Minutes of Meeting for Worship for Business

7 December 2003

Present: Don Woodside (clerk), Harriet Woodside, Ian Graham, Helen Brink, Rex Barger, Mona Callin, Jean Johnson, Louise Trepanier, Larry Pogue, Dick Preston, Betty Preston, Dawn Lepard, Carol Leigh Wehking, Christina Edwards, Susan Wortman (recording clerk)

Regrets: Beverly Shepard

1. Meeting opened with open worship.
2. The minutes from the November M4W4B were read and approved.
3. Matters arising
   1. Wissa Family (Louise)

      We thank Louise for this very complete and concise report (see attached) responding to our questions from the October M4W4B (3.1) and laying out the current situation and next steps forward. We support Louise to follow up on the recommendations specified at the end of this report. HMM will compose a letter to update and affirm our spiritual, moral and financial support, over and above the CIC's requirements, for the sponsors of Abdul Khalil Wissa and his family.

   2. Potluck

      Dawn will contact Roy Adams to see if he can speak to us on Employment and Human Rights at a potluck for Thursday, January 22, 2004.

   3. Rogers Trust Application (Helen B.)

      The application to the Rogers Trust for funds to help insulate the Meeting House, was made last month. We applied for $11,000, to supplement the amount we expect to have in the insulation fund by the spring. A letter and cheque for this amount was received today, and opened in the meeting! We offer our sincere thanks Helen for her adroit work on this issue, and to the Rogers Trust. We ask Helen to proceed with the contractor, Gerald Schuit, Plastering and Stucco Inc., one of the two who provided updated estimates for the job.

   4. Filming a simulated M4W4B

      Following up on our discussion at the October M4W4B (3.3), we gratefully accept Ian's offer to organize a simulated M4W4B in the new year, possibly for the February potluck.

   5. Finance Committee Report on the Canadian Yearly Meeting budget (Ian)

      We thank the Finance Committee for their work in preparing this report (see attached). We are in unity with all three recommendations, and support the Committee to further investigate the final two issues for future recommendations before the next CYM Finance Committee meeting in March. We would like to circulate these recommendations to the Representative Meeting Finance Committee, and other Monthly Meetings.

4. Reports
   1. Canadian Yearly Meeting (Carol Leigh)

      We thank Carol Leigh for her informative report (see attached). Dick noted that in fact it has been found that the Argenta Friends Press was the most economical option, so this issue does not have to be brought to Monthly Meetings. Carol Leigh will bring responses to questions provided by HMM to complete the report, to the next M4W4B.

   2. Library Committee (Ian)

      We thank Ian for the considerable work in preparing the Library Collection Policy Draft #2 (see attached). We accepted all aspects of this policy with the exception of #3, which was laid over further consideration. We also approved the 5 points for future direction (see attached).

   3. Peace and Social Action: laid over
   4. Nominating Committee

      The Nominating Committee recommends Betty Flynn and John Andrew Muller to the Maintenance Committee. We accepted these nominations with thanks.

5. New Business
   1. Margaret Slavin visit

      We ask Ministry and Council to consider taking the opportunity of Margaret Slavin (Dyment)'s traveling ministry and to consider the possibility of a retreat or some other function(s) in late February, early March.

   2. Info/contact sheet for MH users: laid over
6. Correspondence
   1. Faith and Practice: laid over
   2. Friends Journal: laid over
7. Next M4W4B date will be Thursday, January 8, 2004
8. Meeting closed with open worship.