SPRING 2008Mike Ayers
Assistant TreasurerAt Quarterly Meeting in December, we approved the Quarter’s budget for 2008-2009. We were able to hold the budget increase under our target of a 5 per cent increase, even with budgeting for a new computer and printer for the coordinator’s office. We approved asking for monthly meetings to base their share of the contribution to our budget based on the number of adult members they reported to Philadelphia Yearly Meeting the preceding January, as has been our long-time practice.
A significant improvement to the budget process this year was that the Finance Committee developed both the Steering Committee budget and the quarter budget. Since the coordinator expenses make up 97 per cent of the total quarter budget, it seemed rightly ordered to put our best financial minds to the task.
Monthly meetings reported the following commitments to Philadelphia Yearly Meeting and Salem Quarter:
2008-2009 Covenant and Quota 2008-2009 PYM Covenant SQM Share Total Expected Quarterly Payments Woodstown $3,952 $3,800 $7,752 $1,938 Greenwich Individual Contributions $4,669 $4,669 $1,167 Mickleton $7,644 $6,000 $13,644 $3,411 Seaville $1,361 $5,869 $7,230 $1,808 Mullica Hill $9,671 $6,782 $16,453 $4,113 Salem $19,000 $16,900 $35,900 $8,975 Woodbury $21,260 $15,076 $36,336 $9,084
TOTALS
$62,888
$59,096
$59,096
$119,805This year, Philadelphia Yearly Meeting’s Financial Stewardship Committee asked us to think ahead to 2010 and 2011. The Steering Committee spent part of three meetings visioning what we would be doing three years from now. We came up with the following thoughts, none of which are setting policy or direction, but rather are brainstorming ideas:
By 2011, Phil Anthony will likely have retired, and the quarter will either have a new coordinator or be searching for one. Part of that process will be to consult with the monthly meetings about how the job description might change.
By 2011, we may have established two new worship groups, probably in the Glassboro and Millville areas. This will mean a significant increase in travel and time on the coordinator’s part.
By 2011, we would like to see a significant emphasis on outreach and publicity in a really big way. For example, we could “package” Quakerism and “sell it”. We offer a lot to folks who are seeking their own path. As Mullica Hill’s Website puts it, the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) is a refreshing faith alternative that has been distilling religion down to its basics for over 350 years.
By 2011, we anticipate our printing expenses increasing by two or three times, possibly taking Salem Quarter News to a four-color process. Again, this would be part of our significant outreach effort.
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Tuesday, February 19, 2008 at 11:03 PM
