Westport Friends Meeting

December 08 Monthly Meeting Highlights

Ministry and Counsel reported several items. Allen’s Neck Meeting is planning a clerking workshop to be led by Arthur Larrebee, who serves on the staff of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting. Further details will be forthcoming as plans develop.

Drafts of Travel Minutes were presented and approved for Marion Athearn and Deana Chase and will be sent to Sandwich Quarterly Meeting and Permanent Board for their consideration. Both Travel Minutes recognize the gifts and the further call of our two members; their work will be guided by their respective support committees and Ministry and Counsel and will be reevaluated by our Meeting in the fall of 2011.

Ministry and Counsel also provided a status report on their discernment regarding recording gifts of vocal ministry and recognizing and supporting other gifts of ministry among our members. After a period of discussion, Business Meeting asked Ministry and Counsel to develop a process to bring the wider Monthly Meeting community into this discernment process.

Finance Committee presented a detailed report by its clerk Greg Marsello. Friends who would like a complete copy of the January 2009 Finance Committee Update, which includes profit and loss statements, asset reports, concluded budget for 2008 and the approved budget for 2009 should contact Greg at 401-624-9840 or Marsello@lern.org.

A thumbnail sketch reveals that due to the economic downturn, the Pooled Funds with NEYM and our weekly offerings are down from the previous year. However, because our annual Book Fair was again successful, standing committees within our meeting were funded as planned for the 2009 Budget year. All committees are encouraged to remain within their budgets this year. Finance Committee recommends that major planned capitol improvements to facilities be delayed until next year whenever possible. FinCom plans to present a fundraising appeal to our members in the months ahead. Friends expressed their appreciation to the Finance Committee for all their hard work and to Greg specifically for his leadership.

Property Committee reported by Emily Sutton: The Cuffe family, in collaboration with the Westport Historical Society and the New Bedford Whaling Museum is planning a rededication of the Paul Cuffe Memorial that sits in the front of our property. It was first dedicated on June 13, 1913, and will be rededicated on June 13, 2009. Property Committee will be working on the logistics of this event, as space needs and use of the Community House will collide with our setup of books for the annual Book Fair in July.

Other Business: The Book Fair Clearness Committee plans to conclude its work at its final meeting on January 5th and report to Business Meeting in February.

Marion Athearn, Clerk of Meeting, presented and read a letter for approval that will be sent to Friends United Meeting. Friends approved the letter as presented. Please see a copy as attached to this Newsletter.

Consider receiving this Newsletter online: Some Friends, particularly those living outside the area and/or college students, already read our Newsletter online at our site. Our monthly Newsletters are archived and searchable and can also be read in Adobe format, which maintains the look and feel of the paper original. Online viewing saves the Meeting postage and printing costs. If you would like to receive the Newsletter online an email will be sent to you once a month with a link directly to the Adobe version. Send Kevin Lee your request in an email at kevinthequaker@gmail.com. The Meeting is pleased to continue sending Newsletters via US Mail. The online version is merely an option that might work for some and not others.