The Early Years

The origins of Mid America Dharma can be traced to 1983 when a small group at The Menninger Clinic in Topeka, KS invited Shinzen Young to lead a meditation retreat. Shinzen returned for the next three years to lead retreats hosted by Bo and Doug Shafer at their home in Topeka. When attendance outgrew the home, Bob Mikesic of Lawrence, KS , John van Keppel of Kansas City, MO, and other volunteers took on the responsibility of organizing regular meditation retreats in Independence, MO and Atchison and Paola, KS. Teachers for these early retreats included Howard Cohn, Gil Fronsdal, Mary Orr, Shinzen, and Rodney Smith.

Mid America Dharma Group

In 1993 the group of volunteers who had been hosting the retreats began using the name Mid America Dharma Group (MADG). A steering committee was established to make the process less ad hoc. They began the hard work of developing policies and procedures so that the retreats would run more consistently and finances would stay positive. In 1995 the group began the process of incorporating. Its first Board of Directors were Greg Zuendel (president), Mary Lou Hathaway (vice president), Marnie Hammer (secretary), John van Keppel (treasurer), Robert Brumet, Karen Cassel, John Flaherty, Bob Mikesic, and Ginny Morgan of Columbia, MO. In August, 1996 Mid America Dharma Group was legally incorporated in Missouri and in Dec., 1997 it received 501(c)3 status as a charitable organization from the IRS. This initial work of the steering committee and first board laid the foundation for the stability of the organization and growth in activities in the following years. The corporation has continued to the present as an all-volunteer organization.

In 1995 MADG began using Conception Abbey in northwest MO as the site for most of its retreats. Our first ten day retreat was held at the Abbey with Mary Orr. The collaboration with the Abbey continued for about ten years. Since then an effort has been made to hold retreats in geographically more accessible and diverse locations.

In 1996 Phil Jones joined the board and in 1997 Ginny Morgan became president. They brought a vision of broadening and deepening the growth of the Dharma and Insight Meditation in the central US. The board began an effort to support the development and growth of local insight meditation groups in Columbia, Kansas City, St. Louis and other locations in the Midwest.In 1996 MADG offered its second ten day retreat which was with Joseph Goldstein, Carol Wilson, Howard Cohn, and Myoshin Kelly. During the later ’90’s retreats were also led by Guy Armstrong and Carol Wilson, Eugene Cash, Matthew Flickstein, and Wes Nisker, as well as most of the earlier teachers.

From 1997-2000 MADG sponsored Mr. Mikesic, Ms. Morgan, Mr. Brumet, and Mr. Jones to Spirit Rock Meditation Center’s first Community Dharma Leader training program. In subsequent years it sponsored a number of others to the CDL training including Joseph McCormack, Bridget Rolens, and Jan Rosamond. Each of those sponsored has, in their own ways, contributed to the growth and availability of Insight Meditation and the Buddha’s teachings in the Midwest. Brumet, Jones, McCormack, Morgan, and Rolens all went on to offer retreats for MAD.

Mid America Dharma in the 2000’s

In 2000 MADG shortened its name to Mid America Dharma, but its mission continued as before. Based on the foundation from the 1980’s and ’90’s and the support and hours of work by numerous dedicated board members and volunteers, Mid America Dharma has continued with our primary mission of sharing the Buddha’s teachings and practices with those in the Midwest.

Besides the effort to offer in-person retreats, board members have also worked to make MAD’s activities more accessible. Jon Yaffe helped develop our first online registration system in the early 2000’s. From 2015-2017 our website and online registration process were further integrated and redesigned to create a more attractive and easy to use presence on the web. In 2019 our newsletters were redesigned to be more accessible, attractive, and more substantial so that they not only inform about our upcoming events but allow our teachers to share more of the Dharma.

With the Covid pandemic and the development of virtual technologies, MAD has begun sharing its offerings with the world, while continuing its focus on the heartland of the USA. Because of our inability to offer in-person retreats during this time we also began offering online courses as another way to support your study and practice of mindfulness and the Buddha’s Dharma.

In 2017 John Flaherty and Marnie Hammer retired from the board after 25 years of service. They were the last of the founders who had helped to set in motion the growth of the Dharma here in the central United States.

For more information on MAD’s activities you might wish to see our newsletter archives.

Board of Directors Through the Years – In Recognition of Their Service

1995: Greg Zuendel (president), Mary Lou Hathaway (vice-president), Marnie Hammer (secretary) John van Keppel (treasurer), Robert Brumet, Karen Cassel, John Flaherty, Bob Mikesic (Lawrence, KS), and Ginny Morgan (Columbia, MO) (All other members from Kansas City metro area.)

1996: Greg Zuendel (president), Mary Lou Hathaway (vice-president), Marnie Hammer (secretary) John van Keppel (treasurer), Robert Brumet, John Flaherty, Phil Jones (Columbia, MO), Bob Mikesic, and Ginny Morgan

1997: Ginny Morgan (president), Mary Lou Hathaway (vice-president), Marnie Hammer (secretary) John van Keppel (treasurer), David Arehart (Lawrence, KS), Robert Brumet, John Flaherty, Phil Jones, and Bob Mikesic

1998: Ginny Morgan (president), Bob Mikesic (vice-president), John Flaherty (secretary), John van Keppel: Jan. – Sept. / Phil Jones: Oct. – Dec.  (treasurer), David Arehart, Robert Brumet, Elizabeth Fryer (St. Louis, MO), Marnie Hammer

1999: Ginny Morgan (president), Bob Mikesic (vice-president), John Flaherty (secretary) Phil Jones (treasurer), David Arehart, Elizabeth Fryer, Marnie Hammer

2000: Ginny Morgan (president), Elizabeth Fryer (vice-president), John Flaherty (secretary) Phil Jones (treasurer), David Arehart, Marnie Hammer, Bob Mikesic

2001: Ginny Morgan (president), Elizabeth Fryer (vice-president), John Flaherty (secretary) Phil Jones (treasurer), David Arehart, Tamara Dutton (Lawrence, KS), Marnie Hammer, Bob Mikesic, Bridget Rolens (St. Louis, MO)

2002: Ginny Morgan (president), Tamara Dutton / Phil Jones (vice-president), John Flaherty (secretary), Phil Jones / Tamara Dutton (treasurer), David Arehart, Elizabeth Fryer, Marnie Hammer,  Bob Mikesic,  Bridget Rolens

2003: Ginny Morgan (president), Phil Jones (vice-president), Bob Mikesic (secretary), Tamara Dutton (treasurer), David Arehart, John Flaherty, Elizabeth Fryer, Marnie Hammer, Bridget Rolens

2004: Ginny Morgan: Jan. – Oct. / Phil Jones: Nov. – Dec. (president), Phil Jones /Bridget Rolens (vice-president), Bob Mikesic (secretary), Tamara Dutton (treasurer), John Flaherty, Marnie Hammer, Bridget Rolens

2005: Phil Jones (president), Bridget Rolens (vice president), Bob Mikesic (secretary), Tamara Dutton (treasurer), John Flaherty, Marnie Hammer, Maureen Hall (Rolla, MO), Ginny Morgan, Lynn Rossy: Jan. – Mar. (Columbia), Jon Yaffe (St. Louis)

2006: Phil Jones (president), Bridget Rolens (vice president), Bob Mikesic (secretary), Tamara Dutton (treasurer), John Flaherty, Marnie Hammer, Maureen Hall, Ginny Morgan, Jon Yaffe

2007: Phil Jones: Jan.-Oct. / Jon Yaffe: Nov.-Dec. (president), Bridget Rolens (vice president), John Flaherty (secretary), Tamara Dutton: Jan. – Oct./ Phil Jones: Nov. – Dec. (treasurer), Marnie Hammer, Maureen Hall, Bob Mikesic: retired Oct., Ginny Morgan, Jon Yaffe

2008: Jon Yaffe (president), Bridget Rolens (vice president), John Flaherty: Jan. – July/ Bill Bunn (Kansas City): Aug. – Dec. (secretary), Phil Jones (treasurer), Marnie Hammer, Joe McCormack (Columbia, MO), Ginny Morgan, Donna Strickland (Columbia, MO)

2009: Jon Yaffe (president), Bridget Rolens (vice president), Bill Bunn (secretary), Phil Jones (treasurer), John Flaherty, Marnie Hammer, Steve Kelly (St. Louis), Joe McCormack, Donna Strickland

2010: Jon Yaffe (president), Bridget Rolens (vice president), Bill Bunn (secretary), Phil Jones (treasurer), John Flaherty, Marnie Hammer, Steve Kelly: Jan. – Oct., Joe McCormack, Donna Strickland

2011: Jon Yaffe (president), Bridget Rolens (vice president), Bill Bunn (secretary), Phil Jones (treasurer), John Flaherty, Marnie Hammer, Joe McCormack, Donna Strickland

2012: Jon Yaffe (president), Bridget Rolens (vice president), Bill Bunn (secretary), Phil Jones (treasurer), John Flaherty, Marnie Hammer, Joe McCormack, Donna Strickland

2013: Jon Yaffe (president), Bridget Rolens (vice president), Bill Bunn (secretary), Phil Jones (treasurer), John Flaherty, Marnie Hammer, Joe McCormack, Mike McFarland (Kansas City), Rowena Raborar (Springfield, MO), Donna Strickland, Carl Wingo (Columbia, MO)

2014: Phil Jones (president), Bridget Rolens (Springfield, IL) (vice president), Bill Bunn (secretary), Marnie Hammer (treasurer), John Flaherty, Joe McCormack, Mike McFarland, Rowena Raborar, Donna Strickland, Carl Wingo, Jon Yaffe

2015: Phil Jones (president), Bridget Rolens (vice president), John Flaherty (secretary), Marnie Hammer (treasurer), Bill Bunn, Joe McCormack, Mike McFarland, Rowena Raborar, Diana Rigdon (St. Louis), Jan Rosamond (St. Louis), Amy Zoe Schonhoff (Kansas City), Donna Strickland, Carl Wingo, Jon Yaffe

2016: Phil Jones (president), Rowena Raborar (vice president), John Flaherty (secretary), Marnie Hammer (treasurer), Joe McCormack, Mike McFarland, Diana Rigdon, Bridget Rolens, Jan Rosamond, Amy Zoe Schonhoff, Donna Strickland, Diana Taylor (Kansas City), Carl Wingo

2017: Phil Jones (president), Rowena Raborar (Jan. – Mar.)/ Donna Strickland (Apr. – Dec.) (vice president), Joe McCormack (secretary), Amy Zoe Schonhoff (treasurer), John Flaherty (Jan. – Aug.), Lucy Freeman (St. Louis), Marnie Hammer (Jan. – Aug.), Jan Rosamond, Diana Taylor, Carl Wingo

2018: Phil Jones (president), Donna Strickland (vice president), Joe McCormack (secretary), Amy Zoe Schonhoff (Jan. – Oct.) /Carl Wingo (Oct. – Dec.) (treasurer), Lucy Freeman, Jan Rosamond, Donna Strickland, Diana Taylor

2019: Phil Jones (president), Amy Zoe Schonhoff (vice president), Joe McCormack (secretary), Carl Wingo (treasurer), Dianne Asher (Kansas City), Victor Daugherty (Kansas City), Lucy Freeman, Jan Rosamond, Donna Strickland, Diana Taylor

2020: Lucy Freeman (president), Diana Taylor (vice president), Joe McCormack (secretary), Carl Wingo (treasurer), Dianne Asher, Victor Dougherty, Phil Jones, Nancy Lewis (St. Louis), Linda Mulligan (Kansas City), Jan Rosamond (Jan. – June), Lisa Reboy Woolery (Des Moines, IA)

2021: Lucy Freeman (president), Diana Taylor (vice president), Joe McCormack (secretary), Carl Wingo (treasurer), Dianne Asher, Victor Dougherty (Jan. – Oct.), Phil Jones, Nancy Lewis (Jan. – July), Linda Mulligan (Jan. – Sept.), Lisa Reboy (Jan. – July), Kyle Sorys (Omaha, NE), Mark Wiesman (Omaha, NE)

2022: Lucy Freeman (president), Diana Taylor (vice president), Joe McCormack (secretary), Carl Wingo (treasurer), Dianne Asher, Erik Hulse (Kansas City), Phil Jones, Kyle Sorys, Mark Wiesman