Meeting for Worship for Business

Thursday 7 Oct 2004 , 7:30 pm

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

Present:

John, Jean, Rex, Robbie M, Andy M, Ian, Beverly (Clerk)

Regrets:

Carol Leigh, Dawn, Susan

1. Meeting began with silent worship
2. The minutes were read and approved with the addition of identification of the members of the Naming Committee: Denise Barron, Rex Barger and Betty Preston.
3. Continuing Business :
   1. Yonge Street Half Yearly Meeting will be held on Saturday Oct. 30 at Simcoe-Muskoka Meeting house, Orillia (a change from last month's information)
   2. The September 30th potluck with Stewart Vriesinga did not take place as Ian Graham was unable to contact him. The Clerk will announce that help is still needed to organize our celebration of Hanna Newcombe and her work with PRID. Jane Zavitz Bond may be available to speak on the archives for the October potluck, if a convenient date can be found. Robbie McGregor will contact Jane with the possible dates of 24th or 28th October , and of 4th or 5th Nov. We will cover her travel expenses if she wishes.
   3. A retreat will be planned for the first weekend in April, when Margaret Slavin is available. We hope to make this a residential retreat if suitable accommodation can be found. Rex will enquire if Mount Mary is available for this weekend. We will write to Margaret for her help with the programme. We are open to suggestions for themes for this event. Margaret Slavin is travelling in the Ministry with a special interest in connections among creativity, spirituality and effective social change.
4. Business Arising:
   1. Ontario Regional Friends' Gathering. This topic was laid over till November, when a definite decision will be made. The clerk will bring it up a number of times after Meeting for Worship asking for specific individuals to volunteer to help with planning.
   2. When does a "visitor" become an "attender"? After a discussion, the suggestion was made that a discreet notice be placed in the lobby inviting visitors who wished to be considered regular attenders to let the clerk know this. The clerk will prepare this sign.
   3. Premises matters: It has been suggested that the benches and chairs in the meeting room be moved into a semi- circle. Meeting approves this idea on a trial basis and if anyone wishes to try rearranging the furniture after the Thanksgiving meal, they may do so. Considerable discussion took place on the library furniture rearrangement. We were not in unity about the use of the library space. We hope to have a follow-up discussion in November. John Milton and Andy Muller will collaborate in preparing an item for the newsletter which lays out some of the issues.
   4. Robbie McGregor asked if a person known to her, who may face homelessness in a short time, might be allowed to stay at the Meeting House for a few months. John Milton, Robbie McGregor and a third person of their choosing will explore the possibilities of this and after consulting with others in the Meeting will bring a recommendation to the November meeting .
5. Reports:
   1. The library report was received from Ian Graham, but as he was obliged to leave early, this will be discussed at the next meeting .
   2. Treasurer's report: discussion was laid over till the November meeting due to small numbers. We are still in need of someone to take over the duties of treasurer from Andy, who would like to lay this down as soon as practicable.
6. New Business :
   1. The letter to Paul Martin. The matter of a letter prepared by Peace and Social Action Committee to be sent to Paul Martin, the prime minister, was discussed for some time. The meeting was not in unity on sending this letter in the name of HMM . We refer it back to PSAC, with the recommendation that they should reconsider it in the light of the recently received discussion paper prepared by CFSC and of the concerns raised at this meeting .
7. The next meeting for worship for business will be held on Sunday November 7th following a shared lunch.
8. Meeting closed after a period of silent worship .

Last updated: 18 Oct 2004