SUMMER 20093/8/2009
Salem Quarterly Meeting met 3/8/2009, at the meetinghouse in Woodstown. Out of worship, clerk Sondra Ball (Mickleton) convened the meeting. There was a Friendly presence of thirty-three for business.
Minutes of the quarterly meeting on 12/14/2008 were approved as they appeared in Salem Quarter News.
Margaret Barry (Seaville) is currently in the seventh grade, planning a trip to Australia with the People to People Student Ambassador program. She updated the meeting on her fundraising status. She has raised $4,000 for her trip and has secured additional pledges. It appears that she will achieve her goal. As provided at the last 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. She will report on her trip to the Quarter in September 2009.
The Finance Committee report was presented by Mike Ayars (Woodstown). It appears that there will be a shortfall in the revenue for the quarter budget of between $10,000 and $11,000 due to the shift in our method of raising revenue from quota to covenant. Friends discussed a variety of methods to close this gap, including budget cuts, soliciting additional funds from meetings and individuals, and asking Philadelphia Yearly Meeting for additional coordinator funding. Friends approved the following minute:
Salem Quarterly Meeting approved authorizing the Salem Quarterly Meeting Steering Committee to discern a solution to the budget income shortfall, with the recommendation that individual donations and increased donations from monthly meetings be solicited. Steering Committee shall solicit volunteers for this campaign as needed.
Due to participation on the Committee of Caring, clerk Sondra Ball (Mickleton) stepped aside as clerk for the following portion of the meeting. Barry Sloane (Mickleton) clerked.
On behalf of clerk Julia Zinader (Mickleton) and the committee, Mario Cavallini (Mickleton) presented a report from the Committee for Caring regarding Woodbury Monthly Meeting. Woodbury Monthly Meeting has adopted the practice of holding closed meetings for business which only members of Woodbury Monthly Meeting may attend. The Committee for Caring asked for direction from Salem Quarterly Meeting regarding their continued purpose and function.
Friends offered comment at length. Explanations of the motivation for moving to closed meetings were made. Descriptions of the atmosphere in which business was conducted were stated. Statements were made with regard to the spirit of open discussion and the use of closed meetings throughout Philadelphia Yearly Meeting and Quakerism at large. Observations and assessments of the working relationship between Woodbury Monthly Meeting and the committee were presented by several Friends from within Woodbury, within the committee, and from throughout the quarter.
Some Friends expressed that once unity existed with the original committee decisions, but that status had changed. Several Friends described their concern over the situation of treating the symptoms rather than the cause and the need for continued progress and healing. A Friend spoke of acknowledging the needs of all people to be “heard and respected” and noted the efforts to “listen and embrace with open hearts”. The roots of previous schisms in Quakerism were referenced with the admonition that judgment processes and attitudes need to be considered to avoid separatist outcomes. It was observed that “truth is everywhere,” in the words spoken by each Friend. One statement made expressed discomfort with maintaining a policy that creates conflict while at the same time recognizing that existing problematic relationships need resolution.
Making the assessment that the quarter could not find unity at this time, acting clerk Barry Sloane concluded the discussion with worship. The Steering Committee will continue to hold Woodbury Monthly Meeting and the Committee for Caring in the Light. Further seasoning of the concern is needed, and it will be on the agenda in June. After a period of dedicated worship, the meeting continued under the guidance of clerk Sondra Ball.
Peggy Warner (Mullica Hill) presented the recommended appointments from the Nominating Committee. Nominations for the 2012 panel of Friends Village Board of Trustees were not available because of changes in the board’s bylaws, but were promised for the June quarterly meeting. Friends approved the following minute:
Salem Quarterly Meeting approved the Nominating Committee report as presented, including the Friends Village Board of Trustees.
Due to the late hour, reports not submitted in writing were deferred until June quarterly meeting. Written reports will be included in Salem Quarter News. Meeting was closed with worship.
Rebecca Shapiro, assistant clerkRETURN TO TABLE OF CONTENTS
Last modified:
Saturday, May 30, 2009 at 08:35 PM
