Leadership of Red Clay Sangha
Red Clay Sangha is dedicated to the principle of transparent community governance. Our organizational and spiritual leaders are chosen by the community (sangha) to represent the values of RCS as a whole. All members should feel that their voices are heard. We are dedicated to consensus as a process of decision making.
We hold annual workshops for envisioning our short and long term strategy and programs. These workshops are open to all members. Our records are open to all members.
Our current leadership is divided into two groups - the Community Circle (or engaged Board of Directors) is responsible for operational matters and the Dharma Circle is responsible for spiritual matters. These two circles work closely together.
We are in the early planning phases of our operational structures and principles - please check back often!
Community Circle Meetings
Our meetings are open to the membership.
Community Circle Members
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Wade Jones became a Buddhist in 1991 as a solo practitioner while attending the University of Kansas. Being an academic at heart, he focused on studying the sutras and learning Buddhist history and philosophy. It wasn’t until 2008 that he wandered into a Zen Center for the first time and fell in love with the practice of Meditation. More importantly than the mediation, he found a truly supportive Sangha in which to take refuge. Wade is a second year student at The Prajna Institute as a Zen Priest under the tutelage of Rev. Myo Gak.
Wade graduated from the University of Kansas with degrees in Religious Studies and Creative Writing. After college, Wade went on to work in the Telecom industry for 6 years as an Analyst and Unix System Administrator, as well as working as a freelance writer. Wade currently lives in Marietta with his wife and daughter. He is happily a full time Stay at Home Father.
Wade serves as President.
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Beth Lilly
Beth serves as Secretary.
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Cherry Zimmer began formal Zen Buddhist practice in 1998 at a retreat with Dharmacharya Therese Fitzgerald. In 2001 she began practicing regularly with the Atlanta Soto Zen Center where she was ordained as a Novice Priest and served as Practice Leader from 2008 until 2011. In 2011 she left her teacher to help found the Red Clay Sangha, which allows her to focus on ways to help Zen Buddhism manifest in the lives of ordinary people living ordinary lives. Cherry believes that Buddhism embodies a rich set of practices, teachings and community principles that can free all beings.
Cherry graduated from Georgia Tech and worked for 30 years in software development, architecture and standards in the telecommunications industry before retiring due to disability. She lives in the Atlanta suburbs and is the caregiver for her disabled husband and two cats.
Cherry serves as Treasurer.
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Ken Tapscott
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Marc Wojcik
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Drew Newman
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Dharma Circle Members
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Gareth Young brings to Red Clay Sangha a vision of a Zen sangha for American lay practitioners that offers not just access to traditional Zen practice and training, but also a rich and nurturing society founded on community-building social activities, broad practical and spiritual practice and training, and fully-trained pastoral care. Gareth is also passionate about and active in interfaith activities and serves as treasurer of the Interfaith Alliance of Metro Atlanta. He regularly participates in and leads a wide range of interfaith activities including weekly interfaith contemplative evenings. He started his Zen training in Atlanta over ten years ago and, after a number of years working with Zenkai Tauin Michael Elliston, was ordained a novice priest in 2008. Gareth left his first teacher in 2011 when he joined with his friends to found Red Clay Sangha.
Gareth has a broad business background in public accounting, corporate development, and for the last several years in an entrepreneurial capacity working with small business owners. He is the author of two novels and of other works.
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Cherry Zimmer began formal Zen Buddhist practice in 1998 at a retreat with Dharmacharya Therese Fitzgerald. In 2001 she began practicing regularly with the Atlanta Soto Zen Center where she was ordained as a Novice Priest and served as Practice Leader from 2008 until 2011. In 2011 she left her teacher to help found the Red Clay Sangha, which allows her to focus on ways to help Zen Buddhism manifest in the lives of ordinary people living ordinary lives. Cherry believes that Buddhism embodies a rich set of practices, teachings and community principles that can free all beings.
Cherry graduated from Georgia Tech and worked for 30 years in software development, architecture and standards in the telecommunications industry before retiring due to disability. She lives in the Atlanta suburbs and is the caregiver for her disabled husband and two cats.
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Wade Jones became a Buddhist in 1991 as a solo practitioner while attending the University of Kansas. Being an academic at heart, he focused on studying the sutras and learning Buddhist history and philosophy. It wasn’t until 2008 that he wandered into a Zen Center for the first time and fell in love with the practice of Meditation. More importantly than the mediation, he found a truly supportive Sangha in which to take refuge. Wade is a second year student at The Prajna Institute as a Zen Priest under the tutelage of Rev. Myo Gak.
Wade graduated from the University of Kansas with degrees in Religious Studies and Creative Writing. After college, Wade went on to work in the Telecom industry for 6 years as an Analyst and Unix System Administrator, as well as working as a freelance writer. Wade currently lives in Marietta with his wife and daughter. He is happily a full time Stay at Home Father.
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Previous Leaders
Red Clay Sangha has been fortunate for the leadership of capable members and we wish to continue to recognize their service.
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David Sample entered the gate of Zen practice in 2008 seeking leadership in the meditative practice. What he found was not only leadership but friends who cared for each other and supported each other in a simple practice that awakened in him an unsentimental compassion and a emerging awareness of the wonder of this life just as it is. David along with 6 other close friends is a founding member of Red Clay Sangha.
David is a Human Resource and Learning Professional with a BA in History. He currently works with for-profit and non-profit organizations developing business driving human solutions though the design and implementation of effective workforce development. He has 18 years of volunteer experience in the Atlanta community supporting organizations that work to improve the lives of children, the hungry and the natural environment. In 1997, he was recognized as Volunteer of the Year for leading the support of Elaine Clark center where he and his team contributed 1200 hours.
David served as the President from 2011-2012.
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Pat Lamar stumbled into Zen Buddhism in 2005 when she sought a place to meditate. What she found instead was a practice rich in tradition and rife with possibilities for spiritual and personal growth. Pat is a founding member of Red Clay Sangha. She is committed to building a sangha-focused community and passionate about best practices in corporate governance.
Pat retired from The Coca-Cola Company in 2010 after practicing law for over 25 years at some of Atlanta's largest firms and corporations. Since her retirement, Pat has served as an adjunct professor at Emory University School of Law and has become an avid (but poor) golfer.
Pat served as the Treasurer from 2011-2012.
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Dev Howerton began practice about 7 years ago when she was introduced to Zen Buddhism at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Atlanta (UUCA). She joined a small sangha when it was being formed within UUCA by a minister and her husband and began sitting zazen, reading and discussing books by Charlotte Joko Beck, Shunryu Suzuki, and others, and forming strong bonds of friendship with her sangha-mates. In 2007 she joined four others from their “Buddhatarian” group to sew a rakasu and go through a jukai ceremony accepting the precepts from Sensei Barbara Seirin Kohn. She is now in the midst of a new group of friends, helping to start another sangha, enjoying the reading group and the Sunday morning services and the strengthening bonds of friendship and community-building. She is excited to be a part of the formation of this new sangha and the exploration of the possibilities of a sangha-lead practice.
Dev served on the CC from 2011-2012.
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Wes Anderson began practice 40 years ago at the Rochester Zen Center.
Wes served on the CC in 2012.
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When Richard Skoonberg was 17, his high school drama teacher lent him "Siddhartha" by Herman Hesse. He read it the night Richard Nixon was elected President for the first time. That event was overshadowed by that profound and insightful book. It opened his mind to the possibility of Buddhism. A year or so later, he started studying acting privately with a teacher in Berkeley, John Argue of Acting Openhand who was attempting to infuse acting with Zen concepts and Zen practice. Art, as a human activity, is closely linked to "waking up to our true nature." But "sex, drugs and rock and roll" became paramount and he drifted away from practice for many years while always retaining strong interest in Zen. He took up steady practice again about eight years ago after hearing Tibetan Buddhist monks chant at Oglethorpe University. He is still interested in the merging of Zen and art, currently exploring Zen with the camera as well as the cushion. As Kaaren Wiken, our Zen sewing teacher says, "Zen in, art out."
Richard has a son and daughter who are both Zen Buddhists and a wife who is a confirmed skeptic.
Richard served on the CC in 2011.
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