SPRING 200710 Twelfth Month 2006
alem Quarterly Meeting met 10 Twelfth Month 2006, in Salem. During opening worship, Friends shared joys and names of those to be held in the Light. After reminding Friends to listen to the Spirit during meeting for business and to complete the evaluation forms, Clerk Sondra Ball (Mickleton) convened the meeting.
The minutes of the last quarterly meeting were approved as they appeared in Salem Quarter News.
Reports submitted by George Crispin (Woodbury) from both the Salem Quarter Trustees and from the Tri-Quarter Gathering were read. The Trustees are managing affairs at the old cemetery. The report on the Tri-Quarter Gathering highlighted weekend events and offered conclusions and thanks from the Crispins. Both reports were accepted.
Mike Ayars (Woodstown) summarized the joyous anticipation that Friends Village feels with regards to hosting the next Salem Quarterly Meeting in March. Program plans will be made with the Salem Quarterly Meeting Steering Committee. Mike also noted the recent success of the Friends Village bazaar. He described the level of participation as "amazing."
The Worship & Ministry report presented by Mario Cavallini (Mickleton) outlined the last committee meeting where a report was made from the Gifts Working Group. He reported that Worship & Ministry approved the Gifts Working Group carrying on activities outside of Salem Quarter. Worship sharing considered Quaker authority, a discussion that was begun at the September Worship & Ministry meeting. Gifts, leadings, and callings were discussed.
Tom Etherington (Mullica Hill) stated that the Salem Quarterly Meeting Steering Committee is embarking upon an evaluation of the Steering Sommittee. Committee members have been and will be talking with monthly meeting members about the Steering Committee and its role, with the hope of establishing the priorities and goals that the monthly meetings envision.
Under old business, the clerk noted that the Salem Quarterly Meeting endorsed Seaville minute regarding the dumping of altered nerve gas in the Delaware River will be presented to Interim Meeting on 1/27/2007. Diane Metz (Seaville) will be presenting the minute.
The clerk also noted that the peace and testimonies working group met without reaching any conclusion. They will be meeting again to discuss the status of the meetings and to set priorities. It was observed that those in attendance did not include any individuals new to active participation.
Patti Burns (Woodstown) as liaison to Friends School Mullica Hill reported on the activities at the school. She also indicated that the annual auction plans will be developing soon, but that decisions regarding the placement of an ad in their auction booklet will need to be made prior to the next Salem Quarterly Meeting. Friends discussed the issue and approved the following minute:
Salem Quarterly Meeting designated approximately $300 for a full-page ad in the Friends School at Mullica Hill auction booklet with ad content to be decided by the Salem Quarterly Meeting steering committee. Monthly meeting financial support for the quarterly meeting ad is encouraged, as are individual monthly meeting ads.
Patti also reported on the recent gathering of the Salem Quarter Friends ~ Young and Young at Heart. She shared photographs of the dog biscuit making event and announced plans for upcoming events.
The clerk introduced a new "sharing about meetings" concept, and welcomed Diane Metz (Seaville) to spotlight the activities of Seaville Meeting. Diane highlighted the events in Seaville, which included hosting a Quakerism 101 series, sponsoring food drive collections, prayer and community service First Day School programs, special meetings for worship, ecumenical community events, a "Houses for Haiti" service project, and a home-schooled member's participation in the People to People exchange program. Friends were heartened to hear about Seaville's active meeting life and thanked Diane for her work and her presentation.
Mike Ayars (Woodstown) presented the finance committee report and the proposed budget for 2007-2008. He invited questions and comments. After brief discussion and several comments, Meeting ex-pressed their gratitude to Mike and the Finance Committee for their work and approved the following minute:
Salem Quarterly Meeting approved the proposed 2007-2008 budget as presented, and approved the plan for the Finance Committee to help the Steering Committee develop subsequent quarter and coordinator budgets simultaneously.
Mary Waddington (Salem) reported to the Quarter on behalf of the Friends Prisoner Support Fund as a follow up to the presentation at the June Quarterly Meeting. She outlined the progress of the work and indicated that they are beginning to raise funds for their second year of the project, including their hopes for eventual expansion into New Jersey. Interested in offering support, Meeting approved the following minute:
Salem Quarterly Meeting approved donating $200 to the Friends Prison Support Fund and encourages the Monthly Meeting's to consider financially support of the Fund as well as spiritual support.
Under new business, meeting considered the role of the quarter in Philadelphia Yearly Meeting residential meeting 2007 in view of the news that it will be held at Rowan University. Among the considerations of ways to welcome PYM to "our backyard" was the choice to welcome them as a quarter or to include the other New Jersey quarters and welcome PYM to New Jersey. Individual volunteers with a local frame of reference to work on agenda planning and logistics planning will be needed as well. Keeping in mind that action needs to be taken prior to next quarterly neeting in March 2007, meeting approved the following minute:
Salem Quarterly Meeting approved the establishment of a liaison committee for the 26-30 July 2007 Philadelphia Yearly Meeting residential meeting at Rowan University. It is the wish of the Quarter to invite the participation of the other NJ Quarters. The Salem Quarterly Meeting Steering Committee is directed to work on the details of the committee and its activities.
Sondra made several announcements regarding upcoming activities, asked Friends to complete the evaluation forms, thanked Salem for their hospitality and Diane Metz for her program on parish nursing. Meeting concluded with worship.
Rebecca Shapiro, assistant clerkRETURN TO TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Sunday, March 04, 2007 at 11:12 PM
