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June 2009 |
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Sangha
President’s
Message Richard Kai
We hear the verse of “Three Treasures” at almost every family dharma
service on Sunday. Most of us can say the words without reading page
three of the service book, taking refuge in the Buddha, Dharma and
Sangha. The verse for the “Three Treasures” is very philosophical,
linking enlightenment with the teachings of the Buddha for the benefit
of our temple community.
Have you ever stopped to think about what so easily rolls off your
tongue to recite? I take refuge in Buddha — absorbing the principles of
Buddhism (enlightenment or the awakened one); I take refuge in Dharma —
absorbing the Buddhist teachings to gain wisdom as deep as the ocean;
and I take refuge in Sangha — a coming together of the community under
the guidance of the teachings to achieve enlightenment. The words are
simple, yet very profound; they are the beacon that provides the light
and guidance toward becoming a Buddha.
We all strive to live a life guided by the Dharma teachings. Our actions
demonstrate unselfish behavior; our words are always thoughtful; never
do we consider ourselves before others. Our Sangha community as a whole
benefits from the unwavering commitment to harmony, the coming together
of so many individuals who perform as one solid unit. It is the
description of Utopia — the
name for an ideal community.
Utopia has been used to describe an ideal society where all the
members typically hold a common social, political, religious or
spiritual vision that binds the family unit together. In reality,
Utopia is an unrealistic ideal state that is nearly impossible to
achieve, and has spawned other concepts, most prominently based on
greed, selfishness and a generation of “me first” individuals.
So, where does the Sangha of the Sacramento Betsuin rank in comparison
to a utopian community? Do we believe every person — child, parent,
grandparent and sigmificant other — workstogether endlessly within our
temple community to achieve the top score on a scale of 1 to 10? Do we
believe every affiliated and sponsored organization rates a perfect 10
for their unselfish behavior and the extraordinary leadership examples
that parents, teachers, Scout troop leaders and coaches demonstrate on a
daily basis? Do our organization members and leaders truly believe the
Betsuin created the opporunity for their groups to form, or do they feel
their units are the success of the temple? It’s what I used to hear from
front-line administrators sarcastically referring to back office
operations as attempting to create policies that cause the tail to wag
the dog.
If our Sangha community and affiliated and sponsored organizations rank
a perfect 10, then the call for volunteers to provide manpower for the
temple’s activities would not be needed. The recruiting to fill vacant
positions in every organization would not be necessary since every
Sangha member is ready and willing to do his/her part for the betterment
of the community. All cylinders would be working in unison, never
skipping a beat, always looking to do for others. It would be the act of
Dana — unselfish giving without consideration to recognition or reward.
Our utopian community would be living proof that the “Three Treasures”
are alive and well at the Sacramento Betsuin. Rinban Bob Oshita
Hello…and welcome to the month of June. With the coming of every June, I
often hear the comment, “Already the year is half over. How quickly the
time goes by.” I recall years ago talking with a senior member at his
88th birthday party. When I wished him a happy birthday, he said, “It
seems like just yesterday I was 18. . . .” I think many of us know that
feeling.
In Buddhism we are taught that life is a series of meetings and
partings, of holding on and letting go. We inhale and take in a
life-giving breath. But to live, we must let that breath go. Each day we
awaken; we meet a new day. But each evening, we must let the day go.
This image of meetings and partings has meaning and significance on many
levels.
This month our Betsuin is parting with Reverend Kaz, his wife Michi and
one-year-old daughter, Kanon. After over five years of orientation and
training with our Betsuin, Reverend Kaz has been given the assignment of
his own temple. It was his wish to serve in the Eastern District and
Socho Ogui has worked hard to grant his request.
In recent months, Socho Ogui sent Reverend Kaz on two trips back East to
visit the temples in Cleveland, New Jersey, New York and Virginia. On
May 13, Socho officially announced that the Ekoji Buddhist Temple in
Virginia (near Washington, D.C.) has accepted Reverend Kaz as their new
minister.
It is our hope that his orientation with our Betsuin has helped to give
him the foundation for a successful future. I want to thank our many
members for helping Reverend Kaz…and especially I want to thank Frank
and Katsuko Hirota for always being available to help Reverend Kaz and
Michi acclimate to their life in America.
We wish the Nakatas the best in their new assignment. Life truly is a
series of meetings and partings, of holding on and letting go. We inhale
and take a life-giving breath. But to live, we must let that breath go.
Each day we awaken; we meet a new day. But each evening, we must part
with that day. When we realize this, our dharma eyes open to the truth
of impermanence…and we know again that we must appreciate the time we
have together.
Namo amida butsu….
Patti Oshita
Hello and welcome to the month of June! It’s hard to believe we are at
the halfway point of 2009. It seems like we were only just beginning the
new year.
This month will bring many changes to our Betsuin. Our young Reverend
Kaz, Michi and Kanon will be transferring to the Ekoji Temple after
almost six years with the Betsuin. We wish Reverend Kaz, Michi and Kanon
the very best on their new adventure in life.
This coming summer will be exciting for all of us. Again, we are
fortunate to be able to host the fifth BCA Youth Advocacy Committee
(YAC) Summer Retreat. From July 6-12. You will see 15 young Buddhists
participating in the annual BCA YAC Retreat. This is a week-long retreat
hosted at the Betsuin with kids from Washington, Oregon, Bay, Coast and
Southern California. This is a “hands-on” retreat where the kids will be
learning by experience. Not only will they be learning about Buddhism,
they will learn how to lead services, chant, prepare and give Dharma
talks, participate in teen discussions and learn more about the
connection of Buddhism and Japanese culture. We again, would like to
thank in advance the Betsuin for supporting this program, to Reiko &
Crew for devoting so much time and energy to preparing the delicious
dinner meals and the many behind-the-scenes folks whose efforts truly
make this retreat possible. We know we could not do this without all of
your support. Thank you!
Please do not forget to attend Sunday sangha services during the summer
months. There will be a different speaker each Sunday throughout the
summer so you wouldn’t want to miss any of them.
Lastly, our summer would not be complete without mentioning our annual
Obon and Bazaar. We look forward to seeing everyone throughout the
summer. Greeters’ Program
From The Office
Thanks again to our “dynamic duo” — Billy Hatano and Ted Ito — for our
mailouts. Thanks! Church MaintenanceEd Imai
Over the past month, the following members performed maintenance on the
Betsuin’s facilities. The Betsuin is sincerely appreciative to the
following members for volunteering their time and hard efforts:
- Frank Hirota installed rollers on swamp cooler over the kaikan. Met
with fire inspectors to get approval of fire suppression system
installation.
- Gary Traganza cleaned out the kaikan stage area clutter; repaired
toilet in back of kaikan; provided electrical repairs in facility.
- John Fujimoto and Don Honda covered swamp coolers and heaters over
facility. Obon Practice Schedule
Obon practice will begin on Monday, June 29 and continue to Wednesday,
July 1 the first week. No practice on Thursday of the first week.
The second week, practice will be held from Monday, July 6 to Thursday,
July 9.*
Practice will begin at 7 p.m. and end around 8:15 p.m.
*Thursday night practice will run longer for the taiko drum dance.
Due to the unpredictable weather (heat), for safety purposes, the length
of the practices may change.
If you have any questions, please call Donna Inouye Wong at 391-6089. Legacy Endowment Fund Board Benefit Rummage Sale Joyce Sahara
It’s just a few days from our June 13 Rummage Sale with
plenty of time to clean out a cabinet or two in the kid’s rooms, the toy
box, the garage, the hall closets and those catch-all drawers. Other
places you might check are the clothes closets, your shoe collection,
the holiday stash and gardening equipment. Why not donate those unused
dish sets, mugs and utensils, usable small appliances and furniture,
bedding, drapes or towels? Items such as cell phones, laptop computers,
musical instruments, radios, books or those still-new or almost-new
items would be welcome, too.
This event is a wonderful way to recycle usable items, reduce what we
put into our landfills and clean up our homes at the same time!
Just bring your donations to the church kaikan from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
from Wednesday, June 10, through Friday, June 12.
A team of friendly volunteers will be there to accept your donations.
Larger furniture pieces, exercise bikes and equipment, children’s bikes
and large-sized toys, sewing machines, vacuums, camping gear, couches,
and even beautiful donated plants will be displayed and sold in the
courtyard area.
ITEMS WE CANNOT ACCEPT are mattresses, tires, televisions, computer
monitors, large appliances and hazardous materials.
On Saturday, June 13, the long-anticipated Rummage Sale doors will open
from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
So many people have commented that the last Rummage Sale was really fun
and had such great deals! We are sure this event will be JUST AS GREAT
and JUST AS FUN! We will have a section for new or almost-new items, so
be sure to come and check it out!
The Legacy Endowment Fund Board thanks all of you for your support in
our effort to raise funds for our Betsuin projects, scholarships and
educational workshops. Our goal is to improve and maintain our temple
and programs to promote the teachings of Jodo Shinshu.
Get ready! Just a few days left. Donate items June 10-12. . . and bring
your family and friends to shop on Saturday, June 13. Teruo Shintaku In Memory of Mother Akino (April) Tom & Ichiko Fujishima Tsugiye Imoto In Memory of Tokuro Imoto Yoshiko Morisawa In Memory of Father Umeko Tsushima In Memory of Kenichi Tsushima Junichi Yamamoto George & Sachi Hiromoto In Memory of Toshiko Abe Sachiko Inokuma Masaaki & Yaeko Tademaru 3rd Year for Yoshiko Doi Tomako Ann Mori In Memory of Akino Shintaku Alan Wu
Happy June everyone! June means that basketball is almost over or is
over and done for some teams, so it is time for the Division
Coordinators to collect the uniforms from their teams. Each individual
family can assist the coordinators by getting your uniform ready for
collection. You ask how you can help? Well, here is what you can do:
A) All uniforms must be washed before turning them in.
B) The jersey needs to be folded and placed in a clear gallon Ziploc bag
with the jersey number showing.
C) The size of the jersey needs to be written on the outside front of
the bag.
D) The red jersey and the black jersey can both be placed in the same
gallon-size Ziploc bag.
E) Shorts do not need to be individually bagged. The shorts must be
turned in with the jerseys.
F) After Steps A-E are completed, give your uniform to your Team Mom or
directly to your Division Coordinator, and you are done!
There are still a few teams going to the Central Cal Cobra Tournament,
so Good Luck!
Did you sign up for the bowling league? Many others did, so it looks
like we are a go. Stay tuned for more details. If you have not yet, you
and your kids can still sign up to bowl.
The summer is a busy time for us. We have duties to perform for the Obon
and Bazaar, so please come out on June 27 in the morning to help raise
the tent. The more hands we have out there, the easier and faster this
job goes, and it is very entertaining to watch old man Kawano try to
climb up the yagura!
And now as the summer breeze blows, let us hear what the Bodhi Tree has
to say:
Dear Bodhi Tree,
I read an article about two high school teams in the Illinois/Wisconsin
area that I thought was an excellent story of people with the proper
perspective (for a change). I apologize for its length, but I even
shortened it:
It was a Saturday night in February, and the Barbs of Dekalb, Illinois
were playing a non-conference game on the road against the Milwaukee
Madison Knights. It was the third meeting between the two schools, who
were developing a friendly rivalry that spanned two states; so friendly
that the teams planned to get together after the game for some pizza.
But the game itself almost never took place.
Hours earlier, the mother of Milwaukee Madison senior captain Johntel
Franklin died at a local hospital. Carlitha Franklin had been in
remission after a five-year fight with cervical cancer, but she began to
hemorrhage that morning while Johntel was taking his college ACT exam.
Her son and several of his teammates were at the hospital late that
afternoon when the decision was made to turn off the life-support
system. Carlitha Franklin was just 39. “She was young and they were real
close,” said Milwaukee coach Aaron Womack Jr., who was at the hospital.
“He was very distraught and it happened so suddenly he didn’t have time
to grieve.”
Womack was going to cancel the game, but Franklin told him he wanted the
team to play. And play they did, even though the game started late and
Milwaukee Madison only dressed eight players. Early in the second
quarter, Womack saw Franklin in the gym. Womack called a time out. His
players went over and hugged their grieving teammate. Fans came out of
the stands to do the same. “We got back to playing the game and I asked
if he wanted to come and sit on the bench.” “No,” Franklin replied. “I
want to play.”
There was just one problem. Since Franklin wasn’t on the pre-game
roster, putting him in meant drawing a technical foul that would give
DeKalb two free throws. Though it was a tight game, Womack was willing
to give up the two points. It was more important to help his senior
guard and co-captain deal with his grief by playing. Over on the other
bench, though, Coach Rohlman wasn’t so willing to take them. He told the
referees to forget the technical and just let Franklin play. “I could
hear them arguing for five to seven minutes, saying, ‘We’re not taking
it, we’re not taking it,” Womack said. “The refs told them, no, that’s
the rule. You have to take them.”
That’s when Rohlman asked for volunteers, and McNeal, the senior
captain, raised his hand. He went alone to the free throw line, dribbled
the ball a couple of times, and looked at the rim. His first attempt
went about two feet, bouncing a couple of times as it rolled toward the
end line. The second barely left his hand. It didn’t take long for the
Milwaukee players to figure out what was going on. They stood and turned
toward the DeKalb bench and started applauding the gesture of
sportsmanship. Soon, so did everybody in the stands.
“I did it for the guy who lost his mom,” McNeal told the Milwaukee
Journal Sentinel. “It was the right thing to do.”
Franklin would go on to score 10 points, and Milwaukee Madison broke
open the game in the second half to win 62-47. “I got kind of emotional,
but it helped a lot just to play,” he said. “I felt like I had a lot of
support out there.” Afterward, the teams went out for pizza together.
At Carlitha Franklin's funeral, the school turned out for her and her
son. Cheerleaders came in uniform, and everyone from the principal and
teachers to Johntel’s classmates were there. “Even the cooks from school
showed up,” Womack said. “It lets you know what kind of kid he is.”
It hasn’t been the greatest season for the team, but they have stuck
together through a lot of adversity. “We maybe don’t have the best
basketball players in the world, but they go to class and take care of
business,” Womack said.
“We have a losing record but there’s life lessons going on, good ones.”
None so good, though, as the moment a team and a player decided there
were more important things than winning and having good stats.
Yes, DeKalb would go home with a loss. But it was a trip they'll never
forget.
“This is something our kids will hold for a lifetime,” Rohlman said.
“They may not remember our record 20 years from now, but they’ll
remember what happened in that gym that night.”
Thanks for letting me share this story.
Signed: Shorter Story
Dear Shorter Story,
No, we thank you for sharing this story. It is a great story, but on the
other hand it should not be so great. It should be commonplace. It
should be the norm; but because youth sports has evolved to what it is
today, this story is exceptional. Everyone, the kids and the adults in
this story should be commended on having the right mind and taking the
right path. It is very nice to hear stories like this. To sum it up:
“It was the right thing to do.”
“They may not remember our record 20 years from now, but they’ll
remember what happened in that gym that night.”
Don’t forget, contact the Bodhi Tree at: sbcbodhitree@yahoo.com.
Signed: B. Tree
Important dates to remember:
June 14:
Last Dharma School Service and Picnic
June 20-21: Central Cal
Cobra Tournament in Fresno
June 21:
Father’s Day
June 27:
Tent Setup
June 29-30, July 1-2:
Obon Practice
July 4:
Fourth of July
July 6-9:
Obon Practice
July 11:
Obon
July 24-26:
Bazaar Construction
August 6:
Skewer Beef and Other Prep for Bazaar
August 8-9 – Bazaar Weekend
August 10:
Bazaar Clean-up
Denis Ishisaka
Mission Control took over the kaikan at the end of April and over 60
rockets were on display, ready to be launched. The Cub Scout Space Derby
made its appearance after a three-year hiatus. The boys worked hard on
their rockets that were propelled to infinity and beyond by the power of
three rubber bands! As always, our Reverend Kaz made a sharp-looking
rocket to blast off as well! After all the space dust settled, these
Scouts came out the winners:
1st Place: Kyle Chan
2nd Place: Alex Ng
3rd Place: Chase Wilkins
4th Place: Braden Yokota
Cubmaster’s Pick: Drew Ikemoto
Most Creative: Connor Gill
Best Theme: Austin Sakata
Best Design: Tyler Sakata
Pack Favorite: Austin Phan
A special thanks to our Captain Kirk of the Space Derby, Dale Firth, and
his crew for a fun-filled evening!
It is hard to believe that the Cub Scout year has come to a close. On
May 8, the Pack held its Arrow of Light Ceremony. This is the graduation
ceremony in which it was an evening of celebrating the boys’
accomplishments! All the boys worked hard at earning many achievement,
belt loops and graduating to the next rank! Congratulations to all the
boys for a job well done!
The highlight of the Arrow of Light Ceremony was the accomplishments of
the boys from Dens 6 and 8. The 15 Webelos Scouts obtained their highest
rank, the Arrow of Light. It is hard to believe that the boys started
Cub Scouts five years ago as “little Tiger Cubs” and now are young men,
many of whom will continue their scouting adventure in Boy Scouts.
Congratulations to the following Webelos Scouts on your accomplishment:
Den 6: Jarod Bartlett, Tristan Fong, Kyle Fujii, Jimmy Kvarme, Timothy
Wong.
Den 8: Nathan Chan, Brian Ishisaka, Trenton Lee, Brenton Loui, Adrian
Nguyen, Brayden Pond, Tyler Sakata, Nick Siu, Chase Wilkins, Davis
Yasuda.
Congratulations also to the parents and Den Leaders Todd Fong, Daryl
Wong, Kim Sakata and Karen Shimada. Pack 50 will miss the boys and the
families. Pack 50 wishes the best to you all!
It is hard to believe that the year has come to a close. The year has
just flown by, but it was a great fun filled year for the boys! As this
is my last Sangha article
for the Cub Scouts, I’d like to take this opportunity to express my
gratitude.
- Thank you to the Betsuin and the Sangha. The boys and I really
appreciate your continued support of this wonderful program.
- Besides the support of the Betsuin and the Sangha, this Pack would not
be as successful if it were not for the parents of Pack 50. We have a
great group of parents who are always there to pitch right in. Thank
you.
- As with any organization, the Pack also would not be successful
without the dedication of a few parents who serve in leadership
capacities. Thank you to those on the Pack Committee led by Norman
Tanaka. You folks are awesome in helping plan and set the stage for the
year. Thank you very much.
- The real heroes of Pack 50 — the Den Leaders. We are very fortunate to
have a great group of parents who have stepped up to take on this role.
Thank you for guiding our boys down the Cub Scout trail and making it
fun!
- And finally. THANK YOU TO THE SCOUTS OF PACK 50. You boys are a fun
group and I certainly hope that you learned a lot and had fun at the
same time. Best wishes to you all as you continue down the path of the
Cub Scout trail. I know that the fun will continue under the guidance of
Cubmaster Marty Sakata and his assistants, Daryl Wong and Glen Kumamoto. Markus Mar-Liu
The Boy Scouts were kept relatively busy these past weeks, especially
during the Lake Pardee Outing on April 17-April 19. During the campout,
the boys were able to practice their lashings and knots in fun exercises
such as making “transports” to carry the younger/lighter scouts on. The
campout had a huge turnout and blue and green tents densely populated
the Troop 50 campsite. The trip was a first for everyone. For the Cub
Scouts, it was their first campout with the older Boy Scouts and for
most of the newer Senior Scouts, their first meal cooked by the Leaders!
The following Troop Meeting on April 24, headed by Assistant Scoutmaster
Borges, taught and refreshed the boys on kitchen terminology and how to
plan out the meals. This meeting was geared in preparation for the
upcoming Iron Chef Cook-Off the next day, and proved to be both
informative and helpful. The boys then tested their culinary skills in
the Annual Troop 50 Iron Chef Cook-Off. This year the secret ingredient
was ginger and each patrol worked vigorously to please the judges’
monstrous appetites. By a hairline fracture, the Jedi Council Patrol’s
short ribs pulled through to win. However, the Sushi Penguin Patrol did
receive an honorable mention for the best presented. Afterwards, Patrol
Leader James Yee organized the boys to play obstacle games. It was a
full day filled with good food and high energy.
On Saturday May 2, the Boy Scouts were called to duty for the Cystic
Fibrosis Run. They were kept busy, situating the route for the people,
including the aid stations for rehydrating the walkers. Once the event
was finished, the Scouts helped to clean up the site and put away
tables, chairs and route-markers. Finally on May 7, Assistant
Scoutmaster Tsuruoka led the Scouts in a flag ceremony service at the
Sheraton Grand — an excellent way to top off the events of the past few
weeks. Ken Furukawa
Well, Gotan-e/Ochigo service was another well-attended affair. The large
3rd grade class was resplendent in their traditional robes and
headdresses for the procession to open the service. Each year this
service reminds me of how large many of the classes are, and how many
families are involved in the Dharma School program. It also presents a
challenge: how to keep these children and their families interested and
participating. I don’t know the magic formula that has worked over these
recent years, but something has certainly “clicked” at the Betsuin.
I believe that a large part of the success falls on the shoulders of
Richard Kai and Ken Koyama. As superintendent and treasurer (and other
roles as well) for over a decade each, they have formed the backbone of
the Dharma School program administration. Along with Carol Tamai, they
have formed the legs of the stool that supports the vibrant program that
we know today. At the end of this Dharma School term, both Richard and
Ken will step down from their positions in the Dharma School and pursue
other responsibilities for the Betsuin. A short thank you at the May 31
service is planned for them, so please take a moment and thank them for
their dedication and service to the Dharma School program over the
years. If you miss that service, look for them at the Dharma School
picnic at Land Park on June 14. Also, please thank Carol for staying on
as the registrar!
Also on May 31, Reverend Kaz will be providing curry for the after
school lunch, and an appreciation/going away party will take place too.
I hope everyone expresses their sincere wishes for the Nakata family
move and future successes in BCA for years to come. With the experiences
and training here, I think he, Michiko and Kanon will do well, and they
will certainly be missed.
June will have only one Dharma School service... the picnic at Land
Park! There will be a wonderful open air service, followed by food,
games and the bounce house(s). Of all the services, this is definitely
the most family/kid-friendly... it is almost too much fun to call it a
service. But do not overlook the opportunity to think about the
teachings of the Dharma and the Nembutsu, even for a few fleeting
moments, in the open and beautiful setting.
High school students who want to be teaching assistants in the Dharma
School should submit a request to either myself for grades 7 and up, or
Valerie Fong for Nursery through 6th grade. Although not absolutely
necessary, it is suggested that students discuss particular class
assignments with their current teacher and the prospective teacher if
there is a strong preference. Please understand that we will try to
match requests with openings, but sometimes needs change and assignments
in September may be different than requested assignments. Qualified
applicants will be assigned after the school year starts, and seniority
is a factor.
As summer fast approaches, remember the following:
- Volunteers will be needed for tent setup for Obon and Bazaar June 27,
and again for Bazaar construction July 25-26.
- Obon odori practice is a fun family event, so try to make a point of
participating, and enjoy the dancing during Obon. At the same time,
remember that Obon is a religious observance and gravesite services will
be held throughout the local area. Check with the office for locations
and times. Obon service is Sunday morning July 12.
- Bazaar is August 8-9 and as always Dharma School classes are asked to
provide volunteers to clean and bus the outdoor eating area from late
morning until after closing both days. Dharma School teachers will be
coordinating efforts to sign up parents and students for shifts. The
closing shifts for both nights are 8th grade students (Saturday), and
9th/10th students (Sunday). Older high school and college students are
asked to please help with closing duties both nights.
In Gassho.
Donations
Dharma School “Courtyard” gratefully acknowledges donations from the
following:
Kindergarten Class
1st Grade Class
2nd Grade Class
4th Grade Class
6th Grade Class
7th Grade Class
Mrs. Evelyn Akiyama
Cynthia & Ralph Almazan
Anonymous
Boy Scout Troop 50
Christine Sawada DeCamp
Minnie Iseri
Miyo Iwata
Alice Kataoka
Mrs. Kathy Kawano
Kennedy High Swim Team
Mr. & Mrs. Robert Manji
Bridget & Steven Maron
Yoshiko Morisawa
Eleanor Nobuye
Mary Orite
Oto’s Marketplace
Aki & Robert Shimada
Lawrence & Kerry Wasson
Emi & Louie Watanabe
Fusako Yokoyama Girl Scouts Troop 569Corlene Goi
Graduating Seniors 1 had a wonderful evening and a very nice graduation
dinner at Lucca. Each of the girls were awarded a $100 scholarship for
their dedication and service as Girl Scouts for the past 10 years. They
also will receive their 10-year service pins. In addition, Judy Kwan has
completed her Gold Award project, which resulted in donations of
blankets made for the Project Linus, and yarns collected for the
Shriners Hospital. In closing, Seniors 1 would like to take this
opportunity to thank all of the Troop 569 supporters and extend good
wishes to everyone in Troop 569. Good luck and take care all.
After 12 years in Girl Scouts, the following Seniors 2 will be
graduating from the program: Michelle Tamai, Kimi Nakamura, Jenny
Kushida, Lauren Otani, Sara Wing, Sara Matsuura, Traci Lee, Tori Satow,
Alyssa Mar and Kari Won. We wish the best for the girls and hope that
Girl Scouts will have an impact in their lives during college and in
their careers.
Juniors 4 attended a Girl Scout Council event called “Leave No Trace” at
Camp Fleming. At the Lodge, they learned how to care for their
environment and how to camp without disrupting nature. They also planned
and will put into action a plan in their own community that will help
the environment. It was a great introduction to camping and the outdoors
for our “city” girls!
Brownies 2 wound up their scouting year by finishing the Computer Smarts
Try-It. The girls are great on the computer, and were able to learn some
safety rules about the Internet, along with some safe sites to visit.
Our highlight, though, was visiting the non-profit group “Ride to Walk”
up in Lincoln, which helps children with disabilities learn to ride
horses as a form of therapy. Our troop helped with some clean-up, were
able to meet some horses, and learn about the care of and safety around
horses, as well as being able to see some of the children riding. It was
a great day! We finished our year with the Bridging Ceremony. A HUGE
thank you to Sierra Campbell’s troop for helping us with this and for
providing us with lots of information about being Juniors. We are all
looking forward to becoming Juniors next year!
On April 4, Brownies 3 met their Sister Brownie Girl Scouts from the San
Jose Betsuin Troop. The girls enjoyed a day at the San Jose Tech Museum,
where they paired up with their Brownie Sister for a scavenger hunt and
lunch. It was a fun-filled day enjoyed both by the girls and their
parents, who acted as scavenger hunt guides and photographers. Later in
the month, the girls tested their athletic ability by spending an
afternoon at Rocknasium. In May and June the Troop is looking forward to
a Try-It meeting led by Cadette Girl Scout Kaitlyn Gee, a Troop
sleepover, and an end-of-the-year party when the San Jose Brownies will
join us again, this time in Sacramento.
The Daisy Troop successfully completed its first year in the Girl Scout
program. All 12 girls earned their daisy center and 10 learning petals.
The Daisy Troop attended the Fairy Festival in March, where they
discovered the secret world of fairies, from flower fairies to house
fairies and even the Tooth Fairy. They dressed up as fairies and enjoyed
making fairy necklaces, posters and playing fairy games!
63rd Annual Japanese Food & Cultural BazaarJennifer Nitta
Interested in seeing old friends and meeting new friends? Do you think
about the years you and your family were involved in multiple church
activities? Looking for a job with no pay, no health benefits but is
sure to be a lot of fun? Want to reminisce about the good old days
working the annual Bazaar?
Now is your opportunity to fulfill these needs. Our annual Bazaar is
just around the corner, and we are always looking for a few helping
hands to volunteer in various booths. If you’d like to be placed on a
contact list, forward your name, telephone number and e-mail address to:
Jennifer Nitta, Bazaar Manpower
jgnitta@comcast.net
(916) 424-2359
If contacted there will be no obligation to work; however, if you are
available, there are always several opportunities in various Bazaar
booths. Looking forward to seeing old friends and new faces! Sacramento Buddhist Women’s Association Lynn Kurahara
May’s SBWA Board Meeting was held on Wednesday, May 6.
Donations and Acknowledgments
Dharma School
Thank you for $200 donation (Eshinniko/Kakushinniko/Lady
Ohtani Memorial Service)
Wheel of Dharma
Thank you for $200 donation
Troop 50
Thank you for orei from Spring Food Festiva Yoshie Iwasaki In Aappreciation for Sagari Fuji Jean Kaneko 1st Year for Sam Kaneko Mitzie Muramoto Recovery Heidi Sakazaki In Honor of Yoshie Iwasaki
SBWA Board members visited SBWA members and friends who reside in
nursing/care homes or are homebound to chat and offered our best
wishes along with a small gift. We visited more than 65 people. It
was heartwarming to be able to speak with them in Japanese and
reminisce about the “good ole days”.
Upcoming Special Events
Legacy Endowment Fund Rummage Sale, June 13
Anyone wanting to volunteer to help at the rummage sale should call
Lynn Kurahara or let the church office know as soon as possible.
FBWA Conference, October 9, 10, 11
All SBWA members are encouraged to attend the 41st BCA Federation of
Buddhist Women’s Association (FBWA) Conference on October 9, 10 and
11, right here in Sacramento at the DoubleTree Hotel.
The conference theme is “Looking Back, Looking Ahead, Passing on the
Legacy.” In Japanese it is “Kako to Mirai wo Mitsumeru.” The keynote
speakers are Reverend Diane Johnson (English) from the Myokoin
Temple in Anchorage, Alaska, and Reverend Mariko Nishiyama
(Japanese) from the Lahaina Hongwanji Temple on Maui, Hawaii. The
FBWA will also be commemorating Shinran Shonin’s 750th Memorial
Service on Saturday, October 10.
Transportation to the conference will be available, for a small fee,
through ACC Rides. SBWA will be subsidizing the conference fee.
The next SBWA board meeting will be on June 3. SBWA (サクラメント仏教婦人会)
婦人会ニュース
6月の理事会は3日に行われました。
感謝録：寄付と礼状
金子ジーン
故金子サム一周忌 100ドル
坂崎ハイデイ
お祝い（岩崎よしえ）100ドル
岩崎よしえ
ギフトのお礼
100ドル
村本ミツイー 快気祝い
100ドル
法輪
礼状 （婦人会より200ドル寄付） トループ50
礼状（春のバザー）
ダーマスクール 礼状（婦人会より200ドル寄付）
＊ ナーシングホームと自宅お見舞い
婦人会理事有志はナーシングホームと自宅で療養中のメンバー６５名の方々をささやかなギフトを持ってお見舞い訪問し、日本語で昔を懐かしみながらおしゃべりを楽しみました。
特別イベントお知らせ
·
ラメージセール
６月１３日（土）午前８時～午後４時
ボランテｲアを募集しています。希望者は蔵原リンさんか教会事務所へ至急お知らせください。
·
２００９年度婦人会連盟大会
今秋、10月9,10,11日にサクラメントのダブルツリーホテルにて開催される第４１回婦人会連盟大会に是非ご参加下さい。
今大会の標語は、「Looking Back Looking
Ahead 過去と未来を見つめる」です。この大会の英語部門の基調講演はアラスカ（アンカレジ）の妙光院寺のダイアン・ジョンソン師、日本語部門の基調講演はハワイ（マウイ島）のラハイナ本願寺の西山真理子師を予定しております。また、10月10日には親鸞聖人の第750周年記念法要が営まれます
この大会（ダブルツリーホテル）へ車の便のない方はACC Ridesのご協力で小額で利用することができます。申し込みは蔵原リンさんまで。尚、大会の登録費は会員には当婦人会より補助費が支払われます。
次回ＳＢＷＡ理事会は７月１日（水）に行われます。 Funerals
Masateru Hashimoto Family
In Memory of Mitsue Hashimoto
Robert & Carolyn Manji
In Memory of Janine Manji
Evelyn Akiyama
In Memory of Jack Akiyama
Memorial Albert, Dorothy, Hiroaki, Mamoru Sasamoto, Toshie & Isamu Kobata
In Memory of Yoshiko Sasamoto
M/M Tak Muraoka
50th Year for Somoyo Muraoka & 1st Year for Roy Muraoka
Mary Kawamoto
In Memory of Shigeru Sakamoto
Nitta Family
In Memory of Michiko Nitta
Kelly Gonzales
In Memory of Yoshiye Tokuno
Makishima Family
13th Year for Kaneo Makishima
Yamada Family
In Memory of Randy Yamada
Mort & Marianne Fujii, Russ & Lorraine Fujii, Darlene Fujii
In Memory of Randy Yamada
Carolyn Guro Family
In Memory of Somoyo Muraoka & Roy Muraoka
Kaoru Inouye
7th Year for Masao Inouye
Komura Family
49th Day for Toshiharu Komura
Louise Martinez
In Memory of Frank M. Daikai
Sachiko Nishimura
In Memory of Yoshio Nishimura
Steve Nishimura
In Memory of Yoshio Nishimura
Tom Takahashi
In Memory of Yo Takahashi
Fred & Alice Uyeno
In Memory of Yoshiharu Takahashi
Ken & Fran Yokota
In Memory of Yoshiharu Takahashi
Caffrey & Fialho Family
1st Year for Randy Yamada
Stephen & Donna Hiromoto
1st Year for Toshiko Abe
Yosh & Esther Hokama
13th Year for Tatsuko Sumida
Harvey & Vicki Makishima
13th Year for Kaneo Makishima
Kikuye Makishima
13th Year for Kaneo Makishima
Ben & Eileen Matsuo
1st Year for Randy Yamada
Bill Meredith
In Memory of Genevieve Masuhara
M/M Shuji Miyamoto
13th Year for Kaneo Makishima
Ken & Yoko Okimura
In Memory of Somoyo Muraoka & Roy Muraoka
Chizuka Yamada
1st Year for Randy Yamada
June Matsuo
In Memory of Randy Yamada
Bob Ariyasu
In Memory of Shigeru Sakamoto
Reiko Kurahara
49th Day for Rose Watanabe
Mits & Miyo Yamada
In Memory of Randy Yamada
Feb Yokoi
In Memory of Minoru "Mike" Hayashi
George & Susie Goto
In Memory of Toshi Nishimoto Abe
Eddie & Grace Miyamoto
In Memory of Shigeru Sakamoto
M/M Jeffrey Mori
In Memory of Stanley Hayashi & Ron Matsuura
Special
Fred & Rose Nagao
Special Donation
Sacramento Betsuin Women's Association
Scholarship Fund
Lodi Buddhist Church
In Appreciation
George Okabe
Kaikan Repairs
Marysville Buddhist Church
In Appreciation
Walnut Grove Buddhist Church
In Appreciation
Terry Matsumoto
Hanamatsuri: In Memory of Kinuye, Kikuichi & Tom Matsumoto
Mitsuko Kitade
Kaikan Chairs
Jane Kosakura
Yoshie Iwasaki's 100th Year Birthday
Chizuko Sakaishi
Kaikan Chairs
Masaaki & Yaeko Tademaru
Kaikan Chairs
Emi & Louie Watanabe
Kaikan Chairs
Mitsuko Kitade
Recovery of Surgery
Yutaka & Sakaye Nishikawa
Kaikan Chairs
George & Sachi Hiromoto
In Celebration of Yoshie Iwasaki's 100th Year Birthday
Mitsuko Kitade
Hoonko
Wendy Nodohara
Ojuzu Repair
Anonymous
Ojuzu Repair
Meriko Ishigaki
Ojuzu Repair
Fran Yokota
Ojuzu Repair
Tim Chang
Ojuzu Repair
Nichi Bei Times
Special Donation
Fred Nagao
Ojuzu Repair
Mary Nakai
Special Donation for Church Library
Endowment
Ota Families
In Memory of Randy Yamada
Machiko Kimura
Yoshie Iwasaki’s 100th Birthday
Wayne Kurahara
Mary Kawano Fong
In Memory of Janine Manji
Stan & Florence Oto
In Memory of Randy Yamada |
|
Condolences to the Families of
Jack Yoshimi Akiyama
May 12, 1923 – April 20, 2009 |
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