Saturday
Scene and HeardWindhorse Retreat Center: new Director
by Janet Hasz
Chair, Windhorse Retreat Center Governing Council
The Windhorse Retreat Center Governance Council is very pleased to announce the appointment of Rebecca McAllister as the new Executive Director of the Windhorse Shambhala Retreat Center for Meditation, Peace, and Sustainability in Plymouth, Wisconsin. Ms. McAllister, currently serving as the Director of the Pittsburgh Shambhala Center, will assume her new role at Windhorse as of January, 2013. She will serve as the first paid director of this overnight retreat center serving primarily the Midwest community, including the Chicago, Madison, Milwaukee, Minneapolis Shambhala Centers, the Southwest Michigan Meditation Group, the Hoosier Heartland Meditation Group, and individuals living in the area surrounding Windhorse.
Rebecca McAllister brings a wealth of relevant experience to her directorship at Windhorse. In Chicago she was the co-resident Director of Shambhala Training and co-leader of the Children’s Program from 2002-2005. She served as Human Relations Recruiter, Program Administrator, and Desung at Karme Choling from 2005-2007. She also has staffed many large programs at Karme Choling, Dechen Choling and Shambhala Mountain Center. She has made three separate trips to Asia, India and Nepal: first as the health care provider for a Shambhala pilgrimage with Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche in 2007; second, returning to the Tibetan refugee settlement in 2010 for the Dalai Lama’s opening of the monastery; and thirdly, to Kathmandu as assistant shabchi (attendant) for the Sakyong Wangmo. In Pittsburgh she founded the Shambhala Meditation Group and helped it develop into a 40-member Center in four years. She is a Shambhala Training Director and is currently an Assistant Professor at the University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing. Ms. McAllister holds a Nursing Doctorate in Community Health from Rush University in Chicago, Illinois and is a certified family nurse practitioner.
When asked how she felt about beginning her work as Director of the Windhorse Retreat Center, Rebecca McAllister said:
“Lucky!!!!!! I feel very fortunate that the causes and conditions came together for me to continue to serve the Shambhala vision, to be close to family and friends, and to be on the land that I love, which is the
Windhorse Retreat Center.”
She will replace Susan Firer who is currently serving as the Director of Windhorse. Sue has done this solo for the last two years; however, she and Alan Anderson were founders and co-directors of the center from its inception in 2002. The Shambhala community owes a debt of gratitude to Alan and Sue for these ten plus years of volunteer leadership of this important Midwestern retreat center.
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To learn more about the Windhorse Retreat Center, visit their website: windhorse.shambhala.org
Feb 4, 2013
Reply
Congratulations, Rebecca! This is a wonderful retreat center! A heartfelt thank you to Alan and Sue for their vision and courage.
Feb 4, 2013
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Congratulations Rebecca!!
I understand your love of that wonderful Retreat Center. I spent a couple winter ngondro retreats there with Sue and Alan. We had an amazingly wonderful time. I am so glad to hear things are still moving along and the Center is still operating. There truly is magical windhorse power there.
A huge THANK YOU and congratulations to both Sue and Alan for creating this wonderful space and all their diligence and hard work to maintain this gorgeous place.
Best of luck to you in the future with your new position.
KiKi SoSo.
Feb 2, 2013
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Congratulations Rebecca!