Join us in the Awakening Together Sanctuary this Sunday, August 23rd at 8 PM Eastern time for a chat with Reverend Tony Ponticello. Rev Tony is a cofounder of Community Miracles Center (CMC) located in San Francisco, California. He is an A Course In Miracles (ACIM) teacher, counselor and author. He maintains a strong internet presence and speaks regularly at A Course In Miracles conferences. His work is focused primarily at the San Francisco, California CMC where he speaks once a month. While sometimes considered outspoken and controversial, he is mostly loved and highly thought of in ACIM circles, especially for his long time dedication to ACIM and for his community building work.
Thank You for Answering Our Call to Write Letters to the IRS
Dearest Members,
Thank you very much for responding to our request to write letters to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) regarding your experience with Awakening Together. We have forwarded 43 heartfelt letters from members along with several other documents in order to express to the IRS that we are, indeed, a strong and close like-minded spiritual community who deserves to be recognized as a church.
If you would like to learn more about our application for church status, please join us in the Sanctuary for our quarterly Member Meeting on Sunday, September 13 at 8pm ET.
With great love and in gratitude,
Regina Dawn Akers
Satsang with Ram Das Batchelder, Sunday, August 16, 8pm ET
Join Regina Dawn Akers in the Awakening Together Sanctuary for Satsang with Ram Das Batchelder at 8pm ET on Sunday.
Ram Das Batchelder was born in Pennsylvania in 1961, had a spiritual awakening in his early twenties, and has spent most of the last 25 years in India as a devotee of Amma, the “hugging Saint.” He has written four children’s books, which have been translated into several European languages, and also a novel in rhyming verse, three full-length plays, and 40 original songs. In 2012, he and his wife, Tarini Ma, wrote and co-taught a university course on Hinduism in Venezuela. He has given numerous talks and workshops about various aspects of spirituality in many locations around the world. He and his wife are currently offering 5-star tours of the sacred cities of India, to both Spanish and English-speaking groups.
“Rising in Love: My Wild and Crazy Ride to Here and Now, with Amma, the Hugging Saint
” tells the story of Ram Das Batchelder’s powerful marijuana-fuelled spiritual awakening in America (which included meeting an angel), his two-year struggle with delusion and addiction, his subsequent renunciation of drugs, and his eventual discovery of Amma (the living Guru known in the West as “the Hugging Saint”). The narrative then covers the 27 amazing years he has spent in quest of Enlightenment as Amma’s devotee, most of that time in India. It is a story of profound healing from drug addiction and despair into a joyfully fulfilled life, and is therefore a ray of hope for all who suffer from addiction or mental illness of one kind or another.
Website: rising-inlove.org
(Rising in Love’s publication was directly approved by Amma, and contains 22 photos of her. All royalties from the sale of Rising in Love are being donated to Amma’s orphanage in Kerala, India, which houses 500 children and consistently turns out some of the most successful high school graduates in the state, one-third of whom go on to earn college degrees.)
How You Can Help Awakening Together Get Church Status
Dear Awakening Together Members,
As you know, Awakening Together has applied for church status with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and is currently under review. In the past, another internet organization applied for church status and their request was denied. Their court case is a well-known court case, The Foundation of Human Understanding vs. United States.
In that court case, The Foundation of Human Understanding was turned down for church status because their organization operated as an internet radio broadcast. The court determined that there was no evidence that the listeners of their broadcast had a shared or communal worship experience.
In order to receive church status, we must show that our members associate with each other regularly and participate in shared, communal worship. We feel that our Sanctuary allows association and shared, communal worship because of the interactivity provided through PalTalk.
Here’s How You Can Help
We are now on a short-deadline to respond to an IRS Request for Information. In that response, we need to show whether our members feel that they do or do not associate with one another on a regular basis and whether they feel they do or do not have a shared, communal worship experience through Awakening Together.
Please send an email addressed to the Internal Revenue Service describing your genuine experience with Awakening Together. Do you experience association and shared, communal worship with other members? How long have you been coming into the Sanctuary? Why do you come into the Sanctuary? Is there something about Awakening Together that makes it your church of choice? Describe your experience.
What Needs to be in Your Email
Your email must include your full name, telephone number and mailing address so that the IRS may contact you if they choose to. (Note: The IRS will not respond via email.)
When We Need Your Email By
We must receive your email by Saturday, August 15.
Where to Send Your Email
You may send the email to regina.awakeningtogether@gmail.com or send it via Contact.
Thank you very much for your assistance.
Sincerely,
Regina Dawn Akers, Jacquelyn Eckert & Barbara Deurwaarder
This Sunday in the Awakening Together Sanctuary:
This Sunday evening at 8 PM Eastern, join Craig Villarrubia in the Awakening Together Sanctuary as he discusses the upcoming MiracleShare virtual conference and the new documentary, A Course in Miracles – Enlightenment or Bust!
The documentary is an inspirational story of a curious guy who has come upon a teaching that sparked a Spiritual Awakening. Anxious to learn more about the Course, he sets off to meet teachers who have gone before him in his journey. His willingness to dive into the Course and the application of its principles would radically shift his perception on life. Learn about the making of this documentary and the many great teachers Craig met and interviewed for the film.
Back Again! – Tony Samara for Awakening Together Satsang, Sunday at 8pm ET
Tony Samara was our guest last month for Awakening Together Satsang. However, the interview was cut off early due to a lost connection, so Tony is returning this month for another Satsang interview with Regina.
This month’s interview will cover topics including:
- Embracing the creative moment of this now
- Transcending the inner saboteur
- Learning to let the Heart make choices for us
- The connection between the brain and choices
- Realizing who I am
- The Keys to Meditation
Please join us in the Awakening Together Sanctuary this Sunday evening, July 19, from 8-9:30pm ET for Satsang interview with Tony Samara.
If you would like to hear last month’s interview, click here.
Election Results and Next Steps
The Awakening Together Member Board of Trustees Election ended on midnight Monday night, July 6. I have the results of the voting. The voting was very, very close. In most cases, only one vote separated one nominee from the other. More than 10% of members voted. The total spread of votes between the nominee receiving the most votes to the nominee receiving the least votes was only 7 votes difference. Since there were five nominees, this difference shows an extremely close election. I am not surprised at how close the voting was, because each of the nominees would be an excellent Trustee.
Let me share a paragraph from our Bylaws with you regarding Member Board Elections:
“Ballots will be sent at least thirty days prior to the regular or special election meeting. The Awakening Together Assembly shall provide a forum for candidates who wish to address the membership regarding their qualifications for office. Details regarding the time, place and manner of such forum shall be provided with the ballot. Each member shall cast one vote per candidate, and may vote for as many candidates as the number of candidates to be elected to the board and return the ballot via electronic mail to the Secretary. Voting shall close fourteen days prior to the regular or special election meeting. The candidate receiving the highest number of votes up to the number of Trustees to be elected shall be eligible to serve on the board. Results of the election shall be published to the current Member Board at the election meeting and provided to the membership immediately thereafter.”
According to our bylaws, the vote becomes official at an election meeting that is held two weeks after the close of the vote. That meeting will be held on Monday, July 20. Immediately after that meeting, I will be able to notify you of the results of the vote.
Thank you very much for participating by voting.
With great love and appreciation,
Regina
Join Us in the Sanctuary Sunday at 8pm ET for Satsang with Tony Samara
Join us in the Awakening Together Sanctuary this Sunday, June 21, at 8pm ET for our monthly Awakening Together Satsang. This Sunday’s Satsang guest is Tony Samara.
Tony Samara was born in England. He grew up in Egypt, England, and Norway, where he discovered the “Zen Buddhist philosophy”. This discovery eventually led him to the Mount Baldy Zen Center in California where he learned the spiritual teachings of Kyozan Joshu Sasaki. He had curiosity to explore further the essence of spirituality and thus went to live and learn with shamanic communities around the globe. By going on pilgrimage to various sacred sites in India, Tony was able to dwell deeply upon the ancient Vedic and Jain philosophies and work profoundly with the essence of these teachings.
At the age of 27 he experienced a dramatic moment of enlightenment.
Now people from all over the world visit Tony Samara to take spiritual guidance and experience being in his presence.
Tony Samara believes that “the vast majority of people go through life without directly experiencing the depths of their true self, or understanding their connection to life, or their relationship to others and to the world at large. We are often taught to only relate to the world through our senses. We think, we reason, we feel – but we do not know from our hearts what it means to be connected to what is beyond the senses.”
He recognizes that direct experiences have the potential to radically transform an individual and his or her life, as well as promote a profound and effortless letting go of past emotional, mental and physical pain and suffering. Verbal dialogue is not the essence of his teachings, but he explains in a direct and simple way that everyone can understand how each individual can practically integrate greater acceptance, peace and joy into their daily lives.
Tony Samara teaches with humour, humility and with infinite patience, empowering the individual with courage, trust and inner strength to continue on this journey back into wholeness, a path that leads towards real freedom. He is the author of a number of books including ‘Shaman’s Wisdom,’ ‘The Simplicity of Love Meditation,’ ‘Different Yet the Same,’ ‘Karma, Mantra and Beyond’ and ‘Discover Your Inner Buddha’.
Nominations for the Awakening Together Board of Trustees are in Full Swing!
To all Awakening Together members:
We are now in the process of nominating members for Awakening Together’s second annual election! This summer we will elect three members to the Member Board of Trustees.
Have you nominated anyone yet?
Before a member can be placed on the ballot, they must be nominated by 10% of the membership or by the Member Board of Trustees. Right now we are halfway through the nomination process.
Once you look over the current list of nominees, consider adding yourself or someone else to the list of nominees or consider supporting a current nominee to help ensure he/she gets placed on the ballot.
Who can be nominated to the Board of Trustees?
This year a member must be a charter member of Awakening Together in order to be nominated for the Board of Trustees. Charter members are people who joined Awakening Together by October 21, 2013.
How do you nominate or show support for someone?
You may nominate yourself, someone else or show support for a current nominee by sending an email to election@awakening-together.org by June 8, 2015.
Remember — If you don’t have a specific idea regarding who you’d like to nominate, it is just as helpful to show support for a current nominee since nominees need 10% of the members to support their nomination before they are placed on the ballot.
How many people can I nominate or support?
Each member may nominate or support up to three nominees since there are three seats available to be filled on the Member Board of Trustees.
For example, if you nominate one person you can support two others. Or if you nominate two people, you can support one additional person. If you don’t nominate anyone, you can show support for three different members who have already been nominated.
Again, to nominate someone or to show support for a current nominee, send an email to: election@awakening-together.org by June 8, 2015.
Sincerely,
The Member Board of Trustees
Awakening Together Summer Election Process – Now Underway!
To all Awakening Together members:
It is time for Awakening Together’s second annual election! This summer we will elect three new members to the Member Board of Trustees.
What is the Member Board of Trustees?
The Member Board of Trustees is the leadership team that works with the President-Minister and Vice President-Minister to manage Awakening Together. They are responsible for all aspects of leadership including drafting policies and procedures, leading subcommittees, addressing issues and more. The Member Board of Trustees currently meets via Google+ on the first and third Monday of each month from 7:30-9pm ET. You can find out what they discuss and decide at these meetings by perusing their meeting minutes.
Who can be nominated to the Board of Trustees?
Our constitution requires someone to be a charter member of Awakening Together or a member for 2 years in order to serve on the Board of Trustees. Since Awakening Together is not 2 years old yet, that means only charter members are eligible to be nominated for this election. Charter members are people who joined Awakening Together in the first three months.
Click here for a list of charter members
How do I nominate someone for the Board of Trustees?
You may nominate yourself or someone else to the Member Board of Trustees as long as the nominee is on the list of charter members. If you are nominating someone else, it is a good idea to get his/her permission first.
To nominate a person, send an email to election@awakening-together.org .
All nominations received by June 8 will be put on the nominee list. However the earlier a nomination is received the greater the nominee’s chance of making it to the ballot.
Are all nominees put on the ballot?
No. In order for a nominee to be placed on the ballot, 10% of the membership must support the nomination. If there aren’t enough nominees who receive support from 10% of the membership, the Member Board of Trustees will select nominees for the ballot.
How does a nominee get support from the membership?
Each nominee will be listed under the Members menu on the Awakening Together website.
Click here to see the current list of nominees
Members are encouraged to visit that link regularly between May 25 and June 8. When you see a nominee that you want to support, send an email to election@awakening-together.org stating that you want to support that person’s nomination.
How many people can I nominate or support?
Each member may nominate or support up to three nominees since there are three seats available to be filled on the Member Board of Trustees. (For example, if you nominate one person you can support two others. Or if you nominate two people, you can support one additional person. You have a total of three voting credits to use in the nomination/support process.)
How are nominees elected to the Member Board of Trustees?
Each nominee that receives support from 10% of the membership or from the Member Board of Trustees will be placed on the ballot if he/she accepts the nomination. The ballot will be sent to all members via email on June 20. You will have until July 6 to place your vote. The three nominees receiving the most votes during the ballot process will be elected to the Member Board of Trustees.
How can I get to know the nominees before I vote?
Each nominee who accepts the nomination will be asked to provide a photo and biography. These will be sent to all members during the ballot election process.
Who is currently on the Member Board of Trustees?
You can see the list of current Trustees along with pictures and brief biographies by clicking here.
Please participate in Awakening Together’ summer elections. We need your participation in order for the elections to be a success!
Sincerely,
The Member Board of Trustees
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