Omaha Friends Meeting

Meeting for Business

17 September 2006

Present:  Frank, Debbie, Lynda, Ed, Jon, Carol, Claire, Marshall, and Ginny

Minutes from 8 August were read and approved.

Query:  Query 9  on civic responsibility, as written below,  was read and approved.

Laws are for the common good.  Laws can be changed or fine tuned by working within the system.  Being involved by being educated about issues and by challenging the status quo is good.  Lead change by working out inner leadings in action and offering choices for change.

Calendar:

                   First Day:

                             Sept 24   -  Discussion over Discipline Revision –  Carol

                             Oct 1       -  Query 10 – Carol or CurtisOct 8       -  discussion on our Meeting's environmental responsibility – Curtis or Ginny

                             Oct 15     -  Meeting for Business

                             Oct 22     -  Intergenerational Meeting – Religious Ed

                             Oct 29     -  Discussion over Discipline Revision –   Carol

                   Other:

Oct 13-15- Meadowlarks (singing) at Callie's near Solon, Iowa – see Carol

Oct 14     -  Nebraskans for Peace Annual Meeting

                  In Grand Island – Senator Chambers is keynote speaker

Oct 21     -   potluck at Ginny's, 6:30

Oct 28-29-   youth retreat at Ames – see Debbie

                                    July 26-31-  Yearly Meeting at Scattergood Friends School near West Branch, Iowa

Peace and Social Concerns Committee Report:

          Please come paint.  Materials are on the porch over the garage at  4347 Camden, so you can go on your own free time.  You can call Jim, also, to check for updates.  Watch for an email of immediate plans and Jim's phone number.  A bit of high work with the main body yellow remains, as well as most the trim which is in a light brown, and the north and east foundations in green.  The task needs to be completed before it gets too cold for the paint.  The suggestion was made that if the trim were red, we'd have a «condiment» house.

Ministry and Oversight Committee report:

          The following minutes were read and approved:

The committee met this month and discussed several topics, including the meeting's discussions of the queries, our worship together, and our sense of love for one another.  We also agreed to offer Robyn Fife-Griffith the assistance of the meeting in his efforts to obtain conscientious objector status.   We also discussed the well-being of individual members and what assistance they might need.

We think it is important that the meeting allow the treasurer to reimburse Marshall's walk expenses in a timely manner using the money that was raised for that purpose.  Marshall's expense reports have been regularly reviewed by his oversight committee via email, and this should continue to happen if there are more expenses.

          The Committee has been asked to discuss the process of following  up with visitors.   How much does that overlap what the clerk has been doing?

Religious Education report:

          The following minutes were read and approved with minor changes.

After some discussion with all the teenagers, the RE committee met 9/10/2006  to talk about their program. 

The teens requested that their second hour time go back to being unstructured.  They agreed not to watch television or play video or computer games, but to use the time to socialize with each other, play games, or go outdoors.  The committee decided to recommend that the meeting approve this suggestion. 

Curtis and Carol are taking turns leading the teens (who are currently studying the curriculum “A Quaker Reponse to Christian Fundamentalism”), while Pam and Carol share responsibility for Vivian Rose Norval (who is beginning the FGC curriculum Doctor Suess for First Day Schools), when she attends.

In October the teens will take some time to plan an intergenerational activity since this is a five-Sunday month.  Other activities requested by the teens and approved by the religious education committee include current events (possibly including Tom Fox or other Friends), Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism, and Quaker curricula.

Meeting approved a trial period of the next month for the request by the teens for freeing up Second Hour.  The Committee will talk with the teens about the best way for them to assure their space is cleaned before folks go home. 

          Marshall will address the summary of the teen’s query nine discussion with them.  Meeting appreciates the teens’ input and ideas and is looking for clarity in the written summary.  This is learning a new skill, so there is need for the adults’ to guide our youth in how to do it.

          There is a need for another adult to teach First Day School.

          The adults are encouraged to drop into the youth’s space to express interest in them.

          There has not been a report on the idea of Bibles given to the youth.

Treasurer and Finance Committee report:

          The proposed budget was approved.  We appreciate the work of the committee in the thought that went into this report.

          If other funds are needed besides what is in the budget, such as to support Yearly Meeting representatives from our Monthly Meeting, those funds will be listed as unscheduled contributions.

          Marshall provided receipts for $3265.54.  It was approved to give him the total left in that account, $3407.08.  The difference is regarded as financial assistance  while he has been searching for a new job since returning from his trip to Baltimore Yearly Meeting.

          It was approved to pay Ginny $21.72 for copies for the incorporation discussion.

          The treasurer would appreciate a discussion in November regarding which expenses need to be approved before checks are written.

          There is not clarity on how much is to be sent to OTOC other than our expected percent which comes to $6.40.

Other:

          A Nominating Committee includes Carol, Debbie, and Ginny.  They will be contacting youth and adults to see how folks are led to serve Meeting by committee work.

          The bylaws have been drafted for Meeting's incorporation.  Those and the Articles of Incorporation will be delivered to Michael O'Bradovich, an Omaha attorney aware of Friends' ways.  He charges $700 for the entire process from the drafting of the Articles and filing papers, so we expect his bill for us to be less than that.  Ginny has these papers to be delivered to him.

          Buildings and Grounds, as a mental exercise, is designing a Meeting House.  It was asked whether Flying Buttresses are part of the design.