IOWA CITY FRIENDS MEETING NEWSLETTER
First Month — January 2004

Special Events

Martin Luther King Ecumenical Event: Sunday, 18 Jan., 7:00 p.m., First Presbyterian Church, 2701 Rochester. Call Ruth Dawson (351-4823)  for information on ride-sharing.

Iowa/AFSC: Kathleen McQuillen, program Coordinator of Iowa/AFSC, will speak on Sunday, 25 Jan. following Meeting for Worship. (Lori Nelson’s presentation on the proposed Iowa Peace Center has been postponed.)

Regular Events

Worship - We gather for worship on Sundays at 10:00 a.m.

First Day School meets 15 minutes after the start of worship in an upstairs room of the meeting house.  

Ministry and Counsel normally meets on the fourth Sunday of the month at 9:00 a.m., but this month will meet on 23 Nov. at a time and place to be announced.

Potluck is held the first Sunday of the month following meeting for worship. 

Business Meeting is the second Sunday of the month following worship and snacks.

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ICFM is scheduled to volunteer for Free Lunch Program - 4th Wed. of the month at Wesley House kitchen (335-6283). Let Jean Cadoret (644-2746) know when you can help prep, serve, clean up. Contact Rebecca Rosenbaum (337-5187) if you can help with clean-up for Free Lunch, or drop in between 12:00 & 1:30.

We are aware that some who attend meeting are allergic to perfume, so we are asking folks not to wear it to meeting.

Meeting for Business

First Month 2004 (11 January)

Present: Anna Bradshaw, Kate Cowles, Jeff Cox, Ruth Dawson, Dorothy Rogers

I Committee Reports

a.       No treasurer’s report this month.  There will be one next month.  Possibly dues for CRC needs discussed.  Ruth will discuss with Perry.

b.      Ministry & Counsel.  Did not meet this month.

c.       Peace & Social Concerns, no report.

d.      Building and grounds: We have chosen Quality Care for tree trimming.  Next project appears to be new windows or window repair.  Any comments about the state of the house direct to Jeff Cox.

II Scheduling for Upcoming Speakers

Two individuals have volunteered to come and present to the meeting:

(1)   Noreen Gingerich’s daughter, Charlotte, has prepared paintings about Columbia.  Noreen asked if the meeting would be willing to display the paintings and have Noreen come and present about the artwork.  Decided to ask Noreen to come 2/1/04 and then the meeting will continue to display the art through the month of February.  It was decided Kate will contact Noreen and invite her to come.  Backup date the third Sunday in February.

(2)   Lori Nelson would like to present to the meeting about a Peace Center she is working on.  It was decided Lori will be invited to speak the fourth Sunday in January. [This has since been postponed.]

III.  Shelter House and Consultation of Religious Communities update

Ruth Dawson reported on current project of Consultation of Religious Communities working to take care of overflow of 15-20 individuals from Shelter House.

[See below for the list of participating churches.]

The Consultation is hoping to have overflow go to the same location for one week. Each church may have its own rules, but these rules must be within the parameters of Shelter House. Insurance coverage will be arranged by each individual host site.  The host location will need kitchen and bath facilities, but will not need showers as individuals can return to Shelter House for showers.

The project will involve needs for volunteers at several stages: transportation of overflow individuals from Shelter House to the church location.  Host facility will have use of cots and sleep sacks.  Those will be transported to location, as needed. The project will need a core of volunteers (perhaps 3) who can be available to work on a regular basis for overnight duty.  In the city a plan being worked out about policing and training sessions for volunteers. The police will have a schedule and know where the overflow individuals are staying.

Ruth distributed commitment forms with various volunteer needs: (1) help transport homeless persons (2) staff the shelter along with other volunteers one or more nights a month (3) work on the logistics of having cots, clean bedding etc. at the site. (4) call; and organize volunteers (5) help provide breakfast once or more per month.  These sheets can be filled out and returned to Ruth who will get it to the proper person.

For further information or to volunteer, contact Ruth Dawson (351-4823).

IV.  Announcements:

(1)   Volunteers are needed for First Day School.

(2)   Quinn Dilkes would like to purchase a children’s book about conscientious objection.  It was approved that Quinn purchase the book.  We would encourage members of the meeting to contribute a small amount to the library fund as this purchase is above and beyond the budget.

Churches Housing Shelter House Overflow

Feb 1-7                      First United Methodist Church

Feb 8-14                    St. Mark's United Methodist Church

Feb 15-21                  Trinity Episcopal

Feb 22-28                  First Christian Church

Feb 29-Mar 6            Congregational UCC

Mar 7-13                    St. Thomas More

Mar 14-20                  Gloria Dei Lutheran Church

Mar 21-27                  Old Brick

Iowa City Friends Meeting

311 N. Linn St.

Iowa City, IA 52245

(319) 351-2234

iowacityfriends@hotmail.com

Clerks: Kate Cowles, Anna Bradshaw

Recording Clerk: Tim Shipe

Treasurer:   Perry Howell

Newsletter: Editor:  Tim Shipe  (Please send news to Tim at moonship@ia.net with a subject line of "Friends' newsletter."). If you're currently receiving this newsletter in print form (via U.S. mail or by picking it up at meeting), but would prefer to receive it electronically, please forward your e-mail address to Tim.