Opportunities for Service

The best way to show gratitude in this tradition is to practice and grow in Dhamma. As Dhamma workers, we learn how to apply the practice in daily life and, from moment to moment, are given many opportunities to develop ourselves with humility. Like diamonds in the rough we soften each other and learn to have sympathetic joy and compassion while working for a common purpose: may all beings be happy. 

The Centre has opportunities for old students who are willing to help with various responsibilities at the Centre. These roles are for onsite tasks at the Centre and will require old students to come to the Centre regularly or stay at the Centre for longer periods of time. If you have skills and wish to grow in Dhamma while giving back to the community, all while enjoying the pleasant atmosphere and people, we would love to see you more often.

Some of the Centre’s committees and resonsibilities are outlined bellow. If you are interested in serving with any of them, or are interested in coming to the Centre regularly to help, please send an email to [email protected]. Please give your area of interest with some background information about yourself.  

Building Operations Committee — 

• Maintain and repair all buildings
• Maintain and service building appliances and building equipment
• Maintain all heating tanks and utilities for buildings
• Organize, maintain, and service all shop tools
• Ensure a safe water supply for the centre by following provincial requirements

Grounds Committee — 

• Maintain the centre grounds including roads, walkways, trails, and parking lots
• Carryout landscaping improvements and site work
• Manage and improve diversity and sustainability of the forest
• Carryout snow removal
• Manage the firewood compound andthe organic material compound
• Install and maintain all grounds signage
• Maintain tree and shrub nursery

Household Committee —

• Outfit and maintain the centre’s buildings and furnishings
• Ensure sufficient supplies at the beginning of each course
• Report maintenance issues to the Building Operations Committee
• Organize detailed cleaning of the buildings during longer service periods

Tech Committee — 

• Maintain and develop programs and apps such as the online registration and credit card donations
• Keep abreast of privacy legislation, assorted privacy issues, security of data, and any related matters.
• Continue student application development such as:

1. Maintain web program to provide Ontario Student data to global centres on an individual basis in line with privacy laws.
2. Maintain web program to collect and maintain Dhamma worker data.

• Maintain and service phone and internet systems
• Provide technical maintenance and updates in regards to the Ontario Vipassana Website and Old Student websites
• Develop and maintain media walla course delivery system for Dhamma hall
• Ensure off-site 1-day courses have proper audio systems

Kitchen Committee —

Health & Safety Committee —

• Ensures a safe working environemtn by promoting policies and procedure that ensure the health and safety of all servers, students and visitors to the Centre

Information and Publicity Committee —

• Maintain and update the Ontario Vipassana website and OldStudent Websites to ensure that it always reflects current information including:

1. Course schedules, information sessions, foundation meetings, etc.
2. Maintenance of links to other sites and articlesc) removal of information which is no longer relevant

• Manage assembly and coordination of monthly newsletter announcements.

Vehicles and Equipment Committee —

• Service and maintain all centre vehicles and equipment
• Be responsible for gasoline and diesel fuel tanks
• Insure vehicles for highway use
• Purchase vehicles and equipment as requested by other committees