Westport Friends Meeting

Monthly Meeting Highlights 7.07

MONTHLY MEETING HIGHLIGHTS

Clerk Buddy Baker-Smith reported on correspondence received:

Meeting received an appeal for financial support from the Meeting School.

Sandwich Meeting will be celebrating the 350th anniversary of Sandwich Monthly Meeting August 24-25th from 7-9pm. The Meeting will present a program on “People from the Past”.

New England Yearly Meeting provided notice that discernment on concerns about FUM’s personnel policy will continue at Sessions. They provide Internet links that contain information and historical background material for Friends to review.

Ministry and Counsel: Steven Correia, Clerk, reported that the Second Sunday discussions will begin on 2nd Sunday in October at 8:30 AM. The first topic will be on Quaker history.

Workshops on fulfilling the roles of clerk of meeting (Nov 16-18) and recording clerk (Jan 11-13, 2008) will be held at Pendle Hill. Approximate costs including travel, will be about $800-$900 for both workshops. The Meeting will cover the expenses of these workshops for our incoming clerk of meeting and recording clerk, should they be able to attend.

Ministry and Counsel provided scholarships for two young people to attend Friend’s Camp.

Property Committee was reported by Dave Sutton.

Reshingling of the Meetinghouse’s roof was completed.

A partial re-plastering of the inside walls of the meetinghouse will be needed next year. Buddy Baker-Smith will ask Pete Baker to view. Property will need to get a quote and recommendation from a restoration plasterer.

Work on the Residence’s basement drainage system has been completed.

Shingling on the Residence will begin in August.

Dave Sutton reported that the Town was helpful in clearing out the brush near the back stone wall.

Meeting approved allowing the town to install a cemetery registry marker on the stone wall near the cemetery.

Treasurer’s Report by Deana Chase:

Deana noted that the Finance Committee did not meet since our last business meeting.

This year’s Book Fair: To date, the meeting has taken in $18,816 at this year’s Book Fair, with approximately $1,000 in expenses. Meeting will likely clear $18,000 for this year’s Book Fair!

The Meeting minuted its appreciation to Emily and Dave Sutton for their hard work in preparation for, during and following this year’s Book Fair.

Nominating Committee:

The committee presented the 2nd reading of the slate of committees and officers for September 2007 through September 2008. The report was approved following discussion and amendments.

Peace and Social Concerns Committee reported by Deana Chase: Our collaborative involvement with Allen’s Neck Meeting in the Summer Conversations Series continues. Conversation programs in August will be on the 9th and 23rd of the month, beginning at 6:30 PM at the Apponagansett Meetinghouse in Dartmouth.

Other Business:

Meeting appointed Dave Sutton and Emily Sutton as representatives to New England Yearly Meeting.

Business Meeting will not be held in August but will meet again on the 3rd Sunday in September.

Meeting expresses appreciation to Buddy Baker-Smith, outgoing Clerk of Meeting, for his years of clerking and service to the Meeting. The office and role of Clerk is crucial to the wellbeing and life of a meeting. Buddy has given countless hours attending to the needs and concerns of our Meeting throughout his tenure. Thank you Buddy!

In September Marion Athearn will become our new Clerk of Meeting. Marion has extensive experience already among Friends, locally and within the yearly meeting, which she will bring to her new role.

The Meeting also expresses its appreciation to Steve Correia, outgoing Recording Clerk, for his dedication and thoroughness that he brought to this key role within our Meeting. Steve stepped in to fill an unexpected vacancy more than two years ago and has provided a seamless transition that only an experienced Friend could have done.

The Meeting welcomes Emily Sutton as our new Recording Clerk. Emily, who already serves our Meeting, along with her husband Dave as our Friends In Residence, will bring her typical measure of grace and cooperative spirit in her new service to Westport Friends.

Meeting will hold a potluck on October 10th, 2007 at 6pm to welcome the FUM General Board. This will provide an opportunity for Meeting members to dialogue with Board Members on issues relating to FUM, especially its controversial personnel policy.

Community News:

(Reprinted from East Bay Newspapers (Shorelines) and published on July 25, 2007. Story by Peggy Aulisio. Abridged for this newsletter. Used by permission.)

One of the highlights of the Quaker book fair on Saturday, July 14, was the dedication of a benchmark to Dr. Stewart Kirkaldy, the founder of the Westport Family Medicine Center and a former selectman.

The benchmark was designed by the artist and sculptor Joshua Enck of Providence. It is one of five to be placed throughout Central Village. All were selected by judges following a competition sponsored by the Westport Cultural Council using funds from the Helen Ellis Charitable Trust.

Al Lees sponsored the benchmark for Dr. Kirkaldy. He recalled the "the eternal and lasting friendship between our family and yours."

Mr. Lees recalled how the Lees and Kirkaldys connected and reconnected over time through activities like Little League baseball. He said, "Each family has produced a dislocated joint belonging to the other family."

Mr. Enck said the 10-foot bench was inspired by the "stone walls and low-slung landscape" of Westport with its "soft, delicate lines." He said the flowing curves and steel material will weather over time to a dark reddish brown. Mr. Enck said the weathering, or "graying over time," fits with the character of Westport with its historic houses, which he said "gray with time" like people.

The benchmark is a place for people to gather and rest and bring a touch of the artist to the central shopping area of Westport.

Posted by Kevin Lee at July 30, 2007 10:50 PM