Dear Sangha Members,
We take this opportunity to gratefully thank you for your continued kindness and generosity in support for our organization. We are writing at this time to make a special request and appeal to help with an important issue affecting the future of the BCA: reducing the current debt burden of our organization.
Representatives of the BCA churches/temples addressed this financial issue head-on at this year’s National Council meeting. The representatives called for a donation drive to retire the current outstanding principal on the Jodo Shinshu Center (JSC) mortgage held by California Bank & Trust (CB&T). The outstanding principal was $3,139,298 on May 1, 2011 with average interest payments of about $13,900 per month for 2011.
Since it opened its doors in 2006, the JSC has gained international recognition as a major hub of religious and academic activities for Shin Buddhism. Through your generosity and the hard work and dedication of the BCA staff and volunteers, the JSC thrives today as a notable venue for maintaining and developing our Shin Buddhist tradition. Nonetheless, the planning, design and construction of the JSC have left some of our members deeply concerned, and even upset, over the changing events and increased costs related to the building completion that were not conveyed clearly to our general membership.
For this we are truly sorry and offer our sincerest apology. Please accept our commitment to you to move forward with renewed efforts for improved communications. To that end, we welcome your feedback through your concerns and questions. Please send these to the BCA President’s e-mail address shown below.
Once again, we humbly request that you consider participating in our commitment to retire the mortgage to CB&T. If everyone in the BCA contributes $17 per month for one year (a contribution of $199) we would be in a position to retire the entire CB&T loan. Any amount, however, will be greatly appreciated. Removal of this financial burden with your generous support will allow us to focus on the growth and development of our BCA Sangha.
We hope that you will join in this commitment to help secure the Nembutsu teaching for our future generations.
In Gassho,
Everett Watada, BCA President Koshin Ogui, Socho
Options for Submitting BCA Debt Relief Contributions:
5 Options for submitting contributions to help payoff the BCA mortgage are listed below.
Households with more than one member may submit their contributions together, but no matter how your contribution is made, please make sure the names of all contributing members are identified to be properly credited. As a way of helping others in your church/temple, you are welcome and encouraged to assist them by contributing more than $199. Of course, any amount that you are able to contribute to help pay off the debt will be greatly appreciated.
Please make contributions payable to BCA Debt Relief and mail to Buddhist Churches of America, 1710 Octavia Street, San Francisco, CA 94109. All donations will be entered into the BCA Donor Database for tracking and record keeping. If you decide to contribute in partial submissions, reminders from either BCA or your temple will be sent to you if needed. A letter of acknowledgement will be sent to you after your total amount has been contributed.
No matter which option you choose, please complete the detailed form on the following page to help make sure your contribution method and amounts are properly recorded and credited.
Thank you in advance for your support.
Contribution Amounts for Each Person if Based on $199 per Individual:
Monthly: $17 Quarterly: • $49.75 Semi-annually: • $99.50 One-time: $199
Contribution Options:
I. BY CHECK:
1. Make check payable to BCA Debt Relief and mail to BCA Headquarters as noted above.
II. AS AN AUTOMATIC “BILL-PAY” THROUGH YOUR BANK:
1. Contact your bank to set up your contribution as an automatically paid “bill”. Make payments payable to BCA Debt Relief and use the BCA address listed above.
III. CREDIT CARD AUTHORIZATION BY MAIL, ONE-TIME or in MULTIPLE PAYMENTS:
1. Fill out the portion of the form on the next page for credit card authorization and mail to BCA as noted.
2. Your contribution will be processed through PayPal Credit Authorization.
IV. CREDIT CARD BY TELEPHONE, ONE-TIME or in MULTIPLE PAYMENTS:
1. Call Mina Fujimoto, BCA Headquarters, at (415) 776-5600 extension 11 and provide name, credit card information and contribution amount.
2. Your contribution will be processed through PayPal Credit Authorization.
3. Repeat the process as needed.
V. CREDIT CARD VIA BCA WEBSITE, ONE-TIME or in MULTIPLE PAYMENTS
1. Visit this Our Relief Donation Page and choose a donation amount.
2. Complete information for your credit card contribution.
3. Your contribution will be processed through PayPal Credit Card Authorization.
4. Repeat the process as needed.
If you or your church/temple has already submitted your contribution to help pay off the Buddhist Churches of America mortgage, we apologize for sending you this information. Your donation is greatly appreciated!
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