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2017 Year End Report
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31 Jan 2018 18:03 #314156
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2017 Year End Report was created by
Year end report 2017
Ladies and Gentlemen, Visitors, Guests, Members,
I am proud to present to you the Year End Report of 2017. This report contains contributions from our various departments and what they have been up to in the past year. Also some present their plans for 2018.
The past year had a lot of ups and downs and for some it was difficult not to get lost in the waves. Many have done their best to contribute to the Temple in various form. A lot isn't written in this report but you all might want to take a moment and ponder your contributions and be proud of them.
To not make this report longer than it already is, I am left to say a big thank you to all contributors and enjoy the report!
Yours,
Adhara
Membership Affairs
Education Administration
IP team
SIP
Degree scheme
Library
Clergy
Knights Corpse
Public Relations:
TOTJO Newsletter
Youth Officers
System Administration
Treasury Report
Ladies and Gentlemen, Visitors, Guests, Members,
I am proud to present to you the Year End Report of 2017. This report contains contributions from our various departments and what they have been up to in the past year. Also some present their plans for 2018.
The past year had a lot of ups and downs and for some it was difficult not to get lost in the waves. Many have done their best to contribute to the Temple in various form. A lot isn't written in this report but you all might want to take a moment and ponder your contributions and be proud of them.
To not make this report longer than it already is, I am left to say a big thank you to all contributors and enjoy the report!
Yours,
Adhara
Membership Affairs
Warning: Spoiler!
This year has been one of flux and change for membership affairs. We have gained fewer new people then other years from what I could find. But more people have stuck around for the training to move forward which is a good thing. I really want to thank all of the Knights and Apprentices that put in the time and work to help the newer people with their questions and training.
2017 started with aranoth member ID 30288
2017 ended with PaulK member ID 34755
We gained 4,468 new accounts
500 Applications were processed (This info is a little inaccurate due to my being late in coming to the party)
18 Initiates
22 Apprentices
14 Knights
3 Sr. Knights
~MadHatter
2017 started with aranoth member ID 30288
2017 ended with PaulK member ID 34755
We gained 4,468 new accounts
500 Applications were processed (This info is a little inaccurate due to my being late in coming to the party)
18 Initiates
22 Apprentices
14 Knights
3 Sr. Knights
~MadHatter
Education Administration
Warning: Spoiler!
Happy New Year, All –
It has been a year now that the Education Administration has been re-animated, yet there has not been a great deal of movement nor change in this sector. Last year, the first thing that I did upon taking up the charge of this office was to appoint a 9-member cabinet. This may sound like a lot, but it isn't truly : there was already (and is still) a Degree Administrator, a SIP Administrator, a Head of the IP Team and an Assistant Pastor for the Seminary. A Secretary was nominated and then four other people who have had some experience in teaching.
The guiding principle behind the Education Admin is one guiding question :
“What are people learning here ?”
There is going to have to be some attention paid to this, as this past year has shown us. It is not enough to “do assignments” and “become a Knight”. Whereas there may have been some Apprentices, Initiates, Novices and Temple Members involved in our TotJO Un-Civil War, it was, by and large, instigated and carried on by Knights against other Knights. Naturally, the Education Administration got as stuck during that tense time as everyone else did …
Yet, instead of making me give up on the question, it influenced me to emphasise it.
Therefore, I'll ask you all, in this beginning of 2018 to consider the question very sincerely (NOT “seriously”). One very good way of approaching the question ( - which doesn't necessarily have “AN” answer - ) is by very carefully pondering what we think we already know. “Knowing” is systematically the most solid obstacle to “Learning”. Also quite impenetrable is “what we want to be true” (pseudo-science, positivist psycho-babble, individualism... &c). Remember, we are learning to be good servitors of our society, it is necessary to learn how to live in/with the world the way it is, not try to make it seem better than it is.
It is not naïvely that I ask for your help in this endeavour. Anytime one asks for public participation, it comes at a price : that price being public satisfaction. Satisfaction can be delivered, but only in the measure that we are willing to buy back our souls from the (post-)modern machine that started buying them up ever since we discovered Agriculture. So, who is up for the challenge of challenging everything we know/think is true ? Who would like to excavate into existential Reality to catch a fluttering feeling of the true Force ?
~ Your most earnest Servant,
Alexandre Orion
It has been a year now that the Education Administration has been re-animated, yet there has not been a great deal of movement nor change in this sector. Last year, the first thing that I did upon taking up the charge of this office was to appoint a 9-member cabinet. This may sound like a lot, but it isn't truly : there was already (and is still) a Degree Administrator, a SIP Administrator, a Head of the IP Team and an Assistant Pastor for the Seminary. A Secretary was nominated and then four other people who have had some experience in teaching.
The guiding principle behind the Education Admin is one guiding question :
“What are people learning here ?”
There is going to have to be some attention paid to this, as this past year has shown us. It is not enough to “do assignments” and “become a Knight”. Whereas there may have been some Apprentices, Initiates, Novices and Temple Members involved in our TotJO Un-Civil War, it was, by and large, instigated and carried on by Knights against other Knights. Naturally, the Education Administration got as stuck during that tense time as everyone else did …
Yet, instead of making me give up on the question, it influenced me to emphasise it.
Therefore, I'll ask you all, in this beginning of 2018 to consider the question very sincerely (NOT “seriously”). One very good way of approaching the question ( - which doesn't necessarily have “AN” answer - ) is by very carefully pondering what we think we already know. “Knowing” is systematically the most solid obstacle to “Learning”. Also quite impenetrable is “what we want to be true” (pseudo-science, positivist psycho-babble, individualism... &c). Remember, we are learning to be good servitors of our society, it is necessary to learn how to live in/with the world the way it is, not try to make it seem better than it is.
It is not naïvely that I ask for your help in this endeavour. Anytime one asks for public participation, it comes at a price : that price being public satisfaction. Satisfaction can be delivered, but only in the measure that we are willing to buy back our souls from the (post-)modern machine that started buying them up ever since we discovered Agriculture. So, who is up for the challenge of challenging everything we know/think is true ? Who would like to excavate into existential Reality to catch a fluttering feeling of the true Force ?
~ Your most earnest Servant,
Alexandre Orion
IP team
Warning: Spoiler!
We are working on a building a new process for the IP team to make it easier to work with and to have more support the the individual members and those wishing to have a team sponsor. We have had a lot of people interested in joining and we will be making it easier to do so shortly
Further we are having Knight Firewolf take second in command and being the point of contact for most things with myself running the administration side and being back up contact.
~MadHatter
Further we are having Knight Firewolf take second in command and being the point of contact for most things with myself running the administration side and being back up contact.
~MadHatter
SIP
Warning: Spoiler!
SIP has been going well. Right now we are slow in the students department for it though. I am planning on adding some new lessons to it and am hopeful I can get the Knights who are interested to lend some original content. SIP is something i would like to find a way to make a bit more formalized but as to how to go about it I am still working on that.
~Firewolf
~Firewolf
Degree scheme
Warning: Spoiler!
Our knights are constantly working though our current Degree Scheme. Three knights have reached the B.Div. There were some discussions about how and what the Degree Scheme should be about but there have been no changes this year.
Library
Warning: Spoiler!
So when I first began as assistant librarian in summer of 2017 I was literally keeping track of every link fixed, and would even post everything at the end of each month, that is until I was notified not to bother as the site logs records my every action. So I quit doing my monthly reports. I am, of course still editing links as I find them...
The last three and a half months have been focused primarily downloading everything from the library up to my Dropbox, zip files and all. The goal of course in doing this lengthy process was to offer a virtual library where not one file need be downloaded, but opened and enjoyed while on site. Zip files were unzipped (mostly audio) and then also uploaded along side their prospective files, so students could literally stream all audio files, or download it and listen to it while offline. The same was done with all video files, as well as files in text format.
This was something previously not possible. The current setup on site, is no more than a data dump, picked from over ten different sources. It's ugly and not very functional, and is also not in the least mobile friendly. Something to consider being many of our members are on their phones most if not all of the time while on site...
The benefits of everything being on Dropbox are quickly obvious after just a few minutes exploring through the files.
1. All files now are accompanied with thumbnails, and can be opened and used without a single download (save for the Dropbox app itself for mobile users).
2. This is highly convenient, especially for students on the go hoping to potentially work on parts of the IP or their apprenticeships. With the entire library now uploaded on Dropbox, everything is accessible, a virtual library that can be accessed and utilized on the go. No downloads needed.
3. Last year when the site was hacked and down for a week, students were unable to continue their studies, and were forced to wait it out until the site was restored. Now, it's entirely possible to have multiple librarians. All that is required is for students to have a Dropbox account, and saving files to their personal Dropbox is simple and relatively quick, depending on the connection of course. The next time the site is hacked, instead of one single librarian attempting to assist students wishing to continue their studies, it's quite possible there will be 5, or 10, or even more assisting students in need...
4. The entire library is accessible from one link...
www.dropbox.com/sh/lh8imomqpgxjkjw/AADD9...skStEWz8YuMa-_a?dl=0
Over the course of the next year, I would also like to upload the entire catalog of sermons, the Doctrine and the IP in it's entirety...
5. Help Wanted...
There are still a lot of broken links. I could continue to log on the first hour of every day to repair broken LINKS for the next six months, and I still not come close to touching the sheer quantity of links in the FAQ that are in need of repair. With that said, starting immediately I will be accepting applications for Assistant Librarian. This will probably be a month long process if accepted, but having two Librarians on site will quicken the time required to fix the sea of broken links currently in the FAQ.
~ Librarian Zenchi
The last three and a half months have been focused primarily downloading everything from the library up to my Dropbox, zip files and all. The goal of course in doing this lengthy process was to offer a virtual library where not one file need be downloaded, but opened and enjoyed while on site. Zip files were unzipped (mostly audio) and then also uploaded along side their prospective files, so students could literally stream all audio files, or download it and listen to it while offline. The same was done with all video files, as well as files in text format.
This was something previously not possible. The current setup on site, is no more than a data dump, picked from over ten different sources. It's ugly and not very functional, and is also not in the least mobile friendly. Something to consider being many of our members are on their phones most if not all of the time while on site...
The benefits of everything being on Dropbox are quickly obvious after just a few minutes exploring through the files.
1. All files now are accompanied with thumbnails, and can be opened and used without a single download (save for the Dropbox app itself for mobile users).
2. This is highly convenient, especially for students on the go hoping to potentially work on parts of the IP or their apprenticeships. With the entire library now uploaded on Dropbox, everything is accessible, a virtual library that can be accessed and utilized on the go. No downloads needed.
3. Last year when the site was hacked and down for a week, students were unable to continue their studies, and were forced to wait it out until the site was restored. Now, it's entirely possible to have multiple librarians. All that is required is for students to have a Dropbox account, and saving files to their personal Dropbox is simple and relatively quick, depending on the connection of course. The next time the site is hacked, instead of one single librarian attempting to assist students wishing to continue their studies, it's quite possible there will be 5, or 10, or even more assisting students in need...
4. The entire library is accessible from one link...
www.dropbox.com/sh/lh8imomqpgxjkjw/AADD9...skStEWz8YuMa-_a?dl=0
Over the course of the next year, I would also like to upload the entire catalog of sermons, the Doctrine and the IP in it's entirety...
5. Help Wanted...
There are still a lot of broken links. I could continue to log on the first hour of every day to repair broken LINKS for the next six months, and I still not come close to touching the sheer quantity of links in the FAQ that are in need of repair. With that said, starting immediately I will be accepting applications for Assistant Librarian. This will probably be a month long process if accepted, but having two Librarians on site will quicken the time required to fix the sea of broken links currently in the FAQ.
~ Librarian Zenchi
Clergy
Warning: Spoiler!
Synod: Although every position on the Synod was turned over during 2017, needed stability was provided by the constant presence of Rosalyn J, who became our Pastor on 14 May after long and faithful service as Secretary for the Clergy, then as Assistant Pastor for the Seminary. Much of the new Synod's energies were put toward the creation of the Outreach Team (see more infra) and the creation of a comprehensive set of bylaws for the Clergy which is nearing completion, but a number of long-held goals for the Clergy, such as the renaming of clerical ranks and a fair procedure for applications for special commissions to perform a single liturgical ceremony, were also moved to the "completed" list.
Outreach: Throughout the year, the Synod has made spiritual care for and outreach to our Members its priority initiative. Held first by tzb and then Carlos.Martinez3, the office of Assistant Pastor for Outreach was developed to head a dedicated Spiritual Care and Outreach Team, in order to make our Clergy more proactive.
Sermons and services: In calendar year 2017, the Clergy and Seminarians (as well as guest Members) published 68 sermons and conducted 6 live services, including a special sermon for each of our liturgical days during the last half of the year. Additionally, Seminarian Nakis has begun sharing our sermons via podcast ( rdsroka.podbean.com/ ), and our social media team has diligently promoted new sermons for #SermonSunday each week, markedly increasing the reach of our messages (to as many as ~1400 views per sermon).
Seminary: 12 Members began training in the Seminary, and a total of 25 Members were actively engaged in Seminary studies (i.e., completed one or more Seminary lessons) throughout the year. Assistant Pastor for the Seminary Raxicorico has spearheaded a small Seminary Engagement Team to keep our clerical students active, with clear positive results. A workgroup has also been striving to create a training program in pastoral and spiritual counseling; while we are (mostly) not professional counselors, we recognize that our privileged status under the law in many jurisdictions gives us the responsibility to ensure that our Clergy are afforded the tools they need to provide effective spiritual care.
Clerical promotions:
Licensed Clergy:
Raxicorico, 17 March
JLSpinner, 8 July
Aqua, 3 October
thomaswfaulkner, 10 November
Ordained Clergy:
J.K. Barger, 24 February
Carlos.Martinez3, 4 March
Raxicorico, 1 July
JLSpinner, 30 September
Steamboat28, 7 October
Senior Ordained Clergy:
Cabur Senaar, 18 January
Rosalyn J, 12 November
Respectfully submitted,
~ Rev. Richard (Atticus) Laws
Secretary for the Clergy
Outreach: Throughout the year, the Synod has made spiritual care for and outreach to our Members its priority initiative. Held first by tzb and then Carlos.Martinez3, the office of Assistant Pastor for Outreach was developed to head a dedicated Spiritual Care and Outreach Team, in order to make our Clergy more proactive.
Sermons and services: In calendar year 2017, the Clergy and Seminarians (as well as guest Members) published 68 sermons and conducted 6 live services, including a special sermon for each of our liturgical days during the last half of the year. Additionally, Seminarian Nakis has begun sharing our sermons via podcast ( rdsroka.podbean.com/ ), and our social media team has diligently promoted new sermons for #SermonSunday each week, markedly increasing the reach of our messages (to as many as ~1400 views per sermon).
Seminary: 12 Members began training in the Seminary, and a total of 25 Members were actively engaged in Seminary studies (i.e., completed one or more Seminary lessons) throughout the year. Assistant Pastor for the Seminary Raxicorico has spearheaded a small Seminary Engagement Team to keep our clerical students active, with clear positive results. A workgroup has also been striving to create a training program in pastoral and spiritual counseling; while we are (mostly) not professional counselors, we recognize that our privileged status under the law in many jurisdictions gives us the responsibility to ensure that our Clergy are afforded the tools they need to provide effective spiritual care.
Clerical promotions:
Licensed Clergy:
Raxicorico, 17 March
JLSpinner, 8 July
Aqua, 3 October
thomaswfaulkner, 10 November
Ordained Clergy:
J.K. Barger, 24 February
Carlos.Martinez3, 4 March
Raxicorico, 1 July
JLSpinner, 30 September
Steamboat28, 7 October
Senior Ordained Clergy:
Cabur Senaar, 18 January
Rosalyn J, 12 November
Respectfully submitted,
~ Rev. Richard (Atticus) Laws
Secretary for the Clergy
Knights Corpse
Warning: Spoiler!
This year the knights gathered in 8 meetings to discuss various topics and to come together and learn and grow. Many discussions had the topic of the continued education of knights in particular but also in the whole temple and the sharing of their experiences.
Public Relations:
Warning: Spoiler!
This year, the Public Relations department has had some difficulties. The first half of the year, Brenna managed the department. After her resignation as head of PR the post was empty for a long time. Some of the requests were handled by the Council and the Knights but that was not an optimal solution. In December Br.John took up the office of head of PR and is now coordinating the department.
Here are a few links to events that happened this year. The list is not complete though.
- Articles: mobile.wnd.com/2017/12/jedi-religion-much-like-others-rabbi-concludes/
- Interview by Alexandre: https://www.templeofthejediorder.org/forum/Offline-activities/120455-un-article-dans-je-ne-sais-quel-petit-journal#310925
- UK-Gathering 2017: Brick’s report: https://www.templeofthejediorder.org/forum/47-Journals/118847-brick-s-random-stuff
Facebook Page
We have continued to see growth on the FB platform. Our highest rated posts have been the ones generated by the membership here so we really hope to see more member generated material on the FB page in the coming year.
Here are a few links to events that happened this year. The list is not complete though.
- Articles: mobile.wnd.com/2017/12/jedi-religion-much-like-others-rabbi-concludes/
- Interview by Alexandre: https://www.templeofthejediorder.org/forum/Offline-activities/120455-un-article-dans-je-ne-sais-quel-petit-journal#310925
- UK-Gathering 2017: Brick’s report: https://www.templeofthejediorder.org/forum/47-Journals/118847-brick-s-random-stuff
Facebook Page
We have continued to see growth on the FB platform. Our highest rated posts have been the ones generated by the membership here so we really hope to see more member generated material on the FB page in the coming year.
TOTJO Newsletter
Warning: Spoiler!
In 2017 we have had three Jedi hold the office of Editor in Chief;
Serenity
TheDude
JLSpinner
We have also had three Assistant Editors;
TheDude
JLSpinner
Senan
We have had contributions from 29 Jedi this year, they are;
Serenity
Peace x2
Dechlain
Leah Starspectre
Firewolf
J.K. Barger
Tellahane
J_Roz
Brenna x2
Cabur Senaar
Rosalyn J
Kyber x2
Darren
Nakis
ZealotX
TheDude
Trisskar
Jack Troutman
Kobos
Cyan Sarden x2
JLSpinner x2
Senan
MadHatter
Dano Ori
Enua
Loudzoo
Jpadkins
Zenchi
Kit
In 2017 we have accumulated 16,882 words shared in our Newsletter.
Due to unsure conditions of the Temple our Editor in Chief decided against releasing an Autumn audition.
Serenity
TheDude
JLSpinner
We have also had three Assistant Editors;
TheDude
JLSpinner
Senan
We have had contributions from 29 Jedi this year, they are;
Serenity
Peace x2
Dechlain
Leah Starspectre
Firewolf
J.K. Barger
Tellahane
J_Roz
Brenna x2
Cabur Senaar
Rosalyn J
Kyber x2
Darren
Nakis
ZealotX
TheDude
Trisskar
Jack Troutman
Kobos
Cyan Sarden x2
JLSpinner x2
Senan
MadHatter
Dano Ori
Enua
Loudzoo
Jpadkins
Zenchi
Kit
In 2017 we have accumulated 16,882 words shared in our Newsletter.
Due to unsure conditions of the Temple our Editor in Chief decided against releasing an Autumn audition.
Youth Officers
Warning: Spoiler!
We have seen a large flux of youth membership this year and many more then I have seen in the past have been active in their journals which is great to see. Further myself and Knight Atticus have joined with Knight J_Roz to work as a team to support the youth. For the new year I am going to try to work on some more supplemental materials for the youth that are waiting to become eligible for Apprenticeship and beyond.
~MadHatter
Our Youth Officer J_Roz sends her warm welcomes to all youths of the Temple, especially to the new ones. Also she sends great thank you to Atticus and MadHatter for their great help.
~MadHatter
Our Youth Officer J_Roz sends her warm welcomes to all youths of the Temple, especially to the new ones. Also she sends great thank you to Atticus and MadHatter for their great help.
System Administration
Warning: Spoiler!
This year, Tellahane joined the System Administration team.
Administration had issues with the software and switched to a different suite. We're thinking about ditching joomla in the future as it would protect us from random changes and problems from third party software.
Administration had issues with the software and switched to a different suite. We're thinking about ditching joomla in the future as it would protect us from random changes and problems from third party software.
Treasury Report
Warning: Spoiler!
- PayPal - $1,695.35 USD
- Wells Fargo Checking - $654.45
- InstantCard Current Account Balance: $134.22
- Wells Fargo Checking - $654.45
- InstantCard Current Account Balance: $134.22
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31 Jan 2018 18:17 - 31 Jan 2018 18:21 #314159
by
Replied by on topic 2017 Year End Report
Yosh!! Do you guys have all of this in a single doc that we can download? Id like to add it to my own archives 
Edit: Oh never mind! It copy/pasted over just fine despite spoiler tags
Woot Woot!
Edit: Oh never mind! It copy/pasted over just fine despite spoiler tags
Woot Woot!
Last edit: 31 Jan 2018 18:21 by .
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07 Jun 2018 14:46 - 07 Jun 2018 15:01 #322522
by Nakis
Licensed Clergy Person
Replied by Nakis on topic 2017 Year End Report
I had a quick question, just to better develop a better sense of financial flow, are we able to learn how much it costs monthly/annually for upkeep to the Temple?
Edit: Disregard the request for the Form 990, I found it.
Edit: Disregard the request for the Form 990, I found it.
Licensed Clergy Person
Last edit: 07 Jun 2018 15:01 by Nakis.
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07 Jun 2018 15:45 #322527
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Replied by on topic 2017 Year End Report
Well done! An excellent report.
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