Table of Contents:
I.      Purposes of Hokoji
II.     Directors' responsibility
III.    Basis of Plan
IV.    Structure of Plan
V.     Long Term Goals
VI.   Mid Term Goals
VII.  Short Term Goals

 
I. Purposes of Hokoji

•    Provide a Zendo as a place to sit and partake in the practice of Zen Buddhist Services.
•    Disseminate religious and educational materials.
•    Plan and conduct educational and religious meetings, conferences, workshops, lectures, seminars and symposia.
•    Encourage the interaction of the practice with others.
•    Provide library and study facilities to aid in the above purposes.
•    Acquire by purchase, gift, devise, bequest or otherwise such property, real or personal, as may be necessary or advantageous in carrying out the purposes of the corporation.
•    To own, hold, possess, occupy, lease, mortgage, manage, sell or otherwise dispose of such real and personal property as may be necessary or convenient for the use and benefit of said corporation. 

II.     Directors responsibility

The Articles of Incorporation require the Hokoji Board of Directors to:
 “ . . . Conduct and manage the affairs and business of the Corporation, and to make all major policy decisions as well as such rules and regulations therefore consistent with law, with the Articles of Incorporation or the By-Laws as they may deem best.

III.    Basis of Plan

    Based on discussions over several years with Sangha members in individual and group settings, the following working document has been developed to serve as an overview and guide for future endeavors to clarify, promote, and work towards fulfilling the Hokoji Sangha’s needs as a practice community. This draft of the document takes into consideration the many changes that have occurred and input received since the first draft in January 2006.
    This document is intended to be a living work in progress that can aid in increasing mutual understanding, in synthesizing activities into the overarching vision, and in focusing momentum on the future direction of projects at Hokoji.

IV.    Structure of Plan

The general structure of this document is designed to delineate:
•    Long-term Goals
•    Mid-term Goals
•    Immediate Goals

If you have questions, comments, or feedback regarding the development of this document, please contact Ian Forsberg at 575-741-1500 or info@hokojitaos.org


V. Long-term Goals (2008-2058)

Goal: To maintain a vital collaborative practice and a residential community facility, guided by the teachings of Kobun and welcoming to the community

Rationale:
The Hokoji Teacher, Sangha, and Board of Directors aim to develop an inviting and supportive environment for any and all practitioners, with opportunities for practitioners to participate in a living residential community with sesshins, retreats (periods of solitary rest and contemplation), and daily practice

Tangible manifestations:
•    Transmitted teacher/priest/abbot to be the spiritual guide and teacher of the practice, supported, guided by and working in turn with the community and it’s needs
•    A Board of Directors to guide the business matters of Hokoji and to be accessible for Sangha input.
•    An engaged and practicing Sangha to support and help direct the work.
•    Physical structures to accommodate local and visiting practitioners:
o    Current buildings remodeled and/or well maintained and made energy efficient
o    Potential new buildings to include - a traditional Zendo, a Buddha Hall, and Study Hall - as practice demands make necessary
o    Guest dwellings for visiting practitioners and retreatants
o    Residential quarters for caretakers and community members
o    Tea garden


Financial needs:
•    Teacher’s salary or Dana (individual donations)
•    Funds for education, community outreach, consultation for project planning and design, and fund raising
•    Building Funds
•    Endowment Fund, with interest earned used for future needs


Work efforts:
•    Conduct major initial fundraising, with additional periodic fundraising as necessary to complete projects
•    Contact grant writer to pursue available funds from foundations
•    Ongoing “green” planning and implementation
•    Teacher, Board, and committees to guide the process



VI.  Mid-term Goals (2008-2015)

Goals:
To encourage participation by the current Sangha, making the practice, community and infrastructure at Hokoji accessible to guests and new members

Rationale:
Active involvement in and nurturing the practice of the Sangha will help individuals as well as help Hokoji fulfill its long-term goals

Tangible manifestations:
•    ‘Interim’ teacher selected by consensus of active Sangha and board
•    Archives on the history of Hokoji collected
o    Oral histories from long-time Sangha members
o    Photos of historical interest
o    Involvement of Murikami Roshi
o    Collected oral & written lectures in coordination with other temples
o    Collection & documentation of Kobun’s calligraphies and paintings
o    Location of Spanish notebook previously kept in Zendo house
•    Continued dialog concerning practice needs of the Sangha and individuals
•    Continued community outreach program with updated web site, personal contacts and community service
•    Improved infrastructure with continuous planning for & completion of the list of current, deferred-maintenance and new projects (see Addendum A.)
•    Hokoji as an available facility for other Buddhist or like minded groups

Financial needs:
•    Teacher’s Salary or Dana
•    Funds for archive collection and outreach programs
•    Funds for web site and community outreach projects
•    Funds for planning and execution of current and deferred-maintenance projects
•    Funds for planning new projects to include affordable guest quarters, residential and retreat housing
•    Continuous building of the Endowment Fund

Work Efforts:
•    Continue to gather archives
•    Monitor needs of current practice and practitioners
•    Continuously update web site including status of programs and projects
•    Define community outreach program
•    Plan for execution of deferred-maintenance projects (Addendum A.)
•    Plan for guest quarters and/or cabins
•    Continue fund raising for programs and project needs and the endowment fund

VII.  Immediate Goals (2008-2009)

Goal: Attend to the current needs of the Sangha, improve infrastructure, reach out to the community, and raise funds

Rationale:
With the immediate needs of the infrastructure and Sangha cared for, the energy of the Sangha can be directed toward the Mid-Term and Long-Term goals

Tangible manifestations:
•    New environmentally sound septic system
•    On going schedule of daily and monthly practice and sesshins
•    Plans and actions to complete the list of current, deferred maintenance and new projects (see Addendum A.)
•    Oral histories from senior members for archives
•    Weekly or monthly discussion groups
•    Continued development of web site- donation page, photos and teachings
•    An informed Sangha via e-mail, snail mail, and web site
•    Contacts with other contemplative groups within the local community
•    Major fund raising drive and creation of endowment fund
•    Accurate and informative financial record keeping

Financial needs:
•    Funds for septic system project
•    Funds for day to day operations, daily, monthly and quarterly practice
•    Funds for planning, materials and labor for all approved projects
•    Funds for digital recorder to collect oral histories
•    Funds for web site development
•    Funds for informational mailings and postage
•    Funds for fund raising package and postage
•    Funds for keeping computer and computer software current

Work efforts:
•    Focus on completing septic system project
•    Maintain current attention to schedules and information regarding practice
•    Plan and begin implementation of all approved projects
•    Plan and execute major fund raising drive
•    Gather stories and oral history from long-time students
•    Update web site with gathered archival materials and teachings
•    Keep Sangha informed regularly via available communication resources
•    Seek out and support other contemplative people in the community
•    Initiate a major fund raising campaign through a nation wide mailing
•    Keep accurate computerized financial records with regular reports

ADDENDUM A. - PROJECTS
(Completed, in progress, deferred maintenance, and new)
Note: items will be added, deleted or changed to completed as the plan progresses

Recently completed projects (since 2002):

•    Received donated wood shed
•    Purchased new efficient wood stove in house with back-up propane heater
•    Constructed upper parking lot
•    Completed Memorial site for Kobun & Maya and community (including two donated benches)
•    Received donation of chest of drawers for Robe room
•    Moved storage shed and propane tank to make room for walking bridge
•    Excavated for and poured donated bridge footings with brackets
•    Inspected and repaired house bathroom floors with donated materials and labor
•    Performed deep cleaning, refurbishing and painting of house interior with donated materials and labor
•    Received donation of insulated curtains for porch room
•    Installed donated bookcases, gathered donated books for library and started loaning system
•    New timer on the Zendo heaters
•    Replaced rotted window sills in caretaker’s quarters
•    Removed old kitchen closet and replaced with donated wire stainless steel storage racks
•    Built tokonomo (traditional alcove for honoring ancestors, to display art and flowers) in main house, with donated materials and labor
•    Installed donated wireless broadband Internet service with WiFi access to community
•    Developed Hokoji Web Site and brought on-line
•    Removed trees on south side of house for solar gain, pruned others for fire prevention
•    Purchased ½ hp water pump and hoses for fire control and irrigation
•    Refurbished Zendo (new sheet rock, trim, light fixtures and paint)
•    Installed new closet in caretaker’s quarters
•    Erected donated yurt on solid platform, replaced damaged parts, moved in wood stove from house, created paths to site and began landscaping and gardens
•    Repaired and refinished woodblock counter-top in kitchen
•    Installed donated tatami bowing mat in Zendo
•    Replaced most incandescent light bulbs in house with compact florescent bulbs
•    Refurbished sitting room in caretaker’s quarters with donated flooring, built-in bookshelves, and paint
•    Installed donated insulation under yurt floor, and in/on sidewalls and ceiling

 Projects In Progress: (short term needs)

•    New septic system
•    Pedestrian bridge construction from upper parking lot to Zendo
•    Yurt interior finish & entryway with handicapped access
•    Expansion of flower and vegetable gardens to provide food self sufficiency
•    Removal of trees, which pose a fire hazard to Zendo
•    Finish & placement in memorial site of donated Tibetan stupa
•    Construction of concrete bases for memorial stones

Deferred Maintenance Needs: (to be spread between short and mid term goals)

•    Remodel Kitchen with new counter tops and/or cabinetry, replace appliances as necessary, new three hole stainless steel sink, upgrade flooring & pantry window
•    Remodel Bathrooms with new shower stalls, toilets and energy & water efficient washer and dryer, upgrade flooring & windows, finish-in water heater
•    Remodel Tower rooms with new windows, trim, plaster repairs, roof guttering, and paint
•    Remodel back Porch room with modular wood flooring, plaster repair, window upgrades, and paint
•    Replace other old windows throughout house with double glazed units
•    Insulate and plaster over old latilla ceilings in living/ dining rooms, kitchen, and porch room to stop dripping dirt from above and decrease energy use
•    Devise insulation system for elevated portion of living room to lower winter heating costs
•    Replace flagstone walkway in front patio/entryway, graded for drainage
•    Replace rotted wood pieces in house front porch
•    Repair plaster cracks in outside walls, replace window trim as necessary
•    New stucco color coat on house and zendo

New Projects: (to be spread between short, mid and long term goals)

•    Mountain Gate as pedestrian entryway to entire property from upper lot
•    Wheelchair accessible pathways to yurt, memorial site and zendo (from parking lot)
•    Continue to expand vegetable gardens to provide food self sufficiency
•    Sesshin housing

•    Porch and handicapped access for yurt
•    Expansion of house back porch, with new railings around deck and down stairs
•    Tea and Viewing garden on east side of Zendo replacing parking area
•    New 30 -40 seat Zendo when necessary for growing sangha, with individual student closets and sleeping tans - existing Zendo becomes Buddha Hall