Boston Network of Spiritual Progressives / Tikkun Community
Post-Election Membership Meeting
November 12, 2006
2:00-4:00pm
(followed by light refreshments and schmoozing)

Agenda:
1) Report from the first national Network of Spiritual Progressives  leadership training
2) Mutual support for "New Bottom Line" action and advocacy in the new political context

Shalom/Salaam,

Boston NSP/Tikkun is setting out on a new era!

1) Beginning Sunday, November 12, our monthly membership meetings will take place at 2:00pm on the second Sunday of every month (except when postponed to avoid holiday weekends).

2) The primary purpose and agenda for these meetings will be for us to function as a network of mutual support for whatever we each do to advance NSP ideas in the world - whether through political action; in our workplaces; among our friends, neighbors, and spiritual communities; etc.  Each person will have an opportunity to share what they are currently doing, or hope to do (for November 12: in the new politcal context resulting from the election outcomes), and what external obstacles or inner resistance they face.  Whoever wishes can request feedback and counsel from others at the meeting.  In this way, we can give each other encouragement, consider how to approach a wide range of activities from an NSP perspective, and find others with whom we may share an interest in doing particular NSP work.

In addition to these meetings, you are invited to join . . .

3) Two action projects that are currently available for any interested NSP members to plug into:
     a) Hayyim Feldman, following up on our Pray for Peace gathering last July, will lead the patient construction of ongoing, spiritually-based interfaith Israel-Palestine peace work.
     b) New Steering Committee member Nicoli Bailey (founder of Progressive Democrats of America's "Spiritual Values Working Group") seeks NSP activists to join her gun-violence prevention project centered in Dorchester.
More information on both will be available at the Nov. 12 meeting, and will be announced on this list some time after that.
     Other action projects can emerge as NSP members take leadership initiative for them, with the monthly meetings providing an opportunity to develop the approach to each such project on the basis of the organization's core vision and principles.

4) A book group facilitated by Rachel Marta Greenberg to read and really digest Rabbi Michael Lerner's The Left Hand of God.  The first session is scheduled for 7:00pm Thursday, November 9, at Harvard Divinity School, Andover Hall - Rm. 103, 45 Francis Avenue, Cambridge MA.  If possible, please RSVP to let us know you're coming:  rachelmarta@aol.com, 617-628-7432. [Nov. 12 Addendum: It's still possible to join, staring the second session.  Contact Rachel Marta for further information.]

5) A "Spirit Matters" group; that is, a small, ongoing group for relationship-building, spiritual support, and learning to speak from the heart through the practice of Deep Listening and Deep Sharing.  We have one such group already established, and more on the way.  If you would like to sign up to participate in such a group, please give your name, phone number, email address, and town of residence to Deedee Agee <ddagee@gmail.com>, 201-906-3967.  (And welcome Deedee too as a new member of our Steering Committee, since August.)

6) An Events Committee led by Nate Peyman, to creat periodic NSP/Tikkun public outreach activies involving speakers, films, workshops, cultural presentations and performances, spiritual celebrations, and the like.  Your contribution of even moderate time and energy could greatly boost our ability to reach out to people and to reach into them.

This is an exciting time of renewal in the life of our chapter, and we hope each of you will find a way to share it with us!

Love and blessings,
-Hayyim