April 2022 Meeting Minutes
GRASS VALLEY FRIENDS MEETING
Of the Religious Society of Friends of the Truth
College Park Quarterly Meeting, Pacific Yearly Meeting
MINUTES & RECORD
Meeting for Worship on the Occasion of Business
04/10/2022
We met in a hybrid meeting on Zoom and in person.
Present: Dean Olson & Karen Olson (co-clerks), Amy Cooke, Chamba Cooke, Judy Hamilton, Dorothy Henderson, Doug Hamm, Don McCormick, Dianne Marshall, Hailey Wilson, fosten wilson, Kathy McCreery, Gordon Starr, Mary Starr, Crystal Scanlon, Pat Phillips.
The Meeting opened with silent worship.
Clerks’ Remarks and Query
How do we assist each other to do business in a compassionate way?
Responses included:
- If we fill our hearts with love and worship and kindness before the business meeting starts we will go in with compassion
- A Friend shared that he can monitor if he is getting irritable or grumpy – those are obstacles to compassion
- To keep in mind that we are in search of a larger truth, and not just the small piece of it that we are holding
- Rather than come with preconceived ideas or thoughts, we open ourselves to what arises in our gathering – that is hard if you feel perfectionistic
- Come to the meeting with curiosity
- Being attentive and respectful of others to really listen to what others share
- It helps to remember that we are all doing the best we can
- Coming in as a separate “atom” and being swept up into the whole
- Knowing to know better than to react with the first thoughts or reactions that come
- Compassion = calm+passion. At the core, we are seeking not just truth or love, but truth and love together so that we reach a better way of being.
Action Items and Seasoning:
- Representative for SFC: delegated to the Stewardship Committee for further discernment. (see report)
- Spirit & Witness to advise on vaccination & mask requirements (see report)
- Correct & approve the Draft Minutes & Record from 3-13-2022
MINUTE 04.2022.01: Grass Valley Friends Meeting approves the minutes from Third Month 2022, as published in the newsletter.
COMMITTEE REPORTS (see reports appended, committee clerk is noted in bold)
NOMINATING: Doug Hamm, Patrica Phillips, Karen Olson, Don McCormick and Pat Phillips
Doug Hamm gave the report and presented the slate for 2022-23, appended. The slate was read for the first reading and will now season until Fifth Month.
It was noted that a new Recording Clerk may be needed in the future. If you have a sense of being led to that role, please let the Nominating Committee know.
STEWARDSHIP: Mary Starr, Gordon Starr, Reed Hamilton, Pat Phillips, Doug Hamm, Fosten Wilson (Treasurer, Ex-officio) Dianne Marshall (ex officio as Librarian and Newsletter Editor), Hailey Wilson, Reed Hamilton
Gordon Starr gave the report, appended. It was noted that if we decide on posters we will have to check with Sierra Friends Center. A Friend requested any discarded posters.
SPIRIT & WITNESS: Gordon Starr, Judy Hamilton, Gordon Bishop, Dorothy Henderson, Anita and Don McCormick (ex-officio Co Clerks), Judy Hamilton
Judy Hamilton gave the report, appended.
We have received a letter of transfer for Cheryl Hendrickson and David Cowen and daughter Olivia, from San Francisco Friends Meeting to Grass Valley Friends Meeting. The letter was read aloud in the Meeting.
The committee has also received a letter requesting membership from Crystal Scanlon.
Mask and vaccine requirements for in-person meeting: The committee has received approximately six comments on this issue. Many people are comfortable with no masks, and some may keep wearing them even if the mask mandate was lifted. The vaccination issue has received one response, and in person comments were also heard. There are those who really want the social time of coffee hour and potluck, and some who are not quite ready for that step. It was suggested that we keep reevaluating based on current medical knowledge. We may want to keep this as a regular reporting item so that the meeting can be kept abreast of the changing landscape of the pandemic. It was noted that there are options for variable strategies to meet individual needs and preferences with the hybrid meeting. At this point we are not aware of anyone who is asking for all people in the meeting wearing masks. We are also not aware at this time of anyone who has objected to having a coffee hour or a potluck. One Friend also spoke to the need for participants in the in-person meeting to stay home if they feel unwell, and take advantage of the Zoom option instead.
This issue will come back in the Fifth Month meeting, and will be highlighted in the newsletter. Please email Judy Hamilton with any further comments.
The Spring Clerks Meeting will be held on April 11th 1 pm on Zoom.
WELCOME: Karen Olson, Kathy McCreery, ex officio Website/Facebook Coordinator (Amy Cooke), ex officio Zoom coordinator (Hailey Wilson and Stuart Smith), ex officio Email Coordinator (Judy Hamilton), Don McCormick, Pat Phillips.
The report was presented by fosten wilson, appended. The committee had a meeting on March 23rd. They revised the GVFM ad for The Union which was submitted last Tuesday.
The committee discussed greeter duties, welcome bags etc. They are adding SFC waivers to greeting duties. Don would like copies of Western Friends or Friends Journal to add to the welcome bags. Our current Covid protocols will be added to the bags also. They discussed asking SFC about leaving Quaker Literature around Campus and inviting visitors to come worship with us on Sundays.
After meeting, fellowship is a little bit difficult with the hybrid setting. The committee suggests that we try socializing separately. This was done that the last couple of meetings and it appeared to work.
It was noted that the chairs need to be not so close to the computer so people on Zoom can see all.
The committee reported on the Friends World Committee for Consultation, appended.
CHILDREN’S PROGRAM: Karen Olson, Judy Hamilton, Dorothy Henderson, Gordon Bishop, Anita McCormick, Doug Hamm, Don McCormick
Dorothy Henderson gave the report, appended.
OFFICER REPORTS
TREASURER
Fosten Wilson gave the report, appended. The Quarterly spreadsheets are posted in the meetinghouse and can also be viewed by contacting Fosten. Fosten took clarifying questions.
SFC REPRESENTATIVE:
Pat Phillips was present as our representative for Sierra Friends Center. The Center will be hosting 57 students and 7 staff members from the San Francisco Friends School for April 11-15. They have been able to cover their needs for being able to evacuate in the case of an emergency..
INTERFAITH NEVADA COUNTY
Dianne Marshall reported that Interfaith is workin on a community sing-along in June. Stay tuned and see the newsletter for more.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
- The Spring Clerks Meeting: April 11th 1 pm on Zoom
- Bob Barns’ memorial will be held on July 16, 2022. It will be held on Zoom. Additional details will be forthcoming.
- If you use Facebook, follow the Grass Valley Friends Meeting page, or join the Facebook Grass Valley Friends Meeting group. If you share a post from the page, your friends will see it! It helps our visibility. Follow this link.
- Paul Hartsough is recovering from a serious stroke. Hold him in your heart. He is home now but can not communicate well. For updates, search for his name at “www.caringbridge.org”.
- Chamba Cooke, who is currently one of the amis-residents at the Centre Quaker Congenies in France, invited us to the Bicentennial Celebration of the Quakers in Congenies, France at the end of October.
- Nancy Anderson needs support with Tristan on Mondays 4pm – 8 pm. Please contact her if you can help.
- If you use Facebook, follow the Grass Valley Friends Meeting page, or join the Facebook Grass Valley Friends Meeting group. If you share a post from the page, your friends will see it! It helps our visibility. Follow this link.
- It’s easy to give to Grass Valley Friends Meeting! Go to gvfriends.org and click on the Give button. This takes you to a secure site for donations. Please consider making your contribution monthly. Your contribution covers our Pacific Yearly Meeting dues and ensures that our activities as a Meeting are sustained. Thank you. Please note: Tithely now allows the user to change the dollar of their gift without making a new donation request.
- Sierra Friends Center has volunteer opportunities available. Dean volunteered & reports it was well organized & fun, a lot of fun! See www.woolman.org.
ACTION ITEMS & ITEMS SEASONING
- The nominating slate will be brought back at the Fifth Month Meeting for Business.
- The mask and vaccine mandates for Meeting will continue to be explored and feedback gathered, to be brought back to the Fifth Month Meeting for Business.
READING OF THE RECORD AND MINUTES
The record and the minutes were read, corrected and approved.
If you are giving a report to GVFM, please send the actual report to the recording clerk at grassvalleyfriends@gmail.com THE FRIDAY BEFORE MEETING FOR BUSINESS.
GVFM Newsletter Reminder: Please have items into Diane Marshall by Tuesday at 10 am.
The Meeting closed with silent worship.
Respectfully recorded by Amy Cooke, recording clerk.
APPENDICES:
- Spirit and Witness Report
- Children’s Program Report
- Welcome Committee Report: Report on a Quaker Organization: FWCC
- Stewardship Committee Report
- Nominating Committee: SLATE
- Treasurer’s Report
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Spirit and Witness Report
Welcome Committee: Friends World Committee for Consultation:
The purpose of Friends World Committee for Consultation (FWCC) is to encourage fellowship and understanding among all the branches of Quakerism.
They bring all Quakers together in multiple ways to celebrate God, build networks, address issues of our time, and unite Friends within our diversity.
The FWCC is divided into four sections. They are the Africa Section, Asia West-Pacific Section, Europe and Middle East Section, and The Section of the Americas.
FWCC was started in 1937. The second World Conference of Friends created FWCC to act in a consultative capacity to promote better understanding among Friends the world over. Conferences are held every six to eight years in different parts of the world. The next on is in South Africa in 2023.
Children’s Program Report
The Children’s program went live in March. We have joyfully welcomed back the Smith family, Emma and Kirk, as well as our newest young person, Olivia Cowen. We miss Lily and Grace on zoom, but are finding it exciting for youth and adults alike to be back at Sierra Friends Center with all the wonders of nature available to us. Class has taken place under the big oak near the garden, on walks to Mel’s pond and hikes to “places unknown”, when exploring like the early naturalist, Alexander von Humboldt.
We are also delighted to report that we have a full roster of teachers and adult helpers for every First Day. With a bit of shuffling and the wonderful addition of Reed Hamilton to our program we now have all the first days covered. The teachers are Don McCormick, Doug Hamm, Karen Olson and Gordon Bishop. The sidekicks are Dorothy Henderson, Reed Hamilton, Dean Olson and Judy Hamilton. And we are happy that Anita McCormick is with us as a support and consult when needed. As her health permits she may be back on campus with our program in the future.
This month we will notify all the families of our new status and also plant the seed for a potluck gathering at Doug and Dorothy’s home (newly named Rocky Knoll) for families and committee members. We are thinking May will be a good time for this.
We have been through a time of challenge and growth over the past two years. Now we are carefully and joyfully transitioning, not back to “normal”, but forward to a renewed commitment to building the beloved community with our children, families and friends one First day at a time..
We thank the meeting for giving us this opportunity,
Respectfully submitted,
Dorothy Hendersoon,
Clerk, Children’s Program Committee
Welcome Committee
We had a welcome committee meeting on March 23rd. We revised our add for The Union which I submitted last Tuesday.
We discussed greeter duties, welcome bags etc. We are adding SFC waivers to greeting duties. Don would like copies of Western Friends or Friends Journal to add to the welcome bags. Our current Covid protocols will be added to the bags also. We discussed asking SFC about leaving Quaker Literature around Campus and inviting visitors to come worship with us on Sundays
After meeting, fellowship is a little bit difficult with the hybrid setting. We will try socializing separately. I have done that the last couple of meetings and it seems to work.
We noted the chairs need to be not so close to the computer so people on Zoom can see all.
This month we are reporting on Friends World Committee for Consultation.
Friends World Committee for Consultation
The purpose of Friends World Committee for Consultation (FWCC) is to encourage fellowship and understanding among all the branches of Quakerism.
They bring all Quakers together in multiple ways to celebrate God, build networks, address issues of our time, and unite Friends within our diversity.
The FWCC is divided into four sections. They are the Africa Section, Asia West-Pacific Section, Europe and Middle East Section, and The Section of the Americas.
FWCC was started in 1937. The second World Conference of Friends created FWCC to act in a consultative capacity to promote better understanding among Friends the world over. Conferences are held every six to eight years in different parts of the world. The next on is in South Africa in 2023.
Stewardship Committee
Report from meeting on April 7, 2022
Finance. Fosten Wilson reported total donations in March were $366, well below our monthly outgoing expenses of $647. This, after February’s donation were also somewhat behind expenses, has prompted him to ask Meeting to consider additional donations.
He pointed out, however that overall, since Oct. 1, 2021, we are still in good financial shape. We talked about doing a pie chart in the newsletter to show graphically our income and various expenses.
Library. A question arose about which committee should pay for a book that was given to a prospective new member. Traditionally we have give a copy of Faith and Practice when someone applies for membership in Meeting. Recently this was done using one of several copies that are in the library. Dianne said she would work with Judy for Spirit and Witness to get additional copies.
Pat Phillips called attention to the need for the plants in front of the Meeting House to get. They are suffering a bit from having been run over by equipment during the roof repair. She is planning to work on the area soon.
We discussed the possibility of hanging the two posters the formally hung near the children’s corner in the two bays near the kitchen. This prompted the proposal that we could get out all the posters and wall hangings for Meeting to consider which might go up and where.
We were reminded about the work day at Sharon Davisson’s house this coming Saturday.
Our next meeting will be on May 5, 2022 at 3:00 PM on Zoom.
Recorded by Gordon Starr
Nominating:
PROPOSED GVFM SLATE FOR 2022-2023
COMMITTEES:
Stewardship: Mary Starr (clerk), Pat Phillips, Reed Hamilton, Gordon Starr, Doug Hamm. Dianne Marshall (ex-officio, Newsletter editor), Fosten Wilson (ex-officio, Treasurer), Don McCormick (ex-officio, Librarian).
Welcoming: Kathy McCreery (clerk), Don McCormick, Pat Phillips, Karen Olson. Hailey Wilson (ex-officio, zoom coordinator), Amy Cooke (ex-officio, Website and Facebook coordinator), Judy Hamilton (ex-officio, email coordinator),
Spirit/Witness: Gordon Bishop, Amy Cooke, Dorothy Henderson. Dean & Karen Olson (ex-officio, co-clerks)
Children’s Program: Dorothy Henderson (clerk), Gordon Bishop, Doug Hamm, Judy Hamilton, Dean Olson, Karen Olson, Reed Hamilton, Don McCormick, Anita McCormick.
For the former category of representatives please see organizational restructuring at the bottom of this document.
Co-Clerks: Dean and Karen Olson
Recording Clerk: Amy Cooke
Newsletter Editor: Dianne Marshall
Newsletter Distributor: Pat Phillips
Email Coordinator: Judy Hamilton
Treasurer: Fosten Wilson
Zoom Coordinator: Hailey Wilson
Website/Facebook Coordinator: Amy Cooke
Librarian: Don McCormick
Recorder: Stuart Smith
Directory Clerk: Nancy Anderson
Mail Clerk: Dean Olson
Interfaith Nevada County: Dianne Marshall
Sierra Friends Center Rep: Pat Phillips
PYM rep: Don McCormick
CPQM rep: Doug Hamm
Please note: Most organizations no longer have representatives from GVFM. They are held in two committees, Welcome and Spirit and Witness.. To refresh everyone’s memory, here is a description of the system that has been in operation since July, 2021.
Welcome Committee holds the “connect with Quakers” organizations: Ben Lomond Quaker Center (BLQC), College Park Quarterly Meeting (CPQM), Friends General Conference (FGC), Friends World Committee on Consultation (FWCC), Pacific Yearly Meeting (Pac YM), and Sierra Friends Center (SFC).
Spirit and Witness holds the “Faith and Practice” organizations: American Friends Service Committee (AFSC), Friends Committee for Legislation (FCNL/FCL-CA), Interfaith of Nevada County, Quaker United Nations Organization (QUNO), and Right Sharing of World Resources (RSWR) The Nisenan have been added to Spirit and Witness.
Each month, a member of one of the two committees prepares a report on one of their committee’s organizations based on the queries below. The committees alternate months, with odd months going to one committee and even months the other one. That gives many people the opportunity to “discover” Quaker organizations, and to hear from different people so that we all get to hear from each other. The reports are structured around the following queries:
What is this organization’s mission statement?
What are their current activities or plans?
What is exciting?
Are there any concerns?
How can Friends get involved if they feel inspired?
Is anyone in our meeting particularly involved? How?
Four organizations continue to have a representative (PYM, CPQM, SFC, and Interfaith) who will report to the meeting as needed. However, these organizations will also be included in the once-a-year report to business meeting from either Welcome (PYM, CPQM, SFC) or Spirit and Witness (Interfaith).
The following organizations are officially omitted from the Nominating Slate of Representatives:
1. American Friends Service Committee – AFSC
2. Ben Lomond Quaker Center – BLQC
3. Friends Committee for National Legislation – FCNL
4. Friends Committee for Legislation, California -FCL-CA
5. Friends General Conference – FGC
6. Friends World Committee for Consultation – FWCC
7. Quaker United Nations Organization – QUNO
8. Right Sharing of World Resources – RSWR
Treasurer’s Quarterly Report
4-9-2022
summary = yikes !
In both February & March our spending exceeded the contributions received. This is enough to cause your Treasurer to ask for – help. More income is needed. The good news is that since October 1st the contributions received ($7,824) have slightly exceeded the spending from our General Fund ($7,487), thank you.
Our monthly costs have increased. Our Meetings for Worship are now combined, both in-person and participation via Zoom. We pay rent to Sierra Friends Center (SFC) & we are paying for internet access.
The “Fund Balances” & the “Actual Spending vs Budget” reports are available in the Meeting House and by contacting me. Our Restricted Funds are unchanged since December.
Thank you for your help. All gifts, those in service to the Meeting & financial are deeply appreciated.
Fosten Wilson, Treasurer
Grass Valley Friends Meeting
new email = fwkm at protonmail dot com