Summer 2011

Dear Meher Center Family,

Happy summer and Jai Baba to all! The cover photo, taken years ago by Alan Levinson, seems reflective of the effulgent silence that is found in the quiet beauty of the Center, and it is Meher Baba's love that beckons us into the awe and mystery of this stillness. On the evening before Silence Day, July 9, Center guests gathered in the Barn to be welcomed into Baba's warm embrace. We heard inspiring words, sweet stories, exquisite music, and shared in an intimacy created by the Lord of Love, an opportunity for His lovers to connect with the silent companionship He offers. It was such a lovely evening, and the next day, Silence Day, just as magical.

Program News

Since our last newsletter, there have been many special programs. Charles Haynes came for Baba's Birthday in February, sharing many wonderfully humorous and touching stories of times with Meher Baba. In May, Dara and Amrit Irani visited the Center for the first time in many years. At a Saturday evening program they described being with Meher Baba when they were young, and on their wedding day in December 1968. It was a joy to have them here.

We missed Bhau's annual May visit to the Center. We missed his talks, his walks, all the sharing and the fun, the inspiration of his company. What a blessing those visits have been, for twenty-five years... Jai Baba!

In June, Jenny and Ross Keating were here from Australia and presented a lovely program about Francis Brabazon. Jenny is Bill LePage's daughter. Bill and Diana LePage also arrived in June, and will be here at the Center until the end of September. Bill is giving several evening talks in the Meeting Place throughout the summer, and he and Diana share with guests informally three afternoons a week in the Original Kitchen. Diana's artwork in displayed in the Meeting Place, and she will give a slide presentation of her work at a program in August. Robert Dreyfuss was also with us in June, and shared one evening about his times in India after meeting Meher Baba.

Looking ahead, the Youth Sahavas begins July 26 and ends July 31. For twenty years this event has provided a special opportunity for teenagers to experience the Center's unique atmosphere, so filled with Baba's love and presence, and to grow in their relationship with Him. This year there will be 79 high school participants, and a crew of young adults to staff the event.

At the end of August, we look forward to a visit from Rustom and Sohrab Irani, Baba's twin nephews, who will speak one evening in the Meeting Place, sharing their wonderful music and stories. There will also be a picnic on August 27 outside the Original Kitchen, to which all are invited, reminiscent of the gatherings we had every year for Kitty's birthday—cake and beverages provided. Bring your lunch and blanket!

From the Gateway: Holiday Reservations and Other Reminders

Once again we will be using the lottery process in the ongoing effort to be fair to all who want to be on the Center for the Christmas and/or New Year holidays. If you would like reservations any time from Friday, December 16, 2011, through Sunday, January 1, 2012, send the form included with this newsletter to the Gateway. An explanation of the process is on the form. If you want to be included in the lottery drawing, we must receive your form anytime before Saturday, September 17, 2011.

It is important for the ongoing maintenance of the Center to keep guest arrival and departure time on a steady schedule: no later than 11:00 am departure, no earlier than 2:00 pm arrival. We're calling it the "window for cabin upkeep." When it is very busy, this is especially important and we ask everyone's help in keeping with this schedule, as much as possible, for the benefit of all.

Also, a reminder about children: the guidelines for parents are that children under 9 must be with their parents at all times on the Center. For children 9 to 15, their parents (or designated adult) must be on Center and actively engaged in their supervision---the Directives say "aware of their activities and whereabouts at all times." This applies of course to nearby families, as well as Center retreat guests. And it is of course for the children's safety.

News from the Board of Directors

It’s been a very busy and joyously productive spring for the Board. Having articulated the Vision, “Meher Spiritual Center, Meher Baba’s Home in the West, where all who come can experience His Love,” the Values and the Mission, the early part of the year was spent sharing these guiding principles with the staff, emeritus Board, and key volunteers.

When we met for our annual meeting in February, the Board conducted a self-assessment and reviewed the input from Barbara and Rich Goll (consultant to the Board), who had utilized an evaluation tool which gave the Board important feedback about how the Board was functioning and where we needed to improve.

The next big undertaking has been to integrate and align the Vision, Values and Mission into the governance documents, by-laws and strategic plan. Additionally, the Board has been working with Rich Goll to develop and practice new skills which will improve the efficiency and effectiveness of our Board meetings.

In the April two-day Board retreat we addressed, through the process of dialogue, the linkage between the Board and Administrator, which yielded some valuable insights and provided a direction toward the future.

In June, the Board hosted a gathering of 34 Baba lovers from the community, staff and out of town, to focus on how the leadership of the Center could meet the strategic goal #4: “To ensure significant opportunities for communication between the Meher Baba family and leadership at all levels, (including Board members, management, staff and Board committees) in order to provide for informed decision-making on behalf of the Center.” The participants rotated through four focus groups with one or more Board members, using the process of asking “powerful questions." The Board received 324 comments and ideas that will be collated and synthesized into action steps within the next few months. The sincere enthusiasm and engagement of the participants (especially on a beautiful summer afternoon) touched and inspired all of us.

Ahead of us, in the Board retreats, we will be addressing the following strategic issues: the structure of Board committees, staffing, preservation, accommodations, and programming. With Baba’s loving guidance, we will look into these important concerns, knowing that it is His will that prevails.

From all at the Center, we send you much love and hope to see you at His home soon. May your summer be sweet and filled with His presence.

In Baba's Love,
Nancy Geagan, for the Meher Center Board of Directors
Marshall Hay, John Leiter, Nancy Geagan, Arsenio Rodriguez, Wendy Haynes Connor, Ann Edelman, Geri Craddock, and Merwan Mehta

Click here to download the Holiday Reservations Form