The Tzu Chi Commissioners Association

When the Tzu Chi Foundation was first established with the charitable mission of helping the poor, in order to build a team spirit among the commissioners and provide a forum to communicate the affairs of the foundation, a meeting of commissioners was held every month in Hualien. At these meetings, commissioners would bring up cases of poor and needy people that they had discovered, and discuss ways to deal with the cases and the amount of money that would be distributed.

At first, the commissioners all came from Hualien. As the foundation spread from Hualien to Taipei, Taichung, Kaohsiung and Pingtung, the commissioners needed a way to strengthen their fellowship and exchange views on their work. In 1972, Master Cheng Yen decided that representatives from each of the areas around the province of Taiwan would go to Hualien for a provincial commissioners meeting.

With the rapid development of the work of the foundation, the increasing number of commissioners, and the numbers of foundation members who would take the "Tzu Chi Train" to Hualien, meetings began to include both commissioners and members.

Association meetings are regularly held on the Sunday before the twenty-fourth day of each month on the lunar calendar, when the regular distribution to the poor is held. At each meeting, Master Cheng Yen presents candles made at the Abode of Still Thoughts as blessings to those who are celebrating their birthday in that month. After the Master speaks to the audience, heads of the Tzu Chi missions or other specialists give their reports. Tzu Chi members take the stage to share how they came to join the foundation. Afterwards, members of organizations such as the Tzu Chi Collegiate Youth Association, "little bodhisattvas," the Tzu Chi Children's Enrichment Class, and the Tzu Chi Teachers Association share their experiences and feelings. Outside the meeting room, there is a blood donation bus, a bone marrow donor registry office, and a financial donations service office, so that those who attend the meetings won't miss the chance to show their love.