D.C. SRF Center Volunteer Service Teams

The D. C. Center of S.R.F. is maintained with the help of many volunteers who serve on numerous service teams. Information about these teams is listed below for those interested in volunteering. All are welcome to serve!

Bookroom – the Bookroom Team serves in three capacities. The cashier uses a computer program to record the sales of books, tapes, gifts, and other items found in the SRF catalog. The donation volunteer counts the service donations, fills out a financial summary report and makes the bank deposit. Inventory servers take inventory and help maintain the free literature.

Building Acquisition – this team is dedicated to finding a building for long term use of the DC Center. This building will be acquired by the Mother Center with money from the DC Center Building Fund. The team will communicate with the Mother Center's Center Department regarding such an identified building and assist the Center Department to acquire it for the DC Center's use.

Cleaning – the Cleaning Team is responsible for regular maintenance cleaning of the Center. Their cleaning duties include vacuuming, dusting and cleaning as needed in the chapel, entry foyer, bookroom and upstairs social room and cleaning of the two bathrooms. They also help with special annual cleaning projects such as cleaning windows, blinds and walls.

Flowers and Room Setup - the Flower Team volunteers are in charge of preparing flower arrangements for the chapel and entry foyer for services at the Center and for special events such as Monastic Visits and the India Night Banquet. They are also in charge of preparing the special room setup and flower arrangements for the commemorative services.

Greeters – the Greeter’s duties include greeting, welcoming and answering questions to newcomers, visitors and other members before and after services. They also admit latecomers to the chapel services during periods of chanting and are stationed in the entry foyer during the services. Greeters are scheduled only for Sunday morning and special commemorative services.

Kirtan Group – the Kirtan group plays traditional Indian instruments to accompany devotional chanting at commemorative and kirtan services. The group is composed of devotees who play harmonium, tambour, tablas, bells and other traditional Indian percussion instruments. The kirtan group practices regularly at a member’s home.

Social Events – the Social Events Team is in charge of all socials held by the Center. Their duties include setting up, organizing and cleaning up for the monthly potluck luncheons as well as for other special social events such as the India Night Banquet. They also help prepare festive food, decorate the social room and arrange for entertainment for several special occasions during the year.

Ushers – the duties of the Ushers include ushering, operating the sound system and passing donation baskets at services as well as arriving ½ hour before service to open the Center and prepare the chapel. Chapel preparations include turning on the lights, sound system, and heat or air conditioner and opening windows for ventilation. The Usher is also responsible for closing the chapel after service.

Elected Volunteers

To serve as an Officer, Council member, Service reader or Sunday school teacher, a devotee must be a Kriyaban and elected at the annual spring election. Those interested in serving in any of these positions should contact the Center Coordinator for more information.

Center Coordinator – it is the duty of the Center Coordinator to see that the various activities of the Center are harmonious and in accordance with guidelines from Mother Center. The Coordinator acts as presiding officer at all Center business and Council meetings (or appoints another officer to act in his stead.) All Center reports and correspondence sent to Mother Center must be initialed by him. The Coordinator also oversees the Service Reader’s Team.

Managing Council – The Center’s Managing Council consists of the three officers listed below and four at-large members. The Council meets approximately once per month and plans, schedules and guides the Center’s activities. It guides the Center’s budget and expenditures of funds, establishes and guides service teams and appoints their chairs, maintains liaison with the teams, maintains communications with SRF Mother Center, and plans General Business Meetings of the Center as they are needed.

Secretary – the Secretary is in charge of maintaining regular correspondence with Mother Center, unless done by the Coordinator. This officer also takes brief minutes at all Center business and Council meetings and sends a copy to Center Department. The Secretary also maintains a file of all correspondence with Center Department and fills out a general report to send to them twice per year.

Service Readers – Service Readers lead services at the Center according to the guidelines in the SRF service manual. The reader is sometimes also the chant leader/ harmonium player but this is optional as another volunteer is often scheduled to lead the chants. The Harmonium Player does not need to be elected.

Sunday school Teachers – Sunday school teachers lead classes for children ages 4-12 and a teen class for teens ages 13-19 in our upstairs room at the Center. The teachers introduce the children to the teachings of Paramahansa Yogananda, meditation and devotional chanting and illustrate spiritual principles through group creative activities and crafts. The Sunday school teachers are assisted by another volunteer, a Teachers Aide, which is also an elected position.

Treasurer – The Treasurer is responsible for the complete accounting of all Center funds and for all deposits to the Center savings account. The Treasurer submits an annual financial report to Center Department at the end of the year and also makes a written monthly accounting report to the Council.