Meeting Minutes
Redding Monthly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends
January 23, 2011
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Present: Doug Milhous, Tom and Sue Morehouse, Doris Bond, Bonnie Simoni, Kathleen Findley and Ed Marek.
Review and Approval of Minutes: Minutes from December’s Meeting for Business were approved. With unity it was decided that our Recording Clerk would make every effort to also provide hard copies of the minutes.
Treasurer’s Report: Doris reported that we received payment from the Methodist Church for the brunch provided last fall and that we now have a total of $2,404.10 in our bank account. We received our annual membership assessment from PYM. It has nearly tripled this year with the cost of the Youth Coordinator and Program now included. Our Meeting is now being assessed $90 per member for a total of $810 for the new year. Given that it is time to convene our budget committee it was decided to allow this committee to make a recommendation regarding this increase. Tom, Doug and Doris will be serving on the committee this year. Tom will be convening the committee for a meeting in February with the goal of developing a recommendation and presenting a budget to the Meeting as a whole by March.
Ministry and Oversight: Sue reported that Josh has agreed to join her and Joy on M&O. Based on a request from Joy to consider moving the standing day of our monthly Dinner Among Friends, Meeting today decided to move the date from the 1st Friday of each month to the 3rd Friday of each month. Joy’s request was prompted due to a scheduling conflict with the monthly event held by the Save Darfur group. For February’s Dinner Among Friends, Bonnie will be our on February 18 at 6pm. Given that she is hoping to have moved to her new home by then, please stay tuned for updates on where dinner will be. It was decided that our discussion topic will be planning for the upcoming Whole Earth Festival to likely be on April 23 (to be announced).
Unity With Nature: Ed discussed this year’s Whole Earth Festival while asking others to help with coordinating and set up related activities. Last year it was especially difficult for Doris as a lot of burden was on her to get our booth set up and ready. PYM Unity with Nature is asking for an update on our Meeting’s related activities so Ed is asking us to give him at least one new or updated personal goal as related to the subject of Unity with Nature. Ed will be prompting us with an email.
Peace and Social Order: Doug informed us about two local events related to veterans. The first one is today at 2pm to be held at the Library. This is a panel discussion centered on issues of re-integration of veterans returning to their communities. The second event is deemed a Veterans Collaborative and is scheduled for February 5 at the Veterans Memorial Hall in Redding at 10am. Both events are sponsored by the Shasta County Citizens for Democracy. Tom volunteered to attend the February 5 event.
Inter-Faith Report: Doris reminded us that we are now in the Season of Non Violence. This year the Floating of the Lanterns event will still be held and only SCIF members will be reading the peace prayers. This year each congregation is encouraged to plan their own event. Redding Friends will give this some thought.
Old Business: Doris and Kathleen have drafted a two page introduction to Quakerism and Redding Friends Meeting. This is information for the benefit of visitors and new attenders. Doug has read it and has some suggested changes along with some ideas for additional items to go into a welcome portfolio style package. Doug will meet with both Doris and Kathleen following Meeting for Worship today.
At the next SCIF meeting, Doris will announce that our Meeting is now an affirming church for people who are LGBTQ.
New Business: Sue announced that she has scheduled, with Megan, our next work party at Turtle Bay Gardens for Saturday March 5. We plan to meet at the Gardens at 9am. (We are not planning a pre-work breakfast.) Afterwards, for those who would like to view it, Turtle Bay is hosting a Darfur Exhibit.
With unity we decided to maintain our Meet the Quakers as an annual event. Doug brought forth the AFSC project entitled “Counter Recruitment”. This effort is an alternative to military recruitment in our high schools. AFSC provides the necessary literature and information.
Coming Events: The spring Quarterly meeting will be held on May 14 and 15. The next PYM Rep Com meeting will be held on March 5 at the San Francisco Meeting House. Doug encouraged others to attend this.
Schedule: February 13 @9:30 a.m. Meeting for Business
11:30 a.m. Meeting for Worship
Bonnie will provide refreshments.
Respectfully submitted,
Tom Morehouse
Recording Secretary