FRIENDS BULLETIN

FRIENDS BULLETIN Friends Meeting at Cambridge May 2009 Friends bear witness to the operation of the Spirit of Truth in every human heart and community of faith, in every social circumstance as well as every authentic religious circumstance. Early Friends were on fire with their discovery that “Christ has come to teach his people himself” and that his teachings were a reliable guide to daily living. In our worship we bear witness to the inward presence of the Divine without the need for outward symbolic representation, or outwardly expressed sacraments, such as water baptism or bread and wine communion. We hold that the life of Christ within can be known directly; that all of life might come to be practiced as a sacrament. Silence can be an opening for Divine grace, as we work to accept Divine guidance in both our worship and business practice. - NEYM Faith and Practice Revision Committee’s Chapter 4: Integration of Faith and Life-The Meaning, Understanding, and Use of Testimonies Working Paper presented to NEYM 2008 Sessions Monthly Business Meeting in Worship: 7pm Thursday May 14 Potluck Dinner at 6pm Business Meeting in Worship will take place at Cambridge Friends School, 5 Cadbury Road, Cambridge. The tentative agenda for the May Business Meeting in Worship includes: Annual Meeting of the Cambridge Friends School Corporation (may include a discussion of on-going disbursements of scholarship monies from the Kathryn and Charles Avison and Miriam Avison Charitable Trust Fund); Nominating Committee recommendations for next year's committees, clerks, and officers. All are welcome, newcomers and old-timers! We want to make childcare available so families can attend the business meeting. If you think you will need childcare please let Bruce Steiner know a week in advance by email or phone, bsteiner@alumni.princeton.edu or 978-371-1233. We will try to meet requests that are received three or more days in advance, but it may not be possible. Forums for March: May 3 The First Day School mission statement: the beauty of multiplicity in oneness -Kathleen Kelly May 10 Cultivating a spiritual life ---in the garden -Jo Ellen Hillyer, Chris Jorgenson, and Sandy Sweetnam May 17 Seeking a Spirit-led life -Wendy Sanford May 24 Two veterans look at Memorial Day David Bonner & Severyn Bruyn May 30 My journey -Lance Drane Forums are usually guided discussions in the spirit of worship-sharing, on topics central to Quakers and FMC. They take place in the parlor from 9:30 to 10:15 am on Sundays. Childcare is provided in the nursery beginning at 9:15. We shut the parlor doors at 9:30 because of the bustle of Friends arriving. If the door is closed when you get there, please slip in and close it after you. Out of respect for the presenters, please plan to arrive by 9:30. FMC Events and News New Members Tea 11:45 a Sun, May 3 The New Members Tea will take place in the Friends Room on Sunday, May 3, at the rise of Meeting for Worship. All are invited to join in this joyful welcome to our new members. Excellent snacks will be provided! For Information, contact Anne Thompson 781-646-1634 orathompso@bates.edu What is Quakerism? What is FMC? 12:30 p Sundays, May 3, and May 17 What might the range of answers to these questions be? For how many might the answers to both questions be the same or similar; and for how many might they be different, even very different? The final two sessions of this Quakerism series are intended as opportunities for members of the FMC community, whether long-time members or newly arrived inquirers, to deepen our spiritual life and connectedness. We will consider the beliefs and practices of previous generations of Quakers and how they resonate (or perhaps don't) with our own individual spiritual experiences. Sessions will be organized around each of the following four topics: the origins, beliefs and practices of early Friends; worship and the spiritual life; Quaker organization and business practices; and the origin and meaning of Quaker testimonies (simplicity, equality, integrity, and peace). People are welcome to join in individual sessions. Page 2 FRIENDS BULLETIN May 2009 Performances featured are Fred Small (folksinger), Jim's Big Ego (3-piece rock band), Nurudafina (African drummer/storyteller), Zucon (African dancer), and chamber music. There will also be numerous children’s activities, food and beverages. There will be something entertaining for all ages!! Donations are: $30 adults on the day of event, $20 adults pre-sale (through our website), $10 for children 5-17, and all younger are free. www.cambridgefriendsschool.org or 617-354-3880. Memorial Day Weekend Family Retreat Sat, May 23 – Mon, May 25 Contact Tom Ash (617-876-1868 or fmcResident@iecc.com) for more information or to register; but please come even if you aren't able to register ahead of time. FORJ Friday 6 p Fri, May 8 Please come join us to view excerpts from the dynamic Academy Award winning documentary, “Murder on a Sunday Morning." This film tells the story of a 15-year old African American youth accused of a murder he did not commit, and the lawyers who challenged the police department. After the film, Nesto Monell, whom FORJ and Prison Fellowship have been supporting in his legal case, will help lead a discussion of the many issues raised by the film. Friends of junior high age and up are encouraged to come. A donation of $5.00 is suggested for a pizza and salad meal. There will also be an opportunity for those who wish to donate to Nesto's Defense Fund to do so. We will have pizza at 6 pm; film at 6:45 pm, and discussion/worship-sharing 7:45-8:45 pm. For more information contact: Wendy Sanford (sanfordwc@aol.com) or David Myers (davmyers@mindspring.com) Friends Walk for Peace 8:30 a Sun, May 10 Each year, a number of Friends walk together at the annual Mothers’ Walk for Peace organized by the Peace Institute in Boston. This year our high school group and a number of FDS families will join other community members on the walk. The 13th annual Mothers’ Walk for Peace will be held on Mother’s Day, May 10, 2009 and begins at Town Field Park, Dorchester. The Mothers’ Walk not only honors mothers, families and all those who have lost loved ones to violence, but also raises money to support the work of the Peace Institute. The Peace Institute works with families and close friends of homicide victims. Through curricula, trainings and practical information, the Peace Institute helps families, groups, and young people to handle trauma and grief, build non-violence and conflict resolution skills, and commit to restorative justice and sustainable peace in urban communities. This year, the Peace Institute needs to raise $200,000 to support its ongoing work. Please walk with us or support one of our walkers with a pledge. Registration forms are available online at www.louisdbrownpeaceinstitute.org or contact Kathleen Kelly at kellykathlee@gmail.com or 617-354-9167 for more info. Cambridge Friends School Music Festival 12:30 p Sat, May 16 The 8th annual FMC family retreat will be in Alfred Maine! Friends of all ages, sizes, and family groupings gather to enjoy an unprogrammed weekend of fun, festivities, and family worship (Sunday morning). Registration forms will be available closer to the date: If you think that you’d like to join us, please tell Betsy Hewitt, Shannon Guthrie, or Jennifer Lawrence (617495-8493), and we’ll add you to the list. Past retreats have included a wide variety of activities-- including swimming, kickball, face-painting, beading, water-tag, frog catching, ultimate Frisbee, bluegrass jamming, singing, hiking, and extreme relaxing. Please join in! The Compassionate Listening Project (TCLPE) Events 7 p Wed, May 6; 7 p Wed, May 20; Fri & Sat, May 29-30 On Saturday, May 16th, from 12:30-4:00, Cambridge Friends School is hosting a Music Festival to benefit the school. The festival will be held on the grounds and buildings of the Friends Meeting at Cambridge. A basic training will be given Wednesday May 6 and the advance training will be given by Leah Green, founder of TCLP, on Friday May 29 between 6-9 pm and Saturday 9 am-6 pm. Please pick up a flyer available as of this weekend; preference will be given to Members & Attenders at FMC for next two weeks. Cost on a sliding scale from $150 to $250; some partial and full scholarships available. Please contact Bruce Steiner (bsteiner@alumni.princeton.edu) or Joe Tierney (Joe_Tierney@meei.harvard.edu) to enroll or if you have questions. The compassionate Listening Project Planning Group will also meet 7 pm, Wednesday May 20. The Situation in Palestine/Israel: a talk by Leila 12:15 p Sun, May 31, 12:15 Farsakh This event is sponsored by sponsored by the IsraelPalestine working group at FMC, a subcommittee of Peace and Social Concerns, as a follow-up to a previous event featuring Diane Balser, a Jewish speaker, who encouraged participants to listen to a variety of stories, even competing and opposing stories. Ms Farsakh will discuss, among other topics, the One State Option for bringing peace and justice to the region. This is a growing perspective, not yet shared by the mainstream. Leila Farsakh, a Palestinian Muslim born in Jordan, is assistant professor of political science at the University of Massachusetts Boston. She holds a Ph.D. from the May 2009 FRIENDS BULLETIN Page 3 available. The person setting up the committee might suggest others. How are clearness committees different from support committees? A clearness committee is set up to help a Friend discern, through worshipful presence,whether a particular course of action reflects the movement of the Spirit. It is a way the community can help an individual discern God’s will for him or her. “We are reminded that each of us has an Inner Teacher who can guide us, and therefore that answers sought are within the person seeking guidance. A group of caring Friends can serve as a channel of divine guidance in drawing out that Inner Teacher.” Typical situations for the use of clearness committees are marriage, membership in the meeting, whether to divorce, testing a leading to perform a particular ministry, or making end-of-life decisions. Clearness committees generally meet once or twice, but seldom more than three times. Support committees are formed to support someone for a longer period and are not centered around a particular decision, nor do they need follow the same format. Although worship should be part of a support committee, there is more interaction that can involve practical issues in addition to spiritual ones. Exhibits Committee Announces Summer Show The theme for this summer’s pot luck show is Words & Images. As always, we welcome a wide range of interpretations that best express how the theme moves and inspires each of us. Contributions will be accepted from anyone within the meeting community with choice of media left to the artist’s discretion. Let this theme start percolating now and see if there is something to harvest by this summer. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact a member of the Exhibits Committee: Richard Wood 617-783-1928 richardwood@verizon.net George Campbell 617-527-8169 gcammbar@verizon.net Karen Carmean 617-868-7082 carmean2@yahoo.com Sylvia deMurias 617-666-1715 sdemurias@gmail.com Sara Sue Pennel l 781-861-8180 aspennel@rcn.com Marion Foster 617-876-9585 maricolbmarion33@gmail.com Please help us save paper and postage Would you be willing to download this Bulletin from our web site www.fmcQuaker.org instead of receiving a paper copy? Send your email address to fmcQuaker@iecc.com and we’ll send you a brief email each month to let you know when the new Bulletin is posted on the web site. Or, if you request it, we can email a PDF file directly to your address. University of London (2003), as well as other degrees. She has also served numerous international economic organizations. For more information about her: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leila_Farsakh>en.wikipedia. org/wiki/Leila_Farsakh For more information, please contact Skip Schiel, 617-441-7756 or skipschiel@gmail.com From Committee on Care & Support Support Committees are one of the ways we provide spiritual nurture to each other. The Committee for Care and Support recently created three documents to help educate and guide us in the practice of providing support committees. Included in the first one is some general information for those not familiar with this practice. Two other documents are available: Procedures for setting up a Support Committee (for clerks, staff, and committees) Support Committee Guidelines (for those serving on support committees). Contact Cynthia Knowles Cynthia@iecc.com for electronic copies of any of these documents. Support Committee Frequently Asked Questions What is a Support Committee? A support committee is a gathering of Friends who offer spiritual support to a community member over a period of time. Reasons for requesting a committee may include the need for support during one’s witness or ministry, recovery from a loss, illness, divorce, or parenting challenges. A support committee provides the opportunity for respectful listening, supportive interaction, and ongoing presence while seeking a sense of the Spirit in the midst of the gatherings. A support committee is not a substitute for professional services such as counseling or mediation. It traditionally consists of 3-5 Friends and meets at times arranged by the group in its first meeting. How do I get one? Speak to the Friend in Residence, the Presiding Clerk of the Meeting, the First Day School Coordinator, or a clerk of one of the following three bodies: Marriage and Family Life, Care and Support, or the Meeting on Ministry and Counsel (clerks are listed in the Meeting directory). Others in the community can help you make your request if you wish by identifying or contacting the right person. Is a support committee appropriate? If you’re not sure whether a support committee would be appropriate for your situation, feel free to discuss it with any of the people named above. Who serves on my support committee? You can suggest the names of people you would like to serve on your committee, but not all may be Page 4 FRIENDS BULLETIN May 2009 Personal news of members and attenders Susan Furry has relocated to western MA. Her new contact information is: Baystate Place, Apt. 907, 414 Chestnut St., Springfield, MA 01104, cell 217-621-8754, landline 413-731-0162, email remains FurryOne@post.harvard.edu Please join us in honoring the late Stephen G. Cary, who co-led Quaker relief efforts in Europe after WWII and devoted his life to Peace and Justice, on Sunday, May 31, 2009 at the Peace Abbey, Two North Main Street, Sherborn, Massachusetts. Registration will be at 3:00 pm. Paul Lacey, Board Chair of the American Friends Service Committee, will speak before a Steve Cary quote is unveiled on the Wall of Names of the Abbey's Pacifist Monument. Friends who have never seen this monument to Peace Heroes are particularly encouraged to attend. The Wider Quaker World FWCC Northeast Region's Gathering May 15-17 Friends World Committee on Consultation (FWCC) brings Friends from around the world and from different branches of Quakerism together, face to face and heart to heart, in all our diversity. The Northeast Regional Gathering, co-planned by Philadelphia Yearly Meeting and two Hispanic Friends Churches, will speak to the theme of Peace within Us, Peace with God, Peace with Our Neighbor. It will be bilingual. More information is available at http://fwccamericas.org/events/09_regional.shtml Some friends from Cambridge plan on going; for more information about that, email Jeff Hipp, jeffhipp@gmail, or see Susan Davies or Susan Lloyd McGarry. The Way Forward: How to Turn Down the Heat 4:30 p Sun, May 10 33rd Quaker Lesbian Conference: “To Everything There Is a Season: A Time to Gather” Fri, Aug. 21-Sun, Aug. 23 The West Falmouth Meeting of the Society of Friends cordially invites you to an open seminar, The Way Forward: How to Turn Down the Heat by George M. Woodwell, Senior Scientist, Director Emeritus and Founder, The Woods Hole Research Center. This event will be at The West Falmouth Friends Meeting House, 572 Main Street (Route 28A), West Falmouth (Between Emerson House and Chapman, Cole, Gleasons West Falmouth Funeral Home). For information, call 617-495-0851. Quaker Leadership Workshop 9:30a-3:30 p Sat, May 23 New England Yearly Meeting is sponsoring a day-long workshop on clerking for current clerks and those who might like to learn more about this wonderful way to serve. It will be at the Barton Public Library, 100 Church Street, Barton, Vermont. For Information, contact the NEYM office, 508-754-6760 or neym.org The Quaker Lesbian Conference exists to be a loving time and space in which self-defined women (including those who are transgendered) who are Quaker or familiar with Quakerism, and who are lesbian, bisexual, or moving towards those identities, can connect with Spirit and with each other. We envision a community in which each woman shares worship, spiritual exploration and loving relationships in an environment that embraces diversity, individual leadings, struggle, and play. Brinton House, Pendle Hill, Wallingford, PA 19086-6023 Quaker Job Postings-- Beacon Hill Friends House Beacon Hill Friends House is accepting applications for two live-in, part-time positions serving the residential, cooperative community: Kitchen Manager and Residency Manager. Both start dates are June 15, 2009. Beacon Hill Friends House, a Quaker center in a historic building in downtown Boston, is a residential, multigenerational, cooperative community based in Quaker practice and principles. Our other activities include offering hospitality through overnight guest rooms and public meeting spaces for Quakers and others; holding Quaker-related events and publishing Quaker pamphlets. For more information contact: Holly Baldwin, Director, Beacon Hill Friends House, #6 Chestnut Street, Boston, MA 02108, Phone: 617-2279118, E-mail: hbaldwin@bhfh.org New England Yearly Meeting Youth Retreats Information about 2008-2009 retreats for those in grades 2 - Young Adult is available at: http://www.neym.org/youngfriends/20082009RetreatSchedule.pdf . May 2009 FRIENDS BULLETIN Page 5 Minutes, Committee Reports, and Other Documents Minutes of the 3/22/2009 Adjourned Business Meeting in Worship Nancy Ruggiero, presiding, and Bruce Steiner, recording Friends Meeting at Cambridge met for an adjourned Business Meeting in Worship on first day, third month 22, 2009, at 12:30 pm in the Meeting House with some 30 in attendance. During a period of open worship, Nancy Ruggiero quoted from George Fox’s 149th Epistle: “All Friends everywhere, meet together and in the Measure of God’s Spirit wait……..And Friends, meet together and know one another in that which is Eternal, which was before the world was….” and from John 15:12 “This is my commandment, that ye love one another as I have loved you.” Grants Committee Recommendations 2009-29 For the Grants Committee, Holly Lapp brought forward thirteen grants for approval: one for ministry by our member Elizabeth Claggett-Borne ($200 for travel to Cuba); ten for Friends organizations ($900 for five AFSC New England regional office programs; $500 for Cuba Yearly Meeting hurricane reconstruction; $750 for FCNL lobbying; $250 for FGC programs; $250 for Eden Grace’s FUM missionary activity in Kenya; and $250 for FWCC support) and two for other programs compatible with Friends concerns ($100 for a membership in Extras for Creative Learning for the Greenwood Shalom After-School & Summer Enrichment Program, and $750 for the Harvard Square Churches Meals Program). Holly called particular attention to the grants for Elizabeth Claggett-Borne’s travel to Cuba and for Cuba Yearly Meeting hurricane reconstruction, both of which are new this year. Holly noted also the Harvard Square Churches Meals Program. Current members of our community might find this an attractive and much-needed local opportunity for service, as we have in the past. The meeting approved these grants with appreciation for the dedication of the Grants Committee. Elizabeth Claggett-Borne’s Travel in the Ministry 2009-30 Elizabeth Claggett-Borne reported on her continuing Yearly Meeting travel in ministry concerning FUM’s personnel policy. This past year she has both narrowed her geographical range primarily to Salem Quarter and, at the same time, broadened her ministry beyond the FUM personnel policy to Friends’ response to divergent concerns more generally and particularly gay marriage and a range of transgender issues. She has formed a support committee consisting of David Anick, Chris Jorgenson, and Dinah Starr. The meeting accepted this report with gratitude. Gardening and Landscaping Committee Annual Report 2009-31 For the Gardening and Landscaping Committee, Pattie Derr noted the appearance of the annual report in the March Bulletin. She called attention in particular to the committee’s close interaction with youngsters in the Meeting, and this past year the vegetables and flowers that they had planted in new boxes provided by the committee in the sun along the edge of the parking area. She reported also, the very recent seed planting in the March Family Worship led by Faith Justice to great appreciation. The meeting accepted this report with gratitude. Friends for Racial Justice Annual Report 2009-32 For Friends for Racial Justice, Polly Attwood noted the annual report that had appeared in the March Bulletin. She called special attention to the new book Fit for Freedom, Not for Friendship by Quakers Donna McDaniel and Vanessa Julye, which FORJ members are reading and anticipate using for program guidance. Polly urged members of our community to locate copies of this book in our library and to read it. She invited readers to suggest ways in which the ideas in the book might be used in the Meeting. The meeting accepted this report with gratitude. Page 6 FRIENDS BULLETIN May 2009 Expansion of the Ad Hoc Oral History Group 2009-33 Mehmet Rona reported that Andrew Towl had urged expansion of Ruth Stokes’ oral history activity to enable present members of the community to record their recollections since the end of the period covered by George Selleck’s history, 1950, while this can still be done. He proposed the expansion of the ad hoc Group to include Karen Carmean, Virginia Hutchison, and himself, as well as Ruth Stokes. Mehmet invited others to share in this important work as they are led. In response to a question, Mehmet assured the meeting that broad availability of the material would follow specific meeting approval. he meeting accepted his report and request with gratitude. Worship Sharing: Integrity, Simplicity, and our Major Gift 2009-34 Nancy Ruggiero introduced the worship sharing by reviewing the concepts of integrity and simplicity and their implied connection to financial concerns and therefore to our major gift. She then quoted Lloyd Lee Wilson’s Essays on the Quaker Vision of Gospel Order, “The simple life is one in which there is always time to remember the divine purpose behind each of our tasks, time to listen for a divine amendment to the day’s schedule, and time to be thankful for the divine presence at each moment of the day.” We were reminded that our meeting house itself is the result of a meeting at Harvard Divinity School in the 1930’s, which has resulted in the exposure to Friends of untold people passing through the Harvard/MIT/Cambridge community since then. We were reminded also that our budget deficit this year is headed toward $50,000, which is much more than the anticipated $20,000 income from the major gift. At the moment our continuing financial stability is now threatened. At the same time, we yearn for local outreach in many exciting and various forms, which could also take the forms of volunteering and companionship, personal interaction. What are we led to do? The meeting closed at 2:35 pm, preparing to meet again as the way opens, on fifth day, fourth month 9 at 7:00 pm. Endorsements of Elizabeth Claggett-Borne’s Travel Minute Dear Friends in New England and beyond, Friends Meeting at Cambridge is grateful that our beloved member, Elizabeth (Minga) ClaggettBorne is carrying our concern for the unequal treatment of gay and lesbian Friends among Friends meetings. She has shared her sense that we are complicit in inflicting pain and suppressing the gift of God in some of our Friends, whose differences we find hard to accept. Jesus calls each of us to serve. Some Friends may exclude others' gifts and this exclusion impoverishes the ministry of the whole body. Can the bonds of Christ’s love hold us in one embrace as we listen to one another and dialog about tender and divisive topics? Minga has been moved by the sustaining power of ministry from gay and lesbian Friends within New England Yearly Meeting and hopes to engage Friends on this concern. In Faith, Nancy Cirillo Ruggiero, Presiding Clerk Travel Minute Approved Third Month 30, 2008 Approved by Salem Quarterly Meeting, April, 2008 Endorsements of traveling minute: 4/20/08 RI Smithfield Quarter Signed Elizabeth B. Zimmerman, clerk 5/3/08 Framingham Friends Meeting is grateful to Minga for sharing her ministry with us this morning. This is a very important topic in the world, in our country, and in our Meeting, and we appreciate her willingness to help us all as we struggle with it. Signed Renel Fredrickson, clerk 6/29/08 Beacon Hill Meeting Minga Claggett-Borne facilitated a thoughtful discussion about sexuality and spirituality, especially looking at the differences between healthy, profane and sacred sex. Signed Joy Forcier, clerk, Ministry and Counsel 7/10/08 Thank you for supporting Minga to attend our 2008 FUM Triennial. Brent McKinney, FUM clerk 10/12/08 Wellesley Friends Meeting May 2009 FRIENDS BULLETIN Page 7 We are grateful for Minga’s ministry to us in this important area. Signed Jeremiah Dickinson, clerk 11/30/08 We at Annapolis, MD Friends Meeting are grateful to have Minga with us and have the opportunity to hear and discuss her concern. In the light, K Finch,Ministry and Worship, AFM 1/18/09 Fresh Pond MM appreciated the opportunity to have Minga visit with us and share her concerns. Signed Phillip Veatch, clerk Minutes of the 4/9/2009 Business Meeting in Worship Nancy Ruggiero, presiding, and Bruce Steiner, recording. Friends Meeting at Cambridge met for its scheduled Business Meeting in Worship on fifth day, fourth month 9, 2009 at 7 pm in the Meeting House with some 27 in attendance. During a period of open worship, Nancy Ruggiero quoted from Robert Barclay’s Apology: “…when I came into the silent assemblies of God’s people, I felt a secret power in them, which touched my heart, and as I gave way to it, I felt the evil weakening in me, and the goodness raised up, and so I became thus knit and united unto them.” She quoted also from Patricia Loring’s Listening Spirituality Volume I: “It’s necessary to be anchored in our private contemplative practice and to open, widen and bring that contemplative presence and intentionality with us into our relationships from the closest to the most cosmic. …We may often fail, but part of our practice is to learn from our failures and above all to keep trying – all of our lives.” Child Abuse Risk Reduction Advisory Committee Report 2009-35 For the Child Abuse Risk Reduction Advisory Committee, Rebecca Grunko provided updated copies of their annual report and a statement of their practices, to accompany a brief history of child safety issues. The committee is currently focusing on the educational components of our responsibilities for our staff and volunteers, our children, and our broader community. Discussions are underway on the content of the program for the children. It was emphasized that protection can be required at a very early age. A search for an outside trainer for the children has been initiated. The Committee and the First Day School Coordinator welcome suggestions on the content of this program and the approaches that it utilizes. In response to a question on the status of the criminal background checks, Rebecca stated that it is going more slowly than had been anticipated. Rebecca emphasized the importance of rich, positive connections in our community between adults and our children. The meeting accepted this report with our gratitude. Marriage and Family Life Report 2009-36 For the Marriage and Family Life Committee, Elizabeth Claggett-Borne brought forward the following recommendations for a Committee for the Care of the Wedding June 27 of David Huxtable and Kelley Connolly: Carolyn Arond, Alaina Huxtable, Kitty Rush, William Thompson, and George Campbell, Clerk The meeting approved these recommendations. Membership Committee Report 2009-37 For the Membership Committee, Anne Thompson reported that a letter of resignation from Helen “Ellie” Kobec had been received. Anne reported also that Marcia Geyer, an attender of South Shore Preparative Meeting, has applied for membership. Finally, Anne reported that the following 16 Junior Members, having reached 25 years of age, are being removed from enrollment: Emily Allen-Wiles, Allegra Marie Atkinson, Julia Frances Coquillette, James Curwood, Julian Garberson, Ian and Tobias Damm-Luhr, Natalie J. Paine, Amanda Parrish, Justus Perry, Christina and Hope Roth, Leigh Schuster, Daniel Nicholas Stoops, and Rebekah and Sarah Wheeler. The resignation was accepted with regret. The news of the application was received in keen anticipation of the clearness process. The news of the Junior Member disenrollments was greeted with strongly mixed feelings of pride and regret at these rites of passage. Care and Support Annual Report 2009-38 For the Care and Support Committee, Nat Kuhn drew attention to its annual report which had appeared in the April Bulletin. A primary focus of the committee currently is the development of guidelines and other information for support Page 8 FRIENDS BULLETIN May 2009 committees. He expressed deep appreciation for the care and support that have been provided by members of the Meeting without the involvement of his committee. He invited brief statements of appreciation for some specific instances of these by those attending. A number of examples of much appreciated support, sometimes formal and sometimes informal, sometimes on several repeated occasions, and sometimes with considerable delay in acknowledgement, were cited. The meeting accepted this report, along with these statements of gratitude, with appreciation. Draft Budget for Fiscal Year 2010 2009-39 For the Finance Committee, William Satterthwaite presented a tentative budget for Fiscal Year 2010. Projected expenses are down slightly. Thus if donations next year remain near their level this year, the deficit next year would be between $ 50,000 and $ 65,000, about the same as the one projected for the current year. He emphasized that our reserves are easily sufficient to enable us to pay all anticipated bills. However, the finance committee advises the meeting to continue its longtime policy of balanced budgets. In order to continue this policy, the meeting needs to be ready to put in place long term course corrections if deficits continue over the next few years. Several important questions for further consideration were raised. One was the rationale for Meeting grants in place of personal contributions by individual members. Another is the development of a trigger mechanism for considerations of extended budget deficits. A third is the development of an approach for determination of an individual’s fair share of the budget. The Finance Committee was asked to bring recommendations for approaches to these questions. In light of the comments received, the committee will bring a revised tentative budget to the June Business Meeting in Worship for approval. The meeting accepted this report with gratitude to Bill and to the Committee. Designation of Representatives to NEYM Midyear Sessions 2009-40 Mary Hopkins and Susan Lloyd McGarry will attend and report back on the NEYM mid-year sessions. Memorial Minute for David Emerson 2009-41 For the Meeting on Ministry and Counsel, Mary Coelho read a memorial minute for our member David Emerson. The meeting closed at 9:22 pm, preparing to meet again as the way opens, on fifth month 14 at 7:00 pm at Cambridge Friends School. Memorial Minute for David Emerson David Emerson was born to Claire ("Tita," nee Garrison) and Robert Emerson in Pasadena, California, September 9, 1934. He had two older brothers Kenneth and Stephen and a younger sister Ruth. He lived in Pasadena while attending grade school; this was his home during the Second World War. After the war his family moved to Urbana, Illinois, where he completed junior high school and high school. He attended Earlham College, a Quaker college in Richmond, Indiana, and graduated in 1958 with a bachelor's degree in physics. The summer after his graduation, he was drafted as a non-combatant (because of his Quaker faith he could not be trained to handle weapons) and spent most of his two years of service in Washington, DC, in an army research facility. His father died in a plane crash in 1959. David moved to Massachusetts when his mother left Urbana and moved to Lincoln subsequent to her husband's death. David then undertook a master's program at Boston University where he completed his M.Sc. in physics in 1972 with his thesis "Theory and Construction of a He3-He4 Dilution Refrigerator". He lived with his mother until the early 1980s when he purchased a house in the nearby town of Wayland. It was a great shock to him when his mother died following an auto accident in 1985. During this time, he worked at a number of jobs in university laboratories and private companies, including a maker of baroque recorders Friedrich Von Huene. In many cases the work included difficult designing or assembling tasks that required great perfection and persistence. He also enjoyed salvaging discarded objects and using them for building things. His creations included ingenious collapsible Newtonian telescopes for star-gazing at astronomy club meets, a telephoto camera lens made in part from old vacuum cleaner parts, and exquisite cut-out paper dodecahedra with delicate snowflakes on each face. May 2009 FRIENDS BULLETIN Page 9 He was also a devoted dancer. He danced Folk, Contra, English Country, Scottish, Morris, and Ballroom Dance. He often danced four or five nights a week, and rode his bicycle all over the greater Boston area to attend dances. He was on several demonstration teams, including English Country Dance, Scottish Dance and Morris Dance. He attended dance camps all over New England and a few beyond, and was well known in the eastcoast folk dance community. Many people have fond memories of being brought into the dance community by David’s friendly invitations and contagious love of dance. In 1994 he suffered a stroke. He survived and experienced a long, gradual recovery, but after this he was unable to drive, ride a bike, or manage his affairs independently. He lived for a year or so at Hale House in Boston, and then moved to Norfolk House in Cambridge. Soon after his stroke David again regularly attended Cambridge Friends Meeting. His faithful presence at the forum, potlucks and a variety of events is fondly remembered with love. He died on June 16, 2008, and a memorial service was held on July 10 at the Friends Meeting House in Cambridge, MA, attended by family and friends from his past and present, from dancing, astronomy and Quaker Meeting. Reflections were shared on his dancing, his collecting of discarded objects, his creations from these and from paper, and most of all his endearing friendliness, his attentive interest in other people's stories, and his delightful sense of humor. Thanks to Kenneth Emerson, Richard Jones, Edith Garrison, Michael Wortis, and all who came to the memorial service for their assistance in preparing this minute. Rachel Wortis Beda 581 Gilmour Street Peterborough, Ontario email: rachel@beda.ca phone: (705) 876-9946 Canada K9H 2K3 Annual Report on Child Abuse Risk Reduction at FMC 2008-2009 Child Abuse Prevention and Response (or CAPR) Committee was the name that the group of people who first gathered in 2003 to develop a policy and practices around child abuse at the Meeting. One of the things we learned in this process is that “prevention” is not an accurate way to describe our work. So “risk-reduction” is more appropriate. Henceforth, the committee responsible for implementing and evaluating our Child Abuse Risk Reduction policies and Practices will be known as the Child Abuse Risk Reduction Advisory Committee (CARR Advisory, for short.) Screening: Chris Connaire remains our child safety screener. She has continued her work processing applications from volunteers who wish to work with meeting children. She has also undertaken the enormous task of implementing the decision to perform criminal background checks on our volunteers and staff. This has involved the initial contact with Oxford Document management, then when they declined to accept our terms for a limited background check, research into other screening options. She proposed the system that was ultimately accepted of using Choice Point to run a criminal background check that is then processed by David Aptaker, a lawyer who will screen the information and let us know only if there are any convictions for physical or sexual abuse of a child. It has been slow working with Choice Point, but we are now processing the initial round of screenings. Training: Two educational events were held at FMC in 2008. One was a training for staff/volunteers who work with children and the other was a general event to raise awareness about risk reduction in the broader community. Both events attracted small attendance. While we feel like these events are important regardless of how many people they reach, we wonder how to encourage more people to attend. Risk assessment is an on-going process. When thinking about activities, we consider the factors that make an event riskier (isolation, power differentials, lack of supervision) and try and counter balance with more accountability and supervision as needed. These concepts and guidelines have proven very helpful to the FDS coordinator as she plans activities and responds to challenges. Education: We are currently out of compliance without policy in regards to educating our children in FDS about risk reduction. The CARR Advisory committee recommended a policy change, but the FDS committee was not in unity with accepting this change, so it has not been brought to the MFB. The FDS coordinator made a proposal that we contract with an outside provider to do this training, but we Page 10 FRIENDS BULLETIN May 2009 have yet to find someone to do this. There is not unity about whether or how children should be included in the education we provide. Reporting: The response committee has met and has established its processes for the year. Checking for legal changes. We have spoken with our attorney and he reported that there are not legal changes that affect us. Record keeping: Chris Connaire keeps the records of the screening process for Volunteers. Records from the process for staff are kept in locked personnel files. Accountability/Supervision: Two unrelated screened adult leaders are assigned to each class or activity. On occasion, when one person does not show up, one person leads a class with random check-ins from a second person. There were concerns that this set up which was envisioned as a back-up for emergency situations was being used in non-emergency childcare situations, but this has been addressed. The CARR Advisory committee made one significant change to the approved practices. This is to lay out a process for removing a person from the list of screened people. A person may be removed by his/her request, or because concerns have been raised about his/her work with children in the Meeting. The revised practices are attached. Childcare: We are fortunate to have childcare performed by two experienced and consistent staff members. We do need to be re-certified for First Aid and CPR. The coordinator is trying to schedule this. On the whole we are making a good faith effort to abide by our policy and practices. We are clear about the places where we are falling short and trying to address them. This is, and always will be, a work in progress. Practices to support FMC’s Risk-Reduction Policy (02-09) (Please note: the numbers below correspond to the number of the policy item being addressed. Most of these practices are already in place at FMC.) Qualifications and Screening 1. • Screening currently includes an application form, references, and an interview with two screeners, as well as a release for FMC to check beyond the named references and to perform a criminal background check to determine if there is a conviction of physical or sexual abuse of a child/youth. • On the 5 year anniversary of a being screened, we will check in with workers and have them fill out a re-application form and sign any documents that have changed since their initial screening. • A person may request to have his/her name removed from the “screened” list at any time. To be reinstated that person would have to go through the screening process again. • At times it may be necessary to remove someone’s name from the “screened” list. Please see the addendum at the end of this document for an outline of this process. Expectations and Training 3. See Appendix for code of conduct. 4. FDS Coordinator is responsible for seeing that training for child/youth workers is done. This will include a once-a-year gathering for training (perhaps with an outside expert hired for the purpose); a review of safety issues during the inperson screening interview; and a packet that includes the Mandated Reporter protocol, a pamphlet on preventing sexual abuse of children/youth, relevant web addresses, safety check-lists, and other informative items. Program Guidelines Safeguards at FMC currently include: • At least two un-related adults are assigned to each class (and will be assigned to child care for Meeting events), and when one of the teachers cannot be present, a substitute is found. If for some temporary reason only one adult is available, a roamer will check in periodically. • There are windows in all classroom doors, and the FDS coordinator and others "check-in" during class. Parents and staff may enter or leave any classroom at any time. • We provide information about risk reduction and awareness for parents, volunteers, and other members of the community. • For transportation during an event, all drivers are at least 21 years of age and have proof of insurance. Seatbelts are required for all passengers. Written permission for youth under eighteen is obtained from parents. May 2009 FRIENDS BULLETIN Page 11 • Expectations of participant behavior are clearly communicated and age-appropriate. They include: attendance at scheduled program, refraining from substance abuse and sexual activity, responsible free time activity, responding to caretaker instructions. • Feedback process: We provide opportunities for evaluation by participants and parents through written (including anonymous) and/or verbal feedback. There are regular reports of activities, including annual reports from FDS Coordinator and Youth Programs Coordinator to their committees. A written record of these reports is kept. • Our programs strive for openness in planning and publicity of events and activities. This openness includes communication ahead of time with the parents and community, with written description and announcements and/or an invitation to parents and community members to attend, participate and observe the events. • For events out of the scope of normal activities, approval of parents or guardians is sought. • There is a well-publicized written process for reporting any suspected abuse or improper behavior. (See Protocol for Response to Allegations of Child Abuse at FMC 11/8/05) All staff and volunteers with children receive the FMC Mandated Reporting protocol. • Safety checklists are available for those working in the following: childcare for FMC retreats; youth retreats; and field trips. • Regularly scheduled childcare employees have received training in First Aid and CPR. 8. FDS Coordinator and Youth Programs Coordinator will be responsible for making sure that children and youth receive age-appropriate education at least once a year regarding sexuality, personal boundaries, and assertiveness. Should there not be skilled resource persons for this task available in the Meeting, they may choose to use the services of an outside person expert in this field. Reporting Suspected Abuse Please see Appendix for FMC’s protocol for reporting suspected neglect or physical or sexual abuse of a Meeting child or youth. Responding to Allegations of Abuse 11. Please see Appendix for Protocol for Response to Allegations of Child Abuse at FMC. Record keeping 13. Each person’s folder is available to them for review, and that person can add material to their folder at any time. Record keeping for volunteers will be handled by the Child Safety Screener (a temporary position) and/or the First Day School Coordinator. Record keeping for paid staff is handled by the Personnel committee. Institutionalizing Child Protection at Friends Meeting at Cambridge 14. Administrative tasks involved in ensuring the ongoing success of this policy and related practices will include the following: • Monitor changes in Massachusetts law that might affect the policies and practices • Check-in yearly with legal consultant and abuse consultant to make sure they are still willing to be called should there be an allegation. • Make sure there is an annual educational event for adults about child sexual abuse risk reduction and response. (Pastoral committees responsible for this, with assistance from FDS Coordinator.) • Review the policy and practices yearly, using an evaluation tool to be developed by the CARR committee before it is laid down: Are we following the Meeting’s approved child sexual abuse risk-reduction and response policy? Are changes needed? • Make sure appropriate policy/practice changes are made (via the Monthly Meeting if necessary). • Notify the Monthly Meeting when a new working group is needed for major work on the policy. • Keep current and available any necessary informational materials for child/youth workers and the meeting at large. • Make annual report to the Monthly Meeting about child abuse risk-reduction and response work at FMC. 15. A community-wide educational event on a regular basis (e.g. once a year) contributes to a culture of safety and sensitivity that will empower everyone to uphold standards of accountability. (The event could consist of a talk by an expert in child abuse risk reduction, followed by Q and A.) This groundwork will support the maintenance of the risk-reduction policy and the work of youth workers. Responsible for the event will be a team Page 12 FRIENDS BULLETIN May 2009 of the Response committee liaisons from three pastorally-oriented committees: Ministry and Counsel, Marriage and Family Life, and Care and Support, reminded as necessary by the First Day School Coordinator. In this way, these three committees will stay alert to child protection issues at FMC, and the burden of caring for our children’s safety will not fall exclusively on First Day School committee. Addendum: Process for removing a C/Y volunteer from the “screened” list: If concerns arise about a C/Y worker who has been screened, it is the responsibility of the First Day School coordinator and others to take these concerns seriously. The process should include: • Talking with parent, child, or person bringing the concern. Ask how they hope to handle the situation. When possible, encourage people with concerns to speak directly to the C/Y worker. • Sharing the concern with the C/Y worker in question. This could happen in several ways, the person bringing the concern could speak directly to the C/Y worker, do so with the help of the FDS coordinator or other responsible person, or the FDS coordinator could do it. • Giving the C/Y worker in question a chance to respond. • If both parties are satisfied, it ends there. • Any situation that is not rectified to the satisfaction of all parties should be brought to The FDS Coordinator’s supervisory committee. A meeting of those involved, along with support people as needed, should be convened. • Working with FMC children is a privilege, not a right. The FDS Coordinator and her supervisory committee can decide to remove a person’s name from the “screened” list if they feel that a C/Y worker is not doing his/her job appropriately. This should be handled in as loving and confidential manner as possible. • The FDS coordinator should keep a confidential file of all concerns brought to her attention. Other materials available from CAPR (Child Abuse Prevention and Response working group): Mandated Reporting Protocol for FMC. Responding to Allegations of Abuse of a Meeting Child (protocol). Code of Conduct agreement for those working with FMC children/youth. Risk Reduction Principles document from Yearly Meeting’s working group. [Friends Meeting at Cambridge 5 Longfellow Park Cambridge MA 02138-4816 617-876-6883 fmcQuaker@iecc.com www.fmcQuaker.org Nancy Ruggiero, Presiding Clerk Tom Ash, Friend in Residence William Satterthwaite, Assistant Clerk 617-876-1868 fmcResident@iecc.com Bruce Steiner, Recording Clerk John Field, Facilities Manager William Satterthwaite, Treasurer 617-354-3383fmcFacility@iecc.com Maureen Lanan, Assistant Treasurer Linda Jenkins, Meeting Secretary 617-876-6883fmcQuaker@iecc.com Rebecca Grunko, First Day School Coordinator 617-666-8814rgrunko@yahoo.com To receive weekly email announcements, Craig Simenson, Youth Programs Coordinator send a blank email to fmcquaker-subscribe@yahoogroups.com 617-721-7421 cfsimenson@uwalumni.com May 2009 FRIENDS BULLETIN Page 13 May 2009 Calendar Fri Sat Sun 1 2 3 5:30-8p AFSC-MAP Tag Sale 9a-2p AFSC-MAP Tag Sale 9:30 a Forum: The First Day School mission statement: the beauty of multiplicity in oneness Kathleen Kelly 10:30 a Meeting for Worship 10:30 a Family Meeting for Worship 10:30 a Jr./Sr. High Worship 12:00 n New Members Tea 12:00 n Membership Cmte 12:00 n Prayer Circle 12:30 p Quaker Tradition & Practice 5:00 p Meeting for Worship 6:00 p Cambridge Quaker Earthcare Witness Cmte 7:00 p Fellowship & Outreach Cmte 7:00 p Ministry & Counsel 7:00 p Friends in Career Transition 8:30 a Midweek worship 6:00 p Sharing Circle (sponsored by Prison Fellowship) 7:00 p Peace & Social Concerns Cmte 7:00 p Nominating Cmte 7:00 p Compassionate Listening Project Basic Training 7:00 p Personnel Cmte 7:00 p Cmte on Care & Support 7:30 p Marriage & Family Life Cmte 6:00p Friends for Racial Justice, Pizza, Film, Discussion 8:30 a Mother’s Day Walk in Dorchester 9:00 a Youth Programs Cmte 9:30 a Forum: Cultivating a spiritual life –in the garden -Jo Ellen Hillyer, Chris Jorgenson, Sandy Sweetnam 10:30 a Meeting for Worship 12:30 p Exhibit Reception: Susan Knight Show 5:00 p Meeting for Worship 7:00 p Trustees 7:30 p Friends for Racial Justice Cmte - FORJ 8:30 a Meeting for Worship 6:00 p Sharing Circle (sponsored by Prison Fellowship) 7:00 p Artists & Writers 6:00 p Monthly meeting Pot Luck at CFS 7:00 p Meeting for Worship for Business at CFS 12:30 p Cambridge Friends School Music Festival Sun 17 9:30 a Forum: Seeking a spirit-led life -Wendy Sanford 10:30 a Meeting for Worship 12:00 n Gardening & Landscaping Cmte 12:00 n Prayer Circle 12:30 p Quaker Tradition and Practice 5:00 p Meeting for Worship 7:00 p Clerks Cmte 7:00 p Finance Cmte 11:59 p Bulletin Deadline 7:00 p Ministry & Counsel 7:00 p Friends in Career Transition 8:30 a Midweek Worship 6:00 p Sharing Circle (sponsored by Prison Fellowship) 7:00 p Compassionate Listening Project Planning Meeting 6:00 p Nonviolent Communication 10:30 a Library Cmte Meeting Retreat in Alfred Maine 9:30 a Forum: Two veterans look at Memorial Day -David Bonner & Severyn Bruyn 10:30 a Meeting for Worship 12:00 n Fourth Sunday Pot Luck 12:45 p Bereavement Group 5:00 p Meeting for Worship Meeting Retreat in Alfred Maine Meeting Retreat in Alfred Maine 5:30 p Prison Fellowship 8:30 a Meeting for Worship 10:00 a Bulletin Folding 6:00 p Sharing Circle (sponsored by Prison Fellowship) 7:15 p Membership Cmte 7:00 p Potential Adjourned Meeting for Worship for Business 6:00 p Compassionate Listening Project Advanced Training 9:00 a Compassionate Listening Project Advanced Training 9:30 a Forum: My journey Lance Draine 10:30 Meeting for Worship 12:15 Leila Farsakh Talk sponsored by Israel/Palestinian Working Group 5:00 p Meeting for Worship 9:30 a Alcoholics Anonymous (open meeting) 10:30 a A Course in Miracles Mon Tue Wed 18 19 20 Mon Tue Wed 4 5 6 Thu Sat Sun 21 23 24 Thu 7 Fri Sun 8 10 Mon Tues Wed 25 26 27 Thu Fri Sat Sun 28 29 30 31 Mon Tue Wed 11 12 11 Thu Sat 14 16 every Sat every Sat May 2009 Bulletin NON PROFIT ORG U.S. POSTAGE PAID BOSTON MA PERMIT NO. 469 Friends Meeting at Cambridge 5 Longfellow Park Cambridge MA 02138-4816 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED TIME-SENSITIVE MATERIAL SCHEDULE OF MEETINGS FOR WORSHIP Under the care of Friends Meeting at Cambridge Meetings at 5 Longfellow Park Sundays 10:30 am 5:00 pm Wednesdays 8:30 to 10 am South Shore Preparative Meeting New England Friends Home 86 Turkey Hill Lane, Hingham Sundays 10:00 am Jim DeVeer, 781-982-0653 Other nearby worship opportunities: Acton Friends Meeting Minute Man ARC 130/150 Baker Avenue Extension West Concord Sundays 10:00 am Amesbury Monthly Meeting 120 Friend St, Amesbury Sundays 10:00 am Beacon Hill Monthly Meeting Beacon Hill Friends House 6 Chestnut Street, Boston Sundays 10:30 am Cambridge Friends School CFS Library, 5 Cadbury Road (off Sherman St), Cambridge Tuesdays 8:30 to 9:00 am Framingham Friends Meeting 841 Edmands Road, Framingham Sundays 10:00 am Fresh Pond Monthly Meeting at Cambridge Friends School 5 Cadbury Road, Cambridge Sundays 10:00 am Jamaica Plain Worship Group trailer of First Baptist Church 633 Centre St, Jamaica Plain 2nd Sunday 6:00 pm potluck 5:00 pm Lawrence Monthly Meeting Forest Street Union Church 15 Forest Street, Methuen Sundays 2:00 pm North Shore Monthly Meeting Glen Urquhart School 74 Hart Street, Beverly Farms Sundays 10:00 am Wellesley Friends Meeting 26 Benvenue Street, Wellesley Sundays 10:00 am Worship Group at Brookhaven 1010 Waltham Street, Lexington Sundays 10:30 am Arthur and Sara Sue Pennell 781-862-8180