By CAROL MEYER

Ever wonder how FCM does all? How we offer such rich Dharma programs, maintain our beautiful facilities and campus, nurture and sustain loving community, keep everyone informed, and continue to grow? How we do it all as a sangha of over 350 members relying almost entirely on selfless service, with only three paid staff (Dharma Teacher Fred, Caretaker David Braasch, and Office Manager Liz Stepp)? 

The short answer? Hundreds of members and friends willingly offer selfless service, and we have a quiet non-hierarchical organizational structure consisting of two governing bodies: the Board of Directors and the Leadership Council.   

The Board of Directors was established in the FCM Bylaws when FCM was incorporated in 1986 as a Florida not-for-profit and tax-exempt 501(c)(3) religious organization for the purpose of furthering the practice of Buddhism. The Board currently consists of four officers and four directors serving staggered terms. The Dharma Teacher serves as an ex-officio member of the Board. Follow this link if you want to see who is currently serving on our FCM Board. 

The Board meets at least five times per calendar year, uses consensus decision-making and assumes all of the traditional fiduciary roles of the boards of non- profit organizations, including the following.

1. Elects new directors and directors who serve as officers of the corporation: Board chair, Board chair-elect, secretary and treasurer

2. Ensures that FCM remains true to its stated vision, mission and core values

3. Engages in strategic (“big picture”) planning to set broad policy and objectives, and ensures FCM remains focused on realizing stated short and longer-term goals and priorities

4. Oversees FCM finances, including: preparation and approval of the annual budget, prudent collection and expenditure of operating funds and initiation of capital campaigns

5. Establishes committees, effective management structures, and priorities to help FCM realize its mission, vision and strategic plans 

6. Participates in key staffing decisions, including recruitment and engagement of members to offer selfless service as directors, officers, and program leaders

Want to know what our FCM Board is focusing on now?  Here are the current 2025 priorities adopted by our FCM Board at its 2024 annual Board retreat last December.

1. Continue building a community that nourishes personal connections and relationships in all FCM activities and through the implementation of “family groups.”  (3-year priority)

2. Elevate and strengthen FCM’s culture of selfless service as a path of practice and by supporting the development and appointment of a Selfless Service Coordinator.

3. Continue to develop the infrastructure to create a permanent digital marketing group.

4. Increase FCM's partnerships and interactions with local non-profit organizations having missions and values similar to FCM’s.

5. Encourage the leadership to promote a wider awareness and utilization of the FCM Sangha Harmony Guide within FCM and proactively encourage leadership training to address situations of disharmony or conflict. 

While the Board focuses on “big picture,” the Leadership Council and its area leaders focus on daily operations and doing all that we want and need to do together. The Leadership Council, which includes Fred at the center of it all, meets weekly to ensure communication flows among all areas, challenges are met, and the sangha flows like a river with all areas working together in harmony.  Here are our current area leaders and members of the Leadership Council.

• Our teacher Fred serves as our spiritual guide, providing leadership and support, and ensuring that we remain focused on realizing FCM's mission, values and goals.
  
• Dharma Programs Leader Angie Parrish oversees all Dharma programs, including Sunday sangha, meditation, workshops and classes, Intensives, Days of Mindfulness, retreats, online courses and recordings and more.
  
• Communications Leader Carol Green oversees communications (including Mindfulness Matters).
  
• Community Care Leader Peggy Wallace oversees programs that support and nurture our community and membership, such as Sangha Building/Membership, Sangha Care and Support, Social Activities, Death & Dying, and Spiritual Friends groups.
  
• Facilities Leader Bill Mac Millen and Caretaker David Braasch are in charge of the safety and maintenance of FCM’s Tampa Practice Center, including grounds and gardens, buildings and facilities, kitchen, housekeeping, selfless service and our residential caretaking program.
  
• Operations Leader Lydia Anderson, along with our Office Manager Liz Stepp, are responsible for financial reporting, risk management and compliance.
  

Want to know even more about how FCM works?  Follow this link to the Organization page in the About section of our website, and check out the role of the Order of Interbeing and Council of Elders in our amazingly wonderful sangha! 

Carol Meyer of Asheville, NC, has been a member of FCM for 13  years and currently is leader of FCM's Order of Interbeing.