If you have not already filled out our “Dana Hands” survey, we’d be grateful if you could follow this link to do so before the work weekend: Dana Hands Survey

As a Kitchen Assistant, you will be working three hours a day, from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm, in the kitchen. The rest of the time is yours to spend on personal cultivation.

We offer you sleeping accommodations, meals, linens, laundry facilities, and, of course, kindness and welcoming gratitude for your willingness to be an integral part of our work community.

Here are some details regarding our expectations:

• We are a silent retreat center. When a retreat is in progress and you are in common areas with retreatants, you are expected to maintain silence. It is alright to speak quietly with other staff. Normal speaking is permitted in staff-only areas.
• You are expected to stay on the grounds or trails (within the general vicinity) while you are here, unless you stay for over two weeks.
• You are welcome to attend scheduled sessions in the meditation hall when it does not interfere with your working hours, but you are not an official participant in the retreat. We have a few retreats that do not offer staff or volunteer participation.
• Your time in the kitchen often intersects with the teacher’s “instructional period.” Unfortunately, this cannot be altered, and teachers do not have enough time to cover the information twice.

Cancellations

The position of Volunteer Kitchen Assistant plays an integral part in how our kitchen functions. When we accept volunteers for this position, we depend on them to follow through with their commitment.

We ask that Volunteer Kitchen Assistants fully consider their schedule and the time they are able to offer to the center before committing to take on the position.

In the case of a cancellation, we may not approve your registration as a Kitchen Assistant volunteer in the future.

We understand that unforeseen medical circumstances do occur, and exceptions will be considered for personal & family medical emergencies only.

Principles of Stewardship and Generosity.

Staff and volunteers are expected to refrain from wasting the resources upon which other beings depend. We do our best to not be possessive of people or things, but rather share our time and communal resources to the best of our ability.

Ethical Guidelines for Behavior

We ask that you adhere to the Five Precepts during your time at Cloud Mountain. These are ethical guidelines for behavior that retreatants, staff, teachers, board members, and volunteers are asked to cultivate while at our center.

The major intention behind these guidelines is to create as little harm as possible in our interactions with each other and the environment. Acknowledging our human imperfections, we can internalize these standards as a foundation for our practice, as the Buddha intended. Living by the precepts is an act of great generosity to all beings we encounter.

The Five Precepts are as follows:

1. Refraining from Killing: Aware of the suffering caused by the destruction of life, I will cultivate the precept of not killing, and will not encourage others to kill. In undertaking this precept, I acknowledge the interconnection of all sentient beings.
2. Refraining from Stealing: Aware of the suffering caused by exploitation, injustice and stealing, I agree not to take anything that does not belong to me or has not been freely offered, and to respect the property of others. I will be honest in my dealings with money.
3. Refraining from Sexual Misconduct: Aware of the suffering caused by sexual misconduct, I will avoid creating harm through sexuality, and will avoid sexual exploitation or breaking commitments of sexual fidelity.
4. Refraining from False Speech: Aware of the suffering caused by unmindful and untrue words, I will undertake the training of speaking truthfully, with beneficial words. I will cultivate deep listening. I will refrain from gossiping about others. I will attempt, with kindness and honesty, to resolve any conflicts I have with other people.
5. Refraining from the Use of Intoxicants: Aware of the suffering caused by unmindful consumption of intoxicants, I will refrain from abusing them, including non-medicinal drugs and alcohol. This includes plant medicines.

If you are able to adhere to the Five Precepts, fully understand our expectations, and how cancellations of volunteer positions impact Cloud Mountain, and you still feel the Volunteer Kitchen Assistant position is a good fit for you, please sign below:

6. Signature
   

7. Volunteer Release

   The undersigned volunteer releases Friends of Cloud Mountain, the owners of Cloud Mountain Retreat Center, any of the organization’s officers, directors, employees, members, agents, teachers, contractors or volunteers from liability and responsibility for any injury, property damage or loss of any kind incurred by the volunteer while the volunteer is at Cloud Mountain.

   Volunteer signs this release on behalf of her or himself and volunteer’s heirs, assigns, executives, guardians and personal representatives. This release shall be effective whether the course of any injury or loss was known or unknown and whether the injury or loss was contemplated or uncontemplated at the time of signing the release. By signing this form, the retreatant also agrees that the venue for any claim brought by volunteer against Friends of Cloud Mountain, the owners of Cloud Mountain Retreat Center, or any of the organization’s officers, directors, employees, members, agents, teachers, contractors or volunteers shall be Cowlitz County, Washington and that Washington law shall apply in all such matters.

8. Signature