Bulls Head Oswego Monthly Meeting
Minutes of Meeting of February 14, 2010
Present: Christopher Cadbury, Mary Cadbury, Janet Carter, John Perry, Sybil Perry, Denise Sherman, Valerie Suter, Nettie West, Robert West
The Meeting opened with a period of worshipful silence. The clerk reviewed the agenda
2010-11: Due to the inability of our clerk, Karen Snare, to be present for this meeting, the meeting approved having Valerie Suter serve as clerk. Word having been received of the Recording Clerk, Caroline Webster, not being present because of an automobile accident on the way to meeting, Mary Cadbury took over those duties for the day. We are glad to know that Caroline reports that she herself is uninjured
2010-12: Valerie Suter reported a correction regarding minute # 2010-04 which stated that a cell phone had been purchased for the Meeting. Val had not yet purchased the cell phone in January and the cost is higher than reported in January, but still lower than the cost of the Verizon landline.
As of February 12, the change in phone service is complete. The Verizon landline service has been replaced by a combination of Skype phone service for messages and an AT&T pre-paid cell phone for ingoing and outgoing calls when people are at the meeting house. The cost of the Verizon landline service was approximately $396 per year; the combined cost of the two new services is $172 per year. There was an additional one-time charge of $30 to purchase the cell phone and charger. The Meeting’s old Verizon phone number, 845-266-4618, was reassigned to the cell phone. The Skype phone number is 845-266-6068.
The meeting accepted this report. Ministry and Counsel was asked to continue making arrangements for use of the phones.
2010-13: Mary Cadbury reported for the Nominating Committee. The committee brought forward the names of Valerie Suter for Treasurer and Nancy Angell for Assistant Treasurer for the calendar year, 2010. The meeting approved.
The nominating committee confirmed the name of Nancy Sorel as Recording Clerk for the months of April and May, 2010 (Minute 2009-49, October 11, 2009). Mary Cadbury will continue as alternate for the Recording Clerk.
2010-14: Denise Sherman for Ministry and Counsel read a proposed memorial minute for Elliott McEldowney. The meeting asked that Ministry and Counsel revise it with the help of others.
2010-15: Denise Sherman reported the following minute from Ministry and Counsel:
A small committee met with Tom and Janet Angell to look back at our shared past as well as our current spiritual condition. Our goal in doing this was to express and move beyond any lingering hurts and to see how our relationship might go forward. The meeting was honest and heartfelt. In addressing the question of how we might be in relationship with each other going forward, Tom was very clear: he loves the Meeting deeply, and hopes to be able to continue in friendship with individuals in it. His spiritual need is to worship with people who have the same very specific Christian beliefs that he does, and the Meeting does not share these beliefs. He longs for the day when the Meeting will come to share his beliefs and methods of expression about Jesus; then he will feel he can come ‘home.’ All of us in that meeting expressed a mutual desire not to be proselytized, and the hope to live lovingly side-by-side.
The meeting accepted the report. The forward-looking message of the report can serve as a reminder of the concerns for this relationship still remaining.
2010-16: Denise Sherman for Ministry and Counsel presented a draft State of the Meeting Report. The meeting asked Ministry and Counsel to consider the concerns raised today and bring a revised State of the Meeting Report to our March meeting.
2010-17: The meeting approved including in our minutes the following report from Nine Partners Quarterly Meeting session of February 7, 2010, for our information.
In accordance with the decision made at the November 1, 2009 session of Nine Partners Quarterly Meeting, the amount budgeted for “Programs” is available not only for program expenses at Quarterly Meeting sessions, but also for financial assistance to adults going to Powell House programs.
If an individual’s monthly meeting approves of financial assistance and more is needed than the monthly meeting can provide, the meeting can approach the Quarterly Meeting Treasurer on the individual’s behalf. The monthly meeting and the individual will decide on the amount to be requested, no more than $70. The Treasurer will forward on that person’s behalf the amount requested, as long as the budgeted total for “Programs” ($300 in 2009-2010) has not been exceeded. Quarterly Meeting assistance is limited to no more than once a year per person.
2010-18: John Perry spoke of the upcoming Meeting for Discernment to be held at Purchase Meeting February 20, 2010. Information about that session has been minimal in our Meeting. The clerk is asked to circulate details to our members. We ask that our representative report on the session at our March meeting.
The meeting ended in worship purposing to meet again March 14, 2010.
Valerie J. Suter, acting clerk Mary Foster Cadbury, alternate for the Recording Clerk
