Subud World News
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Subud World News Newsletter of ISC - the International Subud Committee Volume I – No. 1 Buenos Aires, October 2001 An introduction and free doughnut by WSA Deputy Chairperson Meldan Heaslip MESSAGE FROM Since Bali, the thirty six people who make up the new world IBU RAHAYU Subud council have been immersed deeper than ever in Subud work - well, thirty five as Peter Filippelli remains engaged as ongoing Chair of the Muhammad Subuh Foundation. TO THE AMERICAN The council includes eighteen international helpers, seven KEJIWAAN zone representatives, international chairs from each of the wings/sub-committees of our organization and a treasurer, GATHERING accountant and chair of the executive committee who are responsible for day to day running of the council (finances, communications). Brothers and Sisters of Subud USA, Leading this team and pulling it all together is Daniel Cheifetz, a successful entrepreneur and Subud nut from Chicago, USA. I First of all I ask your forgiveness that I cannot fulfill your invitation to attend the Kejiwaan Gathering in Texas. This have the pleasure of working closely with him and with this is because I felt my journey abroad for meetings in several great team. countries this year was sufficient, in accordance with my condition and state of health. Our focus in the last few months has been to develop a sense of what it is Subud members want out of their organization. The events that happened in New York and Washington We have used every opportunity we've been given to interact D.C., certainly shocked the world, and brought concern to with and engage members by attending gatherings in Britain, Anall believingintroduction in humanity. and free doughnut the USA, Spain and Canada. This weekend, Daniel is attending the German congress and I'm off to the Irish SinceWe as Bali,Subud the members, thirty six whether people whowe wanted make up to theor not, new were world congress. Subudstruck bycouncil the influence from that incident which brought haveabout been that immersedgreat tragedy, deeper both than Subud ever membersin Subud inwork the U.S.- well, At each event, we have facilitated open discussions, where thirtyas well five as asSubud U.S. members who live in various members are encouraged to share their feelings and thoughts Petercountries. Filippelli So we remains should engagedalways be as peaceful ongoing andChair under of the the about our association. The focus often turns to group life, MuhammadProtection of Subuh God. We ask in prayer as well as in the where success stories are shared alongside stories of where Foundation.latihan to be far from evil and rage. group life lets people down. TheThis councilbig happening includes certainly eighteen carries international a great helpers, influence seven in Daniel uses a wonderful analogy where he compares our zoneyour gathering. May this kejiwaan gathering be filled with Subud groups to doughnut stores and the latihan to a doughnut representatives,the significance internationalof humanity, chairsand also from may each your of latihan the (or 'donut' if you prefer). These doughnuts give the eater a wings/sub-committeestogether help the innocent jiwas that have become victims very nice feeling and provide all kinds of good things for his ofso ourthat organization they obtain theand Blessing a treasurer, of God accountant in their andrealm. chair of the or her life. They are free and we have doughnut stores in executive towns and cities all over the world. committeeMay the Kejiwaan who are Gathering responsible be for successful day to day and running peaceful. of the councilWe join in prayer that everything can go safely. In spite of the large numbers of people that are searching for (finances, communications). just this sort of doughnut, and as delicious and as free as our With best wishes, doughnuts are, in some cases we just aren't so good at making LeadingSiti Rahayu this Wiryohudoyo team and pulling it all together is Daniel them available. The problem, it seems, is that many of our doughnut stores are not such pleasant places to be. In some SWN Volume I, No. 1 October 2001 lights may be out, the sign on the door may even say closed. If So, we have our work cut out for us. It is important to point someone hungry enough does venture through the door, he or throughout these open discussions is that almost everything she may be greeted with a husky "whatcha want?!". If this boils down to the efforts of individuals and groups and that it brave person turns out to be a member that has been away for is essential, for progress' sake, that members take ownership of a while, they may be greeted with an inquisition - "so, where our association. have you been?", "why haven't you been coming?!". During our meetings and these open discussions, it seems we It is our aim to encourage and support are quickly reaching the point where we have all had enough efforts to make improvements to our of reading, writing or talking about these issues and it is time 'doughnut stores', both inside and out. We instead for action. have a great team, all very keen to serve members and be a part of improving our So here we go - let's take action. We have a broad-based, association. innovative and dedicated team of people on this new council, who are getting to grips with their new roles and with each And, most importantly, it is clear that other, all with the clear aim of working together as a team and everyone wants the same thing – to feel with national committees and members on just these sorts of comfortable enough with Subud and the latihan, which touches issues mentioned above (we are also working on implementing on one of the dearest and most important parts of all of our the World Congress resolutions). lives, to introduce their closest friends and family to it. Members in general want a group life where opinions are To be as effective as we'd like to be, we will need your help, respected, people are cared for and everyone is extremely your direction and feedback. So please, if you have feedback flexible. let us know, if you have suggestions let us know, and most importantly, if you want to turn your group into the most This word flexible has kept popping up during these open attractive and most pleasant of all doughnut stores out there or discussions. Whether it be in the case of helpers who stick if you want to open a new one on your street, contact myself or rigidly to routines that have become 'rules' in some groups, or Daniel right now! whether it is one member's desire to use English names for the latihan (exercise/spiritual training) or jiwa (soul, inner) when [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> explaining Subud to a newcomer and another's desire to keep things Indonesian. [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> A brief report from the ISC Chair Dear brothers and sisters: of WSA/ISC in US dollars, British pounds and euros, and we have also kept the account opened eight years ago by Harun It feels as though it has been a long time now since Bali, where Murray in the First Union Bank of Virginia, at that time the so many of us were able to share the blessings participating in Signet Bank, as it gives continuity to WSA’s finances. The the XI World Subud Congress, the first of the new signatories of the accounts are Daniel, Osanna, Leonard and millennium. The great way it was organized by Hermina myself, with two signatures for the cheques. Some of the Dobson and her team in just four months shows our potential Zones are also in the process of opening their zonal bank when we undertake a common goal. The new members of the accounts in the name of WSA/ISC as decided by Congress. Council are now in the process of getting acquainted with their Leonard, in his capacity as the Accountant, keeps track of the roles and have already started to get organized for the four bank accounts, is in charge of the book-keeping and makes the years we have ahead. Two of the new International Helpers’s payments from Rotterdam. In her capacity as the Treasurer Dewans have already met, Area II in Vigra, Norway, and Area Osanna authorizes the payments with me, prepares the budget, III in Austin, Texas. Area I will meet in Canberra in January. etc. It sounds easy but in fact it involves a lot of work, as she In November the place and date of the next WSC’s meeting has to care for all expenses / income and more. They both are will be decided. the pillars of the new ISC’s financial structure and are doing a Immediately after Congress we started working as a team with great job. Daniel Cheifetz, Meldan Heaslip, Osanna Vaughn, Leonard As stated by the WSA By-laws, ISC works under the guidance van Willenswaard and myself, organizing first of all the new of the WSA Chair, and so we have the valuable active ISC financial arrangements following the guidelines approved participation of Daniel and Meldan, and although our team by the World Congress. To this end we have opened the new functions via email it is quite real. Daniel has baptized it as the ISC bank accounts in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, in the name “core team” and it is great to be part of it as we feel trusted 2 SWN Volume I, No. 1 October 2001 and supported by each other, and of course the chances to make mistakes is rather reduced this way, as we can openly express our World Subud Council views and discuss every detail.