Swarthmore Friends Meeting

Swarthmore, Pennsylvania

Newsletter for January 2008

Queries: Peace

Addressed to the Meeting:  How does our Meeting act to advance peace, to oppose violence, and to support the constructive use of authority in our community, our nation, and the world?  What are we doing as a Meeting:

-          to free our nation from the militarization so evident in our society and in its economy?

-          To understand the causes of war and violence and to work for the development of the attitudes and institutions of peace?

-          To recognize and correct the causes of violence within our communities, and to work toward overcoming separations and restoring wholeness?

-          To increase the understanding and use of nonviolent approaches for the resolution of conflicts?

Addressed to the individual:  Do I live in the power of that Life and Spirit that takes away the occasion of all wars? How do I maintain Friends’ testimony that military training and all participation in war and its preparation are inconsistent with the teaching and the Spirit of Christ? Do I work for the establishment of alternative ways of settling disputes? Am I aware that to build a world community requires that we all face our differences honestly, openly, and in trust? Do I treat conflict as an opportunity for growth, and address it with careful attention? Do I seek to recognize and respect the Divine in those with whom I have a basic disagreement? Do I look for ways to reaffirm in action and attitude my love for the one with whom I am in conflict?

From Faith & Practice of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting, 2002, pages 211-212

Partial draft of the Minutes of Swarthmore Monthly Meeting for Business (held Sunday, December 9, 2007)

The Meeting opened, after a few moments of silent worship, with Lynne Piersol, Clerk, presiding.  The following Friends and Attenders recorded their presence by signing in:  Lisa Heath Dainton, Christine DeGrado, Alan Dickason, Betty Dickason, Anna Grant, Hildebrando Garza, Kathryn Garza, Sharon Gunther, Bevier Hasbrouck, Rich Harris, Terry Hauger, Faith Jochum, Pauline Yolanda Jordon, Edmund Jones, Lyn Jones, Leslie Keighton, Catherine King, Andrea Knox, Susan Larson, Michael Malone, Gwendolyn Moore, Kathryn Moran, Steven Olshewsky, Clarkson Palmer, LaDorna Pfaff, Lynne Piersol, Sally Shane, Johanna Sibbett, Stephen Weimar, Betsy Wray, and Paul Joyce Collins Williams (31).

The Queries on Social Responsibility and Witness were read, considered, and spoken to.  Meeting involvement in the Philadelphia Reinvestment Fund (for moderate and low-income housing) was mentioned.

Minutes of the previous Meeting were read and approved with slight correction.  Friends approved the corrected Minutes of our Monthly Meeting for Business held November 18, 2007. The minute on the Pennsylvania National Guard has been sent (over the Clerk’s signature) to Governor Rendell.

Sally Shane reported for the Care and Counsel Committee.  Elizabeth Leonard has requested transfer of her membership to Central Philadelphia Monthly Meeting. Friends approved the request of Betsy Leonard to transfer her membership to Central Philadelphia Monthly Meeting.  In response to inquires sent out to our young associate members, Hannah Johnston and Elysia Jeavons have requested release from membership. Friends approved the request of Hannah Johnston and Elysia Jeavons for release from membership. In her response Elysia urged that more notice be given to the work of our child-care providers.  A Friend noted that the Meeting was aware of her expression of concern and has taken steps to improve the situation of our child care workers.  LaDorna Pfaff has been welcomed.  Colleen Shoemaker and her group have made up a new packet to be given to new members.  A new directory will soon be available thanks to the work of Scott Newman.  Jean Boardman requests transfer to Schuylkill Monthly Meeting.  Friends approved the request of Jean Boardman to transfer her membership to Schuylkill Monthly Meeting.

Mike Malone reported for Worship and Ministry Committee. The Committee is in the process of prayerfully considering the question of Eldering and will, in the future, bring a recommendation to Monthly Meeting.  It was stressed that the process should not be viewed only in its negative connotation.

Alan Dickason reported for Peace and Social Concerns Committee.  Matching funds are available for our Meeting’s contribution to the Friends Committee on National Legislation for their environmental intern program.  Such a contribution will come under the Peace and Social Concerns Committee’s annual budget.  Likewise, the matching contributions for the Discretionary Fund’s spring campaign will come from the Committee’s budget. The Committee has been discussing the establishment of a Book Club night and expects to bring a proposal to Monthly Meeting at a future date.

Steve Olshewsky spoke on the Friends Committee on National Legislation’s campaign to urge Congress to outlaw the manufacture, transfer, and use of cluster bombs.  Due to the need for some urgency, he requested that the Meeting endorse, in advance, a letter to be written by the Peace and Social Concerns Committee regarding this.  After some discussion, it was decided that such an exception could not be made.

Anna Grant, Sara Jocum of Providence Monthly Meeting, and several other local high school students presented a detailed and well-though-out request for the use of Whittier House on January 11 and 12, 2008, for a teach-in titled Twenty-four Hours of Education. This will be sponsored by Strath Haven Students for a Democratic Society and arises out of a need to offer an excitement and interest in learning which goes beyond what is offered in school.  The idea is to tap into the expertise and talent of adults available in the wider community on any number of specific topics. Much discussion on the specifics ensued and the request was approved.  Ruth Carey Grant and Sue Edwards will assist.  Johanna Sibbett and Paul Joyce Collins Williams will lend a hand to co-ordinate. It was noted that financial help might be obrained from the Anne Bernstein Richan Peace Action Fund

Steve Weimar and Andrea Knox presented the proposed budget for 2008 and commented on this year’s budget.  Of 2007: rental income was down by several thousand dollars and Jumble sale income was down by about $4,000. Interest and dividends were about $5,000 more than expected and some money was saved in the process of switching from full janitorial service to a cleaning service (expected to provide future savings as well). After much worry and many reminders, it appears contributions will reach the budgeted amount.  In 2008, the cleaning service will be paid out of House and Property Committee’s budget.  It was stressed that utility bills, which are paid through the college, have been surging.  There was brief discussion on the practice of increasing the Philadelphia Yearly Meeting covenant 3% each year.  This will be open for further comment next month when final budget approval is sought.  The Meeting minuted its appreciation to the Budget and Finance Committee for its hard work.

Sue Larson spoke for Chester Quarterly Meeting.  The recent session at Springfield Monthly Meeting urged Meetings to send Memorial Minutes and State of the Meeting Reports up to Quarterly Meeting. The Minute on the World Peace Tax Fund has been sent up to Philadelphia Yearly Meeting. The process of sending minutes along does not always go smoothly and needs to be looked at.  Having Quarterly Meeting, sessions on Saturday may be tried.  Whether or not Quarterly Meeting itself serves a necessary function in this day and age, when transportation is so easy, has been discussed.

Rick Harris reported for House and Property Committee.  He noted specific projects completed since a professional survey of Whittier House’s condition four-five years ago.  The Committee will continue with replacing floor tile and this might involve added expense where asbestos is present and cannot be simply covered over.  Also, the Committee will get a professional opinion on the state of the roof as to when it may need to be replaced. Such foresight will help Budget and Finance plan ahead also.

It was noted by several persons that the Meeting’s relationship with Swarthmore College has vastly improved thanks to the efforts of Ann Renninger and her college contacts.  The college has undertaken a number of improvements, not only as regards the playground, but in areas which are technically those of Meeting responsibility.  It is important to continue this harmonious relationship.

Christine DeGrado reported fro the Nominating Committee.  Bere Saxon has resigned from the Worship and Ministry Committee as has Mike Malone from Interim Meeting of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting.  Nancy Saunders will serve as Interim Clerk of our Monthly Meeting and Lois Sellers has agreed to serve as Assistant Clerk for next year.  Nomination Committee requests that committees let them know which members wish to continue beyond their terms.

Lynne Piersol updated activities of the Nursery School.

Mike Malone and others spoke on an article appearing in the December 8, 2007, Inquirer about Frank Lenik’s and Woodstown Monthly Meeting’s efforts to buy land-mine/cluster bomb detectors to donate to needy countries.  Two of these may be purchased for $1,500 with the manufacturer adding a third one free.  The normal retail price is $1,000 each. They are commonly used by surveyors to detect underground cables.  Hope was expressed that assistance be given to this project individually, through the Meeting as a whole and/or the Peace and Social concerns Committee.  Donations may be sent to The Deming Initiative, c/o Woodstown Monthly Meeting, Woodstown NJ 08098. Further information is available at http://go.philly.com/schonstedt. 

After a few moments of silent worship, the Meeting for Business was adjourned.

Submitted by Leslie Keighton, Recording Clerk

Introduction to Quakerism

The Worship and Ministry Committee is sponsoring an “Introduction to Quakerism” series, suitable for anyone interested in a greater understanding of Quakerism.  This nine part series runs from 8:45 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. usually on the third Sunday mornings and will be led by our own Swarthmore Meeting members. This series is for students, new attenders, Meeting members, ongoing attenders, and community residents We simply ask that you register in advance, through the Meeting Office, so we can have coffee and goodies ready.  Registered or not, please attend. The entire schedule is listed below:

Swarthmore Friends Nursery School Open House

The Open House for prospective families will be held on Wednesday, January 23, 2008, from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. If you have a child who will be three years or older by January 31, 2009, (or you know someone else who does), please join us to learn about the wonderful environment at Swarthmore Friends Nursery School

Meeting Forum Program Scheduled

On Sunday, January 20, 2008, at 12:00 noon (note new time), in Whittier Room, Jennifer Cheung will host the Meeting Forum on her recent travels to Nicaragua.  Other fellow travelers will join her; together they will present a program on their past trip, as well as an upcoming trip in March, 2008.  Her trip, funded by our Meeting’s Anne Bernstein Richan Peace Action Fund, was the initial step in establishing an interfaith partnership with a group of Nicaraguan communities.  While Swarthmore Presbyterian Church is leading the partnership, they invite other community members to participate as well. In fact, the March trip will have primarily college students and faculty.

Assisting in the partnership is a Nicaraguan nonprofit organization, CEPAD (The Council of Protestant Churches of Nicaragua).  For the past several years CEPAD has been helping a group of seven rural communities northeast of Managua.  As part of its mission, CEPAD endeavors to teach the communities to be self-sufficient; the interfaith partnership will be with these seven communities, which in 2008 will be independent of CEPAD.

Submitted by Jennifer Cheung

Newsletter Calendar January 2008

SWARTHMORE MONTHLY MEETING

Lynne Piersol, Clerk of the Meeting; Leslie Keighton, Recording Clerk; Michael Malone, Clerk of Worship and Ministry; Stephen Weimar, Treasurer; Paul Joyce Collins Williams, Meeting Secretary