FMW Newsletter, May 2015
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Friends Meeting of Washington
Order of Worship
Monthly Meeting for Worship with a Concern for Business
April 2015
Do you make time for meditation, prayer and worship? Do you read the Bible, the writings of Friends, and other inspirational works, seeking new light? Do you regularly seek God's guidance? Are you open to guidance and support and do you give thanks for them? Do you share your spiritual insights with others and willingly receive from them in turn?
Advices
Remember that to everyone is given a share of responsibility for the meeting for worship, whether through silence or through the spoken word. Be diligent in attendance at meetings and in inward preparation for them. Be ready to speak under the leadings of the Light. Receive the ministry of others in a tender spirit and avoid hurtful criticism. In meetings for business, and in all duties connected with them, seek again the leadings of the Light, keeping from obstinacy and from harshness of tone or manner; admit the possibility of being in error. In all the affairs of the Meeting community, proceed in the peaceable spirit of Pure Wisdom, with forbearance and warm affection for each other. - Paraphrased from materials contained in the Epistles of the Yearly Meeting of Pennsylvania and the Jerseys, 1694 and 1695, Philadelphia Yearly Meeting
Voices
The first gleam of light, “the first cold light of morning” which gave promise of day with its noontide glories, dawned on me one day at meeting, when I had been meditating on my state in great depression. I seemed to hear the words articulated in my spirit, “Live up to the light thou hast, and more will be granted thee.” Then I believed that God speaks . . . by His spirit. I strove to lead a more Christian life, in unison with what I knew to be right, and looked for brighter days, not forgetting the blessings that are granted to prayer.
- Caroline Fox, 1841
Meeting for Business opened at 12:22 pm with 28 present. Friends welcomed James Branch from Plainfield, NJ and Lasimba of Washington, DC as first time attenders to Meeting for Business.
2015/4-2 Clerk’s Report
Piano letters have been taken up again and are starting to warm people’s hearts. Please check for the letters so that all can hear from us. We want to reach out to our community regularly.
Lelac Almagor gave birth to a son, Asher.
Victor Freeman and his wife had a son.
Lucy Callard Reimer gave birth to a daughter named Sequoia.
David Etheridge’s step-son (son of Sabrina McCarthy), Christopher, got into college.
Kate Oberg went to Middle East on a tour and got to the Friends School in Ramallah. She will share with us more later.
Rob and Kathy Farr’s son, Nick has been admitted to Evergreen State College where Rick Ricks attended. The president of the college is a Friend.
Susan Lepper and Joe Johnson are moving temporarily from the Georgetown because of renovations. Susan is moving to Chevy Chase House, and Joe is moving to a facility in Falls Church.
Byron Sandford is doing well after his treatment at NIH.
2015/4-3 We thank School for Friends for their lovely lunch and are glad we continue our relationship with such a valuable educational asset.
Friends APPROVED the minute.
Major items
2015/4-4 Spiritual State of the Meeting
Blair Forlaw, clerk of Ministry and Worship, presented the second draft of Spiritual State of the Meeting report a copy of which is attached.
Many people commented on it while it was held over, many with thanks to the committee for their work. All of the comments had to do with the part discussing old and new. Many felt the previous version was focused on age rather than time spent with the Meeting. The Committee took these comments to heart.
In addition to drafting the report, the Committee pulled together a list of specific suggestions, which they will be sending to committee clerks and post on the listserv. There were also a few other items that they will be passing on that did not rise to the level of a theme for the spiritual state of the meeting.
A Friend asked if there were a way to access the raw data. The Committee will pass that on to anyone who wants it.
Friends APPROVED the Spiritual State of the Meeting for 2014 with thanks.
2015/4-5 Worship sharing on proposed Friends Meeting of Washington Guidelines for Safety and the Welcoming of Friends with a History of Sexually Abusing Children.
The Meeting continued its consideration of the underlying issues of the Guidelines for Safety and the Welcoming of Friends with a History of Sexually Abusing Children, a copy of which is attached. The Meeting participated in thirty minutes of worship sharing in February and March. This was our final scheduled thirty minutes of worship sharing to allow for careful discernment.
Friends were reminded that we are seeking our Guide—God’s will—through our worship, not debating. Friends are asked to focus on principles rather than editing.
A Friend gave three messages. First, he has profound gratitude for the authors for writing the guidelines, remembering Sara Sattherthwaite saying, “Trust the committees and their work.” Secondly, we have worked as a community to get to a place where we can receive these guidelines. It hasn’t been an easy road but he sensed we are now holding in loving tension: safety and welcome to all. Thirdly, he wants to own his own role in the process and he feels called to apologize for any actions he took or words he said that may have harmed or been unwelcoming. He recognized it was easy to judge others and call them different. But we must examine our own lives to see where we have personally failed and he finds this helps him to be profoundly welcoming of these guidelines.
A Friend said she was waiting on revelation but found she focused instead on the practical. The paragraph that discusses the support group and the discernment committees seems to be the point of contention. The contention seems to be should they be the same committee or different and this seems to be setting up a conflict. She suggested that at least there should be a liaison from one committee to the other.
A visitor spoke about a concern regarding the Healing and Reconciliation Committee. He is concerned about our government and the Department of Peace.
A Friend said she understood the question of how many bodies are needed to see that there is no violation of our children. The nature of that kind of crime involves trust. The intention is to have an oversight structure separate from the support group. We Friends seek to build trust but we can have errors of judgment and this would help strengthen the protection of our children while maintaining and building trust.
A Friend noted that these guidelines are meant to be generic and are not dealing with a specific case. So the issue of putting members supporting a specific individual on the committee is not what was contemplated. The support group referenced in the guidelines is meant to insure that any individual to whom the guidelines apply is welcomed and supported and separation is valuable for this purpose.
A visiting Friend posed the question of forgiveness, understanding and safety. Everyone makes bad decisions as well as good decisions. The law deals with those bad decisions and hopefully the person is rehabilitated. There are mistakes that society doesn’t forgive, but we as Friends seek to do the right thing rather than the legal thing. He notes that the burden of wanting to keep children safe is huge but thinks we need not limit ourselves to judging and being unwelcoming.
A Friend rose in support of the guidelines. He noted that there was a healthy tension between being welcoming and inclusive and having boundaries. That is a difficult balance that the guidelines meet. Our boundaries are around the behaviors but we don’t specifically state, for example, that child abuse is unacceptable.
The Clerk reminded Friends that we were not trying to resolve the specifics today and that the guidelines were not up for approval by Meeting for Business.
The Clerk reminded Friends from whence the groups came:
·The Small Group on Safety and Welcoming: After several Meeting-wide conversations on our fears and concerns and what we hoped for going forward, the clerks asked the Small Group, with representatives from Healing and Reconciliation, Ministry and Worship, Religious Education, Child Safety, and Personal Aid Committees to draft guidelines for consideration by the Meeting.
· The history of the Support Group is different. At a joint meeting between the Healing and Reconciliation Committee and the Personal Aid Committee a week or two after the individual shared his history with us people were solicited from among those present to be on a Support Committee for the individual and several people did volunteer. The group has worked with him and the Meeting over the past two years. Over time some Friends have dropped off the support group and others have joined it simply by volunteering.
· The guidelines themselves drew on the ideas put forward by dozens of members of our community during our community meetings.
·The Clerk asked everyone to try to get past the ownership issue and help our community move toward practical and loving resolution that will guide us going forward.
· Do not confuse deep caring with a rigid position. Let us all keep open hearts and assume the best about each other.
Clerks proposed as next step: Joint meeting of the Small Group and the Support Group, to convene with Dan Dozier as the clerk. We will look to this group to come to clearness on how to move the Meeting forward on this issue, taking into account the work done by both the Small Group and the Support Committee as well what has been shared at Meeting for Business over the past 3 months.
A Friend talked about his heart overflowing with gratitude. He is concerned that his objection will negate that. He has been trying to be heard but the individuals involved have not heard him. He is concerned that if it goes to the group he will not be heard.
The Clerk expressed her concern that he had not spoken before and asked if he wanted to participate in the committee. The Friend expressed his concern that he has not found an avenue to understand and wants the time to come to some clearness.
The assistant clerk noted that all committee meetings are open to members and that he would assure that if the Friend wants to come he would be welcome. The Meeting does not have secret meetings other than something like Personnel and Personal Aid. The Friend noted that his experience included having been put out of committee meetings.
The Friend recommended the group have a public meeting. It was noted that there were three such meetings held previously.
Friends APPROVED asking Dan Dozier to convene as clerk a joint meeting of the Small Group and the Support Group open to all to discern the next step for the Meeting in this process.
2015/4-6 Library Committee annual report
Faith Williams, clerk of the Library Committee, presented their annual report, a copy of which is attached. She noted in particular very few have been to the library website or used LibraryThing. She encouraged Friends to use it from home and was willing to show Friends how to use it. All of our books are catalogued. She is concerned that the process to check out books is too difficult. She also asked Friends to recommend books but warns that the suggestion may be rejected. There is not enough connection between the library and the members of meeting.
A Friend noted that he believes FMW has the best Quaker Library webpage on the continent.
Friends ACCEPTED the Library Committee report with gratitude.
2015/4-7 Capital Campaign Committee
Grant Thompson, clerk of the Capital Campaign Committee, brought forth a request that Ann Herzog have access to donor records to help in fundraising. Ann is an experienced fundraiser and is willing to do analysis. A Friend suggested that rather than an exception to privacy policy be made, that Ann be nominated to the Capital Campaign Committee.
A Friend suggested that people involved in the Meeting should be extended a welcome to apply for Membership with the Meeting.
Nominating committee will consider Ann for committee membership.
2015/4-8 Committee of Clerks
Dan Dozier, clerk of the Committee of Clerks presented the minutes from their November 2014 and March 2015 meetings, which are attached. The Clerks are still working on the issues of staff as gatekeeper and the use of the listservs of the Meeting. The Committee of Clerks raised concerns about the Meeting. We recognized the fact that this is an active time in our Meeting, which creates opportunities and stress. We need to communicate and hold each other in the Light. We continue to work on building community.
A Friend asked what members can do to help with the dysfunction of the property committee and the hurt feelings involved in that. Dan Dozier noted that the handbook describes a process that is being followed.
A Friend commented on the issue as to whether the people who are renting our space are properly licensed. Property committee will be looking into that especially for for-profit organizations such as a professional service providers. Does the Meeting have a responsibility to make sure our lessors are complying with what they are claiming to offer?
A Friend noted that AVP (Alternative to Violence Program) is an invaluable resource for dysfunction and for community.
A Friend noted that the Meeting Room thermostat is set at 45 in the winter and 85 in the summer when it is not occupied. The temperature felt may depend on where you sit.
The minutes from November 2014 were ACCEPTED.
The minutes from March 2015 were ACCEPTED.
2015/4-9 Membership Committee
Marcia Reecer, Co-Clerk of Membership Committee, presented the request for transfer of Mary Anna Feitler to Fort Wayne, IN.
Friends APPROVED the transfer.
2015/4-10 Nominating Committee
Harry Massey, clerk of the Nominating Committee brought forth the following names for nomination to committees.
Personal Aid – Lydia Pecker (Attender)
Hospitality - Kathy Lipp-Farr (Member)
Library – Co-clerk Gene Throwe (Member)
Personal Aid – Tom Libbert (Member)
Merry Pearlstein presented an additional name for nomination:
Trustees—Arne Paulson (Member) for a term expiring at the end of October 2015.
Friends APPROVED these nominations.
2015/4-11 Report on Interim Meeting
Marsha Holliday presented a report from the Third Month Interim Meeting held at Patapsco MM. She noted that the BYM Religious Education Committee brought forward a need for a staff person, a request that was approved.
2015/4-12 Marriage and Family Committee
James Bell presented for final approval the marriage under our care of Mike Hubbard and Ryan Ashworth scheduled for April 25th.
Friends APPROVED the marriage under the Meeting’s care of Mike Hubbard and Ryan Ashworth.
Milestones
2015/4-12 Memorial Minute for Elayne Bundy
A memorial minute for Elayne Bundy was presented. A Friend noted that Elayne brought her grandchildren to Meeting as well as many Meeting activities.
A Friend asked to verify the membership dates. She also noted that Elayne came to weddings and invited people to join her in childcare. She felt Elayne was quite special.
Friends APPROVED the Memorial Minute as improved.
The Clerk reported the Meeting had assigned in July 2013 to Hayden Wetzel, serving as Meeting Historian, the task of preparing Memorial Minutes for Kie Sebastian along with a number other Members of the Meeting (minute 2013/7-8). Kie was a long-time Friend and mother of former FMW Member Lucy Fullerton. Many friends were close to them and remember Kie fondly. However, in fact, Kie was not a member of FMW but retained her membership in a meeting in Britain, and so the Meeting is not required write a minute for her.
Friends APPROVED laying down the task of writing a Memorial Minute for Kie Sebastian.
Friends APPROVED the minutes as improved.
After a period of silence the meeting closed at 2:40 with 23 in attendance to reconvene on May 10, 2015.
ATTACHMENTS
Report on the Spiritual State of the Meeting
Presented to Meeting for Business, April 12, 2015
The Spiritual State of the Meeting report is Ministry and Worship's annual effort to feel the pulse of the Meeting. In 2015, we used a refined version of the familiar short survey that eliminated open-ended questions, provided more detailed demographic information about those responding, and could be answered in ten minutes. Friends must have liked it because participation was considerably higher than in the last two years. In addition, a series of six focus groups encouraged Friends to look together at important questions regarding our spiritual health and well-being and speak to them personally and directly.
Here are a few findings from the survey. They show us what we look like from some slightly unfamiliar angles, and raise some important questions:
- Two-thirds of us have partners and children who are "close to Quaker values but are not Quakers." Is this challenging us to reach out and draw more family members into the FMW community? Are there ways to do this without proselytizing?
- Friends are out and about. In 2014, more than half of us attended a Friends Meeting other than FMW, and almost two-thirds worshiped with a different religious group. We might see this as an opportunity to be examples in the world of who Quakers are and what they do and an opportunity to bring new ideas and perspectives from other religious groups to our Meeting.
- Friends are divided about the nature of Quaker beliefs and the emphasis that God and the Bible should have in our worship. 21 percent of those who took the survey said we should put more emphasis on God, but 11 percent said we should put less. 19 percent said we should emphasize Christianity and the Bible more, but 23 percent said less. Can we create and maintain a vibrant community that balances differing views?
- Four items stood out on the list of things that Friends think deserve more attention from the Meeting: (1) welcoming newcomers, (2) enhancing relationships among Friends, (3) improving the quality of worship, and (4) Simplicity (this ranks above Social Justice, Global Issues, and God as a topic we should do more about). While the first three challenges appeared on previous surveys, the fourth was something of a surprise. What does “simplicity” mean in the context of the world we live in today, and how can we do more about it?
In addition to these perspectives on who we are and what we consider important, the survey and focus groups revealed a number of polarities or areas of tension, some familiar and some less so. These pose challenges not to be answered one way or the other, but for which the Meeting must strive to find balance, in the context of continuing revelation and loving awareness. There are tensions, for example, between:
- Small Groups and the Larger Community. At the moment, FMW rejoices in numerous small groups that allow Friends to pursue their varied spiritual interests. Many consider them a sign of the Meeting's spiritual vitality. Others feel concern that the number and success of these groups could fragment the Meeting and cause us to lose our sense of ourselves as a community. Some even see our worship groups as part of this problem. What if members of a worship group identify primarily with the group rather than with the Meeting community? Is the fact that we do not worship together a problem or is it part of our strength? Do worship groups encourage cliquishness or diversity?
- Old and New. This is the predictable tension between longtime Friends who may see themselves as the people who have "carried" the Meeting and more recent members/attenders, who are the bringers of new energy and new ideas. Longtimers, those who have worshiped here for over 10 years, may wonder why the new ones don't hurry to join committees and pick up "their share" of the work. In fact, the newer attenders, the majority of whom may also be new to Quakerism, could be a little uncertain of how things work and how they can fit in. With the Meeting's help, they'll find their footing in Quakerism – and spread their wings.
- Quiet and Jarring. Friends of all ages speak very movingly of what the silence means to them. They lament about having it broken by messages that come from "the head and not the heart," by "prepared statements" and "even harsh words." On the other hand, a Friend reminds us that spirit-led messages come in many different forms, not all of them attractive. He notes that one of the few messages last year that was important to him could have been called "extremely disruptive." He says we need to listen and discern.
- Difficult People and Safe Meetings. This is an acute form of the previous and a perennial question. How can our Meeting be open to and care for difficult and troubled people at the same time as we try to create a safe place where no one feels threatened or offended by anything that is said? Can efforts like those carried on by Healing and Reconciliation be helpful in reconciling the tension between “open” and “safe”? What responsibility do individual Friends have here?
- Laboring and Letting Go. One of the most remarkable differences between focus group discussions with Young Friends and Young Adult Friends and our older participants (who made up more than half the survey respondents) was the emphasis that younger Friends placed on the importance of letting go. YAFs said: “We can share each other’s burdens/crosses, but perhaps we have done as much as we reasonably can in some cases.... We should rely more on God and less on ourselves; we need to remind ourselves often.” Is it possible that we sometimes labor with difficult issues too long? After we have done our best, is it then time to let go and let God?
Friends in the focus groups were aware of how very hard it can be to deal with tensions in the Meeting, but they believed that, when we are faithful to our testimonies and leadings, we can do it. You have to learn, one said, “to be comfortable in uncertainty. This is difficult for our community.” A young Friend observed that we need to seek patience and that of God “in ourselves and others when we disagree.” Another added that we should be “gentler with others in conflict.” Finally, a member of the group that has been working with conflicts connected with the Child Safety and Welcoming policy said that all those involved could see Spirit working in the process.
Ministry and Worship believes that these voices sum up the Meeting’s challenges and its strengths and tell us much of what we need to know about its state of health. But the last word surely belongs to our youngest speaker, a First Day School student. When asked what he would like to tell us for the report, he said “the Meeting’s okay.” We hope you all agree.
Addendum: Looking to our Future
Words We Most Often Heard in Focus Groups with Teens and Young Adult Friends
Friends Meeting of Washington Guidelines
for Safety and the Welcoming of Friends
with a History of Sexually Abusing Children
Background
Quakers experience and are therefore convinced that there is that of God, or something of the Divine Spirit or Light, in everyone. This belief is manifested in the testimonies of Integrity, Equality, Community, Simplicity, and Peace, which generally lead us to welcome Friends and strangers to our Meeting community and worship without further inquiry. In the case of persons who may be perceived to pose a threat to the community, we need to find ways to know them better and understand their situations well enough to manage both possible dangers and our own fears and concerns.
We have developed the following guidelines for including individual worshippers who may have committed child sexual abuse. The guidelines grow out of established Quaker structures and practices for corporate oversight and discernment, such as clearness committees, that can be adapted to maintain the security of our children and honor our values as a Society of Friends community. They complement the Child Safety Policy adopted by the Meeting at our Meeting for Worship with a Concern for Business in October 2013.
Guidelines
Sexual offenders fall along a broad spectrum ranging from those who have been convicted and ultimately released to the community to those who have never been identified or prosecuted. These guidelines are intended to address all cases as they become known to us. Individuals adjudicated to have committed sexual abuse and others who may self-identify or become known to us through other means are expected to meet with the Safety and Welcoming Discernment Committee (“SWDC”). The SWDC will be a special committee of 4-6 individuals chosen by the Nominating Committee and composed of Members, Sojourners, Quakers and Attenders of the Meeting who represent but may not be limited to, the Child Safety, Religious Education, and Healing & Reconciliation Committees. Nominating will select individuals with an eye toward the Meeting’s dual concerns for safety and welcoming.
Upon being contacted by or learning of the presence in our community of an individual with a history of sexually abusing children, the SWDC will notify the Clerk and Alternate Clerk of the Meeting of the contact and will meet with the individual to explore his or her needs and expectations. Members of the SWDC agree to honor and protect the individual’s privacy within the confines of the law. The committee is responsible for getting to know the individual’s history and character well enough to evaluate concerns raised by proposed participation in the FMW community, form a plan for managing those concerns, and assist in putting that plan into effect. It will inquire into details of the individual’s history of child sexual abuse, views regarding that history, treatment experience, legal status, reasons for wishing to join our community, and aspirations for his or her role and level of participation in FMW.
Together, the SWDC and the individual will decide on the terms of that person’s participation in FMW activities. Those terms may range from total exclusion from the community to unrestricted inclusion under the terms of the current Child Safety Policy, although most such individuals will be expected to agree to avoid direct interaction with children at the Meeting and refrain from volunteering for or participating in First Day School activities. The process and the agreement will be tailored to the individual and may include specific procedures (e.g., having an escort at meeting events at which children are expected to be present). The procedures and limits may be adjusted or terminated with the mutual agreement of the SWDC and the individual. In exigent circumstance, or if the committee is unable to reach agreement with the individual concerning procedures and limits, or the individual cannot or will not cooperate, the SWDC may, in consultation with the Clerk, decide to take steps outside of this process to protect the community. This may include the committee communicating restrictions on the individual’s participation in Meeting activities.
If the parties agree that such support is needed or desired, the SWDC will appoint a support group to work with the individual for as long as he/she and the support group consider necessary. The support group will include responsible members of the community who agree to safeguard the privacy of the supported individual and to continue in service with that person. The support group will provide both practical and spiritual assistance to the individual, especially in cases of persons who have been in prison and are attempting to rejoin the larger community. If desired by the supported individual or recommended by the SWDC to protect the children of the Meeting and as protection from unwarranted accusation, members of the support group will escort the supported individual at Meeting events in which children are expected to be present. Ultimate authority resides with the SWDC to act on behalf of the meeting with regard to procedures and limits to protect the community. All decisions of the SWDC will be recorded in minutes and reported to the Trustees of Friends Meeting of Washington.
Community Responsibilities
As with other aspects of our Meeting, members and attenders share responsibility for ensuring the safety of our children and welcoming newcomers to our community. Each of us is responsible for helping to ensure that no child will be alone with an adult who is not their parent while he or she is on Meeting property or engaged in a Meeting activity, the guiding principle of the Child Safety Policy. Any person who becomes aware of a problem or has reason to suspect a problem that may endanger a child should share that concern with the Clerk or Alternate Clerk of the Meeting or the Clerk of the Child Safety Committee. Parents are asked to talk with their children about child sexual abuse, safety and safe conduct at Meeting activities. The Child Safety Committee will provide assistance to any parents who seek support on how to speak with their children about this issue. Affirming our belief in the Light in each individual, the community expects individuals who have feelings of sexual attraction to children to reach out to a member of the SWDC. Each of us is called upon to work in concert to make our community the joyous, safe and welcoming haven we want it to be.
LIBRARY COMMITTEE ANNUAL REPORT, APRIL 2015
I. Introduction
The library faces new challenges in 2015, and luckily we have some very good new members. The new construction, to start this summer, will make changes in the Library as well as the Parlor, turning them into one room. Some of the shelves will be removed during the construction and we will need to move books into other parts to the building.
Meanwhile the 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
First, find the library website, either by finding Library Committee under Committees and clicking on it, or by going to “About Us” and clicking on “Our Library.”
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.
Library Thing is a wonderful application through which people can find other libraries with similar books, read reviews of books and can even review them themselves.
The library website will have a list of “Tags” used in the library, which will help with subjects.
Some of the books you are interested in may be in a different part of the library. Ask a committee member.
Information on checking out and returning books is posted in the library and will be on the library website. 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 beginning of April, 2015, the Library held 2135 books in the collection, about 41 more than last year at this time. Additions to the collection came mainly from donations this year. We will continue to seek suggestions from the community and look for new titles relating to Quakerism to add to the collection.
During construction, donations can be problematic. Please talk to committee members first.
The Library’s scope for collecting includes Quaker history and biography, spirituality, LGBTQ spirituality, mysticism, social justice, and non-violence.
IV. Kindles and E-Books
The library owns 5 Kindle paperwhites which are available to be used by reading groups in the meeting and have already been. 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. We have included a basic introduction to Quakerism website, and a link to another Quaker library which has even more material.. If people need assistance downloading these to their own Kindles or other e-book readers, please contact Library Committee members
MINUTES OF THE COMMITTEE OF CLERKS, NOV. 2014
Present: Kim Acquaviva, Gray Handley, Hayden Wetzel, Jim Steen, Blair Forlaw, Neil Froemming, Byron Sandford, Susan Griffin, Merry Pearlstein, Beth Cogswell, Dan Dozier, Faith Williams, Meg Greene
Unable to join: Michael Cronin, Marsha Holliday, Liz Pomerleau, Jean Harman/Martha Solt, Todd Harvey
We heard an update on building construction, the applications for which will be submitted this month. Given approval requirements for stormwater permitting in particular, the earliest FMW is likely to be able to start work will be early May. Friends expressed their admiration for those involved in the process. We discussed the need to have a single point of contact with the architects. Neil Froemming has been playing that role, and we also have a property manager who is here much of the time: Please let Dan Dozier know of any questions or concerns you may have. The group suggested including language in the contract with the architect that reads, “Neil Froemming or his designee,” to take into account times when Neil is not here.
Shannon Zimmerman is leaving us for a PhD the University of Queensland in Brisbane. Friends came to unity on the need to share a group hug on the 14th of December at the rise of Meeting.
Friends who request our assistance or who might need our assistance: We are clear that the Meeting cannot endorse individual service provision to needy members of our community, but it is fine if a committee sponsors a person. There are frequent postings on our lists from people reaching out to ask for help. We can ask Debby Churchman to come to the next meeting of this group so we can discuss: Do we need to create a protocol for Debby to respond to people who are not in our community? H&R or Personal Aid could create protocols for people who come in off the street vs.
Space sharing. We have been getting into grey areas regarding rentals of our space. Are the people renting our space appropriately licensed? The public may assume that FMW giving them space implies some kind of approval. This may need to be discussed further with Property Committee.
One Friend posted a Green Energy site that uses the FMW logo without permission. Friends agreed that Dan Dozier would look into this and think about what to do.
Listserv use. Need to send out a message to remind people of the purposes of the two listservs. We do not want these communications to be the face of our Meeting, and they are sometimes being used inappropriately. What needs to happen? Here are some possible actions:
- Post an announcement to FMWQuaker that explains the function of the two lists and reminds people about how these lists function. Clarify the purpose of each on our website.
- FMWQuaker announcements listserv needs to be limited to announcements and communications regarding the Meeting. Should we ask Debby to screen the messages for the announcements list?
- FMWForum listserv - can the IT Committee lovingly enforce the rules on the Forum list? Can the IT Committee limit number of postings to the FMWForum list to 1-2 times a month?
- Close the ability to post to FMWQuaker and seek Debby’s approval (staff, clerks)
- Neil will pass on to the IT Committee and to Debby the COC’s sense of these ideas.
Safety and welcoming guidelines could be presented at Meeting for Business on December 21st but Merry Pearlstein is in favor of delaying that presentation because there may be some lingering issues. Two committees have taken it up quite seriously: H&R, RE and M&W are discussing it. In the interim, people are comfortable with the way things are operating, so no need to rush. We wish for committees to come to unity.
MINUTES OF THE COMMITTEE OF CLERKS MEETING 30 March 2015
Present: Dan Dozier, co-clerk, Meg Greene, co-clerk, Jim Bell, Janet Dinsmore, Gray Handley, Blair Forlaw, Neil Froemming, J. E. McNeil, Merry Pearlstein, Marcia Reecer, Byron Sandford, Emilie Schmeidler, and Faith Williams.
Not present: Kim Acquaviva, Michael Cronin, Susan Griffin, Jean Harman, and Harry Massey
After opening silence, the clerk opened discussion of making the Committee of Clerks an opportunity for people to raise concerns about the Meeting. Concerns that were raised were:
- The dysfunction of the property committee
- We need the committee to function while beginning the construction.
- There are many hurt feeling among the members of the committee.
- The large number of things going on in the Meeting (construction; events; policy reviews) are causing stress and strains as well as being a good thing.
- Child Safety and welcoming Guidelines are still not completely resolved.
- There is a great need to discuss process. There is a clearness committee for the property committee but there are other places where that might be beneficial. Discussing process itself seems to create animosity and uses up precious time.
- There are concerns about social media use and misuse.
- How do committees work on problems without duplicating or disrupting other’s efforts?
- The Meeting is embarking on a huge “greening” of the Meeting house but still keeps the Meeting too warm in the winter and too cool in the summer.
A friend suggested that sometimes an outside voice is helpful. It was noted that Arthur Larrabee gives a daylong clerking workshop that helps deal with process questions such as “standing aside.” We have an annual clerking workshop, but we need to give greater support to the clerks through the year.
A social gathering of the clerks might help build trust and community. We are often talking at different levels. A social gathering might help soften us to one another. Quaker process is built on community and trust. We need to know each other better in order to trust one another more. There are games and tools that are useful in community building. It was decided that Dan and J. E. would organize a social event complete with games for the clerks prior to the next committee of clerks meeting in June.
Nominating Committee noted that most committees are about 60 to 70% staffed in relation to the numbers in the Handbook. But many are staffed because some members wear 2 or 3 hats and this can make people. Young Friends are particularly interested in sustainability and our environmental impact, and they may be interested in engaging in activities relating to this topic. It was decided to have questions for the clerks and the community about our committees posted for them to answer before the next Committee of Clerks meeting takes place.
- There will be an email discussion of what question need to be asked.
- The clerks will discuss the questions with their committees to solicit input.
- The questions will be posted in the assembly room the week before the Committee of Clerks meeting so that everyone in the Meeting has a chance to answer and pose additional concerns. This may have an added benefit of drawing interest in committee work from other not currently engaged.
- The questions will be posted at the next Committee of Clerks so that everyone can see and be engaged in the work of the Meeting.
This led to a discussion of outreach and social media. The administrative secretary posts items on the webpage and FaceBook. Kathy Brandt attended a workshop on the use of social media, and a number of people in the Meeting have suggested that we can use this avenue more effectively to reach out to our existing and to new community members, especially young people. It was decided that the Committee of Clerks should request that IT and Ministry & Worship Committees ask Kathy Brandt to convene an ad hoc group – the Social Media and Outreach Group – on the use of social media to strengthen the Meeting community. The committees and Kathy are asked to include both Young Adult Friends and Young Friends in the ad hoc committee.
Clerks of both the IT and Ministry and Worship committees noted their ongoing concern about misuse of social media and Meetings elists. At the last Committee of Clerks meeting there was discussion about enforcing the rules on the forum. IT committee has done some work in this area in particular that committee and Healing & Reconciliation as well as the clerks had each engaged in some eldering of an individual who had been seen as going beyond what is best for the community in some posts. It was suggested that only a limited number of persons (perhaps only the administrative secretary) be able to post to the Quakerlist, which is limited to announcements; someone noted, however, that the administrative secretary is not enthusiastic about this idea.
The discussion of how to care for the members of the community from last Committee of Clerks meeting was continued. It was noted that the administrative secretary has a large burden as the gate keeper for all the people who come to the Meeting seeking help. Personal Aid Committee is particularly concerned about defining for whom they are responsible: Members? Attenders? Regular visitors? Whoever knocks on our door? Where do we draw the line? A protocol and policy needs to be developed. Personal Aid committee was charged with creating a first draft of such a protocol to bring to the next Committee of Clerks meeting in June. It was suggested that they start with the Handbook description of their committee.
After a period of silence the Committee concluded its work.
10 September 1922 – 21 January 2010
Friend Elayne Bundy faithfully worshipped at the Friends Meeting of Washington for nearly twenty-five years with her husband Frank and her six children. She served on the Nominating, Marriage and Family Relations, and Mary Jane Simpson Scholarship Committees. Her quiet and gentle presence was best captured in a 1988 minute of the Marriage and Family Relations Committee: “On each Sunday afternoon when [the] Meeting . . . holds its Monthly Meeting for Business, Elayne Bundy has quietly taken on the responsibility of babysitting for the young children of our members . . . Nearly always, she has undertaken this voluntary task herself, capably, lovingly, with care and patience and a smile.”
Elayne (nee Mayo) was raised in Pennsylvania, where she married Frank in 1943. They and their children joined the Religious Society of Friends as members of Gwynedd [Pennsylvania] Monthly Meeting in 1954. Moving to Silver Spring, Maryland, in 1985 they transferred their membership here that May. Frank retired in 1971 and the family spent a year living in Ethiopia. She brought her grandchildren to Meeting and to many FMW activities over the years.
Elayne never fully recovered from the sadness of Frank’s death in 1997, and her attendance at our Meeting gradually diminished. In her last years she suffered from pneumonia and other debilities, faithfully supported by her children and Friends from this Meeting. She died in 2010 and her memorial service was held here the following week.
(this ends the Minutes and Reports of Meeting for Business, 4/2015)
Saturday, May 2:
Come to SOME and help make breakfast for our vulnerable neighbors. For more info, contact Betsy at betsy.bramon@gmail.com
Work Day - There are many other ways than just financial to support the meeting and coming to a workday is one of those ways. We will have indoor and outdoor projects - you can come early or late, leave late or early. We encourage you to come with someone else (that is bring another family member, friend, or other Friend!). Please support the Meeting! Lunch will be served. For more information, contact Jean Harman at ellenjeanharman@hotmail.com
Family Camp Weekend – Catoctin Quaker Camp. Family Camp Weekends at Baltimore Yearly Meeting Camp Properties offer us all a chance to come and enjoy our beautiful camp properties at a special time of year. Individuals and families are invited to come and enjoy the camps for a day or for the weekend. This spring, we will have an program coordinator at each weekend, who will plan camp-type activities for Saturday and Sunday mornings, as well as Saturday afternoon and evening. These may include things like playing in the creek, a crafts project or hiking around one of the most precious places on earth. There will also be plenty of work projects to do! Work projects offer people with all kinds of skills the opportunity to enjoy some meaningful and satisfying work! We will enjoy meals together, have time to explore and even spend some time around a camp fire in the evening. Come and enjoy a camp experience, give the gift of your time, participate with children in activities and find yourself rejuvenated. Contact Information: David Hunter, davidhunter@bym-rsf.org, 301-774-7663
Discernment as a Way of Life: Seeking the Guidance of the Holy Spirit, 1:00 to 5:00 pm, Langley Hill Friends Meeting. Interested in spiritual discernment? Join Friends in viewing a video-presentation given by Sr. Meg Funk at the 2015 Earlham School of Religion Spirituality Gathering. This special screening will be at 1:00 pm, and will be followed by discussion, led by Betsy Meyer (Sandy Spring) and Susan Kaul (Bethesda). Interested in learning more about Sister Meg? For more information, check out her book on Amazon: Discernment Matters: Listening with the Ear of the Heart Interested in more details? Contact Betsy at efmeyer@comcast.net or Susan at susan.kaul@gmail.com.
Sunday, May 3:
The Shambhala Meditation Center of Washington DC will present a unique and inspiring conversation between Ethan Nichtern, Buddhist teacher, author, and founder of the Interdependence Project in New York City, and Scott Schenkelberg, President and CEO of Miriam’s Kitchen, one of DC’s most active and effective agencies in the effort to end chronic homelessness. Scott and Ethan will be exploring the intersections of interdependence, social action, and cultural change in a lively format that invites interaction and discovery.
The program will take place at the Friends Meeting House Assembly Hall (near Dupont Circle) starting at 3:00 PM. Go to http://dc.shambhala.org/program-details/?id=226456 for more information and to register. Seating will be limited; preregistration is encouraged.
Penn House Potluck: Maryland Alliance for Justice Reform (MAJR) Adrian Bishop, Bob Rhudy, and Patience Schenck will speak about the Maryland Alliance for Justice Reform (MAJR). MAJR is a bi-partisan, statewide alliance seeking legislative changes indispensable to bring Maryland into the 21st century with corrections policies that are evidence-based, humane and effective. The monthly potluck at William Penn House begins at 6:30pm. This is an opportunity for fellowship among Quakers, attenders and fellow seekers. Bring a dish to share; family members, neighbors and friends are always welcome.
Thursday, May 7: Getry Agizah, a coordinator for Friend Church Peace Teams in Kenya and of the African Great Lakes Initiative, will speak at FMW at 7:00 pm. All are welcome.
May 8 – 10: Junior Young Friends Conference, Opequon Quaker Camp . The last JYF con (for 6th to 8th graders) of the year will be at Opequon Quaker Camp. Please arrive at 10 am with sleeping bag, pad, pillow, change of clothes and toiletries. The theme for this and all weekends during the 2014-15 school year will be 'Sense of Self'. For information, contact Alison Duncan. (301-774-7663) Please remember that the deadline to register and be guaranteed a slot is one week before the conference (May 1). Any one registering after that date will be placed on a waiting list and may not be able to attend. Contact Information: Alison Duncan, Youth Programs Manager, youthprograms@bym-rsf.org, 301-774-7663
Saturday, May 9: Songs, S’mores & Stargazing, 4:00 to 9:30 pm, Friends Wilderness Center. Board members Kimberly Benson and Nancy James have planned wonderful family event where you can share in a group sing-a-long, then share a home cooked dinner, and then enjoy time outside making s'mores over a fire. Once it is dark and weather permitting, you will be treated to a guided tour of the night sky by professional astronomer, Kevin Bowles, who will share his knowledge and wonder of the night sky and his telescope through which you can see wonders such as galaxies, nebulae, and the rings of Saturn. If you have any questions concerning any of our programs, please email Sheila at snbach@earthlink.net or call 304.728.4820. We ask that you let us know if you are coming to any or all of our events and reservations for a meal are required.
May 16-17: Family Camp Weekend, Shiloh Quaker Camp. See description above for May 2-3.
May 22-24:
FMW Catoctin Weekend: Join us for an unprogrammed weekend, when we share meals and fellowship in the lodge; we enjoy canoeing and hiking; we toast s'mores on Saturday night; and we worship on Sunday morning at a warm spot in the sunshine. Cabins are available (most have tin roofs, screen walls and a half dozen bare bunk beds), or bring your tent; come for one day or stay for all three. Cost is $20 per adult staying overnight, $10 for adult day-trippers, and free for all children, payable to FMW. All meals are pot lucks, we therefore ask you to contribute a dish or two to the communal meals each day.
Please RSVP using our online sign-up sheet so we can get a count of how many of us will be there for each meal. If you have something in mind to bring or want to contribute to a particular meal, please leave a note in the meals column. Once we have a feel for the number of people and what meals are covered, I can send out requests for missing items or suggestions. For more information, contact Anita, anita.drever@gmail.com To sign up, click here: (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AnRBPXvJkUGEdFR3ZWpDYWxtN0VZRUt1VG9nTUhyOVE&usp=sharing)
Since 1943, the Friends Conference on Religion and Psychology has gathered to explore themes that appeal to the growth and development of the inner life, with a specific focus on Jungian psychology. FCRP currently meets over Memorial Day weekend (this year, May 22-24, 2015) in beautiful Central Pennsylvania on the campus of Lebanon Valley College. A guest speaker develops the Conference theme in four plenary sessions over four days. Within a retreat-like environment, participants open to the speaker's message and its personal resonance in their lives. Participants also participate in an Interest Group to process and integrate insights. Each morning there is Meeting for Worship. Throughout the weekend, community builds at meals and in the evening diversions. This year the theme for the Conference is "The Archetypes of Aging: Cultivating and Satisfying the Wise Spirit" with Plenary Speaker Alden Josey, PhD. Dr. Josey is a Jungian analyst, and holds a Ph.D. in organic chemistry from Cornell University, and he worked in chemical research for three decades before retiring from the field. In 1989 he received his Diploma in Analytical Psychology from the C.G. Jung Institute in Zurich. He has been a Quaker for all of his adult life and is a member of Wilmington Friends Meeting. This year's Interest Groups will include: "Poetry and Metaphor," "Dreaming Back to Life in the Embrace of Grandmother Earth," "Reflective Writing," "The Wisdom of Tai Chi," "Tissue Paper Collage," "Writing a Chapter for your own Red Book," "Aging and Ailing: The Wounded Healer Archetype," "Parsing the Plenary,""Family Constellations," "Extended Meeting for Worship," and "Creatively Doing Nothing." More details and registration information are available at fcrp.quaker.org Please join us, and help us publicize this event.
Young Friends Conference, location TBD, May 22-24. For more information, contact Alison Duncan, Youth Programs Manager, youthprograms@bym-rsf.org, 301-774-7663
Friends United Meeting’s North American Ministries has announced a program entitled “Stoking the Fire” for those who are spiritually on fire, smoldering embers ready to burst into flame, discerning risky new steps of faithfulness, desiring deeper worship, or yearning to connect with others. In all of our Yearly Meetings, there are individual Friends who are on fire. They may be bold and prophetic and fiery. Or they may be quietly longing for deep spiritual intimacy with Christ and others. Perhaps they feel isolated. Perhaps their Meetings don’t always know what to do with them. Perhaps they yearn to gather with others who are in that condition, who also feel the intensity of the Holy Spirit burning in them. On Pentecost weekend — May 22-25, 2015 — we invite Friends to gather in Cincinnati, Ohio for a retreat experience entitled Stoking the Fire. A lightly-scheduled program of extended worship, prayer, plenary speakers, home groups, topical workshops and attention to the movement of the Holy Spirit. Full registration information is on the FUM website. (www.fum.org/stoking-the-fire-2015)
May 29-31: YAF Camping Trip – Let’s go camping! This year, the Young Adults will be camping at Friends Wilderness Center on Friday and Saturday night. There will be hiking, fellowship, campfires (with songs), worship and plenty of s’mores. Cost is $20 for the weekend ($10/night and includes food); $35/night if you want to stay in the cabin. Sign up on DC Young Adult Friends Meetup site or email Michael: mk.huff10@gmail.com
Saturday, May 30: Friends Wilderness Center, 10:00 to 5:30. Our Dome Grand Opening Celebration will offer tours of our new Geodesic Dome as well as discussion sessions that explore the legacy of Buckminster Fuller, the geometry of domes, the possibilities afforded by new green technologies such as solar panels, and how each of us can implement sustainability practices for greener living in our homes, at work and at our meetings and places of worship. There will also be balloons for the kids and opportunities to build geometrical models with a 'Zometool Kit' ®. So please come join us for a fun-filled and interesting day that offers something for Friends and family of all ages. If you have a desire to spend the night at the FWC, you can rent a room in the cabin or avail yourself of one of the several more rustic options including the new Dome, the Treehouse, and the Yurt. Tent camping on the lawn is an option as well. Come on out and share in the fun! If you have any questions concerning any of our programs, please email Sheila at snbach@earthlink.net or call 304.728.4820. We ask that you let us know if you are coming to any or all of our events and reservations for a meal are required.
May 30-31: Family Camp Weekend, Opequon Quaker Camp. See description above for May 2-3.
Looking Forward:
William Penn House Summer Opportunities From June 28 to July 5, “Community
Gardens/Community Health” will be taking place in DC. This workcamp will be an
exploration of the community around the Capitol at the peak of July 4 celebrations.
Connecting myth with reality, we will be engaging in a range of activities that expose
participants to the vibrant yet underserved and often-invisible parts of DC, while also
partaking in celebrations and festivities. Many of the projects will have a focus on community
gardens and clean watersheds. From July 15 to July 29, we will be returning to Pine Ridge SD to continue our partnership, friendship and service in this beautiful but challenged region. As in past years, we will spend time building for a sustainable future while honoring sacred
traditions. Along the way, we learn more about the history (much of which is untold or
rewritten), as well as the day-to-day experiences of people on “the Rez.” This is our effort
to carry on William Penn’s commitment to create the Peaceable Kingdom. What better
place to start than where many of the struggles for rights and honoring of treaties continue to
play out? For details on these two events, see: http://williampennhouse.org/2015Workcamps
July 5 to 11: Friends General Conference (FGC) Annual Gathering
The FGC Gathering this year will be at the Western Carolina University near Asheville
NC. The theme this year is “Seeking Wholeness.” The Gathering is a chance to be together
with over 1,200 Friends. There are many opportunities to address spirit, mind, and body.
Look up the program for this year at www.fgcGathering.org You can enjoy lots of activities:
singing, dancing, good food, and good conversation. You really ought to go to a
Gathering at least once. Early registration for the Gathering opens April 2. There are both
half-gathering and part-time attender options for adults. Financial aid is available.
Of special note is that there will be a pre-gathering event and five days of Couple
Enrichment Leader Training at the Gathering. To learn more, www.fgcquaker.org/ce-training
or marshaquaker@gmail.com There are also pre-gathering Saturday retreats for Adult Young Friends (18-35); New Meetings; People of Color and Their Families; and Quakers and Business.
August 3 to 9: Baltimore Yearly Meeting Annual Session
Baltimore Yearly Meeting will gather from August 3 to 9 this year at Frostburg State
University in Frostburg MD. The theme is “Living into Right Relationship,” focusing on
the need to live in harmony and balance with ourselves, our community, and the natural
world. You can learn more about workshops and interest groups in the Spring Interchange
which will be coming out very soon or on the Baltimore Yearly Meeting web site:
THINKING ABOUT RACE (May 2015) – Unconscious bias: an example
“The Hero’s Fight: African-Americans in West Baltimore and the Shadow of the State,” by Patricia Fernández-Kelly, was published Feb. 1, 2014, by Princeton University Press. See http://press.princeton.edu/titles/10328.html#.VPHv1BBwbLw.gmail. If you click on the link, you may be struck by the unconscious bias in one sentence in the summary: "While ordinary Americans are treated as citizens and consumers, deprived and racially segregated populations are seen as objects of surveillance, containment, and punishment." It is easy to infer that, by "ordinary Americans" the writer means "white Americans," since "racially segregated populations" clearly means populations of color. We (whites) still tend to think of ourselves as the "ordinary" Americans. Even this blurb writer has fallen into that trap. One can only wonder what Fernández-Kelly thinks of that description of her book, if she has noticed it. One can also wonder how often any of us fall into that same trap.
This column is prepared by the BYM Working Group on Racism (WGR) and sent to the designated liaisons at each Monthly and Preparative Meeting for publication in their newsletter or other means of dissemination. The WGR meets most months on the third Saturday from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm, usually at Bethesda Friends Meeting or Friends Meeting of Washington. If you would like to attend, on a regular or a drop-in basis, contact clerk David Etheridge, david.etheridge@verizon.net.
RANDOM HAPPENINGS
My job just gets goofier and goofier. Last month, the Capital Area Tibetan Association chose to bring the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa to our Meeting Room to speak with his followers. He is, apparently, a Very Big Deal amongst Tibetan Buddhists—more important than the Dalai Lama, according to some—a fact which somehow eluded me when we were doing up the contract. This generated a certain amount of hoopla, or at least the Buddhist version thereof.
We started getting strange phone calls about this early in the week from people eager--perhaps overeager--to come into this person’s presence, at least one of whom asked to camp out in our garden overnight to be the first at the door the next evening (we politely declined).
Meanwhile, the Tibetans asked, very politely, to build a stage in the Meeting Room, and could they please borrow one of our oriental rugs to put on it, plus the red velvet chair for his holiness’ hiney, and also they’d like to hang a banner. Ken dealt with most of these requests, while I fielded calls from potential attendants.
Well, not all the callers were potential attendants. The next call came from the folks at NORML, who left a voicemail message and followed up with an email, wanting to know if they could come that Sunday from 11 to 2 and use our Meeting Room—our Meeting Room—as a space for demonstrating to DC residents how to cultivate marijuana plants. “Don’t worry,” the email read (advice which I immediately disobeyed), “there will be a zero tolerance policy for anyone attempting to consume/use marijuana in any form both before, during and after the event.” Right.
I let them know that, what with us being a religious organization, we would be holding religious services during those hours and were thus unable to accommodate them at that time, or later in the day, nope, we’re booked. For the record, every single Quaker I have told this story to has expressed disappointment with my decision, saying that they personally would have loved to have taken such a class and thought it might have helped them instigate a whole new career change. None of these people, I would like to point out, are YAFs. I’m just sayin.
The call after that was from someone with a very low voice named John from the something Security company, saying that he wanted to discuss security details for that evening’s event. What? I asked. He went on with his questions, which centered largely on parking. We had a detailed discussion, and then I rose up to my full height, took a deep breath, and said, firmly, that since the word “security” is in his job title I would just like to review the fact that we are a peace-based faith and thus there would
Security for the Buddhists
be NO weapons of any type anywhere on the Meeting Campus, right? “Yes ma’am,” he replied in his baritone voice, “that’s how we roll.”
Relieved, I turned the place over to the capable team of Tom Libbert, Ron Washington, and poor, beleagued Ken, to whom I would like to publicly apologize. Ken spent the next hour at least helping the Buddhists to hang their banner, while Tom and Ron did crowd control on the hundreds of Tibetans and locally grown Buddhists who lined up—politely, I’m told—for the event. It all went well, according to the organizers, who did come back eventually to pick up their stage. Next time, we should tack on a Hoopla tax, I think.
Wonder what next month will bring?
Meanwhile, we have had a very fruitful spring so far at our Meeting. Victor Freeman became a father to a son named Oban, a name which comes from the Yoruba tribe in Western Africa and means “the King.” Rob and Pam Callard became grandparents again when their daughter, Lucy Callard Reimer, gave birth to a beautiful girl named Sequoia. Lelac Almagor (who used to attend our 9:00 am meeting) gave birth to her son Asher. She writes: “Asher is a Hebrew name meaning joy or blessing. He is named in honor of our beloved nephew, Ashton Tyler Carley Trent.” And Faith Kelley and Micah Bales became the parents of George Patrick.
Oban Freeman Lucy &
Sequoia 
Asher Almagor 
Faith & George Patrick
Our high school seniors, meanwhile, are honing in on their final choices for college next year. Nick Farr will be going to Evergreen in Washington State, where the late Rick Ricks attended many years ago. And Sabrina McCarthy’s son (David Etheridge’s step-son) Christopher is deciding between Harvard, Yale and Princeton.
Jean Capps’ life has been equally eventful. In late March, she wrote:
“I am being closely monitored by our government but I don't mind at all. It is all to keep the American public safe. Even my state Health Department is involved. I was given a thermometer and a cell phone and had to reveal lots of ways to keep tabs on me for the next three weeks. I have just returned from Liberia where I was in contact with zero people with or who had been in recent contact with anyone with Ebola. But I will take my temperature twice a day and they will call me and ask me what it was and how I am feeling. I have all kinds of people to call if I feel in any way weird (which will most likely be jet lag if anything). This is all for an abundance of caution and folks should know the US government and the CDC take keeping American public safe very seriously. Even the U.S. Ambassador has to do it.”
More news, from FMW Member Cheron Constance:
“I am temporarily in Richmond, VA, for a few months to help my family as my dad is being treated for gastric cancer. It's a difficult process, so please hold us in the Light. There's also much for me to adjust to after living abroad for so long, most recently in the Netherlands. I hope and plan to pay a visit to DC sometime before summer's end. Greetings from Richmond Friends Meeting and best wishes.”
Finally, we received the following “day brightener” by email, which I’d like to share with you:
Dear Friends,
In 1984 I was a student at American University visiting from England for one semester, On one Sunday that fall I attended my first Quaker meeting. I remember the meeting with affection , I know I was in a place of kindness. I wish I had visited again as I was terribly homesick at time. Unfortunately I was too English and reticent to realise that quiet friendship would have soothed my loneliness. Here I am 31 years later writing to say thank you to you all for being there. After many years in the religious wilderness I'm now an attender at the Oxford (UK) meeting as I find the Friends certainly "speak to my condition". Thank you for sowing the seed of Friendship all those years ago.
In friendship and peace,
Claire
We lurch forward.
- Debby