Times, they are a changing

Well, today was a very special day indeed. After seeing the video of president Ikeda's speech of 18 November 2006, we had a general responsible meeting of SGI Netherlands. There were 215 members attending this meeting in our Cultural Center at Zeist. As special guests we had the SGI Europe General director Mr. Takahashi and former general director, and now adviser, Mr Hasagawa.
We where told that we got a new layer in our organization. All of the regions became areas. So a lot of new appointments followed. In essence nothing changed and everything chanced. Same leaders, different responsibilities. Also, a whole lot of new chapter-, district- and group leaders where appointed. There were a lot of encouragements from our special guests and our general director Mr. Kotera. In between there was a lot of Culture in the form of music. Even Mr. Kotera sung a song.
This year is crucial for our growth of SGI Netherlands for Kosen Rufu Netherlands and for Kosen Rufu worldwide. Our main goal till January 2nd 2008, President Ikeda's Birthday he becomes 80 then, is to have 2,000 Gohonzon members in the Netherlands and of that 600 youth division members. Mr.Hasagawa told us that he believed that not 2,000 new Bodhisattva's of the earth were waiting to emerge, but 10,000 Bodhisattva's. He also told us that,when this happens, it would be like an eruption of a volcano and that growth would be unstoppable. That would be a real big victory. Mr. Hasagawa told also about the news that Cuba recognized the SGI as a religious organization. This is a big step for our members in Cuba. Fidel Castro met Sensei in 1996. Castro received Sensei not as usual in his uniform, but in a suit. This was a true historical moment. And this happened never again.
It was a truly great day and I'm happy that I was a part of it. Next week we will have our yearly responsible course. This year only 1 day and at the Cultural Center at Zeist.
Today my girlfriend was a byakuren (hostess of the Young womens division) and next week she is a Keibi or Gajokai (protector of the National Gohonzon, the Center and the members).
NMHRK
Andre

New years Gongyo at Zeist

This weekend me and my girlfriend went to the SGI Cultural Center at Zeist. We arrived on December 31st. round 15.45 hrs at the Center. Since we where the first to arrive there. The Center keeper, Mitsu, asked me to be Keibi because I was there to support the Keibi open days in this special weekend. Luckily I brought my Keibi-uniform. Eventually we where with 8 Keibies and trainees. So we made dinner and did the tour through the center giving instructions.

At 0.00 hrs we did gongyo with everybody who was there. We wished each other happy New Year and we ate and drink for a few hrs. then we went to sleep. At 9.00 hrs we did the Keibi-gongyo and then we prepared our selfs to receive the guests who would come for the new Years Gongyo. This was very nice to experience. So many guests and members (around 200 people). After the meeting we did our evening gongyo and had our own new Year party at the center, together with some Sokahans and Byakurens who stayed and joined us.

Of course we had our difficulties within the group who was keibi. This is only natural. Not every-one has the same high life condition. After a year of problems within the Keibi group we're sure that this year we will have a good group and that everybody will be motivated to do Keibi shifts so we can protect the center,the Gohonzon and the members and guests.

Happy New Year.
Andre