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Published monthly – Issue #92 – 06

June 2022

MEETINGS FOR WORSHIP ~ ALL ARE WELCOME

Sundays: 
9:00 - 10:00 am (online & in-person); 
10:30-11:30 am (online & in-person); 
6:00-7:00 pm (in person)
Wednesdays: 6:00 - 7:00 pm (online and in person)
Monthly Meeting for Business:  12:15 pm June 12 (2nd Sunday)

Sunday 10:30 Meeting for Worship has resumed in-person indoors and outdoors.  
Masks and Covid vaccine documentation are required.
Meetings for worship are being held via Zoom.  Join 10:30 meeting here.
For more information, email admin@QuakersDC.org.

6th Query:  Home & Family

Do you make your home a place of affection where God's presence is felt? Do you practice family prayer? Do you share your deepest beliefs and interests with all in the family? Do you grow together through sharing prosperity and adversity? Can you keep a sense of humor and avoid taking yourself too seriously? Do you establish family standards including the mutual obligations of children and adults?

Are you as children learning to be accountable for your own actions? Do you as parents help your children to grow in independence and responsibility? Do you consider the needs of grandparents and older members of the family circle?  Source:  BYM Faith & Practice, Part II The Queries

News

Greyson Aquaviva:  Long-time FMW First Day School attender Greyson has now graduated from Emerson College with a degree in Fine Arts. He plans to move to Boston to pursue his Master of Fine Arts in Film and Media Arts. Congratulations, Greyson!

Joe Izzo has finished his chemo treatments for lung cancer and is feeling much better.  He writes: “ "I would like to express my deep gratitude for all those Friends who gave me rides to and from the treatments at Sibley's Kimmel Cancer Center; left voicemail messages or sent 'Get Well' cards or notes or inquired in person about how I was feeling. All the love & support got me through the four treatments & their nasty side effects from February 4th to April 25th. I wouldn't have made it through this ordeal without this wonderful community."

Grant Thompson recently underwent treatment for a detached retina, a condition which could have rendered him blind. He says: “Some years ago the retina in my right eye detached - and it took two operations to get it to stay in place. (Apparently that is not terribly uncommon, but still no fun.) I just saw the eye surgeon for the two week checkup [on the current detached retina] He seemed satisfied with what he saw, although he told me what I already know - that it will be a month or two before we really know how much vision was saved and for the next couple of months I have to be cautious about any vigorous exercise (air travel is forbidden until he gives the OK). All in all, one has to count our lucky stars that we live in a time of medical miracles, trained surgeons, and (for me at least) adequate health insurance — detached retinas used to mean certain blindness.” Continuing to hold this dear Friend in the Light.

Our beloved Recording Clerk, Tristan Kirkman, reports that his Spring concert at the Cultural Arts Center in Silver Spring went very well. Tristan sings with the Washington Metropolitan Gamer Symphony Orchestra. In case you’re wondering what that is, their website tagline is "The premiere community ensemble exclusively devoted to performing video game music in the D.C. area."

Mid-week Meeting for Worship, which has been held only online during the Pandemic, is making two changes. First, starting on June 1, they will be meeting on Wednesdays (instead of Tuesdays). Second, they will meet both in person and online. For more information, contact David Etheridge, david.etheridge@verizon.net

BYM Annual Session

Friends Meeting of Washington is one of 40+ Quaker Meetings in DC, Maryland west of the Bay, Central Pennsylvania, Virginia, and eastern West Virginia called Baltimore Yearly Meeting. It is the second oldest Yearly Meeting in the US, second only to Philadelphia. It's called a Yearly Meeting because we meet once a year as a religious body for Annual Session which will take place from Monday, August 1 through Sunday, August 7 at Hood College in Frederick, MD. It's easy to get to via MARC train. You can attend virtually or in person and for however many days you wish. The cost is "pay what you are so led" but there are guidelines as to what is expected. Fortunately, the Personal Aid Committee does have scholarships for 3 days/2 nights free and YAFs are given first priority! Please contact Mary Melchior at mulchness@gmail.com to learn more about these scholarships and to apply. 

There are plenty of workshops, worship opportunities, singing, and fun, plus I hear the Bible Studies on Wednesday through Saturday morning will be thought-provoking. Here is the the schedule of events.   For the list and description of the workshops, click here.  Learn more about Annual Session here. For more information contact Gene Throwe, email: GThrowe@gmail.com

Events

Quaker Spiritual Development Programs for June are here.

PRIDE March–Join the Quaker contingent!, Saturday, June 11 - For more information and to sign up, contact Jessica Arends at jessica.arends@gmail.com

Baltimore Yearly Meeting Interim Meeting, June 11  The Baltimore Yearly Meeting Interim Meeting will be held Saturday, June 11, in a hybrid format at Richmond Friends Meeting and online via Zoom. Friends will gather in worship at 9:30 a.m. and Meeting for Worship for the Conduct of Business will start at 10:00 a.m. Light hospitality will be provided. Attendance is open to all and offers a chance to get to know Friends from across the Yearly Meeting and be part of the decision-making. Please register here: https://www.bym-rsf.org/events/interim/june-2022-interim-meeting.html

FMW’s Monthly Meeting for Business, Sunday, June 12, Quaker House, 12:15 pm & on Zoom

Poor People’s Campaign Moral March on Washington, June 18, 3rd & Pennsylvania Avenue NW, 9:30 am On Saturday, we will join with the Rev. William Barber and his Poor People’s Campaign as they march for social justice. Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL) will provide a gathering place, bathrooms & refreshments for Friends from area Meetings starting 8:30 am.  FCNL, 245 2nd St NE #5795.  For more info contact Bobby Trice, bobbyburnstrice@gmail.com.  At 10:00 am, an FMW contingent will meet at the Judiciary Square Metro. contact: Debby Churchman, email: DChurchm@yahoo.com, cell: (540) 467-3455

Juneteenth, Honey Extraction & Committee Fair at FMW, June 19 at Rise of Meeting.
We will celebrate Juneteenth–the day of liberation for the enslaved–with a program on Quakers and White Privilege in the North Room (behind the Assembly Room). For more info, contact Debby Churchman (dchurchm@yahoo.com).

Also–FMW kids are invited to help our beekeepers extract and sell honey harvested from FMW’s rooftop hives.

And–FMW Committees will have tables to give people a chance to learn more about “who does what around here,” and how to become involved.  For more info, contact Michael Beer, email: MikeBeerDC@gmail.com 

Friendly Quaker Film Club, Quaker House Living Room, Wednesday, June 22, 6:00 pm This month’s showing “Friendly Persuasion” (1956) with Gregory Peck–a Quaker classic!
For more information, contact convener Bill Parker, email: WParkerCRA@gmail.com

Thinking about Race June 2022:  Appraisal Bias

The Washington Post’s Business section led with this article by Tracy Jan:  “Black wealth undercut by appraisal bias.  Even the most affluent minority communities are routinely undervalued, a cascading harm.”  Some key segments follow:

“Just one lower appraisal could affect the cumulative wealth of an entire community, according to a new Biden administration report on the causes, extent and consequences of property misvaluation. Ultimately, undervaluation of Black communities could reduce property tax revenue to fund maintenance and improvement of local schools and amenities.

“Appraisal bias can hurt a family’s ability to leverage home equity to pay for college, expand a business, pay for repairs or use as a buffer during financial hardship.….

“ ‘There is a cascading effect to low appraisals, creating a stagnation that looms over Black people at every socioeconomic level,’ [Jacqulyn] Priestly said. ‘It can stifle the ability to create generational wealth. You’re saying Black people can only go so far.’ ” 

[Priestly lives in Prince George’s County and helped start the grassroots network Fair and Unbiased Appraisal Advocates.]

Source:  Washington Post, March 23, 2022 

This column is prepared by the BYM Working Group on Racism (WGR) and sent to the designated liaison at each local Meeting.  The BYM WGR meets most months on the first Saturday, 10:00 am to 1:00 pm, currently via Zoom.  If you would like to attend, contact the clerk at david.etheridge@verizon.net.

Meeting for Business Minutes & Attachments

Friends Meeting of Washington
Monthly Meeting for Worship with a Concern for Business
Minutes - May 8, 2022

Query for Worship Sharing: How is Spirit moving in our Meeting right now?

Attendees: 26 (9 friends online)
New Attendees: Elo Wittig, Phoebe Shatzer, Amelie (last name unknown)

Clerk’s Report, May 2022

In Memoriam:  Gerry Fitzgerald’s memorial service will be held at 3:30 pm today in the Meeting Room.

Upcoming Events

War in Ukraine & the Quaker Peace Testimony, Quaker House, Sunday, 5/15, 12:30 pm
The Quaker Peace Testimony seeks justice and healing for all people; taking away the causes of war in the way we live.Are you being challenged by the Peace Testimony as it relates to the ongoing violence and war crimes devastating Ukraine?  For over three centuries, Friends have struggled to maintain non-violence in the face of many wars and other violence. Please join us for a Worship Sharing session on Sunday, May 15th to reflect on and speak about your own thoughts concerning what actions might help end this horrific war and suffering.   Please join us.  Jim Bell, kelleybell21@comcast.net, Joe Izzo, JIzzo4102@gmail.com

Friendly Quaker Film Club, in-person at FMW, Wed, May 25, 6 pm
We will be watching Invasion of the Body Snatchers PG (1978) to be followed by a discussion centered around Quaker ethics and values. You can read about it here.  Watch the trailer.
For more info, contact Bill Parker,  WParkerCRA@gmail.com, cell: (301) 221-4539.  

One friend commented how much fun the FQFC is.

Committee of Clerks meeting, Sunday, May 29, 9:00 am
All FMW clerks and co-clerks should attend this important quarterly meeting to discuss and make plans to build the health, well-functioning and strength of our Meeting.  For more info, contact FMW clerks Debby Churchman, DChurchm@yahoo.com or Rebecca Nelson, RebeccaLeeNelson99@gmail.com

FMW Community Highlights & Kudos

• Barbara Briggs and Steve Chase wedding was held in good order on April 23!
• The first “Quakerism 101” course is mid-stream and going well.
• Kudos to conveners of FMW’s Film Club.  “Coco” was held in good order with great discussion. More to come!

One friend commented on the importance of timely arrivals at marriage and memorial services.
One friend noted that Chris Nicholson, former member of the meeting during the 1930s, passed this past week.

Rental Update

Rentals for events continue to be a success in the current fiscal year with nearly $250,000 worth of events booked and nearly $200,000 successfully completed. We are also ahead of the curve for bookings in FY23 that begins on July 1st. 

We are still seeking a new nonprofit organization or small business tenant for the former Dupont Circle Village space in Quaker House. Feel free to refer anyone looking for office space to Brian.

Major Business

Ministry and Worship - Jean Capps 

Spiritual State of the Meeting 

One friend expressed disappointment and requested a revision that we acknowledge that our meeting resides on native land in our business meeting. Jean Capps noted that this request for acknowledgement did not appear in the received data and comments from members and could therefore not appear in the report regarding member comments, but hoped that the clerks would take this under advisement.

One friend advocated for Alternatives to Violence Program’s report’s inclusion in the Spiritual State of the Meeting report, and noted that AVP prints anti-racism queries on all agendas and minutes and includes reading of queries with regularity at all meetings.

One friend noted that we can make revisions to the report. They also noted that the anti-racist guidelines that were read in 2020 prior to meeting for business were not continued to be read in 2021.

One friend noted that our youth and children program, while resilient, has had great challenges, and requested that this be noted in the report. Jean Capps noted that this could be included. That friend also noted that PaSC has put forth significant work regarding native land.

One friend requested that the raw comments from the report, rather than the summaries, be made available. Friends noted that this data could be made available upon request.

Several friends sought clarity regarding what should be included in the report, specifically regarding potentially ignored topics and program areas.

One friend noted that how to use the information from the report to advance the meeting could be discussed during the Committee of Clerks meeting.

 

Friends accepted the report.

 

Membership - Beth Cogswell, Rob Farr

First presentation, Letty Coffin

Second presentation, Dan O’Sullivan

 

Rob Farr noted that the welcoming ceremony for new members will be meeting next Sunday.

 

Friends approved the membership of Dan O’Sullivan.

 

Regarding Letty Coffin, after their membership letter was read, one friend noted that they had served on Religious Education.

Letty Coffin’s membership will be laid over for one month.

 

Finance and Stewardship - Grant Thompson and Merry Pearlstein 

FMW Financial Update and Draft Budget for FY23 

 

Several friends expressed gratitude to Merry Pearlstein and the Finance and Stewardship committee for their work.

One friend noted the importance of highlighting anti-racist guidelines in the context of spending funds, and requested easily understood resources for showing how our values are reflected in our spending. Another friend noted that we spend roughly 10% of our revenue on giving.

Merry Pearlstein noted how our property spending and outreach aids the mission of FMW.

One friend requested clarity on the rate of contributions to the meeting and the increase in contributions for FY22. Merry Pearlstein noted the importance of a significant one-time contribution. Merry Pearlstein then also noted the importance of automatic monthly giving, especially in the context of our current deficit and increased inflation..

 

The report will be laid over for one month.

 

Nominating - Mike Beer

Bill Parker for Personal Aid

Greg Robb to BYM’s Ministry & Pastoral Care Committee

 

Friends approved the nomination for Bill Parker for Personal Aid.

 

Friends approved the nomination for Greg Robb to BYM’s Ministry & Pastoral Care Committee.

 

One friend requested clarity regarding the BYM Ministry & Pastoral Care nominating committee. Another friend answered that we are allowed an observer at the BYM Ministry & Pastoral Care Committee and this nomination is a continuance from the previous year. 

 

Friends approve these minutes with thanks.

 

Meeting for Business concluded at 1:50 pm.

 

 

ADDENDA: ATTACHED COMMITTEE REPORTS

 

DRAFT 5/2/22  Edits, etc from Joe, Ann, (Hayden)

2021 Annual Report to Baltimore Yearly Meeting on the Spiritual State of the Friends Meeting of Washington, DC 

 

The Baltimore Yearly Meeting (BYM) recommended queries guided our reflections, feedback, and discussion on the spiritual state of our community over the last year.

 

I.  The joys and sorrows of our community during the second year of the pandemic.

 

Adapting to the continuing changes and challenges of an ever-mutating viral pandemic offered our community both opportunities to deepen our love and support for each other and provided unexpected stresses and losses to cope with. 

 

As we did in 2020, our worship community gathered remotely via Zoom during the first few months of 2021 until vaccines and mask wearing made it safer for us to gather in person during the Spring, Summer, and Autumn months. We became a hybrid worshiping community which gave Friends the option of either being together in person or connecting virtually. The choice to participate in either way for worship, committee meetings; Business or educational or spiritual development programs was based on each person’s vulnerabilities or risk tolerance. This seemed to meet most people’s needs. While some Friends expressed aversion or dislike of digital technology to conduct our affairs, others rejoiced at being able to welcome geographically distanced members and other spiritual seekers into our community.

 

A robust worship group gathered in our beautifully renovated garden each week, as weather permitted. Unfortunately, maintaining digital connection between the worshippers in the garden and those in the Meeting Room became too challenging over time and caused some sense of fragmentation to our worship. However, at rise of Meeting we were all able to share conversation and refreshments during our Hospitality/Fellowship time.

 

Our 9:00 AM worship community continued to meet mostly virtually through the year to the satisfaction of their regular attenders.

 

Throughout the lockdown Friends have continued to worship in the meetinghouse on Sunday evenings at 6 PM -- Evening Worship. This small group continues and currently is, aside from  10:30 AM, the only in-person worship in the Meeting (no Zoom). The meeting is relatively short but often leads to discussion at break of meeting which extends our searching and fellowship. The worship is distinctly spiritually oriented and never wanders into politics or secular matters.

 

What made this second pandemic year most painful was the loss and deaths of cherished members. Two members died unexpectedly from non-COVID conditions and a beloved teenager, suffering from depression, ended her own life. Our community gave remarkable support for the grieving families and friends of the deceased as we held overflowing Memorial Meetings in either the garden or Meeting Room. Friends treated each other with deep care, compassion, and spiritual nurturing, demonstrating that FMW is, despite our limitations, a beloved community.

 

II. Shared wisdom on how Spirit has guided our response to the pandemic.

 

Through active listening, dialogue, and seeking feedback from each other, our Clerks and paid Staff members have provided sensitive and caring leadership through all the uncertainties of the pandemic.  We consulted with our own medical experts and have attempted to follow all CDC guidelines and made the painful decision to stop all in person attendance the week before Christmas due to the surge in the Omicron variant.

 

Due to these constantly changing risks some regular attenders and members have receded from active participation either virtually or in person. We’ve missed their presence and look forward to their return.

 

Our Personal Aid Committee strives to reach out and serve our most elderly, infirm, and isolated members. While the current condition of our community is not ideal, in either its virtual, or live associations, Friends have displayed remarkable patience, resiliency, adaptability, and mutual caring through the shifting terrain of the pandemic.

 

III.  How to graphically symbolize our community on a t-shirt.

 

A few respondents answered this playful query by suggesting the following slogans:

 

“We Mind the Light.”

 

“Friends through thick and thin.” Combined with a photo collage of us at BLM Plaza and other community events.

 

“An Inclusive, Welcoming, Spiritual Community” with a group photograph taken last year by one of our members.

 

IV. How FMW gathered feedback from members on the Spiritual State of the Meeting.

 

The Ministry and Worship Committee used the recommended queries from BYM and sent them via a Survey Monkey poll to our listserv. Friends were requested to write narrative responses and submit them by March 31, 2022. We also held a hybrid Worship Sharing session on Sunday, March 20th using the queries to elicit verbal reflections from the participants. Three members of the committee agreed to work together writing an initial draft which was submitted to the whole committee for feedback and editing. The proposed Report was submitted to the May 8, 2022 Meeting for Worship with a Concern for Business for approval and submission to BYM by the May 15th deadline.

 

V.   Ministry and Worship Committee added this query for further reflection.

 

“Is there anything else you would like to share about your experience at FMW during 2021 that either enhanced or diminished your sense of spiritual progress and inclusion/exclusion from the community?

 

Friends shared their feelings of isolation when we gathered only virtually and expressed concern for those with limited or no internet access. Not meeting in person at times during the beginning and end of 2021 took an emotional toll on those who see themselves as extroverts.

 

Some Friends expressed disappointment that our attention to anti-racism seemed to waver during the year as there were no discussions around the letter written by Friends of Color nor on the anti-racist guidelines we used to read before Meeting for Business.

 

Finally, as a result of the extensive renovation and connection of all the buildings of our physical space we have created a useful, highly functional, and beautiful environment in which to build our community and offer space to other community groups and events.

 

We are blessed to have an Events & Space Manager who promotes Friends Meeting of Washington as an ideal venue for weddings, memorials, non-profit meetings; other Faith’s services and rituals. This has expanded our presence in the wider DC environment and drawn more spiritual seekers to us.

 

FMW has a strong foundation and has weathered a very difficult year. We are optimistically looking to the future to revitalize our vibrant and active community.

________

 

 

Finance & Stewardship

 

Full FMW Financial Update and Draft Budget for FY23 (5/7/2022)

Friends Meeting of Washington
Finance & Stewardship Committee 

Financial Update and Draft Budget for FY 2023 – May 8, 2022

Current Financial Position

History of Financial Operations in Recent Years

For the three preceding fiscal years (FY 19-21), we have run significant deficits, driven primarily by the renovation project, resulting mortgage payments of $221 thousand per year, lost rental income from the renovations and COVID-19, and new expenses related to generating rental income and maintaining our property. To fulfill our financial obligations, we have withdrawn approximately $500 thousand from our investment reserves. The table below presents bottom line budget versus actuals since FY 17 (in thousands). 

 

 

Given the disruptions caused by the renovation, the pandemic, and market fluctuations, our abilities to create solid projections when budgeting have been limited. For the current fiscal year (FY 22), we are actually running a surplus of ~$268 thousand, compared to a projected deficit of ~$256 thousand. Three difficult to forecast sources of revenue drive that change: 

• $164 thousand in unbudgeted bequest income; 

• $85 thousand in forgiven loans under the federal Payroll Protection Program;  

• $120 thousand in rental revenue in excess of budget.  

 

As a reminder, the fiscal year runs through June 30, so additional revenue and expenses may lead to shifts in the final balance. 

Cash Flow and Reserves

At the end of April, FMW’s operating account balances totaled approximately $339 thousand. Our investments at Friends Fiduciary Corporation were worth $1.524 million, which gave us a total reserve of $1.863 million. Though we enjoyed appreciable gains in the most recent fiscal year, market volatility and rising inflation in the opening months of calender year 2022 have led to a loss of $193 thousand in the first four months of this year. The chart below shows our reserves since FY 05. The blue inflation line represents the level of reserves we would need to have, in order to have the same purchasing power we had in 2005. 

 

 

It is important to note that about $350 thousand belongs to restricted funds that we manage, such as the Mary Jane Simpson Scholarship Fund, the Shoebox Fund, the Peace and Social Justice Fund, etc. Another $302 thousand cannot be spent under the terms of the Ross bequest endowment, and at least $300 thousand is reserved as a pledge to the mortgage agreement $2 million balloon payment due in 2032. That only leaves about $900 thousand to cover deficit spending, though fortunately we have not had to draw from reserves since December 2020. Inflation is a major variable, as it has so far reduced the real value of our mortgage balance, but on the other hand has increased many Meeting expenses. 

Draft Budget for Fiscal Year 2023

Guiding Principles

Although a budget is made up of numbers arrayed in a sometimes-confusing matrix of lines and columns, it is actually a statement about the strategies an organization employs to achieve its goals. We think about the budget as an expression of our Quaker values, guided by these queries:

• Social Justice: What organizations are we supporting with our Meeting’s funds? Are we paying fair wages to our employees and contractors, providing retirement funds, health insurance, vacation, time off, and so on?

• Environmental Concerns: Are we creating and sustaining energy efficient buildings and grounds, utilizing solar electric power, bio-retention ponds, native plantings, and low impact gardening practices?

• Stewardship of Our Property and Our Investments: Are we attentive to repairs and upgrades to our property to ensure long term use? Do we invest funds in socially responsible ways? Are we frugal without being foolishly stingy?

• Attention to the Well-Being of Our Community: Do we support Meeting activities such as hospitality, religious education, personal aid, and other programs that enrich our worship and our sense of community? Do we and our campus provide a welcoming environment in which we and Friends from around the world can worship and bear witness?

• Outreach: How do our long-term and event space rentals expand our service to the community and provide opportunities to share our Quaker values with diverse groups of people?

 

In keeping with the spirit of fostering greater community, the draft budget is built based upon analysis of past performance, input from FMW’s committees, and the diligent work of Meeting staff. 

Understanding the Proposed Budget

The draft budget for the coming year projects another deficit of $185 thousand even though we are doubling our projected building revenue from $261 thousand to $522 thousand. We are also increasing our projected expenses by $182 thousand, thanks largely to inflation, ongoing building maintenance and repair needs, and expenses related to increasing event rental activity.

Operating Results and Budget Projections 

The first document below includes four pages of summary, which are inclusive of the entire FMW enterprise (both the faith community and the convening space). Following the summary are budget breakdowns by department, i.e. the “buckets” of revenue and expenses that roll up into the summary totals. For ease of understanding, we present the budget and actuals for FY 21 and FY 22 (year to date), alongside the proposed FY 23 budget in the far right column. A few notes by department:

 

• 100 - FMW is where we budget general donation revenue and administrative expenses. Line 11 represents money contributed to the budget from the Capital Campaign Fund to pay the mortgage principal costs on line 71. The $85,048 on line 19 is our one-time windfall gift from the Payroll Protection Program. Line 75 is our annual donation to Baltimore Yearly Meeting. We project a deficit of ~$80 thousand for administrative expenses, largely the result of mortgage payments.

• 260 - Property Rentals is where all our income from office and event rentals comes in. Even with the significant expense of running and marketing an appealing venue, we project a surplus of ~$355 thousand. 

• 700 - Buildings is where the general costs of our buildings are budgeted. The $408 thousand in budgeted building expense is driven by some long-needed repairs and post-renovation alterations that need to be accomplished. 

• 160 - Hunger & Homelessness Committee is where we budget costs related to our participation in food programs for the homeless, such as S.O.M.E. and the Grate Patrol. We project ~$11 thousand in expenses.

• 260 - Religious Education Committee costs are primarily payroll for three teachers and two daycare workers, totalling ~$24 thousand, as we hope to resume in-person activities in the coming year. 

• 120 - Finance & Stewardship Committee budget line 10 provides for the Meeting’s donations to various other, mostly Quaker, organizations. The giving budget is shown in detail here. The contributions to Friends House are being funded by the dormant Senior Center Fund; they may not continue once that fund has been exhausted. The total giving budget is approximately $12 thousand. 

• Other committees: expenses for most other committees and activities are nominal.

Restricted Fund Operating Results and Budget Projections 

In this section, we separately report several activities that are not funded from Meeting general revenues but from separate restricted funds. We do the bookkeeping for these activities, but they do not affect our bottom line. The status of each fund is reported below the revenue and expenses. We have included the Peace and Social Concerns Committee in this section, as that Committee has lately adopted a practice of raising funds to support their vital work. 

Balance Sheet 

This last report lists the various assets and liabilities and equity funds that appear on our books as of the end of April. These numbers are provisional as we close out the month. The value of our fixed assets — land and buildings — is presented conservatively as $5.56 million, although a 2017 appraisal gave the market value as $8.41 million and projected that it would be over $12 million after the renovation. The various Friends Fiduciary accounts rise and fall in value daily, but this is only adjusted on our books occasionally, so the values here are not necessarily reflective of the months shown. 

FMW Rental Report, April 2022

Prepared by Brian Lutenegger, Event and Rental Manager

Financials – FY22 Bookings

Here is a breakdown of where we are in terms of bookings for recent past and future fiscal years as of April 30, 2022.

The chart above shows $15,130.65 booked in April 2022 and $246,651.94 booked so far this fiscal year. 

We have already booked more than $65,000 in events for FY23 that will begin on July 1st. Our fiscal year runs from July 1 to the following June 30th. 

Financials – FY22 Earned

In April, we earned $23,592.72 for events successfully completed. We have earned $191,792.70 in the first ten months of FY22. We have exceeded the income from event rentals that we had budgeted for in FY22 ($100,000).

Events 

The following activities occurred at FMW during April: 

·         DC Minyan continuing to hold regular services

·         Two weddings for non-FMW members

·         Three memorial services for non-FMW members

·         A Guilford College event for local alumni

·         Several staff retreats / conferences / workshops

·         AsylumWorks’ dinner for LGBTQ asylum seekers

·         Weekly Al-Anon meetings

·         Three film crews

Office Space Rentals

Income from office rentals has changed in recent months due to turnover in tenants. 

This fiscal year to date, with most rents paid for May, we have collected $144,001 in office tenant rent – more than 95 percent of our fiscal year budget of $151,172. 

At present, we have ten nonprofit and small business tenants. Dupont Circle Village has moved into the suite formerly occupied by AsylumWorks and I am still looking for a new tenant to take their old spaces.

Opportunities for the FMW community to help with rentals

Please think about whether your employer, an organization whose board you sit on – or even yourself for a special event – might be able to make use of our event rental spaces. Of course, at least for now, these events would need to be kept small and happen safely.

If you have ideas for content that we can post on Facebook and Instagram that might be of interest to a wide (not necessarily Quaker) audience, I am happy to consider.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fmw.event.venue/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/friendsmeetingofwashington/