H.M.M. Newsletter, October 2000

7 Butty Place, Hamilton, Ontario. L8S 2R5

Clerk: Roberta McGregor

Sunday mornings 9.30 Discussion group 11.00 Meeting for Worship

Coming Events: Thursday, Oct. 19 - 6.00 p.m House-warming potluck at Susan Wortman's new home, 66 Hillcrest, Hamilton. Mona has maps.

Saturday, Oct 21- Yonge St. Half Yearly Meeting, held at Simcoe-Muskoka Meetinghouse. For info, contact Mona Callin Sunday, Oct. 22 - Brown bag. Mona will give report on her trip to FWCC.

Sunday, Oct. 29 - After meeting, planting of new shrubs. Join FDS in a planting bee, followed by Halloween treats. (P.S. the soil is quite soft now!)

Wednesday, Nov 1, 7.30 p.m. M4W4B

************ Potluck on Jubilee and Culture of Peace. Held Sept. 22, 00 Coming out of the discussion which followed were the following suggestions: Creation of a bus pass fund for the use of welfare recipients or others in need, to get to job interviews etc.(approach wealthy individuals, businesses, churches, etc) Reassign $200 tax refund - the bus pass fund, food bank, etc. Elimination of violent sayings from our language: i.e. kill two birds with one stone, more than one way to kill a cat. Feature in Spectator: regularly, on individuals who have made a positive difference. Violence/non-violence essays - give to Sue Goshko for a booklet. Letter writing on P. & S. A issues - organized after M4W with paper, addresses, sample letter. 2000 acts of kindness as practiced by local school.

************ Directory News

New Pink HMM Directories are now available on shelf below bulletin board in the foyer. Please check your entry and tick off when you pick up yours. Thanks! (Mona.)

Additions to the Directory : Margaret Stewart has a new temporary address until Dec. 22, 2000

1054 Brock St. Apt. 204 Windsor, On. (519) 977-5028

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A Quaker Joke!

It was the late 1600s in Philadelphia, when Quakers were routinely arrested for civil disobedience. At the time, William Penn's mother, and two of her sisters owned a successful Quaker business, a bakery. The women increased the price of their pies, specifically donating the money to support the legal expenses of their Quaker friends. Many in the town objected to paying the price increase on political grounds, and there were extensive public debates about the pie rates of Penn's aunts.

(submitted by Beth Barron)

*********** Outreach at Hamilton Quaker Meeting

We have begun to take some small steps in raising our visibility in the community and on the internet. Personally, I am excited by the prospect of welcoming a new family or two into our midst, maybe even a few children to join First Day School. Maybe we can encourage a few Young Adults to form a nucleus for another study group!

In the hopes that members or attenders who are interested in outreach will make themselves known to the Nominations Committee, I have prepared an outline of what an outreach committee might do.

Suggested Terms of Reference for Outreach Committee "The Religious Society of Friends has been reinvigorated time and again by those people who feel moved by the Spirit to question the complacency that so easily can beset any religious (or secular) body of people. There is a spiritual thirst in society at large, and though we do not feel it is our place to make people into Quakers, we do feel that we as Quakers have something precious to share and to offer in this process" (from The Outreach Manual, by Harvey Gillman, Director of Outreach, Britain Yearly Meeting)

Membership Usual number will be convenor and three people. Friends doing outreach undertake to:

- have some knowledge of what we are talking about

- to know why Quakers do and don't do what they do and the diversity in those practices

- learn not to use jargon and abbreviations that do not communicate to others

- recognize we are learning about Quaker organization and practice as we go and will make mistakes

Statements from Organization and Procedure

- there is none specific to a MM outreach cttee. However, for the Yearly Meeting, Home Mission and Advancement Cttee is responsible for outreach. These elements of their terms of reference are instructive for a Monthly Meeting:

- to make our Society known to other Seekers

- to maintain contact with isolated Friends and those interested in Quakers

- to encourage the use of Quaker books and other materials

- to encourage visitation.

Relationship with other committees

- close communication with M&C, Clerk and Treasurer

Annual Report due date - any report would be prepared in concert with the budget or plans for the coming year, usually by the November business meeting.

Duties and Responsibilites

- be aware of the projects of the Meeting so that news can be made available and questions answered

- sustain a useful website, providing content to the webmaster

- ensure phone listings and voicemail contact information is current and correct

- seek opportunities to be visible in the community

- prepare a budget and plan for each year by the date of business meeting in November

- seek ways to encourage new attenders to feel welcome and participate to the degree they wish

- seek ways the resources of the meetinghouse can be helpful in the community

- maintain ongoing contact with HMAC and be aware of programs and priorities that may be relevant for Hamilton MM.

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"All shall be well, I'm telling you: let the winter come and go. All shall be well again, I know."

-Julian of Norwich (submitted by Bev Shepard)

MEETING FOR WORSHIP FOR BUSINESS

Hamilton Monthly Meeting for Worship for Business, 2 October, 2000

Present: Roberta McGregor (clerk), Mona Callin, Ian Graham, Helen Brink, Helen Paulin, Susan Wortman (recording clerk)

Regrets: Jean Johnson, John Milton, Beverly Shepard, Andy Muller

1. Meeting began with silent worship.

2. The minutes of 6 September, 2000 were accepted without additions or corrections.

3. Matters arising

3.1 Kwame Barko of the Meeting House Fund (CYM) met with Jean Johnson, John Milton and Robbie McGregor on September 9, 2000 concerning the Native Plants Garden Project. HMM has applied for a grant of $6,200 from the Meeting House Fund to finance the Native Plants Garden Project. Kwame asked that if the whole amount was not granted, would we consider a loan. The decision of the Meeting House Fund will be delivered to the Finance Committee meeting on October 22, 2000, and if a loan is needed, it will be considered at the November M4W4B.

Helen Paulin will have the Native Plants Garden registered with `Our Millennium', an initiative of Canada's Community Foundations, as a Millennium Project. HMM has already registered our bench on the new Waterfront Trail as part of this program. The plaque on the bench reads in part `Live Simply that Others May Simply Live'.

3.2 The Ecumenical Support Committee for Refugees has requested that HMM contribute toward the Processing Fee for one refugee ($500/adult, $100/child). HMM instructs the trustees to donate $500 from the Elise Dunford bequest for this purpose. We also encourage Friends to keep this cause, among others we have listed as part of the Jubilee Pledge, under consideration when reflecting on worthy uses of the $200 tax rebate coming from the Ontario government this month.

3.3 Robbie McGregor will send a letter to the Elizabeth Fry Society stating that, in response to their request, we do have someone we believe very suitable to nominate to their Board.

3.4 An ad-hoc committee was proposed to discuss how (ie CD- ROM, acid-free paper) and what materials should be preserved for the Archives. Interviews with those Friends who knew the founding members of HMM were suggested. Mona Callin will initiate this process.

3.5 Mona Callin will present on Friends World Committee for Consultation, the only organization to link all Friends throughout the world, after M4W on October 22. Friends may wish to bring a bag lunch. Taped music from a Kenyan women's choir will highlight this presentation.

3.6 Due to the Wednesday night conflict with the Self- Realization Fellowship, beginning in January M4W4B will meet alternately on Mondays and Thursdays. Dates for upcoming meetings: Wednesday, November 1, 2000 Monday, December 4, 2000 Thursday, January 4, 2001

3.7 Upcoming potlucks and brown-bags:

Monday, October 9, 4:30pm - Thanksgiving dinner with Beth Shepard presenting on the Youth Pilgrimage

Thursday, October 19, 6:00pm - Housewarming potluck at Susan Wortman's new house, 66 Hillcrest Avenue, Hamilton (maps available from Mona)

Sunday, October 22, after M4 - brown bag, Mona Callin will present on Friends World Committee for Consultation

A list is appended of possible topics for future potlucks and brown bags.

4 Reports

4.1 The First Day School report that is appended is an excerpt from the State of Society Report already submitted. On Sunday, October 8, the schedule of FDS events for the coming year will be announced. This will also be published in the newsletter and posted on the website.

5 New Business

5.1 Andy Muller is stepping down from the Website Oversight Committee and Finance Committee. Nominating Committee will be considering replacements in November.

5.2 Mona Callin is nominated as our delegate to Half Yearly Meeting on Saturday, October 21, 2000, in Orillia (Simcoe- Muskoka MM). Robbie McGregor will also attend if she is able. Other Friends who wish to attend may wish to contact Mona Callin concerning car-pooling.

5.3 CYM Minute of Record: Understanding of True Education and Good Governance, see addendum. Friends are encouraged to read and consider this Minute, especially in regard to current Ontario government policy on education. It will be available at coffee on Sundays after M4W, in the newsletter, and posted on the website. The November M4W will address possible actions to be taken on this issue.

5.4 Jane Davis, a botanical artist and illustrator, was an attender at HMM. One of her paintings (of a native raspberry plant) was donated to HMM before her death five years ago. It will be hung in the Pendle Hill room, and a plaque describing this HMM history will be composed and mounted.

5.5 An Outreach Committee has been proposed. Suggested Terms of Reference were submitted to be considered at the November M4W4B.

6 Meeting closed with silent worship.

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COFFEE, TEA AND YOU !!

Oct 1 Mona Callin 335-9865

Oct 8 Ray Cunnington 523-0355

Oct 15 Susan Wortman 527-5361

Oct 22 Suzanne Goshko 544-6447

Oct 29 Ian Graham 336-0163

Nov 5 Grace Inglis 529-3457

Nov 12 Darlene James 627-3914

Nov 19 Jean Johnson 628-6654

*********** Ideas for Potlucks and/or Brown Bag Lunches (Oct 2, 2000)

1. Report and discussion of CYM (and for newsletter) 2. Minute on Education and Governance

3. Report on Quaker Outreach Conference

4. Leading on directions/priorities of HMM

5. "The Bridge" program for detained persons and recently released prisoners

6. Lyn Adamson, trainer for PBI, who we funded to go to E.Timor

7. David McKay, return visit

8. Spiritual friendships

9. Liz Kamphausen, recently of Pendle Hill; weekend workshop for young enquirers.

10. Weekend retreaty to consider unity vs individual commitments to various peace and social action issues.

11. Open House periodically as is done by Yonge St. and Toronto.

12. Video night: PBS A Force More Powerful- 2 one and half hour programs.

13. Peace Testimony- CYN, CFSC.

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Repeated from September issue (An ethical opportunity) If you receive a $200 Ontario Tax Dividend DON'T ENDORSE IT! DONATE IT! Many Ontarians are not comfortable getting this tax gift from the government, knowing that the most vulnerable people in our province get none of it.

Join us in choosing to donate this money to charitable organizations that support homeless families and social housing initiatives. You can also challenge the government to match your generous donation and do what we depend on governments to do: keep track and take care of the vulnerable people who can't always take care of themselves. When you hold that cheque in your hands, please stop and reflect. Express your values!

You might think about supporting a cause which people in our meeting are already involved in, such as Child Poverty, Refugee work, etc.

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My Own Pledge for a Culture of Peace

Let's make 2000 a new beginning for us all. Let's try to transform our current culture of war & violence into a culture of peace and non violence. Let's keep searching for and try to agree on basic attitudes tan can inpire future generations and to help shape a world of dignity and harmony, a healthy world of justice, solidarity and freesponsibility (freedom without responsibility won't last; responsibility without freedom is coercion) A culture of peace can make possible a happy healthy habitat where all living beings can find personal fulfilment in service to our common good.

Recognizing my share of responsibility for the future of all life, I pledge to strive in my daily life (myself, my family, my work, my recreation, my community, my region, my province, my country and our world) to:

1 (&5) Respect all life in all its diversity and all our earth's resources (on which life depends.) Reject manipulation, intimidation, coercion and exploitation of myself, my body, my earthmates and our world)

2. Be as non-violent as possible in trying to protect the web of life from damage by those who are not (yet) committed to non-violence. Remember that we all need to be self directed. Object whenever I feel that my own ability to be self-directed is being thwarted. Support others who feel the same. Give top priority to my own health and to healthy (non-violent) relationships with our planet and with all life on it, excluding none.

3. Take no more than what I need to make it possible for me to share (in a spirit of generosity) my time, my energy and what seems to me to be my wisdom and to do what I can to ensure that earth's resources are shared fairly (especially with those whose needs are currently being inadequately met) and to compensate and to heal those who have been damaged due to being seriously short-changed in the past. Encourage regular sharing about what we are doing to enhance our common well-being. Do this informally and in small groups, often.

4a. Listen to understand. Develop enough healthy close relationships for mutual support, for mutual challenging, and for mutual mentoring in our search for better ways to live together harmoniously (including the nurturing of self- directed, responsible world citizens.) (It takes community to raise healthy children)

4b. Question, often, all my asumptions about how best to live together for our common good and also encourage others to question my assumptions, as well as their own. (That's how we become wise!)

4c. Forgive generously so I too can be forgiven. (There can be no peace without forgiveness.)

4d. Show that I recognize that we are all fallible (1) by continuing my search for greater and greter understanding of the ways of nature (to enable us all to live in greater harmony with life in all its diversity), (2) by inviting mutual criticism (because I am not omniscient, either) and (3) by seeking to make efforts toward consensus with those who disagree (on all matters of great import, especially when they include actions that I believe to be for our common good)

4e. Communicate patiently. Recognize that (in our efforts to communicate our thoughts) our use of words is always fraught with possibilities for misunderstands. Endeavour to use words that may be more likely to be generally understood. (Avoid religious and professional jargon.) Seek clarification whenever doubts arise. Back up my words with actions that reinforce their meaning. Walk my talk!

5 (&1) Preserve our planet, and protect all life on it. Recognize that it is (and we are) our commonwealth. We all have a responsibility to ensure that our use of it is for our common good and for each other's wellbeing.

6. Rediscover solidarity by celebrating life in spectacular ways. Sing and dance (much) to brighten our days.

(Rex Barger)

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Fall is a wonderful time for walking on trails. Wear good supporting shoes and be sure to bring a friend or two along. Watch the colours change, the birds migrate and breathe some fresh air. And don't forget to do your bit to protect our natural areas. (Editor.)