Omaha Friends Meeting

Meeting for Business

20 May 2007

Present: Debbie, Carol, Frank, Lynda

Minutes  from April 29 were read and approved.

Query: Query 4 response was approved with slight changes. 

The meeting agreed that finding a way to share our problems and concerns and questions with the meeting for discernment would be a helpful way for us to deepen our relationships with one another. For example, Curtis shared his leading to write publicly about the war in Iraq and other potentially controversial issues and his concern that this would have a negative impact on his career. Others expressed similar dilemmas.

Pam expressed how much it meant for Curtis to call and ask if she was feeling better, after she had expressed that she had not been feeling well.

We need to ignore some differences that are not important, but when something is important we need to address it.  Some issues need to be dealt with one to one or with a clearness committee. Some people feel that there is an underlying tension, reflected in the fact that many visitors and former attenders do not continue to attend.

Several mentioned that we need caution in how we express our liberal attitudes, making sure we express our viewpoints in a way that is loving, rather than judgmental.

We need to forgive ourselves, first, and to approach problems with humility.

Calendar:

                        First Day:

                                    May 27     -      Intergenerational/games         

                                    June 3       -      discussion on membership

                                    June 10     -      Business Meeting - reports for

                                                                        YM due

                                    June 17     -      discussion on Incorporation,

                                                             and of OTOC - Ginny

                                    June 24     -      Query 6 - Carol

Other:

June 1    -   Ananda's & Jeff's wedding

June 1-3 - Great Plains Yearly Meeting in Hominy

                        OK

June 22-24 - Family Camp at Scattergood

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

Peace and Social Concerns Committee Report:

Ginny will lead a discussion on the rationale of supporting OTOC on June 17.

Finance Committee report:

We will hear about Mike O’Bradovich’s recommendations on June 17.

Treasurer's report:

Lynda read the treasurer’s report. She noted that we need about $850 in contributions in the next month to cover scheduled expenditures, including the Iowa Yearly Meeting apportionment. Since it is time to buy new checks from the credit union, it would be a good time for anyone who has a problem with our credit union to bring it up so that a change could be made before the new checks are purchased. The report was approved. We agreed that if there is not enough money we would pay the Yearly Meeting apportionment before other obligations are met.

Religious Education:

The clerks will meet  as soon as practical with the youth to explain the guidelines established at a past Business Meeting.

Other:

Lynda requested that if there is business to be done by someone who is not at Meeting that they be informed by telephone of action they are supposed to take.  Meeting agreed to try to do this.

Lynda has reservations about a decision to e-mail financial reports which was made at the previous Business Meeting.  She was uncomfortable with the process since the decision was made when she was not present knowing she had an opinion about it.  Lynda does not feel able to comply with it personally, at least until the matter is brought up at Meeting for Business in June.  Until then, the printed report can be scanned and distributed electronically in that form.

Lynda will call Marilyn Mantel-Guss offering the contents of the sufferings fund to her, and will send the money if she requests it.

Des Moines Valley Meeting requested contributions to help them cover the costs of a geothermal heating and cooling unit. The Meeting does not currently have funds to cover this.  If anyone wishes to contribute to this cause, you can contribute with an earmarked donation through our treasurer or send it directly to Des Moines Valley Friends.

AFSC requested that we become local coordinators for a Nebraska Eyes Wide Open exhibit. This would involve considerable cost, storage space, and time. Though we would like to support this effort, those of us present do not feel that we have the personal energy, money or storage space at this time. Debbie will contact Nebraskans for Peace to see if they are interested in supporting this effort.

Debbie suggested changing our fiscal year to match the Yearly Meetingís fiscal year. This would mean that we have to get our new officers and committees approved at the June meeting for business.  A decision was not made

Yearly Meeting preparations (reports to be approved at June Meeting for Businesss):

The Clerks will prepare a recorder’s report.

Debbie will call Curtis regarding the religious education report.

We have no library committee and do not plan to make a report.

Ginny has been contacted regarding the P&SC report.

Debbie will assemble the query responses.

Lynda will take care of the Yearly Meeting apportionment as funds become available.

Debbie will contact Marshall regarding the State of the Meeting report since M&O usually writes this for approval at the June meeting.

In June we will appoint representatives, caretakers and nominating committee representatives.