Dear ZCO Sangha,
Hogen asked me to share this with you.
After you read – If you have questions about Great Vow and the surrounding property, contact hogen@zendust.org, and for questions about the Sangha process feel free to contact Kodo who is the president of the ZCO board at kodo.conover@gmail.com
———- Forwarded message ———
From: Hogen Bays <hogen@zendust.org>
Subject: Great Vow Property
Dear Board and Sangha,
I want to let you know about some events that could affect the sangha.
Here is a bit of history: the Great Vow buildings began in 1970 when the Clatskanie School district decided to build the Quincy-Mayger school. To do so they purchased 20 acres of land from a local farmer, Ed Sirnio. Ed made sure that he controlled the 22 acres of land and all water rights surrounding the school.
Looking at the map, (Click here for an image.), the pink area is the Sirnio 22 acre property that surrounds Great Vow. To orient yourself, notice Quincy-Mayger Road toward the bottom.
Ed’s property includes all of the hill behind the monastery up to the ridge, about 10 acres.
Ed’s property is intertwined with Great Vow’s property. Our water lines, many trails, part of the Jizo garden and access passages all transit his property.
Now, Ed, his wife Marietta and their son Jack have all died. Their other son Joe and Carol (Jack’s widow) approached us asking if we would like to purchase the property. They had some urgency as there were debts and illness afflicting them.
Hogen polled several people familiar with Great Vow and the surrounding land. They unequivocally were in favor of acquiring this land. However, it is incumbent on the board with input from the rest of the sangha, to decide if acquiring this property would be an advantage to ZCO and the Dharma in both the near and distant future. The property has many elements that would protect Great Vow, does it also offer creative advantages? Some ideas are: to host retreats, to offer housing for married people or guests who cannot follow the monastery schedule, to move the wood shop, to provide new trails, to shelter many of the things (wood, tractor) that currently surround Great Vow, space for a field of Chinese Herbs, etc.. All ideas are welcome.
We invite you to come take a look. Examine this map, visit Great Vow for a tour, talk to those who know the land (Hogen) or just walk the property and evaluate the situation first hand. The sangha and board must decide if this is a felicitous opportunity
We can discuss this at the ZCO BOARD MEETING, November 6, 2022.
With warmth in the Dharma,
Hogen
P.S. Again, if you have questions about Great Vow and the surrounding property, contact hogen@zendust.org, and for questions about the Sangha process feel free to contact Kodo who is the president of the ZCO board at kodo.conover@gmail.com