News

Hartford Monthly Meeting
October 2004 Newsletter

"It is not incomubent upon you to finish God's work, but neither are you free to desist from it." Rabbi Tarfon (2nd Century)

Calendar

Oct 1-3 Quarterly Meeting at Woolman Hill
Oct 10 Fellowship Lunch
Oct 14 Religious Ed meeting; 7pm, Butterworth Room
Oct 17 Meeting for Business
Oct 24 Threshing Session on Maplewood Properties
Oct 31 Family Meeting

Meeting for Worship is held every First Day at 10 am.
Mid-week Worship is held every Thursday at 7 pm in the Williams Room.

Worship at Pax Educare at New Location

Worship at Pax Educare-a Center for Peace Education continues on the first Tuesday of each month at its new location, 56 Arbor St., 2nd floor, in Hartford. Worship begins at 5:30 pm and is followed by a soup supper. Mark your calendars for October 12, November 9, December 14 to participate.

Upcoming Woolman Hill Retreats

October 8-9 and May 6-8-Spiritual Formation, part of an ongoing 8 month program designed to support the discovery and practice of spiritual formation in your life. With Judith Graham of Orono Monthly Meeting

December 30-January 1-Year-end Stillness Retreat with Tom Antonik

January 21-23-From Earth Charter to Constructive Program: Translating Global Vision into Action-with John Humphries, Allie Perry and Joanne Sheehan

For more information: www.woolmanhill.org or call 413-774-3431

Meeting for Worship for Business
19 September 2004

Worship and Ministry Bobbie Taylor reported that Worship and Ministry had heard concerns about Friends hearing vocal ministry and announcements. The sound system is now working, and headphones are available for those with hearing aids. See anyone on the committee for help with them.
She also noted that many settle in the Meeting House for worship before 10 a.m., and that Friends need be aware of how much noise they are making in the time before entering the Meeting.
New England Yearly Meeting has prepared a Directory of Friends engaged in traveling ministry or visitations. See Roz Spier if interested.

Pastoral Care Carolann Boucher expressed appreciation to the Meeting in General for noticing and caring for one another. Debbie Humphries is coordinating meals for Eileen McCarthy.

Ad Hoc Committee on Childcare Lynn Johnson offered thanks to those who had volunteered this summer, and pointed out that 11th Hour programs and Meetings for Business require child care. There is a need for a Nursery and Childcare coordinator to organize care during Meeting for Worship and post Meeting activities. Following a period of silent worship, the Meeting discussed options. It was suggested that we need a volunteer from the Meeting to coordinate and interview potential outside candidates for this task. Another suggestion was that a rotation of the parents of the youngest children might work. Shelby Mertes offered to talk to other parents about this. It was noted that there are not many children in the nursery during worship. It was clarified that the two issues were the nursery and childcare during Meeting, and coverage during post-meeting activities. It was suggested that there were many younger parents and other Friends not at the Meeting for Business who should be made aware of this situation.

Religious Education Diane Randall noted that a breakfast opened First Day School this Fall. Teachers are in their classrooms by 9:45, and children by 9:50. Parents are asked to pick up their children if they do not join the Meeting for Worship at 10:40.

Lynn Johnson is working with the 3-5 year-olds
John Humphries is working with grades 1-3
LouAnne McDonald is working with the 4-5 grades
Shelly Perron is working with the Middle School
David Zevin is working with Young Friends.
October 31 will be Family Sunday.

Peace and Social Concerns John Stamm noted that AFSC is conducting a search for the Hartford Office Coordinator.

Impressed by the 11th Hour presentation by Elizabeth Bennett and her request for school supplies for Afghanistan, the Committee is requesting that each child in First Day School raise $2.30, the cost for supplies for one child, and suggests that the $1200 cost for a teacher's salary might be raised by contributions from others in the Meeting. Marty Donovan is coordinating the First Day School participation, and the Meeting endorsed the committee's request enthusiastically.

Library/Ad Hoc Design Emily Chasse asked for help for the construction of drawers for the Library cabinets. Lynn Johnson requested, on behalf of the 4-5th grade class, who that the tapestry of William the Conqueror be removed from the room where they meet and be given to the Archives Committee, in order to allow a bulletin board for children's art. It was the sense of the Meeting to support this request.

Treasurer Tim Allen provided a handout which noted that budget concerns included contributions, cash flow, and outside organizations. The current checking balance is $58,629.37. Contributions have fallen short of previous years. He noted that there was no income from one of the Maplewood properties due to the Trans moving. Several items were over-budget, including Major Repairs, and custodial services. The gap between the budget and the payments is mainly due to "Memberships," "Meeting Concerns," and "Wider concerns" categories, which amount to about $38,000, of which we have paid only $13,000. At the rate we are going we will have relatively little to contribute to anyone, unless we draw from reserves. There has been some increase in contributions since the August letter from the Finance Committee. It was suggested that we need to educate Friends and infrequent attenders on how to make contributions to the Meeting.

Buildings and Grounds Stephen Haynes reported that the new floor had been installed downstairs in the Meetinghouse. Finishing labor and detail remains to be completed. He is dealing with concerns about the billing and hours of labor employed on the floor. Additional work included drainage around the foundation and a latticed cover for the woodpile. He is investigating water damage under the Meetinghouse, including masonry damage, and will solicit bids on that. Chimney cleaning and extermination contract have also concerned him.
He noted thoughtful emails from Steve Warner and Chris Robinson concerning the Maplewood Properties. He stated that the house vacated by the Trans is in need of significant repairs and maintenance. After much discussion an Ad Hoc Committee to address options for the Maplewood Properties was set up, which includes Stephen Haynes, Tim Allen, Diane Randall. Steve Warner will also be asked to participate.
The ad hoc committee will consider the financial implications of the various in preparation for a Threshing Session on October 24 at the rise of Meeting. Thanks to Stephen for his leadership and diligence in caring for the property of the Meeting.

Building Use Northeast Church of God, which uses the building twice a month asked if they might display a temporary sign while they were using the building. This was approved, with the requirement that they list the hours of use on the sign.

New Business Diane Randall will provide soup for the October Meeting for Business.

Tim Allen noted that the problem of mail delivery still exists, and that the Taylors have been picking up the mail weekly. Stephen Haynes has solicited bids for rebuilding the entryway with two locked mailboxes for the Meeting and for the Nursery School. The Taylors will continue to pick up the mail for the short term.
Concern was expressed about Friends parking too close to the driveway and thus obscuring visibility for those trying to exit the Meetinghouse driveway.

Eileen Lawlor has changed membership from South Berkshire Meeting back to Hartford Monthly Meeting. Louse Brill will join a meeting in Vermont. Farewell wishes to Nelson Babb who is moving to North Carolina in October. Friends are encouraged to drop him a note.
There will be a World Gathering of Friends in Lancaster, England in 2005, for ages 18-35. Nineteen members of Hartford Monthly Meeting attended Friends General Council this year, Next July the gathering will be in Blacksburg, Virginia.

Bill Upholt gave a detailed report on the New England Yearly Meeting, (report follows). Between 40 and 50 members of Hartford Meeting attended the NEYM. Diane Randall carried to the Finance Committee the issue of pooled Fund Management. Bobbie Taylor notes that in the coming year Hartford Meeting may want to take up some of the issues Bill reported on.

The Archives Committee is looking for HMM Minutes from 1999 to 2003. Diane Randall will look for them. Bill Taylor will take responsibility for the Meetings sponsorship of the West Hartford Ecumenical Thanksgiving Service.

Conference Encouragers' annual report for June 03-June 04: four individuals and four families were supported by the this fund to attend NEYM, FGC related events and retreats.

NEYM Sessions - 2004, Bryant College, Smithfield, RI
The Parable of the Good Samaritan

1. Through the various talks and the Bible half hour all players in the Good Samaritan Story were considered- the "expert in the law", Jesus, the man going to Jericho, the robbers, the priest, the Levite, and the Samaritan-how each of us are in some way like each of them.

2. Keynote by Vanessa Julye (Philadelphia YM) and Donna McDaniel (Wellesley Meeting) on the history of relations between Quakers of European descent and Blacks which is quite different than the picture usually presented. Those Quakers supporting Blacks with understanding and compassion were often a minority and there was much elitism and patronizing.

3. The second keynote was by Diana Abdel Nour, head of the lower Friends School in Ramallah who told us of what it meant to live with neighbors in her culture. Mary Lee and I were privileged to be asked to serve to help Diana more fully experience YM and we learned much about her life experiences.

4. Issues:

a. Budget-after years with an excess to spend down, NEYM must now obtain by contributions the funds necessary to fund the increases in support for youth programs that we have come to rely on. As a result a large increase in giving by individuals and families is projected. This type of regular giving has not been emphasized in the past but it is hoped that those in whose life YM support is important will consider this in their giving. Mechanisms to give online, by credit card and by automatic monthly contributions are now in place.

b. Corporate Restructuring--For a variety of reasons, many of them related to legal and insurance concerns, mechanisms are being sought to restructure the relationship between NEYM and some of its constituents, including the Moses Brown School, Quaker secondary school in Providence, Rhode Island. Moses Brown has requested a separate incorporation from Yearly Meeting, mainly because of concerns about potential liability. There has been a long and historic connection between NEYM and Moses Brown. Concerns have been raised that if Moses Brown separates from Yearly Meeting, some of these ties and bonds may loosen. An ad hoc committee has been formed to look at the whole question of restructuring, including the establishment of a category of NEYM "Affiliated Organizations" that might include Woolman Hill, the Meeting School, Cambridge Friends School as well as other organizations with no formal ties to the Yearly Meeting but whose constituents in large part come from Yearly Meeting Friends. The issue of corporate restructuring, particularly as it relates to Moses Brown, is an ongoing one and is expected to be on the floor of sessions in 2005

c. Friends United Meeting policy for staff and leaders related to sexual orientation--FUM has a policy that individuals with active sexual relations outside of legal heterosexual marriage are not allowed to take leadership roles in FUM. Considerable discussion arose on this issue including discussion of NEYM contributions to FUM. After much discussion a "minute of exercise" (meaning not an official statement but rather a minute describing concerns in the process of being clarified) was approved and NEYM representatives to FUM will take the concerns to the FUM Board. In addition, there should be discussion during the year in Monthly and Quarterly Meetings in preparation for further discussion at NEYM 2005.

d. The Committee on Racial, Social and Economic Justice (formerly Prejudice and Poverty) recommended that the Prejudice and Poverty Fund be closed and the funds donated to an African American education organization to be used at their discretion as they are in a better position decide of the recipients of the funds. This would be done in part because of the committee's desire to join the movement for black reparations. The recommendation was approved in principle but certain legal issues regarding the original establishment of the fund will need to be resolved before the funds can be donated.

5. Changes:

1) Chris Jorgenson is retiring as Youth Secretary and there was anemotional tribute for the service she has provided to the YM. Lisa Graustein and Beth Colea will serve as co-interim Youth Secretary until a national search for a replacement occurs.

2) the new director of Friends Camp. Nat Shed was introduced.

3) Christopher McCandless of Burlington MM was approved to be appointed presiding clerk of NEYM.

4) An acknowledgement and send off for Eden and Jim Grace and their two sons as they travel to Kenya to serve FUM there. Individuals in NEYM are invited to give contributions to FUM to support their work in Kenya.

6. There was a report of attendance by several NEYM members at the Annual Conference on Safe Church Policies and Procedures which addressed policies and procedures to protect children within churches from abuse and harm. A large part was focused on the reduction of liability and ways to demonstrate sustained concern should a suit arise. In addition a concern was raised by some at the conference that previous laxness makes churches a magnet for pedophiles who no longer have such an easy time reaching children through school or secular after-school program. More stringent requirements by insurance companies before providing liability insurance is a related practical issue.

7. The YM approved a request to change the name of the NEYM Friends in Unity with Nature Committee to the Earthcare Ministry Committee. A change in the statement of purpose of the committee was also approved.
Bill Upholt, September 19,2004

Treasurer's Report, 9/19/04

Current checking balance: $58,629.37
Individual contributions 2004 Year-to-Date: $31,386.48 (budget for year: $75,000)
Last year at this time, we had raised $48,000 in contributions. Not counting major repairs, cash flow is about even for the year. Other sources of income close to budget, but one Maplewood property will not have income for the remainder of the year because there is no tenant.

Significant over-budget items:
Major repairs: $16,418 year-to-date vs. budget of $4,000, but we will draw from reserves of $34,000. (see business meeting minutes for more detail)
Custodial services: $12,416 for 8 months, projected to about $18,500 vs. budget of $16,000

The gap between the budget and payments is mainly due to the "Memberships," "Meeting Concerns," and "Wider Concerns" categories in the budget, which amount to about $38,000. We have paid only about $13,000 of this, leaving about $25,000 to be paid by the end of the year, according to the budget. Except for our payments to New England Yearly Meeting, most of these payments to outside organizations are made annually, at the end of the year. At the rate we are going, we will have relatively little to contribute to anyone, unless we decide to draw from reserves.

Contributions can be mailed to the Treasurer: Tim Allen, 56 Gifford Road, West Hartford, CT 06119. Checks should be made out to: Hartford Monthly Meeting. If you have questions about meeting finances, contact Jim Reik, Clerk of Finance Committee.