Commonweal

“On april 11, 2018, commonweal's board of directors amended and restated their by-laws to increase board size to 12 members and to set new board term limits to two 3-year terms with a mandatory gap year after the 2 terms are completed.”

“Reviewed by staff and the finance committee and a copy given to the board.”

“The conflict of interest policy is included in the staff handbook and the bylaws. The staff handbook is given upon hire and when revised. An acknowledgement is signed by staff and kept in the employee file. The bylaws are given to board members upon joining the board and when revised. Each board member is required to sign a statement annually disclosing any possible conflicts of interest. Board members involved in a possible conflict of interest are excluded from voting on issues related to such interests.”

“Commonweal does a comparison to other nonprofits in northern california, then factors in experience and responsibility. Using this information, the board of directors approves compensation for all board directors, officers, the president, ceo,executive director, coo, cso and cfo.”

“Commonweal does not make its governing documents, conflict of interest policy or financial statements available to the public.”

“No committee meetings that had the authority to act on behalf of the governing body were held during the fiscal year. If any committees that had the authority to act on behalf of the governing body had met during the fiscal year, the meetings would be contemporaneously documented.”

“OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES 4: Commonweal Retreat Center: The Commonweal Retreat Center is a breathtakingly beautiful space within the Commonweal site, where we hold the Cancer Help Program retreats and other Commonweal workshops. It also hosts personal and professional conferences, workshops, retreats, and gatherings that are compatible with Commonweal's nonprofit status. The Retreat Center includes Pacific House, a 12-bedroom retreat facility with a commercial kitchen, and Bothin and Kohler Houses, with two and three bedrooms respectively. Jenepher Stowell directs the Retreat Center. OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES 5: Other Various Programs:In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2018, Commonweal's other programs did a variety of work contributing to health of people and of the planet. Programs includedCommonweal Biomonitoring Resource Center,Healing Circles, Institute for Art and Healing / EDGE, Fall Gathering, Healing Kitchens Institute, Healing Yoga Foundation, Beyond Conventional Cancer Therapies, and Center for Creative Community. OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES 6: The New School at Commonweal:Founded in 2007, The New School at Commonweal (TNS) is a community of inquiry exploring topics in health, the arts and sciences, the environment, and the inner life. TNS presents conversations, book readings, performances, and other events with thought and action leaders who are changing our world. Over 200 events are recorded and offered as pod-casts on iTunes and our website. Most gatherings are offered free of charge as gifts to the Commonweal community, giving forward into a circle of generosity. In addition, TNS continues to refine an online presence, including maintaining the website and sending monthly newsletters that are eliciting good response and discussion. Michael Lerner serves as the director, and Kyra Epstein serves as the coordinator of TNS. OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES 7: Regenerative Design Institute at Commonweal:The Regenerative Design Institute (RDI) offers courses in permaculture, regenerative living, and leadership - all based in deep nature connection. RDI was founded in 2004 and for 14 years stewarded the Commonweal Garden. During this time, thousands of people came to the Commonweal Garden to learn the principles of permaculture and regenerative design - which provide a tool kit of ethical ways of living on earth. In July 2018, RDI moved its base to Whidbey Island, WA. RDI will continue to collaborate on permaculture and other programs at Commonweal Garden under the new stewardship of the Natura Institute. James Stark and Penny Livinston-Stark serve as co-directors of RDI. OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES 8: Women's Health Program:The Women's Health Program develops leadership and builds capacity to address pressing environmental health issues. Currently it focuses on implementing QuickStart, a robust training program to conduct community-based participatory research (CBPR) that addresses environmental links to breast cancer and health disparities in breast cancer. This program is conducted in partnership with California Breast Cancer Research Program (CBCRP). QuickStart seeks to prepare teams of scientists and community groups to successfully apply for funding through the CBCRP's Community Research Collaboration Awards and then conduct research together. Heather Sarantis serves as the director of the Women's Health Program. OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES 9: VISUAL THINKING STRATEGIES: Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS) is a method initiated by teacher-facilitated discussions of art images and documented to have a cascading positive effect on both teachers and students. It is perhaps the simplest way in which teachers and schools can provide students with key behaviors sought by Common Core Standards: thinking skills that become habitual and transfer from lesson to lesson, oral and written language literacy, visual literacy, and collaborative interactions among peers. OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES 10: Integrative Law Institute: Founded in 2012, the Integrative Law”

“(continued from page 1)yoga, healing nutrition, permaculture gardening, and juvenile justice.”