Your Donations Make a Difference: Dharma Forward
In a recent article on the Buddhist Churches of America website, former San Diegan (and BTSD organist!) Steven Terusaki writes about how BCA has followed through on its promises to address several issues in the BCA, thanks to the BCA National Conference guidance and your donations to Dharma Forward.
Crises in 2019
Dharma Forward began as a resolution to fulfill a million dollar need at the 2019 National Council Meeting. By resolution, five crucial issues needed immediate attention and could not just be kicked down the road, in the opinion of BCA delegates. The crises included a looming large loan payment on the Jodo Shinshu Center along with other property upgrades and repairs, and a small project to assist Central District bring livestreaming to its sanghas.
Steve Terusaki reports on the response to all these crises, most already resolved and one or two underway.
He praises the efforts of many dedicated volunteers and staff to provide resolution to the critical issues identified in 2019.
About Steven Terusaki
Steven is the president-elect of the BCA, but many Sangha members knew him when he was active in the Buddhist Temple of San Diego up through the 1970s. In 1973 he spent his junior year of college abroad in Tokyo. On his return in 1974 he transferred and completed his undergrad education at the University of California Santa Barbara. He completed graduate work at the University of Michigan with a Masters in Landscape Architecture in 1979.
On his return to California he landed in the Bay Area since, where he and his wife Kathy live in Albany. They became members of the Buddhist Church of Oakland, and keep connections with BTSD and her home temple of Enmanji.
As a side note, both the current BCA president, Terri Omori, and the next BCA president, Steven, are products of our Temple. President Omori is Ralph Honda’s sister and now with husband Ford is a member of the Vista Buddhist Temple. We are proud of both of them and their many accomplishments.
About Dharma Forward
Dharma Forward has grown into a joint effort by the BCA Endowment Foundation, BCA, and IBS to raise monies to invest in education, outreach, facilities infrastructure and most importantly, ministers—so that the Dharma is available for future generations in perpetuity.
Some of you have already donated to this important campaign, and fundraising continues. For the rest of you, we hope you will consider contributing in future. Learn more here.
Early Results - Scorecard
See the BCA article for details on how most items were completed and the status of the few in process.
Steve did give us more detail around the picture above, which interior work in the upgrade and repair of the Bishop’s parsonage. The kitchen and the family room are now connected to form one large area, with hardwood floors throughout for greater flexibility in use. “We replaced window coverings and painted throughout,” he explained. “In the kitchen, we repainted the cabinets, replaced the tile counter with new quartz stone counters and backsplashes, replaced fluorescent fixtures with LEDs, and replaced door hardware. We tried use renovation dollars wisely to provide the greatest impact.”