OCBC Board to Make Crucial Decision 

As this month's Korin goes to print, the OCBC Board of Directors is voting to make a crucial decision on the scope and design of the new social hall.  As I reported last month, the Project's development and planning committees had discussed the issue of the current scope in light of the current funding shortfall and had made a recommendation to the Board of Directors with all the pros and cons of what to do.  The crucial question was, given the current funding, should we or should we not include the basement in the final design.  It is a difficult and complex question to answer.  The committees are reasonably confident that we can make up the current shortfall by the time we start construction with forecast donations and pledges.  But could we make better use of that money  on things that are not in the original costs for the social hall, such as furnishings, or perhaps we should use the money to jump-start the fundraising for Phase 2, the hondo expansion.  If we decide not to built the basement, we can't do it at a later time and we will have lost the opportunity for that extra building space.  On the other hand, is the basement the best use for our hard-earned money and are we willing to take the financial risk that we can raise the additional monies to fund all the things that we want for all the future facilities? This is a tough decision.  We will let you know the vote decision in next month's report. 

While those issues are being discussed and decided upon, our fundraising efforts need to continue in earnest. We still need to meet the goal of  over $500,000 in new donations and pledges by construction start time in the summer of 2013, whether we build the basement or not. Thanks to the generosity of new and past donors of our Sangha and friends, we are continuing to do that.  We humbling ask that you continue to dig deep and donate to the future of OCBC.

OCBC acknowledges the following new and repeat donations received in late March through early April 2012.