Good day, friends,

We are writing to share some important and exciting news. Starting October 6th, ICD will resume in-person Sunday meetings! The Sunday meeting will continue to have an online option—you can choose to attend in person or via Zoom.

The in-person meeting will be held at the Mizell Center, located in Palm Springs at the corner of Sunrise Way and Ramon. In addition, the meeting time will change. We will gather at 10:30 a.m. and the meeting will run through 12:00 noon.

There are no other changes to our regularly scheduled ICD meetings and sits.

Why the change in time?

The scheduling and availability of the Mizell Center dictates the morning time, as the facility is not available during our current Sunday afternoon time. To provide perspective, when ICD was just starting we rented space at the Center for Spiritual Living in Palm Springs, and the available timeslot was 4:30 p.m. We gratefully accepted what was available at the time and that became our “usual” time. We did not select the time; we accepted what was offered. Likewise now, we accept gratefully the generosity of the Mizell staff to make Sunday morning available to us.

How will I attend the meeting if I choose not to or cannot attend in person?

The Sunday meetings will continue on Zoom as before, just at the new morning hour of 10:30 a.m. to noon. When you sign on via Zoom, you will see and hear the teacher and the other Zoom participants.

All other regularly scheduled ICD meetings (Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday) will remain Zoom only.

Why the Mizell Center?

The Mizell Center is comfortable, accessible, and has ample parking. The center has served our sangha well for half-day and full-day retreats. We recognize that Palm Springs is not central to the Valley, but it has been “home” for 13 years and the Board and Guiding Council decided to launch this experiment in familiar territory.

This shift will serve those in our sangha who have yearned for the intimacy of in-person sessions. We will continue to serve sangha members who are out of the area or prefer to attend via Zoom.

How can I help?

The Mizell staff will set up and break down the meeting room. We invite those who wish to serve as greeters or in other ways to let us know. We can all help each other as we start our new meetings together. The cost of renting the Mizell Center, while reasonable, is not inconsequential.

If you can support the sangha with a monetary donation, we invite you to do so. Your gift is greatly appreciated, but giving is not required. As always, there is no cost to attend ICD meetings and events—you are always welcome!

If you are interested in assisting with the in-person events (weekly Sunday sessions and future half-day retreats) please send us an email: info@desertinsight.org

With metta and eagerness,

ICD Board of Directors & Guiding Council

Dear Sangha,

As we prepare to come back to in-person gatherings, there is also the opportunity to build in-person community again. Part of creating the space to share the dharma is the need for volunteers to support it.

Volunteering is a beautiful act of generosity and can be considered a form of dana. Your time helps to support the sangha and teachers which enables us to offer the dharma today, tomorrow, and beyond. Being of service in this way also lets us connect with others outside of the Zoom mosaic, gently moving into re-entry.

You can volunteer in any number of ways. Can you help set up a few chairs or tables? Can you help with checking people in at a daylong? Can you help greet at the Sunday group? Can you help with online support? There are several ways to help us move into this next iteration of ICD, and we really do need you.

For more information or to sign up, please contact us at volunteer@desertinsight.org