Fox Valley Friends Meeting for Business, November 10, 2019

FINAL

Present:  Katie B, Michael B, Carol C, Jim C, Jill H, Reed H, Tina M, Bob K, Mary K - Clerk

Approval of Minutes:  Minutes from the September 8 meeting were approved for posting.

Treasurer's Report:  Jim shared we have paid all of our bills for 2019, including our budgeted donations.  We have $55.32 left in our checking account, and we are expecting more contributions before the end of the year.

New Business.

Clearness Committee Report:  Carol Crawford and Reed Hardy were the Meeting members on the Clearness Committee for Katie Brewer-Berres-Boychik to consider membership in the Fox Valley Friends Meeting.  Carol presented the following report on behalf of the committee:  

“The Clearness Committee (Reed Hardy and Carol Crawford) met with Katie Boychik on October 2, 2019.  Katie shared her faith journey and her desire to continue that journey among Friends.  The Clearness Committee wholeheartedly recommends her for membership in Fox Valley Friends Meeting.”

Members approved accepting Katie’s application for membership and welcomed her with great appreciation and enthusiasm for the spiritual gifts and community support she brings to us with her presence.  Members also approved giving Katie a one-year subscription to Friends Journal.

Holiday Activities:  We will not have Meeting for Worship on Christmas Day or New Year’s Day, but we will have our regular 11 a.m. Meeting for Worship on all First Days during the holidays.  Members will assemble care packages and sign Christmas cards for our far away Friends on November 24.

Reports from Coordinators of Work Projects.

Budget:  Jim will present a budget for 2020 at our January Meeting for Business along with the year-end report for 2019. 

Ministry and Nurture:  Hayden has moved to the Bellevue Retirement Community on Hoffman Road off of GV.  He welcomes visits and phone calls.

First Day School:  Michael B has passed her background check for being a lead teacher in our FDS program, and has already served in that capacity.  Thank you, Michael, for helping make our FDS program better, stronger and more fun!

WISDOM/JOSHUA/RUTH:  Ned D. has let us know that he is unable to continue as our representative on the JOSHUA Board because of scheduling conflicts with the Monday night meetings.  We thank Ned for his service.  The position is now open to anyone from FVFM who feels called to this work.

JOSHUA has begun publishing a short prayer for social justice for each week.  They are encouraging all local churches to include these prayers in their service.  Members agreed that we will read this prayer each week after our sharing circle and before our song.  The list of JOSHUA prayers will be kept with the song books for easy access whenever needed.

FCNL:  Bob expressed the importance of contacting our state representatives to support greater action on gun control in the upcoming special session of the legislature.

Mauthe Center:  Reed reported that the Mauthe Center has a new director.  They have also moved their financial campaign to small donors.  Our treasurer, Jim, will consider what our Meeting could contribute and include it in the budget for 2020 for members to review in January.  Reed will bring pledge forms that individuals can use to contribute if they would like to.

Monthly Potluck/Discussion:  There are two remaining potluck/discussions for this season:  Nov 22 and Dec 20.

Prison Ministry:  Mary talked with Milwaukee Friends about their efforts to get the right to have a  Quaker Meeting for Worship at Fox Lake Correctional.  They are preparing an official request to send to the institution.  They will let us know if they need our Meeting’s support on anything as they proceed.

Tina reported that WISDOM is trying to send holiday cards to all of those in solitary confinement in Wisconsin prisons.

Respectfully submitted,

Mary Klos, Clerk

With support from Tina M