Hartford Monthly Meeting
Religious Society of Friends
October 2005

Do you respect the worth of every human being as a child of God? Do you uphold the right of all persons to justice and human dignity? Do you endeavor to crate political, social, and economic institutions which will sustain and enrich the life of all? Do you fulfill all civic obligations which are not contrary to divine leadings? Do you give spiritual and material support to those who suffer for conscience's sake? - 11th Query, New England Yearly Meeting Faith and Practice

Calendar

October 14 7 pm Prayer Meeting/Vigil on Withdrawal from Iraq
October 16 11:30 am Meeting for Business
October 22 6-8 pm Potluck and Presentation of Africa Journeys
October 23 12-3 pm Book/Toy Sale to Benefit AFSC Hurricane Katrina work
October 25 7 pm Hugh Ogden Poetry Reading at the meetinghouse
October 30 10 am Worship-Family Meeting
October 30 11th Hour Presentation on Interfaith Coalition on Equity and Justice
Nov 10 7 pm "Challenging the Structures of Racism"
Nov 10 7 pm Prayer Meeting/Vigil on Withdrawal from Iraq
Nov 12 9am-1pm Fall Workday at the Meetinghouse
Nov 13 11:30 Fellowship Lunch
Nov 20 11:30 Meeting for Business

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--every Thursday at 7 pm in the Williams Room.

All are invited to participate in these worship sessions as well as Meeting for Worship to Conduct Business which is held on the 3rd Sunday of each month at 11:30 am.
Potluck Dinner /Slideshows at our Meetinghouse travel tales from Africa!!!!

Join us Saturday, October 22nd, 6pm - 8:00pm
. . .to hear from four of our Meeting members who went on separate journeys to Africa this summer and we are having a potluck dinner and slideshow evening to share our stories: Shawn Lang went to Lesotho, and Shawn's partner, Lisa is currently visiting from Lesotho; Marla Ludwig went to Ghana,; Jamie Taylor went to Uganda; and Peterson Toscano went to Cameroon. Come see our pictures and hear our tales. (Others' tales of African journeys are also invited). All are welcome to bring family, friends, and neighbors of all ages. African (and American) Dishes for the potluck are encouraged! Call Jamie Taylor for any questions - 860-673-4185

Benefit Concert for Musicians affected by Hurricane Katrina/Rita
On Sunday, October 23 at 3 pm, the HARTT Suzuki Program of the University of Hartford will be performing a benefit concert to aid families whose instruments and musical programs were damaged by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. For information about tickets or offering a financial donation, see Anna Moberly.

Hartford Meeting's Performance Artist Peterson Toscano
. . .will present a one-man multi-character play, "Footprints, An Inspirational Comedy" on Friday October 28, 2005.Church of the Holy Trinity, 381 Main Street in Middletown. $10 suggested donation will benefit for Positive Solutions, Inc. & the Middlesex Area Cluster
Ministry. The play is a comic meditation on the poem, Footprints in the Sand. It is the first play I wrote and only perform it for fund raising purposes. I think Friends will enjoy the humorous yet serious reflection on faith and life. (Oh and you get to see me dressed up as Sylvia, a senior citizen from Brooklyn)

Volunteer at the Meetinghouse
... for the fall workday on Saturday, Nov 12 from 9am-1pm (note earlier start time). We need all hands to help with outdoor and indoor chores around the meetinghouse. Bring your work gloves and tools for pruning and raking. Contact Stephen Haynes for more information.

Greater Hartford Interfaith Coalition for Equity and Justice November 10 Forum
Author and activist john powell will be the main speaker on "Challenging the Structures of Racism in Public Education, Health Care and Immigration." Professor powell is an internationally recognized authority in the areas of civil rights, civil liberties, and issues relating to race, ethnicity, poverty and the law. The forum will be held at 7 PM (registration starts at 6 PM) at The Learning Corridor, Theatre of the Performing Arts, 359 Washington Street in Hartford. Please let LouAnne McDonald know if you are planning to attend (wannym@comcast.net). More information is available at ghicej.org.

Deepening our Connections Through Small Groups
Following the interest in listening groups expressed at the meeting's biannual retreat, the pastoral care committee is collecting names of people who are interested in a monthly potluck and/or listening group. Groups would consist of up to 10 people who would meet at one member's house every month. Anyone who has an interest in a group may sign a list, which will be available in the meetinghouse annex before and after meeting, or contact Beth Morrill at platosmom@comcast.net or by phone at 833-0099,
Iraq STEP Resolution (Sensible Transition to an Enduring Peace)

In conjunction with our endorsement of the STEP Resolution (below), at 7:00 PM on Thursday, October 13, 2005, Hartford Friends Meeting will begin holding monthly prayer vigils/meetings for peace. These meetings will occur at the Friends Meetinghouse at 7:00 PM on the second Thursday of each month until an enduring peace is established in Iraq. We invite people of all faiths to join us.

On Sunday, September 25, 2005, the Hartford Monthly endorsed the STEP resolution issued by the Friends Committee on National Legislation. The resolution declares:

Whereas President George W. Bush stated on April 13, 2004 that "as a proud and independent people, Iraqis do not support an indefinite occupation and neither does America" and that the U.S. will remain in Iraq "as long as necessary and not one day more";

Whereas Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld assured the Senate Armed Services Committee on February 17, 2005, that "we have no intention, at the present time, of putting permanent bases in Iraq";

Whereas the Wall Street Journal reported in February 2005 that 60% of the people in the United States think that the Bush administration should set a public or private timetable for withdrawing U.S. troops from Iraq;

Whereas former Secretary of State James Baker, former Pentagon official Anthony Cordesman, the International Crisis Group, and other respected leaders and analysts have said that it is critical that the U.S. government declare now its intention to fully withdraw from Iraq;

Whereas political parties opposed to the ongoing U.S. military presence won the overwhelming majority of votes in Iraq's January 2005 election and a clear majority of voters interviewed in exit polls cited their desire to see an end to the military occupation as a major impetus for voting;

Whereas the perception that the U.S. intends to permanently occupy Iraq aids insurgent groups in recruiting supporters and fuels violent activity;

Whereas many insurgent groups have expressed a willingness to engage in political dialogue if the U.S. clearly states its intention to withdraw from Iraq;

Whereas we can best honor the lives and memories of all who have died in Iraq by expediting the end of the war, bringing U.S. troops home as quickly as possible, and supporting the Iraqi people in rebuilding their country;

Whereas a clear statement of intent to fully withdraw U.S. troops and bases does not imply the setting of a particular deadline, time frame, or exit strategy;

Whereas such a statement would send a strong signal to the people of Iraq and the international community that the United States does not have imperial intentions in Iraq and affirms that the Iraqi people will regain through their elected representatives the full exercise of national sovereignty, including control over security and public safety;

Therefore, be it resolved that this congregation/meeting/organization holds in our prayers the people of Iraq, the U.S. troops and international troops and humanitarian workers in Iraq, the leaders of Iraq and the United States, and all others affected by this war;

Be it also resolved that this meeting calls on the United States Congress to adopt a sense of the Congress resolution declaring: "It is the policy of the United States to withdraw all U.S. military troops and bases from Iraq";

Be it also resolved that this congregation/meeting/organization will present a copy of this resolution to the members of Congress who represent the district in which the congregation is based;

And be it also resolved that this meeting will send a copy of this resolution to the local media.

Question from Bill Taylor on Behl Statue
The visual arts have long played an important part in reflecting and focusing Quaker consciousness. From the beloved and charming Peaceable Kingdom series by Edward Hicks (a copy of which hangs in the HMM house) up through the dramatic signs carried in contemporary protest marches and the peace pole at the corner of our walkway, we have come a long way from our origins in the 1600s when music and painting were deemphasized or even scorned by the new sect.

On the grounds of HMM is the Moses and Mabel Bailey Garden (diagonally off the porch across the lawn and to the left.) In the garden are plantings in memory of some twenty deceased members and attenders. Also in the garden is a beautiful sculpture by Wolfgang Behl who donated it to the Meeting shortly before his death. Recently a visiting Friend commented that the work could be appreciated by more people if it were moved\to a spot near the memorial wall, also to the left of the porch, but near the stone bench that is about twenty feet from the porch corner. I think this makes sense. What do you think? (comments to Bill Taylor)

Note from the Treasurer: Individual contributions are behind budget! We are almost 75% through the year, yet we have collected only 40% of our budgeted contributions ($26,000 donated against $66,000 budgeted.) Please send your donation to Hartford Monthly Meeting to Treasurer Tim Allen, 56 Gifford Road, West Hartford, CT 06119

Meeting for Business 9/25/2005 Hartford Monthly Meeting

At 11:40 p.m. twenty-four Friends gathered in silent worship to begin the Meeting for Worship for Business. Donn Weinholtz, Assistant Clerk, opened the meeting, substituting for Eleanor Godway, Clerk.

Committee Reports;
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION: Lynn Johnson reported that the First Day School had over 50 children attend the opening breakfast and sessions. The Committee appreciates the following Friends who have volunteered to work with the children in First Day School this Fall: Nursery-Deborah Kidder, Pre-School,--Lynn Johnson, First-Third Grades-Anna Moberly, Fourth-Fifth Grades-Bobbie Taylor, Junior High-Marti Donovan, Senior High-Debbie Humphries and David Zevin.
The First Day School will hold a book and toy sale for the benefit of the AFSC Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund, on Sunday October 23 from 12-3. Friends are asked to donate books and toys and help with the sale and clean-up, The Meeting expressed support for this initiative.

FINANCE: The meeting approved changing presentation of the annual budget from February Meeting for Business to the November Meeting for Business. This will allow us to approve the budget before the year begins. Finance will notify Committee Clerks so they can prepare their budgets by the October Meeting for Business.

TREASURER: Tim Allen reported that he opened a savings account and a money-market account, because they both earn interest and it is easy to move funds between these two accounts and the checking account. For reporting purposes, these three accounts together effectively form an interest-bearing checking account, and their sum is the "checking" balance, which is currently, a little over $11,000.
As of September 25, we are 73% through the year, but we have received only 40 % of the individual contributions budgeted. For comparison purposes against the last two years, we are lagging in our contribution levels:
2003: $43,843 (65% of $67,200 for year)
2004: $28,981 (48% of $59,800 for year)
2005: $26,376 (40% of budget: $66,000)

The Meeting borrowed from itself to finance the renovation of 143 Maplewood. To structure this, the treasurer determined the amount of the loan to be the total amount spent on 143 Maplewood from March 1, 2005 through the time of its rental, which was August 1. The interest rate on this loan was set at 5%,

It was further noted that the operating budget, including stewardship of the Maplewood Properties and of care of the meetinghouse, have often depended upon contributions from "rescuers" at the end of the year, and that many of these angels have died or moved away. The Finance Committee was encouraged to do an analysis of contributors and attenders, and educate the meeting about donations and financial stewardship. Newer members and attenders of the Meeting may not understand the value and importance of their regular contributions to the meeting. Younger Friends, often with young children, are often not represented at Business Meetings where the budget and meeting finances are discussed. Friends were reminded that making a financial contribution to the meeting may be very difficult for those who are have limited financial resources; rising costs, especially of fuel oil this winter, affect all, particularly people with lower incomes. The Finance Committee will address these suggestions at its next meeting and report back at the next business Meeting. Also to be reported are suggestions on how to use bequests.

BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS: Donn Weinholtz reported for Ginny Allen:
At143 Maplewood, renovations are complete at a total cost of $45,487.52, which is higher than projected. At the current rent ($1000/month), it will take 7 years to repay this debt. We borrowed the money from ourselves. The new tenants are Steve Larson and Annie Trepanier and son Alex, aged 18 months, who moved in on August 1, 2005
151 Maplewood was vacated August 31, 2005, with the security deposit of $425 plus interest returned to tenants, Alex and Natalia Paciorkowski. Renovations done since March 2005 total $15,866.64. This includes painting, chimney repairs, roof repairs, bathroom remodeling. Shawn Lang and Corbett are to move in on October 1, 2005 at a rent of $1000/month.
Both front porches need sanding and repainting this fall and the exterior of 143 Maplewood needs additional painting in the spring. The question of whether the porch work could be done by volunteers or contractors was considered, with concern expressed regarding the possibility of lead paint on the porches. Buildings and grounds committee will be asked to determine if the sanding could be done professionally and the painting could be done by volunteers.
Repairs this year in the meetinghouse include: boiler in annex was replaced at a cost of $3950.00; various plumbing repairs in all bathrooms were done in April and June; kitchen renovation through a bequest from Pat Ritter was completed in September.
At a business meeting in April, the Meeting authorized $20,000 from the Hicks bequest for repairs and renovations to the Meeting House. Almost $8,000 has been spent so far (boiler, masonry repairs to front porch, plumbing repairs and miscellaneous small items). The committee will continue to prioritize needs and will proceed carefully and thoughtfully.
There has been a considerable problem with buckling of one portion of the wood floor in the main room downstairs. Ginny has met several times with Stefan Schwing, the installer; John Powers, property manager for Quaker Lane Nursery School; and Bill Silvester, a water drainage expert. We are trying to determine the cause of the problem, which might be collection or pooling of water under the building. Water drainage is a significant concern, as there are problems on several fronts. The solution is not yet clear. Input is needed from those who have a history with or knowledge of the water problems in the past. It was suggested that Ed Murphy, Archie Meshenuk and Jim Carpenter might be asked for their recollections about similar problems and causes thereof.

Fall Work Day is scheduled for November 12.
There were requests for clarification as to where the monies spent on the Maplewood Properties and on the meetinghouse were drawn from. Finance and the Treasurer will consult the Minutes and clarify this at the next Meeting. It was suggested that a regular reporting format, agreed upon by the Treasurer and the Finance Committee would be helpful to the meeting's understanding of our finances.

A question regarding the meeting's intent to maintain and use the Maplewood properties for affordable housing available to those in need was raised. The standard used by many affordable housing assistance programs for people who live below median income is that tenants pay 30% of their income for household expenses (rent and utilities); if an assistance program is not required, than the meeting could consider renting the houses at fair market rents, thereby generating higher revenues. Meeting will seek more information from Buildings and Grounds and Tenant Relations on this question.

WORSHIP AND MINISTRY
Calvi request: Growing out of request from John Calvi for support, the Meeting sent to Worship & Ministry the question of the meeting's financial support for individuals within the monthly meeting and the yearly meeting with individual ministries.
Pax Educare intends to lay down its monthly meeting for worship. It began in January 2003 with oversight from worship & Ministry; Worship & Ministry expressed gratitude for this worship opportunity.
Home based meeting for worship: Francis Helfrick was contacted and is interested in having a home-based meeting at his house. He is asking for Friends who will participate Sunday, Oct. 9 or 16 at 6 p.m.
Affinity groups: Worship & Ministry will organize and come up with a plan to create affinity groups and creative listening groups, partly as a follow up to retreat.
Vocal ministry: Friends endorsed that Jamie Taylor and Martin Wheeler's work to improve vocal ministry at the meeting by facilitating periodic gatherings at the rise of meeting or possibly on Saturdays.

PEACE AND SOCIAL CONCERNS
Interfaith coalition membership: Friends agreed that the meeting continue its membership in the Greater Hartford Interfaith Coalition of Equity and Justice, pay its $500 dues and name Louanne McDonald and John Stamm as voting delegates.
Iraq: Friends agreed to endorse the Friends Committee on National Legislation Sensible Transition to an Enduring Peace (STEP) resolution, which urges Congress to declare, "It is the policy of the United States to withdraw all U. S. military troops and bases from Iraq." Further, letters will be sent urging support to members of the Connecticut Congressional delegation, with copies forwarded to the Letters to the editor and religious writer of the newspaper and to the religious writer. Assistant clerk Donn Weinholtz will work with Bill Upholt to draft those letters.
Lynne Johnson, Diane Weinholtz and Martin Wheeler agreed to meet to organize and publicize monthly ongoing prayer sessions focusing on the war in Iraq in the Meeting House on second Thursdays at 7 p.m., beginning Oct. 13.

RETREAT COMMITTEE
Sixty members took part in the Meeting retreat on "building the beloved community" Sept. 16-18 at Wisdom House in Litchfield. The cost to the meeting was approximately $2,000 for covering the participation of children in the retreat. Substantive concern for sustaining some affinity group formation was noted. A report of the discussion at the retreat will be written and sent to Worship and Ministry and Pastoral Care committees. Friends thanked Ginny Allen for her work in clerking the retreat committee and working the registration and with Wisdom House on the retreat.

MEMORIAL MINUTES
The Tom Bodine Memorial Minute approved in June was sent to Quarterly Meeting.
The memorial minute of Patricia Kingley Ritter was read and approved. It will be passed along to quarterly meeting.

Quarterly Meeting: Caroline Webster will represent HMM at Quarterly Meeting at Woolman Hill Oct. 8-10.

Epistles from New England Yearly Meeting will be carried on to next business meeting.

NOMINATING COMMITTEE
John Humphries will be approached to join Ginny Allen, Joan Gallagher and for the meeting's nominating committee. Caroline Webster won't be able to make night meetings of Worship & Ministry, the committee is not seeking a replacement member at this time. Appointments are needed for Yearly Meeting in nominating and peace and social concerns.

Hurricane response
Assistant Clerk Donn Weinholtz will respond to NEYM inquiry on how we are responding to Hurricane Katrina relief: it will be through a book and toy sale, proceeds forwarded to AFSC.

Correspondence
George Ritter has contributed another $1,000 to Pat Ritter's bequest to complete renovations to the downstairs kitchen.

Support for travel fare: Bryn Will, who is on the board of Friends House Moscow, requested support for travel fare for board meetings in Russia. Worship and Ministry will consider it when it also considers the meeting's financial contributions to other ministries within and outside of the meeting. Friends will look into passing along frequent flyer miles, and print the address to send contributions individually. The address for tax free contributions to a fund to help Bryn will go in the newsletter.

A thank you note from Judith Hyde from Woolman Hill was received, thanking the meeting for its contribution.

The business meetings closed with a period of silent prayer.

Donn Weinholtz, Assistant Clerk David Holdt, Recording Clerk, with
thanks to Roger Catlin

Children's Project to Benefit AFSC's Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund
Book and Toy Tag Sale Scheduled for October 23 from Noon-3 pm
The children and adults in Hartford meeting are being asked to donate gently used books and toys for a neighborhood tag sale, the proceeds of which will be donated to the American Friends' Service Committee (AFSC) Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund. (For more information on the work AFSC is doing, see letter below.) The tag sale will be held Sunday, October 23 from noon-3 pm at the meeting house, near the sidewalk on Quaker Lane, if the weather is dry, or downstairs if the weather is wet. Donated items should be boxed and labeled, "AFSC tag sale," and placed in the Clerk's office off the front foyer. For more information, contact Lynn Johnson or Wayne Bolton.

Letter from Mary Ellen McNish, General Secretary of American Friends Service Committee on Hurricane Katrina Response
September 28, 2005
To Friends Everywhere:

The AFSC is not ordinarily a first responder to disasters in the US. However, we found ourselves deeply moved by the suffering of the people left behind to fend for themselves as Hurricane Katrina bore down on the Gulf Coast.

The aftermath of the storm revealed the most shocking and poorly handled disaster in US history, with government failures on every level. It showed clearly what many of us already knew: US economic policy has completely eviscerated the social safety net needed for the poor. The politics of race have been thrown into sharp relief.

AFSC sent immediate financial aid through Board member Dick Steele to the Interfaith Ministries of Greater Houston to provide food for the 27,000 people evacuated to the Astrodome. We are now conducting an assessment of where our support and help will be most needed, after which we will plan our future activities.

During the initial days of the tragedy it was inspiring to receiv hundreds of messages from Friends, Friends Meetings and Churches in the US and around the world who wanted to help.

AFSC has set up a special fund to provide financial support to Friends Meetings, Churches and organizations who want to reach out to aid the victims of Hurricane Katrina. Attached is a one page description of how your Friends Meeting, Church or Friends group can apply for a grant from these funds.

We are glad to be able to support Friends' initiatives in this way, as you help the people who continue to suffer through these traumatic events.

Friend Rubye Braye from Wilmington, North Carolina, will be coordinating the effort for AFSC. If you have any questions or want information on the criteria for supporting Friends' efforts to help in Hurricane Katrina, please contact her at (910) 681-0670 RBraye@afsc.org.

HARTFORD MONTHLY MEETING
Of the Religious Society of Friends
144 South Quaker Lane
West Hartford, CT 06119