July 6, 2012
SFZC Leadership Program 2012-2013

Application deadline extended to August 1, 2012

The Leadership Program invites senior level professionals and senior residential staff to explore Board service and Board committee opportunities in San Francisco Zen Center’s nine-month Leadership Program.

2011-2012 participants, left to right, Sara Tasker, Pat Goughan, Jeff Lohrman, Anne Connolly, Brian McCaffrey, Valorie Beer, Ted Dale, Mark Lachman

Our next Leadership Program begins September 2012 and we are accepting applications at this time. The foundation of the SFZC Leadership Program is a shared Soto Zen practice and a deep commitment to Zen Center’s mission, vision, and values. Participation requires at least one year of Zen Center membership.

Building relationships with senior members of our SFZC lay and monastic community and through discussions and trainings, the program seeks to provide an understanding of leadership within our organization. The program specifically focuses on the workings of the Board, the criteria for being a Board member, the needs of the Board that are being filled with each election and the impact of the Board on the organization. Service on a Board Committee is required for the nine months of the program.

Leadership at Zen Center comes through and is informed by our practice; however, incorporating our practice into daily leadership and our professional lives can be most challenging. To support us in our practice efforts, each workshop includes meditation and time to discuss practice and leadership. The program offers each participant the opportunity to deepen their connection to practice through practice discussions with our resident Leadership Program priest.

The Leadership Program Commitments

  1. Six Saturday Morning Workshops explore the workings of SFZC, our unique challenges, and our current needs. Each workshop is led by one of Zen Center’s most senior leaders.
  2.  Attendance at two Board Meetings will further connect the Saturday workshop experience and the work of the Board, while building new relationships with Board members.
  3. The Board depends on the diligent work of Board Committees to research and recommend appropriate actions on a variety of situations and topics. Each participant joins a Board Committee for the nine months they are in the Leadership Program.

The Enrollment Process for the Leadership Program

NOTE DATE CHANGES: If you are interested in the Leadership Program please contact us for an application and program schedule. Applications due date extended to August 1, 2012. Once your completed application has been received, we will schedule a conversation with you to discuss your interest, questions, qualifications, time availability, practice and commitment to SFZC. Invitation letters to the Leadership Program will be sent shortly after the application due date and we will accept a maximum of 10 participants.

We welcome your interest and thank you for your willingness to consider expanding your contribution to San Francisco Zen Center.

With a bow,
Leadership Program Directors
Brian McCaffrey & Gretchen Rau
sfcounsel@yahoo.com & gretchen.rau@gmail.com