WINTER 200412 Ninth Month 2004
alem Quarterly Meeting met 12 Ninth Month 2004, at the lower Greenwich Meetinghouse. Clerk Michael Gibson convened the meeting. He welcomed everyone and invited first timers to make themselves known. Several Friends made announcements regarding future events in their Meetings. Michael reviewed the agenda and shared George Fox’s pastoral letter #162 about “being in the power of the Lord,” as we transitioned into worship.
The minutes of the last meeting were accepted as printed in the Fall Salem Quarter News.
Dana Houghton of Woodstown MM presented a report from the Quarter Worship & Ministry committee [see pp. 11-12]. They discussed planning a Quarter retreat for 2005 and determined that none will be planned. The committee has been exploring their leadings regarding service to the Quarter. The report included highlights of coming events throughout the Quarter. The report was gratefully accepted with thanks to Dana for filling in for the committee clerk, Mario Cavallini.
The Nominating Committee met in late August to fill the vacancies left by Sue Price-Redfern of Mullica Hill MM, who felt that she needed to step back from the Quarter activities for a while and take time for herself and her family. With confidence, Meeting approved Maurice (Mike) Ayars of Woodstown MM to replace Sue in the dual position of assistant treasurer and clerk of the Finance Committee. It was also noted that the Education Committee has selected a new clerk, Don Hindle of Salem MM.
The finance report was submitted by Treasurer Dianne Sloane and accepted [see pp. 14-16]. Its format was a little different than usual and it was noted that this might be an appropriate time to redesign the format of the budget and finance reports.
Our clerk presented a Steering Committee report on behalf of Frank Lenik, its clerk [see p. 10]. The Steering Committee has been working with Philadelphia Yearly Meeting to align our proce dures and theirs regarding the Coordinator position in both evaluation and financing. It is a complex and weary process that continues. They have also been discussing the child protection policy, which must be in place by December 1 as required by the liability insurance. Meeting accepted the report with gratitude for the patience exhibited by the Steering Committee.
The report from Friends School Mullica Hill [see p. 13] gave an overview of the activities that are occurring this year, including camping trips for pre-schoolers, a study of South Jersey history and Quakerism in fourth grade and the study of monarch butterflies in kindergarten. Math Nights, square dances and community movie nights are a few non-academic events planned. Highlights of fundraising events noted the recently successful Annual Auction, which raised $85,000. The Annual Giving campaign begins in October and pledges are accepted through June. There are some new administrative changes as well; the teaching staff is more involved in Quaker modeled working committees. The school continues to work on marketing and development techniques to improve enrollment. The report was accepted with much appreciation.
Robert Horvay of Mickleton MM presented a thorough review of the Coordinator’s Budget history and its development process. Several questions related to the budget require decisions. The Quarter has a year-end surplus “due to an underspending” in 2003-2004. Philadelphia Yearly Meeting has offered to accept one third of the surplus since we pay two thirds of the coordinator’s cost. It was suggested the quarter return more than a third of the surplus to lower our dependence on the yearly meeting. After some discussion, meeting approved returning one third of the surplus to Philadelphia Yearly Meeting. This decision was in opposition to the concerns and reservations of Robert Horvay who asked that his opposition be minuted. The next decisions pertain to the proposed 2005-2006 budget. Differing methods of calculation yield two sets of figures, one based on the preceding year’s actual figures and one based on the preceding year’s budgeted figures. The Quarter must select which set to use. The next question referred to the amount of the subsidy expected from Philadelphia Yearly Meeting for the Coordinator’s budget, 2005-2006. After a protracted period of question and discussion, it was clear that there was no clearness to be found at that time. A possible called session was considered because Philadelphia Yearly Meeting needed to know how much they are asked to subsidize by October. The Quarter approved setting the Philadelphia Yearly Meeting subsidy for 2005-2006 at $17,050 as found in column K. The remaining budget approvals are to be made at the December Quarterly Meeting.
Meeting approved the following minutes of appreciation:
Salem Quarterly Meeting wishes to formally acknowledge the many contributions Sue Price-Redfern has made to the quarter over the years, and to express our deep gratitude for her committed, selfless service. Most of all, we express appreciation for her—her kindness, her energy, her spirit, her love of figures and attention to details, her ability to make complex financial matters seem less intimidating, her sense of humor, her patience, her commitment to Friends process, her willingness to offer up her gifts for the benefit of the community—and all the other things that make up who she is. In serving on the quarter Steering Committee, the Board of Friends School, the Finance Committee, and as a quarter Trustee and our Assistant Treasurer, she offered to Friends many hours she could have spent with her family and in comfortable pastimes. We give her our love and best wishes as she now pauses to take more time for herself and her family.
Salem Quarterly Meeting minutes appreciation for Greenwich Monthly Meeting for hosting yet again our September Quarterly Meeting. It is always a delight to spend time with Greenwich Friends in their meetinghouse and on their lovely grounds, especially delightful this time of year. Our worship this evening, enhanced by the beautiful aesthetics of their meetinghouse and warm candlelight, was blest and rich. We thank them for their continued hospitality. May they grow and prosper!
Rebecca Shapiro, Recording ClerkRETURN TO TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Sunday, November 14, 2004 at 12:40 AM
