Westport Friends Meeting

Monthly Meeting Highlights, Nov 08

Marion Athearn, Clerk of Meeting, reported that “thank you” notes for our financial contributions have been received from Market Ministries, FCNL, and FWCC.

Website Committee, reported by Kevin Lee: At the request of monthly meeting, the committee met in early September to consider whether or not to post actual minutes of monthly meeting’s business, or to continue the practice of posting “highlights,” which are condensed from the actual minutes for posting. The Committee recommended that we continue with “highlights” on our site.

After a period of discussion, Friends were clear to continue with the practice of posting “highlights” of business meeting. Friends also agreed that any previous complete minutes that were posted on the site several years ago should be taken off.

Friends reviewed our practice of posting memorial minutes on our site. Members present agreed this practice was valuable, but we would do so only with permission of the deceased family. Monthly Meeting further agreed that Ministry and Counsel would be charged with overseeing this process in the future.

Regarding our Web site; the Clerk reminded Committee Clerks that they should be proactive about keeping the content on our site updated with information pertinent from their particular committee.

Ministry & Council, reported by Deana Chase: M&C has new pamphlets and packets of information for new attenders that explains worship in the manner of Friends; our testimonies; and additional contact info, etc. They will be kept in the Meeting House foyer and distributed to visitors by our greeter. Property Committee was charged with creating additional display area in the foyer.

Ministry and counsel has also been holding committee discussions regarding the Meeting’s practice of recording gifts of ministry, it’s history, value, and whether or not to continue this practice in the future. Eventually M&C plans to hold a series of discussions open to all meeting meetings.

Finance Committee Report, reported by Greg Marsello, clerk of Finance. Highlights of the report are:
• Finances remain on target. Offerings, however, are down, but should hopefully pick up over the next two months.
• Finance will present the first draft of the 2009 Budget at the November Business Meeting.
• Will present their thoughts on the 2009 Contribution List and strategy at the November Business Meeting.
• An offering letter will be mailed to all members in November.
• The committee is working on a Pooled Funds Interest Minute that will be presented for consideration.

Book Fair and Library Committees reported by Drew Lizak, contained the following items:
• The committee has some tasks which could be worked on during Fall Clean-Up Day.
• Books are arriving once again! The Thursday, 1:30 -3:30 PM sort times are working well. More help, however, is needed!
• The committee needs to replace some of the sorting tables in the Book Shed that are beyond repair.
• Deanna Chase received three, possibly rare books from a Meeting member and will check with NEYM Archivist to determine their value. The volumes will either be offered to the YM Archives, or, possibly, for sale to a collector.
• Related to the Meeting Library: Gretchen Baker-Smith is finishing the inventorying of Meeting historical documents and books. Once done she will distribute an electronic copy of the list to three people in case of a computer crash. Library Committee will decide where to store the final list.

Religious Education Committee, reported by Betty Ann Lee, Religious Ed. Clerk:
• New wall paint has been selected by Sara Mercer-Medeiros and approved by the committee for the First Day School rooms. Painting and related labor will be done as a service project by the Girl Scouts, with oversight provided by Dave and Emily Sutton, Friends In Residence.
• Adults are needed to teach First Day School! Please consider offering to teach a class. Materials and curriculum are provided. Contact Alice Mercer-Medeiros at 508-995-1306.
• With Gretchen Baker-Smith’s guidance, the First Day School curriculum is working well.
• OxFam America Fundraising Day is scheduled for November 9th. Following worship.

Property Committee, reported by Buddy Baker-Smith, clerk of Property, included the following:
• The new Community House sign is complete! Check it out…. It’s beautiful! Thanks to Stewart McGregor for overseeing this project and donating the expenses as well.
• As reported above, the Girl Scouts (c/o Sue Welch) will undertake the renovation of the two First Day School rooms.
• The committee will work on a storage solution for the Book Fair tables which were recently purchased from McBride Rental Company, which is going out of business.
• Other routine tasks such as floor refinishing are being worked on.
• Fall Clean-up Day is scheduled for the rise of meeting on November 9th. Rain date is the next Saturday, November 15th.

Marion Athearn, Clerk of Meeting announced that she will be attending a clerking workshop at Pendle Hill next month and will not be here for business meeting. A clerk for the day will be selected.

MEETING NEWS

Newsletter assistance is needed! The editor thanks Alice Mercer for her invaluable assistance over the past two years with mailing out Newsletters not picked up following the first Sunday of the month. The editor seeks a person willing to stuff about 25 envelops, label, stamp and send each month. All materials provided. Please contact Kevin Lee if you think that you could help with this. Thank you!