Omaha Friends Meeting

Meeting for Business

16 December 2007

Present: Nancy, Debbie, Frank, Ginny, Marshall, Bob, Denise, Pam, Denny, and Lynda

Minutes  from November 18 were approved.

Query:  No query was completed at this time.

Calendar:

                   First Day:

December 23 -    Intergenerational Christmas

                             celebration – Religious Education

                             Committee will plan

December 30 -    Query 12: Peace and Nonviolence

                             (Frank)

January       6 -    Query 1: Meeting for Worship

                             (Pam)

January      13 -   Yearly Meeting Ministry and

                             Oversight discussion

January      20 -   Business Meeting

                   Other:

                             December 27-30 -  Youth retreat in Iowa City –

                                                             contact Debbie

                             February 16   -  Meadowlarks – Ames – contact

                                                          Carol

                             April 12 – 13       -  Midyear Meeting

                             June 5-8         -    Great Plains YM (formerly NE YM)

                                                           In Central City.  Speakers:  Paul

                                                           Lacey (FCNL), Sylvia Graves

                                                           (FUM), Mary Ellen McNish

                                                           (AFSC), and Margaret Fraser

                                                           (FWCC)

                             July 29 – August 3 – Yearly Meeting

Finance Committee:

Ginny went over the audit she performed, and it was all correct.  She has suggestions on how to make it easier for Lynda to have the books understandable for future audits.

          Other:

          The membership committee for Jules met with him.  Ginny, Michael and Marshall asked him some probing questions about his faith and beliefs and why he would like to become a member.  As he answered the questions, he had clearly put a lot of thought into his faith and its relationship to Quakerism prior to meeting with the committee.  His faith is solid, and his desire to become a member is genuine.  Following the recommendation of the committee, we approve of him becoming a member.

          Lynda will get the appropriate forms to him.

          $9.00 was approved for the treasurer to purchase stamps.

          The Clergy Letter project information was given to Peace and Social Concerns Committee to consider.

          We will discuss the possibility of a budget in January.  Each committee needs to meet by then to have their input in this discussion.  It is hoped that our discussions regarding what we want for our meeting will be included in those committee discussions.

          Marshall will check with the 2 young adults from Great Plains Yearly Meeting on their availability to coming to Omaha to share their experiences and thoughts following last summer's North American Young Friends gathering.

          It was approved for Lynda to make copies of the query packet at required costs.

Meeting approved that $100 be sent to Monteverde Friends School  to be used at their discretion.  This amount will be paid after the quarterly apportionment for Yearly Meeting is sent. 

          Longtime Friend and member, Ginny, will be moving to Venice, Florida this coming week.  We will miss her presence in our meeting greatly but wish her the best in her new job and community.

Meeting closed with a period of silence.