Westport Friends Meeting

May 2005 Newsletter

It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye. Antoine De Saint Exupery, from The Little Prince

Note:    Book Sorting weekly Thursdays 1- 3:00 P.M.
1          Ministry and Counsel, 11:45 AM
Property Committee, 8:30 AM
6-8        JHYM Retreat at Portland MM
8          Book Sorting following Worship. See details!
12         Finance Committee, 7:00 PM, at Ruth Howland’s home.
12         Poetry Reading by Mark Bauer, 7:00 PM. See details in Meeting News.
14         NEYM Permanent Board, Hanover MM
15         Monthly Meeting for Business, 11:45
17         Market Ministries
20-22        JYM Elementary Retreat at Woolman Hill
21         NEYM Ministry and Counsel, Windham MM
29         Peace and Social Concerns Com. 11:45

1          Kathy Wypych-Minnehan
5          Kevin Lee
10         Rebecca Lee
14         Genevieve Hess
16         Aliza Correia
17         Penny Bossom        
22         Brenda Stone
23         Keith Rinier 
31         Mark Miley

Frankie Kirkaldy reported as the meeting’s statistician: We currently have 62 members of Westport Monthly Meeting. We gained two members in 2004.
 
Ministry and Counsel presented our State of Society for 2004. M and C also presented their final draft of Jean Kennison’s Memorial Minute for review. Each document was approved and copies are attached.
 
Deana Chase, Treasurer, reported that the meeting’s 2004 overall expenditures were (slightly) less than donations received for the previous fiscal year. Beginning this year the Treasurer will also provide budget reports on a quarterly basis. Deana also shared the bittersweet news that the Meeting recently received a very generous donation from the estate of Jean Kennison. Following a moment of prayerful reflection, Friends approved this report.
 
Buddy Baker-Smith, reported for Property Committee: Unfortunately, the contractor has postponed construction on the outside of the meetinghouse. Startup is now expected to begin mid to late May. If the contractor cannot begin later this month then the project may be further postponed until after our annual Booksale on July 9th. In other PropCom business: The (ancient) furnace in the Friends Residence has failed and a new one was installed recently. The committee also plans to replace the aging mower/tractor as soon as possible. The committee had also hoped to replace our old, threadbare canvas Booksale tents, but recent unexpected expenditures and the upcoming construction on the meetinghouse will require us to make do for another year.
 
Gretchen Baker-Smith, Clerk of Finance Committee, reported that the committee recommends designating surplus funds from 2004 to the meetinghouse building fund. Friends approved. Individual Friends are also encouraged to consider giving specifically to this fund.          
 
Deana Chase reported for Peace and Social Concerns Committee. The committee is considering the merits and costs of       using more “environmentally friendly” paper and cleaning products in our buildings. They plan to explore this concept more closely with Property Committee, as these materials can be more costly than the products we currently use. More information to follow. 

Please note: Second Sundays in May and June will be reserved following worship for book sorting and fellowship. Our Booksale Committee works year-round on this task, but more help is needed. The annual Booksale in July is our Meeting’s principle fundraiser, and your help is needed to make it happen! Please come, May 8th, for lunch and fellowship, followed by book sorting.    Poetry Reading by Mark Bauer, M.D. entitled Selections/Seclusions: Old and New Readings from the Poetry of Mental Illness. Thursday, May 12, 7:00 PM. Community Church of Providence, 372 Wayland Ave, Providence. Free admission. For info contact 508-996-8672 or online at DBSAEastBay@aol.com, or speak with the poet directly!   Dates to Save: Meeting Cleanup Day, June 9th. Annual Booksale, July 9! All hands are needed!     News from some of our Young Friends: Jeremy is still enjoying hitting people with sticks while playing lacrosse. He says it’s okay because he prays for his opponents before making contact. Katey has recently returned from looking at colleges in upstate New York. Jeremy and Katey are off to a YF retreat the first weekend in May. Larissa, who is almost done with her sophomore year in college, has been playing field hockey and scoring, too! Aliza reports that she is one second shy of making states in the 300 hurdles. Aliza was also recently nominated as one of the finalists for queen of her junior prom to be held May 6th! Nick is still buried in the academic halls of Brown and hasn’t been seen. The editor has tried unsuccessfully to catch up with Maggie, and has given up! Jason, home from boarding school for just a weekend, came to meeting. He’s grown another foot, too!

 
The American Friends Service Committee/SENE office in Providence has created opportunities for volunteering called “Service Days,” between 10:00 AM and 7:00 PM on Thursdays.
 
Also, as a response to aggressive military recruitment in high schools and colleges, The AFSC Web site also features an excellent “Counter-Recruitment Library” which should be of interest to many. To see these resources and receive details about volunteering contact them at 401-521-3584, or online at www.afsc.org/sene.
 
New Bedford Friends Meeting has begun a new outreach program for teens to address the rising level of violence throughout the city. Led by members Greg Williams and Marcia Cornell-Glynn, they plan to offer conflict resolution skills, academic tutoring and job search assistance to those who call or drop in at the meetinghouse on Spring Street. Call 508-990-0710 for information
 
 
 
 
 

 

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Please send items for Newsletter to Kevin Lee. kevin@jymretreats.org. 508-994-1638

Posted by Greg Stone at May 19, 2005 06:16 AM