Even the simple exercise of reviewing the agenda together allows Councilors to know exactly what they can expect at the retreat, and prepare accordingly.ДЄbout a month before the retreat is also an ideal time to check in with each Councilor about the issues and challenges that are at top of mind. ItвЂ™s important to communicate with the Council what retreat day will involve вЂ“ the agenda, staff attendance, facilitators, and the goal for the day. Here are three key takeaways which helped make HillsboroвЂ™s retreat day successful: Preparation Mode: T-30 Days They are opportunities for elected officials and city staff to step back from the day-to-day routine and organize around the foundational elements of our service вЂ“ who we serve, what values we uphold, and what direction we are headed.Д¬ity Councilors and staff from the City of Hillsboro, OR recently convened for an annual one-day retreat where the City Council identified several short and long term priorities for staff to focus on. Retreats are a powerful management tool for local government leaders to refocus on the mission of a city and develop priorities which are in line with a CityвЂ™s core values.

What IвЂ™m Watching: The Dawn Wall (Documentary on Netflix!)ДЄs an organization, how often do you reflect on your core values, mission, and guiding principles? Do you consider how they influence your decision making process on a daily basis?.What IвЂ™m Reading: We Were Eight Years In Power by Ta-Nehisi Coates.What IвЂ™m Listening To: Lianne La Havas вЂ“ Is Your Love Big Enough?.In case the internet connection makes it impossible for Sr Viranani to attend real time, we will make use of Dhammatalks and guided meditations from earlier retreats with Sr Viranani.TodayвЂ™s #MorningBuzz brought to you by Neha Subramanyam: Additional will be the gifts from the heart to support sr Viranani and RiГ«t in their livelihoods, also known as the practice of generosity (dana). Thursday 10 June there will be a silent sitting in the evening.ДЇixed costs for the retreat are 15 euro. This will support your meditation and the cultivation of metta. Д©.00-12.00 hrs and 14.30-16.00 hrs with Sr Viranani.Дў0.00-21.30 hrs (city centre) with RiГ«t Aarsse (optional and dependent on covid)Дў0.00-21.30 hrs with RiГ«t Aarsse (Thursday evening 10 June silent sitting online).ДЇor this City Retreat we request you to attend all online sessions with Sr Viranani and as much as possible sessions in the evening with RiГ«t Aarsse. Start: Sunday 6 June вЂ“В End: Saturday 12 June. More about sr Viranani can be found here. Sister Viranani currently resides in her monastery in Myanmar. Depending on the covid situation, there will be an optional live Sunday evening session with RiГ«t Aarsse in the Zencentre in Amsterdam. During the city retreat, organized by Amsterdam Inzichtmeditatie, Sister ViraГ±ani will be present online in the morning, she will introduce the meditations, offer a talk to support the practice and there will be moments of Q&R with sr Viranani during the week.

This supports the development of insight. Metta (loving kindness) meditation opens our hearts and helps us to develop a stable and serene mind. A city retreat is a beautiful way to practice meditation in an intense way while we bring our practice into our daily life.

City retreat