WINTER 200314 Ninth Month 2003
alem Quarterly Meeting met 14 Ninth Month 2003, at Greenwich Lower Meetinghouse. After a brief period of silent worship, Clerk Michael Gibson convened the meeting. He welcomed all and reviewed the agenda.
Karen Paarz (Seaville) eloquently provided a report on the background, current status and intended direction of the Man2Man–Northern Ireland project. She explained that the program is a replication of the Man2Man program in north and central Philadelphia with appropriate adaptations for Ireland. Currently, the societal response to the violent behavior of antisocial youth is to allow paramilitary groups to severely beat offenders, often breaking their legs or shooting their knees. Karen explained the program’s five phases. Phases one and two are on site in Ireland and involve bonding between youth and multicultural facilitators, the development of pro-social behavior, moral and ethical values, stress and anger management followed by community reintegration, reparation, and active community citizenship participation. Phase three brings the young men who have successfully completed phases one and two to Pendle Hill for a period of four weeks. During this time they will learn job skills, work ethics, and basic business concepts as they shadow local businessmen in the building trade. They will also continue the development of their appreciation for cultural diversity through field trips and interaction with the House of Umoja, a residential facility in Philadelphia founded in 1968 by Sister Falaka Fattah for troubled African-American youth. Phase four will see their return to Ireland to their families for school and/or job training. The goal of phase five is to maintain the level of civic participation and of the graduates and involve them in the training and administration of the program for other youth. Karen outlined the process of the funding application, primarily through the European Union whose decision is expected on 9/18/03. The period of funding for the program is to be for two years with future funding based on the success of the project. She indicated that the opportunity for our participa tion both physical and financial would be greatest during phase three when the participants are at Pendle Hill. Our spiritual and emotional support is needed and accepted at all times. Friends interested in following the program may contact Karen at paarzk@yahoo.com. She is willing to set up and e-mail a mailing list for program updates.
The minutes of the Sixth month Quarterly Meeting were reviewed as printed and approved with one correction. The second page, third paragraph, last line was edited to read “insurance because Philadelphia Yearly Meeting wanted the item to be more visible in the budget.”
Frank Lenik presented a report from the Steering committee. They have been continuing their dialogue regarding the characteristics of the committee and the Coordinator’s position. They have asked for discernment from the monthly meetings of the Quarter. Meeting accepted the report and offered the following minute: “Monthly meetings are asked to begin the process of discernment; so that a group discussion may begin to take place at the next Quarterly Meeting.”
On behalf of the Nominating Committee, Peggy Warner reported that they have met to familiarize themselves with the various meeting members and their skills and talents. There has been interest indicated in a spiritual gifts workshop similar to the one led by Thomas Swain several years ago. It was noted that the Nominating Committee meeting was a “centered gathering where the committee members had much excitement regarding new members.” The report was accepted as presented.
Mario Cavallini presented a report form the Worship and Ministry committee which touched on a number of topics, including plans to evaluate the Salem Quarter Retreat, a proposal to schedule an extended meeting for worship, revival of the spiritual gifts workshop, a request for a clearness committee, and the group/individual study program “Spiritual Formation.” Meeting approved the Worship & Ministry committee to arrange an extended meeting for worship to be scheduled in the spring. Meeting approved the authorization of the Worship and Ministry committee to conduct a clearness committee for a friend in the Quarter on behalf of the Quarter, reporting back to the Quarter as necessary. The report was accepted.
Both the quarterly and annual budget reports were accepted as presented by Sue Price-Redfern with the following notes. On the annual report, the deficit figure in the total income-expenses column of $7,500.00 is not actually a deficit. A monthly meeting was late in submitting their covenant payment, so it was not included on that report. It was noted that the income from the Fiduciary-property account continues to drop. The quarterly report figure of $32,879.88 in regards to the monthly meeting covenant income is inflated due to the inclusion of the late payment previously mentioned. It was requested that the date of the Fiduciary report be included on the account fund and balances statement.
The funding support request from Elizabeth Thomas for her trip as a Philadelphia Yearly Meeting representative to the Triennial Meeting of Friends World Committee will be followed up on by our clerk in the next few weeks.
Bob Horvay reported on the sale of books from Friends General Conference (FGC) by the Quarter at the December Quarterly Meeting. The sale generates a consignment credit with FGC. Currently, we have a credit of about $130.00. He asked that this be included in the financial reports. Sue Price-Redfern agreed that this could be accomplished with the notation that this is only a credit with FGC, not money in an account.
Our clerk read several announcements and invited other Friends to do so as well. Particularly significant was the reminder that monthly meeting clerks need to forward information regarding the amount of their covenants to Philadelphia Yearly Meeting and SQ for 2004-2005 by 10/15/03. During a final period of worship, Friends offered appreciation and gratitude and approved the following minutes of appreciation:
Salem Quarterly Meeting expresses heartfelt appreciation to Greenwich Monthly Meeting for hosting the quarterly meeting again this September. It is always a delight to visit this beautiful meetinghouse and to meet with Friends from all over the quarter for worship, conducting business, enjoying each other’s company and eating on the lovely grounds. Thank you, Greenwich Friends, for your continued generosity and hospitality.
Salem Quarterly Meeting eagerly awaits Mary Waddington’s sharing later today from her recent writings on mystical experience. We are grateful that she has agreed to share herself with us, and we are humbled that she is willing to be open and vulnerable in such an intimate sharing. Thank you, Mary. We love you and shall hold you in our prayers.
Rebecca Shapiro
Assistant ClerkRETURN TO TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Thursday, March 11, 2004 at 09:44 PM
