Our Board of Directors

Board Members | Governance | Financial Data

Jill Boone

Jill Boone, President and Chair
San Jose, California

Many years ago, a fortuitous conversation between Ruth Denison and Jill planted the seed for the Saranaloka Foundation. From that point on, Jill has championed the efforts to get approval for Saranaloka, set up the board and foundation and worked towards establishing a monastery for the nuns in America. Jill continues to lead the effort and is now assisted by committed board members and volunteers who offer their expertise and energy towards the shared vision. Professionally, Jill is the Climate Change and Sustainability Manager for the County of Santa Clara. Her background includes managing two nonprofits into solvency and relevancy and she is known locally for bringing vision, leadership and energy to accomplishing what needs to be done. She lives in San Jose and is fortunate to have her three grown children living in the Bay Area, where she can participate in their lives. In her spare time, Jill sleeps.

Jeanie Daskais, Vice President
Sebastopol, California

Jeanie Daskais has been meditating since she was 14 and learned vipassana in 1991, but can't remember a time when she didn't know the story of the Buddha and the four heavenly messengers. In recent years she has been inspired by the life of simplicity, renunciation and contemplation of the western followers of Ajahn Chah. She joined the board of Saranaloka in 2008 and helps with communications and outreach and the nuts-and-bolts of bringing the nuns to the United States. She has worked in journalism, teaching, midwifery, hospice care, and as a military discharge counselor. She is a graduate of the Spirit Rock Community Dharma Leader program and periodically teaches meditation. She lives near Sebastopol, CA, spends as much time as possible outdoors, and is devoted to a life of service and contemplation.

Wren Withers, Secretary
San Rafael, California

Wren first encountered monastics from the Ajahn Chah lineage at the home of Brenda Walsh, an original Saranaloka Foundation Board member. Deeply moved, Wren was inspired to get involved in the Saranaloka Bay Area Nuns Supporters Group. This involvement melded Wren's decades-long interest in Buddhism (Wren is a member of Phillip Moffitt's Marin Sangha) with a wish to make the world a better place. Wren has previous Board experience with a Unitarian Universalist congregation, and is honored to use her skills and experience to build a healthy and thriving Theravadan nuns' monastery in Northern California. Wren has worked for decades as a technical writer in the medical device, chemical manufacturing, biotech, and software industries. For six years, she had her own business coaching people about how to negotiate their salary and benefits packages during interviews and promotion discussions. Wren lives in San Rafael with her partner of 18 years.

Mark Sponseller, Treasurer
San Francisco, California

Mark first heard the teachings of the Buddha in 1995 at a Spirit Rock retreat. Those eight days changed his life and sent him on an unexpected path of devotion to the Dhamma. He began his involvement with the Ajahn Chah monastic communities one year later when he left his attorney position at a downtown law firm to join the Abhayagiri Buddhist Monastery community and, eventually, ordain as an anagarika. This experience gave Mark an enduring respect and fondness for the rigors and beauty of monastic life. Although continuing on in the robes was not to be, Mark now supports the monastic community using his financial, managerial, and legal skills. Mark’s career includes more than five years as the Chief Financial Officer of Spirit Rock Meditation Center. He is involved on the board of the Sanghapala Foundation in addition to supporting Saranaloka. Mark is currently a psychotherapist in training living in San Francisco exploring the field of the Dhamma with his clients in the form of humanistic psychotherapy.

Janice Clark, Director
Seattle, Washington

Janice has considered herself a Buddhist since her teenage years. She was introduced to Theravadan Buddhism by her brother-in-law, Mason, who had ordained in the 1970’s with Ajahn Sumedho and Luang Por Chah. She became inspired by his life and the teachings of the Forest Tradition, especially as taught by Luang Por Sumedho. She formally took the precepts in 1994 at Amaravati Buddhist Monastery and experienced a transformation in her life. She now dedicates her life to the Dharma to the best of her ability. She has worked as an RN for 24 years and lives in Seattle with her spouse, Chris, three dogs and a cat. She has a 21-year-old son, Patrick.

Lisa Domitrovich, Director
San Francisco, California

Lisa has been practicing vipassana meditation in San Francisco for ten years and will complete the Spirit Rock Dedicated Practitioner Program in Spring 2010. She first sat with the nuns at the New Year's retreat at the end of 2008. Following that, she gratefully spent every Friday night at the vihara during their first extended stay here in Winter 2009, where she was moved by the sisters' commitment and dedication to the Dhamma, and by the response their presence inspired in the community. Professionally, Lisa has spent her entire career in the nonprofit sector including many years as an arts administrator. At about the same she began her meditation practice, Lisa began working in the environmental field, and has experienced a powerful and motivating resonance between those two large parts of her life. She feels honored and humbled to serve on the Saranaloka board, and looks forward to helping the nuns, the board, and the supporting community build a vibrant institution in the Bay Area.