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SUMMER
2001 March 11, 2001
Salem Quarterly Meeting met March 11, 2001 at Woodstown Meetinghouse. Gloria Horvay, our Clerk, opened the meeting after a brief period of worship, welcomed Friends, and thanked Woodstown Meeting for hosting. She expressed appreciation for the delicious soups served and for the First Day School volunteers who provide meaningful activities for the children.
Gloria reviewed items on the agenda and then the following corrections were approved for the minutes printed in the newsletter: (1) A typo, “meets,” was corrected on page 15; (2) In the financial report, the word “unrestricted” was added (to the second line on page 15); (3) the words “financial” and “support” were switched in the section discussing Quarter assistance for the Dinshahs; and (4) the title, “Four Doors to Meeting for Worship,” was corrected. A Friend inquired of Phil Anthony, our Coordinator, about the status of the project of organizing the Quarter newsletters for appropriate archiving in the Coordinator’s office; he responded that all newsletters are accessible but further organization is desirable. Gloria indicated that she would advise Phil regarding the purchase of appropriate library storage materials for this purpose; she also noted that she would ensure that copies of the corrected Quarter minutes are sent to Swarthmore College for permanent records.
Sue Price-Redfern, Assistant Treasurer for the Quarter, presented the Financial Report (see pp. 19–20). She thanked Monthly Meetings for timely submissions of their covenants. She highlighted that $5,000 of restricted funds had been moved back to the fiduciary and that a special trust is in the process of being established for the purpose of caring for Quarter properties; she reminded Friends that this fund, whose current amount is about $2,900, will be reviewed yearly. Friends accepted her report as presented.
Gloria shared correspondence with Quarter Friends; she read a letter from Drew Smith, Head of Mullica Hill Friends School expressing gratitude for the January grant providing scholarship for three children.
Marjorie Candau reported on the excellent ongoing progress of renovating Camp Darkwaters, a longstanding Quaker Camp. Friends interested in more information or in making donations of money and/or time may contact Elizabeth Thomas or herself at Woodbury meeting.
Gloria reminded Friends of our previous discussion regarding the Friends Home as “under the care of the Quarter” and introduced Tom Lyons, the current administrator of the Home, to share information with us. He noted that presently there are sixty residential health care beds in addition to eight independent apartments; however, they are investigating the possibility of adding significantly more independent and assisted living units to meet the needs in the community. He reported that over one hundred full and part time staff operate the Home with the help of an active Board and volunteers. The staff and board members present introduced themselves: Mary Ellen Brooks, Steve Waddington (Clerk of Board), Frank Crane, Betty Crane, Mike Ayars, Earl Urion, Sandy Ridgway, and Richard Ridgway. He explained that a new mission statement is being developed as well as a quarterly newsletter, which will be available in the spring. He invited Friends to participate in the June 9 ice cream social celebrating their 25th anniversary in their present location. He encouraged Friends to volunteer at the Home, noting that a haircutter is needed now. He thanked the Quarter for the opportunity to speak and for their continued support. He reiterated a request for an address list for Quarter Friends; it was decided that he will contact each Monthly Meeting for its current list.
Gloria thanked Tom for his informative report about the Friends Home. Several questions were asked. Tom responded that there is now an affiliation with the Cadbury Care at Home program. He described how the Friends Home is “Quaker” by emphasizing the involvement of the Board of Trustees whose members are all Quakers and stating that “the staff creates a family feeling [with] individual focus.” He mentioned a new video entitled Being Among Friends, and reported that currently about 20 per cent of those living at Friends Home consider themselves Quakers. Friends were invited to attend the Meeting for Worship held at 9 AM every Sunday; appreciation was expressed to the small dedicated group from Woodstown Monthly Meeting who support that weekly worship. Friends shared personal experiences concerning the wonderful care that family members received at the Home. Gloria thanked Tom for responding to our questions and requested that the Home share reports with the Quarter on a yearly basis.
Phil reminded Friends to attend and participate in the PYM Yearly Meeting scheduled for July 17-22 on the topic of “Deepening our Spirit.” He requested that Friends ensure that flyers are posted in their meetinghouses.
Gloria reminded Friends of our previous discussion concerning how members of the Friends Home Board of Trustees are selected. Steve described the bylaws of the Friends Home which state that the Board nominates its own members with approval from the Quarter; all members must be Quakers (though some Ad Hoc Committee members are not). He noted that currently there are 13 members, although the bylaws specify 18; thus, they are seeking new members who have specific talents and skills. Names of Friends can be suggested to the Nominating Committee of the Friends Home Board from Monthly Meetings or the Quarter. Peggy Warner, Clerk of the Quarter Nominating Committee checked the time line for nominations for the Friends Home; Steve noted that it is now operated in conjunction with our Quarter nominations.
Peggy provided a report from the Nominating Committee for the Quarter. She thanked Phil for yearly updating the useful list in the newsletter of Friends serving Quarter positions and committees. All nominations were approved (see list on pp. 12–14). Peggy presented a minute of appreciation on behalf of the Quarter for Wilbert Shea for his service to the Steering Committee and as an auditor. She conveyed the request from the Nominating Committee that Gloria meet with Drew Smith to develop a written statement regarding the relationship between the school and the Quarter. Gloria noted that the new sub-committee of the school might address this concern. The Quarter minutes from December 1998 were consulted which indicated that the Quarter can nominate two names of Friends for the Friends School Board “to consider.”
Phil distributed copies of the case statement from the Friends School, “Breaking New Ground,” for Friends to share with their Monthly Meetings.
Phil read a report respectfully submitted by Mary Waddington, Clerk of the Quarter Worship and Ministry Committee:
Fifteen Friends from five Monthly Meetings gathered on March 9, 2001, at the Horvays’ for our quarterly Worship and Ministry Committee Meeting. We summarized the work we have been doing over the past year on the PYM queries pertaining to the question, “What is it to which we are called as a Yearly Meeting?” We then deepened our findings in a period of worship, allowing Spirit to move through us and quicken us. What seemed to be given to us was that corporate grounding provides the basis for individual leading and the individual leading gives the occasion for the corporate action. It was clear that we are called to deepen our worship and share our faith experience among each other and then take it out into the world. We meet next on June 8, 2001.
Gloria encouraged Friends to attend the open meetings of the Quarter Worship and Ministry Committee. A question was raised about whether any action should be taken in response to the report; it was decided that this will be considered at a future time.
Gloria read a written report submitted by George Crispin, Clerk of the Quarter Trustees:
The Committee of Trustees reports that to all indications the pointing of the north wall of the Alloway Creek Meetinghouse has been successful in keeping out the moisture that has, in the past, led to the deterioration of the interior wall. A roofing expert has been contracted to make a thorough examination of the roof walls to verify this initial finding.
A company has been found that claims to be able to rid the Alloway Creek Meetinghouse of the posthole beetle. This spring this company will be contracted to do so in order to prevent any further damage to the building. The cost of doing this is much more reasonable than our first estimates.
The Committee to Consider Future Uses of the Alloway Creek Meetinghouse has not met during the winter months. it plans to do so when the weather is more springlike.
A burial has taken place in the Maurice River Burial Ground. The request came from the family of a local resident who had lived in Port Elizabeth most of her life. It is the policy of the Trustees to grant permission for burial in the burial grounds under the care of the Trustees to local residents, especially if they have Quaker background in their ancestry. This woman apparently did. Since there are very few Quakers in that area, permission was granted.
The Port Elizabeth Burial Ground was inspected by myself this January. While there is much to be done there, credit must be granted to Billy Smith, a local Boy Scout, for his efforts. The grounds has a sign and a gate to identify ownership and mark the entrance. Whether Billy Smith will mow the grass there this summer has yet to be decided, but we are looking into other volunteers in the area that might be interested in mowing the grass. Bayside Prison is one possibility. The Mullica Hill children’s First Day School Class has asked for a clean up day at this burial ground. This will be scheduled when the weather is more congenial.
The Friends School of Mullica Hill classes under the direction of Chris Mahon have utilized the Alloway Creek Meetinghouse for a tour in their studies of history and Quakerism. The Meetinghouse is available for tours of all groups sincerely interested in learning about the Meetinghouse and its history and Quaker roots.
Gloria thanked George and the other Friends who have accepted the big responsibilities of caring for our Quarter properties.
Mario Cavallini, the new Clerk of the Steering Committee, noted a minute of appreciation for Jack Mahon, who served as the Clerk for the Steering Committee for many years; he also thanked Woodstown Monthly Meeting for hosting our Coordinator’s office. He reported that the Coordinator Budget (for year 2002–2003) will be brought to the June Quarterly Meeting for approval. He read an evaluation summary report concerning our Coordinator, which commended his work for the Quarter and included a recommendation for a 4.5% salary increase for Phil. Friends accepted the report.
Mario reported on the status of the Nuclear Disarmament Minutes; PYM stated that the minutes were disseminated with packets to clerks two years ago and they are now being handled by Abolition 2000, a working group of PYM.
Linda Jeffreys from Woodstown Monthly Meeting reported on new interfaith community projects being organized by community churches; the group recently expanded to include non-Christian faiths, which has resulted in a series of events related to the Holocaust remembrance. Friends were encouraged to attend as many as possible. She also noted plans to develop a Peace Center at the Salem Community College and at Woodstown Meetinghouse. Linda also mentioned that as a non-government PYM UN representative, she can obtain information about United Nations concerns for interested Friends.
Gloria reported that the Quarter received a $81 credit at the Friends General Conference Bookstore for the Quarter due to books purchased at the last Quarterly Meeting; Phil will be able to use this to purchase materials for the Quarter. Bob Horvay reported that now we can get copies of any Quaker book, even those out of print.
George shared a synopsis of the Melvin Magnall personal story, honoring Henry Wood and requested Friends to hold in the Light the Quakers and Woodbury community members travelling to England in mid-March. He highlighted the historical, social and spiritual aspects of this ongoing project involving the citizens of the two cities: Bury, England, and Woodbury, N.J., U.S.A. George read a draft of a letter from the Quarter; Friends approved of Gloria signing both an epistle and a traveling minute for the Woodbury Quakers to take to England.
Michael Gibson from Woodbury Monthly Meeting shared information and some pamphlets from the World Council of Churches on “A Decade to Overcome Violence.”
Gloria reminded Friends of the next meeting scheduled for June 10 at the Mullica Hill Meetinghouse. She concluded the meeting with a brief period of worship.
Respectfully submitted,
Cindy Cox Crispin
Assistant ClerkRETURN TO TABLE OF CONTENTS
Last modified:
Wednesday, February 18, 2004 at 08:19 AM
