SPRING 200914 Twelfth-month 2008
Salem Quarterly Meeting met 14 Twelfth-month 2008, at the meetinghouse in Salem. Out of worship, Clerk Sondra Ball (Mickleton) convened the meeting. There was a Friendly presence of twenty-five for business.
Minutes of the last quarterly meeting on 14 Ninth-month 2008 were approved as they appeared in Salem Quarter News.
Gary Holmes (Woodstown) spoke about the discouragement with bureaucracy regarding the Iraqi family project. Dr. Kareem and his family are still in Cairo. Housing in the U.S. has been arranged and there are school options for their two sons. Their daughter is in medical school in Bagdad. Their visa interview is soon with a desired August 2009 entry into the country. The English language skills and cultural transition for Dr. Kareem’s wife and youngest son would benefit from e-mail correspondence. Friends are invited to converse with Abdul Kareem al Obedy at kareemobedy60 at yahoo.com. Eyes and ears open for available jobs are needed. When travel arrangements are made, donation of airline miles would be welcomed. After a brief discussion, Friends approved the following minute:
Salem Quarterly Meeting approved the formation of a committee to assist Woodstown Monthly Meeting with the needs associated with bringing the Iraqi family, Dr. Kareem and his wife and children, to the U.S. Volunteers Gary Holmes (Woodstown) and Mike Ayars (Woodstown) were approved as committee members and were given the freedom to select additional members. Beach Crewes (Salem) offered her services as a resource person based on her experiences with Patch Adams, The Gesundheit! Institute. Linda Jefferies (Woodstown) was also suggested as a resource person.
Colleen Barry (Seaville), a freshman at Middle Township High School, spoke positively about her twenty-day trip as a People to People student ambassador for cultural exchange and peace to England, Scotland and Wales. She earned over half of the cost of the trip herself and financed the rest with donations. She thanked the quarter for their support.
Margaret Barry (Seaville) is currently in the seventh grade, planning a trip to Australia with the People to People Student Ambassador program. Seaville Monthly Meeting has committed a donation for her trip, and she requested support from Salem Quarterly Meeting. Friends approved the following minute:
Salem Quarterly Meeting approved making a donation of $500 to Margaret Barry (Seaville) for her trip to Australia through People to People provided that she can arrange the rest of her funding. She will report on funding status to the Quarter in March 2009.
Mary Waddington (Salem) reported on the state of the Millville Worship Group. She and those associated with the group are thrilled with the size and quality of the gatherings. The group has outgrown their meeting space and is searching for a larger space to gather. They will be meeting in a local synagogue in January. The Oversight Committee for the group has six out of eight members and is reporting to Salem Monthly Meeting under the care of Salem’s Overseers and Worship and Ministry committees. All who are willing to teach are invited to volunteer.
Tom Etherington presented a report from the Committee of Caring regarding Woodbury Monthly Meeting (see article), and a minute of appreciation from the committee for Woodbury Monthly Meeting (see article). Friends offered comment on the report and state of the meeting. One Friend felt a plateau had been reached in the healing process and further progress had not yet been made. Some Friends offered support for the prayerful and meditative manner in which members of the committee had conducted themselves and gratitude for the listening skills employed. The new communication between Woodbury Friends led one Friend to express himself in song. Another Woodbury Friend found it necessary to offer her remarks in a more formal fashion. Since her thoughts were lengthy, she offered that interested Friends could contact Marjorie Candau at PO Box 1292, Medford, N.J. 08055, for a copy of her written expression of assessment and feeling.
The Quarter Worship & Ministry report (see article) was presented by Mario Cavallini (Mickleton). Friends felt that the retreat scheduled for 1/31 was a wonderful idea. Mario welcomed ideas and e-mails.
The clerk of the Salem Quarterly Meeting Steering Committee, Tom Etherington (Mullica Hill), stated that the recent activities of the Steering Committee were reflected in the Finance and Caring Committee reports.
Gary Holmes (Woodstown) reported that the Trustees have not met and are unaware of any problems. He anticipated checking on the Lower Alloways Creek property at the rise of business.
Mike Ayars (Woodstown) invited all Friends to attend the Friends Village December birthdays celebration scheduled for 12/27 and described the new Friends Village van. He shared the wish of Friends Village to be more active in Salem Quarter and offered Friends Village facilities for meetings.
The Finance Committee report was presented. Two decisions were required regarding budget approval and method of financing. Mike Ayars (Woodstown), clerk of the Finance Committee, answered questions. Friends approved the following two minutes:
Salem Quarterly Meeting approved the budget for 2010 as presented by the Finance Committee.
Salem Quarterly Meeting approved the use of a covenant system of funding Salem Quarter. The Finance Committee will monitor the method for its success. If the quarter’s needs are not being met, a new recommendation will be developed by the Finance Committee and presented to the quarter.
The clerk made announcements regarding a variety of yearly, quarterly, and monthly meeting events. Meeting was closed with worship.
Rebecca Shapiro, assistant clerkRETURN TO TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Sunday, March 01, 2009 at 12:13 AM
