Westport Friends Meeting

February 2005 Newsletter

Note: Book Sorting weekly Thursdays 2- 4:00 P.M.
(See Deana Chase for details)
6 Property Committee, 8:30 AM
Ministry and Counsel, 11:45
11-13 Young Friends Retreat at Cambridge Meeting
12 NEYM Ministry & Counsel (rescheduled) at Wellesley Meeting
15 Market Ministries
(Can you help? Speak with Barbara Wicks)
20 Monthly Meeting for business
26 NEYM Permanent Board

1 Jennifer Lee Moura
2 Isabelle Bossom
4 Richard Hess
4 Gail Nixdorf
6 Jason Foley-Marsello
10 Jeffrey Hodge
12 Isaiah Manley
17 Martha Lang
25 Barbara Wicks

Buddy Baker-Smith recently met with contractor M. J. Mawn at the meetinghouse to review exterior renovation plans. The contractor plans to begin work the beginning of April and finish within a month.

Property Committee reported that Martyn Little has been named as the committee’s liaison to Friends In Residence Mark and Eliza Miley. In addition to speaking with Mark and Eliza directly about property concerns, maintenance and general questions, Friends may also speak with Martyn.

Monthly Meeting received a “second reading” of the Meeting’s 2005 annual budget. The budget was approved. The Clerk expressed appreciation for the work of outgoing Meeting Treasurer, Gretchen Baker-Smith and incoming Treasurer, Deana Chase.

Peace and Social Concerns Committee recently approved supporting the tsunami relief efforts in Southern Asia. The Committee recently sent a cash donation to AFSC’s Materials Assistance Program. A second donation will be sent within six months. Friends can follow relief efforts at AFSC’s Web site at www.afsc.org.

Peace and Social also reported on and passed out an outline, which highlighted a discussion held recently. See “Meeting News” below.

As most Friends know, “Second Sunday” is a meeting sponsored time-frame, set aside to discuss topics of interest to Friends. On January 9, Deana Chase and Jo Devlin led a discussion about our individually and corporate response to the queries set before us by monthly meeting in December. (See last month’s newsletter.)

There was a sense of clarity for possible action to educate ourselves more on issues related to the subject of torture. Friends labored with the knowledge that our government is detaining and sometimes mistreating prisoners connected to the present administration’s “war on terror.” Friends are also considering hosting a public forum in our Community House, hopefully in conjunction with AFSC.
Several Friends have made a commitment to write to government officials and elected representatives as well. A suggestion to write a minute on basic human rights, and how torture impacts everyone involved, was also considered. Friends who would like to support these efforts and work on a plan of action are encouraged to speak with Deana, Jo, or other Friends who were present at this meeting. Names and contact information for US Senators and Congressmen in our area, are listed below.

Senators and Congressmen
US Senate

Chafee, Lincoln - (R - RI)
141A RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING
WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-2921
Web Form: http://chafee.senate.gov/webform.htm

Reed, Jack - (D - RI)
728 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING
WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-4642
Web Form: http:/reed.senate.gov/form-opinion.htm

Kennedy, Edward - (D - MA)
317 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING
WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-4543
Web Form: http:/kennedy.senate.gov/contact.html

Kerry, John - (D - MA)
304 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING
WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-2742
Web Form: http:/kerry.senate.gov/bandwidth/contact/email.html

US Congress:

Barney Frank- (D) Massachusetts 4th
http://www.house.gov/frank/
Congressman Barney Frank 2252 Rayburn H.O.B. Washington, DC 20515-2104 (202) 225-5931

Patrick J. Kennedy (D) Rhode Island 1st
http://www.house.gov/patrickkennedy/
407 Cannon H.O.B. U.S. House of Representatives Washington, D.C. 20515 (202) 225-4911 FAX: (202) 225-3290
(202) 225-4911

Sandwich Quarterly Meeting met at Smith Neck Meeting on January 22. Deana Chase was named clerk of SQM Ministry and Counsel Committee. Drew Lizak continues as SQM Treasurer. A new clerk of SQM business is expected to be named soon. Friends who attended enjoyed a “friendship soup” provided by the host meeting. Quart jars of bean mix soup were also available for sale, with proceeds to benefit the youth activities of Smith Neck Friends Meeting.

The Bruderhof Community devotes a page on their Web site for children’s poetry. They write: “Poets and artists have always revealed the true pulse of a society. When First Lady Laura Bush cancelled a poetry reading at the White House for fear that it would become "a political forum," the disinvited poets declared February 12 "National Poetry Against War Day" and asked everyone to write and read poems for peace. The kids in our school took up the challenge. We share some of their poems here, and invite you and your children to submit their poems also.” (Poem and quote used by permission.) Visit their site at: http://www.bruderhof.com Posted by Greg Stone at February 5, 2005 08:48 AM