9/17/09 - Newletter

Dear Friends

Happy Fall! I love this time of year for that "back to school" feeling; our pencils are sharpened and we are ready to take on the day. There are so many ways to celebrate the season (and Living Yoga). We welcome Sarahjoy as a columnist for the volunteer newsletter.  Read on!

The Global Mala Project

Sunday September 20; 2-4 pm
Come celebrate the fall equinox in Pioneer Courthouse Square with 108 sun salutations taught by some of Portland's best yoga teachers. (Yes, you can rest & watch when you want to!) This event is part of a worldwide celebration of yoga, service and community. It is sponsored by Lululemon and organized by Living Yoga's own Tiffany Cruikshank-Viehmann. All donations collected will benefit Living Yoga. Come represent our community at this wonderful and inspirational public event. Bring your own sticky mat.

Yoga for Freedom

A message from Sarahjoy

Dear Living Yoga volunteers:

Living Yoga is evolving in so many ways right now, even our web page and newsletters are evolving!  One of the changes I'm excited to participate in is a regular contribution to the newsletters we send out to volunteers.

So, on my first launch here, let me start by simply expressing my gratitude for everything each of you does, both small and large, to support the ongoing mission of bringing yoga to our more marginalized community members!

I was having dinner with a friend last night and we were discussing all the ways in which people, organizations, and systems are attempting to be a part of the solution for social justice.  What we address through our offerings as yoga teachers extends way beyond the yoga poses, as each of us well knows from our own practices.  We're addressing thought, chemistry, neurological and emotional patterning, and the conditions that allow us as humans to behave in ways that are inconsiderate of other humans, perpetuate injustice, cause harm to self or other, or unknowingly deepen, by unawareness, our contribution to interpersonal violence.    We address this using yoga as our connecting tool and our shared practice, but we are really addressing it through our presence, our love and respect, our humility and studentship.  And by allowing ourselves to be shaped by our experiences with our students.

On this last point, I would personally love to hear from you about how you allow yourself to be shaped by your experiences and how that shaping has moved you in your life off the mat.  Please feel invited to write me back through the Living Yoga office. I eagerly await hearing from you!

Finally, I would like to extend a huge thank you to Tiffany Viehmann for presenting the Global Mala this weekend. I look forward to attending!  I hope to see many of you there.

Namaste,

Sarahjoy

PS.  An essay I wrote as published in Alternatives Magazine this month. Yoga as Freedom can be found by clicking here.

Gala Volunteers Needed

Friday, October 23~ Melody Ballroom
As you may know, our fall Gala is our most important fund raising event--taking in  approximately 90 percent of Living Yoga's operating revenue for the year. We need your help to make this year's Gala a success. We would love for all of you to attend or volunteer.

There are many niches to fill the night of the event and ways to help that day and the day prior. Time commitment varies according to task and your availability, but most are from 5-10 pm. Meals will be provided.

Please contact the office if you have any questions or want to sign up. The night guarantees to be lively and inspirational. It is a great way to mix & mingle and support our organization all at once. We are so blessed with our community of supporters helping to sustain Living Yoga's mission of offering our strengths to those in need!

Pre-event Prep--need 2: all the last minute details! Thursday, October 22 at the Living Yoga office.

Set-up Volunteers-- need 6: You will help set up and decorate the Ballroom during the day on Friday October 23.

Registration/Data Entry Volunteers--need 3: you will check guests in, register sales and check guests out. Good computer skills required.

Registration Runners--need 3: you will help manage traffic flow and pull bidder numbers.

Silent Auction Runners--need 5: you will help manage the silent auction and package auction items for pick up.

Live Auction Trackers--need 2: you will work with the auctioneer to track winning bidders and turn receipts into the data entry station.

Raffle Sales--need 3: you will sell raffle tickets during the cocktail hour. Can be combined with other assignments.

Tech Crew--need 2: provide the AV team a helping hand

Greeters--need 4 welcome and ease the traffic flow at the beginning and end of evening. Can be combined with other assignments.

Clean-up--need 4: lend a helping hand. It usually goes quickly.

Photographer--need 1 or 2: capture the event!

"Photo wrangler"--need 1: help organize guests for photo-ops. Familiarity of Living Yoga community helpful
 
Let me echo Sarahjoy's sentiments; I can not overstate how much we value all the time, energy and support you offer Living Yoga. It is such a great gift to be on the path of karma yoga with you. A special thanks goes out to those of you that donated to our prison book drive. I delivered them to Coffee Creek and they will be available to the inmates soon.
 
namaste,
 
Nancy Williams
Living Yoga