February 2023 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
February 12, 2023
We met in a hybrid meeting on Zoom and in person.
Present: Dean Olson, clerk; Reed Hamilton, Judy Hamilton, Dianne Marshall, Dorothy Henderson, Doug Hamm, Lo Hamm, Stuart Smith, Cindy Bliss, fosten wilson, Kathy McCreery, and Amy Cooke.
The Meeting opened with silent worship.
Clerks’ Remarks and Query: How do we experience life and how, in a few words or with an example, can we say, “This is what life means to me.”
Friends spoke out of the silence.
- The miracle of connecting with wild strawberries, their generosity of sharing their fruit as a metaphor for how all of life is a gift.
- Experiencing life as relationships, leading to gratitude for the relationship with the land – the pine trees and expanses of land here in Nevada County. As in other relationships, this one asks for care.
- Trees, the majestic redwoods at Ben Lomond and our trees here at home.
- Life is coming home, to this moment, to this experience.
- A dear colleague, a scientist, who would seed strawberries on the school campus, randomly and with a joyful anarchy. If you just give life a chance it will give you more than you ever asked for, in abundance you never dreamed of.
- Life is full of wonderful and terrible things from a personal level, feeding curiosity about the bigger view.
- Seeing how each person, each entity, has a perfect internal logic and meaning, even when it makes no sense from the outside.
- Animals in a family, the animals as a part of the family, and the family a part of them. Through them we can experience more of life and its wonders.
Action Items and Seasoning: There were no items being seasoned.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
(see reports appended, committee clerk is noted in bold)
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)
Reed Hamilton gave the report, appended. It was clarified that Sierra Friends Center is responsible for the plants and grounds around the meetinghouse.
A question was asked about obtaining a credit card to use for paying for the Grass Valley Friends Meeting web domain hosting, which has been being paid by Sierra Friends Center for many years. This is in process.
The treasurer clarified the need for a Tax ID number. All donations to GVFM are tax deductible; however, there is a donor who wants to make a monthly recurring contribution from a trust. The requirements of the trust are that the funds must go to an organization with a tax id number. So far, we have been using PYM’s tax id number and the donations have gone through them; however, in this case it has created work for PYM and for us, thus leading to this discussion.
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)
Kathy McCreery gave the report, appended.
Judy Hamilton gave the report on Friends General Conference. Friends in attendance shared from their experiences going to the Gathering. Friends General Conference is also striving to lift up the inclusivity and racial awareness of every workshop leader and the conference as a whole. There are scholarships available through FGC and through our own Meeting. Friends are encouraged to not let money stop them from attending the Gathering. The Gathering can be especially powerful for youth. If you are interested in sponsoring one of our youth, please let parents know.
SPIRIT & WITNESS: Amy Cooke, Sharon Davisson, Reed Hamilton, Dorothy Henderson, Dean and Karen Olson (ex-officio co-clerks)
Dorothy Henderson gave the report, appended.
The newsletter editor noted that the letter in the New York Times will add three pages to the newsletter, which will increase printing costs. There is also a risk that the article will get lost in the newsletter. The article can be distributed before the Spiritual Life program either through email or by paper form if requested. The article can be noted prominently in the newsletter and people encouraged to read it.
CHILDREN’S PROGRAM: Dorothy Henderson (clerk), Gordon Bishop, Doug Hamm, Judy Hamilton, Dean Olson, Karen Olson, Reed Hamilton, Don McCormick, Anita McCormick
Dorothy Henderson gave the report, appended.
A Friend asked if youth membership has been explored in the program? This was noted.
The Children’s Program was celebrated for the way it has widened and deepened.
Should the program be re-named? This is controversial!
The children will also be considered in the Nominating process.
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
Judy Hamilton has been nominated to be the clerk. The vacancy on Spirit and Witness is being addressed.
OFFICER REPORTS
- TREASURER: fosten wilson (see Stewardship)
- SFC REPRESENTATIVE: Pat Phillips
- INTERFAITH NEVADA COUNTY: Dianne Marshall
Dianne brought our attention to the organization, The Center For Restorative Justice Works. CRJW unites children, families, and communities separated by crime & the criminal justice system, creates awareness about the negative impacts of incarceration on children & families, & advocates for programs & policies that restore relationships. This information will go to Spirit and Witness.
Other
The Meeting engaged in a discussion about taking actions on political and local issues. When do we share as individuals vs. as a corporate body? We clarified that we must be careful and open as we share. The Email Tree is for things that represent the Meeting. The Tree is available for the clerks of the Meeting to share information with Meeting members and attenders. When we share on the Email Tree or in the newsletter we are putting the weight of the Meeting behind what we share. We want current issues to be brought to the attention of our Meeting, and we are mindful that our process is to bring issues to committees so that they can be considered before coming to the Meeting for Business.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
- There is a local proposal for reopening the Idaho-Maryland Mine. We agree that this is an important, sensitive, and timely issue. We hold this issue under our testimony for care for the Earth. Friends are encouraged to educate themselves on the issues, review the Final Environmental Impact Report, and attend the public hearing at the Board of Supervisors meeting in March. Spirit and Witness will also be bringing this to their next meeting.
- 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.
- 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.
- We need more people who would be willing to set up the tech system for meetings. Mary Starr is available for tutorials on setting up and putting away the OWL – just ask! She is very skilled and helpful. Please contact Mary if you can assist. You can also come at 8:45 am on any Sunday to observe the process. Thank you!!
ACTION ITEMS & ITEMS SEASONING
- There are no items being seasoned.
- Action items for Spirit and Witness: Reopening the Idaho-Maryland Mine and The Center For Restorative Justice Works.
- Stewardship: credit card and tax id number
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
- Stewardship Committee
- Welcome Committee
- Children’s Program
- Friends General Conference report
————————————————————————-
Spirit and Witness Report
The committee has been engaged in holding the two aspects of our work, the work of the spirit and the witness to what we bring to the world.
Current actions in the committee include:
- In considering how we carry the Spirit in caring for our meeting it was proposed that those opening and closing Meeting be called “tenders”. It was agreed that that name was a more fitting term than opener/closer.
- We explored how we can support new or occasional attenders in discovering the rewards of Quaker practice. We acknowledged that ours is a practice that requires work and that there will be times of spiritual difficulty. Friendly Eights and possible small groups such as faithfulness groups can support all of us as we deepen our spiritual lives.
- We have also discussed having a mid-week worship group online that might offer a more intimate exploration into our spiritual journeys than the full meeting. We would like to know if others are interested in this idea.
- Our Spiritual Life programs in the next months are: Don McCormick on Vocal Ministry on February 26. March 26 Nora Cooke and Keith Runyan will present on sharing resources and building trust, relationship, and community in the face of climate change, and in April Dean, Karen and Reed will present on the indigenous relationship to land and food plants, extending the Braiding Sweetgrass discussion.
- We considered what action, if any, to take in passing along an inspiring interview with Robin Wall Kimmerer, author of Braiding Sweetgrass. We were in unity on publishing in the next newsletter.
- Information was presented on the Third Act, a movement to rouse the collective will of older people to stand against climate change and efforts to undermine democracy. We considered how and whether to carry this information to the Meeting. Reed will investigate whether the UU folks and NC-Climate Action Now plan on participating in a March nationwide event to divest from credit cards offered by the big four banks that finance fossil fuel development. Information will be posted in the newsletter.
- Finally, we will be meeting to do our annual review of our membership and attender lists as well as those who receive emails from us to determine if there are those who no longer wish to stay engaged with Grass Valley Friends Meeting.
- We are listening and holding concerns about our Quaker inheritance as colonialists, violence toward indigenous women, and how we can further witness our faith in the world.
- We continue to hold several care committees for individuals in Meeting.
Please reach out to any of us with concerns or ideas.
Amy Cooke, Dorothy Henderson, Reed Hamilton, Sharon Davisson
Welcome Committee
February 9 th, 2023
Present: Kathy McCreery, Don McCormick, Karen Olsen, Amy Cooke, Judy Hamilton
We divided up the organizations that we are responsible for reporting on. Judy will do Friends
General Conference in February, Karen will do Sierra Friends Center in April and Don
will report on Ben Lomand in June. This takes us through our ‘fiscal’ year.
We spent the rest of our time discussing the Friendly Eights program. We would like it to
start in April and meet every week for 4-6 weeks. We will offer a Zoom option or an in
person option (depending on the interest we may need 2 in person groups). We will start
circulating a sign up sheet in Meeting this week and Judy will also send out information
via the email tree to assess interest and possible meeting times.
We have been unable to find the book of queries that has been used in the past by the
Friendly Eight groups so we have decided to come up with our own. Judy and Karen will
work on queries regarding our family of origin, Kathy will present queries related to our
relation to nature, and Don will address spirituality. We will present these to the group at
our March meeting.
Stewardship Committee
Minutes from meeting on February 2, 2023
Present: Mary Starr, clerk, Gordon Starr, recorder, Reed Hamilton, Fosten Wilson, Dianne
Marshall
Treasurer’s report. Fosten reported that the donations for January were again well above
average at $2,740. Outgoing funds totaled $1,090, including rent and the cost of the new
computer for the Owl.
Our treasurer thanks everyone for their contributions. He has been attempting to find out
from PYM what our dues are for the year. They haven’t sent a request as they used to.
There hasn’t been any progress on obtaining an EIN (tax) number. We need this so that some
contributions can be tax deductible. Fosten believes this shouldn’t be too difficult, although we
may have to register with the state as well. Mary will explore the issue.
Newsletter: Dianne said all is well.
Sound panels:We are hoping to cover the back of two bookcases in the library that face into
the main room, with sound absorbing panels similar to those on the walls. Gordon: research is
Continuing.
The Owl: We need a taller pedestal for the Owl so it doesn’t cut of people’s heads when they
stand up to speak. Can the Owl be adjusted?
Mary said it would be good to have another person trained to set up the equipment Sunday
mornings that wasn’t a spouse. Currently, trained people are Dean, Mary and Gordon, and
Reed and Judy. Doug agreed to come early to music and be trained as well.
Plant and Grounds maintenance: The question was raised whether Meeting is responsible for maintaining the plants and grounds around the Meeting House. No one recalled seeing anything in the rental agreement. Gordon will follow up.
Next Meeting March 2,2023 at 3:00PM
February Children’s Program Committee Report
We met in late January to plan our program for the year, check in with teachers and buddies on how it is going and to begin planning for field trips.
All teachers and all buddies want to continue in their current roles. Our current schedule:
First Sunday: Doug teacher, Dorothy buddy
Second Sunday: Don teacher, Reed buddy
Third Sunday: Gordon B. teacher, Dean buddy
Fourth Sunday: Karen teacher, Judy buddy
Fifth Sunday: Karen is tender and storyteller
Lo Hamm and Anita McCormick are possible subs for buddies. Thank you Lo for stepping in!
We heard from Karen that we should be prepared for her to not be able to continue to teach as she has been doing. She is continuing to have health concerns and a lack of clarity about what is actually going on. In the meantime, she is less strong and less able to do as much. However, she wants to keep teaching as long as she can. We are deeply grateful to Karen for her spirit and her wonderful participation in the children’s program. We will look to Nominating Committee for possible additions to our program for the coming year as a just in case measure.
We had a meaningful conversation about how our young people want to be treated as young adults. And we noted the fact that our young ones are not as young as they were when they began. Our pretty regular attenders are Emma and Kirk; Hailey; and Olivia. Our less regular but steady once a month or so are Oriah, Amari, Gretchen and Kamden. Most of these young people are in their teens and we want to provide age appropriate lessons for them. And age appropriate interactions with them!
Field trips are coming! There was unanimous agreement that we are ready to hold four field trips a year, one for each season. Each trip will take place on Saturday from 10 to 3 and will have a theme connected to the Nisenan and how they lived on the land and what we can learn from them. The first trip is February 25th and the theme is our watershed. We have six committee members who want to go. The plan is to go to the snow, play and also learn about the Yuba River watershed. There will be a spring field trip for brodiaea (wildflower) season, a summer trip for the watershed again, and a fall trip for acorn season. We are excited to begin!
Other ideas for our year include a suggestion that the young people make videos of some of the First Day School lessons so that they can be shown to adults that might want to learn what the youth are learning.
As usual we met at Rocky Knoll for lunch and fellowship, and had a bit of worship to open and close our meeting. We are a pretty happy bunch.
Respectfully submitted,
Dorothy Henderson,
Clerk, Children’s Program Committee
Friends General Conference
No mission statement but have a ‘vision statement’:
They envision a vital and growing Religious Society of Friends –a faith that deepens spiritually, welcomes newcomers, builds supportive and inclusive community, and provides loving service and witness in the world.
Through Friends General Conference, we see Quakers led by the Spirit joining together in ministry to offer services that help Friends, meetings, and seekers explore, deepen, connect, serve and witness within the context of our living faith.
Major Goals:
Nurture meetings and worship groups.
1. Provide resources and opportunities for meetings, Friends, and seekers to experience the Light, the living presence of God.
2. Help meetings guide Friends to discern the leadings of the Inward Teacher and to grow into ministry.
3. Transform our awareness so that our corporate and individual attitudes and actions fully value and encompass the blessed diversity of our human family.
4. Work to grow and sustain a vital, diverse, and loving community of Friends based on a shared search for unity in the Spirit.
5. Articulate, communicate, and exemplify Friends’ practices, core experiences, and the call to live and witness to our faith.
6. Promote dialogue with others, sharing with them our corporate experience of Divine Truth and listening to and learning from their experience of the same.
Current activities and plans:
Every year or every other year since inception in 1900 they have held an annual conference known as the Gathering featuring 40 to 60 workshops. Pre-pandemic attendance was 800-1,500.This year’s Gathering takes place in Monmouth, Oregon in July.
In addition to the yearly Gathering they offer various programs:
- Spiritual Mentorship Program for youth and young adults
- Ministry on Racism: Offers assistance to Meeting to develop racial and ethnic awareness and increase their diversity.
- Spiritual Deepening Program: Library: which offers activities and resources.
- E-Retreat: 4 week on-line sessions exploring different aspects of Quakerism.
- The website is easy to access: fgcquaker.org and fairly easy to navigate
Anyone in our Meeting involved? Dorothy and Gordon Bishop will be presenting a workshop on Eldering at the annual gathering this July.