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The Meeting assembled at the appointed hour of a warm Spring day and settled into open worship.
- Minute 1:
The Clerk introduced herself, Alternate Clerk Anne Moore, and Recording Clerk Suzanne Day, then called upon Susan R. Makler (Abington Meeting), Clerk of the Annual Sessions Planning Group, to present the proposed agenda for these sessions. Friends approved the agenda and the clerk expressed appreciation for the many doors to the Spirit included in this plan.
- Minute 2:
The Clerk welcomed members, attenders and visitors. Sue Axtell from Earlham School of Religion invited Friends to speak with her. A letter of greeting from Friends World Committee for Consultation was read aloud and Anne Moore shared the names of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting’s named representatives. The Triennial will be held this summer in New England.
- Minute 3:
Members of the General Services Standing Committee were introduced by Sandra Moyer, outgoing clerk of the Standing Committee. She will be missed as she moves from our area.
- Minute 4:
Rich Ailes (Middletown Meeting, Concord Quarter), Clerk of the Nominating Committee, presented the roster of names of Friends who have agreed to serve on various Yearly Meeting committees. He observed how blessed he has felt working with such a fine committee. A minute of appreciation was offered to acknowledge the hard work of Standing Committees; these people help the Yearly Meeting to function throughout the year and during our sessions.
A two-page Nominating Committee report was distributed with the proposed names for appointment, and a plea offered for Quarters to name their full complement of members.
Involvement in Standing Committee service needs to be a calling for enough volunteers, with sufficient staff support, to make our Yearly Meeting work well. Our web site could become more interactive.
Rich also drew Friends’ attention to the "Opportunities" flyer; it invites each of us to indicate our background, talents and interests.
Friends offered thoughtful, prayerful attention to the question of how Standing Committee service can be a worshipful, nurturing experience.
- Minute 5:
Kenneth Sutton, as clerk of the Epistle Project Group proposed the writing of an outgoing epistle and the reading of selected incoming epistles during the remaining sessions. Friends promptly approved. Others serving on the Group are: Mario Cavallini (Mickleton MM), Marjorie Anderson (Kennett.MM) and Steve Gulick (Central Philadelphia).
- Minute 6:
Fiduciary Corporation chair Lois Forrest (Mount Holly Meeting), gave the corporation’s annual report in clear summary. Lois introduced members of the Corporation here today and Constance Brookes (Haddonfield Meeting), Executive Director. Guidelines for achieving the steady income expected by investing institutions maintain stability within the policy of no-frills expenses.
An annual conference, group meetings, and a newsletter keep Friends informed and orient newcomers to managing a constituent body’s funds. Lois indicated the written report distributed at this session and invited all to the Annual Meeting of the Corporation, Sixth-month 13th.
Friends expressed concern for socially responsible investment avoiding prisons operating as business corporations. Constituent bodies, including PYM, wrestle with how income is used and questions of profiting from over-consumption or harm to the environment as spiritual challenges.
- Minute 7:
Membership Statistics had been distributed and were summarized by the clerk as having increased in six Quarters during the past year, decreased in six, and one remained unchanged. Overall, for the first time in two decades, our total has increased by 25!
- Minute 8:
Dennis O’Brien (Providence Meeting), Treasurer of Yearly Meeting, presented his report for fiscal year 1999. This $5 million budget closed with $29,000 balance. The audit went very smoothly, resulting in an unqualified report. Looking at the current year, Dennis encouraged Meetings to get their contributions in before the very end of the fiscal year.
- Minute 9:
Jacqueline Bowers (Falls Meeting), Clerk of the Financial Stewardship Committee, introduced members of that group and thanked them for their faithful attendance and willingness to struggle together toward unity. The proposed balanced budget for fiscal year 2000-2001 was distributed today in both graphic charts and detailed figures, with additional figures available. The year-long process of building the budget involves two-way communication with Monthly Meetings. This year’s survey asking for weighted priorities resulted in response from half the Monthly Meetings. These five areas are consistently rated most important: Religious Education (for children and youth), Peace, Education (Friends schools), Spiritual Nurture, Outreach. Following questions and the observation that a large proportion is distributed as grants, the body of the meeting approved the budget.
These Minutes were read aloud, improved, then approved.
Following announcements, Friends settled into concluding worship, to meet again following intergenerational worship-sharing after lunch.
Suzanne R. Day, recording clerk
Last modified: Wednesday, February 18, 2004 at 08:19 AM