October 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
October 8, 2023
We met in a hybrid meeting on Zoom and in person.
Present: Dorothy Henderson ( clerk); Gordon Starr (elder to the clerk), Mary Starr, Stuart Smith, Jennifer Smith, Amy Cooke, Chamba Cooke, Sharon Davisson, Doug Hamm, Peter O’Rourke, fosten wilson
The Meeting opened with silent worship.
Clerks’ Remarks and Query:
In Mark 5 Jesus is asked to heal a little girl who is very sick. He does not get there in time, and the family says she has died. Jesus says, “No, she is just asleep.” Jesus says she needs something to eat. Give her something to eat.
We have monthly potluck where we sit together and eat. And, we are fed when we come and do this work in Meeting for Worship on the Occasion of Business, and we can also feed others.
How are you fed and nourished by meeting for worship for business? And, how do you feed and nourish others?
Friends shared out of silence.
- It’s much more difficult to do worldly things in a spiritual way, than to do spiritual things in a worldly way. But, when we do, it proves much more fruitful.
- Meeting for Worship on the Occasion of Business has not been the easiest part of worship. But, even with our smaller group these days, things are looking up.
- True unity is difficult, but it can be found.
- Quaker process is the way one Friend loves to “feed” people in the meeting.
- When we allow Quaker process to happen, especially the silence and worship during Meeting for Worship on the Occasion of Business, the spiritual nature can emerge.
Action Items and Seasoning:
- Bringing forward Anita McCormick for Children’s Program (seasoned until October Meeting for Business).
- Scholarship fund: Stewardship Committee will formulate a recommendation to the Meeting and bring it back to the October Meeting.
- The proposed budget for 2023-2024 is seasoning until the October Meeting.
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.
The Fall Clerks Meeting will be held November 15 from 8:30 – 10 am on Zoom. (note new time)
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.
- Scholarship fund: Stewardship Committee will formulate a recommendation to the Meeting and bring it back to the November Meeting. (This will now season for one more month.)
- The proposed budget for 2023-2024 is seasoning until the October Meeting.
MINUTE 2023.10.01: Grass Valley Friends Meeting approves the 2023-2024 budget as published in the 9th month newsletter of the GVFM.
Welcome Committee: Peter O’Rourke, clerk (ex-officio, Website and Facebook coordinator), Kathy McCreery, Don McCormick, Pat Phillips, Cheryl Hendrickson, Cindy Bliss, Lo Hamm, CJ Patterson, Hailey Wilson (ex-officio, tech support), Judy Hamilton (ex-officio, email coordinator).
Peter O’Rourke, clerk, gave the report, appended.
The organization report on Ben Lomond Quaker Center will be given after Meeting later this month.
Children’s Program: Keely McDonald and Doug Hamm, co-clerks, Dorothy Henderson, Gordon Bishop, Judy Hamilton, Dean Olson, Reed Hamilton, Don McCormick, David Cowan, Lo Hamm.
There was no written report given.
Doug Hamm, co-clerk, reported that the committee is benefitting from the co-clerking arrangement with Keely and Doug. Keely’s technological abilities are very much appreciated!
Nominating Committee: (terms as noted) Judy Hamilton: 2022-2024, Gordon Starr: 2022-2024, two positions vacant.
- Anita McCormick for Children’s Program (seasoned from September Meeting for Business).
MINUTE 2023.10.02: Grass Valley Friends Meeting approves adding Anita McCormick to the Children’s Program committee for the 2023-2024 year.
OFFICER REPORTS and REPRESENTATIVE REPORTS
- Treasurer: fosten wilson: fosten gave the Treasurer’s Quarterly Report, appended.
- A question was raised about fundraising for the future. The treasurer replied that people seem to step up and contribute when the requests are made. We also have the ability to collect donations through the new website.
- A request was made for a written appeal letter with a suggested donation per family, as we do not tithe. It might be helpful for families to know what a target amount might be to donate to Meeting. It was suggested this letter could go out in November.
- A Friend felt moved to share that they pray we will be able to adequately fund the meeting without stress on the treasurer, or other members of Meeting.
- Interfaith Nevada County: Dianne Marshall. No report.
- Sierra Friends Center: Gordon Starr. It was noted that Gordon is acting as the elder to the presiding clerk, so Dorothy will be talking to him about having another person give the report on Sierra Friends Center in meeting for business.
- Pacific Yearly Meeting: Doug Hamm. No report.
- College Park Quarterly Meeting: Doug Hamm ~ 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
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, and it helps our visibility. Follow this link.
- There is a new PacYM directory online. See Dorothy for the password.
- The College Park Quarterly Meeting will gather October 13-15 (next weekend) here at Sierra Friends Center in Nevada City, CA (and online for some activities). Please see their website for more details : https://collegeparkquarterlymeeting.org. They can also now take online payments!
- Carl Magruder: You can follow Carl’s healing journey on the CaringBridge.org website HERE. Friends have also set up a daily Meeting for Healing from 7:30 to 8 am (Pacific) on Zoom here or contact Amy Cooke at amylisette@gmail.com for the link.
- Keith Runyan, new General Secretary of Quaker Earthcare Witness, will be available via Zoom as he steps into his new role at QEW. Bring your questions concerning the future of Friends’ calling to care for our Earth. Tuesday, October 10, 2023 One hour starting at 7:00 PM Pacific time. Click here to join the meeting. Meeting ID: 288 711 054 Passcode: 593327 https://westernfriend.org/event/welcome-new-qew-leader
ITEMS SEASONING
- Scholarship fund: Stewardship Committee will formulate a recommendation to the Meeting and bring it back to the November Meeting.
Other: a concern was raised for the possibility that the US would restart conscription (a draft). It was stated that in the past, when conscription was happening, it brought many investigators to Quaker Meeting. Should we look into how we would respond to a restoration of the draft?
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 (outgoing) and Jennifer Smith, recording clerk (incoming).
APPENDICES:
- Spirit and Witness Committee Report
- Stewardship Committee report
- Welcome Committee
- Treasurer’s Quarterly Report
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Spirit and Witness Report
As our committee holds the spiritual life of our meeting, and the witness into the world that comes forth from the Spirit, we acknowledge and celebrate all the ways our Meeting is thriving. Our committees are engaged, there is a thirst for deepening our individual and collective faith, and we connect with one another in numerous ways.
We also acknowledge that this is a time of change in our Meeting as Woolman negotiates the transfer of this land to the Nisenan people. We want to hold this news with care, calm, and a steady presence. We hold both the gifts of this time and the challenges.
We are seeking new ways to deepen the spiritual life of the Meeting. The Welcome Committee has raised up the possibility of a Quakerism 101 course and we are envisioning a potential partnership of our two committees to work on a course that could begin in January and run for six months. Stay tuned!
Meanwhile, our upcoming Spiritual Life programs are:
- October 22: Discoveries and Gifts: Insights from the Spiritual Life: Amy Cooke
- November 26: Haudenosaunee Thanksgiving Address: Amy
- December 24: Birthing the Christ Within: Gordon Starr (pending)
We also remind Friends that we are here to support spirit-led actions into the world through witness committees. When a person or group in our Meeting has a nudge or leading to take action out of spiritual discernment, these committees can support the discernment and practices that seek justice, peace, and reconciliation.
We continue to hold several care committees and we are available to support those who seek clarity about leadings in their personal lives, who may need additional spiritual support, or who may want to spiritually anchor their work in a specific area. Please approach any of the members with questions or to form a committee.
Finally, we have scheduled the Fall Clerks Meeting for Wednesday November 15 at
8:30 AM via Zoom. This meeting gives the clerks of our committees a chance to share about their work, their goals for the year, and to bring up any concerns, questions, or ideas. The group will gather again in the Spring (April) to form the Naming Committee and to harvest the work of the year as a preparation for the Annual State of the Meeting report, which is written in April and delivered to the College Park Quarterly Meeting gathering in May.
Amy Cooke, clerk, on behalf of the Spirit and Witness Committee: Dean Olson, Sharon Davisson, Reed Hamilton, and Stuart Smith
Stewardship Committee
Stewardship Committee Report
Minutes from meeting on October 5, 2023
Present: Mary Starr, clerk, Gordon Starr, recorder, Fosten Wilson, treasurer,Dianne Marshall, newsletter editor, Don McCormick, librarian, Pat Phillips.
Finance. Fosten reported income for September was $1,539, while payments totaled $1,104. Since there were insufficient funds to fully cover year-end outbound donations, checks were made out at 30% of budgeted amounts, except the one for SFC which was rounded up to $100.
With the uncertainty of our future at Woolman, like last year, he again checked on the availability of space at the county Library on Sunday mornings. He found it currently does have a group that meets there then, but afternoons were available.
Newsletter and contact Lists. Dianne, Peter O’Rourke and Amy Cooke have been been working on cleaning up and simplifying the two contact lists, one for the email tree and one for the newsletter. Since there are very puzzling designations and the newsletter list is still “owned” by Dave Barnett as the original creator, they are looking at creating a single new list that is controlled by GVFM, and are in the
process of verifying individual names and contacts. A survey will likely be sent out to all contacts asking them to confirm their interest in being included on the list(s).
There was a suggestion to include the newsletter in the Welcome Bags given to new-comers. However, Don reported that the Welcoming committee had already discussed this and had agreed that it was not a good idea. They felt it was too much information put in front of someone who needed more basic information on Quaker beliefs and practices.
Library. Don acknowledged receiving requested book ends form two sources, Dianne, who donated several, and an anonymous donner who sent 14! He also suggested contacting other librarians during Quarterly Meeting to show them what he has been doing and to hear what they are doing that might be of interest. Valery Kaur’s See No Stranger was suggested as an acquisition.
Misc.
- Dianne asked about the up-coming appeal letter.
- Where are our folding chairs?
- Also, use of the classroom by others? Gordon will follow up.
Next meeting: November 2, 2023 at 3:00. Mary will send a reminder, then the link.
Welcome Committee
Welcome Meeting Notes
October 4, 2023
Follow-up from September meeting
1) Monthly potluck status
a) Cheryl & David held recent potluck
i) Cheryl reported it was a fun event
b) Judy & Reed are targeting a potluck at their house on Sat., Oct. 21st at 5:30p
2) Weekly refreshment status
a) Cheryl has been sending out a Thursday reminder to those who volunteered to provide
refreshments at current week’s Worship
3) Checklist for greeters and welcome bag contents
a) Good feedback from Dianne during 9/30 Worship that process is very user friendly and
having the guidelines is very helpful
i) Make/present packet for College Park Quarterly Meeting, Oct. 13 – 15 – Don
(1) College Park Quarterly Meeting (CPQM) is a quarterly meeting of the Religious
Society of Friends (Quakers) in northern California and northern Nevada
4) Website update – Pete
a) Fosten appreciated the GIVE button reactivation – kudos to Amy for leading Website
rebuild
New business
1) Discussed starting up Friendly 8 process – Don
a) Periodically organize Friendly 8st; an opportunity for members and attenders to get to
know each other in smaller groups. Each group decides its own format, sometimes a
series of potluck gatherings in someone’s home.
b) Discuss query – individual’s background
c) New members and existing members
2) Discussed starting up Intro to Quaker class – Don
a) Who should lead this: Spirit and Witness? or Welcome committee?
b) Pete will send email to S & W including Exploring Quakerism literature (please copy link
below and enter into search prompt)
i) Goal is to promote better understanding of Quakerism
3) Next meeting will be Wednesday November 8, 2023
a) Clerk will send out invite 2 days prior
i) Will include Zoom link and agenda
Attendees: Cindy, Pat, Kathy, Don, Cheryl, Pete
Treasurer’s Quarterly Report
10-7-2023
summary = Thank you ! – what a difference.
Two months ago we were a few thousand dollars behind & I asked for more financial help.
Many were able to help and by the end of our fiscal year, 9-30-23, our expenses were
completely matched by contributions and we were also able to pay a portion of our budgeted
donations.
Our General Fund contributions received in fy 2023 ($14,561) approximately equaled our
expenses & outbound donations ($14,352). The outbound donations were paid at 30% of what
was budgeted, but two months ago I feared we might have no money for those donations.
The “Fund Balances” & the “Actual Spending vs Budget” reports are available in the Meeting
House and by contacting me. The restricted funds are unchanged since August.
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