Meeting began with silence at 11:00 am. Fifty-five (55) members and attenders were present. Bob Alexander was greeter. Jan Hampton from Ministry and Worship sat on the facing bench to hold Meeting in the Light. Donna Shields was welcomed as a first-time attender to MWB. Steve Humphrey read the Baltimore Yearly Meeting (BYM) proposed Queries and Voices on Vocal Ministry.
Religious Education: Catherine Roseberry announced upcoming events for the committee: (1) Today, October 18, RE will be making a trip to the Pumpkin Patch at the rise of Meeting. (2) On Sunday, November 1, the classes will be Trick-or-Treating for UNICEF at rise of Meeting. Friends were asked to bring lots of loose change to contribute. (3) The RE Christmas Program will be presented on Sunday, December 13. (4) Handmade Christmas will be held on Sunday, December 20. (5) The Candlelight Christmas will be held on Monday, December 21, 7:00 to 8:00 pm, at the Meetinghouse.
It was noted that the annual Carol Sing and pot luck breakfast (although not sponsored by RE), will be held Sunday, December 6, 9:00 to 10:30 am at the home of Kelly and Paul DiPasquale. Friends were asked to bring breakfast food to share.
Nominating Committee: Brooke Davis reported that the committee is actively engaged in talking with Friends about serving the Meeting. She encouraged Friends to contact her, or the other members of the nominating committee (Bob Alexander, Anne Gray and Don Miller), to express their interest in serving on a committee or in a specific position. Brooke thanked Friends who have already agreed to serve and emphasized that serving on a committee is a good way to get to know other Friends and to deepen ties to our community.
Treasurer’s Report: Treasurer Bronwyn Hughes handed out copies of the Third Quarter 2015 report. She noted that, at 75% into the current fiscal year, the Meeting had received 49% of budgeted contributions, and made 76% of budgeted expenses. She noted several things about the report: the telephone bill is up because our service now includes WiFi; the Clerk’s expenses are up because the Assistant Clerk’s attendance at a Pendle Hill clerking workshop was not budgeted for. A committee member commented that if all families in Meeting were to contribute according to their ability, the budget could be managed. Steve Humphrey repeated that contributions are significantly behind expenditures and asked Friends to begin making the contributions needed for us to meet our budget; there are only two-and-a-half months left to contribute half of the budgeted contribution amount. Finally, Steve reminded the Meeting that the committee was asked to consider how committees doing fundraising for various purposes should be handling cash and checks they receive. The committee has created a set of draft guidelines, copies of which are now available in the Treasurer’s mailbox. As other committees begin to use the guidelines, the committee will accept suggestions for how to improve them.
Care and Counsel: Barbara Myers reported for the committee: (1) For the second month, she brought the committee’s recommendation that Meeting approve the membership application of Allen Lee. Friends approved and welcomed Allen to membership. (2) The Friendly 8’s sign-up sheets will be taken down after Meeting. Barbara requested the original poster or the first person on the list to take the sheet, and then contact everyone on the list and facilitate the start of meetings. (3) Mary Bo Gassman is very ill, but would appreciate visits. Please call ahead to see if she’s up for a visit before you go.
Ministry and Worship: Tracey Cain made announcements for the committee:
(1) Co-sponsored with Peace and Social Concerns, on Friday, November 13, 7:30 to 9:00 pm, John Calvi will present “Quaker Initiative to End Torture.” (2) The Fall Retreat will be held Saturday, November 14, 2015 at the Clearing. John Calvi will lead “The Goodness Workshop.” Registration is not required, but please notify Mary Fran Hughes-McIntyre if you plan to come. Bring a blanket and pillow for the workshop. Lunch will be potluck. Please bring food to share. (3) Sunday, November 15, 9:30 to 10:45 am, John Calvi will present “Journal Reading of a Quaker Healer After 30-plus Years.”
Adult Spiritual Education: Howard Garner announced the following: (1) Today, at 1:00 pm, or soon thereafter, Dr. Alice Rothchild, physician and human rights advocate, will present “Healing the Divide in Israel and Palestine.” (2) Saturday, October 24, from 10:00 am to 12:00 noon, a “Moral Injury Workshop” will be conducted by Lynn and Steve Newsom, Co-Directors of Quaker House. (3) Sunday, October 25, 9:30 to 10:45 am, Dr. Margaret Fisher, Herndon Friends Meeting, will present “The Spiritual Implications of Our Food Choices.” (4) In coordination with both Care and Counsel, and Ministry and Worship, ASE is planning a winter series on the basic values and fundamentals of Quakerism. Howard encouraged Friends to talk to committee members about questions or topics of interest.
Peace and Social Concerns: (1) Marcia Dickinson reminded Friends that the food drive for the Fan Free Clinic will last through October (including Sunday, November 1). Marcia passed out shopping lists for the most needed items. She is also accepting cash donations. (2) Dave Depp described the October blood drive and announced he was placing an information sheet on the table below the bulletin board. This year blood collection is at the agency facility. If enough Friends participate, another drive at the Meetinghouse will be considered. (3) Mark Skolnick announced that the second case of olive oil from a Palestinian supplier has arrived. Future orders will be placed when another twelve bottles ($20 each) have been requested. Requests should be made to Verna Boos. A Friend suggested that the bottles are a nice holiday gift. After the above announcements, (4) Ben Hebner, the FCNL representative for RFM, announced that Lon Burnam from FCNL will be present next week during potluck. He will have information about the upcoming Public Policy Institute which is held each year before the Lobbying Day (this year the dates are Thursday and Friday, November 12 and 13). Ben described several recent meetings with legislators. A Friend reminded us that FCNL can always use donations. (5) Denna Joy announced the John Calvi presentation on November 13 (see the first item in the Ministry and Worship announcements, above).
Ada Hammer made two announcements: (1) A group is forming to make a trip to help with disaster relief in flood-ravaged South Carolina the week of March 26th. Contact Ada, Frances Stewart, Wendy Wadsworth or Ben Hebner if you are interested. (2) A group from Meeting will be providing a meal for families of prisoners after they return from visiting their family members, on December 12. Ada is accepting donations to cover food costs and will contact Friends about any needed help preparing the meal.
Ninth Month 2015 MWB Minutes: Approved.
Clerk’s Business: (1) The Clerk announced that she will bring forward names for next year’s Nominating Committee at the November MWB when the first list of nominees for all committees and positions is presented for Meeting’s consideration. The Clerk presents these names so that Nominating is not replacing its own members. (2) The next potluck lunch will be October 25, 2015, at rise of Meeting. Please bring food to share.
All business being concluded we settled into silence until the rise of meeting was signaled from the facing bench.
Barbara Hulburt, Clerk
James Thoroman, Recording Clerk