Newsletter, June 2014
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Friends Meeting of Washington
Monthly Meeting for Worship with a Concern for Business
May 2014
What is our Meeting’s role in the life and support of Friends’ education? If supporting or maintaining a Friends school, have we developed an appropriate relationship of Meeting and school? What is our role in the spiritual life of the school and its maintenance of Friends’ principles?
What does our Meeting do to support education in the wider community?
What help do we provide for the children and adults in our Meeting to pursue the education they seek, whether academic, technical, or vocational? Do we make provision for children in our Meeting to attend a Friends school?
How do I show my concern for the improvement of public education in my community and in the world?
Am I aware of what Friends schools are doing and of their plans for the future? How do I show encouragement and support?
Advices
Each of us can be a theologian. We can enrich our spiritual lives and those of people around us by articulating our spiritual experiences. In drawing on theological writings from the past, we can find continuity and wipe out feelings of isolation. We can divine answers to our toughest concerns…. We can dare to find out what God is saying to us. - Shirley Dodson, 1980
Voices
I’ve gone to many kinds of schools, but of all the courses in the university of life, the course in old age is the hardest; the one with the most lessons to learn. Your own generation is gone. You can no longer count on your intellect or your memory. Your hearing lets you down. You can’t keep track of things and you’re constantly misplacing them. But you learn so much. You learn to accept help and to remember with your heart. To live always with the generations that went before, with those alive now, and with the generations to come—all that we must surely learn. In one way life is like a mountain climb, and we keep going steadily upward toward our death. And when we meet it, when Brother Death comes and gives us permission to go on across the frontier, then we must meet him with thankfulness, only with thankfulness. - Emilia Fogelklou, 1985
Meeting for Business opened with 20 people present.
2014/2-5 Clerk’s Report
· Two community meetings were held on April 26th and 28th to allow Friends to express their views, feelings and concerns about how this meeting should address protecting our children while welcoming people with a troubled past and/or mental health issues. The notes from these meetings will be posted on the listserv and hard copies will also be made available in the Meeting House.
· FMW has written to the Ambassadors of the Dominican Republic, Thailand, and Costa Rica. The letters contained information about proposed construction and asked for any support the Embassies might wish to provide.
· The Memorial Meeting for Marney Akins was held on May 10th. Friends remembered Marney fondly.
Major items
2014/3-5 Finance and Stewardship Committee - Grant Thompson
The Finance and Stewardship Committee provided the first presentation of draft budget (see attached). Some concern was expressed at the difficulty the Meeting is having in raising the portion of funds usually provided by member and attender contributions.
· A Friend asked for clarification as to what the difference was between Office Assistance – Coverage for Adm. Secy and funding for an FOP, and the Finance and Stewardship Committee will provide clarification.
· A Friend questioned why the funds for the Shoebox project were so much less for the upcoming fiscal year. This is due to changes in the way that fundraising is accomplished at the World Bank. Fundraising has moved to an electronic format.
· A Friend questioned whether it would be a good idea to have a Building Contingency funding line. A member of the Property Committee responded that building contingencies were included within other funding lines to some degree.
· The property committee is looking at doing a property reserve study, which will include amortization of items and future needs for capital improvements.
Other business
2014/4-5 Trustees – Dan Dozier
Friend Dan Dozier of the trustees submitted a Minute regarding the transferof funds from the Murray Bequest Fund to the Property Reserve Fund (see attached). This transfer of money would cover costs that have already been obligated by the Property Committee as well as anticipated costs for property upkeep and enhancements. This transfer will make the money available to the Property Committee but that committee will still need to consult with Meeting for Business before spending these funds. Friends approved this transfer.
2014/5-5 Property Committee – Jean Harman
Jean Harman, Clerk of the Property Committee, proposed two Minutes on behalf of the Committee (see attached). Property Committee expressed regret for not obtaining approval in advance of certain decisions undertaken by the Committee and asked for retroactive approval for three actions detailed in the minute. Friends approved this request.
The Property Committee also requested that the Meeting approve capital spending up to $125,000 for electrical and HVAC work. Friends approved this request.
A Friend expressed concern over the fact that the Property Committee signed a contract without first obtaining approval from MfB. Property Committee is reforming their processes to insure that situations like that this are avoided in the future.
2014/5-6a Friend Jean Harman presented the Annual Report on behalf of the Property Committee (see attached). The Committee is undertaking a review of their processes as well as a property reserve study. The Committee hopes to identify items that need to be attended to before they become urgent and more expensive issues. Property Committees expressed intent to seek MfB approval for upcoming repairs in the near future as well as their desire to obtain professional janitorial services for the meetinghouse. The Committee expressed gratitude to Ken Orvis for his role on the Property Committee and as property manager. Friends accepted this report.
Friends expressed concern that the Meeting’s rental of Meeting space may be interfering with the requirements of the Meeting itself.
2014/5-6bThe Property Committee announced that they would like to formally start discussing the alcohol policy of the meeting. The Committee proposed a Threshing session on this issue to be detailed in an announcement to follow.
2014/5-6a Library Committee – Faith Williams
Faith Williams of the Library Committee presented the Committee’s Annual Report (see attached). The Committee is hoping to make the library more accessible and available via the creation of a Friendly Library Presence and expressed a desire for more members of the Committee. Friends accepted this report.
2014/5-6b Friends expressed gratitude for the Library Committee’s efforts to make the library holdings more accessible.
The Library Committee proposed removing the reference to a librarian in the Handbook to reflect the fact that the library at FMW does not have a librarian. Friends approved this request.
2014/5-7 Membership Committee - Marcia Reecer
· Second presentation of the transfer of membership of John Coleman from Haverford Monthly Meeting. Friends accepted this transfer.
2014/5-8 Nominating Committee – Beth Cogswell
· Friends accepted the resignation of Jean Harman as liaison to the American Friend Service Committee.
· Friends accepted the resignation of Willy Wilson from the Capital Campaign Committee.
· Friends accepted the resignation of LousieLevathes from the Peace and Social Concerns committee.
The Meeting accepted all resignations with regret and expressed gratitude for their service.
2014/5-9aUpdates from liaisons to other Quaker organizations
J.E. McNeil presented an update from Friends United Meeting. She updated MfB on Friends School in Ramallah and the Friends Theological College in Kenya. FUM has changed its approach to outreach, especially in regards to financial support. Friends accepted this report.
A Friend asked about FUM’s position towards gays, lesbians, and transgendered. FUM’s position on this issue is still evolving.
2014/5-9bThe Clerk, on behalf of Michael Cronin, presented an update on BYM Ministry & Pastoral Care Committee (see attached). Friends accepted this report.
2014/5-9c Dan Dozier presented an update Friend’s Non-Profit Housing Corporation. The facility continues to provide a true community space for residents at an affordable cost. The Corporation intends to build additional affordable housing in the near future. Friends accepted this report.
2014/5-10 Marriage and Family Relations Committee – Ann Herzog
Ann Herzog reported on behalf of the Marriage and Family Relations Committee on the marriage of Scott Cunningham and Jenny Moore who were married under the care of the meeting on 4/12/14. The marriage was accomplished in good order.
2014/5-11 Minutes, Friends approved the minutes.
2014/5-12The Meeting closed with approximately 16 members in attendance.
DRAFT MINUTE FROM TRUSTEES TO MEETING FOR BUSINESS
Property Committee has requested that Trustees approve transferring funds to the Property Reserve Fund to fund current necessary projects and some future HVAC projects in Quaker House and Carriage House, if such projects are approved by Meeting for Business.
Accordingly, Trustees recommends to Meeting for Business that $125,000 be transferred from the Murray Bequest fund to the Property Reserve Fund to be spent as Property Committee recommends and Meeting for Business approves for cost-effective building maintenance and upgrades.
MINUTE FROM PROPERTY COMMITTEE FOR AUTHORIZATION TO SPEND MONIES FROM THE PROPERTY RESERVE FUND
Property Committee requests that Meeting approve capital spending up to $125,000 for electrical and HVAC work that needs to be done as part of the the Property Committee's ongoing renovation of Quaker House and Carriage House spaces and also to prepare the way for the planned Capital Improvement Project new lobby, elevator, and connecting corridors.
MINUTE FROM PROPERTY COMMITTEE TO MEETING FOR BUSINESS CONCERNING PREVIOUSLY APPROVED CAPITAL PROJECT ITEMS
Property Committee realizes that some actions have been taken prior to approval by Meeting for Business. We regret moving forward without giving the Meeting body time to consider these actions but, now knowing that approval had not been obtained timely, the Committee requests that Meeting for Business approve (retroactively) increases in the cost and scope of the following work. The three (3) projects listed below were previously approved from the Property Reserve Fund at Meeting for Business in 9th Month 2012 (Minute 9/12.5.)
· Meeting approved up to $7,500 for structural repairs to the QH living room. These repairs have proven to be more costly because the work required exceeded the anticipated scope. Currently nearly $5,000 has been spent. To complete this work and ensure this area is structurally sound, a contract costing an additional $15,000 has been signed. This requires approval of a change from $7,500 to up to $25,000.
· Meeting approved $5,000 to repair the QH first floor rest room and make it more disability-friendly. Currently, less than $150 has been spent, as it turned out this work was strongly affected by the need for structural work (above). A contract costing $11,200 has been signed to complete this project. (This contract was rolled into the contract for the QH living room support in order to reduce the overall cost and make management of the improvements and repairs easier on staff.) This requires approval of a change from $5,000 to up to $12,000.
· The new kitchenette in the Carriage House was approved up to $5,000, which was later increased by an additional $10,000. Property Committee now realizes that our costs have exceeded that latest projection. The cost increase is partially due to historical leakage through the deck above requiring extensive structural repair well beyond the anticipated scope of the kitchenette work. When the cost for staff time and contract labor is included, the overall cost for this project will likely total between $17,000 and $20,000. This requires approval of a change from $15,000 to up to $20,000.
PROPERTY COMMITTEE’S ANNUAL REPORT, MAY 2014
Committee Members: Steve Brooks, Neil Froemming, Jay Harris (Recording Clerk), Jean Harman (Clerk), Brian Lutenegger, Ken Orvis, Martha Solt.
Our Committee meets on the first Monday of each month, and the third Monday of each month if a second full committee meeting is necessary. This is a lively committee with a number of members who have served on this committee for five years, a member who is an engineer, another member who is a planner by profession. This year we are focused on improving communications with members and attenders of the meeting, our tenants, our staff, and our ability to record minutes for the future of the meeting.
We are truly fortunate in having staff committed to helping maintain, and where appropriate market the property. Our Property Manager, Ken Orvis, and Administrative Secretary, Debby Churchman, have made our responsibilities and goals more pleasant and more attainable. Meeting Attender Ron Washington has been consistently helpful and available as a “casual” employee, and a great pinch-hitter on more than one occasion. More than one committee member has helped clean up floods, checked on CO2 alarms, and restart furnaces at odd hours of the day and night.
Early this year the committee met for a planning day to solidify existing, and develop new, plans. We toured the entire property with the Property Manager, discussed the Capital Improvement Task Force’s (CITF) work in developing the expansion of the meeting property to include an elevator making the FMW property accessible to all, and we defined a priority list of renovations, upgrades and maintenance projects. We began this year working in “sub” committees as follows:
· Contracts/Bids/Construction: Development of statements of work and research into contracts and contractors. Includes the HVAC work.
· Finance: Preparing the annual budget, financial (committee) planning, property inventory and maintenance study.
· Workdays: Planning, outreach, managing the activities and days.
· Pet Peeves and Beautification of spaces: Identifying and addressing issues around space use and improvements.
· Policy Development: Clarifying our policies, making them transparent and accessible to everyone.
· Greening of our space: Initially looking at alternative providers of electricity—and from there… we will see.
This year, in some cases after multiple years of debate and planning, we have seen the conclusion of several projects including the completion of a kitchenette in Quaker House for tenants’ use; the launching of a contract which will repair and strengthen one of the walls in Quaker House and complete a restroom for tenants’ use on the first floor; and the initiation of combined heating and cooling (HVAC) for all of Quaker and Carriage House has begun and will likely be completed in the next two months. There are many accomplishments that are “unseen” owing to the nature of property management, for which we have our property manager to thank.
As a committee we have come to realize that it is a necessity to have a Property Manager for all of the recurring and “surprise” issues arising at any moment, in addition to the basic maintenance requirements. We have budgeted for a full time position beginning next year, increasing from a current ¾ time position.
Another recurring need is for notably improved housekeeping and cleaning in all corners of the meeting. What is currently in place is an improvement from years past but remains inadequate; the committee is in the process of finding better and more extensive services.
Rentals, short term and longer term (tenancy), increasingly provide income for the Meeting, however not without operational costs. Owing to the benign neglect of the facilities over many years we are still addressing issues with aging pluming and electrical systems inter alia. Within the committee there is not unity on how much we should push to maximize what income we could accrue. In the coming months we will be doing a use survey and analysis from the last two years, hoping to give us some answers and guidance. Both the property manager and the administrative secretary have been exceptionally good at helping to attract potential users of our space. We are approaching capacity of space use, for income generation and for FMW’s own space needs. This is a good thing, however one that requires we recognize the need for maintaining an appropriate balance. Another issue that arose last year, but has not yet been presented to the Meeting, is the potential for events to permit alcohol use through a licensed caterer. We intend to bring this to Meeting for Worship With a Concern for Business in the immediate future.
As a designated “religious organization” Friends Meeting of Washington is tax-exempt, unless renting to a for-profit or non-exempt non-profit organization under the statues of the District of Columbia: if taxes are to be paid, it is done on a pro rata basis. Through the concerted efforts of the committee, led by Steve Coleman, a previous committee member, a formal appeal was made to the DC government, requesting that a review be made of the value of the property, believing the DC government tax office had over-valued the property. The outcome was not as robust as we would have liked, but the value was lessened somewhat for that particular tax year (2012), and subsequently (for the coming year), reduced even further.
Last year we had three very successful workdays. Workdays are a particularly good way for members and attenders to contribute to the meeting with a visual and tangible outcome. A lot of painting, cleaning, sorting and tossing, scraping, yard work other activities have been accomplished with the donation of volunteer labor. The painting of the Terrace Room, window washing, and drilling holes for drainage are some among the many activities. We ask that you please come to the upcoming workdays…. Help make a difference!
We have a number of activities we have launched or will launch soon. We are closely working with the Capital Improvements Task Force to ensure the best use of funds for activities that cross between the task force and the Property Committee. We will be reducing the cost of some upgrades (electricity and heat/cooling as examples) by doing it ahead of the expansion and not including it within the principle contract for the expansion. We are working closely with Trustees on funding issues.
We will be issuing a survey to the members and attenders of the Meeting, and working more closely with our tenants for increased customer service. We will launch a “reserves study” this year so that we are focused on regular maintenance and upgrades, and are less reliant on disasters or emergencies to call our attention to needed upgrades.
The Committee believes the property of the Meeting should be managed in a way that supports the Meeting’s activities and its mission.
Respectfully Submitted,
Jean Harman, Clerk.
LIBRARY COMMITTEE ANNUAL REPORT, MAY 2014
I. Introduction
The FMW Library Committee has continued to grow and take care of the collection. We continue to add books to the library, catalog the collection, clear the cabinets and the shelves of duplicates and old supplies, and have begun examining the shelves to identify out of scope materials.
II. Finding Books in the Collection and Checking Them Out
The books in the Library have been cataloged on http://www.LibraryThing.com. The FMW Library catalog is viewable at http://www.librarything.com/catalog/FMWLibrary or on mobile devices at http://www.librarything.com/m/ by entering the collection name FMWLibrary. The Library Committee has also printed out lists of the books in the collection with call numbers arranged alphabetically by author and by title and made these available in the Library. A subject list is being created. These are more reliable than the card catalog, now out of date and no longer in the library.
In order to help people with questions or to find books, FMW Library Committee Members hope to be friendly library presences in the Library after 10:30 meeting ends on First Day. Please come by and visit. Volunteers to help would be welcome.
Information on checking out and returning books is posted in the library.Try to return books within three weeks so that others may use them too We are working on a better way of keeping track of checked out books.
III. Size, Growth and Scope of the Collection
As of the end of April, 2014, the Library held 2091 books in the collection, about 41 more than last year at this time. Additions to the collection came from donations and purchases
The Library still has many of the books in the collection that are older and possibly out of date, not reflecting the current interests of the meeting membership. We will continue to seek suggestions from the community and look for new titles relating to Quakerism to add to the collection.
IV. Membership
The Library Committee was happy to add Faith Williams as a co-clerk: she has worked for many years as a librarian. We could always use assistance and actively welcome new members. If you have an interest, please approach one of the committee members.
V. Kindles and E-Books
As we mentioned in the last report the library owns 5 Kindle paperwhites which are available to be used by reading groups in the meeting. It is possible to buy one book and put it on all 5, as the Buddha’s Brain reading group is planning to. Ask the librarians about this if you are interested.
The Library has also added more links to electronic versions of classic Quaker titles to the Library’s homepage, including John Woolman’s Journal, Robert Barclay’s Apology, and Journal of the Life and Religious Labours of Elias Hicks. If people need assistance downloading these to their own Kindles or other e-book readers, please contact Library Committee members.
VI. Donations
The Library’s scope for collecting includes Quaker history and biography, spirituality, mysticism, social justice, and non-violence.
The Library has received many generous book donations over the past year. It is best to contact someone on the Committee first before bringing books in. If the donation is a duplicate or a book which doesn’t fit in our collection, we reserve the right to find another home for it. This past year, most donations were well within scope, but in previous years people have donated books that were far out of scope, sometimes anonymously
Members of the Library Committee:
Thomas Goodhue
Patrick Lynam (emeritus)
Patrick Marchman
Greg Robb gregory.robb@gmail.com
Michael North (Co-Clerk), belgrade18@yahoo.com
Faith Williams (Co-clerk), faithmw@gmail.com
or feel free to send an e-mail to the clerk via the Library’s homepage on the FMW website: http://www.quakersdc.org/library. ]
REQUESTED CHANGE TO THE HANDBOOK FROM THE LIBRARY COMMITTEE
The FMW Library seeks to provide resources to the community about Quakerism and issues of interest to the members, including Quaker biography and history, spirituality, social justice, and nonviolence. The Committee supervises the selection and acquisition of books, periodicals, and other informational materials for the library and, in cooperation with the Religious Education Committee, does the same for the First Day School. It also formulates rules for the care and use of these materials and seeks to stimulate interest in new and old publications relating to our testimonies. The Librarian serves ex officio on the Library Committee and may be its clerk. The Library Committee consults with the Records and Handbook Committee when appropriate.
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Librarian
The Librarian is responsible for operating the library and for carrying out the decisions of the Library Committee. The Librarian serves ex officio on the Library Committee and may be its clerk. The Librarian is appointed annually and is a member of the Religious Society of Friends or an attender at Friends Meeting of Washington.
REPORT TO FMW ABOUT BYM’S MINISTRY AND PASTORAL CARE COMMITTEE
I am co-clerk of Baltimore Yearly Meeting’s Ministry and Pastoral Care Committee, M&PC. The Committee deepens the spiritual life of BYM by calling forth and nurturing individual gifts of the Spirit, by supporting and assisting the Yearly Meeting with programs, retreats, and workshops, and offering particular services Annual Session.
At Annual Session Business meetings, the Committee provides Friends to serve as greeters and calls upon others to hold the meetings in the Light. The Committee also identifies leaders to facilitate Worship Sharing groups and the morning Bible study, led the last two years by our committee member Deborah Haines.
At BYM’s 2013 Annual Session Friends debated and argued the merits of a proposed revised Faith and Practice. There seemed to be little listening to one another. The results were a good deal of bruised feelings and little in the way of harmony among Friends on the F&P. Also at our 2013 Annual Session Erik Hanson and Joan Liversidge of Sandy Spring offered a workshop entitled “Christocentric Quakers and Non-theist Quakers: A Dialogue.” Among its forty attenders were two members of M&PC committee. The workshop itself was successful in fostering dialog that led to understanding one another.
Our Committee members saw the benefits of and need to practice listening and conducting effective dialog. So at our meetings at Annual Session and at Interim Meeting in October 2013 we decided to offer Friends a version of Erik’s and Joan’s workshop. Erik and Joan trained some of us in November 2013 and May 2014. M&PC is offering BYM Friends a modified workshop, “On Dialog: Bringing Our Differences into the Light.” Our first workshop will be conducted at Frederick Monthly Meeting.
The Committee now has four Working Groups under its care: the Working Group on Racism, the Spiritual Formation Program, the Women’s Retreat, and the Working Group on Intervisitation. These four key programs provide spiritual support and guidance for BYM Friends. We continue our practice of having members of our committee serve as liaisons to each Working Group and receive reports from these groups.
The Committee asks Monthly Meetings to prepare an annual report of their Spiritual State, suggesting queries to help in its preparation. We consider all the reports submitted and they form the basis of the Spiritual State of the Yearly Meeting Report, prepared by M&PC Committee and presented at Annual Session.
The Ministry and Pastoral Care Committee meets five times a year: at each of here Interim Meetings and twice during Yearly Meeting’s Annual Session. Attendance ranges from eight to fifteen Friends.
- Co-clerk Michael Cronin
(Here ends the Minutes and Reports from the Meeting for Business, May 2014)
Singing! On Sunday, June 1 in the Meeting Room, from 10:00 to 10:30. Come sing songs of praise and longing. All voices welcome. For more information, contact Debby at admin@quakersdc.org
The Grate Patrol will pack and deliver 120 bag lunches and soup to people living on the street on Wednesday, June 4. Soup or chili is made in the afternoon. At 5:30 PM we start making sandwiches and packing the lunch bags. At 7 PM, we load the van and one or two people go out on delivery for about an hour. You’re welcome to help out with any or all of these things. Call Steve Brooks 240-328-5439 or email sbrooks@uab.edufor more information.
Come to S.O.M.E. on Saturday, June 7 at 6:15 AM and be prepared to flip pancakes and help prepare breakfast for our vulnerable neighbors. The kitchen is at 70 “0” St. NW, adjacent to a parking lot. For more information and to sign up, contact Betsy Bramon at betsy.bramon@gmail.com
The Adelphi Strawberry Festival will take place on Saturday, June 7 at Adelphi Friends Meeting in Adelphi, MD . The Strawberry Festival is a long-standing community event and day of fun for the whole family. The Festival added a live-entertainment stage and outdoor grilled-food tent last year, and these will continue along with the indoor cafe and sale of quarts and flats of just-picked strawberries from Oak Grove Farm in southern Pennsylvania. The large rummage sale also continues, with additional areas for silent auction, clothing, plants, and a full room of used books. Children’s activities include train rides, face painting, and a moonbounce. Come for the fun and leave with great bargain purchases of clothes, electronics, books, and more. Join us as we celebrate the abundance of summer and the richness of our community! The Strawberry Festival is a rain or shine event. For more information see adelphifriends.org or email John Stith, john.stith@gmail.com
On Sunday, June 8, Marcy Seitel from Baltimore Yearly Meeting will meet with us to discuss the BYM Vision Statement and how it relates to Friends Meeting of Washington. All are welcome. For more information, contact Meg Greene, margaretegreene@gmail.com
Friendly Bible Studywill next meet on June 8 in the Quaker House Living Room one half hour after the conclusion of Monthly Meeting for Worship with a Concern for Business (probably between 2 pm and 3 pm). We will each be responding to five queries about Mark 1: 35-39. For more information about the Friendly Bible Study approach, see http://www.read-the-bible.org/FriendlyBibleStudy.htm. If you have other questions you may ask David Etheridge, david.etheridge@verizon.net, 301-320-3470.
Friends United Meetingis holding its Triennial Session from June 11 to June 15 at Indiana Western University in Lansing, IN. Imagine Quakers all over the world gathered together in Christ, in Community, for Mission. Imagine a time where we are gathered together in prayer, reflection, discussion and planning. Imagine the possibilities that could arise as we come together for the FUM Triennial. What could God do in and through us as we gather? Let’s find out together! Register now at https://www.regonline.com/fum_triennials_2014 Late fees begin May 15, so register now!
The Friends Association for Higher Education and the Friends Council on Educationare excited to be gathering for a joint conference this year at Haverford College from June 12 to 15. It’s the first time in eight years that educators from pre-K through college will gather together with a concern for Friends testimonies in education. Our theme is “Exploring Right Relationships.” For more information, including registration instructions, see the event website. (www.cvent.com/d/vVPr2G8b6kG8KcJWa54WBA/dm6n/P1/1Q)
The Sixth Month Interim Meeting will be held on Saturday, June 21 from 10:00 am to 7:30 pm at State College Friends Meeting, PA. Get to know Yearly Meeting Committees and Friends from other Meetings! Be a part of important decision making. Join Friends for morning committee meetings and the afternoon’s Interim Business Meeting. State College Friends Meeting is hosting the Sixth Month Interim Meeting. Friends will begin gathering at 10:00 am. Lunch will be provided, and the afternoon Business Meeting will be held with dinner following the rise of Meeting. Check the Yearly Meeting website for more information or contact Meg Meyer, Interim Meeting Clerk, imclerk@bym-rsf.org\
Sunday, June 22at noon, Peace and Social Concerns Committee is sponsoring atalk by Nadine Hoover (from Indonesia) and John Michaels (from Australia) about their peace keeping efforts in those countries.
Friends Peace Teams in Asia West Pacific is a network of volunteers who provide a financial and communication infrastructure to Quakers who travel for peace in Asia West Pacific and their long-term partners in peace, healing and reconciliation, who invite others from around the world to visit with them. We build friendships, person to person, across a diversity of ages, cultures, religions and backgrounds, among people committed to living peacefully by a set of common agreements. Our priorities are to maintain reliable support to Friends traveling with a concern for peace, support Peace Teams to visit in areas of conflict, translate materials to reach a wide variety of cultures, and share the stories of peace, healing and reconciliation. We share a faith, across religion, class and culture, in the power of the Living Spirit to give life, joy, peace and prosperity through love, integrity and compassionate justice among people who live in simplicity and equality. We make no enemies, take no sides; we seek the liberty of living in accord with our conscience and connecting people of conscience. Power of Goodness Global Story Pool collects illustrated stories of peace, healing and reconciliation from around the world in a global story pool to publish on the web and in print for young people and adults. Other typical peace activities include: friendships and agreements, nonviolence training, trauma healing, developmental play, water filters, developmental toys and storybooks, discernment, conscience, justice and right livelihood.
Quaker Spring: Experiencing the Inward Christ Together, June 24 to June 28, Stillwater Meeting, Barnesville, OH. Are you longing for more quiet opportunities to worship & share with other Friends? Would you enjoy taking part in a radically unprogrammed retreat with Friends from a variety of theological backgrounds for a week or just a few days? Have you heard of Quaker Spring? The program will be shaped by God’s leading as the week unfolds, and each day will include bible study, worship, quiet time, evening explorations, and fellowship. Full registration information and forms are at www.quakerspring.org.
Quakers and Business: Commerce, Community and Changewill be meeting from June 27 to 29 at California University in PA. Quakers and Business is a fellowship of Friends who experience business as a spiritual vocation or dream of business as a force for good. They welcome Friends and fellow travelers from all branches, whether you are an entrepreneur, professional, or simply have a heart and mind for applying Quaker principles to business. For full information about the conference, see their website. (http://quakerbiz.org)
The Gathering, Friends General Conferencetakes place this year between June 29 and July 5 at California University in PA. Taste the vibrancy and the variety that is available by immersing yourself in this community of Friends for a week. Enjoy morning workshops, afternoon presentations and trips, evening plenary speakers and music – events for the whole family. We eagerly look forward to welcoming you this year at the CALU, south of Pittsburgh, PA. For full information, including registration, see the FGC website. (www.fgcquaker.org/connect/gathering)
I traveled to Minnesota over the week-end to attend the marriage re-commitment ceremony at Duluth Friends Meeting of our members Gerri Williams and Ray Allard and they send their love and greetings to all in FMW. Both seem happy and well-settled in Duluth and enthusiastic about their new home and f/Friends. Members of both families were in attendance and it was nice to meet them. The meeting there seems (naturally) like a nice group, perhaps weighted on the older side, and using a former steeple-house for meetings. I could stay only a short time and have little else to report from there.
In Minneapolis I was able to have dinner with our former member Carol Bechtel, very recently moved from Sarasota FL where she lived for many years after leaving Washington. Her husband, our dear member Dave, passed away several years ago from cancer and we spoke of him long and lovingly. Carol has one daughter in Minneapolis and has visited many times, naturally. She has not yet settled on a meeting there.
All Friends spoke resignedly of this year's winter weather but are committed to their new northern homes.
Best to all,
Hayden Wetzel
Former FMW attender, Chuck Kleymeyer, recently won two national fiction awards for his book, YESHU: A Novel for the Open Hearted. The awards were for “Printed Book – Fiction” and “eBook – Fiction” and were given by the Associated Church Press, a large network of publishers, including the Christian Science Monitor, Sojourners Magazine, and Friends Journal. Chuck traveled to Chicago to receive the two awards at a banquet. Proceeds from YESHU are being shared with seven Quaker organizations. Learn more at www.YeshuNovel.org.
I just read this touching and amazing e-mail from another Quaker email list that I am on and it spoke directly to my heart and reminded me - this is why we run First Day School, and this way of being is a big part of the reason that I am a Quaker and this is how I strive to be (and no doubt often fall short) as a parent. – Justin Connor
"[My meeting], in contrast, was exceptionally talk-filled yesterday, as we paused midway through worship for the clerk to invite worship-sharing memories, hopes and blessings for our two graduating high school seniors -- both of whom we've watched grow up from infancy. The love grew deep and high in the room... and lasted far beyond "the appointed hour."
And then one of the seniors stood just as clerk was likely thinking of shaking hands. She said, "I know this is my time to listen and take in. But I want to say something back to you to tell you what my experience of growing up in all this love has been. I felt it as a kid, but didn't know it was anything special. Not till I watched you give it to the ones younger than me. Then I realized that since I was
4 or 5, you listened to me with total respect -- gave the same attention to my words you gave the college professor in Meeting. Do you know how rare that is? That mattered. It made me feel important.
Like maybe I did know something nobody else did. I started listening to my own thoughts and taking care about what I said. And First Day school did the same thing -- people told me lots about what old-time Quakers thought and did ... and lots about what contemporary Quakers-- including you all -- thought and did ... about what you find when you "go inside" ... and about dilemmas we need to take positions on.
But nobody told me what I had to believe to go to Heaven. You opened things up and expected me to reflect on my experience, form an opinion, and decide what my stand would be. And you listened. I think that's a very good way to raise a child."
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We heard from Friends far and wide last month. Blair Forlaw, who is supporting libraries in Rwanda while visiting her husband there, sent this marvelous photo:
Those four men on motorbikes are pushing the truck uphill, she says. Blair has a practice of coming up with queries as she travels to help her deepen her experience. Her query for this photo is, “Am I ready to go the extra mile to help someone who needs me?”
We heard from longtime member Dana Harrison. Dana, who attended Westtown School and worked at Sandy Spring Friends School. Now, Dana is the head of school at Newtown Friends School!
On the home front, we celebrated the life of long-time member Marney Akins, held a salsa dance to support the Shoebox Project, took a refreshing retreat at Catoctin Quaker Camp over Memorial Day Weekend, and supported the Working Group on Racism’s two-day retreat and the Quaker Crones. The group that studied Rick Hansen’s Buddha’s Brain finished the book and turned their attention to Karen Armstrong’s Twelve Steps to a Compassionate Life. A small group studying the Gospel of Mark—3 verses at a time—inched forward. The Young Adult Friends held a game night and potluck/worships, and then went on an epic camping trip. And a wide variety of outside groups rented various parts of the Meeting campus for everything from a film contest to a Zen hospice workshop, two weddings, nonviolence trainings, presentations on green energy, an all-day contemplative retreat, and our usual batch of language classes.
One of the weddings—a weekday, morning event—was of a same-sex, bi-racial couple from Virginia who had been together for 23 years. It was just the happiest wedding; I thought the Meetinghouse might float away with all that joy. At the same time, over in Quaker House, the Journalist Security group was conducting one of their trainings for journalists and NGOs under fire—not a metaphor—on how to stay safe and nonviolent while threats are all around.
It’s wonderful to me to see what this Meeting of ours can and does support, as we all learn and grow.
- Debby