Old News Archives - Page 22 of 26

Introduction to NTI class offered online – Begins in August

July 16, 2015 By Regina Dawn Akers

This class is 6 weeks long.

The purpose of this course is to introduce participants to “The Holy Spirit’s Interpretation of the New Testament” (NTI), which is scripture provided by and preserved by Foundation for the Holy Spirit (Awakening Together).

NTI is described as a loving or heart-centered approach to letting go of ego.

In this class you will:

1. Become familiar with key spiritual themes in NTI.

2. Practice noticing ego, letting it go and refocusing on spiritual wisdom.

Specific Information:

There are two class schedules available:
~ On Tuesday evenings, August 4 – September 8 from 7:30pm-9:30pm Eastern Time. Homework begins July 29. Facilitator: Jacquelyn Eckert, or
~ On Wednesday mornings, August 5 – September 9 from 10am-noon Eastern Time. Homework begins July 29. Facilitator: Jacquelyn Eckert.
Cost is $120.
Textbook needed is The Keys to NTI or The Holy Spirit’s Interpretation of the New Testament (NTI). Either book is acceptable for this course.
Class is offered in PalTalk. Familiarity with PalTalk is helpful.
Registration closes on July 28.
For more information on this class, click here.

Click to register

Election Results and Next Steps

July 8, 2015 By Regina Dawn Akers

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

Remember to Vote by July 6

July 3, 2015 By Regina Dawn Akers

Hi Everyone,

You have until midnight on Monday, July 6 to vote for three of the five nominees to the Member Board of Trustees. To help you make your voting decision, we are providing the following resources.

Pictures and bios for each nominee

Your ballots were sent in email on June 20 and again on June 29.

Love,

Regina and the Member Board of Trustees

Take a Look at Our Vision for an Awakening Together Retreat Center

July 2, 2015 By Regina Dawn Akers

Over $26,000 Raised So Far!!

Click here to learn more and to donate

Introduction to NTI Class Starts in August

July 1, 2015 By Regina Dawn Akers

This class is 6 weeks long.

NTI is described as a loving or heart-centered approach to letting go of ego.

In this class you will:

1. Become familiar with key spiritual themes in NTI.

2. Practice noticing ego, letting it go and refocusing on spiritual wisdom.

Specific Information:

There are two class schedules available:
~ On Tuesday evenings, August 4 – September 8 from 7:30pm-9:30pm Eastern Time. Homework begins July 29. Facilitator: Jacquelyn Eckert, or
~ On Wednesday mornings, August 5 – September 9 from 10am-noon Eastern Time. Homework begins July 29. Facilitator: Jacquelyn Eckert.
Cost is $120.
Textbook needed is The Keys to NTI or The Holy Spirit’s Interpretation of the New Testament (NTI). Either book is acceptable for this course.
Class is offered in PalTalk. Familiarity with PalTalk is helpful.
Registration closes on August 1.
For more information on this class, click here.

Click to register

Get to Know the Nominees to the Board of Trustees Before You Vote

June 25, 2015 By Regina Dawn Akers

We have five nominees to the Member Board of Trustees. You can vote for three of the nominees using the ballot that you received in email on Saturday, June 20. To help you decide which nominees you want to vote for, here is a little information about each of the nominees.

Click the nominees name to read her bio. The nominees are listed in alphabetical order.

Lin Castaldo

~ ~ ~

Carrie Christiansen

~ ~ ~

Sandy Ruiz

~ ~ ~

Sonja Spahn

~ ~ ~

Gloria Wells

Meet the Nominees Before You Vote
Meet each of the nominees in the Sanctuary on Sunday evening, June 28 at 8pm ET.
Please come and get to know them better, and then be sure to vote by Monday, July 6.

Join Us in the Sanctuary Sunday at 8pm ET for Satsang with Tony Samara

June 19, 2015 By Regina Dawn Akers

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!

June 1, 2015 By Regina Dawn Akers

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!

May 27, 2015 By Regina Dawn Akers

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

Special Guest: Chuck Hillig, Sunday, May 24 at 8pm ET

May 23, 2015 By Regina Dawn Akers

Hi Everyone,

Join us for a special night in the Awakening Together Sanctuary with Chuck Hillig.

Chuck wrote: As long as you believe that Ramana, Nisargadatta, Buddha, Christ, etc. were actually “real people,” then you’re THAT much more likely to believe that “YOU,” also, are a “real person,” too. In truth, though, there really aren’t any “separate people.” In truth, “who-you-REALLY-are” is the ultimate Source of ALL of these spiritual teachers and of ALL of their spiritual teachings. They simply “appear” and “disappear” from within the dreaming Heart of who “YOU” really are. And, yes, it’s a great mystery.

Please join us as Chuck talks more about this great spiritual (albeit mysterious) truth … there are no others.

Love,
Lyn Johnson