Meeting for Worship for Business

2 June 05

Hamilton Monthly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers)
www.quaker.ca/hamilton
quakers@hwcn.org

Present:

Dick, Betty, Harriet, Don, Jean, John, Dawn, Mona, Carol Leigh, Rex, Ian (recording clerk), Beverly (presiding clerk)

1. Worship Meeting opened with silent worship at 7:40
2. Minutes of May 2005 meeting were read and approved without changes.
3. Agenda: the clerk apologized for the late distribution of the agenda. Items were priorized for the order of business.
4. Business Arising
   1. Ontario Regional Gathering: Laid over to future meeting
   2. Outreach Projects: Laid over to future meeting
   3. Potlucks:
      • June 19th. Meeting for Worship in the garden at Helen and Andrew's home in Greensville.
      • 7:30 pm Sunday June 19th. PSAC proposes to host a Peace Witness lecture, at the Meeting House. Alan Playdell, Quaker Peace and Social Witness advocate from England, will present his findings from ten years experience in coordinating peace projects in the former Yugoslavia and other war-afflicted regions. (No meal included) Approved.
      • July 17th. Garden Meeting for Worship and BBQ will be held at the Meeting House.
      • Friday Sept 23rd. Peace and Social Action committee (PSAC) will host a potluck on the theme "The Peace Testimony Today". 6 pm arrival for 6:30 meal, discussion following.
   4. Stephens/Shepard Wedding arrangements: Wedding will be held on Aug 6th under the care of the Meeting. A shower is scheduled for 4 to 6 pm Sat June 11th, hosted by Carol Leigh and Glenna. Dawn agrees to join the arrangements committee; others are welcome.
   5. Quaker Statement on Tolerance: Laid over to future meeting
   6. Letters to Members of Parliament re Same Sex Marriage legislation: We estimate that about 75 letters remain to be sent. We ask the clerk to announce the effort to complete this letter-writing this coming Sunday.
5. Reports
   1. Representative Meeting report (Beverly):

      Monthly Meetings are asked to consider financial support for Young Friends to attend the World Gathering of Young Friends, being held in England this August. Katrina McQuail and Alan Tatro have been selected as Canadian Yearly Meeting of Young Friends (CYMYF) delegates. CYMYF decided to raise funds to support two named delegates from Guatemala as well as our own delegates and other Canadian YFs. We approve $100 donation to CYMYF for this purpose ($50 from travel budget, $50 from outreach budget).

      Consultation and Renewal Working Group, a group formed by CYM in Session last August, is expected to make its interim report at CYM Session this summer. A member will be visiting each Monthly Meeting and Worship Group. We are asked to name a liaison contact. We approve the naming of Dick, Hamilton MM's delegate to Representative Meeting, with thanks.

      The Friends General Conference (FGC) Gathering Committee for 2006 is short of high school and Adult Young Friends (AYFs) for immediate appointment. We ask our Nominating Committee (NC) to consider this and forward names to FGC.

   2. Treasurer's Report:

      We regret to hear of Blair's health concerns, which prevented his attendance. A report was distributed showing actual income and expense to date, 2005 budget, and difference. Total income year-to-date is $6579 (34% of annual budget $23,700), about 10% short of income in 2004 and 2003. Postdated cheques to Dec 31st have been received, totaling $3220. Expenses to-date total $8273, 35% of annual budget of $24,050.

      Discussion was raised on providing year-to-date budget information and donations trends. We ask the treasurer and assistant to join us at the September Meeting for Business for consideration of these matters. The treasurer's report is available from either the clerk or the treasurer.

   3. Report on Open Circle potluck: Laid over to future meeting
   4. Maintenance Committee report (Betty):

      The committee proposes to replace the windows on the front of the Meeting House at a cost of about $4000 (Shortview Construction quoted $3965 to replace five windows). We approve this request, to be paid from the long term maintenance fund.

   5. PSAC Report (Dick)

      PSAC is struggling and has issues to bring to the Meeting, which it would like to present in the fall.

6. New Business
   1. Memorial Meeting for Maria Kawerau:

      We select the date of June 25th, 2 pm, to celebrate the life of Maria Kawerau. Information will be provided in the newsletter. Food will be provided by Friends in Meeting.

   2. Yearly Meeting Nominating Committee:

      The clerk read a report from YMNC listing various positions needing nominations from Monthly Meetings. We pass this report to NC.

   3. Chevannes Quaker film proposal:

      The clerk summarized a request from Chanda Chevannes, filmmaker and attender at Toronto MM, to provide for the financial stewardship of $5000 being donated by the Samuel Rogers Trust Fund to complete her documentary on Quakers in Canada. We approve this request to take her film project under our care and receive the grant on her behalf.

7. Other Business
   1. Letter of support for Anna:

      We approve $50 (travel budget) to support Anna, selected as a counselor at the High School Gathering of FGC. We are proud of our YF who take on such leadership roles.

   2. Summer Hours:

      Meeting for worship will move to an earlier hour for July and August, starting at 10 am.

8. Correspondence: None
9. Next Meeting time is Sunday Sept 11th, following Meeting for Worship and a shared lunch.
10. Worship: The meeting closed with silent worship at 10:15 pm.

Last updated: 24 June 05