Hamilton Monthly Meeting for Worship for Business
6 December, 2001

Present: Dick Preston (Clerk), Sean Baker, Rex Barger, Mona Callin, Tamara Fleming, Ian Graham, Rick McCutcheon (Recording Clerk through 3.1, Conflict Resolution Potluck) Helen Paulin, Beverly Shepard, Don Woodside, Harriet Woodside (Recording Clerk starting at 3.1, Representative Meeting Report).

Regrets: Susan Wortman

1.0     Meeting began with silent worship

2.0    Minutes from M4W4B on 4 November, 2001, were read and accepted with the following correction:
3.4     Remove such.
After reflecting on the minutes, we ask Robbie McGregor to consider a more descriptive name for Cole’s Notes.
Minutes from the 25 November, 2001, Called Meeting were read and accepted.

3. Business arising or carried over from last M4W4B
3.1 Reports on recent or upcoming events
27-28 October, 2001, Yonge Street Half-Yearly Meeting Report (Tamara): The meeting was helpful and a fine opportunity to grapple with concerns about the World Trade Centre and Pentagon violence, and the ongoing bombing of Afghanistan. Mona reported that if friends wish to make donations to support Afghani refugees they do this through CFSC. Tamara read the epistle produced by the Meeting. See attached Minutes, letters and epistle.
29 November, 2001, Conflict Resolution Potluck (Dick): There were ten participants at the conflict resolution potluck. Dick said that the role-plays were engaging and revealing. They provided a safe atmosphere for participants to engage reflectively on past issues. After the written summary of the conflict resolution potluck circulates in the newsletter, we will see if there is interest in repeating the program for those who were unable to attend.
16-17 November, 2001, Representative Meeting Report (Beverly): Representative Meeting was very satisfying and pleasant. HMM did a beautiful job of hosting. Beverly spoke about some of the items that were deliberated. One was that monthly meetings can apply for funds made possible through an anonymous donation for special projects designed for the outreach and spiritual nurture of members and attenders. The largest single item discussed at Representative Meeting dealt with finances including the need for a process for setting funding priorities and ways to raise new sources of income. The 2002 CYM budget plans to draw down reserves by $30,000. Another item from Representative Meeting was that a draft of the first section, Testimonies, of Canadian Faith and Practice will come to monthly meetings for discernment and suggestions in January, 2002. Beverly’s full report from Representative Meeting is attached.

3.2 PSAC advice re: HMM charitable donations (Rex): A proposed PSAC minute is attached. It was decided to discuss this advice when we consider the 2002 budget.

3.3    Visioning review (Dick and Ian): In order to make the visioning process a progressive revelation, we will plan a time for spiritual deepening in February. An announcement will be made after M4W asking individuals from the Meeting to come forward before the January M4W4B and express an interest in facilitating a spiritual deepening event. We are looking for people who will search out resources within the Meeting to put this event together. We encourage those who are interested to look over the vision statement on the first page of Dick and Ian’s report (attached) and then to approach Beverly Shepard, Clerk of Nominating Committee, or Sean Baker, a member of Nominating Committee. We hope that anyone who is interested will seek out someone who was present at this M4W4B to learn more about tonight’s discussion.

3.4    Donations planning: There was a proposal to encourage annual pledging of the intention to give in order to help HMM’s financial planning. This idea has been dropped for the time being. Post-dated cheques are a tradition in the Meeting and we encourage everyone who is able to to continue this practice.

3.5    Changes to the Meeting House (Beverly): Dick will confer with the Clerks of the Gardening, Maintenance and Coffee and Housekeeping committees to see if they agree to sit on an ad hoc committee that would meet from time to time to consider changes to the Meeting House. (See Minutes of 5 November, 2001, items 3.8, 3.10. and 5.5.)

3.6    Potluck with Raj: We will invite Raj Ramanathapillai to speak at a potluck on 24 January, 2002. We hope to ask Julia Hitchcock to talk about her six months in Africa in February or March.

3.7    Reports on two applications for membership:
Tamara Fleming was welcomed as a member of HMM. See attached letter from her Committee of Visitation. Tamara’s Welcoming Committee will be Betty Preston, Rex Barger and Mona Callin.

Simon Woodside wrote (see attached) asking to be moved from being an associate member to being a full member of HMM. Simon’s Welcoming Committee will be Ian Graham and Rick McCutcheon.

3.8    Ian Graham has been accepted by the School of the Spirit.

There was a feeling of joy as we include Tamara and Simon in our membership and support Ian in his spiritual journey.

4.0 Reports
4.1 Dick will ask Jean Johnson to prepare a written report on the 16 September Open House and Peace Pole Dedication.

4.2 The Peace Discussion Group is meeting regularly.

4.3    Process for Peace Testimony expression: We moved forward on the minutes of the 25 November, 2001, Called Meeting. Dick read a draft letter prepared by Reuven and Ruth Kitai. This will become a letter to the editor of the Hamilton Spectator signed by the co-clerks. Some suggestions were made and Rex will discuss these with Reuven and Ruth. If a second draft is ready before the January M4W4B, it will be read after M4W and, if approved, forwarded to the Spectator. There is much work involved in writing a letter like this and all present thank Ruth and Reuven for their careful attention to this task.

There will be a Called Meeting on 6 January, 2002, to continue to formulate our ideas about what we would like our three representatives to Ottawa to convey to our government. We hope that Nominating Committee will be able to bring the names of those who will represent us to this Meeting.

We approved travel and related expenses of up to $300 in total for the three representatives. This could include childcare expenses.

4.4 Nominating Committee Report (Beverly): We approved the nomination of Suzanne Goshko to be our representative to the HYM Coordinating Committee. No one has yet been nominated for an open position on M and C.

4.5 We are happy to accept Tony Campbell’s offer to be our contact person to receive information about Wesley Urban Ministries for our Meeting. The Clerk will send a letter informing the organization of this decision.

4.6 We approved the recommendation of M and C that a poinsettia be sent to friends who find it difficult to get out.

5.0    New Business: This was a long meeting and several items were carried over or dealt with briefly. There will be a farewell celebration for Margaret Stewart after M4W on 9 December, 2002. Although it wasn’t specifically discussed, Don and Harriet have offered to coordinate a New Year’s Eve party. David McKay has asked to visit HMM before the Field Secretary project ends and the Clerk will see if David is available on a First Day in January or February. There was no time to consider several pieces of correspondence (Habitat, Circle of Love, Westown School) but we did feel that a letter from Marguerite Overington expressing concern about a local racist group should be mentioned after M4W.

The first draft of the 2002 budget was passed out (attached). Presentation of the budget is carried over to the January M4W4B.

6.0 Meeting closed with silent worship.


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