Members of the network have expressed interest in social impact strategies, evaluation, and reporting and this is an area HCN is passionate about. This weeks webinar flows into two sessions offered during the annual Virtual Gathering of Holistic Centers. Each session has been designed to provide an accessible introduction as well as sharing leading practices in impact measurement and performance monitoring for social purpose organizations.
[Read more…]Opportunity for Guest Experience Director, Oregon
Breitenbush Hot Springs Retreat & Conference Center is an off-grid, holistic center located in the Cascades, along the Breitenbush River. Breitenbush operates as a worker-owned cooperative. Workers live in a quaint village of cottages across a footbridge from the guest facilities. In an average year, Breitenbush attracts over 35,000 guests to the natural, mineral springs and workshop offerings.
Last year, the COVID pandemic posed new challenges, requiring the co-op to rethink communal aspects of the facilities and redesign them to fit with COVID safety protocols. Just over a month after successfully opening to guests with these new protocols in place, the Beachie Creek and Lionshead fires converged on Highway 46 and burned through the Breitenbush property, destroying more than half of our buildings. Our staff and guests all safely evacuated before the fires hit, but with the level of devastation wrought, we had to lay off more than three-quarters of the staff and now are in the process of regrouping and planning to rebuild. Breitenbush is working to rebuild and reopen the front gates to guests by the end of May 2021.
[Read more…]Recognising the Pain of the Asian Community
Dear friends,
During our webinar this past Wednesday we acknowledged the pain and hurt of the Asian community and read the names of the eight lives lost, six of which were women of Asian descent, in Atlanta, Georgia; Yong Ae Yue, Hyun Jung Grant, Xiaojie Tan, Daoyou Feng, Suncha Kim, Soon C. Park, Delania Yuan and Paul Andre Michels.
We recognise the pain of the Asian community within our retreat centers (be they staff or guests) at this pivotal time in the work against racial injustice and hate crimes, exacerbated by the pandemic over these last 12 months.
HCN has and always will be in the spirit of collaboration, seeking to co-create a more just and loving world. We exist to bring people together and to share the benefits of inner reflection for outer action, leading towards the transformation of society. Despite the suffering that exists in the world we believe in the importance of this collective work and that it matters now more than ever. We’re grateful to be in this with you and seek to create ever greater diversity, inclusion and compassion.
[Read more…]Virtual Gathering 2021: Announcing our Keynote Speakers
This year the annual Centers’ Gathering 3-6 May, 2021 takes place once more under unique circumstances. Not only are we online rather than in person, we are also re-emerging from over a year of a grave pandemic which has deeply affected the whole world. And of course, it has had a profound effect on the activities of our centers. Some have closed temporarily, some have shifted online, others are uncertain how to proceed. In all cases, we face unique opportunities in considering how we can emerge in a way that speaks to the profound challenges of our times and build resilience personally and collectively.
[Read more…]Magic Wands and Community Data
Adapted from an original blog by Ben Scott-Brandt and Justine Johnson, Retreat Center Collaboration
Our friends at the Retreat Center Collaboration (RCC) hosted a recent community call with our friends at Retreat Guru that will inform our HCN Virtual Gathering in May. We invite you to contemplate the question posed to the retreat centers present; “If you were given a magic wand what would you wish for personally, for your center, and for the world at large?” It was an engaging way to harvest the needs and challenges in conversation, rather than via a survey, and we welcome your input too as we strengthen our collective work.
Inner Leadership and our Consciousness of Money
We’ve been exploring the resilience of centers in different ways over recent webinars; from pricing analysis of programming, to co-creating a care first world, and keeping an eye on the horizon and the bottom line in preparing to re-open.
There’s growing interest in financial literacy and the link with leadership and we’re delighted to welcome back Karen McAllister. Karen holds the unique position of being a founding member of Clear Sky Retreat Center, responsible for fund development, a Mindful Money coach and spiritual teacher.
Mentored by Lynne Twist, global activist, fundraiser extraordinaire and author of the Soul of Money, and Deborah Price, founder of the Money Coaching Institute, Karen brings a lived experience of how this work can transform the culture of a holistic center. She offers money coaching internationally and will share real life examples of different behaviours that show up around leadership and money.
[Read more…]Opportunity for Program Assistant in BC
Naramata Centre is a place where people find an inclusive, welcoming space to reconnect in mind, body and spirit and is seeking a Program Assistant to join our collaborative creative team. Situated on 23 acres of land on the east shore of Lake Okanagan, the Centre inspires individuals and groups from many paths and walks of life as a place for learning, sharing, contemplation, personal growth and spiritual renewal.
This position is responsible for assisting the Program Manager in curating and delivering contemporary online and in-person programming in art, movement, and conversation intended to inspire individual and collective transformation.
The Program Assistant is a part-time position with flexible hours.
[Read more…]Exploring the Different Dimensions of Re-Opening
With the rollout of vaccinations taking place around the world and people in different stages of lockdown, the opportunities for centers to re-open for in person guest programs varies vastly. This week’s webinar helps navigate the many considerations involved for both participants and staff. Come together as we explore the practical to the emotional. From being mostly at home it can be disorientating for staff to go back to work or for participants to attend a gathering again. We all need to feel safe and prepare ourselves for the long haul.
[Read more…]Opportunity for Executive Director, Mount Madonna Center
The Hanuman Fellowship Board of Directors is seeking to fill the position of Executive Director of Mount Madonna Center (MMC).
Mount Madonna Center is a spiritual community and retreat center, located in the Santa Cruz Mountains overlooking the Monterey Bay. For over 40 years MMC has provided the opportunity for personal transformation for the residential community and the many guests who come to study Yoga and a myriad of other spiritual and personal growth disciplines. This commitment to personal transformation has spawned a vibrant conference facility that hosts world class presenters in many spiritual traditions, education, psychology, health, and wellness. These programs are offered alongside Mount Madonna Institute’s own programs in Yoga, Ayurveda, and Community Studies. Life at the Center is both active and reflective, where values that have heart and meaning structure everyday life.
[Read more…]Announcing the 2021 Virtual Gathering: The Long Game
The dates are now set for our annual gathering and once again we’ll be meeting in the Virtual Space. Save the dates 3 – 6 May and know that heartfelt connection, soulful nourishment and thought provoking inspiration will fill the space. We look forward to meeting in person when that’s possible once more and right now embrace the opportunity for your entire staff and support community to participate in live sessions.
Building on the success of our first Virtual Gathering in May 2020, and weaving in feedback from the network, we’re excited to share the unfolding schedule with you over the coming weeks. Throughout the event sessions are designed for powerful interaction and intimate engagement in groups large and small, meeting and learning from peers in other centers, celebrating the spirit of collaboration and mutual support.
[Read more…]