December 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
12/11/2022
We met in a hybrid meeting on Zoom and in person.
Present: Dean Olson, co-clerk; Karen Olson, co-clerk; Reed Hamilton, Judy Hamilton, Doug Hamm, Dorothy Henderson, Mary Starr, Gordon Starr, Dianne Marshall, fosten wilson, Chamba Cooke, Amy Cooke, recording clerk, and Cindy Bliss.
The Meeting opened with silent worship.
Clerks’ Remarks and Query:
- What makes something a “Silent Night?” How do we experience that?
- What feelings are we bringing with us today as we move into the season of Light, the season of Darkness, a holy season for many?
Friends shared out of worship and their lives.
Action Items and Seasoning:
- Correct & approve the Draft Minutes & Record from 11-13-2022
2022.12.01 MINUTE: Grass Valley Friends Meeting approves the minutes and record from 11-13-2022 as appended to these minutes, with gratitude to fosten wilson.
- Consider the proposed Minute about the Nisenan Land Acknowledgment.
After discussion, the following minute was approved:
2022.12.02 MINUTE: Grass Valley Friends Meeting shall practice reading the Nisenan Land Acknowledgement at the beginning of Meeting for Worship each week.
We acknowledge the Nisenan people are still here among us today, though they are nearly invisible, and their story continues to be excluded from history. We understand we are on Nisenan land that was never ceded, and the original tribal families have yet to recover from the genocide of their people. As a resident or visitor in Nisenan land, we support the Nevada City Rancheria Nisenan tribe in efforts to stabilize their people as well as the campaign to restore tribal sovereignty through federal recognition.
There was a request to post the Land Acknowledgement in the meetinghouse. Dorothy will follow through with this request.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
(see reports appended, committee clerk is noted in bold)
NOMINATING: (terms as noted) Dorothy Henderson (fulfilling Pat Phillips term): 2022-2023, Sharon Davisson, continuing: 2021-2023, Judy Hamilton: 2022-2024, Gordon Starr: 2022-2024
Gordon Starr is now the convener. Gordon reported that Nominating is beginning to look for another member of the Spirit and Witness committee. Anyone interested or with questions or thoughts, please contact a member of the committee.
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).
Mary Starr gave the report, appended.
Concern was raised that the combination to the lock on the closet is published in the report and thus available to anyone. It was acknowledged that this lock is a deterrent only. The numbers have been removed from the report. If someone needs to know the combination, please contact Mary Starr.
The annual appeal letter has gone out.
SPIRIT & WITNESS: Amy Cooke, Gordon Bishop, Sharon Davisson, Reed Hamilton, Dorothy Henderson, Dean and Karen Olson (ex-officio Co Clerks)
Amy Cooke gave the report, appended.
WELCOME: 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),
Judy Hamilton reported that the committee will meet next month, and offered gratitude for all the help with the Christmas Party.
CHILDREN’S PROGRAM: Dorothy Henderson (clerk), Gordon Bishop, Doug Hamm, Judy Hamilton, Dean Olson, Karen Olson, Reed Hamilton, Don McCormick, Anita McCormick.
There was no report for December. Celebration for the play offered by the children was expressed. The engagement by the children touched all present.
OFFICER REPORTS
- TREASURER: fosten wilson (no report)
- SFC REPRESENTATIVE: Pat Phillips (no report)
- INTERFAITH NEVADA COUNTY: Dianne Marshall
Dianne gave the report. A letter was shared with Interfaith Nevada County from a ministry group in Pueblo, Colorado alerting congregations to the dangers of hate speech. Dianne will share the letter with the Spirit and Witness committee.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
- 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 is 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. See www.woolman.org.
- The College Park Quarterly Meeting (CPQM) will gather Saturday, January 14, at Berkeley Friends Meeting (and online for some activities). The theme for this quarterly meeting will be “Let us then try what love will do.” The flyer with more information is available by clicking here. To register for the event, click here.
- Pacific Yearly Meeting RepCom 2023: The next meeting of the Representative Committee (RepCom) will be held online via Zoom February 25 and March 4, 2023 (two Saturdays).
- There is a new PacYM directory online.
- PacYM Annual Session 2023 will be a hybrid event (in-person gathering with opportunities for remote or online participation) held at Mount Madonna Center July 21-26, 2023.
- The 2023 Friends General Conference Gathering, “Listen So That We May Live”, will be held at Western Oregon University in Monmouth, OR, from July 2-July 8, 2023. Learn about the Gathering.
ACTION ITEMS & ITEMS SEASONING
- There are no items seasoning.
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:
- November Minutes from Meeting for Business
- Spirit and Witness Committee
- Stewardship Committee
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GRASS VALLEY FRIENDS MEETING
DRAFT MINUTES & RECORD
Meeting for Worship on the Occasion of Business
11/13/2022
We met as a hybrid Meeting, in-person & via Zoom.
Present: Dean Olson (co-clerk), David Cowan, Cheryl Hendrickson, Olivia Cowen, Marilyn Guida, Doug Hamm, Dorothy Henderson, Gordon Starr, Mary Starr, Pat Phillips, Karen Olson, Dianne Marshall, Kathy McCreery, Hailey Wilson, & fosten wilson.
The Meeting opened with silent worship.
Action Items and Seasoning for December:
- Correct & approve the Draft Minutes & Record from 11-13-2022.
- Consider proposed Minute about Nisenan Land Acknowledgment.
Query: What makes you grateful about being a part of Grass Valley Friends Meeting?
There were a range of answers.
The draft Minute & Record of 10-9-22 was corrected then approved.
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
STEWARDSHIP: Mary noted that the need to replace the Meeting’s computer used by the Treasurer has been resolved. A donated computer and printer are able to use our existing Quickbooks program and are in use.
Purchase of an “Owl” (see owllabs.com online) to improve communications in our hybrid meetings is supported by both our Spirit & Witness & Stewardship committees. Stewardship committee recommends a Minute authorizing purchase of an Owl for our Meeting.
Minute 2022.11.1 was drafted, discussed, & approved.
MINUTE 2022.11.1 – Grass Valley Friends Meeting approves purchase of an “Owl” and necessary related items for up to $1,200. This money (as needed) is in addition to specific donations individuals may make to facilitate this purchase.
SPIRIT & WITNESS: Dorothy provided the report. Land Acknowledgment – Spirit and Witness recommends that Grass Valley Friends Meeting begin the practice of reading the Nisenan Land Acknowledgment at the beginning of Meeting for Worship each week. The Nisenan Land Acknowledgment is:
We acknowledge the Nisenan people are still here among us today, though they are nearly invisible, and their story continues to be excluded from history. We understand we are on Nisenan land that was never ceded, and the original tribal families have yet to recover from the genocide of their people. As a resident or visitor in Nisenan land, we support the Nevada City Rancheria Nisenan tribe in efforts to stabilize their people as well as the campaign to restore tribal sovereignty through federal recognition.
MINUTE Proposed, for Seasoning: Grass Valley Friends Meeting shall practice reading the Nisenan Land Acknowledgement at the beginning of Meeting for Worship each week.
OWL: Spirit and Witness supports the purchase of an Owl to improve the experience of meeting participants both in the Meetinghouse and on zoom.
MEMBERSHIP: With Spirit & Witness’ recommendation, the following two Minutes were approved with joy.
MINUTE 2022.11.2 – Grass Valley Friends Meeting approves the transfer of membership for David Cowen and welcomes him to Grass Valley Friends Meeting.
MINUTE 2022.11.3 – Grass Valley Friends Meeting approves the transfer of membership for Cheryl Hendrickson and welcomes her to Grass Valley Friends Meeting.
Crystal Scanlon is canceling her membership request. She hopes to find a way to establish a Worship group where she lives that would be under the care of Inland Valley Meeting so she can worship with others in person.
WELCOME COMMITTEE: Kathy reported that coffee & tea are again available after Meeting, a sign-up clipboard is available.
Our potluck Christmas party will be at Doug & Dorothy’s on Sunday, 12-4-22, after rise of Meeting.
And new name-tags are being created.
CHILDREN: Dorothy detailed that a play, starring our children.will be part of our Christmas party. The playwrights are Karen & Judy. And, the committee intends seasonal field trips focusing on Nisenan use of the land – ideas are brodea, the Yuba, acorns, & salmon. The four Saturdays involved will be announced in advance.
INTERFAITH NEVADA COUNTY (INC): Dianne described the activities & challenges of INC. INC exists to provide solace and support to Faith Community Leaders in a confidential, spiritual setting.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
>> Western Friend — This magazine is available at reduced cost if we cooperate and use a group subscription to start or extend our subscriptions. Contact Judy if interested.
>> Christmas Party – With potluck & play, at Doug & Dorothy’s on Sunday, 12-4-22, after rise of Meeting.
Meeting closed with silent worship.
Respectfully submitted,
fosten wilson, acting recording clerk.
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Spirit and Witness Report
Twelfth Month 2022
Spirit and Witness continues to hold several Committees of Care and welcomes contact from those in the Meeting who would like this support. If you would like to explore having a Committee of Care, please contact Amy Cooke, clerk of the committee.
We are beginning a review of our members and attenders with friendly check-ins and ensuring that everyone on our list still wants to maintain contact with the Meeting.
The committee is working on the Spiritual Life programs for 2023 and we welcome suggestions! Gordon Starr will be giving the program on 3rd Sunday, Birthing the Christ Within.
We have also reviewed our opening and closing procedures for Meeting for Worship.
The next Spirit and Witness meeting will be on January 7, with Meeting for Worship on the Occasion of Business on January 8.
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Stewardship Committee
Minutes from meeting on December 1, 2022
Present: Mary Starr, clerk, Gordon Starr, recorder, Doug Hamm, Reed Hamilton, Fosten Wilson, Pat Phillips, Dianne Marshall
Finance. Fosten reported November’s income at $833, payments totaled $1,180. He noted that, in the process of cleaning things up for the new computer, he (embarrassingly) found several three year old unpaid invoices buried in a pile totaling $256. They have now been paid with a note of apology to the recipient.
Newsletter. Dianne again said she is open to feedback on content; She tries to put items of immediate interest to Meeting first, with articles from outside sources after. She asked if there would be someone taking pictures at the Christmas party. When it looked like there wasn’t anyone, she said she would ask Lawren if he would do it.
The Owl. The Owl adventure continues. It turned out we needed an adapter, that was unavailable locally, to connect the Owl to the computer. It has been ordered, and it was agreed that Reed, Gordon and Mary would meet the following Friday afternoon to again try set it up. Gordon will confirm with SFC that the Meeting House is available then.
Given the cost of the Owl, we agreed it would be wise to lock it up for safety. A punch lock (knob with a key pad) has been installed on the closet door. It is simple to use, simply put in the code, which is XXXX (contact Mary of you need the number) , and press the unlock button at the bottom left of the pad. The door knob will unlock. It will remain unlocked until you again put in the code and press the lock button on the bottom right of the key pad to lock the door. There is also a key that can be used to unlock the door on a hook on the far right outside of the book case next to the door. It has the entry code on the back of the tag.
Update: We received the adapter, met as planned only to get an on-screen notice saying our computer has too old a processor for the Owl. Gordon and Mary took the Owl home, hooked it up to Mary’s laptop and it seemed to work. However we couldn’t test it with someone on Zoom. We brought the Owl and laptop back to Meeting and this time couldn’t get on Zoom in time for Meeting. After Meeting, Mary figured out the problem and successfully got everything working. So we earnestly hope that this report will be read at Meeting for Business on Zoom with the Owl. It remains to be resolved what to do about our too old Meeting laptop.
Our next meeting will be on January 5 at 3:00PM.