Baltimore Yearly Meeting
of the Religious Society of Friends
Interim Meeting
Minutes from March 21, 2009
Sandy Spring Monthly Meeting, Sandy
Spring, Maryland
I2009-1 Opening. Friends gathered in worship at
2:30 p.m. Out of the silence, Clerk
Elizabeth Meyer (Sandy Spring) told the story of Patricius, the shepherd boy
who found his own shepherd and became the apostle to Ireland. She then led us in a recitation of the 23rd
Psalm.
Sixty-nine Friends from 21 meetings signed in.
Adelphi:
Alexander Barnes, June Confer; Alexandria: Megan Evans, Jim Nations; Annapolis: Ria and Ted Hawkins, Barbara Thomas; Bethesda:
Susan Kaul, Liz Hofmeister; Baltimore-Stony Run: Mike Boardman, Dellie
James, Nancy Moore, Carol Seddon; Charlottesville: Frances and Hank Schutz,
Allison Sleeman; Deer Creek: Doug Miller; Dunnings Creek: Jeff
Pebor, Susan and Norman Williams; Frederick: Sue de Veer, David Wolinksy; Gettysburg: Margaret
Stambaugh; Gunpowder: Barbara Bien, Virginia Schurman, Marshall Sutton; Langley
Hill: Kate Allen, Walter Brown, Georgia
Fuller, Bill Mims, Rebecca Rawls, Laurie Wilner; Little Britain: Linda
Coates; Patapsco: Jim Rose, Ken Stockbridge; Pipe Creek: Frank
Reitmeyer; Emily and C.J. Swet; Roanoke: Susie Fetter; Sandy Spring: Maria Bradley, Kevin Caughlan, Sharon Farrar,
Natalie and Thomas Finegar, Howard Fullerton, Bette Hoover, John and Toni
Hudson, Deborah Legowski, Rich Liversidge, Margo Inglis Lehman, Roger Starr,
Ann Whittaker; State College: Ellen Johnson Arginteanu, Peg Hansen, Judy
and Martin Melville, Lauri Perman; Takoma Park Preparative: Ruth Flower;
Valley: Jean Marie Prestwidge
Barch; Washington, Friends Meeting of: Jessica Arends, Mary Campbell,
Denny Hartzell, Andrei Israel, Malachy Kilbride, Carol Phelps, Riley Robinson,
Byron Sandford; York: Leada Dietz, Tracy Haidar, Lamar Matthew, William
Neij.
I2009-2 Welcome. Bette Hoover (Sandy Spring) welcomed all to Sandy Spring.
I2009-3 News of Friends. Please hold in the Light
Friend Hugh Fuller (Langley Hill), who is confined at home after a month in the
hospital and a month in rehab. He is
healing and appreciates our support.
I2009-4 Memorial Minute for Williamsburg Friend
Robert Solomon. Selections from
this minute were read by the Clerk.
12
October 2008
Our dear Friend Bob Solomon left us
on May 1st of this year, at the age of 52.
Bob died of aggressive melanoma, a full year after all of us, including
Bob, had thought that surgery had been successful in removing all of the
cancer.
Bob left us as he had lived, quietly,
after stoically enduring, for several months, the pain and sadness that
inevitably attends fully facing one's own death. To the end, he tried to
shield his friends and his loving wife Linda, from the grief he knew we were
all feeling, by joking with us even as he was wasting away physically and in
active pain. His great physical strength waning, he nevertheless faced
these final struggles with the equally powerful psychological and moral
strength that were evident throughout his life.
Bob was born in Iowa and raised by
convinced Quaker parents, Ted and Marian Solomon. He was an active member of The Society of Friends and active in
Friends Meetings in Ames, Iowa City, Chicago, Richmond and Williamsburg. He had
been a member of our Williamsburg Friends Meeting for more than two
decades. He was active in the civil
rights movement and antiwar activities of the 1960s and 1970s, believed in
Gandhian NonViolence and Peace, and was a member of Community of Faith for
Peace. He firmly believed, and actively lobbied, that health care should be a
basic human right and supported the Old Town Free Clinic in Williamsburg. He also supported, with his time and
advocacy, equal rights for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender people. Bob was serving as Clerk of Williamsburg
Friends when he became too ill to attend Meeting.
Bob felt that one of his most
important activities was his work as a Neurologist. He was known to be generous with his time with patients and went
above and beyond any professional guidelines to help those who needed him. Many of his patients, as well as his fellow
medical colleagues, felt called to testify to his generosity and devotion as a
doctor.
We mourn his loss and miss the
center of quiet and peace that emanated from him at each of our meetings. We wish all Friends to know how faithful and
devoted he was, in both word and deed, to the Quaker causes of Peace,
Nonviolence and Selfless Service, and what an excellent and faithful exemplar
he was of those principles that all Quakers agree emanate from the Light Within.
We all feel that our dear Friend
Bob Solomon shared that Light in at least as great a measure as any of us. We miss him greatly.
I2009-5 Unity with Nature Committee. Sue de Veer
(Frederick) reminded Friends that at last Annual Session, Friends Meetings were
asked to complete and return a questionnaire about ‘greening’ meeting
places. Additional copies of materials
were made available. The results may be
compiled into a chart showing what changes Friends are making. Please complete and return.
I2009-6 Naming Committee. Elizabeth Meyer (Sandy
Spring) presented the following nominations for a three-person Naming Committee,
to identify members of the Search Committee.
The candidates are Margaret Stambaugh (Gettysburg), Hank Schutz (Charlottesville)
and Thomas Gibian (Sandy Spring).
Friends APPROVED this naming committee.
I2009-7 Nominating Committee. Barbara Thomas (Annapolis)
spoke requesting help in identifying individuals who may serve on Yearly
Meeting committees. Please consider
whether you or someone you know could give leadership during the 2009-2012
term. Friends were reminded that our committees
generally have a six-year maximum term.
The following resignations were presented.
From Ministry and Pastoral Care: Anne Buttenheim (Frederick).
From Criminal and Restorative Justice: Al Simmons (Richmond).
The resignations were ACCEPTED.
The following nominations were made:
To: Friends in Unity
with Nature: Susan Thompson (Pipe Creek).
To: Peace and Social Concerns: Frank Reitmeyer (Pipe Creek).
The nominations were APPROVED.
I2009-8 Request to become a member of Baltimore
Yearly Meeting. Friends meeting at Abingdon in southwestern Virginia have
requested membership in Baltimore Yearly Meeting directly as a Monthly
Meeting. Interim Meeting will
acknowledge receipt of their letter of request.
A committee to visit the group was recommended, possibly to
report back to Interim Meeting in June.
Ministry and Pastoral Care has appointed Gary Sandman (Roanoke). Both Walter Brown (Langley Hill) and Ken
Stockbridge (Patapsco) from Advancement and Outreach Committee are willing to visit,
possibly following on the completion of Friends General Conference’s
Gathering. Barbara Williamson (Richmond)
is also willing to visit. Gary and Ken
will work together with the Clerk of Interim Meeting to schedule a visit.
Friends APPROVED this proposal for moving forward.
I2009-9 Friends
House. Ruth Flower (Takoma Park) presented changes to the Friends House
By-Laws, noting that Yearly Meeting must approve by-law changes if they involve
the composition of membership of the Board of Friends House.
The following additions (in
italics) in the Friends House by-laws were approved by the Board of Trustees on
Dec. 2008. These changes are required by the Maryland Department of Aging and
by our own Board’s desires for more specificity. The language stating that no
resident may serve on the Board is the long-time language and requirement of
the Friends House Board by-laws. The language adding one resident Board member
is a requirement of the CCRC license.
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ARTICLE II. Membership on the
Board of Trustees
A. The members of this Board, known as
"The Friends House Trustees,"
shall be nineteen (19) in number.
Each trustee shall be a member of the Religious Society of Friends. No individual who is a resident
of Friends House, Incorporated or Friends Nursing Home, Incorporated may serve
or continue to serve as a Trustee, with the following exception: If the law requires a resident Board
trustee, then one shall serve to fulfill the law. Members of the Board serve on a voluntary
basis and receive no salary for services rendered.
B. Twelve members shall be appointed by
Baltimore Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends, with four members
being appointed each year for three-year terms.
C. Seven members shall be nominated by the
sitting Trustees, with at least two members being nominated each year for
three- year terms, subject to approval and appointment by Baltimore Yearly
Meeting in session. One of the seven members
nominated by the sitting Trustees shall be the resident Board member if one is
required.
D. Trustees appointed for three-year terms shall
begin their service at the Annual Meeting in September. Interim appointments to vacancies on the
Board of Trustees caused by any reason shall be made by the sitting trustees,
subject to confirmation by Baltimore Yearly Meeting in session. Persons so chosen shall commence serving
upon appointment by the Board, and (if confirmed by the Yearly Meeting) shall
serve for the remainder of the term for which they are chosen.
E. No Trustee shall be eligible to serve for
more than six consecutive years or be re-appointed to the Board for a full
term, after having served more than one full term, until being off the Board
for one year.
APPROVED
I2009-10 Peace and Social Concern. Bill Mims
(Langley Hill) reported that $9,000 from the 2008 Operating Budget was sent to
Friends Church Peace Teams in Kenya, as directed in minute I2008-10. In addition, he presented a minute
supporting the National Religious Campaign Against Torture’s request for a Commission
of Inquiry about the behavior of the US forces and CIA over the past years. Ellen Johnson Arginteanu (State College) represents
Baltimore Yearly Meeting at this group.
Baltimore Yearly Meeting of the Religious
Society of Friends, Quakers, endorses the National Religious Campaign Against Torture
call for a Commission of Inquiry on acts of torture sponsored by the United
States. Their call reads:
The United States must never again
engage in torture. Torture is immoral,
illegal and counterproductive. It
causes profound and lasting harm, especially to its victims but also to its
perpetrators. It contradicts our
nation’s deepest values and corrupts the moral fabric of our society.
We call for an impartial,
nonpartisan and independent Commission of Inquiry. Its purpose should be to gather all the facts and make
recommendations. It should ascertain
the extent to which our interrogation practices have constituted torture and
“cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment.”
Understanding the causes, nature and scope of U.S.-sponsored torture is
essential for preventing it in the future and eliminating it from our system
without loopholes. U.S. law will
determine the extent of any criminal culpability.
As people of faith, we know that brokenness can be healed – both in individual
lives and in the life of the nation.
All religions believe that redemption is possible. Learning the truth can set us on a path
toward national healing and renewal.
The United States must never again
allow itself to be driven by blinding fears and bitter resentments in
responding to national tragedy. The use
of torture only serves to undermine our security in a dangerous world.
Nothing less than the soul of our
nation is at stake in confronting U.S.-sponsored torture and completely
renouncing its use. Let the U.S. reaffirm
its values by establishing a Commission of Inquiry.
Chesapeake Quarter approved signing letters to each of
Maryland’s eight congressional districts to co-sponsor a bill to set up the
Commission.
The Minute was APPROVED.
I2009-11 Intervisitation
Committee. Susan Kaul (Bethesda) made available a list of the Yearly
Meetings that Intervisitation Committee would like to visit this year. She invited Friends to participate.
All Friends who do will be required to participate in a
‘travel training’ session.
The Committee needs someone to volunteer to serve on the Committee
and to track the visits and financial considerations for the Committee.
Jean James (Richmond) returned her travel minute of last
year [I2008-31] endorsed by Western Yearly Meeting. The endorsement was read.
Jean James seeks endorsement of her most recent travel minute from
Richmond Monthly Meeting, and Friends empowered the Clerk to ENDORSE this
minute.
Linda Coates (Little Britain) brought a travel minute from
her Monthly Meeting and endorsed by Nottingham Quarterly Meeting. This minute was read, and Linda stood and was
recognized. Friends empowered the Clerk to ENDORSE this minute.
Maria Bradley (Sandy Spring) returned her travel minute of
last year [I2008-17] with endorsements.
The endorsement from Southeastern Yearly Meeting was read, speaking of
her support to the Clerk. Her most
recent travel minute from Sandy Spring Monthly Meeting, which was endorsed by
Chesapeake Quarterly Meeting, was read.
Friends empowered the Clerk to ENDORSE this minute. Maria spoke of how she came to visitation
through Friends General Conference and was received with appreciation by Great
Plains Yearly Meeting which is very small and diverse. Maria has been requested
to hold Southeastern Yearly Meeting in prayer, and she requests Baltimore
Yearly Meeting’s support in this endeavor.
I2009-12 Trustees. Byron Sandford (Washington)
presented the following report.
Estate Matter.
Since November 2007, the Trustees have been a party at interest in a
legal proceeding involving an estate that includes both undeveloped land and
liquid assets of substantial value. The decedent was a Quaker raised in
Maryland, and the real estate is located near the Meeting she attended as a
child. She consistently expressed an
interest in having her estate used for charitable purposes consistent with her
values and BYM’s. However, there is a
need for the court to confirm her intent because of the problematic nature of
her final will, which has been admitted to probate.
The judge has given BYM official
standing in the settlement of the estate.
In December 2008, the judge permitted our legal fees to that date
($260,000) to be paid by the estate.
BYM is expected to help determine how the estate distribution should be
made to satisfy the intent of the deceased. This complex and costly process
continues, and the outcome cannot be certain until there is a final
determination by the judge. The
Trustees believe this is the proper course for us to take, consistent with our
principles and the decedent’s will.
Updating Signatories. During the summer of 2008, the Trustees
authorized the Clerk of Trustees, the Treasurer of the Yearly Meeting and two
other Trustees to be the authorized signatories on our investment accounts. The
signatures had not been updated since the accounts were opened, in some cases
many years ago. What we thought would be an easy process was a tangle of
requirements from the various securities repositories. The Trustees also
authorized the consolidation and the reinvesting of the accounts. Due to the
delays over the signatures, the consolidation of the accounts had to be
postponed.
During this transition period, the
market value of our accounts declined by $166,800 (about 23%) during the year.
The funds were invested conservatively, but still dropped from $713,400 at the
beginning of the year to $546,600 as of year-end. Investment interest and
dividend income of $25,900 offset that decline somewhat. The largest losses were in funds managed by
TIAA/CREF, Calvert, PAX and Friends Fiduciary Corporation.
Reconciliation of Reserves. The Trustees continue to make slow progress
on reconciling the various reserve accounts of the Yearly Meeting. A good start on this was made last spring,
but our volunteer efforts lagged through the winter. Today, we have reviewed additional progress and expect to have
the bulk of our analysis done by June Interim Meeting Day. Many of the records must be taken back to
our consolidation in 1968-69 to establish appropriate baselines and
interpretations. Our analysis to date
has found some instances of poor record keeping, incomplete files or
inconsistent treatment of income or principal over time.
Our purpose is to recalculate and
bring current the value of our various reserve funds so that we can confirm
where we are financially at present. We
are aware that accounting adjustments required due to the recent market decline
may also affect several programs, by reducing the Yearly Meeting’s unrestricted
capital. This is an effort by BYM volunteers, and we welcome the assistance of
other qualified BYM members in this effort.
This effort is being led by Howard Fullerton and Rich Liversidge, with
the able assistance of Margo Lehman as her duties and time permit.
Bush Creek Cemetery. The Trustees authorized the Frederick
Meeting to proceed with tree removal and other improvements to the Bush Creek
cemetery. There are some BYM funds available.
Laying Down Fishertown Meeting. The Trustees have participated with a
working group that is addressing issues of laying down Fishertown Meeting and consolidating it with
Dunning’s Creek Meeting.
I2009-13 Supervisory
Committee. Elizabeth Hofmeister (Bethesda) presented the Committee’s report
which follows.
In December, a three-person Sub-Committee
of the Supervisory Committee conducted the annual job evaluation of the General
Secretary and reported back to the full Committee in January. Based on that
successful evaluation, the Supervisory Committee has continued the employment of
our General Secretary, Riley Robinson, for another year.
At its December 2008 meeting, the
Supervisory Committee agreed to give salary increases to all staff amounting to
the cost of living (COLA) for the Washington metro area, plus an additional 2%
increase payable beginning in January 2009.
As the COLA was 5.5% for 2008, the staff's total salary increase
beginning the first pay period in January amounted to 7.5%. With this increase, the total staff
compensation costs in 2009, including salary, health and dental care and taxes
will amount to $496,575.
|
|
|
2009 salaries
|
$356,605
|
|
2009 benefits
|
$139,970
|
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Total
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$496,575
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Supervisory Committee
recognizes that BYM has a very dedicated and talented staff whose salaries have
not been in line with other nonprofits in the metro area. This concern has been
raised by others in the YM. While staff
salaries are not where we would like them to be, the Committee is mindful that
the overall staff compensation package is fairly generous. It includes:
·
pay rates based on a 35-hour work week;
·
full health care coverage for individual employees with
a $100/mo.; premium co-pay for family coverage (this will increase to a 50%
premium co-pay for family coverage in 2010);
·
a retirement plan to which the YM makes a contribution;
·
maternity/paternity and adoption leave;
·
annual leave and three personal days/yr.;
·
11 paid holidays.
Nonetheless, Supervisory Committee
recognizes the need to make adjustment to what employees take home in actual
salary.
For the last several years, staff
members have received annual increases amounting to COLA plus 1%. Giving staff
a 2% increase in 2009 in addition to COLA, rather than the 1% increase which
they have received for the last several years was a first step in a two-year
effort to bring BYM salaries more in line with rates paid for comparable jobs
at other non-profits in the area.
Supervisory Committee was inhibited in providing more substantive
increases in 2009 by the fact that the budget for this year had already been
approved at Annual Session in August 2008.
Supervisory Committee committed itself
early in the fall to looking at how to make additional adjustments in the pay
scale beginning in FY 2010. As a first
step, it reviewed and updated the job descriptions of four positions (some of
which had not been updated since 2000).
With job descriptions that more accurately reflect what particular staff
actually do, the Committee then looked at the salaries of comparable positions
in the metro area, using such resources as the salary survey done by the
American Camp Association's scale for camp directors in the Mid-Atlantic region
and several electronic programs that provide comparative salaries. Several members of Supervisory Committee
also met in January with members of Camping Program Committee and Camp Property
Management Committee to get their input on what salaries need to be.
Based on its own analysis of where BYM
staff salaries should be and the helpful input of the other committees, Supervisory
Committee is recommending broader adjustments for five positions in FY
2010. These adjustments would boost
total staff compensation costs in FY 2010 by $71,993 or 14.5% over the 2009
level. The line item for staff costs would go from $496,575 this year to
$568,568 in 2010. This recommendation has been forwarded to Stewardship and
Finance which is preparing the overall budget to be presented at Annual Session
in August.
Friends
raised concern about whether some people are working part-time who should be
working full-time. Another spoke with concern
about such a large proposed increase during this time. A question was raised about whether a range
has been identified for each position.
Natalie
Finegar (Sandy Spring) of Stewardship and Finance Committee applauded
Supervisory Committee in making such a recommendation, recognizing that it is
needed, despite the current financial situation. It is now Stewardship and Finance Committee’s role to make a
decision as to how to respond.
I2009-14 Ann Riggs appointed to Friends Theological
College. Rich Liversidge (Sandy Spring) reported that Ann Riggs, a member
of Piedmont Friends Fellowship and a sojourner at Annapolis Meeting, has been
appointed to the position of Principal of Friends Theological College (FTC) in
Kaimosi, Kenya. FTC trains pastors to
serve in Kenya and elsewhere in Africa.
Ann has previously served at the National Council of Churches. Any funds to support her which are sent to
Friends United Meeting will go in full to support her; no administrative funds
will be withdrawn.
Barbara Thomas (Annapolis) reported on that Meeting’s
conversation of how to release Ann for this purpose. Annapolis Meeting has agreed to take care of her house and has
raised enough for her to begin studying Swahili and to get her travel
medicine. The Meeting is also hoping to
raise enough for her initial travel and has a fund for her support.
A Friend spoke in support of this appointment. Friends are not aware of the actual amount
of money which will be needed. Ann is
available to visit with Meetings.
I2009-15 Stewardship
and Finance Committee. Natalie Finegar (Sandy Spring) and chair of the Development
Sub-Committee presented Robinne Gray, who made a report. The Committee is working to shore up annual
giving to the Yearly Meeting. It will
identify Friends for major gifts and planned gifts, through Friends
Fiduciary. A giving page has been put
on our web-site. Frequently-Asked-Questions
about apportionment have been prepared.
Baltimore Yearly Meeting will have four direct appeals each year, accompanied
by an educational component. Robinne is
also visiting Monthly Meetings and making presentations about
philanthropy.
Stewardship and Finance will have an apportionment meeting
on April 18 at 11 a.m. at Sandy Spring Community House. This is the time to learn about Baltimore Yearly
Meeting’s budget process. Monthly
Meeting apportionment questionnaires have been requested and are needed.
The Committee recommended a one-time use of the mailing list
in support of Ann Riggs’ ministry, as long as it is done in consultation with Baltimore
Yearly Meeting’s annual appeals.
APPROVED
The Committee presented a description for the work of a
Development Committee. Stewardship and
Finance Committee requests that Interim Meeting approve this Committee with the
understanding that Manual of Procedure has not yet seen the description. The current sub-committee will continue for
the present and understands that Nominating Committee may need help in
identifying initial membership.
A Friend spoke of discomfort in receiving requests for funds
more than once a year. Another noted
that one purpose of these is for education about BYM, which Baltimore Yearly
Meeting Friends need. Baltimore Yearly
Meeting Committees have to seek approval of Stewardship and Finance for use of
the mailing list to raise funds. Manual
of Procedure Committee has been asked to publish the current policy.
The proposal for a Development Committee was APPROVED. It will be forwarded to Annual Session. The Clerk of Trustees requested that at each
Interim Meeting there be a treasurer’s report.
I2009-16 Friends
World Committee on Consultation. Elizabeth Meyer (Sandy Spring) spoke of
her regret that she had scheduled today’s meeting on the same day as Friends
World Committee on Consultation’s (FWCC) Annual Meeting near Portland,
Oregon.
FWCC plans to hold its Annual Meeting in the Baltimore Yearly
Meeting area in 2010. A local
arrangements committee will be needed.
Some of its work will be transportation to and from airports. The Yearly Meeting is also asked to present
an evening program describing Baltimore Yearly Meeting’s unique qualities.
Participants at the FWCC meeting are working on this plan
and appreciate the support of Baltimore Yearly Meeting.
I2009-17 Fishertown
Meeting. Norman Williams (Dunnings Creek) reported that previous
conversations of laying down Fishertown have changed. The two groups have worshipped together since December 7, 2008. The Meetinghouse at Fishertown is being
rented to a Mennonite group for worship.
Trustees of both groups have met to begin the process of reunification
of the two Meetings.
Friends expressed appreciation.
I2009-18 Ad Hoc Committee on Gender and Sexual
Diversity Concerns. Denny Hartzell (Washington) reported that the Committee
united with the Y2008-60 Minute of Concern from Young Adult Friends about same
gender marriage. Yearly Meeting in Session
in 2008 referred this minute to Interim Meeting for consideration. Interim Meeting Clerk, Elizabeth Meyer,
asked the Committee to advise her on how Interim Meeting might do so. The Committee decided to invite Young Adult Friends
to meet jointly with the Ad Hoc Committee
at the 2009 Annual Sessions to explore how the Yearly Meeting might proceed to
consider this minute. The Committee has
also committed to preparing a brochure for Baltimore Yearly Meeting Monthly
Meetings on the distinction between civil, legal marriage for all committed
persons versus religious covenant marriage ceremonies.
I2009-19 General
Secretary Report. Riley Robinson spoke of how a conversation with
non-Friends had raised for him the question of whether we are as good as people
think. He requested Friends to look at
our lives in a new context.
Staff has been meeting and talking about ways to cut expenses. One measure of our organization’s health is
that “you’re not suddenly hearing about a financial crisis. You’ve been hearing
about it for years! But in our
committees, and this Meeting, you see groups discussing things in a substantive
way.” Staff feels that the Yearly
Meeting needs to do some visioning.
Last June Riley asked us what we imagined for five years from now. These questions are still important.
Riley asked Baltimore Yearly Meeting staff to stand and
introduced Margo Lehman, Comptroller, Robinne Gray, Development Director, Ann Whittaker,
Administrative Assistant, and Alison Duncan, new Youth Secretary. Alison mentioned that she has been present
at two committee meetings and programs both for Young Friends and Junior Young
Friends. Alison grew up in Baltimore Yearly
Meeting, participated in BYM camps and graduated from Guilford College. She currently lives in Philadelphia where
there are active Young Adult Friends.
I2009-20 Presiding
Clerk’s Report. Howard Fullerton (Sandy Spring) reported that the Clerk
serves on three standing committees, Program, Supervisory and Trustees, which
he has attended. He also has attended
Intervisitation Committee.
The Ad Hoc
Committee on Youth Safety is about ready to make its report.
Friends General Conference is having a consultation for
Yearly Meeting Clerks and he plans to attend.
The theme of Yearly Meeting upcoming is “the business of our
lives, the transformation of faith into practice.” Rates have been lowered for Yearly Meeting this year.
12009-21 Appreciation
to Sandy Spring Meeting. Friends expressed their thanks to Sandy Spring
Meeting for hosting us and for the arrangements for evening entertainment.
I2009-22 Announcements.
- Spiritual
Formation Starter Kits are available; the new administrator for the
program will be Tracy Haidar.
- Friends
are asked to send to the office information such as updates of Clerks and
other officers of Monthly Meeting and meeting statistics which are
published in the annual report. If anyone wishes to receive the Interchange via e-mail, let Ann Whittaker
know.
- Adelphi
Friends Meeting member Esther Webb died two weeks ago today; the memorial
service will be First First Day in April at Adelphi.
12009-20 Closing.
A Friend shared his experience of hearing the small voice of the clock in the
room as a reminder of the role of silence in our lives. Another spoke of a member who has entered
hospice care saying she reports that she is ‘in the light, but appreciates Friends
helping hold her in the Light.”
The meeting closed at 5:40 purposing to meet again at State
College on June 20, 2009.
Respectfully submitted,
Elizabeth Meyer, Presiding Clerk
Meg Boyd Meyer, Recording Clerk
