Omaha Friends Meeting

Meeting for Business

9 April 2006

 

Present:  Frank, Debbie, Marilyn, Curtis, Carol, Cynthia, Paul, Leah, Ginny, Richard, Anne, and Lynda

 

Minutes from 19 March 06 were approved.

 

Query:  none to be reviewed

 

Calendar:

                        First Day:

                                               April 16          -   Query 4 - Curtis

                                               April 23          -   PSC – Lowen Kruse to speak on

                                                                            Legislative agenda items that relate to

                                                                            Social justice issues

                                                April 30         -   Intergenerational meeting, under the

                                                                            Care of Religious Education

                                                May 7            -   Query 5 – Carol

                                                May 14          -   Continued discussion on the Book of

                                                                            Revelations – Curtis

                                                May 21          -    Business Meeting

                                              May 28           -   Discussion over Discipline Revision

                                                                            Committee’s work – Carol

                                               

                        Other:

                                                April 29         - potluck at Cynthia’s, 6:00

                                                April 30         - breakfast potluck before Meeting, 9:00    

                                                                          At Meeting House

                                                May 27           - potluck – Carol’s, 6:00

                                                July 25-30     - Yearly Meeting at Scattergood Friends School near West Branch, Iowa

                                                August 4-7    - Youth retreat, Penn Valley – talk to

                                                                          Debbie

                                                August 19     - Paint-a-thon

 

            Treasurer’s Report

            The report was approved.

            The treasurer has been asked to send out reports of individual’s donations for each year by January 31st for tax purposes.

 

Peace and Social Concerns Committee Report:

            The Day House has been expecting a decrease in the homeless population visiting for it meals because of the area being developed by Creighton.  Numbers have remained consistent, however, if not increased.  It is not known how much Hurricane Katrina has affected these numbers.

            A thank you note was sent to Maddie Fennell from OTOC.

            The FCNL priority response has  been submitted.

            During May Business Meeting, the relationship between OTOC and OFM will be addressed.   A letter has been received clarifying that a minimum of $500 from Meeting is required for voting membership dues.  In the past, individuals from Meeting have made donations to OTOC to cover this $500, with the assumption that OTOC realized that these were voices from Friends.  These donations have not been given as part of dues from the Meeting.  We have paid one-tenth of 1% up to this time.  If people from Meeting have questions or concerns on this issue, please contact our OTOC representative, Pam, with this input.

            Pam, our OTOC representative, along with Richard and Curtis, attended the OTOC delegate conference.

 

Ministry and Oversight Committee report:

Please read the comments written by Carol in the most recent email and

attached here regarding the process of queries the committee has recommended for us to try at the May query.

            Please help in obtaining donations and finding hospitality for Marshall along his walk.  This will help his needed funds for the walk.

            The Committee may be contacting Meeting individuals about making earmarked donations for Marshall’s walk.  Marshall is hoping to have clarity about his funding by April 14th.

 

Finance Committee report:

            Notarizing of the incorporation papers has been completed.  This process will be continued though technically we are incorporated through YM. We will obtain our individual incorporation status in the event we own property here in Omaha.

            Burt Kisling, treasurer of IYM,C, wrote to inform us that OFM is covered as a nonprofit by the YM by-laws.  He included a copy of the pertinent parts of those by-laws.  The letter clarified that tax reports don’t need to be filed by us since they are filed by YM when necessary.  Meanwhile, we can use the YM’s federal tax ID number.  If we wish to make tax-exempt purchases, we will need to do so in Iowa until we get a Nebraska sales tax exemption.

            Meeting approved the giving of $500 to Marshall for his walk.

 

Webmaster’s report:

            A report will be sent as a draft before the next Business Meeting.

 

Other:

1)     There will be an immigration rally at 10 A.M. at 10th and Farnam on Monday, April 10th.  OTOC is a sponsor of this event.

2)     Republican governor candidates Osborne and Nabity will be at a forum Monday, April 10 at 7PM at 1st United Methodist Church at 69th and Underwood.  It is unclear whether Heineman will attend.

3)     Committee yearly reports need to be completed for Yearly Meeting by the June Business Meeting.  Please keep that in mind for your committees arranging meetings.

4)     Starting next month, drafts of the agenda, committee reports, and the query summary are asked to be sent to Meeting individuals so they can be read before Business Meeting.  Please mark these as drafts when you send them; and please read any you receive in preparation for Business Meeting.  Also, bring several hard copies to Business Meeting.