Hartford Monthly Meeting
March, 2006

"Oh, that we who declare against wars and acknowledge our trust to be in God only, may walk in the Light and therein examine our foundation and motives in holding great estates! May we look upon our treasures and the furniture of our houses and our garments and try whether the seeds of war have nourishment in these our possessions or not." - John Woolman "A plea for the poor" 1763-64

Calendar

Feb 26 11th hour: Discussion on Faith and Practice Revision chapter on worship
March 4 3:30 Movies and Potluck for families (see p.2
March 5 11th hour: Emily Chasse: An hour of folk tales for children of all ages
March 12 11L30 Fellowship Lunch
March 19 11:30 Meeting for Business
2pm Demonstration Against the War in Iraq, Old State House
March 26 11th hour discussion of Friends United Meeting's staffing policies with regard to sexual behavior
April 2 11th hour J. Brent Bill: Quaker minister and author of Holy Silence: The Gift of Quaker Silence (see p. 2)
May 6 New England Yearly Meeting Christian Education Workshop: at Hartford Meetinghouse "Learn to Be Peacemakers"

Meeting for Worship is held every First Day at 10 am. First Day School for children begins at 9:50 am. On Fifth Sundays, we have Family Meeting when all children and adults worship together.
Mid-week Worship(retired meeting)--every Thursday at 7 pm in the Williams Room

SILENT PRAYER VIGIL FOR PEACE EVERY THURSDAY IN THE MEETINGHOUSE; 7 PM

ALL ARE WELCOME

Quakers on the Silver Screen, Saturday, March 4
Enjoy a double feature at Hartford meetinghouse beginning at 3:30 with "High Noon," starring Gary Cooper. We'll have a discussion and a potluck at 6 pm, followed by "Angel and the Badman," starring John Wayne. Brought to you by Pastoral Care Committee

Greater Hartford Interfaith Coalition for Equity and Justice Update -
from LouAnne McDonald
All Friends are invited to attend the following ICEJ Upcoming Events:
February 26 Immigration Forum - to discuss the changes proposed for Federal and state Immigration laws. Invited guests include US and state representatives and Mayor Perez. The Rev. Persida Rivera-Mendez from the ICEJ task force on immigration: "We are facing times of sadness and pain. Thousands of our brothers and sisters, who are called undocumented immigrants, have become the victims of the irrational fears planted in some citizens' minds. These immigrants have been exploited, harassed, physically attacked and even killed just because they try to be part of the American dream. We are asking you to invite your congregation to raise their voices to defend the weak and the oppressed. We trust that the need to do right will move them into action to ask the legislators to create laws to protect the immigrants and to grant them the right to stay in this country without fear." The forum will be held at St. Augustine Catholic Church, 10 Campfield Ave, Hartford, 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm on Sunday, February 26.
March 30 Health Care Forum - to tell policymakers in Washington what you like and don't like about our nation's health care system, and what choices our country should make to turn it into one that works for all Americans. Your opinions will help form a citizens' action plan that the President and Congress are required by law to consider as they work to make health care work for all Americans. The forum will be held at Grace Lutheran Church, 46 Woodland St, Hartford, from 5:30 pm to 8:00 pm on Thursday, March 30. Go to: www.citizenshealthcare.gov.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hartford Monthly Meeting Handbook, a compendium of useful information about our meeting, is available for purchase for $5.00 from Kiki Eglinton, or can be e-mailed to you in PDF. Please e-mail Diane Randall (randalldiane@sbcglobal.net) if you would like one sent to you.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

West Hartford Volunteer Services needs tutors for adults in basic English and English as a Second Language. Volunteers are also needed as Friendly Visitors to visit homebound disabled or elderly residents. Call Town Hall at 561-7561 for more information.

Hartford Seminary Hosts Quaker Author, Monday, April 3, 7:30
Join J. Brent Bill, Quaker minister and author of Holy Silence: The Gift of Quaker Silence, as he reads from his book and talks about learning to listen for the sounds and voice of God in the midst of our busy lives. A self-confessed Type-A personality, Bill will examine the interior and exterior barriers to silence that confront us daily, sometimes by drawing (with a droll sense of humor) on situations from his own life. Brent Bill is executive vice president of the Indianapolis Center for Congregations. Previously he was Pastoral Minister, Friends Memorial Meeting, Muncie, Indiana.

Hartford Monthly Meeting Meeting for Worship for Business 2/19/06

At 11:35 a.m. eighteen Friends gathered in silence to begin the Meeting for Worship for Business.

WORSHIP AND MINISTRY: Jamie Taylor reported that the Committee had held a Retreat for Planning, from which had emerged a leading to revise Quakerism 101, perhaps through 11th Hour. They also felt a leading to support a place for Peace so long as the war in Iraq continues. The place will be at the Meetinghouse on Thursday evenings, with a sign to announce the vigil and to make a more public stance. The Committee asked the Meeting's support. This proposal was approved by the Meeting. Worship and Ministry will make sure there is a responsible Friend to oversee the holding of the gathering, and will design a sign to announce it.

PASTORAL CARE Otis Brown announced that Pastoral Care will sponsor a Quaker movie night on Saturday March 4th at 3:30 and 6 p.m. There will be two movies with Quaker themes. In April Pastoral Care will sponsor poetry readings, details to follow.

MAPLEWOOD PRO0PERTIES Ginny Allen noted that Nominating Committee has been seeking a replacement to take over responsibility for tenant relations. Ginny and Michael Taylor are putting together a financial profile of the properties to inform a discussion of the stewardship of the properties by the Meeting, including income, expenses, rental comparisons, etc. Returns from the Development Committee Survey will also be in, in time for the march meeting for Business. Concern was expressed that no Friend has felt led to take on this responsibility.

BUILLDINGS AND GROUNDS Ginny Allen reported that fire safety renovations will be completed soon, and that Stefan has installed a safety railing at the top of the side stairwell.

PEACE AND SOCIAL CONCERNS John Stamm announced the March 19 Peace demonstration. He introduced the work of Marla Ludwig who is raising funds for a school in Ghana. Marla described the project, noting that $50 buys a water filter to provide clean water for 10 people in the village of 10,000. Also needed is construction of a kindergarten room for the school, medical transportation, education support beyond the 6th grade at $30 per child, and she remarked that teachers are paid $50 per month by the government up to grade 6, but expanding the school beyond that would cost roughly $1600 per teacher. Attendance at the school has increased significantly since the library she helped build was completed. Marla is returning to Ghana in April. The committee request earmarked fund for the project be channeled through the Finance Committee, and the suggestion that a support committee for Marla would help build a stronger bridge between the Meeting and the school, and help Marla in discerning need priorities and structure for the project. Jamie Taylor and Beverly Stamm volunteered, and it was suggested that Carol Ann and Ray Boucher, among others, might have meaningful advice. The Meeting celebrated the enthusiasm and initiative Marla has demonstrated.
FIRST DAY SCHOOL, FINANCE and DEVELOPMENT had no reports.

QUARTERLY MEETING had no formal report yet, but it was noted that the suggestion came from that Meeting that Quarterly Meeting be held at Woolman Hill once a year, with shared responsibility for that Meeting
MEMORIAL MINUTES for Elsa Cullen and Dick Boulding are in process.
CORRRESPONDENCE including notes of thanks from the Catholic worker, and from Pax Educare, as well as an AVP letter addressed to Carol Ann from a participant in the workshops at the women's prison. Permission to reprint it is being sought.

A suggestion was made that publication of the Agenda on e-mail a week before the meetings for Business might help attendance. This would require Clerks of Committees and other Friends' items be communicated to the Clerk before that due date.
The meeting closed in silence at 12:30 p.m

Eleanor Godway, Clerk David Holdt, Recording Clerk
First Annual North American Conference for Racial Justice Among Friends

Philadelphia Yearly Meeting's Ministry for Racial Justice and Equality within the Religious Society of Friends, along with Baltimore Yearly Meeting (BYM), New England Yearly Meeting (NEYM), and New York Yearly Meeting (NYYM), will host the First Annual North American Conference for Racial Justice and Equality on the weekend of March 31 to April 2, 2006. The Conference will be held at the Burlington Meeting House Conference Center in Burlington, New Jersey.
Guided by the question "Are We Being Faithful To Our Testimony?" the conference format includes shared worship, caucuses, experience sharing and yes, fun. Because of the importance and impact of this issue, high school Friends will be participants in the program. A special program is also being developed for children under the age of fourteen.
Deadline for registration is February 28, 2006. The registration fee is $130.00 per person, which includes accommodations and meals (except for Saturday night). Children 13 and under are charged $65.00. The maximum fee for families is $300.00.
This is the first opportunity for Friends who share commitment and concerns for racial justice and equality to come together in community to worship, learn from each other and develop closer allies and a supportive network. The desired outcomes for the conference are to establish mutual support, increased awareness, issues raised from the depths that confront Quakers and Friends of Color in doing this work, common ground as we do work, closer allies, and resources identification. To receive a registration form, send your e-mail address to mlopes@snet.net or write to Maureen Lopes, 25 Old Farms Road, Madison CT 06443.

WOOLMAN HILL RETREATS

CREATIVE DIALOGUES ABOUT IMPRISONMENT MARCH 17-19, 2006
What are the real issues of our prison system, and how do they affect and reflect our society's values? Come ready to join members of The Performance Project in sharing stories of life and work in prison, speaking truth to power, and engaging in constructive dialogue about where we go from here.
By creating and performing works of movement and theater with men and women in jail, those who have been released from jail, and professional artists, The Performance Project examines systems of oppression that are contributing factors to the high rates of incarceration and recidivism of people living in poverty and people of color. The Project hopes to offer a supportive community for formerly incarcerated ensemble members as they reintegrate into society, and to serve as mentors to currently incarcerated members.

NURTURING, SHARING AND INVITING THE MYSTICAL EXPERIENCE
APRIL 21-23, 2006
We aspire in this retreat to gather and see ourselves as not alone in our experiences of God's transcendence and immanence, not only through historical company, but also through contemporaries and, above all, with one another. Through worship sharing and other exercises, we hope to offer one another support and sustenance in how we might continue to nurture, honor, invite, and integrate mystical and contemplative realities of the divine. (Limited to 25 participants) Co-sponsored by New England Yearly Meeting Ministry and Counsel
Susan Davies has been a member of Vassalboro Meeting for about 20 years. Through her writing and workshops at NEYM she encourages deeper communication about mystical experience. Tom Antonik, an artist and aspiring Quaker monk, is a member of Portland Meeting, of NEYM Ministry and Counsel, and on the board of Woolman Hill.

THE PRACTICE OF PRESENCE IN POETRY MAY 5-7, 2006
There are public poems and private poems. There are poems of praise, poems of witness, visionary poems and poems that play in the sandbox of language. What all types of poetry share is the sensibility of presence. Succinctly put, the poet must let the world in before she can let it out through expression. This opening-to-the-world involves clearing a great deal of "stuff" out of the way, exercising keen attentiveness and diligent work at condensing a large experience into a small package of words. we will work together to develop each person's unique voice and vision-- group discussions, silent reading, individual writing exercises, mindfulness techniques, and sharing of new work in a supportive and vibrant setting. (Limited to 10 adults)
Holly Iglesias is a member of Mount Toby Meeting, a poet and translator. Her most recent work is Now You See It, a poetry manuscript on the 1904 World's Fair in St. Louis

EXPLORING THE NATURAL WORLD OF WOOLMAN HILL MAY 5-7, 2006
In early May, life on the hill bursts into bloom and song and movement. "Knowing" it will be one of our goals, as we explore this wild life through our senses - a night walk, a walk for smells, a walk identifying calls alone. We will also explore another significant part of discovery - the joy that comes from sharing what we have found, whether through words or music or some other art form. (Limited to 20 adults)
Catherine Reid is a member of Mount Toby Meeting, and the author of the recently published book Coyote.

CREATIVE SPIRIT (dates and times tba) Evening workshops to explore spirituality and creativity through song, dance, visual arts…
WALKING LIGHTLY ON THE EARTH (dates and times tba) A series of short workshops to explore how we can live in better harmony with the land and with each other: basic bike repair, bio-intensive gardening, land trusts, economics, coops, and more!

Summer Opportunities
Friends Camp in South China, ME offers a new schedule this year-two week programs by age groups for children from 7-17 as well as a family camp from August 20-26. Brochures are available on the library counter or visit www.friendscamp.org. To hear about a direct experience, speak with recent campers from Hartford Meeting-Nora Catlin, Kevin Victoriano, Lillie Catlin, Rishona Hines or Shani Hines.

Friends General Conference Gathering July 1-7, Puget Sound, Washington, www.fgc.org.

Plan now to attend all or part of New England Yearly Meeting Sessions at Bryant College in Smithfield, RI from August 5-10. Programs for children, business meetings for adults, afternoon workshops, worship sharing and more. www.neym.org

Hartford Monthly Meeting Nominating Committee has begun the work of filling committee positions for the upcoming year. We will be contacting members and attenders to talk with you about where you would like to fit in. Please review the attached sheet, which describes briefly each committee. Feel free to contact the clerk of any given committee to ask questions. The Nominating Committee members (Ginny Allen, Eleanor Godway, Debbie Humphries, Chris Robinson) are also available to answer questions. We would appreciate it if you would return the tear off portion at the bottom of the second page and return it to one of us.
COMMITTEES OF HARTFORD MEETING, 2005-2006

ARCHIVES: Meets monthly to review and organize materials collected over the years relating to Meeting life and history. Meets 2nd Saturday of the month. Cynthia Reik, 289-4566 or Eric Stamm, 917-405-9287 or 523-4823

BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS: Organizes spring and fall Meeting-wide work days. Handles building needs as they arise. Reviews and recommends major repairs and Meetinghouse purchases. Ginny Allen, 523-5768

BUILDING USE: Schedules the Meetinghouse for meetings and events. LouAnne McDonald, 688-4435

CANNED FOOD COLLECTION: Collects and delivers donated food to a pantry in downtown Hartford. Steve Warner, 521-4606

COMMUNICATIONS: Focuses on communications both within the Meeting (email, regular mail, phone, and newsletter) and outside the Meeting (all of the above plus print and the internet). Wayne Boulton, 561-1743, or Phil Will, 232-5253

CONFERENCE ENCOURAGERS: Acquaints people with Quaker Conferences and activities and funds available for attending these. Roz Spier, 633-0120

CORRESPONDENCE: Corresponds with those unable to come to Meeting and provides outreach to individuals on special occasions. Dianne Warner, 521-4606

DEVELOPMENT:
MaryLee Morrison,
ELEVENTH HOUR: Schedules programs for the hour after worship and provides advance announcements and notices to the newsletter editor. Roz Spier, 633-0120 or John Humphries, 236-5175.

FINANCE: Monitors the financial condition of the Meeting. Prepares the annual budget. Responsible for fundraising appeals as necessary. Sets rates for cost-sharing for building use. Sets rent on Meeting properties. Jim Reik, 289-4566.

FRIENDS IN UNITY WITH NATURE: Seeks to heighten awareness of environmental issues, encourage spirit-led action when appropriate, plan activities in or honoring nature, and promote the work of the national Friends Committee on Unity with Nature (FCUN).

GREETERS: Responsible for coming in early on First Day to prepare the building for worship, greeting people as they enter, helping newcomers and introducing them to others, staying late to lock up. Entire committee meets yearly in Sept. Brad Noel, 247-0759

HOSPITALITY: Organizes fellowship luncheons (usually monthly) and Quarterly Meeting potluck, buys kitchen supplies, organizes kitchen. Mary Ann Snieckus, 203-597-0761, or Michael Taylor, 673-4185, or Roger Catlin, 521-4380

LIBRARY: Acquires, catalogues, shelves, and circulates library materials. Consults with other committees regarding their needs, accepts suggestions for acquisitions, and occasionally writes reviews for the newsletter. Meets monthly. Emily Chasse, 521-9033

MAILING LIST AND DIRECTORY: Maintains an up-to-date list of members and attenders. Publishes annual directory. Karen and Phil Will, 232-5253

MANTEL ARRANGEMENTS: Members rotate responsibility for mantel decoration for First Days and special observances. Entire committee meets yearly. Don Noel, 247-0759.

MAPLEWOOD PROPERTIES TENANT RELATIONS: Handles selection of tenants for properties. Manages signing of lease, rent issues, inspection of properties, all tenant issues. Ginny Allen, 523-5768.

MEMORIAL: Notifies the Meeting community when someone in the Meeting community dies; helps the family, coordinates the Memorial Meeting. Maintains relevant library materials. Keeps files, including living wills, organ and body donation forms, and Friends' final wishes. Administers Memorial Fund. Bobbie and Bill Taylor, 236-3709, and Donn and Diane Weinholtz, 687-1236.

NEWSLETTER: Gathers relevant news, writes copy, and arranges for printing and distributing the monthly newsletter. Roger Catlin, 521-4380, or Diane Randall, 521-4380

PEACE AND SOCIAL CONCERNS: Gathers and presents information on peace and justice issues, and facilitates action on these concerns. Oversees the Meeting's sponsorship of the Alternatives to Violence Program (AVP). John Stamm, 523-4823
ALTERNATIVES TO VIOLENCE PROGRAM (AVP): Conducts weekend workshops in state prisons. Marla Ludwig, 521-0095.
HELP INCREASE THE PEACE PROGRAM (HIPP): Conducts workshops on alternatives to violence in public schools. Mary Lee Morrison, 232-2966

PHOTO BOARD: Photographs Meeting members and attenders and maintains photo display board. Michael Taylor, 673-4185

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION: Schedules classes, recruits teachers, develops curriculum and organizes special programs such as pancake breakfasts, Christmas pageant, etc., for nursery through senior high ages. Diane Randall, 521-4380 and Lynn Johnson 246-1915.
NURSERY CARE: Arranges for volunteers to assist with nursery care during Meeting for worship, Eleventh Hours, and Meeting for Business. Carolann Boucher, 684-3078.
YOUNG FRIENDS: Works with high school age Friends to organize and provide programs. David Zevin, 657-9378.

SOCIAL HOUR: Recruits volunteers to bring and serve refreshments at social hour. Kiki Eglinton, 561-3969.

Please fill out the form below and mail it to Ginny Allen, Eleanor Godway, Debbie Humphries, or Chris Robinson or place it in the Nominating Committee mailbox in the Library annex.

Name ____________________________________________ Phone _____________________

Committees interested in serving on: _______________________________________________________

Financial contributions to the Meeting are always welcome and may be mailed to Assistant Treasurer,
Ruth Alexander, 22 Carpenter Lane, Bloomfield, CT 06002.