Swarthmore Friends Meeting

Swarthmore, Pennsylvania

Queries on Stewardship of the Environment

Addressed to the Meeting:

• Is the Meeting concerned that human interaction with nature be responsible, guided by a reverence for life and a sense of the splendor of God’s continuing creation? 

• Are the decisions of the Meeting and its Committees relating to the uses of property, goods and services, and energy made with sensitivity toward the environmental impact of these choices? 

• How does our Meeting learn about environmental concerns and then act in the community on its concerns? 

  Addressed to the individual:

• How am I helping to develop a social, economic, and political system which will nurture an environment which sustains and enriches life for all? 

• Am I aware of the place of water, air and soil in my life?

• Do I consider with care the necessity of purchasing substances hazardous to the environment?

• Do I act as a faithful steward of the environment in the use and disposal of such hazardous substances? 

• Do I choose with care the use of technology and devices that truly simplify and add quality to my life without adding an undue burden to essential resources? 

from Philadelphia Yearly Meeting's Faith and Practice, 2002, page 213

Partial Draft Minutes of Swarthmore Monthly Meeting for Business held Sunday, April 10, 2011

The Meeting opened after a few moments of silent worship. Christine DeGrado, Clerk, presided. Seventeen people were present. Several “Moments of Light” were noted:

1) A thank you letter from Sabrea Lockert was read. She belongs to the Chester Children’s Chorus and was the recipient of the upright piano that used to be in the FDS hallway.

2) The Meeting would like to especially thank Sue Edwards, Shelley Costa, and David Henderson for their work prior to and during the Environmental Fair at Strath Haven High School , April 9.  

A special Query on approaching Meeting for Business as “Meeting for Worship with Attention to Business” was read, contemplated and spoken to. The Clerk expressed appreciation for the feedback received. It was expressed that although one might hold very strong opinions, these should be voiced in a manner free of tension. One should be open to the possibility of modifying one’s views as another speaker makes his or her points. One should look upon Meeting for Business as an opportunity to enhance one’s spiritual fulfillment. 

 Minutes of the previous Meeting were perused: “Will Starr” should read “Nico Starr” in the comments on “Moments of Light.” Slight clarification was made in the Minute of Support for Sue Edwards. With these corrections, the Minutes were approved. 

Frank Costello reported for Budget and Finance Committee: In view of the Committee’s decision to change the Meeting’s fiscal year, Committees still have time to submit budget requests. A slight push for donations is planned for June (usually about three-fourths of the donations come in toward the end of the fiscal year). One Friend pointed out that June is also the time when Yearly Meeting is making its year-end appeal and it expects a serious shortfall this year. Others noted that June is also the time when members are asked to donate to the Meeting’s Discretionary Fund. Although Budget and Finance is anxious to make the change to a July to June Fiscal Year, they expressed a willingness to wait until July of 2012. This postponement was agreed upon and the Discretionary Fund Appeal will continue this year at its usual time, and will include encouragement about giving to the Meeting on-line. In the future, the Discretionary Fund drive may be done at a different time. In general, Budget and Finance is try ting to encourage that donations be given on-line and spread out throughout the year. 

 Susan Larson reported for Care and Counsel  Committee: Members of the Committee have met with Ruth Reynolds and heartily recommend her for membership. As is customary, this will be held over until next month when a Welcoming committee will be formed. The Coffee Hour on Easter Sunday, April 24, will be in honor of our new members Joan Urban, Marilyn Simmel, and Richard Monari. Flo Lewis would like to hold a small Meeting for Worship in her home – for about ten people. A few Friends present expressed a desire to attend. Susan will contact Flo about the time and date. Approved. 

 Shelley Costa reported for Peace and Social Concerns Committee: The screening of the film “Gasland” and the subsequent panel discussion at the College were very successful. The Committee has been able to broaden its contact list to include a number of students; the students are exploring the establishment of their own group on campus to oppose fracking. The “Home as a Sacred Space” program has had several sessions. $105 has been raised for the Meeting in that there are three more participants than anticipated. A list of several charities for the Discretionary Fund Appeal will be decided on in May. Suggestions are welcomed. Sue Edwards spoke briefly on her lobbying trip to Washington , where she visited our Representatives in conjunction with staff of the FCNL. She found the experience rewarding, both politically and on a personal level. 

 Sue Edwards reported for Worship and Ministry Committee: She noted the William Penn Lecture on class distinctions given by Paul Lacey. About 16 or 17 from our Meeting helped out at the Environmental Fair at Strath Haven High School . Valuable new relationships were formed. A flyer on “Quakers and the Environment,” prepared by Sue, was distributed at the fair. It related Quaker Testimony and history to environmental issues. Pendle Hill pamphlets “Integrity, Ecology, and Community: The Motion of Love” by Jennie M. Radcliffe (# 403) and “Answering the Call to Heal the World” by Patience A. Schenck (# 383) were recommended in this regard also. The Meeting minuted its appreciation to all who helped out. On May 8, Meeting for Worship will be held in Whittier Room, to extend the more intimate feeling known during the summer.

 Christine DeGrado presented a new draft policy with regard to selling on Meeting premises. Several points were clarified and the policy approved. “People who wish to sell things to the Meeting community on Meeting premises are asked to first seek the approval of Meeting for Business. If the money raised is to be donated to a cause, it is expected that the cause be consistent with Friends’ values. Individuals who profit from their sale of goods to the Meeting community on Meeting premises are expected to donate a portion of their proceeds to the Meeting. (Sales of items at Meeting-sponsored events, such as books sold by an invited speaker or CD’s sold at a Meeting-sponsored concert, are understood to have implicit approval through the Meeting’s sponsorship.)” 

 Lynne Piersol reported for Interim Meeting: Due to its financial troubles, Yearly Meeting will need to make very serious cuts. Investments are down and the contingency money is not available in that deficits in previous years have required their use. The Young Friends and Eco Justice Coordinator positions will be eliminated. The programs will remain, as will various working groups. Yearly Meeting does have other funds but these are restricted - e.g. for education or for the elderly.  Only about 10% of the Yearly Meeting’s 10,000 members contributeto the Annual Fund. For Swarthmore Meeting, the figure is 8.46%. 

 The Clerk reminded those present of grants available from the T. Wister Fund. These grants aid teachers in primary and secondary education or those entering the education field in working for advanced degrees.

 After a short period of silent worship, the Meeting adjourned. 

  Submitted by Leslie Keighton, Recorder

General Swarthmore Meeting Announcements

Thank You Corner

Thanks to:

• Susan Larson, who donated the beautiful color print of the Meeting House, now hanging in the Meeting Office.

• David Henderson and Sue Edwards for representing SMM in the planning of the very successful Delco Environmental Fair on Saturday, April 9.

• Heather Hendry for designing an excellent, eye-catching ad that appeared in two issues of the March Swarthmorean, thereby helping ensure a large turnout for Peace & Social Concern’s March 18 “Gasland” screening and panel discussion.

• Paul Greene for organizing “Quaker Quick Notes” often during March and April. 

• And to others who serve the Meeting in silent and unacknowledged ways. 

New Meeting Directory Updates

We are getting ready to issue the 2011 edition of the Meeting Directory. If you have moved, or have a new phone number or e-mail address, please let the Meeting Office know, so we can update our database, and make the new directory as accurate as possible.  Please email changes to  [email protected] 

Meeting Aids Environmental Fair

Our Meeting was a partner in a very successful Delco Environmental Fair held at Strath Haven High School on April 9, 2011, and seventeen of our members/attenders volunteered in the planning or on the day of the fair. From our Meeting, David Henderson and Sue Edwards participated in the organizing committee, which took the name "Earth Care Council." Volunteers included Shelley Costa and Rich Schiffer, who devised a clever children's scavenger hunt and made prizes from recycled materials as well as an environmental caretaker commitment scroll to sign; Barbara BurgerLentz, Susan Larson, Catherine King, Bere Saxon, Maureen McHugh, Bob Carey, Chris Mulford, Olga Wright, Robert Turner, Pat Thomas, Jen Elam, Kathy Florentz, and Barbara Blake. A leading role was played by the Swarthmore Presbyterian Church, which had organized a similar fair on their premises in 2010. Other partners were the boroughs of Swarthmore, Rutledge, and Rose Valley , as well as Nether Providence Township . Approximately 600 people attended the fair, in part drawn by the presence of speaker Mike McGrath of NPR's "You Bet Your Garden" radio program. Those who attended could browse among almost 30 exhibitors and learn about environmentally friendly ways to garden, decrease their home's "carbon footprint," obtain renewable electricity, etc. The planning for the 2012 fair is already beginning, and the Earth Care Council is looking for people to join them and share ideas for making it even more creative next year. (Can we get the "Car Guys" and have electric cars to check out?) Please consider offering your enthusiasm and commitment! There will be a planning meeting on June 6. Please let Sue or David, or the Mary in the Meeting Office, know if you are interested in getting involved. 

Bird Walk is May 1, at 8:00 a.m.

• Are you planning to come? I know I am! 

• You need not bring a pair of binoculars 

• Nor know the local bird vernacular. 

• Birds may be there, or they may not. 

• It might be cold, it might be hot. 

• But rain or shine we will hike around 

• Looking up, and looking down. 

• A glimpse of feather, the rustle of wing 

• (We’re sure to hear a robin sing.) 

• Then back to Meeting we will tread 

• To gather with others to break bread. 

• We’ll return to Rushmore Room to eat. 

• And chat with others that we meet. 

• For those of us who do not walk 

• Will be anxious to hear the birders talk. 

• At 9:00 a.m. we will all eat together. 

• Let’s hope for wonderful, bird-walking weather.

May 22 - Last day of First Day School, 2011

Our Meeting community will be recognizing our young members from fourth, eighth and twelfth grades on May 22, as they transition on to the next phase of their lives. There will be regular First Day School classes, and Meeting for Worship. At the end of Meeting, students will be presented with a book to commemorate their completion of elementary, middle or high school. The following students will be recognized: David Rockwell… fourth grade; Megan Rockwell and Laura Schell… eighth grade; and Nick Cheung, Celeste Golub, and Harrison Schell… high school seniors. Refreshments will follow in Whittier Room. If there are other young people who should be on this list, please inform a First Day School Committee member. We don’t want to miss anyone. 

Seeking Ideas for The Two-for-One Campaign

The Discretionary Fund Working Group seeks ideas of organizations, foundations and funds for our 2011 2-for-1 campaign. Every year we have a table for donations to selected organizations after the rise of Meeting. Donations by members and attenders are matched by the Discretionary Fund, doubling their impact. The working group seeks ideas by May 15. Feel free to suggest local, national, international, Quaker, or non-Quaker organizations. We will select 3-5 organizations, and our 2011 campaign will begin on June 1. Share your ideas with any member of the working group: Shelley Costa, Mac Hoffman, Sue Larson, and Paul Greene

    Submitted by Paul Greene, Peace & Social Concerns Committee 

Jumble News 

This April I took a great workshop called “Home as a Sacred Space”. With the help of our workshop leader, Professional Organizer, Annette Reyman, we looked at our homes, our schedules and our “files” to see if our homes and our stuff really reflected ourselves. I discovered I hold onto things because I have loaded them with the emotional weight of memories and obligation. No wonder I couldn’t get rid of things, I have made them too heavy! We also examined the possibility of holding onto things we don’t need or want because they are “too nice” to giveaway. Are you holding onto things that do not reflect your life?! Are other people’s treasures hidden in your basement? Do you simply have too much stuff? Jumble may be your answer. Remember Jumble helps families afford things they normally would not be able to have. That tray you bought but never used has expended its value to you sitting in the closet, but to a Jumble family it could be the center piece of a new family tradition. Bring new life to your stuff, donate to Jumble. Bring new life to yourself by eliminating burdensome clutter, donate to Jumble. Jumble Spring Drop-Off Saturday, May 14th 10am-2pm 

Other important Jumble Notes & Needs: 

• Jumble Committee Meeting – before Meeting for Worship Sunday, May 1st, 8:30-9:30 a,m., Rushmore Room. 

• Jumble needs a pickup truck (literally). If you know anyone with a pickup truck Jumblers can use for short “grab & go” missions, please call Barb.

• Prepare early for Silent Auction – What can you auction off? This winter Christine and Nancy ’s Moroccan dinner left 6 lucky guests in a blissful tajine trance. This year I expect bidding collectives to vie for this treat (6 people, $20 each, the service alone is worth this much). What service or event can you add to the silent auction this year! Remember, Jumble helps turn effort into dollars for the Meeting! 

• New Jumblers welcome – come to our Committee meeting May 1, before Meeting for Worship. 

• COMING SOON: Swarthmore Friends Meeting Jumble “Facebook” page! 

Check for Cooking for the Homeless 

The Meeting has received a check from Church World Services representing a portion of the income raised by the 2010 Swarthmore-Wallingford CROP Walk. The money will go to help support our Cooking for the Homeless program. Many thanks to everyone who participated in the CROP Walk. 

 Care and Counsel Corner

A Warm welcome to Joan Urban, who recently joined our Meeting. Joan grew up on Princeton Avenue in Swarthmore, where her father was a religious professor at the college. After graduating from Princeton, she earned a Masters degree from Northwestern and a doctoral degree in child development and clinical psychology at the University of Minnesota . After a stint in Chicago , she returned to Swarthmore and the home where she grew up. She is the school psychologist at Interboro High School . Joan is the proud mother of Nathan, a teenager, who is a junior member of the Episcopal Church. He is a great help at our Jumble sale, known to Mary Mangelsdorf as “my Man Nathan.” Joan loves to garden, hike and sail. She is interested in Environmental Issues and greening her homestead and lifestyle to adjust to the demands of our changing world. Welcome Joan! 

 A Warm welcome to Marilyn Simmel, who recently transferred to our Meeting. Marilyn was born and raised in  California . As a child she attended Christian Science Sunday School and then as an older adult she became a Quaker in California . When moving to Philadelphia she joined Media Monthly Meeting and after living here for a while, she began to look for a more perfect Meeting fit and chose Swarthmore Monthly Meeting. Since she lives in West Philadelphia , Swarthmore is more easily accessible by public transportation. She takes the first train out of Philly Sunday mornings (another option is three buses). For the PYM, Marilyn volunteers at the Library and serves on the Indian Committee and Legacy Committee. She enjoys history and reading. Marilyn’s 4 children are spread out, living in San Jose CA , Brooklyn NY and Clearwater FL. Welcome Marilyn! 

    Submitted by Mary Lou Parker , for Care and Counsel Committee

Adult Religious Education Series

May 29 - Meeting member, Dan Hoffman, will share his Spiritual Journey with us. Please join Dan in Whittier Room at 11:45 a.m. 

June 5 - Christopher Densmore, curator of Friends Historical Library at Swarthmore College , will speak at an adult religious education forum sponsored by the Worship & Ministry Committee on Sunday, June 5, from 11:45 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. His topic will be: "Mind the Light: Thoughts on Swarthmore College as a Quaker Institution and Swarthmore College as an Institution with Quaker Values.” 

  Philadelphia Yearly Meeting Annual Fund

As many of you know, the “covenant” that Monthly Meetings give PYM is only part of its budget. PYM also counts on individual contributions to the Annual Fund. The covenants and the Annual fund are a large portion of the  budget for programs which are not covered by PYM’s restricted funds. Some of these programs include library services, curriculums and consultations for our First Day School , as well as vibrant programs for Adult Young Friends, and Middle and High School Friends. As of March 31, only 8.5% of Swarthmore Meeting members had given to the Annual Fund. The deadline is June 30. Please give what you can. It is now possible to give online at the PYM Website http://archive.pym.org/pm/pym_don.php

Submitted by Lynne Piersol 

 Peace and Social Concern’s Annual Community Forums

On Friday, March 18th, Peace & Social Concerns (PSC) hosted an evening screening of the documentary Gasland followed by a panel discussion on the many issues the film raises. About 60 people attended the screening and 45 attended a lively panel discussion. Panelists were (left to right in photo) Thurm Brendlinger of the Clean Air Council, Carr Everbach of Swarthmore College's sustainability committee and Environmental Studies program, and Bruce Grant, Meeting member and Professor of Ecology at Widener University. The PSC event, which took place on the campus of Swarthmore College , was organized to dovetail with three other screenings over the weekend by a student environmental organization and the campus appearance on Monday, March 21, of Gasland filmmaker Josh Fox. The filmmaker's appearance helped to galvanize motivated Swarthmore students to start an active antifracking group. PSC maintains contact with this group as well as with several other relevant organizations. For further information on fracking (hydraulic fracturing) and what can be done about it, feel free to contact a PSC member. We still have available bumper stickers we developed for the occasion with the message "Save our water: Take action on fracking!" The Gasland screening and panel discussion was PSC's 3rd annual Community Forum. Previous events in this series include a 2010 talk by Suraya Pakzad, the Afghan women's rights activist, and a 2011 presentation by environmental activist Hollister Knowlton. 

 James Leland Malone Dies 

Former Swarthmore Meeting member, James Leland Malone, died at Kendall , April 12, 2011. James was born in East Texas and was a Professor of Engineering at the University of Pennsylvania . He wrote an FGC booklet, entitled "The Wounded Meeting." His Meeting messages were often Bible-based, and he called himself "Brother Jim." He was the husband of the late Ruth Edgar Malone and father of Molly Malone Chesney, Kathy Malone and Jim Malone Jr. He was the grandfather of Sarah Jane, Molly Sue, Sam and Jessica; and brother of William A. Malone. The Memorial Service will be Saturday, May 14 at 2:00 p.m., at Kendall at Longwood. 

 Education for Ministry 

The School of Theology of the University of the South, in Sewanee , TN , has developed a program for local study groups called “Education for Ministry.” Each local group or seminar consists of about 12 people and runs for four years. The local group meets weekly during the academic year. Each year we study one subject: Old Testament, New Testament, Church history and contemporary theological issues and problems. I have found this program interesting, challenging, deeply rewarding and spiritual enriching. The local group with which I study meets at Trinity Church on Sunday evenings and we are looking for six (6) new participates to start in the Fall of 2011. Please, contact me if you would like more information. 

 Member Announcements 

1. Nancy Saunders, who has recently taken up the harp, has had an article accepted into the “Folk Harp Journal.” The title of her article is “Learning to Learn to Play the Harp: Confessions of a Mature Beginner”. 

2. In conjunction with the New York Shogi (Japanese chess) club, Alan Baker hosted the U.S. Shogi Championship from April 1-3 on the Swarthmore College campus. This was the first time the championship has been hosted at the college. It drew dozens of competitors, including professional Shogi players from Japan . Alan also competed in the tournament, which he has previously won. 

Wider News from Friends

Philadelphia Yearly Meeting  (PYM) News

 Due to the length of this newsletter, the news for May events is greatly shortened. To view PYM News in its entirety, go to www.pym.org. for a complete list of activities

1. "Inspired Pasta & Courageous Conversation" – May 15, 2011. Providence Friends Meeting. Featured speaker: Dr. Amanda Kamp ("Theater for Transformation"). Come to share the sources of our inspiration: a person, a place, an idea, an event. "Inspired Pasta & Courageous Conversation" is a series of talks at Providence Friends Meeting ( Media , PA ). Pasta Lunch at 12:30 p.m., followed by Courageous Conversation at 1:00 p.m. For more information visit: http://providencemeeting.org/pasta-peace/ Sponsored by the MM Peace & Social Action Committee. 

2. Workshop on The Beatitudes at Middletown Meeting – May 21 (Saturday; 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.). Continuing the focus on deepening Quaker spirituality in our meetings, Middletown Meeting in Lima will present, The Beatitudes: Are They Present in our Lives Today? The workshop will be held on May 21, at the Meetinghouse in Lima ,  Delaware County, PA, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Panelists include Doug Gwyn, Mary Frances Moehlman, and Martin Kelley. Lunch and child care with advance registration. For more information or to register contact: Rich Ailes at [email protected]

Upcoming Programs at Pendle Hill

Pendle Hill, a Quaker study, retreat, and conference center in Wallingford, Pennsylvania, offers programs throughout the year on Quaker faith and practice. Matching scholarships and bring-a-friend discounts are available for most programs to help enable Friends to attend. For more information visit www.pendlehill.org  or call ext. 3 at (610) 566-4507 or (800) 742-3150. 

May 6-8, Washed in Light by Tender Hands,  a weekend of deep body and soul rest. Facilitated by John Calvi.

May 6-8, Honoring the Sacred Feminine Within, A Mother's Day weekend, facilitated by Peggy O'Neill

May 13-15, The Ancestors are Calling on You, Spiritual Resources for Living Life Powerfully, facilitated b Amanda Kemp.

May 13-15, Journaling as Meditation, from the blank page to the Divine, facilitated by Iris Graville

May 13-15, Intentional Living and Mindful Dying, envisioning a Quaker Way of Living and Dying, facilitated by Connie McPeak Green

.May 20-22, Lives of Service, a working retreat, facilitated by Lloyd Guindon

May 27-29, What's Happening at the Clerks' Table?, facilitated by Beckey Phipps and Judy Purvis

Newsletter Calendar for May, 2011

SWARTHMORE MONTHLY MEETING

Christine DeGrado, Clerk of Meeting; Leslie Keighton, Recording Clerk;  Stephen Weimar, Treasurer; Susan Edwards, Clerk of Worship and Ministry Committee; Mary Titus, Meeting Secretary

Office hours: Tuesday though Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Telephone: (610) 328-8699; email: [email protected], website: http://swarthmore.quaker.org