Westport Friends Meeting

November Newsletter

Jason, Keith, Chris and Jeremy (not shown) ready soil for fall plantings in the Peace Garden on a sunny fall Sunday morning. (Click photo for larger image.)

When eating a fruit, think of the person who planted the tree.

- Vietnamese Proverb

6 Property Committee, 8:30 AM
Ministry and Counsel, 11:45
11-13 NEYM Ministry and Counsel Retreat at
China Lake Conf. Center, China ME
15 Market Ministries
18-20 JYM Elementary Retreat at Westport
Young Friends Retreat at Hartford Meeting
19 Permanent Board, Windham Meeting, ME
20 Monthly Meeting for Business, 11:45
27 Finance Committee, 8:30 AM
Peace and Social Committee, 11:45
Dates to Save: Second Sunday Discussion Dec 11.
Natalie Baker-Merrill to speak on the Peace Tax Fund. See details on next page.

1 Logan Minnehan
1 Phyllis Brightman
12 Betty Ann Lee
27 Eva Kelly

Deana Chase reported on business from the Mass Council of Churches including their recent campaign called “Take Back Your Time.” (Visit their Web site at masscouncilofchurches.org for more information)

Buddy Baker-Smith, Clerk of Meeting, read from a communication that Edward Dufresne, Executive Minister of the Inter-Church Council of Greater New Bedford, will retire soon. An open house to celebrate Edward’s ministry will be held Thursday, Nov 17, from 5-8 PM. See posted note for location and details, or call the Council at 508-993-6242.

Ministry and Counsel: Barbara Wicks reported for Steve Correia, clerk: Our Meeting Web site will contain references to and selections from the published writings of members Amelia Thomas, Frank Lepreau and Mark Bauer. The committee envisions a potluck gathering where our resident Quaker authors can recite selections of their published works.

Ministry and Counsel appointed Barbara Wicks as our representative to Sandwich Quarterly Meeting.

Treasurer’s Report: Deana Chase, Treasurer, reported that financially the Meeting is in good shape. Donations from individuals, however, are down slightly. The Treasurer reminded committee clerks that they need to consider what purchases and expenditures they anticipate in the coming year so that the Finance Committee can budget accordingly for fiscal year 2006.

Property Committee: Buddy Baker-Smith reported for Property Committee, stating that the meetinghouse restoration project is completed! The final $70,875 cost is about $2,000 under budget. The final bill reflecting these figures is expected soon. Friends should tip their hats and bonnets towards Buddy Baker-Smith for his steadfast oversight and demonstrated skills at overseeing this project from beginning to end!

Property and Booksale committees have collaborated on the needs and specifications for purchasing a new tent for the Meeting’s annual Booksale. A final selection, and price will be presented to Business Meeting soon.

Property Committee recommended to Business Meeting that Fall Cleanup Day should be held on Nov. 19th with rain dates reserved for Dec 3rd or 4th. Friends approved. (Editor’s Note: Property Committee later realized that the Meeting will be hosting a JYM Elementary Retreat that same weekend, making these plans difficult. Monthly Meeting in November will be asked to consider rescheduling Fall Cleanup Day to the rain dates already approved.) When cleanup day does take place, Meeting approved purchasing pizza for our working crew!

Property Committee is currently gathering prices on prefabricated storage sheds so that the present equipment shed can be used primarily for storing priced and ready for sale books for the Annual Booksale.

A “We Need List” will be posted on the refrigerator in the Community House. When Friends notice that we are out of something, such as half and half, sugar, paper products, etc, please add to the list! Mark and Eliza Miley, our Friends In Residence, will purchase items listed before Sunday.

Peace and Social Concerns Committee: Deana Chase, clerk, reported that the committee recently approved sending $400 to Oxfam America, earmarked for the earthquake survivors in Pakistan. $200 was also apportioned to AFSC to assist with relief efforts following Hurricane Katrina.

Peace and Social also recommended to Business Meeting that we consider hosting a Second Sunday Discussion about the efforts to create a National Peace Tax Fund as coordinated by the Rhode Island Campaign For Conscience. The presentation would be led by Natalie Baker-Merrill. Ms. Baker-Merrill was recently hired as the newly organized Rhode Island chapter’s Campaign Manager. For additional information, visit their site at http://www.peacetaxfund.org/ (Editor’s Note: Since Business Meeting, Ms Baker-Merrill has agreed to be our guest on Second Sunday, December 11th.)

Peace and Social Concerns presented a discussion about how our Meeting could be supportive of persons displaced by Hurricane Katrina who are currently being housed (as of 10/16) at Camp Edwards on Cape Cod. Friends discussed what was realistically possible for us as a Meeting at this time. Are there ways that our meeting could be prepared to take action more quickly in the future, so that we respond, rather than react to a future crisis? Friends agreed that this needs to be explored further when more members are present.

NEW MEETING DIRECTORY COMING! Gretchen Baker-Smith and Jo Devlin are beginning to work on a new directory for our members and attenders. Anyone who would like to be included in it should look for the signup and/or correction sheets in the foyer on Sundays. They hope to be able to have new copies for everyone by Christmas.

Jay and Amy Lee Vieira are pleased to announce the birth of their son, Owen Thomas Vieira, on October 15 at Brigham and Woman’s Hospital in Boston. Owen arrived at 8 lbs, 12oz, and is doing terrific. (Click image for larger photo.)

Jay and Amy consolidated their tasks by also closing on their new home, literally one day before Owen was born. The new family now resides at 19 Hill Street, Fairhaven, MA 02719. Their new (land-line) phone number is 774-202-5447.

The Meeting congratulates Aliza Correia who was selected as Homecoming Queen at Fairhaven High School. With that honor accomplished, Aliza then went on to score not one, but three goals for her high school field hockey team! Congratulations, Aliza!

Becky Slattery has relocated to Mattapoisett. Her new mailing address is 73 Fairhaven Road, Mattapoisett, 02739. Her email address is nevnboo@yahoo.com

Finance Committee requests Meeting committees give FY06 budget requests to Greg Marsello or leave in Finance mail cubby in meetinghouse by Sunday, November 20th. The Committee will be preparing the FY06 Budget for the December Business Meeting. If you have any questions (or you are a Committee Clerk and have no clue what budget requests are), contact Greg at 401/624-4983 or marsello@lern.org

Mark Bauer has just published his second chapbook of poetry, The Gnarled Man Rises, which includes Quaker-inspired poems as well as poems from his work as a psychiatrist. It is available from the publisher, Scienter Press (www.scienterpress.org) or from Amazon.com.

In addition, Mark will be giving a reading on Thursday November 10 at 6:00 pm at Symposium Books at 240 Westminster Street in downtown Providence (401-273-7900); there’s plenty of on-street parking. With Mark, internationally renowned poet X.J. Kennedy will read selections from his new Scienter Press chapbook, The Seven Deadly Virtues, likely also of interest to Quakers!

"When asked if my cup is half-full or half-empty my only response is that I am thankful I have a cup."
- Sam Lefkowitz

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

Posted by Greg Stone at November 15, 2005 03:58 AM