candy; no

homemade items.

 

Christmas cards and writing supplies are welcome gifts right now.

 

A Ward Benefit Fund distributes monetary donations.

 

Material donations such as clothing can be left in barrel at the front entrance, per Sandra Silva.

 

 

 

NEXT MEETING:       November 2, to finalize Feast of Faiths details and arrangements.

            Devotional:       Lowell will bring inspiring story he recommends for Feast of Faiths.