The University of Toledo Zen Buddhist Fellowship: Interview with Rev. Rinsen and UTZBF President Shari Merricle!

Our Covenant and Constitution

"We the members of the UT Zen Buddhist Fellowship, with respect for the worth and dignity of each person, with wonder at the wisdom and compassion we seek to cultivate by practice, and with deep gratitude for the teachers of this lineage and our connection to one another, covenant to support each other by upholding the precepts of doing no harm, practicing good, and actualizing good for others."

ARTICLE 1: NAMES & AFFILIATIONS

The name of the organization shall be the University of Toledo Zen Buddhist Fellowship, and it is an affiliated Zen group of the Toledo Zen Center and the Drinking Gourd Institute a 501c3 non-profit organization.

ARTICLE 2: PURPOSE

The purpose of the organization shall be to provide authentic Soto Zen Buddhist practice, teachings and communication for all students attending the University of Toledo. Activities and programs sponsored by this organization will keep with the organizations stated objectives.

ARTICLE 3: MEMBERSHIP

Membership in the UT Zen Buddhist Fellowship shall be open to all currently enrolled students at the University of Toledo. Those students who attend a total of four meetings within a semester will earn the status of an active member with full voting privileges. The Zen Buddhist Fellowship will not require dues of its members; however, it will accept free-will donations. The UT Zen Buddhist Fellowship does not categorically deny membership to any individual, based on race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, veteran’s status, or the presence of a disability.

Members and guests must abide by the UT Zen Buddhist Fellowship Covenant as stated above.

Persons obtain membership by supporting all functions, activities and programs of the organization, attending meetings and serving on committees. Voting members shall be defined as members who are currently enrolled UT students and who are in good standing with the UT Zen Buddhist Fellowship and have supported the functions of the organization by attending a minimum of four meetings within a semester.

ARTICLE 4: OFFICERS

Officers shall consist of the President, Treasurer and Secretary, and shall be elected in March of each academic calendar year for a term of one year. Qualifications for a leadership position within the UT Zen Buddhist Fellowship include, but are not limited to, the following: the President will be responsible for organizing and presiding over meetings; the Treasurer will be responsible for advertising the fellowship and managing the budget; the Secretary will be responsible for reporting the minutes and communicating with the members of the fellowship. Upon establishing the UT Zen Buddhist Fellowship as a recognized organization at the University of Toledo, its advisor reserves the right to appoint officers to the aforementioned positions. Elections will be held for all subsequent appointments thereafter. Only currently registered UT students may hold office. Officers of the organization shall not be on academic or disciplinary probation.

ARTICLE 5: MEETINGS

Meetings will be held once each week. A minimum of 5 voting members must be present to constitute a quorum.

ARTICLE 6: ADVISOR

The advisor for the UT Zen Buddhist Fellowship shall be decided upon by the executive officers of the organization and the Drinking Gourd Dharma Circle board of directors, and will be named on the Officer Listing Form.

ARTICLE 7: COMMITTEES

Ad hoc committees may be formed at the discretion of the President or Executive Committee to attend to any situation that may become necessary for the organization to consider.

ARTICLE 8: PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY

The President shall preside over the meetings and organize voting when necessary. In all other instances, further parliamentary authority will be determined by a consensus of the majority of the UT Zen Buddhist Fellowship at its first meeting.

ARTICLE 9: AMENDMENTS

Amendments to this Constitution shall occur through a majority vote between the Executive Officers, the Drinking Gourd Dharma Circle Board of Directors, and the UT Zen Buddhist Fellowship Advisor and take into account the opinion of the membership. It is further understood that if this organization desires at any time in the future to change in any way the provisions of this charter, that before such action is taken, the organization will submit for approval to the Student Activities Committee and the Office of Dean of Students every detail of the desired changes to be made.

The University of Toledo Zen Buddhist Fellowship

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Interview with Rev. Rinsen and UTZBF President Shari Merricle!

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