BUCKS QUARTERLY MEETING – UNAPPROVED MINUTES
MEETING FOR BUSINESS
ELEVENTH MONTH 20, 20005
QUAKERTOWN MONTHLY MEETING
Clerk: David Smith
Recording Clerk: David Rose
Business Meeting started at 1:10 PM after a period of silent worship
Roll Call of Meetings
Bristol:0, Buckingham: 3, Doylestown: 1, Fallsington: 3, Lehigh Valley: 2, Makefield: 0, Middletown: 2, Newtown: 2, Plumstead: 2, Quakertown: 2, Solebury: 2, Southampton: 5, Wrightstown: 0,Yardley: 1.
A Friend made the suggestion that any meeting not represented be fined $100.00. This was not approved.
Minutes of Eight
Month Quarterly Meeting
Minutes read by Recording Clerk and approved as read.
Clerks Report-
Quarterly Clerks Meeting and their concerns
David Smith reported on meeting of Quarterly Clerks which he attended which was held on 11/06/05. A major topic of the discussion was the Burlington Minute regarding the place of the Quarters in the Yearly Organization. Although a working group was formed by PYM to address the issues raised in the minute, some Quarter Clerks felt that the minute was not being addressed by this working group.
The response of the group to the Philadelphia Quarterly Meeting minute on Same Sex Marriage was mixed.
Some clerks discussed the funding of Regional Coordinators. It appeared to David Smith that there is some confusion among various Clerks regarding the source of funding of these positions.
Clerks would have liked to share more with each other but time was not available.
Coordinator’s Report:
The report was summarized by Holly Olson and is attached
Speaker’s Series on the Draft: Holly felt that she put in much effort into creating this program and the low number attending were disappointing. Persons who attended did receive documentation which could be used for CO filing.
Advertisements to be included in Quakerphernalia keep coming in. This part of the newsletter appears to be a great source of inreach.
Responses to Questionnaire sent out by Holly regarding current level of awareness will be used to help with the creation of a brochure.
Quaker Tent at Grange Fair: We will stop counting persons. The general feeling is that the tent has proved itself and it turns out that there always has more material sent out then persons counted which challenges accuracy or need to spend the effort to try and keep this record.
John Jordan, President of the Bucks County Chapter of the NAACP at the request of the BC Chapter has requested the BC Chapter of the NAACP become permanent partners of the Peace Fair. The Peace Fair Planning Committee approved the request.
Some discussion ensued about promoting the involvement of other groups in the Peace Fair Committee. This promotes diversity of thought, improves resources and increases outreach.
Bristol Day provided three new members for Bristol Meeting. Later, a Friend commented on the wonderful table presentation and the information on Quaker Testimonies which was prepared by the Clerk of Outreach Kellie Schlussel-Edens.
One Friend suggested that Friends be made aware of the Friend Testimony against swearing on the Bible that statements that we are about to make are true and our alternative which is to Affirm that we are continuing to speak the truth.
Direct Mail program will be started at Southampton MM and Bristol MM by Outreach Committee. The approach is to send welcome letters to new homeowners in local zip codes as distributed by Realtor organizations. It was suggested that each Monthly Meeting adopt this model and do the work themselves.
Tom Hoopes spoke at Buckingham Monthly Meeting on the Child Safety Policies (CSP's ). Questionnaires supplied by Guide One, but not explicitly stated as needing to be returned, have not been returned by many Monthly Meetings. Tom strongly encouraged that the CSP's should be approved by GuideOne. Each Monthly Meeting that submits their CSP for vetting to GuideOne should request a response along with recommended and /or required changes that GuideOne feels is necessary. All requests for information should directed to the GuideOne Insurance Co. and questionnaires are to be sent to the Don Martin Insurance Agency. Discussion ensued regarding standards for creating policies and whether the Quarter needs a policy. The Quarter is not currently sponsoring any youth programs and therefore has not written any CSP. PYM will be a repository for background checks and will conduct the checks at cost. A Friend asked, since they have been fingerprinted six times already for their work, if any of these approvals would carry over. She was informed that even though these checks were more extensive than what Guide One requires, independent checks will need to be conducted. The coordinator will send copies of the GuideOne Questionnaire to each Bucks Quarter clerk along with the contact information for the new Senior Risk Manager at GuideOne.
Plumstead Meeting Annual Report
Plumstead, in the interest of brevity, directed Friends to read the report which was included in the package and is attached.
Treasure’s Report and BQM Budget and Nominating Report
Treasurer’s report presented by Bill Dockhorn for Judy Kashoff and is attached. He reviewed some of the highlights of Financial Report and noted that BQM makes the convent with PYM for the meetings in the Quarter. In some other Quarters, Monthly Meetings make covenant directly with PYM. Expense items were explained.
Budget and Nominating Committee
Report presented by Bill Dockhorn and is attached. It is requested that each MM send two members to this committee, one with knowledge of members and another familiar with finances of Meeting.
It was noted that we only have one representative at PYM Nominating Committee. Size of Quarter allows us six.
Budget process requires that BQM gets information from Monthly Meetings by December 14th so that BQM can make it’s covenant by January 10th. Yearly Meeting has asked for 4% increase. A Friend raised the question regarding any increase in payment by a Monthly Meeting being passed on to PYM. It was suggested that if increase intended to go to PYM, increase to be designated to PYM or a donation made to Annual Appeals. Last year’s covenant with PYM gave a 2% increase, we were able to increase it to 4%. Question regarding lack of report by Treasurer for current year. It was explained that the report, at this stage of the fiscal year, would be close to meaningless as almost no money has been spent
In response to a question about the community that helped start Southampton MM, the Bryn Gweled community is no longer a dependable source of members. Although it was founded largely by Quakers, it is now much more varied. Hope expressed that Outreach with Quarter will bring new members.
Comment was made that publicity through the Advance of Bucks County is very good.
Programs start at 9:45 AM and Meeting for Worship at 11:00
AM, refreshments follow Meeting for Worship.
The mention in the report that rental policies being worked resulted in
question about what the rate charged would be.
Response was that rates are different for members of the Meeting
community and outside groups. A Friend suggested that information be gathered
regarding building usage rates and all the variables involved with determining
fee. A member from Southampton asked that information regarding burial policies
be included in request as
The Minute for the request of information on meeting rates is as follows:
MM's please provide for general information to Quarter:
· Policies and prices for burial in your graveyards or those under your care.
· Pricing for rental of Meetinghouse and grounds. Many Meetings have a structure in place which is based on how much of the property is to be rented.
· Please also make a note if an insurance policy for the day is required by the group using your space.
This was approved and a survey of current practices will be done by the Coordinator in the near future.
Auditors’ Report
Report presented by Doug Meeker and approved as read.
Yardley Meeting Annual Report
Report presented by Betty Steckman is attached. A Friend commented on the Stewardship portion of the report noting Yardley intention to reduce its pledge to the Quarter and PYM and instead suggested that Friends review the degree of their commitment to the Religious Society. Degree of participation in Financial Contribution varies, and obligation should be determined by financial situation of each individual member. A Friend commented that contributions should be directed to Quaker organizations to increase awareness among new members of these organizations.
Friends
Report presented by Beth Taylor.
This year 28% of attendees were Quakers. The camp has a Quakerism Resource
Person to answer questions regarding the Religious Society of Friends. During the summer each meeting in the Quarter
has a specific First Day to come and worship and share lunch. The
Worship and Ministry Annual Report and Philadelphia Quarterly Meeting’s request on Same Sex Marrage Under the Care of Monthly Meetings
Annual Report read by Beth Ann
Morgan. The report on Same Sex Marriage
was not available but was known to be a list of the responses to the PQM
Minute. At the present, there is not
consensus on this issue among Meetings.
Yardley has discussed the minute and has not seen it in other then
e-mail format, also, the wording is not clear as to what the minute asks for.
Other Meetings were not clear if the issue had been discussed. Worship and Ministry asked all meetings to
consider the issue. Since same-sex
marriage is not legal in
Other Business and Announcements:
Beth Taylor expressed thanks to Quakertown for hosting and conducting discussion on the question. Discussion should be continued
Next Quarterly Meeting to be held at Solebury Monthly Meeting, 19 Second Month 2006. Doylestown will host Quarterly Worship and Ministry on Friday before, or the 17th.
Closing Worship: Meeting closed with a period of silent worship at 3:30 PM.