Philadelphia Yearly Meeting

of the Religious Society of Friends

News

Updated: Sunday, January 13, 2019: Proposal Threshing Session #1

Written on:

 

Update: The first threshing session will happen via ZOOM from 2-4 PM. 

Topic: PhYM #1 MASC Threshing Sessions about Proposals
Time: Jan 13, 2019 2:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting
https://wcupa.zoom.us/j/751619589

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Dial by your location
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Meeting ID: 751 619 589
Find your local number: https://zoom.us/u/aeGyQ3uzOH

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Friends, Peace and Progress! MASC is having its first threshing session on the proposals. 

As for tomorrow, Sunday, January 13, 2019, because of the suspicion of inclement weather conditions, we may only hold our first threshing session discussion via ZOOM as opposed to the scheduled meeting at Friends Center from 2-4 PM.  This way, safety of others will not be on our minds as we discuss. Yet, we do know the value of in-person synergy. So, here is a tentative plan: (a) wait until tomorrow morning to determine if some of us can make an in-person meeting and (b) have a ZOOM available regardless (as planned anyhow). If you have shared this with your circle, please provide them with this update. 

Here is the ZOOM meeting info for PhYM #1 MASC Threshing Sessions about Proposals. Again, if you can not join us, the next in-person meeting is Saturday, January 19, 2019, at Arch Street Meeting House , Philadelphia, PA, 2-4 PM. 

Topic: PhYM #1 MASC Threshing Sessions about Proposals
Time: Jan 13, 2019 2:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting
https://wcupa.zoom.us/j/751619589

One tap mobile
+16465588656,,751619589# US (New York)
+16699006833,,751619589# US (San Jose)

Dial by your location
        +1 646 558 8656 US (New York)
        +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)
Meeting ID: 751 619 589
Find your local number: https://zoom.us/u/aeGyQ3uzOH

Synergy Building Around Multicultural Audit: How Three Quakers Lunch

Written on:

Wednesday, November 14, 2018

 

Synergy in Community

On Thursday, November 1, 2018, around 12:30 PM, in West Chester, PA, Philadelphia Yearly Meeting General Secretary Christie Duncan-Tessmer, Quaker Life Council Clerk Amy Brooks, and I, Multicultural Audit Steering Clerk, enjoyed a nice afternoon together as we nurtured our relationship and worked to strengthen the ties within our Beloved Community.

History Before Lunch?

Meeting in the parking lot of an affordable, yet highly-rated, Thai restaurant we would later enjoy, Christie, Amy, and I jump into Mrs. Mert, a crossover vehicle I named after my grandmother. I named the consumer good after my grandmother because (1) my grandmother loved to “ride,” as she often described her cruising along the beach in my coastal Mississippi hometown not far from New Orleans, LA and (2) it is the first car I purchased after her death.

The Autumn weather is pleasant: the crisp air is not cold, the bright sun is out, and the falling leaves are the most beautiful golden and red colors, while the non-evergreen trees still have green leaves holding on, but in vain.  Our attitudes were light-hearted and joy is abound. Christie and Amy have no idea of what to expect, but they trust me.

Less than a mile later, to their surprise, they are on the campus of West Chester University. Here, they will learn more about abolitionist, journalist, and feminist Frederick Douglass. I take them in the direction, we– the supporters of the Frederick Douglass statue– want visitors to meet Douglass. So, under a canopy of a long archway, they see the statue of  Douglass from the back, but the more they walk, they find themselves walking around him, only to encircle to view him in the front. The spirit captured in the Douglass iconography is that of a determined  young human who has broken free–mentally and physically– from enslavement (to read about the fight that changes Douglass’ life see: Douglass). Sculptured by the talented Richard Blake,  Douglass’ mane rages like a lion, his 6’2 height is evident, and the look in his face exemplifies rugged hope, keen insight, and audacious determination.

As they behold Douglass, they are in awe to learn Douglass gave his last public address at West Chester University. From there, I point to one of the six benches that surround Douglass. It reads “United States Colored Troops and Thames Family.” “My bench,” I explained, “wants to highlight a contribution of Douglass. The only reason I put my family’s name on it was to have it uniform with the other benches.”

Next, we journey to another side of the student quad to see a historic marker explaining Douglass’ visit to West Chester University. Next, we go to the Frederick Douglass Institute, where Christie and Amy meet the student staff and receive the Narrative Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave, among other materials. With each step, Amy and Christie learn more about me as I learn about them. I observe the smiles on their faces as they share reactions to learning about WCU and Douglass. At that moment, we are in relationship.

As we conclude our campus visit, we walk back to Mrs. Mert talking about the impact Douglass and his contributions have on the modern-day landscape of a college. Isn’t it astonishing how activism, over a 100 years later, still has impact? 

Fellowship Over Thai

After the campus tour and return to the parking lot, Amy leaves to go to a scheduled appointment (she generously accommodated her life and time to share this time with us–how wonderful!) . Christie and I bid farewell as we walk into the restaurant. For over three hours, as we eat a three-course Thai lunch, we discuss how the MASC would work with the Philadelphia Yearly Meeting’s staff in hopes of capturing the witness and testimony of each member and attender who wishes to share in this assessment. There at the lunch table, I compose the language that would be on the formal launching of the MASC’s work moving forward (see last week’s post).

The lunch ends with a hug and hope. Both of us hurry to our vehicles to escape the chill of the weather that occurred as we lunched.

So, what do I enjoy most about our gathering on Thursday, November 1, 2018? Our learning more about each other as we work with intention and hope about the PhYM ecosystem to which we are contributing our lives, time, faith, and love.

Here are some pics at the end of this post. Enjoy!

Onward,

tonya thames taylor, Clerk of MASC

Oh yeah… why are we hiring a professional consultant?

This was not discussed over lunch. Yet, since sessions, MASC has received one email asking for such clarity. I answer it here because others might be wondering the same.  

Who affirmed this Philadelphia Yearly Meeting (PhYM) assessment? Members of Monthly Meetings (MMs) at PhYM’s Annual Sessions in both 2017 and 2018.

What is this self-assessment all about?  The origins of  how the minute (see link), does not tell the full story. Essentially, the time is right to gather testimonies and witnesses to learn more about our Beloved Community. It is good to operate moving forward with better insight.

Is this self-assessment needed? Yes. We need to know the impact, if any, the implementation of a new Strategic Plan has had on our MMs and those who attend. We need this to help us better understand the priorities in our community.  Lastly, one of the by-products of this assessment is an archive of interviews (witness and testimonies) for future generations; for now, these interviews can highlight our strengths and gaps when it comes to us strengthening relationship with  one another.

Why can’t the Philadelphia Yearly Meeting (PhYM) do the work themselves? We are. We are simply asking an external, objective professional to look at data to ascertain patterns. A consultant will use professional techniques to help us better understand ourselves through the answers we provide in a mixed-method approach of gathering information.

Why is the Philadelphia Yearly Meeting doing this? Well, frankly, a yearly meeting already does this type of work when it calls a session for Worship with Attention to Business.

Please indulge me here.  The best way I can explain the Philadelphia Yearly Meeting (PhYM) is to make it analogous to a federation (I know, but bear with me). In this spiritual, faith-based federation each Monthly Meeting (MM) has sovereignty. Yet, to worship, seek, and discern collectively on issues and concern facing MMs and Quarters in a particular region, the yearly meeting organizes sessions where business as it pertains to those issues and concerns are discussed. Over the past decades, there have been concerns  “That of God in Everyone”  has not translated into interactions and practices effectively in MMs. With this self-assessment and the hiring of a consultant, we are not trying to find a savior or outsource our concerns. We are trying to learn more about our community to learn better how to strengthen our beloved community. Thus, the yearly meeting is addressing a concern that has emerged from some MMs and have been asked to examine deliberately, with the professional services of a consultant. PhYM is not asking for a consultant to affirm that issues exist. PhYM is hoping to gather insight into what impedes and facilitates relationships within MMs and Quarters.

tonya thames taylor, MASC Clerk

Through Relationship, We Are A Beloved Community

Three Quakers at Frederick Douglass Statue; tonya has a bench around the statue. West Chester University, PA, 11/1/2018

   Christie and Amy with Douglass, WCUPA, 11/1/2018

For the accomplished work of the MASC, please review the link below:

MASC Accomplished Work to date

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) and RFP Timeline of MASC

Written on:

multiculturalPhYM@gmail.com

484-378-0943

Last Update: Friday, November 16, 2018; Originally posted on November 2, 2018

Peace and Progress! Listed below are Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) and the strict timeline associated with the Request for Proposal (RFP) from Independent Consulting Services for a Multicultural Community Assessment in Diversity and Inclusion of the Philadelphia Yearly Meeting of Religious Society of Friends.

For a running list of updates of the Multicultural Audit Steering Committee (MASC), please see page: Accomplished Work

For the actual RFP, please see page: RFP

 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):

(1) What is a Request for Proposal (RFP)?  Generally, a RFP is a document that solicits a proposal, often made through a bidding process, by an organization interested in service. In our case, the purpose of the RFP is to solicit proposals from qualified parties with experience in institutional assessment, particularly with experience in guiding entities through successful equity, diversity, and inclusion transformation. Why? PhYM acknowledges the need to broaden the scope of access to include traditionally underserved and marginalized groups and communities as it continues to support the various groups, events, and projects it currently does.

(2) What prompted this assessment/audit? For more information, please see the following page: Audit Minute

(3) While we try to be inclusive, my meeting consists mainly of white members. Is this relevant to us? Of course. We are assessing how our meetings function, their in-reach and outreach, their signature programs (if any), activities, First Day program (if any), and connections to and perception of the Quarter and the yearly meeting. We understand that we are observers, chroniclers, and participants in our experiential faith. Also, we are hoping that each meeting solicit, secure, and share short interviews. Here are possible questions that may be asked: Why one remains a Quaker or attend a Quaker service? How has being a Quaker shaped one’s outlook? Although one’s meeting does not have much diversity, how does the meeting engage or discuss race or difference or is it generally ignored? We envision, after the consultant is hired, having individual and Monthly Meetings (MM) participate in StoryCorp-style interviews. This way, we can find out more about one another (the heart of relationship) and more about who we are now as Quakers. To learn more about StoryCorp, check out National Public Radio (NPR) on Friday mornings or this link: Storycorp

(4) I know someone who works for or owns an institutional assessment company. May I share the link to the RFP with them? Of course. Our hope is to receive many well-articulated proposals.

(5) Will I or my Monthly Meeting (MM), Quarter, sprint, collaborative, and/or council provide feedback throughout the process?  Of course. This assessment is OUR collective effort to ascertain information about our Philadelphia Yearly Meeting. We are seeking someone who can help us learn more about ourselves and learn more about ways we can strengthen relationships within our beloved community.

(6 What is the projected budget for this project? $83,000 (see RFP for more details). The consultant will contract for $65K; the rest includes postage, the September 2018, and logistic costs.

(7) What is the best way to reach you? Firstly , check to see if you already know a member of the MASC. This person knows the ongoing work of the committee: MASC Members

Secondly, you can give us a call at 484-378-0943 OR send an email: multiculturalPhYM@gmail.com

(8) If invited, will someone on the committee visit our MM or Quarter to discuss this in more detail? Certainly! Just reach out with dates and times and we will do our best to accommodate your request.

(9) Are we to wait until a consultant is hired before engaging in this work? NO. This project is a collective one; we are doing the structural work, but the entire community of PhYM is involved. As you know, Quakers believe in faith in action. We are asking you to help us throughout the process by suggesting potential consultants, sharing feedback to information we post, observing interviews of potential consultants, and sharing your impressions of consultants.

(10) Who are we assessing/gaining insight about? Our community. There are some who think we should concentrate on staff. Reality is, we have less than 20 full-time staff members and many of our staff are also Quakers and members of PhYM. Therefore, to argue that we should invest $83K in that small amount of sampling is not financially sound. We are gathering the voices of our entire community to find out how we can strategically plan and envision in the future. 

(11)  Who affirmed this Philadelphia Yearly Meeting (PhYM) assessment? Members of Monthly Meetings (MMs) at PhYM’s Annual Sessions in both 2017 and 2018.

(12) What is this self-assessment all about?  The origins of  how the minute (see link), does not tell the full story. Essentially, the time is right to gather testimonies and witnesses to learn more about our Beloved Community. It is good to operate moving forward with better insight.

(13) Is this self-assessment needed? Yes. We need to know the impact, if any, the implementation of a new Strategic Plan has had on our MMs and those who attend. We need this to help us better understand the priorities in our community.  Lastly, one of the by-products of this assessment is an archive of interviews (witness and testimonies) for future generations; for now, these interviews can highlight our strengths and gaps when it comes to us strengthening relationship with  one another.

(14) Why can’t the Philadelphia Yearly Meeting (PhYM) do the work themselves? We are. We are simply asking an external, objective professional to look at data to ascertain patterns. A consultant will use professional techniques to help us better understand ourselves through the answers we provide in a mixed-method approach of gathering information.

(15) Why is the Philadelphia Yearly Meeting doing this? Well, frankly, a yearly meeting already does this type of work when it calls a session for Worship with Attention to Business.

Please indulge me here.  The best way I can explain the Philadelphia Yearly Meeting (PhYM) is to make it analogous to a federation (I know, but bear with me). In this spiritual, faith-based federation each Monthly Meeting (MM) has sovereignty. Yet, to worship, seek, and discern collectively on issues and concern facing MMs and Quarters in a particular region, the yearly meeting organizes sessions where business as it pertains to those issues and concerns are discussed. Over the past decades, there have been concerns  “That of God in Everyone”  has not translated into interactions and practices effectively in MMs. With this self-assessment and the hiring of a consultant, we are not trying to find a savior or outsource our concerns. We are trying to learn more about our community to learn better how to strengthen our beloved community. Thus, the yearly meeting is addressing a concern that has emerged from some MMs and have been asked to examine deliberately, with the professional services of a consultant. PhYM is not asking for a consultant to affirm that issues exist. PhYM is hoping to gather insight into what impedes and facilitates relationships within MMs and Quarters.

(16) At Continuing Sessions in Fall 2018, the Multicultural Audit Steering Committee (MASC)’s report was “received.” Does that impact the MASC’s work? No. At the MASC’s origins, the task of the MASC was to find a consultant and work with the consultant until the consultant gets acclimated. So, when we present, we are providing members of PhYM an update of our work.

(17) On the November 15, 2018 ZOOM Call, which lasted from 7:30 PM to 8:18 PM, there were questions regarding transparency, minutes, and Scope of MASC work. Here is the answers:

Transparency: Our process has never been hidden, it is just that we could not articulate the continuing revelation that was happening in the process of creating the RFP. Now, that we can and have articulated aspects of a counterculture that can be gathered, we are on our way. Next, Minutes: Our meetings are more worship sharing, so actionable items that emerged from the worship indicate the sense of meeting. Lastly, Scope of Work: The Call for Nominations and The Invite to serve on the committee outline the scope of the MASC’s work. Yet, we know that Continuing Revelation is vital and crucial to our work and we will continue to embrace that.

Part 8: Timeline (taken straight from RFP)

The structure of the Philadelphia Yearly Meeting (PhYM) is that the membership is the faith community and legal decision-making structure. Consequently, this timeline fits into the what is called “Sessions.” At these Sessions, business decisions are threshed and decided upon. Therefore, the timeline below reflects the Continuing Sessions held in November 2018 and March 2019. The vetting of the proposals will adhere to the following schedule to honor the time between sessions. “Feedback opportunity” notes the dynamic opportunity for the larger community of PhYM to provide feedback to the process.

  • Between Thursday, November 1 – Monday, December 10, 2018, 4 PM, if interested, please kindly reply with your “Intent to Apply” so we know to look forward to your proposal. Failure to submit an “Intent to Apply” does not disqualify submission of a proposal.

  • UPDATED ADDED two ZOOM meetings on Wednesday, November 14 and Thursday, November 15, 2018, 7:30 PM. Posted information PhYM website. COMPLETED. To see summary, click here. 

  • Monday, December 3, 2018, 6 PM: All questions and/or requests for clarification must be received to the email address: multiculturalPhYM@gmail.com

  • Thursday, December 20, 2018, 4 PM EST: Proposals Due.

  • Between Friday, December 21, 2018 and January 4, 2019: Committee reviews and deliberates proposals. Meeting of committee on Sunday, January 6,, 2019 to thresh.

  • Sunday, January 13, 2019: Committee holds a special session with larger PhYM Community, via ZOOM and in-person meeting, to share deliberation process and the finalists. Feedback opportunity.

  • Second Meeting: January 19, 2019 coincides w/ Joint-Meeting with Councils, 2-4 PM. Committee holds a special session with larger PhYM Community, via ZOOM and in-person meeting, to share deliberation process and the finalists. Feedback opportunity.

  • Tuesday, January 22, 2019, 4 PM: Written Responses, if any, should be received via email or postal (mail a few days ahead) from monthly meetings, councils, committees, and/or individual Friends and/or attenders of potential consultants. Feedback opportunity.

  • Sunday, February 3, 2019: Committee meets, in-person, to thresh PhYM community’s responses and select potential consultants. Feedback opportunity.

  • Tuesday, February 5, 2019, 4 PM: Notifications sent to finalists.

  • Between Saturday, February 9-23, 2019: Interviews with finalists via in-person or ZOOM (members of PhYM can serve as observers of these interviews).

  • Between Sunday, February 24-Sunday, March 3, 2019: Larger PhYM-community has an opportunity to share perspectives on finalists. Feedback opportunity.

  • March 10, 2019: Committee’s final recommendation shared with larger PhYM Community.

  • March 17, 2019: Committee publishes final report of process and gives recommendation via a Minute of Action.

  • March 23, 2019 at Continuing Sessions: Members of the PhYM Community considers recommendation.

  • By April 1, 2019: Consultant officially notified, if a selection is made and a contract is signed within 30 days.

  • Between July 24-28, 2019 at Annual Sessions: Update is given by consultant.

  • By November 2019 Continuing Sessions: Update is given by consultant.

  • By Friday, December 20, 2019: Consultant delivers final reports (executive and public) and recommendations

For the actual RFP, please see page:

RFP

 

Recap: MASC At November 2018 Continuing Sessions

Written on:

Sunday, November 4, 2018

Peace and Progress! Thank you many times over for the warm emails, hugs, words of encouragement, and support. 

One of the most endearing moments of this Continuing Sessions is when the members of the MASC, on the facing bench, united in holding hands. It was magical. My cup runneth over. I am still overwhelmed with JOY even thinking about it!

Several of the members seemed moved by The Spirit to share their experiences. Each shared how they learned to trust the ways The Spirit moves. We must remember that policies do not compel the heart like love does.

During my report, I said and meant, “When we operate in fear, we operate at our worst.” I am glad that, even when the tides rose, most of us remained fixed on the goal of community. For that, we modeled what beloved community can do.

Jim Murphy brought us (some members of the committee)  bread. I asked him, after tasting a piece, “This is the best bread you have ever made. Why is this batch so good? Sandra replied, “Love for you.” I had to literally fight back tears.

The MASC’s report was received by the PhYM (see wording below my signature), as we did not need approval because we were charged with writing an RFP and a finding a consultant from the onset. Overall, the overwhelming majority, of the Friends present at Arch Street, appreciated our work. There were lingering concerns regarding adhering to the proposed timeline.

Now the other phase of the work begins. Committee members are shifting from serving as designers of an RFP to Ambassadors who spread the word to increase the number of  potential consultants. Ideally, we want 10-12 RFPs, so we must advertise widely and broadly to get that number.

During the presentation of the MASC report, I quoted T.S. Eliot’s “We die to each other daily. What we know of other people is only our memory of the moments during which we knew them. And they have changed since then. To pretend that they and we are the same is a useful and convenient social convention which must sometimes be broken. We must also remember that at every meeting we are meeting a stranger,” from The Cocktail Party.” Please meditate on that passage. This passage asks the fundamental question, how do we greet, love, and trust one another.

We will  have a ZOOM meeting on Thursday, November 14, 2018, 7:30 PM. At this meeting, we will discuss an Intent to Apply and mobilizing for sending out invites.

On a personal note, I have shared that once we articulated a RFP, communication will be persistent. That will be honored.

Onward,

tonya, Clerk of MASC

Nutshell

  • Complete: Retreat for Multicultural Audit Steering Committee (MASC), September 21-23, 2018, at Pendle Hill in Wallingford, PA.
  • $2, 242 was the investment cost of three-day retreat; costs kept at minimum by the Clerk.
  • Complete: Request for Proposal (RFP) for Diversity and Inclusion and cover letter for RFP.
  • Complete: Rubric for RFP for Diversity and Inclusion.
  • Complete: MASC’s Clerk (with medical injuries) as well as other members of MASC have visited several Monthly Meetings (MM), quarterly sessions, and public events to bring awareness to and promotion of this assessment.
  • Complete: Afterwards and outside of formal retreat, small working group, throughout October, worked on evaluation rubric for RFP and marketing plans of assessment (an important issue raised by MASC Clerk).
  • Complete:5 hour ZOOM meeting held on Wednesday, October 31st.
  • Complete: Both RFP and Rubric post to MASC-related page by/on Friday, November 2.
  • Complete: RFP and Rubric distributed to ten (10) potential consultants by/on Friday, November 2. Consultant names derived from committee members who suggested firms.
  • Complete: Laura Pickering Ford, Harrisburg MM, recorded Minutes for the retreat. These minutes are available on PhYM’s MASC-related page (find at org).
  • Of Note: Non-compensated Friends and an attender threshed and vetted the final RFP. The overwhelmingly majority (excepting about three), from the committee’s current 18 members, participated in the content of the RFP. Unlike other organizations that have written mission and value statements, along with strategic plans with measurable, quantifiable benchmarks and goals related to specific targets, this committee initially received imprecise ideas and indistinct budget. Yet, RFP needed specifics. In under a year, this committee has created a RFP that aims to hire a consultant who can help PhYM assess and strengthen its beloved community that desires meaningful diversity and inclusion.
  • Projected Cost: Roughly $83K ($65K for consultants, $10-12K for printing mailing, $3K for additional administration); again, roughly $2.5K has been spent in retreat and first meeting.
  • For more up-to-date information on on-going activities of MASC, see PhYM’s MASC-related page.

Links to Related Work of the MASC

For a running list of updates of the Multicultural Audit Steering Committee (MASC), please see page: https://www.pym.org/multicultural-audit-committee/news/

For the actual RFP, please see page: https://www.pym.org/multicultural-audit-committee/request-for-proposal-rfp-for-multicultural-audit-assessment/

For flyer for MASC’s Call for Participation: Nov 2018 PhYM Flyer

 

Call IN: ZOOM Meetings Wednesday, November 14 OR Thursday, November 15

Written on:

Updated: Wednesday, November 14, 2018

 

JOIN

ZOOM Meeting Wednesday, November 14, 2018 at 7:30 PM (Peace and Progress! This ZOOM call went well. Nine Friends joined the call. The meeting was complete in 20 minutes. The energy was  pleasant). 

OR

ZOOM Meeting Thursday, November 15, 2018, 7:30 PM

You have received the flyer, reviewed the RFP (did you send it to any consultants you know?), and kept up with the weekly updates. Now what you may ask.

Join the MASC ZOOM call to receive an update.

Peace and Progress!

Both events now show up on the PhYM website.

Share, SHARE, Share!

We have two nights of ZOOM calls planned:

For Wednesday: Click here

For Thursday: Click here

Hope this clears up any confusion,

tonya