History of the Sangha

The North Fork Sangha in Paonia was started in 1998 by Lisa Jones and Nancy Carter. Lisa had worked the prior year at the Insight Meditation Society center in Barre, MA as a cook and as Sharon Salzberg’s secretary. She and Nancy got together and listened to dharma tapes upstairs at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, just where the sangha meets now. Jane McGarry joined Lisa and Nancy shortly after they started, along with others in the valley. Father Bill was the pastor of the church at the time and meditated with the group once. Michael Soule joined the group early on, and hosted retreats at his house in 2001 and 2002 led by Jan Chozen Bays. Peter Williams sat with the group and began offering teachings in 2003. He moved to Boulder in 2005 but continued teaching through 2006. After moving, Peter continued to offer periodic retreats with the sangha and he still does. Michael Soule gave a series of talks on the Buddhist precepts in 2007. Nancy Carter passed away a few years ago. Susie Harrington and Jan Chozen-Bays have offered dharma talks and retreats in the past few years, but the group is primarily self-directed.