In Appreciation

In Appreciation

New Betsuin Organ � At the afternoon service on Sunday, September 14, the Buddhist Women�s Association (BWA) presented the Betsuin with a new electronic organ for services in the hondo. The organ is a major gift, which required the sale of many bota mochi, chirashi, sushi and manju, created with much hard work by the BWA members. Thank you to all of the members of the BWA for your very generous gift. I am told that the new organ is easier to play than the old one and that we will be featuring some new organists at future services. If you know how to play the organ and would like to perform as the accompanist at a future service, please contact me or Randy in the temple office and volunteer to be on the organist roster.

Betsuin Organization Day � Did you attend the Betsuin�s second annual Organizational Day in the gymnasium on Sunday, September 14? Thanks to Laurie Handa, who as part of her Girl Scout Gold Award Project, planned and coordinated the event. Many youth and adult Betsuin groups were present to explain what their organization is all about, answer questions about their activities and accept applications for membership. Laurie is also working on adding a Girl Scout section to the Betsuin web site. Thanks to Laurie for all of her efforts to improve the Betsuin, and thanks also to all of the organization representatives who helped to make the event a success.

Betsuin Web Site � Be sure to visit the Betsuin web site at http://www.sjbetsuin.com for the latest information and events at our temple. Webmaster Roy Batchelor has reorganized the site and upcoming events are now found right on the home page. If you ever missed a service, you may be interested in a project that Roy is working on to post Dharma talks on the web. You can view a sample at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZdyTYyxdqM and be sure to view the related topics at that site too. Thank you, Roy! I must advise you that viewing a Dharma talk on the computer does not replace the need to attend services at the temple, because you miss out on other treasures, like the Sangha.

Dana Club Event at Second Harvest Food Bank � On Wednesday, September 10, fourteen members of the San Jose Betsuin Dana Club represented the Betsuin by bagging pears at the Second Harvest Food Bank warehouse in San Jose. Thanks to George Hanada, Shiz Hanada, Bob Hayamizu, Louise Hayamizu, Dan Imai, Sandy Imai, Kristi Imai, Holly Low, Kelly Low, Shirley Sanda, Asako Tamekuni, Kaz Tamekuni and Emi Tsutsumi, who came out for this community support activity. The Dana Club also welcomes our newest members, Randy Shingai, Dina Hayamizu, Colleen Oda, Karen Tanaka, Amy Iwamoto and Ren Umeda. The Dana Club now has 46 members. If you want to be part of this community servicing group, please email me at [email protected].

Oseibo � Last year, I invited all members to practice the oseibo tradition by giving gifts to those who have helped them during the past year, especially the reverends and the temple office staff. Some of you responded with gifts to those you deemed deserving of such recognition. It has since occurred to me that some of you would want to be able to make a tax-deductible donation. This year, we will be offering an optional second method of giving to the reverends and office staff. You will be able to make a donation to the Betsuin Oseibo Fund with a form designating your intended recipient. The Betsuin will keep track of such donations and present a single check to each recipient with a list of all donors. Your donations to such a fund will also be acknowledged in the Dharma, unless you request to remain anonymous. A form for such donations to the Oseibo Fund will be available in the office shortly and the checks will be presented in December.

Temple Etiquette � During Sunday services, I have noticed that there are always a few people who arrive late to services, and enter the hondo while others are meditating, reciting the Nembutsu, sutra chanting, or singing a gatha. Such late arrival disturbs the decorum of the service and is rude to the officiating ministers and others who arrive on time. I am sensitive to such late arrivals, because when I was in the military, it was considered very offensive to arrive late for any event. There are occasional mishaps that may cause one to be late for a service, but let us try our best to be on time for all services. If you are late, please enter the hondo as quietly as possible.

In Gassho,

Al Hironaga