February 2012 Newsletter
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Meeting for Business - Order of Worship
Attachments
FMW Officers, Committee Members, and Representatives, 2012
Property Manager Job Description
FMW Newsletter
FRIENDS MEETING OF WASHINGTON
MONTHLY MEETING FOR WORSHIP WITH A CONCERN FOR BUSINESS
January 8, 2012
1/12 – 1 Opening The Meeting opened at 12:10 pm with a period of silent worship. David Etheridge served as Clerk and Debby Churchman as Recording Clerk. The clerks read Advices, Queries and Voices concerning Outreach which have been proposed by the Faith and Practice Revision Committee of Baltimore Yearly Meeting.
Advices
What do we mean when we repeat Fox’s admonition to “Let your life speak”? This simple sentence reminds us that it is our lives, not our words, that speak most reliably about who we are and what we believe. Our lives are our ministry, not the specific acts we think of as “official” ministry, such as speaking in meeting, following leadings, or carrying out our roles on committees. Jesus teaches us not to hide our lights; but to let them shine – as the gospel song would have it, “every day, every way.” Outreach in this broad sense is not something we think about and plan; rather, it simply happens as we walk our paths in the world, lighted by “that of God” within us.
Advancement and outreach are natural and integral aspects of the Quaker way of life. Realizing that we are all children of God means that there is an infinite opportunity to search for God in our relations with others. Our fellowship begins, grows, and is nurtured in home and meeting. It reaches greater fulfillment as we carry our love of God and humankind to our relationships with persons in the wider community of which our Meeting is a part, with members of other Meetings, and with all persons whom we meet.
Outreach is not a monologue, but a dialogue - an adventure undertaken in the spirit of a musical improvisation with many instruments. Take time to learn about other people's experiences of the Light and, as you learn, give freely from your own. Respect the experiences and opinions of others, but do not be afraid to say what you value and to speak with conviction. Welcome the diversity of culture, language, and expressions of faith among Friends and members of other faiths.
Outreach also includes being open to others who may be tentatively “reaching in” to explore the Quaker faith. The sense of welcome is expressed in countless small details: the coffee is warm, the biscuits are good, the potluck is plentiful, and people say “hi.” Most importantly, when someone walks in and asks, “What do Quakers believe?” it is the meeting’s task to be sure that they are likely to get a well-informed answer from anyone they might approach.
Queries
How does my life witness to my Quaker faith?
In what ways do I reach out to new attendees and encourage their exploration of Quakerism as a spiritual path?
How does our meeting convey Quaker faith and practice to the wider community?
Voices
This story is told of a German woman living in Cologne in 1946. Her husband had been killed during the war and she was left with two small children. It is no wonder that she was a cynical and embittered woman when the Service Committee Workers found her. They were of the same nationality that she had been taught to hate, the ones who had killed her husband. But these people brought clothing, medicine, and food and above all sympathy and understanding. “Why do you do it?” she asked, and they tried to tell her something of the spirit that had sent them forth. Finally with tears in her eyes she exclaimed: “This is too good to keep to yourselves — Oh, why don’t you preach what you practice!”
--John Hobart, 1954
Why have we been reluctant to share our faith? Has our message lost its value? Certainly not. How is it then that Friends retreated from a very active, prophetic kind of outreach, making their beliefs public at the risk of life, limb, and liberty, to our current position where outreach is low on our list of priorities, even actively opposed by some? For when we place a low priority on outreach we suggest either that our message isn't that important, or that somehow the rest of the world couldn't appreciate it, or that Quakerism is only for the select few. --Outreach Handbook of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting
My new acquaintance was told by my friend that I walked a Quaker path. The acquaintance’s face lit up. “What is that?” she asked. For the next hour she peppered me with questions about the Quaker path. I could not evade or sidetrack her. She was intense. At the end she exclaimed, “If I had known all of this twenty years ago, I would have lived a different life!” I sat stunned, moved, elated, and saddened all at the same time… She had heard of Quakers all her life, but she never met a Quaker that would explain what it meant. To borrow and butcher a phrase from the Bible: it’s time to stop hiding our light under a bushel. --Barry Crossno, 2005
1/12 – 2 Welcome of Visitors About 33 F/friends attended. There were no new visitors.
1/12 – 3 Clerks’ Report David Etheridge, Clerk, had the following things to report:
On December 18, 2011, the Committee of Clerks APPROVED the extension of Thomas Cooke's employment as Administrative Secretary for six months, from January 1, 2012 through June 30, 3012, as recommended by the Personnel Committee.
Elizabeth Kendall and Sasan Sabet will be married under the care of Friends Meeting of Washington at 4:00 pm on January 15 at the Sidwell Friends Upper School.
With respect to the November 2011 Minutes, the Clerk has been asked to note that Micah Bales worships at Capitol Hill Friends, a Christian community in the Quaker tradition at William Penn House.
MAJOR ITEM
1/12 – 4 Nominations for 2012 Merry Pearlstein of the Nominating Committee brought the following nominations for committees for 3-year terms, ending in 12/2014 (see attached). She conveyed the committee's great thanks to Marcia Reecer for her longstanding work as clerk of this committee. The committee has no new clerk; Beth Cogswell will serve as the contact person.
The committee asked for a waiver for Justin Connor, who is not a member of FMW, to be clerk of Religious Education. Merry also notes that the Peace & Social Concerns Committee is still under formation; nominations for that committee will be forthcoming.
Ray Allard expressed a desire to maintain his membership on the Library Committee. Marcia Reecer explained that he has been on the committee for two terms, and thus must rotate off for a year.
A friend asked a question about the list, and why it doesn't list periods of service for all committee members. Only those whose names are in italics on the attachment are new nominees. The FMW website maintains a roster of committee members according to which years they joined.
Friends APPROVED all nominations, including the waiver.
MILESTONES
1/12 – 5 Marriage and Family Relations Committee
Marriage of Brett McBride and Victor Malychev (second presentation) Susan Griffin, Clerk of Marriage and Family Relations, made the second presentation of this request for Marriage under the care of the Meeting. Friends APPROVED. The wedding will be on April 21, 2012 at 10:00 am. Justine Kalas Reeves and Jane Edgerton will serve on the Oversight Committee. Others will be added the committee.
1/12 – 6 Membership Committee
Recommendation for membership: Steve Brooks (second presentation) – David Etheridge made the second presentation of this recommendation for membership. Friends APPROVED.
Requests for Membership:
- Molly Tully of Membership presented requests for membership from Erica and John Hurvitz. Both are already serving on committees at FMW.
- Joan Gildemeister of Membership presented a request for membership for Kate Gould. Kate was introduced to Quakerism as a child by her Uncle Mo, otherwise known as Maurice Boyd. She has participated in North Pacific Yearly Meeting and worked with Friends in Ramallah. She currently works for FCNL on Middle Eastern issues.
All of these requests lie over for a month, as is our custom.
Associate Membership: Hayden Wetzel of Membership explained that the committee has been contacting Associate Members who are now more than 25 years old to ask about their membership status. The following Associate Members have resigned, in truth:
- Russell Ricks
- Masai McDougall
This is the first presentation, and will lie over for a month.
REPORT
1/12 – 7 Recorder’s Report – Catherine Vanderwaart presented the Recorder's Report (see attached). Membership has remained stable, with a slight gain in number of members.
UPDATES
1/12 – 8 Ministry and Worship Committee –Debby Churchman, Clerk of Ministry and Worship, presented an update on the arrangement of benches. The experiments with bench arrangement, begun as a low-cost effort to make Meetings for Worship more accessible to the hard-of-hearing, continue. The committee has gathered much feedback over the listserv and through personal communication. Many people objected to the wording of the signage on unused benches, and this has been changed. Some people suggested the committee try gathering benches in the center of the room, and this is currently being tried. Overall, however, the committee does not feel that it has a clear sense of how these new arrangements are affecting worship in the Meeting Room. This week, the Committee asked Friends to participate in a survey—either online or in hard copy—which may give the committee a clearer sense. Committee members will discuss the results of that survey at its next meeting, and bring the results to the next Meeting for Business for clarification.
A Friend on the committee added that it has toiled over this issue for quite some time, and very much wants feedback. The electronic survey method was used to gather our last Spiritual State of the Meeting to good effect. The Ministry and Worship Committee is working closely with the Property Committee, and welcomes feedback from other committees as well.
A Friend asked if the committee itself had experimented with different arrangements. She also added that some Friends come, not to hear messages, but to be in a community that is engaged in silent worship. She hopes we will make space for all kinds of worshippers.
A Friend said that the first experiments didn't feel good, but thinks our current arrangement has a better feng shui.
1/12 – 9 Property Committee –Steve Coleman of the Property Committee gave an update from the committee (see attached). The committee met with an audio engineer several months ago who provided several recommendations.
The committee re-did the Quaker House kitchen, and addressed a number of other issues in Quaker House. Some current space holders would like to expand their space, and other nonprofits are currently negotiating with us to use space at the Meetinghouse.
We are still processing the question of whether or not we have to pay taxes on property that we are sharing with nonprofits.
Steve also brought the job description for the Property Manager position. We have hired Ken Orvis on an interim basis, as we go forward with filling this position.
1/12 – 10 Capital Improvements Task Force David Etheridge said this taskforce is in dialogue with the architects, and should report on it soon. Ken Forsberg added that after several months of meeting as a committee, they have re-engaged with the architects. The architects have come back with a proposal for studying the committee proposal and an estimate for how much their study might cost.
1/12 – 11 Child Care for Committee Meetings Susan Lepper, Clerk of Finance and Stewardship brought a concern that committee participants be reimbursed for child care they have to engage in order to participate in the committee work. Finance and Stewardship would like to find out how many people this might affect and about how much this might cost.
A friend asked if it would be possible to do an electronic survey to find out? The committee will consider this.
A friend suggests that the need, regardless of size, is justified.
A friend reminded us that there used to be Committee Night. She suggests that we return to that and provide child care on that night, either by hiring it or asking for volunteers.
The Clerk for Religious Education says that many of its members require child care, and could look into extending child care for all committee participants at the same time. He would be happy to discuss this with Finance and Stewardship.
A Friend reminded us that the complexity of the problems requires more study.
1/12 – 12 Shoebox Project A Friend expressed appreciation for the Shoebox Project and for the participation and leadership of Meeting and non-Meeting people who worked on it. He expressed his enthusiasm for continuing this in the future.
1/12 – 13 Adjournment With about 30 F/friends in attendance, the meeting ended at 1:24, to reconvene, as way opens, on Feb. 12 at noon.
Attachments:
FMW Officers, Committee Members, and Representatives, 2012
Recorder’s Report
Property Committee Update
Property Manager Job Description
Property Manager Contract
FMW Officers, Committee Members, and Representatives, 2012
(Note: Italics mean the person is being proposed for membership or clerkship in the committee named.)
Officers of the Meeting
Clerk, David Etheridge
Alternate Clerk, Meg Greene
Recording Clerk, Debby Churchman
Treasurer, Bob Meehan
Assistant Treasurer, Loie Clark
Special Positions
Historian, Hayden Wetzel
Librarians, Jean Miller, Tom Epps
Trustees
Clerk, J.E. McNeil
Judy Hubbard, Elise Storck, Arne Paulson, Mary Campbell, David Etheridge, Bill Cousins, Steve Coleman, Tracy Hart, John Scales, Virginia Avanesyan
Standing Committees
Finance and Stewardship
Clerk, Susan Lepper
Willy Wilson, John Hurvitz, Jim Bell, Christopher Warren, Grant Thompson, Olivia James, Amy Dillard, Mark Meinke
Healing and Reconciliation
Co-Clerks, Gray Handley, Merry Pearlstein
David Etheridge. Debby Churchman, Bill Cousins, Diane McDougall, Marcia Reecer, Marsha Holliday
Hospitality
Co-Clerks, Frank Weiss, Alex Mathews
Tom Libbert, Pam Callard, Sara Satterthwaite, Christopher Warren, Michael Conklin, Bill Strein, Marianne McMillen
Library
Clerk, Michael North
Virginia Harris, Patrick Lynam, Mark Meinke
Marriage and Family Relations
Clerk, Susan Griffin
Erica Hurvitz, Jane Edgerton, Justine Kalas Reeves, F.T. Clark, Margot Greenlee, Jean Harman
Membership
Co-Clerks, Gerri Williams, Jean Meyer Capps
Hayden Wetzel, Molly Tully, Joan Gildemeister, Maurice Boyd, Andrew Lightman, Dan Dozier
Ministry and Worship
Clerk, Debby Churchman
Gray Handley, Kevin Camp, Anne Harper, Virginia Avanesyan, Tracy Hart, Ray Allard
Nominating
Beth Cogswell, Meg Greene, Arne Paulson, Merry Pearlstein, Elisabeth Johnson
Peace and Social Concerns
In formation
Personal Aid
Co-Clerks, Janet Dinsmore, Jim Steen
Pam Callard, Patty Murphy, Elisabeth Johnson, Sara Satterthwaite, Steve Williams, Daryl Wagner, Rachel Shaw
Personnel
Clerk, Michael Cronin
Byron Sandford, Ed Hustead, Bill Foskett
Property
Co-Clerks, Steve Coleman, Steve Brooks
Janet Dinsmore, Martha Solt, Neil Froemming, Ken Forsberg, Basil Kiwan, Ken Orvis,
Records and Handbook
Clerk, Todd Harvey
J.E. McNeil, Montague Kern, Harry Massey
Religious Education
Clerk,Justin Connor
Alternate Clerk, Rob Farr
Patrick Lynam, Lynsey Wood Jeffries, Chris Klemek, Anita Drever, Kim Acquaviva, Carrie Mitchell
Special Committees
Child Safety Committee
Tracy Hart, Anita Drever (One position open)
Garden Committee
Clerk, Mark Haskell
Mira Courpas, Bruce Kellogg, Gerri Williams
Mary Jane Simpson Scholarship Committee
Clerk, Anne Kendall
Debby Churchman, Bill Strein, Holly Moore, Tia Duer (Bethesda), Mark Kawar (Bethesda), Georgianna Ziegler (Bethesda)
Mary Walcott-Lucy Foster Educational Fund
Bruce Kellogg
Search Committee
Judy Hubbard, Steve Coleman
Senior Center Advisory Committee
Clem Swisher
Capital Improvement Task Force
Clerk, Ken Forsberg
Byron Sandford, Robinne Gray, Justin Connor, Steve Brooks, Judy Hubbard, Neil Froemming, Merry Pearlstein, C.J. Lewis
Capital Campaign Committee
Grant Thompson, Willy Wilson, Byron Sandford, Robinne Gray
Hunger and Homelessness Task Force
Co-Clerks, C.J. Lewis, Steve Brooks
Debby Churchman, Susan Coleman, Beverly Darnell, Gray Handley, Patty Murphy, John Watts, Eric Nothman, Michelle Williams, Jackie Vorhauer, Daryl Wagner, Rita Carey, Faith Williams
Information Technology Committee
Clerk, Neil Froemming
Steve Brooks, David Etheridge, Dick Bellin, Marcia Reecer, Mackenzie Morgan
Ad Hoc Committee for Special Events
Charmaine Gilbreath
Young Adult Friends
Convenor, Zoe Plaugher
Representatives to Other Organizations
Meeting Liaisons
American Friends Service Committee Jean Harman
BYM Ministry and Pastoral Care Committee Michael Cronin
Friends Committee on National Legislation Maurice Boyd
Friends United Meeting J.E. McNeil
Right Sharing of World Resources Joan Gildemeister, Karen Grisez
Friends Nonprofit Housing
Willy Wilson, Dan Dozier
School for Friends Board
Molly Tully, Erica Hurvitz, Michael Cronin, Glenn Parkinson
William Penn House Board
Judy Hubbard, Jean Harman
Advisory Neighborhood Commission 2-D
Open
DC Council of Churches (Representative to Annual Meeting)
Susan Meehan
By year to year count these are the figures for the Meeting’s membership as of December 31, 2011.
The figures: There are a total of 343 Members and 73 Associate Members, for a total of 416 Members. The total is divided into 271 Resident Members (including Members for whom we have no address) and 145 Non-Resident members.
Changes: In 2011 the Meeting’s count increased by 7 new members, and 5 Friends transferred their membership into FMW. There were 7 new Associate Members in 2011. (This is a gain of 19 new members).
Losses: 5 Members died, 2 Members resigned, and 9 members transferred out to other Quaker Meetings. (This is a loss of 16 members).
Sojourners: There are 6 official Sojourners on record at FMW. There is one FMW member who is an official Sojourner at another Meeting.
The following is a summary of current work:
Meetinghouse
Meetingroom Acoustics: Consulting engineer, researching, purchasing speaker
Children’s Library and North Room (with RE): Boosting usability and safety
Entry Hall/Stair, Meetingroom Ceiling, Parlor Trim, 3rd Floor: Repainting
Entry and Decatur Place Room: Replacing deteriorated floor tile
Women’s Restroom: Refurbishing
3rd Floor Office and Program Spaces: Organizing, refinishing, and wiring
1st Floor North Water Infiltration: Exploring options
Quaker House/ Carriage House
Health and Safety: Countering old termite damage, rodents, and safety hazards
QH2 Kitchen: Painting, floor refinishing, and installing cabinets, counter, disposal, etc.
QH2 Bathroom: Painting, floor refinishing, and installing new toilet, sink, and shelving
QH2 Living Room Storage Closet: Removing rear wall to double capacity
QH2 SW Corner Room: Converting storage into office space
QH1-2 Rear Stair: Installing carpeting
QH1 Plumbing: Replacing deteriorated galvanized pipes
QH1 North: Renovating offices and restroom
CH1: Converting former boys restroom into kitchenette; addressing subfloor settling
Heating System: Enhancing reliability, performance, and efficiency
Cooling: Exploring options for efficient system, starting with QH Living Room
Access: Installing doorbells
Water Infiltration: Sealing entry points and exploring additional options
Space Use Partners
AFSC: Completed year-long use of Quaker House for human rights fellow
Tostan: Expanding office area
Promundo: Expanding office area
Dupont Circle Village: Requesting office space
Hunger Project: Requesting office space
American Museum of Peace: Requesting office space
Other Actions
Property Tax Charge: Referred to Finance & Stewardship and Trustees for action
Automated Defibrillator Purchase: Decided to promote CPR training instead
Cyclic Maintenance and Cleaning: Increasing throughout the campus
Research, Documentation, Prioritization, and Systemization: Ongoing throughout
Ken Orvis ("Employee") is hereby engaged, on an immediate and interim basis, to serve as Property Manager for the Friends Meeting of Washington (FMW).
Job Description: Attached.
Level of service: Not to exceed 900 hours between the date of this contract and June 30, 2012. It is anticipated that this will be a full-time commitment averaging to about 37.5 hours per week.
Hours: Flexible, including early morning, evening, and weekend service as needed.
Supervision: Co-Clerks of the FMW Property Committee or one person they designate.
Reporting: The Property Manager will report to the Property Committee, to which he will provide monthly reports as well as ongoing updates. These will be continually shared with the Meeting.
Employment policies and procedures: As previously defined by the Friends Meeting of Washington, with the exceptions that this position is an hourly post and will report directly to the Property Committee rather than the Personnel Committee or the Administrative Secretary. This interim appointment will carry no benefits other than the required employer contributions to FICA/Medicare and unemployment insurance.
Termination: May be made by either the Employee or the Property Committee, for any reason, without notice during the probationary first 90 days. After that, at least four weeks notice shall be required, except in case of gross neglect or violation of the law.
Contract end date: June 30, 2012, or as soon as the Meeting completes the search for the Property Manager position.
Compensation: This is an hourly contract. Budget attached.
Office: The Property Manager will be based on the Third Floor of the Meetinghouse, but roving all over the campus in the course of managing it.
Priority Tasks: These will evolve as the work proceeds. Initial priorities defined by the Property Committee include addressing immediate life safety, contracting, maintenance, and system needs such as those reported on the attached Property Committee update.
AGREED this __________ day of ___________ month, 2012:
_________________________________ _______________________________
For the Friends Meeting of Washington Employee
Friends Meeting of Washington
Job Description: PROPERTY MANAGER
Overview and Qualifications
The Property Manager should have a clear interest, affinity, and openness to learning Quaker practice and procedure, manner of conducting business, and the relationship of the Monthly Meeting to the wide range of Friends’ organizations.
The responsibilities of the Property Manager require the following qualities and abilities: (1) Understanding of the mission and goals of FMW and how our property can help further these missions and goals; (2) Understanding and interest in the systems and structure of our property and the myriad maintenance needs that come up; (3) Understanding of the committees, staff members, occasional and long term space users, contractors, volunteers, and others who are involved in the maintenance, scheduling and use of the property and how they interact.
The Property Manager is employed by the Meeting to manage the following property- related functions: (1) Implement the policies and directives of the Property Committee and the Meeting with respect to occasional and long term space use; (2) Manage the maintenance of property systems: HVAC (including programmable thermostats), lighting, electrical, plumbing, roof and gutters, landscape, fire and smoke detection, fire extinguishers, sump pumps & etc. and what routine and exceptional maintenance tasks are required and which contractors to call upon to achieve these tasks; (3) Act as front line interaction with occasional and long term space users; (4) &ct.
The Property Manager reports to the clerks of the Property Committee, or one person they designate, for all regular oversight. Interviewing and hiring will be done in consultation with both the Property and Personnel Committees, with at least one representative of Personnel included directly in the interviewing.
Detailed Description of Duties
Maintenance and improvements (in consultation with Property Committee)
- Help develop and implement a manual of routine maintenance
- Keep track of maintenance tasks that are accomplished and when
- Notify Property Committee if and when routine maintenance tasks are NOT being accomplished
- Obtain quotations from suitable contractors
- Consult with Property regarding quotations
- Contact firms and schedule work
- Supervise all property related contract work (plumbers, roofers, HVAC, electrician, handyman; cleaning staff; exterminators; landscaping, etc.)
Event Management
- Formulate and implement a marketing plan and brochure for events, including conferences, weddings, etc.
- Generate a script and form for handing event enquiries
- Manage on-line event schedule for entire campus
- Train and manage event hosts, help enforce event rules and clean-up requirements
- Develop relationships with outside service providers that can facilitate events to provide as recommendations to event users (caterers, transport, parking, photographers, hosting, nearby reception sites, etc).
- Field enquiries on the use of our properties for various event types
- Maintain a log of space requests and report regularly to the Property Committee on results of requests
Space User Relations
- Act as front line interface with Space Users
- Collect space reimbursements, including keeping track of who's late
- Take Space User complaints and needs, formulate a plan for addressing them, in collaboration with Property Committee
- Track space use agreements and expiration dates
- Ensure compliance with all property rules and procedures
- Provide monthly report to Property Committee on status of all space partners
Safety and Security
- Manage opening and lock-up of all buildings and outdoor spaces at start/ close of business
- Ensure functioning life safety: maintain smoke detectors, extinguishers, egress, etc.
- Conduct and report on quarterly fire drills for entire campus
Utilities
- Monitor systems to ensure proper functioning
- Keep track of programmable thermostats to ensure efficiency and comfort of meeting and outside events
- Monitor energy usage and advance the energy efficiency of the facilities
- Track utility contracts and re-evaluate from time to time.
Staff Management
- Supervise other staff or volunteers who are involved in property functions
Communication with Property Committee
- Communicate with Property Committee via clerks, email list, reports, and regular meetings any issues that require the Meeting’s attention
FMW NEWSLETTER
February 2012
FMW Work Day
The Property Committee is sponsoring a work day on Saturday, February 4 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. There are work opportunities for all levels of experience, both indoors and outdoors- weather permitting. This is great way to meet Friends and to help the community. For more information, contact interim property manager Ken Orvis at (307) 399-7699.
William Penn House
The William Penn House, a Quaker Center on Capitol Hill, hosts monthly potluck dinners on a scheduled Sunday evening at 6:30 p.m. There is a topic, speaker, and open discussion afterwards. The potluck starts at 6:30 p.m. and the presentation will begin at 7:30 p.m. All are welcome to the potlucks- bring a dish to share! In addition to monthly potlucks, the William Penn House provides low cost accommodations and Quaker center programs and seminars. Join the weekly Yoga class at the William Penn House on Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m. All ages and all skill levels are welcome. There is a $15 charge per class. Daily at 7:30 a.m. to 8 a.m. a Meeting for Worship is held. On Sundays, with the exception of the first Sunday of the month, Capitol Hill Friends meet from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
On Sunday, February 5, 2012 the potluck dinner speaker will be Barry Crossno, General Secretary of Friends General Conference (FGC). Barry will share his journey with lessons from Buddhism, Quakerism, and how these two spiritual disciplines can together enhance the Religious Society of Friends. He will share his quest to make Quakerism a viable, vibrant path to spiritual life and the role of FGC in making this path accessible to others. Barry was appointed to the position of General Secretary a year ago and began his service in June, 2011. Barry is a member of Dallas Monthly Meeting, and served on the Pendle Hill staff prior to accepting the position of General Secretary.
For more information contact The William Penn House. It is located at 515 East Capitol St. SE Washington, DC 20003, (202) 543-5560.
FMW Adult Study Group
The Adult Study Group will meet on Sunday, February 12, at 9:15 a.m. in the North Room. The topic will be Walt Whitman and Quaker Influences on his poetry. The group will also meet on Sunday, February 26 at 9:15 a.m. in the North Room and will discuss Walt Whitman and the Civil War. It is not mandatory to attend every group session if a F/friend is interested in participating in the Adult Study Group. For more information contact John Scales.
Inquirer’s Class
For newcomers to Friends, or not so new-comers to Friends, the winter Inquirer’s Class will continue to meet on Monday, February 6, and Monday, February 13 at 7 p.m. in the Library. Come and learn about the Religious Society of Friends, our history, and our spiritual “ways”. It is not mandatory to attend all of the classes, and there is no preparation required. For more information, contact either Michael Cronin or Gerri Williams.
FMW’s Senior Center
Programs of slides, or talks are held the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month in the Decatur Place Room at 1:30 p.m. On Wednesday, February 8, Maurice Boyd will present Music of Howard Deitz and Arthur Schwartz. OnWednesday, February 22, Clem Swisher will present a slide show on Colorado.
Friends Wilderness Center Stargazing
The Barbara Nnoka Memorial Luncheon
On Sunday, February 26 at the rise of meeting a luncheon will be served in honor of Barbara Nnoka, to raise money for the Mary Jane Simpson Scholarship Fund. Volunteers are needed to contribute to the “chili potluck”. To volunteer service, or food, please contact Bill Strein at (301)589-2050. All F/friends are welcome to attend and are reminded to bring their checkbooks.
From the Vault
A monthly series of edited extracts from the historical material of the Friends Meeting of Washington.
S&A Properties, Inc.
May 5, 2003
Gentlemen:
The Government of India has asked me to approach the Friends Meeting of Washington to express their interest in leasing or purchasing the Friends Meeting House for the purpose of using it as a cultural center.
I am attaching a copy of my agreement with the Embassy of India for your review. I know this is an unusual request, but I would welcome a reply.
Sincerely,
RLS
With best wishes for a Happy 2012 to all,
Hayden Wetzel
Meeting Historian
Meet Kate Gould
Please note- this following sentence was left out of the January Newsletter where the original “Meet Kate Gould” was printed:
Kate Gould is the legislative associate for Friends policy focused in Israel and Palestine, Iran and other Mid-East issues.
Thinking About Race
Jay Smooth, a video blogger and host of New York’s longest running hip-hop radio show, presented at a TED conference meet-up at Hampshire College. In the talk, “How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Discussing Race,” Smooth says it’s sometimes difficult to talk about race because we’re taking the wrong approach: “We deal with race and prejudice with this all-or-nothing, good person-bad person binary, in which either you are racist or you are not racist.” The truth, he says, is that discussions about race are a lot more complex than that. And once people acknowledge that fact, they’ll be able to have more honest and productive conversations. He adds, “Anytime we’re dealing with race issues, we’re dealing with a social construct that was not born out of science or reason or logic. We’re grappling with a social construct that was not designed to make sense.”
On YouTube, search for Jay Smooth and then choose “How To Tell People They Sound Racist.” To see the full talk, go to:
http://colorlines.com/archives/2011/11/jay_smooths_ted_talk_on_how_he_le...
The Baltimore Yearly Meeting Working Group on Racism meets most months on the third Saturday from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm, at Bethesda Friends Meeting or Friends Meeting of Washington. If you would like to attend, on a regular or a drop-in basis, please contact David Etheridge.