Omaha Friends Meeting
Meeting for Business
15 October 2006
Present: Leah, Paul, Debbie, Carol, Marshall, Marilyn, and Ginny
Minutes from 17 September were read and approved.
Query: Query 10 on environmental responsibility, as written below, was read and approved.
The Meeting’s perception of environmental responsibility has become changed and more a part of our leading in our service to the community. This has been caused by one of our members having traveled by foot, when possible, from Omaha to Baltimore this past summer, observing the land and nature and people’s treatment of those assets, meeting with Friends whenever possible along the way.
After a spirited discussion of the things being done to our planet resulting in global warming, using up nonrenewable resources and poisoning of the environment, our Meeting felt a leading to investigate what could be done within our community of Friends that would make a difference. It was decided that the following week’s discussion after Meeting for Worship would be focused on what we as a community could consider taking on as the role we would play.
Calendar:
First Day:
Oct 22 - Intergenerational Meeting – Religious
Ed
Oct 29 - Discussion over Discipline Revision –
Carol
Nov. 5 - Query 11 – Carol
Nov. 12 - Environmental discussion, continued –
Ginny
Nov. 19 - Business Meeting
Nov. 26 - Discipline revision – Carol
Other:
Oct 21 - potluck at Ginny's, 6:30
Oct. 23 - OTOC forum on drivers' licensing for
non-citizens at Metro Community
College, South Campus at 2909 Ed
Babe Gomez Ave. in the Industrial
Training Center Building, Room 119,
6:30-8:30
Oct 28-29 - youth retreat at Ames – see Debbie
Nov. 18 - Thanksgiving potluck 6:00 – location
to be announced
Jan. 12-15-Midwest Annual Youth Quake –
Evanston, Illinois – see Debbie
July 26-31- Yearly Meeting at Scattergood Friends School near West Branch, Iowa
Peace and Social Concerns Committee Report:
The house is done except fo the back porch overhang. Many thanks go to Jim for doing the majority of the work. Meeting did not meet its responsibility for this project. Debbie will send in the evaluation to Brush Up Nebraska. $50 was approved to send to Jim for the supplies he bought for the work he did.
FCNL wrote that there was a 50% increase over the number of Meetings that responded to the 2004 legislative priorities discussion.
Deborah Dakin, the convener of Yearly Meetin's Peace and Social Concerns Committee notified us that if there are events or issues we wish to share with Yearling Meeting of this social justice agenda, to please notify her of those cases.
Debbie will contact Mike Palecek, an author from Sheldon, Iowa, for more information on his novel The American Dream, who has requested opportunities to discuss his book.
Ministry and Oversight Committee report:
Robin has asked for a clearness committee regarding his intent to register as a conscientious objector. Marshall will convene this committee. Carol will ask Bob to serve. Debbie will be the additional member for the committee.
Religious Education Committee report:
Following is the suggested agenda for the Intergenerational Meeting for October 22:
9:45 – 10:15 Meeting for Worship
10:15 food break
10:35 Jeopardy
11:05 prizes
11:15 hymn singing/Quaker limerick writing
11:35 radish carving
Treasurer and Finance Committee report:
The treasurer's report was presented and approved. Please note the declining balance, particularly after this month's approved expenditures. Contributions will be welcomed.
Ginny has presented the incorporation papers to Michael O'Bradovich.
Nominating Committee Report:
The following report was approved:
The Committee presents the following nominations to Meeting for consideration. Asterisked names are conveners.
Building and Grounds
Frank
Rebecca
Marilyn *
Robin
Peace and Social Concerns
Michael
Debbie
Bob
Danielle
Ginny *
Ministry and Oversight
Lynda
Marshall *
Marilyn
Carol
Religious Education
Ian
Curtis *
Jules
Pam
Finance Committee
Leah
Ginny *
Webmaster
Paul
Treasurer
Lynda
Co-clerks
Carol (lead Business Meeting and minute during)
Debbie (co-clerk Business Meeting and communications)
The Committee also makes the following suggestions to consider:
1) The co-clerks act together as a support entity for the treasurer as needed.
2) The Finance Committee becomes primarily an auditing committee. If it is approved at the October Business Meeting, that committee will convene and audit the books. Starting in 2007, the committee will conduct an audit in August, make recommendations or suggestions to the treasurer if necessary, and then report to Business Meeting in September. This report is to coincide with the budget report for the next fiscal year and to be one month prior to the report of Nominating Committee. If the treasurer wants input on the upcoming budget, it is suggested this be done with this committee.
3) Michael would like to be considered next year to be on the Nominating Committee.
Other discussion items for Meeting to consider include the making of a reference sheet with Quaker terms. Perhaps Ministry and Oversight could do this or have the youth participate in its compilation.
Other:
It was approved to send $42 to OTOC, a rounded up amount of that which was budgeted.
Peace and Social Concerns has been asked to consider alternatives for our relationship to OTOC and a rationale for each choice. This will be heard at the November Business Meeting.
Debbie asked if Meeting could assist in her attending FCNL's annual meeting in November. Yearly Meeting has budgeted $600 for its 6 representatives. Meeting approved a subsidy of $300, paid to Debbie as funds become available, and to include any additional designated amount donated by people in Meeting for this purpose.
It was felt December 30 is not a date that is amenable for many of us for the Nebraska Friends Gathering to be hosted by Lincoln Friends.
Next Business Meeting we will review the successful use of Second Hour by the youth.