FALL 2003June 8, 2003
alem Quarterly Meeting met June 8, 2003, at Woodbury Meetinghouse. After a brief period of silent worship, Clerk Michael Gibson convened the meeting with attention to the movement of the Spirit within us. Introductions were made to those Friends attending Quarterly Meeting for the first time and to the new assistant clerk, Rebecca Shapiro.
The minutes of the March Quarterly Meeting were reviewed and approved as written with two corrections. The second page, second paragraph, eighth line was corrected to read, “funds would be taken from at,” and the second page, third paragraph, fourth line had a spelling correction made. Friends approved a request from Phil Anthony, Quarter Coordinator, to be permitted the authority, in his duties as proofreader of the Salem Quarter News, to correct spelling, capitalization, punctuation and other such errors that do not affect content of the minutes.
Steering Committee Clerk Frank Lenik presented a comprehensive report. The committee is continuing to build community in the Quarter by encouraging interaction between monthly meetings. Their hope that a group sharing of individual leadings would add depth has resulted in planned trips to a Wilmington Blue Rocks baseball game, Friends General Conference, a canoe expedition down the Great Egg Harbor River to Lake Lenape, and the Quarter Retreat on Simplicity. He also reported that the committee has completed the Coordinator’s evaluation as per the Philadelphia Yearly Meeting schedule. The committee recommended a 2% pay increase to the Coordinator’s salary, effective July 2003. The Steering Committee is conducting a self-evaluation to ensure that they are directed by the spirit of the individual monthly meetings and are providing for the Coordinator’s needs adequately. They are continuing to work on coordinating the budget for presentation. The school currently providing printing services for Salem Quarter News will no longer be able to do so. The Steering Committee is assisting in the search for a new printing firm with the expectation that costs will certainly increase, perhaps double.
A discussion of the proposed pay increase, its size, manner of calculation and timing ensued. Friends shared concerns regarding the fairness of the financial implications in adapting the pay increase schedule to fit the Philadelphia Yearly Meeting schedule. Friends were satisfied with the intent of the Steering Committee, but wanted to be sure that no disadvantage was experienced due to considering the period in two parts of six and twelve months versus one eighteen month time. It was noted that merit increases should be offered on the basis of evaluation alone without consideration of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting staff increases. It was further noted that the Friends Fiduciary Fund income is based on a three-year averaging process. All meetings who receive income from that source can expect a drop for at least the next three years. This has hit some meetings in the Quarter particularly hard. The Steering Committee report was accepted with a minute of appreciation for all of the work and energy they devoted. The recommendation for a 2% salary increase over the next twelve months, beginning in July 2003, was approved.
Our clerk read a Trustees report submitted by George Crispin, clerk of the Quarter Trustees (see report), in which the legal address of the Trustees, information regarding the care of properties, and a report on the memorial meeting for worship for Harold Powell was noted. The Trustees report was accepted. Friends approved accepting the memorial minute into the minutes (see minute) with the addition of the following information regarding Harold Powell. He was interred in the Harmersville cemetery and left an endowment of $50,000. His nephew was John Lewis Powell, who left an endowment of $5,000 earmarked for the cemetery.
Dana Houghton presented a report on behalf of the Nominating Committee regarding the manner in which Quarter Finance Committee members are selected, as well as notes regarding the need for committee clerks, assistant clerks, and job descriptions on Quarter committees. As the function of the Finance Committee is to “plan the Quarterly Meeting budget and does not relate to the monthly meetings’ budget process,” it is the sense of the Nominating Committee that “representation by each monthly meeting is not necessary and that appointment on the basis of skill is quite satisfactory.” Friends accepted the report and approved the recommendation regarding the selection process. The next meeting is scheduled for July 12, 2003, where committee members will bring updated membership lists with the names of newer members and notations of their gifts and talents.
Mario Cavallini, clerk of the Worship and Ministry Committee, presented a report from their last meeting (see report). They have considered the current efforts in our monthly meetings regarding peace and military counseling; shared worshipful concern for and celebration of individuals; and discussed the benefits and frictions of pairing faith and works or religion and politics. They shared their need for assistance in finding a person to care for toddlers during the Quarter Retreat; in sending written invitations to young people in the Quarter; and in publicizing the retreat with encouragement to register. They intend to meet next on September 12, 2003, at 7:30 pm. Friends accepted the report.
Sue Price-Redfern submitted a report on behalf of the Finance Committee, which was accepted with a note of appreciation for Sue and thanks to Dianne Sloane as well. Sue noted that we may need to re-allocate funds or ask for additional funds to cover the anticipated increased printing costs. Preliminary estimates indicate a 35%–38% increase. Permitting the sale of classified ads to offset cost was suggested with some concerns regarding the feasibility and cost effectiveness of this action. She explained that the lack of the figure pertaining to family health insurance on the 2004–2005 Coordinator’s budget was due to its inclusion on the line item for employee health insurance because Philadelphia Yearly Meeting is to pick up 30% of the amount.
Friends raised some concerns regarding the establishment of a 2.5% maximum for the Coordinator’s salary increase, noting that it is easier to lower such a figure than to raise it, and perhaps 3.5% would be more flexible. Sue explained the rationale was that the figure needed to be a middle-ground compromise because it represented a commitment of money on behalf of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting and monthly meetings, money that would then not be available for anything else. Initially, it was our Clerk’s sense that we were not prepared to accept a figure today. But further discussion, and the notation that the difference between the 2.5% and a 3% allowance was less than $200, left Friends comfortable with the 3% allowance. The 2004–2005 Coordinator’s budget was approved with a 3% increase for the 2004–2005 salary/payroll taxes. Phil Anthony spoke regarding the Regional Staff programs and noted that by 2004–2005 there may be a completely different management status.
Friends approved a memorial minute for Marion Frazier as prepared by George Crispin (see minute). Our Clerk was asked to send copies of the minute to Marion’s children, Frank and Diane, Woodstown Monthly Meeting, and Interim Meeting. It was suggested that it also be sent to Friends Journal for submission if Woodstown Monthly Meeting has not already sent such a minute.
Sondra Ball presented a request for support from the Progressive Student Alliance at Rowan University. The Alliance is part of a statewide organization with local groups on many campuses. They address student concerns regarding peace, racism, and poverty, to name a few. They are partially funded by Rowan University and receive some funding from Mickleton Monthly Meeting. They would like to see other monthly meetings offer support and funding as well. Sondra Ball, Bill Kerrigan, and Rebecca Shapiro are to coordinate the composition of a minute to be offered as a statement of encouragement to monthly meetings to find ways to proactively support both young adult Friends and young adults who are in unison with the ideals of Friends in their communities. Friends approved the intention to minute this support. The Alliance will be making a presentation to Mickleton Monthly Meeting in late September.
Our Clerk read correspondence. The Tri-Quarterly Gathering sent a note of thanks for the Quarter contribution. Interim Meeting united with our traveling minute for Karen Paarz. She will offer a report on the status of the program at the September Quarterly Meeting. Elizabeth Thomas requested direction regarding where to send her request for funds to attend the Friends World Committee for Consultation gathering in New Zealand in January 2004. She was directed to send the request to the Steering Committee; the Finance Committee can bring a recommendation to the September Quarterly Meeting.
Our clerk invited Friends to make any announcements. During a final period of worship, Friends offered appreciation and gratitude and approved the following minutes of appreciation:
Rebecca ShapiroSalem Quarterly Meeting expresses appreciation for Phil Anthony and his well-presented talk on our peace testimony. His talk was thoroughly researched and well grounded, and has left us hungering for more. Friends note it is worthy of a wider audience and regret that it was not taped for repeated listening and for circulation among Friends.
Salem Quarterly Meeting expresses appreciation to Woodbury Monthly Meeting for hosting the quarterly meeting in June and to Mickleton and Woodbury Monthly Meetings for providing lunch. The food and goat milk were wonderful and the desserts—thank you, Mickleton—were delicious and plentiful. The absolutely scrumptious soup, the table decorations, the carefully manicured grounds, and the warm welcome offered everyone are greatly appreciated. The quarter expresses thanks to all Woodbury Meeting members and attenders who coordinated hospitality and prepared the meetinghouse and grounds, and to Michael Shapiro, who provided a piano interlude between lunch and meeting for worship with attention to business.
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