I'm the President of three FWBO centres: Buddhafield (if you can call it a centre!), Vajraloka Buddhist Meditation Centre, and the West London Buddhist Centre. I'm very proud to have a longstanding personal connection with each of these amazing Dharma realms and with the fantastic people who keep them alive. My role in each of these enterprises is completely non-administrative and non-responsible! I am someone they can call on for feedback or advice (as best I can) and because of my many connections in the movement, I provide a kind of channel for communication.
I suppose I am some kind of trusted 'elder' for these centres: through my friendship and connections with other senior Sangha members I provide a link with the roots of our tradition. Buddhafield, Vajraloka and West London keep me informed of what is going on and send me records of meetings and annual accounts. You could say I'm a bit of a lazy president since I like to stay on retreat. Still, I do occasionally visit to keep in touch, and consider myself to be something of a patron. I like what these people do, and want to support their activities.
A centre's President is independent of its administrative structures. He or she has no personal interest as, say, a Trustee or other charity official.
So the President can be a good person to approach as a mediator in sensitive issues that are hard to take up directly with the centre. As centre President in West London, Vajraloka and Buddhafield, I know their chair and many of their council members, and I'm informed about most current issues. I am in a good position to bring matters to their attention, so I can help if you need me to.
