SPRING 200512 Twelfth Month 2004
alem Quarterly Meeting met 12 Twelfth Month 2004, at Salem Meetinghouse. After a brief period of silent worship, Clerk Michael Gibson convened the meeting. He welcomed all and reviewed the agenda. Additionally, he made a few remarks concerning some changes in the manner in which the quarterly meeting minutes are taken and approved. It is our hope, beginning with the March 2005 quarterly meeting, that minutes will be approved in session. For this meeting, as a transition, the items on which action is taken will be approved in session. The clerk reminded us to use the silence to hold each other as we discern the sense of the meeting and record it.
The minutes of the last quarterly meeting were approved as they appeared in Salem Quarter News.
Frank Lenik (Woodstown) presented a report from the quarter Steering Committee, which summarized their work toward improving communication between the quarter and yearly meeting as well as their work on the development of a child safety policy as necessitated by the insurance company, GuideOne. Frank’s tenure as the committee clerk has ended; Tom Etherington (Mullica Hill) is the new clerk. The report was accepted with appreciation, and special gratitude was extended to Frank for his exceptional work as clerk.
Copies of the proposed draft of the Child Safety Policy were distributed. Meeting discussed our options regarding action on the proposal. The new deadline, 12/1/05, imposed by the insurance company was noted. Phil Anthony answered a few questions regarding input on the policy from various sources. Friends were reminded that any policy statement is always considered a work in progress with constant review and modification over time as needed. The following minute was approved:
Meeting approves the recommendation to accept the Child Safety Policy draft as presented, provided that its language is legally adequate, effective 7/1/05. The quarter Nominating Committee will bring three nominations to the next quarterly meeting in March for the formation of a Child Safety Committee. Between March and June, that committee will consider the policy regarding any modifications and legal language, which they will bring to the June quarterly meeting for approval. After the June quarterly meeting, they will be in place to perform their function as outlined in the policy.
The possibility that there would be costs incurred in obtaining legal opinions regarding sections of the policy was discussed. As a result the following minute was approved:
Meeting approves directing the Steering Committee to ascertain the scope of legal counsel needed to evaluate the Child Safety policy and the potential cost involved by obtaining an estimate from several lawyers. They are to report back at the March quarterly meeting.
Patti Burns presented a report from Friends School outlining the continued success of the administrative changes in the Lower School, the weekly inclusion of a developmentally challenged student, and the assorted fundraisers and projects, both recently completed and planned. Meeting thanked Patti for the report and accepted it with appreciation.
Mike Ayars (Woodstown) reported on the Friends Home at Woodstown. They have a worship sharing with the residents each First Day, facilitated by Friends at Woodstown Meeting. Shirley Lock (Woodstown) coordinates this and would willing accept volunteers from other meetings. Construction is progressing well. They expect the cottages to be turned over in about a week, although no one will be moving in until the common area is completed. Curt Lefferts (Salem) has resigned his position on the Board in order to accept the position of Director of Plant Management. Currently, their Annual Appeal is under way. They would like to improve communication between themselves and individual Friends through direct mailings. It is their intention to distribute a brochure in bulk to quarter meetings for distribution to individuals. They would like to have access to meeting mailing lists, which they would keep confidential. At this time, they have lists from Woodstown and Salem only. Meeting accepted the report with gratitude.
Our clerk read the report from the Ad Hoc Finance meeting between Salem Quarter and Philadelphia Yearly Meeting summarizing the objectives and outcomes of the meeting. The report was accepted with appreciation to the Friends involved for their care of this sensitive and critical issue.
Mike Ayars reported as clerk of the quarter Finance Committee and assistant treasurer. The quarter Finance Committee will be meeting in February to work on restructuring the committee. A budget will be prepared for presentation in March. Between now and then, monthly meetings are instructed to send their covenant information to Kathy Reilly at Philadelphia Yearly Meeting, with a copy to Mike. Mike and Dianne H. Sloane, treasurer, are working on improving the communications between the committee and the treasurers. Our current financial condition is good with regards to the ebb and flow of expenses and income. We currently have enough money to pay our bills. There will be a written report available by January for inclusion in the next Salem Quarter News (not received at press time—Ed.). Mike stated that they feel there is an excessive amount of money in a money market account and asked for authorization to open an account at Friends Fiduciary Corporation and move these nondesignated funds. Mike offered special thanks to Bob Horvay for his assistance. Meeting accepted the report with appreciation and approved the following minute:
Meeting authorizes the treasurer, Dianne H. Sloane, to move nondesignated funds from the money market account to a newly opened nondesignated fiduciary account at Friends Fiduciary Corporation.
Michael distributed a copy of a minute offered by Burlington Quarter to Interim Meeting and the response of the quarter clerks to that minute as requested by Interim Meeting. The minute discusses the role of quarterly meetings at the yearly meeting level and makes suggestions and requests regarding changes in current procedures. The quarter clerks returned the minute to Interim Meeting without modification for further consideration. Friends had the opportunity to fully read the materials distributed. Meeting discussed the various options available to us regarding the minute, ranging from no action to adoption of the minute as presented. Phil presented some historical information regarding the changes over time of the role of quarterly meetings in Philadelphia Yearly Meeting. Out of the discussion and prayerful consideration, meeting approved the following minute:
Salem Quarterly Meeting values and affirms the role of the quarterly meeting, as it is a participant in yearly meeting structure. We recognize the need for strengthening in many quarters. We would hold the individual quarters in the Light as these bodies work to strengthen themselves. We hold Interim Meeting responsible for strengthening the life and role of quarterly meetings. We have Friends, Mario Cavallini and Sondra Ball, who would be available to work with Interim Meeting if requested. We would hold Interim Meeting in the Light as they work to improve the relationship and current structure.
Judy Scott (Woodbury) shared her concern regarding the environmental impact of the recent oil spill in the Delaware River. In response to the event, she felt compelled to act and has worked with area wildlife rescue groups. She presented some facts about the spill, its impact, recovery period and the initial response of the states bordering the river. Meeting held the river and the earth in the Light and offered the following minute of appreciation and support:
Meeting approves a minute of support and appreciation for Judy Scott for her work with the wildlife rescue efforts in response to the Delaware River oil spill. We encourage individual Friends and monthly meetings to consider this as a Peace and Social Concerns project. Monthly meetings are asked to consider for the March quarterly meeting whether this should be taken up as a quarterly meeting project.
Mario Cavallini presented a report from the Worship and Ministry Committee, which among other things discussed the activities in the monthly meetings of the quarter and the 50th anniversary of the Philadelphia Yearly Meeting reunification. The report was accepted with appreciation.
The clerk read a report from the Tri-Quarter Gathering Planning Committee, which summarized responses to the 2004 TriQuarter Gathering. The report was accepted.
During a final period of worship, Friends offered appreciation and gratitude and approved the following minutes of appreciation:
Rebecca Shapiro, assistant clerkSalem Quarterly Meeting expresses gratitude to Mark Lancaster for his informative, engaging, and moving presentation on the work of the American Friends Service Committee. We hold him and the service committee in God’s care as he continues to serve the organization as Mid-Atlantic Region Director.
Salem Quarter thanks the good Friends of Salem Monthly Meeting for their gracious hospitality to the quarter for this quarterly meeting. We appreciate the genuine warmth of our hosts and, as well, the refreshments of the beverages, the heartiness of the soups, and the sweetness of the desserts they offered. We ask God’s blessings on them in the coming new year.
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