How does it Work?
The old student volunteers who have been involved in the management of the Center up to this point have developed nine work groups or committees: Executive, Registration, Kitchen, Outreach, Finance, Household & Accommodations, Maintenance, Dhamma Server, and Grounds & Ponds. It has taken some time for these to take shape, but over the course of the last 2 years since the Center was established the organization of voluntary service and Center management has steadily improved.

What is being accomplished?

Highlights of the Center's development include:

• The regular and successful completion of 1.5 courses per month since October of last year with an average of 40 students per course
• The creation of a landscaping plan for the Center grounds
• Successful adherence to a Center financial budget created in January of this year
• Successful completion of an open-house at the Center in May of this year that accommodated 75 visitors, outreach efforts that resulted in a number of newspaper articles covering Center activity including one in the Chicago Tribune, and
• Successful efforts to systematize kitchen and maintenance schedules.

Each server, each project, each committee contributes not only to the current functioning of the Center but also to its sustainability as a long-term sanctuary and teaching place.

Volunteer Day: An Opportunity to Connect with and Sustain the Center The Center is well on its way to becoming just that: a sustainable refuge for practice and a long-term facility for teaching Vipassana meditation. As a trust, we have noted, however, that it is time for the Center to strengthen and expand its server base. Many of the same people, for instance, have been integrally involved in the Center's operations for the past 2 years and before. As the Center expands and becomes more sustainable, however, more people are needed to help support its work. It is within this spirit that the IVA trust conceived of the Volunteer Day: to introduce prospective servers to other prospective servers and to the current active servers, to familiarize prospective servers with the Center's operations and projects, and to invite prospective servers to get involved in projects and areas that interest them. All old students are more than welcome to attend this event if interested in giving service at and/or for the Center. We, the trust, encourage students to plug into committees, projects, or work groups that fit their interests and skills. We also encourage servers to share their creativity for the benefit of the Center and coming students.

Benefits of Dhamma Service

We find that giving service can be quite gratifying as one gets the opportunity to share their merits and gifts for the benefit of others. As this is the intention of those giving service, much good will is generated within and amongst the servers. Difficulties arise, but the mediation technique along with the good will and intention of the servers leads to good results for the Center and for the old students. As Goenkaji says, giving service is both a way to strengthen your individual practice and to share your good qualities with others.