FALL 200611 Sixth Month 2006
alem Quarterly Meeting met 11 Sixth Month 2006, in Mickleton. During worship Friends shared joys and prayer requests. Clerk Sondra Ball (Mickleton) then convened the meeting, asking that Friends be mindful when speaking to sensitive subjects by first considering whether their comments are relevant, true, and kind before speaking.
Salem Quarterly Meeting accepted an epistle presented by the steering committee of Friends Prisoner Support Fund, a committee of Haddonfield Quarterly Meeting and a project of Westfield Monthly Meeting, offering their support and sending the epistle on to the monthly meetings of Salem Quarter. Meeting approved the following minute:
The epistle is referred to the Salem Quarterly Meeting Steering Committee to consider further action to be reported at next quarterly meeting and to consider putting in place the mechanism to assist Friends in offering their support, perhaps through the Salem Quarterly Meeting Steering Committee or through the formation of a Testimonies and Concerns Committee.
Priscilla Adams (Haddonfield) offered thanks on behalf of Mary Waddington (Salem) and the FPSF Committee and asked that we continue to hold in the Light, Mary and Roshan Dinshah in their work.
The minutes of the last quarterly meeting were approved as they appeared in the Salem Quarter News.
As liaison, Patti Burns (Woodstown) reported on the graduation and end-of-the-year events at Friends School Mullica Hill. Her report was gratefully accepted.
Patti also reported on the newly formed children's committee. There was some discussion on the use of the term "young Friends" to describe the group. Use of the phrase throughout Philadelphia Yearly Meeting connotes an older group of young people than this particular group. Meeting accepted the report, which described the upcoming activities and schedule.
Mario Cavallini (Mickleton) presented the Worship & Ministry report. Meeting approved the continuation of the work of the Gifts Working Group and accepted the report
Mike Ayars (Woodstown) reported on Friends Village. The Ice Cream Social and Health Fair event was highly successful. There is almost full occupancy in the cottages and there is a waiting list for the apartments. The residential care move-in is ahead of schedule, and the health care unit is basically full. The board has welcomed four new members, one from Greenwich Monthly Meeting and three from among the Village residents. They are currently considering residential care and evaluating the needs of the wider community over the next ten years. Meeting accepted the report and thanked Mike for his efforts.
Tom Etherington (Mullica Hill) reported for the Steering Committee. They are considering asking Marcia Prager for another program and additional Tony Prete programs as well. Our own Diane Metz (Seaville) will be presenting a program on "Nursing Care in the Community as a Faith Outreach" at the December Quarterly Meeting in Salem. Judy Scott (Woodbury) will be presenting the September program on her work with the Cedar Run Wildlife Refuge. In addition to programs, the Steering Committee is addressing the issue of the increase in health care insurance costs and options for the Salem Quarterly Meeting coordinator's dependent. Friends spoke to the issue and as a result, Meeting approved the following minute:
Salem Quarterly Meeting approved a budget overrun of $540 for the year to cover the increased cost of health insurance for the coordinator's dependent child for a referral-only option. Selection of a non-referral plan is an option, but at a personal cost to the coordinator.
Mike Ayars (Woodstown) presented a report on behalf of the Finance Committee. Meeting accepted the report and asked that the financial timeline be forwarded to all monthly meeting treasurers [see report and timeline].
Under new business, the clerk brought forth a concern concerning the Child Safety committee. It is currently not functioning. Items have been referred to the committee, but they are not meeting. After a discussion regarding the responsibilities of the committee with specific attention to the need to shift from an organizational to an operational focus, Meeting approved the following minute:
Salem Quarterly Meeting laid down the Child Safety Committee and directed the Nominating Committee to bring forth recommendations to name a new committee by the next quarterly meeting. Any issue requiring action between now and then will be referred to the Salem Quarterly Meeting Steering Committee and the Salem Quarterly Meeting clerk.
On behalf of the Philadelphia Yearly Meeting Nominating Committee, Robert Horvay (Mickleton) requested comments regarding whether there need to be two individuals filling the roles of Interim Meeting clerk and Philadelphia Yearly Meeting clerk, or whether one person might fill the two positions. Salem Quarter Friends indicated that they felt different individuals for the two positions were in order.
Friends thanked Mickelton for their generous and delicious hospitality. Meeting was closed following a period of worship in gathered silence.
Rebecca Shapiro, assistant clerkRETURN TO TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Tuesday, September 12, 2006 at 09:07 PM
