Dear Brothers and Sisters: |
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"In this exercise we truly experience things that human beings in general cannot or do not experience, which lead to a change, an improvement, a correction or repair of our character. And this repair is something that can only be done by the power of Almighty God. For example, if you have a person who lacks a feeling of love for his fellow human beings, this lack which is a flaw in his or her character is truly what is called a sickness of the soul. This is the deep sickness we all worry about. The real sickness is that inability of a person to love other people and to feel compassion for other people.
 the national helpers in Seattle
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It is this lack that can be cured by the latihan exercise... And this
is something that is generally not possible for a human being: to cure
or heal her or his character. Brothers and sisters, at this
moment this illness of the character that Bapak has described is
playing havoc with the world, without people in general being aware or
conscious of it. The world in this situation cannot be brought to a
state of peace unless this illness of the character can be cured. This is why this latihan exercise is so important, so crucial to mankind today, because it enables to change something within ourselves that cannot be changed in the normal course of events. This exercise is far more important and is far greater than something that will cure our illnesses, something that will temporarily give us a better position...its importance is much greater than that because what it does is correct our character and give us the ability to love and have compassion for others..." (Bapak's talk in Los Angeles, July 25, 1981, 81 LAX 3, Copyright by WSA) |
| We are grateful to Bapak for entrusting each of us with the precious
gift of the latihan kejiwaan. It is through God's Grace that we can
expand our love and compassion with the world. Subud USA's 2008 annual
pledge drive is critical to funding the costs of our organization which
provides support to our membership and the practice of the latihan. In 2007 there were approximately 200 people contributing (directly) to Subud USA. Our goal this year is to double that number, to encourage 400 to contribute. Why? The generosity of 200 people is simply not enough to fund our organization. This year we had three fund raising efforts and barely met the expenses of Subud USA. Please help us to put our organization on sounder financial footing for 2008 and reduce our fund-raising efforts to one annual appeal. The annual budget for Subud USA is $185,000. |
 Shoshannah and Muchtar
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The return on each dollar donated to Subud USA is tremendous. Member Services are largely direct office and salary expenses for rent and utilities, tracking members, facilitating communications throughout the nation, helping organize Congresses, gatherings, meetings, and workshops, operating a Publications Service (doing over $5,000 in business every year), tracking income and expenses in some thirty categories for regional, national and special funds.
Helper and committee travel is at the heart of Subud USA's national mission to support the vitality and growth of the latihan. The support we give to the international parts of our organization - WSA (World Subud Association) and our own Zone 7 (Canada, USA, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Suriname) is considerable. This international aspect of Subud, although not obviously impacting individuals or centers, is a very important part of what Subud is and how it will continue to grow in the future.
Specifically, here is how Subud USA spends its $185,000 budget:
| Member Services Helper Travel Subud USA News Support WSA Support Zone 7 Committee Travel Archive Storage Directory Printing Fundraising Total Budget |
$100,000 23,000 10,000 26,400 5,400 13,000 2,500 2,500 1,500 $184,300 |
 Mariamah & Alicia |
 Deliana & Reynold
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How do we raise $185,000? About one-third, $62,500, comes from pledges and contributions made by our Regions. This leaves $122,500 to come from pledges and contributions made directly to Subud USA from members like yourself and enterprises. Basically, Subud USA needs $120 per member per year, or $10 per member per month. Fortunately we have many very generous members who give much more than $120 apiece; for this we are most grateful. However, in order to meet budget, we need many more members to pledge $10 per month, or to send an annual contribution of $120 or more. Won't you be part of our equation for success? Continue to donate if you have done so in the past; consider increasing your donation. If you have not given to the pledge drive in the past, begin today. Please use the Pledge Form and the Electronic Debit Form (PDFs). You can arrange monthly credit card payments or bank transfers, or choose another payment schedule. Or you can donate through our website - www.subudusa.org |
Thank you for all the support you have given Subud in the past, and thank you for supporting Subud as we travel forward and continue to grow.
Aloha, from your Subud USA National Committee:
Deliana Fuddy, Aliman Sears, Margaret Aldis, Hardwin Blanchard, Rosetta Narvaez
 Aliman Sears & Deliana Fuddy with Melinda at the national office, 2006
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 Margaret Aldis |
 Hardwin Blanchard |  Rosetta Narvaez |