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Meeting for Worship for Business - Thursday, January 6, 2003
(Recording Clerk: Susan Wortman)

Present: Harriet Woodside, Rex Barger, Rick McCutcheon, Tamara Fleming, Don Woodside (clerk), Helen Brink, Carol Leigh Wehking, Andy Muller, Vickie Bonefant, Dick Preston, Betty Preston, Ian Graham, Roberta McGregor, Susan Wortman (recording clerk)

Regrets: Mona Callin, Helen Paulin, Jean Johnson, John Milton, Sian Baker


1. Meeting began with open worship.

2. The minutes of M4W4B, December 5, 2002 were read and accepted with the following correction:
    5.1 Ministry and Counsel, rather than Don Woodside, is responsible for setting the dates for the painting bee and the Meeting Retreat.

3. Matters Arising

3.1 Donations and Loans - deferred.

3.2 Potlucks:    
Friday, January 17 - Anne Mitchell & Gordon McLure on the Sustainability Conference in South Africa
Thursday, February 6 - Jane MacKay Wright on her trip to Iraq

4. Reports

4.1 Outreach Report October 2002 (see attached) was read and accepted.
Outreach Plan 2003 (see attached) This plan was accepted with thanks for the work put into creating such an inspirational document. We ask the Outreach Committee to be mindful of previous minuted decisions concerning the use of Meeting House space.

4.2 First Day School - Meeting as a Whole Don relayed Sian's report and recommendations concerning Meeting as a Whole (where the children stay in M4W for the whole hour, with specific play options so that they may have the experience of a M4W). No one has come forward with concerns about this practice as an episodic and regular event. We were in unity that this practice generated a fullness in the worship in Meeting. We agreed that this would happen three times a year, and asked FDS to come up with specific dates for the upcoming year. FDS will assume responsibility for coordinating this event.

4.3 Ministry and Council
4.3.1 Intergenerational Painting Bee M&C is asking for three people to coordinate this event. They will ask after M4W in the next few weeks and/or approach appropriate individuals.

4.3.2 Winter Retreat M&C is sponsoring a winter retreat with the topic of 'How do we find unity on our Peace Witness?' Possible dates are March 1 & 2 or April 5 & 6. The location is yet to be determined., but is hoped to be not too far away. Discussion on the location included the value of being away from the familiar. We were in unity on aiming for two days with overnight, if affordable. Friends would be encouraged to come for all or part of the retreat as they felt led and able. All members and attenders would be welcome. Discussion was also held concerning the logistics and effects of including the Meeting's children, or finding childcare. Depending on the cost, Friends would be invited to make donations to cover the costs of this event if they are able, but if they were not, that they would still be encouraged to come. We thank M&C for work thus far, and ask them to continue to planning and to make suitable arrangements concerning time and location.

4.4 Auditor's Report Andy read the Auditor's report, as prepared by Kris Wilson-Yang (see attached). We agreed with her recommendation to review the Dunford Bequest. Andy will confer with Kris how that is best accomplished. We accepted this report with thanks.

4.5 Treasurer's Report Andy presented the Treasurer's report, which included the Balance Sheet, the Actual 12 month vs Year's Budget, and the draft budget for 2003. We authorized M&C to spend up to $600 to organize the Winter Retreat. We ask Andy to create a budget line for M&C, and to reinstate the $1,000 contribution to social justice causes. We further ask him to explore the possibility of reducing the following lines: Outreach, Garden, Education, Maintenance and Travel, in order to accomplish these goals. We thank Andy for this preliminary work on our budget.

5 New Business deferred

6 Correspondence deferred

7 Next Meeting for Worship for Business: Sunday, February 2, at 1:00pm

8 Meeting closed with open worship.