MINUTES OF BALTIMORE YEARLY MEETING INTERIM MEETING
THIRD MONTH 24, 2007
GUNPOWDER MONTHLY MEETING
I2007-1 Opening. Baltimore Yearly Meeting (BYM’s) Interim
Meeting gathered on 24th Third Month at Gunpowder Meeting, Sparks,
Maryland. Over 111 Friends from 25
meetings were in attendance.
The Meeting opened with waiting worship at 2.00 P.M.
Amy Schmaljohn, clerk of Gunpowder Meeting, welcomed
Friends, speaking briefly about the 1821 meetinghouse which was updated with
indoor plumbing and heating only 20 years ago.
Five years ago, additions were built to hold First Day School and other
meetings; these have attracted a number of families with young children. The original 1773 Meetinghouse still stands,
and is now a private residence.
12007-2 Report of the Presiding Clerk Lauri
Perman. . Lauri read a paragraph from 1988 yearbook, in which Winifred
Walker-Jones thanked BYM for the privilege of serving as Clerk. Lauri offered her “State of the YM from the
Presiding Clerk’s perspective as she leaves” noting that three of the four
issues she brings today are shown as concerns in our 1988 minutes as well.
Financial matters: Lauri enumerated some of the process and
history of Trustees’ recent activities regarding the BYM audit, the financial management
letter, and some problems with record-keeping, identifying the meaning of a
$400,000 discrepancy in fund balances.
In an effort to understand fully the financial situation of BYM, Lauri
undertook to review the published records, and her research is appended to
these minutes. Trustees have yet to
complete work on this matter.
Income: In recent years BYM has approved budgets
which presume contributed income beyond apportionments, in the absence of a
plan for fund-raising. Lauri recommends
the creation of an ad-hoc development committee.
Youth Friends Program
matters: Lauri noted her gratitude
for the presence of so many Young Friends participating in the meetings
today. She noted the wonderful
contributions of Young Friends to our community and the challenges that Young
Friends pose for adults. There are many
good things happening, but during the last two years a number of difficult and
troubling things have required her attention.
Lauri reported that she has, in the last month, personally called the
parents of seven Young Friends to inform them that their child’s name had been
associated with smoking marijuana at a September Young Friends gathering.
Lauri
suggested that it is time for us as a community to take responsibility for
Young Friends program. On March 23,
Lauri sent a letter broadly within the YM including her recommendations about
how Youth Programs Committee and Young Friends might change practices to create
a program which will increase safety and support for Young Friends
activities.
Technology: Cell phones and e-mails are increasingly
changing our lives. Cell phones should
not be in the room during Meeting for Business; otherwise they should be turned
off completely. Lauri reminded Friends
that our historic method of making decisions through presence with one another
is undermined by electronic decision-making which can escalate conflict and
create additional problems.
Role of the Clerk: The Clerk’s authority is granted by the
body of Friends. However, when
committee process breaks down, Friends expect the Clerk to take action. Lauri reminded Friends that strong
committees prevent the need for the Clerk to engage in activities which might
be perceived to be the responsibility of a committee.
Lauri assumes the role of Executive Director at Pendle Hill
on May 14th; she will take up residence and begin her work in the
community there on April 15th.
She reflected briefly on the spiritual growth she has experienced in
service to Baltimore Yearly Meeting as its clerk, attributing it to the fact
that BYM is a loving community within which the clerk stands in the middle.
“The fire is burning brightly at our center; that fire is the fire of love. We
need to tend that. Christ’s love as
expressed through each of us is what the Yearly Meeting is about.”
I2007-3 Clerk’s Report: Minute of
Appreciation of Lauri Perman on the occasion of her resignation as Presiding Clerk. Michael Cronin, Friends Meeting of Washington, requesting
that Lauri Perman preside, presented her with this statement of appreciation on
behalf of the entire Yearly Meeting.
minute of
appreciation for lauri perman
______________________________________________________________________
Baltimore Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends,
at Interim Meeting, held at Gunpowder Monthly Meeting in Sparks, Maryland,
March 24, 2007, records its deep appreciation for the Clerking of Lauri Perman,
Presiding Clerk of our Yearly Meeting from August 2004 until today.
Lauri Perman has resigned as Presiding Clerk of Baltimore
Yearly Meeting [BYM] to accept the position of Executive Director at Pendle
Hill, Wallingford, Pennsylvania, a world renowned Quaker Center for spiritual
growth, study and service.
As our Presiding Clerk, Lauri has served superbly from the
beginning. When Search Committee invited her to be our Presiding Clerk, Lauri
asked for time to consider the request prayerfully, and in the best manner of
Friends convened a clearness committee to assure her discernment process would
be firmly grounded in the Truth, and careful, and thorough. It was one of the
first illustrations of Lauri’s leadership by example.
There were apparent stops to Lauri’s accepting the
invitation: Lauri had a considerable array of responsibilities in her immediate
and extended family. It takes four hours to drive from her home in State
College, Pennsylvania to the BYM offices . This meant Lauri’s attendance at
meetings of Trustees, Supervisory Committee, and Program Committee involved an
eight hour round trip automobile drive. It was an additional burden to attend
FGC’s Central Committee annual weekend and other meetings.
Yet, Lauri’s discernment led her to become BYM’s Presiding
Clerk in August 2004.
In 2004 significant changes were underway in youth safety
legislation throughout the US. Outwardly, the changes presented significant
challenges to our legal and fiduciary responsibilities. Lauri helped us
understand the broader impact of the laws on our spiritual community. By
patient explanation and encouragement, Friends saw we might make a balanced
response to the legal and fiduciary requirements. Lauri helped us see we could
take effective action to meet the requirements, in the manner of Friends – not
out of fear of legal difficulty but out of love for our children.
As Friends are sadly aware, Lauri Perman led the Yearly
Meeting as we sought to make a Friendly response to the horrifying kidnapping
of our member Tom Fox in November 2005 in Baghdad and his tragic murder in
early March 2006. This was a very difficult time for Friends in Baltimore
Yearly Meeting, especially for our youth. We are indebted to Lauri for her
spiritual guidance in those heartbreaking months.
Some of Lauri’s accomplishments are memorable because they
were visible. We’ve all been privileged to witness Lauri’s deep commitment to
clerking spiritually grounded business meetings at our Annual Session. Our
Friend Margaret Stambaugh has made particular note of the spiritual aura of the
Annual Sessions Lauri has clerked.
Some other accomplishments may not be as visible to BYM
Friends. For example, in October 2005, after seventeen years, Frank Massey
resigned as General Secretary. This was scarcely fourteen months after Lauri
took office.
In the eleven months between Frank Massey’s resignation and
Annual Session in August 2006, Lauri Perman attended fifteen meetings of
Supervisory Committee. It was the committee’s duty to develop promptly and
implement thoroughly an effective and Friendly search process for a new General
Secretary. Those meetings required an enormous amount of preparation,
discussion, and follow up, not just within the Supervisory Committee, but also
with dozens of committees and our forty Monthly Meetings and worship
groups. We were obliged as well to
honor by our actions our covenant to support the existing staff, including an
Interim General Secretary, while a search proceeded for our new General
Secretary. Lauri Perman was in the
vanguard, helping to assure our faithfulness to our Friendly process and to
getting the job done.
This example’s details are not as important as the enduring
legacy. Lauri Perman has left us with a legacy of how to fulfill our spiritual
commitments while conducting ourselves in a Friendly way.
We are grateful Lauri Perman has blessed us with this
legacy. We appreciate her gift of it to us, and we relinquish her to Pendle
Hill with our loving benediction.
Friends APPROVED.
I2007-4 Manual of Procedure Committee. Howard Fullerton, Sandy Spring reminded
Friends that the purpose of the manual is to provide a basis for our work, but
this basis often needs elaboration.
Minor changes initiated by the Education Loan Committee were
presented.
Change the name of the committee to
more accurately reflect the nature of the funding to Education Loan Committee
To
reflect changes in laying down the Ethel Reynolds Fund Committee:
Drop the description of the Ethel
Reynolds Fund Committee (p. 20) and modify the descriptions of the Advancement
and Outreach and Religious Education Committees.
For A & O, p. 17 and RE, p. 26
(same wording:
The Committee appoints two of its members
to serve on the Ethel Reynolds Fund Committee for one-year terms. It also names
one member to serve on the Sue Thomas Turner Quaker Education Fund
Committee for a two-year term.
Friends APPROVED.
A major change defining process for the use of the YM
mailing list was proposed. After
considerable discussion, the proposal was returned to committee with
suggestions for further clarification.
Major changes regarding site selection for Annual Sessions
was presented, affecting descriptions of responsibility of Program Committee
and functions of Interim Meeting and Yearly Meeting, but more accurately
reflecting the time required for negotiation of sites.
To
reflect the reality of arranging for the date and location of the Yearly
Meeting Session (three changes):
On
page 26:
The Program Committee has oversight of all program plans
for Yearly Meeting sessions, including Junior Yearly Meeting,.
Thisoversight includes
negotiating each year a suitable site for the following year's annual sessions,the
planning of the time schedule in detail, assigning places for all meetings,
selecting guest speakers and special program events or delegating the selection
to appropriate groups, and caring for the book room.
This
implies changes in the description of the Yearly Meeting and of Interim
Meeting.
Among
the functions of Interim Meeting, p. 8:
to recommend to
the Yearly Meeting dates and places for its sessions.
Under
Sessions, p. 2:
The Yearly Meeting meets at least once a year, at an
appointed time and place and for a stated length of time,.
and, before adjournment, makes provision for the time, place, and period of its
next regular meeting.
Friends House
Request. . A change in Maryland law changed the definition of Friends
House to a Continuing Care Retirement Community. The new designation triggers
two changes in Friends House by-laws to permit the appointment of a resident to
the Board, a requirement for licensure in the state of Maryland. The letter of request appears as Attachment B
to these minutes.
FRIENDS NURSING HOME, INC. Proposed Bylaw Change:
ARTICLE II.
Membership of the Board of Directors
A. The members
of this Board, known as “The Friends Nursing Home Directors”, shall be nineteen
(19) in number. Each director 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 Director. Members of the Board serve on a voluntary
basis and receive no salary for services rendered.
ALL
FRIENDS HOUSE, INC.Proposed Bylaw
Change:
ARTICLE II.
Membership of 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.
Members of the Board serve on a voluntary basis and receive no salary
for services rendered.
Friends APPROVED.
I2007-5 Committee of Four Committees. Allen Briggs, Blacksburg, announced that
Katherine Smith, Maury River, will serve as Clerk of the Committee of Four
Committees. This committee, made up of
representatives from Stewardship and Finance, Advancement and Outreach,
Ministry and Pastoral Care, and Ad Hoc Committee on Gender and Sexual Diversity
Concerns is charged to recommend to Annual Sessions regarding Baltimore Yearly
Meeting’s financial contributions to Friends United Meeting, in particular,
funds budgeted for the second half of 2004 and for 2005. Although the committee has not met since
October 2005, it will meet soon. A
concern arose that Friends be informed about the meeting times so that all who
wish may attend, and that all points of view on the issues are
represented.
I2007-6 Peace and Social Concerns Committee. Barbara Bien, Gunpowder, read a request forwarded from Sandy
Spring Monthly meeting approving the use of Monthly Meeting mailing list for
fund-raising. The request has been reviewed by Peace and Social Concerns
Committee which requests endorsement and prayerful support
and approval of the use of Baltimore Yearly Meeting’s
mailing list for fundraising to support a Women’s Peace Exchange hosted at
Sandy Spring in BYM to be held Tenth Month.
Friends APPROVED.
I2007-7 Ad Hoc Committee on Intervisitation – Georgia Fuller, Langley Hill
read a travel minute for Walter Brown, approved by that Meeting.
Travel
Minute for Walter Brown
We at
Langley Hills Friends Meeting commend our member, Walter Brown, to your
care. He is traveling among Friends to
build bridges of understanding. He has
been a part of Langley Hill Friends Meeting since its inception and he has
shown himself to be a well grounded and spiritually centered Friend with
excellent listening skills. He is a
student of Quaker history and theology and has a strong interest in deepening
his understanding of the diverse world of Friends. He feels called to travel among Friends on behalf of the
Baltimore Yearly Meeting Intervisitation Program.
The
Intervisitation Program of Baltimore Yearly Meeting (BYM) seeks to strengthen
the Religious Society of Friends and nurture the beloved community of Friends,
especially within Friends United Meeting (FUM). While BYM’s concern regarding an FUM personnel policy planted the
seed, that concern is not the program’s focus.
Rather, as we in BYM faced the pain we felt as a result of that policy,
we awoke to the fragility of the relations among the yearly meetings and
monthly meetings of FUM. The goal of BYM’s Intervisitation Program is to
encourage, prepare, and support Friends to travel among Yearly Meetings with
the faith that we can listen deeply, strengthen our relationships, and build
our faith community. Our program
assumes that intervisitation will be in all directions and those interested
will offer and receive hospitality.
Walter has
been active among Friends all his life.
Recently, he has served on our Overseers and Family Relations and
Ministry and Worship Committees. He
currently serves on the Advancement and Outreach Committee for Friends General
Conference. He is also on the Central
Committee and Executive Committee for Friends General Conference.
Walter
travels with our hopes and prayers, and we trust that you will find his time
amongst you fruitful, prayerful and enriching.
In the Light,
Doug Smith
Clerk, Langley Hill Friends Meeting
McLean, Va.
March 11, 2007
Friends ENDORSED
the minute.
As he returned the minute from his visit to Indiana Yearly
Meeting 7th Mo. 29, 2006: Walter read the endorsement “Walter Brown
has acceptably attended the sessions of Indiana Yearly Meeting to the
edification of Friends, and we believe, to the relief of his mind.”
Walter Brown announced a Training
Workshop on April 14 if sufficient interest is shown today, or May 19th
for Friends who are interested in visiting Monthly Meetings or Yearly Meetings
in Friends United Meeting.
I2007-8 Ministry and Pastoral Care – Lamar Matthew, Stony Run, returned the travel minute of
Rosalind Zuses, from her trip to in Kenya and “1652” country in the United
Kingdom. Friends accepted with
pleasure.
I2007 - 9 General Secretary
Staff Report. Riley Robinson, reported.
Youth Secretary
Position – Hope Braveheart let us know of her intention to search for a new
job in early December. We appreciated her willingness to give us time to
prepare. In early February Hope told us that she had accepted a position with
Community Mediation Maryland as their Americorps Coordinator. The Americorps
members that she’s working with will mediate conflicts such as custody
schedules to inmate release mediation.
I am now serving on the Youth Programs Committee’s Youth
Secretary Subcommittee as we seek to develop a balanced and useful job
description. This has included lengthy interviews of two past Youth Secretaries
and Frank Massey. We are most grateful for their time
Camp Property Manager
David Hunter just sent off new permit applications for a clean water system in
the Catoctin Lagoon. These take skill and patience to arrange for and create.
Camp Administrative
Secretary Jane Megginson – Jane is hosting and staffing camp and Teen
Adventure directors meetings weekend, including planning for the new TA program
in NC.
Bookkeeper Margo
Lehman – Has developed our new chart of accounts, gotten the approval of our
software vendor for it, and we have begun to use it. Margo labored long over
this, and it will provide better reporting on our financial status and help us
budget better.
Administrative
Assistant Ann Whittaker – Ann edited the Yearbook and Interchange that you
now have. In the process, she moved us fully into our new database cleaned out
hundreds of duplicate and outdated addresses. However so many new addresses
have been added from going through the newest Meeting directories that we have
greatly increased the number of households on our mailing list. Many hundreds
of new Friends will start getting the Interchange now.
Appeal - Thanks
to everyone for your generous response to the year-end appeal letter. Your
contributions absolutely made the difference so that we didn’t have to borrow
money to get through the end of the fiscal year.
New Campus – I’ve
been working with Program Committee on plans for our new campus at Frostburg
State. The Program Committee Clerks is reporting on this. The contract has been
signed and our deposit sent.
Staff benefits work –
A change in providers this winter now means that we will pay about $4,000
less for our disability/life insurance bill than last year. We continue to
explore options in health and retirement benefits for better deals.
Maintenance –
We’ve been nursing along our two 15 year-old furnaces. We had new fluorescent
ceiling lights installed. We like that fact that we get better light for 20%
lower wattage – and we really like the fact
that they aren’t seeping
poisonous smoke and fumes.
Cathedral – At Friend Ann Riggs’
invitation, participated in leading worship at ecumenical service at National
Cathedral on Monday eve, January 29 Wonderful service. What part did I
get? The role of blessing the offering.
Lauri Perman noted that Riley has also visited in the Yearly
Meeting, speaking at Nottingham Quarter, and Stony Run. He is scheduled to speak at Centre Quarter
and Frederick Meeting’s annual retreat.
I2007-10 Friends United Meeting (FUM). Personal
reflections on the recent General Board Meting, held in Kenya, were heard from
Rachel Stacy. A formal, consensus report of our delegates, Rachel Stacy and
John Smallwood, will come at a later date.
Our representative, Walt Fry, was unable to attend. Rachel thanked Friends for their financial
support.
Friends
visited FUM programs in Africa and Uganda, which they found in grave
disrepair. Rachel had not experienced
in her previous visits to Kenya the severe poverty visible in Uganda. She also noted that the use of electronic
dialogue has exacerbated tensions between individuals and groups.
The Board
Meeting dealt, in part, with strategic planning for Friends United
Meeting. The Identity Group brought
forward a recommendation to reaffirm the Richmond Declaration of Faith,
realizing that this document has been historically and contemporaneously quite
divisive.
Rachel’s
extensive written report is being forwarded to the Committee of Four Committees
and the Intervisitation Committee.
Lamar
Matthew, Ministry and Pastoral Care, reported that the committee had heard an
oral report from Rich Liversidge, the FUM Trustee member of the FUM General
Board, and a member of Sandy Spring Meeting, which included some disturbing
information. The committee requests that the reports from our representatives
be widely available as soon as possible, preferably by the end of April.
Friends
expressed continuing interest in additional information about the changing
situation in FUM. Friends requested
that Rich Liversidge share written comments with BYM.
At the
request of the clerk, Rachel introduced the members of her Anchor
Committee: Virginia Schurman, Marshall
Sutton, Rebecca Richards and Ann Heaton.
These members of Gunpowder Meeting meet periodically with Rachel in
nurture of her spiritual journey.
I2007-11 Program Committee. Liz Hoffmeister, Bethesda, reported, reminding Friends that
Annual Sessions will be held at Frostburg State University, July 31- August 5, 2007. Friends who register early and with full
payment can move in on campus 24 hours per day. A limited amount of camping and air conditioned rooms will be
available. The Cary lecture will be
held on Friday, with Saturday evening reserved solely for the coffee
house. Fees will be slightly increased,
to cover the full costs of the program for our children and youth and other
amenities we request. Monthly Meetings
may still send up to three first-time attenders for two days at no cost.
Additional information about the program is on the BYM web-site. Registration materials will be mailed at the
end of April.
I2007-12 Search
Committee. Janet Eaby,
Nottingham, reported.
The Search Committee of Baltimore Yearly Meeting of the
Religious Society of Friends became aware in late January that our Clerk, Lauri
Perman, had a leading to apply for a position with Pendle Hill. If she was
accepted for this position she knew she would need to resign as Clerk. Pendle Hill made their decision in
mid-February asking Lauri to serve as their Executive Director, which she
accepted.
We wish Lauri Perman, our former Clerk, great success as she
embraces her new position with Pendle Hill.
We sincerely thank her for her service and trust she will be presenet
with us when opportunities arise.
The Search Committee met via telephone conference on
February 25 and agreed we should ask Howard Fullerton to complete the one and
one-half years remaining in the term, after which he would be eligible to serve
additional terms. I contacted Howard
and, after a few days of reflection, he
agreed to allow his name to be brought forward at Interim Meeting.
Howard and his family have been part of Baltimore Yearly
Meeting for many years. He has served
on almost every committee of his Monthly Meeting and the Yearly Meeting. He was Clerk of Interim Meeting. Most recently her served as interim General
Secretary. His experience among Friends
has prepared him well for his next journey.
The Search Committee of Baltimore Yearly Meeting of the
Religious Society of Friends proposes the name of Howard Fullerton To serve as
Clerk of Baltimore Yearly Meeting for the one and one-half years remaining in
this term.
We, the committee, ask the representatives to unite with our
proposal and joyously support Howard as he serves in the position of Clerk of
Baltimore Yearly Meeting.
Friends APPROVED.
I2007-13 Nominating Committee. Barbara Thomas, Annapolis, reported,
requesting that Clerks of committees let the Nominating Committee know of their
current membership needs. The names of Monthly Meeting members who have not
been involved at the Yearly Meeting level are also requested.
She reported the following resignations from BYM
committees:
Jean Wilson – Sandy Spring Friends School Board after six
years
Ed and Fran Norton – Advancement and Outreach
Howard Fullerton – Manual of Procedure and Ministry and
Pastoral Care
Rick Honn and Peggy O’Neill – Youth Programs Committee
Gloria Victor-Dorr – Program
It was noted that Lamar Matthew is the new clerk of Ministry
and Pastoral Care.
I2007-14 Naming Committee. Michael Cronin reported that Sheila Bach and Susie Fetter are
willing to serve as the naming committee.
Friends APPROVED.
Announcements and
Closing.
- Michael
Cronin, Friends Meeting of Washington, Clerk of Interim Meeting reported
that Laura Nell Obaugh, Hopewell Centre, has written requesting Friends
gathered to hold in healing love her daughter Sara and her family as they
morn the loss by automobile accident of Sara’s son Ian in Columbia, South
Carolina.
- Linda
Heacock, Richmond, has been invited back to Kenya for continuing work with
Friends Peace Teams- African Great Lakes Initiative. She offers presentations to Monthly
Meetings, publications and is seeking financial support.
- Betsy
Tobin, Frederick, provided materials for support for Christian Peacemaker
Teams, reminding Friends that our support previously was sent through
Friends United Meeting. Our Friend
Tom Fox participated in this program.
- Various
Friends announced that Kathy
Bergen will give presentations about Friends Peace Center – Ramallah,
which is jointly supported by BYM and PYM. March 25 at rise of worship at Bethesda: March 26 at 6:30 p.m. at Patapsco;
March 27 at Friends Committee on National Legislation during the day and Wednesday,
March 28 at Stony Run at 7 p.m.
- Susan
Williams, Dunnings Creek, welcomes Friends to Interim Meeting in June, but
requests reservations for adequate planning for food.
Meeting closed with worship at 5:30 with appreciation for
the gracious hospitality of Gunpowder Friends. Friends arose to gather again at Dunnings Creek Meeting,
Fishertown, Pennsylvania on 16 June 2007.
Michael Cronin, presiding Margaret Boyd Meyer, recording
Attachment
A: Lauri Perman’s worksheet on BYM
Funds
Baltimore Yearly Meeting
Funds, Assets, Fund-Asset
Deficits, and Annual Operating Budget Surpluses and Deficits, 1990-2004
Taken from
Baltimore Yearly Meeting Yearbook Fund and Investment Statements, unless
otherwise noted below.
|
Year
|
Funds1
|
Assets
|
Deficit
|
Annual
Operating Budget Surplus (Deficit)
|
|
19902
|
305,187
|
300,631
|
4556
|
7295
|
|
19912
|
399,921
|
365,081
|
348403
|
12773
|
|
1992
|
415,574
|
311,181
|
104393
|
(9532)
|
|
1993
|
465,917
|
251,372
|
214545
|
(11635)
|
|
1994
|
480,711
|
189,142
|
291569
|
13207
|
|
1995
|
553,210
|
303,425
|
249785
|
45079
|
|
1996
|
617,022
|
328,980
|
288042
|
14621
|
|
1997
|
586,833
|
357,884
|
228949
|
(24419)
|
|
19984
|
|
371,984
|
|
(5876)
|
|
19995
|
623,213
|
380,588
|
242625
|
16961
|
|
2000
|
802,228
|
408,903
|
393325
|
(47196)
|
|
2001
|
808,218
|
370,921
|
4372976
|
(14096)
|
|
2002
|
1,051,941
|
598,672
|
453269
|
1437
|
|
2003
|
1,026,189
|
609,453
|
416736
|
12593
|
|
2004
|
1,047,728
|
649,839
|
397889
|
17887
|
1In 1989, income from funds was transferred into
unrestricted operating expenses. By
1994,
separate income
funds had been set up for each of our endowment and restricted funds.
2The 1990 and 1991 reports used a different format so
these rows may not be comparable to
later rows.
3A Yearbook report shows fund balances at the
end of the year as (47,281).
4The 1998 fund statement doesn’t appear in the 1999
Yearbook.
5The funds total for 1999 was apparently erroneously
reported as $586,833 in the 2000 Yearbook
identical with the
1997 funds total shown above. Adding
the subtotals for endowment, income
funds, other funds,
and custodial funds, however, yields the $623,212 total shown here.
6The October 18, 2006, Management letter shows the
funds-asset deficits as: $402041,
405130,
400962, 398511, and
416819 for 2001 through 2005 respectively.
71788 was printed in the 2005 Yearbook. The Financial Summary that Stewardship and
Finance
presented at the
2006 Annual Session showed this figure as $9003.
Lauri
Perman 2/7/07
Attachment B:
Friends House Letter
F R I E N D S H O U S E
Retirement
Community
”Community
Through Caring”
March 7, 2007
Baltimore Yearly Meeting of the
Religious Society of Friends
Attn: Michael Cronin, Clerk
of Interim Meeting
17100 Quaker Lane
Sandy Spring, Maryland
20860
Dear Michael Cronin,
In December, Friends House
Retirement Community was contacted by the State of Maryland Department of Aging
requesting copies of our contracts used for the cottage program and copies of
our marketing materials. The Department
of Aging is currently reviewing all Maryland Retirement Communities that are
not licensed as a Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC), but require
entry fees. Their purpose is to
determine which communities charging entry fees should be licensed under new
licensing requirements.
The new requirements include the
licensing of communities with entry fees which have affiliate companies that
offer readily accessible health care services (assisted living care and/or
skilled nursing home care). Since
Friends House, Inc. (Cottage Program) and Friends Nursing Home, Inc. share the
same Board and religious sponsorship, and given that Friends Nursing Home
provides readily accessible health care services for the residents of the
Cottage Program, we meet the affiliate definition. As such, the Department of Aging wants us to pursue appropriate
licensing as soon as possible or face potential fines.
There are a few CCRC requirements
that would require changes in our current Cottage Program. One is that we would be required to empower
a cottage resident representative as a Trustee with full fiduciary rights. The
others involve using state approved contracts having language that protects the
financial investment (refundable entry fees) of residents to a greater degree
than our current contracts.
In January, the Friends House
Board of Trustees approved moving forward with CCRC licensure. To that end, our Board approved moving
forward with bylaw changes that will empower a cottage resident as a Board
Trustee. Under Article IX of the
Friends House, Inc. bylaws and the Friends Nursing Home, Inc. bylaws, any
proposed change in the method of appointing the Trustees/Directors needs to be
approved by Baltimore Yearly Meeting. To that end, we are asking Baltimore
Yearly Meeting to consider, for approval, the two attached proposed bylaw
changes. One is for Friends House, Inc.
and the other is for Friends Nursing Home, Inc.
Our hope is that Interim Meeting
will be able to take this concern up during its March meeting. Please feel free to contact me if you have
any questions or concerns about our request.
In closing, I want to warmly thank
the Baltimore Yearly Meeting for the faithful care and support it has provided
to our ministry over the many years.
In Service to Elders,
Darryl Clemmer
Executive Director
Enclosures:
FRIENDS NURSING HOME, INC.
Proposed Bylaw Change:
