August 2023 – Meeting for Worship on the Occasion of Business
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
August 13, 2023
We met in a hybrid meeting on Zoom and in person.
Present: Dorothy Henderson, clerk; Doug Hamm, Gordon Starr, Mary Starr, Jennifer Smith, Stuart Smith, Marilyn Guida, fosten wilson, Kathy McCreery, Amy Cooke, Chamba Cooke, Sharon Davisson, Don McCormick.
The Meeting opened with silent worship.
Clerks’ Remarks and Query:
Dorothy Henderson, clerk, introduced Amy Cooke and Jennifer Smith, recording clerks (outgoing and incoming), as well as Gordon Starr, who is serving as the elder to the clerk, as well as the community of GVFM.
Dorothy shared a memory of Stuart Smith, who was clerking GVFM when she arrived in 2000. Other clerks – Gordon Starr and Chamba Cooke (who spoke to seeking the will of God), as well Don and Anita McCormick, and Dean Olson, who sought help when he needed it were mentioned. All of these prior clerks help to inform her as she steps into this role.
Dorothy referenced Nora Cooke’s plenary keynote at Pacific Yearly Meeting’s Annual Session this year. Nora used Romans 12:2 “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
When you come to Meeting for Worship for Business how do you discern the will of God? What contributes to the renewing of your mind?
Friends spoke out of worship.
- A Friend spoke to putting in the front of his mind that there is that of God in everyone, this helps him to see that he may hear other than what he expects or hopes for.
- Another Friend spoke that what opens up the clarification of mind is those times when he could put aside his opinions or a personal agenda.
- A Friend also spoke to how Meeting for Worship for Business supports him in practicing
to detect the will of God.
Action Items and Seasoning:
- There are no items carried over from previous Meetings.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
(see reports appended, committee clerk is noted in bold)
Spirit and Witness: Amy Cooke, Stuart Smith, Reed Hamilton, Sharon Davisson, Dean Olson, Dorothy Henderson (ex-officio, GVFM Clerk), Gordon Starr (ex-officio,elder to the clerk).
Amy Cooke gave the report, appended.
Welcome: Kathy McCreery, Don McCormick, Pat Phillips, Cheryl Hendrickson, Cindy Bliss, Lo Hamm, CJ Patterson, Peter O’Rourke (ex-officio, Website and Facebook coordinator), Hailey Wilson (ex-officio, tech support), Judy Hamilton (ex-officio, email coordinator).
Kathy McCreery gave the organization report for the month on Sierra Friends Center/Woolman (appended).
Amy Cooke reported on the website. The new website has a new URL – www.grassvalleyfriends.org. It should be up in the next week or so. Please contact Peter O’Rourke and Amy Cooke with any questions. The site is being rebuilt, so we may have a bug or two to work out as we get it back to full operational status.
It was noted that the difficulties that Sierra Friends Center is facing are different than the past. There is a strong board that is facing issues that all similar business models are facing. He encouraged Friends to be concerned, but not panicked.
Stewardship: Mary Starr, Pat Phillips, Reed Hamilton, Gordon Starr, Doug Hamm, David Bowman. Dianne Marshall (ex-officio, Newsletter editor), Fosten Wilson (ex-officio, Treasurer), Don McCormick (ex-officio, Librarian),
Mary Starr gave the report, appended.
A Friend noted that the Pacific Yearly Meeting annual charges will return to pre-Covid levels next year.
A question was asked about the posters in the meetinghouse. Eric Sableman, clerk of CPQM has been contacted about the posters for College Park Quarterly Meeting (CPQM) in October and has approved displaying the posters. The aesthetic of plainness in the meetinghouse is something we remain committed to.
It was noted that Hailey Wilson is currently on the slate as ex officio on Welcome Committee as the tech support person.
Proposed Minute: Grass Valley Friends Meeting approves having the Tech Support person be transferred from ex officio on the Welcome Committee to ex officio on the Stewardship Committee.
This minute will now season for a month and come back to the Meeting for Business in September.
A Friend asked if it was possible to get a redirect from GVFriends.org to Grassvalleyfriends.org. This will be explored, and it seems likely.
Children’s Program: Dorothy Henderson, Gordon Bishop, Doug Hamm, Judy Hamilton, Dean Olson, Reed Hamilton, Don McCormick, Keely McDonald, David Cowan, Lo Hamm.
No report. Doug Hamm is the acting clerk.
Nominating Committee: (terms as noted) Judy Hamilton: 2022-2024, Gordon Starr: 2022-2024, two positions vacant (see Naming Committee, following).
No report.
Naming Committee: Mary Starr, Dorothy Henderson, Amy Cooke, Kathy McCreery
Kathy McCreery gave the report. The Naming Committee brings forward the names of Dean Olson and Sharon Davisson for Nominating Committee terms 2023-2025.
These names will now season until the September Meeting for Worship on the Occasion for Business.
Proposed Minute: Grass Valley Friends Meeting approves Sharon Davisson and Dean Olson for terms on the Nominating Committee for 2023-2025.
OFFICER REPORTS and REPRESENTATIVE REPORTS
- Treasurer: fosten wilson
Fosten Wilson, Treasurer, gave the report, attached.
Fosten presented paper copies of the spreadsheets illustrating the fund activity for the Meeting.
A Friend asked for clarification on the unexpected expenditures. The primary unexpected expenditure was for the OWL and the computer replacement. We had set aside a technology fund and bolstered that with fundraising for the OWL, however, there were additional expenses incurred. It was noted that these expenses will not be incurred in the future. However, our Pacific Yearly Meeting membership dues are going up, so that will need to be addressed.
There were also computer replacement costs and a Friend asked what fund those costs drew from. Fosten noted that there can be confusion between the General Fund (the miscellaneous unbudgeted fund was used for computer expenses as well as the OWL additional expenses) and identified funds for specific needs (like the Tech restricted fund that received donations for the OWL).
Also, our contributions for the year are slightly diminished. It is not terribly out of line, and fosten reported that there are additional contributions that have just come in. The community is therefore helping us to meet this current situation.
Gratitude was expressed for our treasurer!!
- Interfaith Nevada County: Dianne Marshall ~ no report
- Sierra Friends Center: Gordon Starr ~ no report
- Pacific Yearly Meeting: Doug Hamm ~ no report
- College Park Quarterly Meeting: Doug Hamm ~ no report
ANNOUNCEMENTS
- August 20: Rabbi David Azen: Male domination reflected in the Eden Story
- Our website is temporarily disabled. We are working on it!
- 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, and it helps our visibility. Follow this link.
- There is a new PacYM directory online. See Dorothy for the password.
- Woolman Homecoming: September 29 – October 1, 2023. Whether you were a John Woolman School student, a Woolman Semester School student, a camper at Camp Woolman, a visitor, or a Friend, please join Woolman in celebrating this milestone and sharing your memories of Woolman.
- September’s Orange Shirt/Every Child Matters Day on Saturday September 30th, 11-2 at Yuba River Charter School. Email Jeree at jeree@careandprayer.com or text/call her at (530) 320-0817 for information on how to volunteer. They are also needing potluck dishes early this year.
- The College Park quarterly meeting will gather October 13-15 here at Sierra Friends Center in Nevada City, CA (and online for some activities). Please see their website for more details : https://collegeparkquarterlymeeting.org
- Nevada County Fair: There were Quakers represented in the Peace Poster contest and the expository writing contest.
ITEMS SEASONING
- The Meeting for Business recommends that the Tech Support person be ex officio on the Stewardship Committee rather than the Welcome Committee.
- The Naming Committee brings forward the names of Dean Olson and Sharon Davisson for Nominating Committee terms 2023-2025.
There were no action items carried forward.
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 Committee Report
- Welcome Committee: Organization Report
- Stewardship Committee report
- Treasurer’s Report
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Spirit and Witness Report
August 2023
The committee reviewed the Spirit and Witness job description and had no changes. Amy Cooke will be continuing as clerk of the committee.
We were grateful for the reminder of what our committee holds within the meeting ~ the spiritual wellbeing of the Meeting community, the pastoral care of individuals within the community, and the movement of Spirit in the Meeting members as they are led to take action in the wider world. We are aware of members in our Meeting holding concerns for Palestine, the Nisenan, and climate change. We continue to welcome requests for Witness Committees for those who wish to take actions in the wider world.
We are holding several Care Committees in the Light. We have had some committees continue over many years, and the support they have given has been deeply valued. If members or attenders are interested in forming a Care Committee, please let us know. Committees can be formed for a short time or more long term, and can help those members and attenders who have physical, emotional, financial or spiritual needs.
As a reminder to Friends, we can also support members or attenders with spiritual care and clearness. Spiritual care committees support those with spiritual gifts or who are pursuing a leading or engaged in the work of ministry. Clearness committees assist those seeking to apply for membership or to be married under the care of the monthly meeting, or those members or attenders seeking clarity about a personal concern.
We are also continuing to hold Woolman/Sierra Friends Center in the Light as they navigate staff changes and financial challenges. We hold deep trust in the board members and staff members who continue to seek the best way forward for the organization.
On August 20 we will be welcoming Rabbi David Azen to our Meeting for the after meeting program. Rabbi David Azen is the Nevada County Jewish Community Center’s spiritual leader. He grew up in New Jersey and was inspired by issues of social justice, intellectual inquiry, and free thinking. He attended Princeton thinking he would be a civil rights attorney. Eventually, he decided that as a Rabbi, he could engage in a broader spectrum of issues with a wider palette of options about how to address these issues than he could as a lawyer. We are looking forward to hearing his ministry on how male domination is reflected in the Eden story.
We will be sending a survey out to the community about future Spiritual Life and enrichment programs. What would you like to experience this year? Do you have something to offer? Please let any of the committee members know if subjects, concerns, or ideas rise up for you!
With gratitude,
Amy Cooke on behalf of Spirit and Witness
Organization Report: Sierra Friends Center
From their Mission Statement:
“Woolman seeks to both inspire and to prepare individuals to work for peace, justice, and environmental sustainability, and to deepen their personal and spiritual growth.
At Woolman, we envision a future where engaged communities are stewarding a peaceful world. A more equitable society, and a healthy planet.”
Sierra Friends Center is currently only scheduling events and retreats. They are not offering classes at this time. They do use volunteers and you can call them. They are in a time of transition.
Stewardship Committee
Minutes from meeting on August 8, 2023
Present: Mary Starr, clerk, Gordon Starr, recorder, Reed Hamilton, Fosten Wilson, Pat Phillips
Finance. Fosten reported on two months, June and July because there was no Stewardship
Committee meeting in July. For June income was $388, payout was $859 including rent and
newsletter costs. July’s figures totaled $480 for donations and $769 paid out including rent and
Welcome gifts to new members. Yay!
Credit card for Meeting use was again discussed. Questions of whether credit or debit card
are better. A credit card seems to offer some safety due to banks being responsible for any
improper charges. Our Treasurer apologized for not pursuing this.
For the year, are donations keeping up with spending? On October 1, 2022, our bank balance
was $24,900. Our current balance is $20,400. Fosten will make a plea for contributions to
Meeting.
Outbound contributions to institutions and groups we support, have not been paid as yet, but
dues to PYM have.
CPQM Fall Quarterly. Don questioned whether we can put up some posters with Quaker
sayings in the Meeting House during Quarterly Meeting. Gordon has brought this to SFC B&G
and this is OK.
Tech Support position. Is Hailey’s position a part of the Stewardship committee? It seem likely,
but we are not sure. We will seek clarification from M4B.
Library. Don has been dealing with the question of what to do with books in the library that
are old and have not been checked out for many years. What is the appropriate process for
removing them? In the past, the Library committee would make decisions as a committee.
Since we are the current committee does this fall to us? Don will send out a list of the books
being considered before our next meeting. If anyone has a reservation about a particular book,
let Don know .
summary = double yikes !
Our budgeted spending is exceeding our contributions received, every month, starting last March. This causes your Treasurer to ask for – help. More income is needed.
Our General Fund contributions received this year ($9,965) are exceeded by our spending
($13,175). Compared with last year, contributions received have declined over $1,000 while our expenses have increased – over $2,000. This imbalance can not continue. We are not “falling off a financial cliff” (yet) as we still have a resilient bank balance.
The “Fund Balances” & the “Actual Spending vs Budget” reports are available in the Meeting
House and by contacting me. Our Sharing Fund and FGC Scholarship funds have been active. The other restricted funds are unchanged since April.
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
Clerk: It was confirmed that Mary Starr will continue as clerk. We acknowledge her service.
Next meeting: September 7, 2023
Treasurer’s Quarterly Report
8-12-2023