Board of Directors
Ken Ford (Chair) began Zen study
with Dainin Katagiri Roshi in the 1970s and has practiced regularly since then in the Twin Cities, at Green Gulch Farm in
California, and other centers, including participation in the 2006 fall practice period at Tassajara. A former president of
Minnesota Zen Meditation Center's board of directors, he has been a member of the Clouds in Water community since 2000, serving
on its board and completing a two-year term as ino (practice coordinator) in 2005. Ken retired from St. Paul’s Department
of Planning and Economic Security in 1999, after 28 years of service.
Carol Anderson was first
introduced to Zen in 1972 by Kobun Chino and practiced with him for a short time in Los Altos, CA. After studying a
number of other spiritual disciplines, Carol re-engaged her Zen practice with Rosan Daido Yoshida at the Missouri Zen Center
in 2004 and has practiced with Zuiko Redding of the Cedar Rapids Zen Center. She has been a member of the board of directors
at the Missouri Zen Center, and during her residency in St. Louis remained active in the local Buddhist community. Carol
has provided volunteer services in the Missouri prison system for 4-1/2 years, and is now studying chaplaincy in California
where she volunteers in both hospital and prison environments.
Rev. Myo-O Habermas-Scher (Treasury)
is an ordained priest and senior practitioner in the Soto Zen Buddhist tradition, teaching classes, lecturing and leading
retreats. Her root teacher was Dainin Katagiri roshi with whom she studied from 1975 to 1990. Now affiliated with Hokyoji
Zen Community under the guidance of Rev. Dokai Georgesen, she has been practicing in the Soto Zen and Vipassana Buddhist traditions
for over 35 years. Myo-O has an extensive background in the performing arts and is also trained in a number of body-mind practices,
including, Qi Gong and Body Mind CenteringTM. She teaches somatically based VoiceWork in private sessions, offers voice healings
at Pathways, a complementary healing center, and works as an inter-faith chaplain.
Ekō Jeff Kelley (Vice-chair)
currently leads the Seattle Soto Zen sangha in Seattle, WA where he has lived since 2009. He was ordained as a priest by Byakuren
Judith Ragir in 2008 and completed shuso training in 2011. Jeff began practice in 1994 at Clouds in Water Zen Center in St.
Paul, MN, with Dosho Mike Port and continued there with Byakuren Judith Ragir. He worked as an architect for 25 years and
has two children in their twenties. Jeff began prison dharma work in Minnesota and now co-leads two prison groups in Washington
State. His Zen practice is enriched by a life-long passion for literature, poetry and myth. Jeff continues his priest training
with Byakuren Ragir and also works with Zoketsu Norman Fischer for additional guidance and training.
Lee Lewis (Secretary) has studied
and practiced with Shohauku Okumura, Karen Sunna, and Tim Burkett at the Minnesota Zen Meditation Center since 1992. He has
served in a number of roles at MZMC over the years and is currently vice president of the board of directors. In 2010 Lee
received Dharma Transmission from Tim Burkett. He practices, teaches and leads retreats at MZMC and coordinates the center's
outreach to Moose Lake Correctional Facility. Lee is Executive Director of Clare Housing, a nonprofit that provides housing
and supportive services to poeple living with HIV and Aids.
Carl Hultman has practiced with
Dosho Port and Byakuren Judith Ragir at Clouds-in-Water Zen Center, serving on their Board of Directors for five years in
the 1990's. He has practiced and participated in Prison Dharma with Minnesota Zen Meditation Center. Carl is a resident practitioner
of Hokyoji Zen Practice Community together with his wife, Ekyo Susan Nelson. He is the Building and Grounds Manager, as well
as serving on various work groups and participating in long range planning. Carl is a combat veteran of the Viet Nam era.
He retired in 2009 after twenty years with the U.S. Postal Service. His hobbies are bike building, bird watching, and reading.
