Melanie-Claire Mallison, Clerk
Anne Liske, Recording Clerk
Present: Bob Baldridge, Communications Committee / Visitor (15th Street); Sandra Beer, Powell House Fundraising Consultant / FGC (Old Chatham); Nancy Britton, Epistle (Morningside); Jacqueline Burns, PoGo Working Group (Chatham Summit); Mike Clark, TGOY (Old Chatham); Larry Coulthurst, FWCC, McCutchen (Somerset Hills); Chad Dell, at large (Manasquan); Chris DeRoller, PoGo Working Group (Old Chatham); Sylvia Graves, FUM General Secretary; Ty Griese, Earthcare WG (Wilton); Liseli Haines, Earthcare WG, PoHo, QEW (Mohawk Valley); Margaret (Peggy) Keiser, at large (Poughkeepsie); Hollister Knowlton, QEW (Chestnut Hill, PYM); Herb Lape, Advancement (Westbury); Mark LaRiviere, TGOY (15th Street); Margaret Lew, TGOY (15th Street); Anne Liske, at large (Albany) (RC); Melanie-Claire Mallison, at large (Ithaca) (C); Florence McAllister, Resource Library (New Paltz); Margaret (Meg) Obermayer, PoGo (Binghamton); Cinda Putman, at large (Albany); Carol Rice, Oakwood, TGOY (Bulls Head-Oswego); Mary Rothschild, TGOY (Brooklyn); Amy Savage, YACC (Syracuse); Kathie Scanlon, TGOY (Purchase); Janet Soderberg, Earthcare WG (15th Street); Helen Garay Toppins, NYYM Staff (Morningside); Alexandra (Alex) Tsocanos, YACC (Wilton)
20070723.1 After gathered silence, the clerk shared the following Gaelic Blessing:
Deep peace of the running wave to you,
Deep peace of the flowing air to you,
Deep peace of the quiet earth to you,
Deep peace of the shining stars to you,
Deep peace of the gentle night to you,
Moon and stars pour their healing light on you,
Deep peace of Christ, of the Christ
the Light of the world, to you,
Deep peace of Christ to you.
20070723.2 The clerk reviewed the agenda items. Introductions around the circle included the naming of favorite chocolates.
20070723.3 Nominations were considered for Nurturing Coordinating Committee officers for 2007-2008. Melanie-Claire Mallison was nominated as clerk and approved. Nominations for Assistant Clerk and Recording Clerk were held open. Mary Rothschild will record for Friday’s Nurture Coordinating meeting. Nominating Committee will report to Fall Sessions regarding the open positions.
20070723.4 Earthcare Working Group read the Eco-Spirituality & Action Minute (attached), approved by both Fifteenth Street Meeting and New York Quarter. The minute was approved by NCC. The Earthcare Working Group and Nurture Coordinating Committee will bring the minute to the NYYM business sessions and ask that Meetings be requested to report back to NYYM about their responses to the minute.
20070723.5 The clerk asked if there were any questions about 2008 Budget proposal from Nurture Coordinating.
20070723.6 Carol Rice reported on the planned facilities changes at Oakwood Friends School and successful activities during the past year.
20070723.7 Alex Tsocanos reported that Young Adult Coordinating Committee is growing. There is a new website and strong interest in planned activities.
20070723.8 Helen Garay Toppins reported about $6000 raised for a youth internship. Circle of Young Friends will be asked to help develop a job description for the position and help encourage applicants.
20070723.9 The Task Group on Youth reported on activities since its creation at last summer sessions. Through a process of common clerking they have come to a “place of unknowing” about what a yearly meeting might really look like that includes age appropriate responsibility. There are many ideas generated from a good charge, but no clear form has yet emerged. A brainstorming event is planned during this summer session with all monthly meetings invited in advance to send youth and adult representatives; all others are welcome. Buttons have been created asking “What about the Youth?” to encourage yearly meeting wide conversation and discussion about youth needs and interests. There is a display in Gullen lounge to share information and gather youth responses as well. A listserve has been established and potential links from the NYYM website to resources are being explored.
20070723.10 Hollister Knowlton from Quaker Earthcare Witness encouraged Nurture Coordinating Committee to continue to support one or more representatives to QEW to help sustain the “branches” of the tree needed to do this work.
20070723.11 NYYM will have four named representatives and an additional attender at the fall FWCC triennial sessions in Dublin.
20070723.12 Larry Coulthurst reported additional information about the closure and sale of the McCutcheon property and how some of the assets will be used to benefit elderly Quakers. Assistance was provided to help the former residents find new housing and employees locate new jobs.
20070723.13 PoGo Working Group reported about the on-going development of the concept of this young adult led effort to bring Powell House programming on the road with a start-up goal of fall 2008. The goal is to “live in a deep spiritual community where we can help each other and the wider community grow and prosper in the Spirit.” Monthly and regional meetings will be asked to apply to be a pilot project for the program. The question was brought forward as to whether the Working Group should become a Committee. After discussion, the Clerk suggested that the Working Group continue with the third year of the three year charge as a Working Group and revisit the question at that time. The Clerk’s suggestion was approved and the on-going efforts of the Work Group also affirmed and approved.
20070723.14 Friends returned to open worship, before adjourning.
Respectfully submitted,
Anne Liske, Recording Clerk
Melanie-Claire Mallison, Clerk
Melanie-Claire Mallison, Clerk
Mary Rothschild, Acting Recording Clerk
Present: Glen Bibler; Sandy Beer; Adrianna Coe; Joseph Condon; Ann Davidson; Chad Dell; Newton Garver; Liseli Haines; Carol Holmes; Sylka Jackson; Peggy Keiser; Melanie-Claire Mallison; Valerie Matthews; Florence McAllister; Anita Paul; Kristina Perry; Cinda Putman; Carol Rice; Mary Rothschild; Amy Savage; Christopher Sammond; Kathie Scanlon; Barbara Spring; Ken Stockbridge (Baltimore YM); Rick Townsend; Amy Wright
20070727.1 Meeting began with worship.
20070727.2 Clerk read a quote from an unknown source.
20070727.3 Due to approvals of NYYM, NCC has absorbed Epistle and JYM Committees, and released Advancement to MCC and Mosher Fund to GSCC.
20070727.4 Clerk requests that the PoGo Working Group consider changing its name due to the general confusion of the Yearly Meeting of the meaning of the name and possible connection to Powell House. Clerk will follow up with the working group.
20070727.5 Because of approval at this morning's business meeting, the Eco-Spirituality Minute and Queries will be sent to Monthly Meetings. Earthcare Working Group needs to work with clerk to get a cover letter developed and out.
20070727.6 Resource Library, reporting Florence McAllister. The library presently has about 711 titles of various media for borrowing. The library was set up all week for usefulness, and taken to Spring and Fall Sessions and regional meetings as possible, i.e., goes to Farmington-Scipio gatherings. 55 titles have been borrowed this week, and 20 returned, which is a good response for one week. Florence welcomes suggestions from folks on what they would like to see in the library: title or topic that needs to be included. She does track things down by herself, but wants input. One year borrowing time, longer if requested. Can bring it back to meeting she visits. NCC approved a committee for the RL last year, but it is still not created. Florence requests friends assistance in creating committee. Florence, Kathie and Carol will develop a charge for committee to bring to NCC in March. Florence’s computer died and has not been replaced, and she would like the title list to put on the web. Chad Dell volunteers to help with that. Procedure needs to be worked out to cover meetings that Florence cannot go to. Sharing of the work with another Friend, with committee would be beneficial. The list is being updated. People who are interested in books should come forward.
20070727.7 Anita Paul, Barbara Spring, and Glen Bibler reported on the McCutcheon being laid down. The proceeds of the sale have been turned into a fund titled the Friends Foundation on Aging (FFA). Warren Witte and Jim Whitely, on the FFA board, have asked if NYYM would like to designate a working group on aging, looking into the needs of NYYM Friends who are getting older. The three will confer with NYYM trustees; there is 12 M in the endowment with interest of $600,000/yr. The Foundation would like to give NYYM 10%. The three expect to come back at Fall Sessions with a proposal for the $60,000. Proposal may include grant writer funding, aging services resource people, Quaker families getting resources and access to them. NYYM needs some vehicle for formal requests.
Discussion included an exchange about the need for working group now or giving time for the involvement of entire YM: needs, process, regional representation, structure, qualifications of the proposed Friends, etc. Intention is to serve lower income Friends and come forward with a recommendation in a timely manner so that resources are not diverted.
20070727.8 Nurture Coordinating Committee approves the creation of a Working Group on Aging. Anita, Barbara and Glen are named to the working group. Larry Coulthurst will be contacted on the Foundation side. The Working Group on Aging will report at Fall Sessions.
20070727.9 Christopher Sammond requested approval to plan a one time meeting to bring together those interested Religious Education, hosted by NCC. Approved.
20070727.10 NYYM Representative Discussion.
Our Clerk sent out the following message:
To FGC, FUM & FWCC Representatives (and all others who care to read on!):
I would like to remind you of my request that you follow up on Newton Garver's concerns regarding NYYM's support of our named representatives. I would very much like to hear from each of your groups:
Discussion ensued:
Quaker Earthcare Witness only has one rep now, could use two. QEW meets once a year in Chicago and once elsewhere. Geographic spread and need for visitation was discussed. Stewardship of resources re: travel of representatives, options of virtual meetings and ecological footprint of YM discussed.
FWCC has four reps to the triennial set by FWCC based on the number of members in NYYM, and up to twelve members of the committee, set by NYYM.
FUM has three reps who attend three board meetings a year. Every third year there is a triennial. Issues around FUM are partly a result of incomplete or inaccurate information. Reporting at sessions and publicizing them in Spark and InfoShare does not reach people. How to truly communicate?
FGC: 15 reps are allowed by FGC also based on NYYM membership and are all requested to attend annual business meeting, and serve on a sub-committee. Therefore four meetings a year per rep. Furthermore one rep is on the executive committee, which adds two additional meetings.
Discussion of expense of being a rep to FWCC, FUM and FGC. Perception that there is inequality of care for reps. Each group thinks the other groups are treated better by the CC and the YM. This cannot be true of all! Still there is a concern for those who persons who have the least financial resources. Benefits of having representatives to these organizations are not known to all Friends. Connection between visitation, outreach and giving information. When reps pay their own way they make un-reimbursed contributions to YM, and it’s important to send complete vouchers even if not asking for reimbursement so the YM knows how much is really expended.
Clerk requests--budget all money and count all un-reimbursed statements. Need for transparency and the tradition of ministry face to face. Also, carbon footprint of NYYM relative to travel and the fact that committees are called to do God's work in a setting of worship, which is difficult to do long distance.
Clerk requests reports on the committees that the reps are on in their respective organizations, so we see the whole organization. Discussion of responsibilities of representatives and how they are known. There is a handbook about YM committees. It is not known whether it is current.
20070727.11 Friends settled into a moment of worship before adjourning.
Respectfully submitted,
Mary Rothschild, Acting Recording Clerk
Melanie-Claire Mallison, Clerk
In our 1660 peace declaration, Friends declared, “We utterly deny all outward wars and strife, and fightings with outward weapons, for any end, or under any pretense whatever: this is our testimony to the whole world.” That statement is still true, but its meaning has deepened beyond what those early Quakers would have understood. Can we now commit ourselves to ending humanity’s war with the Earth?
The Religious Society of Friends has witnessed for peace for almost 350 years. Over that time, our witness has grown and widened; we have worked for the end of war, for the end of the African slave trade, for equality of women, civil rights for African-Americans and for human rights around the world.
Now we are led to widen our witness again to work for peace between humans and our sacred earth community. Our culture has considered the Earth our property to be exploited, and we have all, knowingly and unknowingly, been complicit in this violent appropriation of world resources. We must now search for the seeds of this war in our possessions and our lives and work to nurture a new, mutual relationship with the Earth in all of our actions. The spirit is calling us to hold in reverence this miracle that God has given us. If we are connected to our source, our lives are richer and deeper.
We are asking that this minute be forwarded to all Monthly Meetings and worship groups in New York Yearly Meeting with a “call to action.” We suggest that each Monthly Meeting worshipfully address the following queries:
It is our hope that this prayerful consideration of our responsibility to the planet that sustains us will generate the actions necessary to bring us into deep harmony with our beloved Earth.