BULLS-HEAD OSWEGO MONTHLY MEETING FOR BUSINESS
September 12, 2010
The Meeting opened at 12.30 after a brief silent worship, with the following Friends present:
Chris Cadbury, Mary Cadbury, John Perry, Sybil Perry, Elisabeth Prenot, Carol Rice, Denise
Sherman, Karen Snare, Valerie Suter, Caroline Webster, Bob West, Nettie West, Mary Williams
2010-48. FINANCE COMMITTEE REPORT: Contributions to Bulls Head Oswego Monthly
Meeting are significantly lower at this time of year than at the same time in the past 5 years. The
finance committee is concerned about the ability to fund our annual operating expenses from the
annual contributions. They recommend that our 2011 yearly contribution to Yearly Meeting be
reduced from $12,000 to $10,000. Friends approve this recommendation, and agree that should
we find ourselves financially able later in the year, we can make a further donation to the Yearly
Meeting, as was the case in 2010.
Friends approve the following financial records retention policy as recommended by the Finance
committee:
The treasurer will retain financial records, such as cancelled checks, bills, and bank
statements, for 5 years, one year more than the requirements for a 501c3. At that point,
the materials will be shredded.
The treasurer will keep records of open loans from a Meeting fund for 5 years after the
loan is repaid. If it is determined by Ministry and Counsel that the loan should be
forgiven, the records will be kept for 5 years from this determination.
2010-49 MINISTRY & COUNSEL REPORT:
Friends receive the following report from the Committee on Ministry & Counsel
1. Spiritual Nurture Group - Ministry and Counsel acknowledges the importance of the
Spiritual Nurture Group to the life of the Meeting and respects the autonomy and ability of
this group to determine its own direction in the future. On Sept 26, during the next
scheduled Spiritual Nurture Group, Val will convene a worship sharing to determine how
the group will move forward. Ministry and Counsel accepts the care of this group and
requests an annual report be given.
2. The person who stole the Meeting’s cell phone – The case is in the hands of the
Assistant District Attorney who has agreed to respect our wish to work with the youngster
under the auspices of the Dutchess County Mediation Center. No progress was made
during the summer months due to vacations. The Assistant District Attorney has said
that he is willing to be lenient for Anthony but wants to see a successful mediation occur
first.
3. Pot Lucks – In September Greta Mickey will speak about her recent peace work in
the Republic of Georgia. In October Mary Foster Cadbury will facilitate a discussion on
the vocal ministry.
4. The Treasurer, Clerk of Meeting, and Clerk of Ministry and Counsel recommend a
grant of $1,000 from the Ricketson Education Fund to assist one of our attenders with
tuition at Oakwood Friends School.
Friends approve the recommendation for a grant of $1000 from the Ricketson Education fund to
assist one of our attenders with tuition at Oakwood Friends School, as requested above.
2010-50. LETTER REQUESTING TRANSFER OF MEMBERSHIP: The clerk has received
a letter from Robert, Virginia and Candace Connelly requesting transfer of membership from
Uwchlan Monthly Meeting (Philadelphia YM) to Bulls Head Oswego Monthly Meeting. The letter
has been referred to Ministry & Counsel.
2010-51. CAROLINE WEBSTER returned the travel minute from this Monthly Meeting for her
travels in March 2010 in El Salvador (minute #2010-22). She traveled with the School of the
Americas Watch Oscar Romero Legacy Delegation, and her minute has been endorsed by them.
2010-52. HOSPITALITY COMMITTEE: Friends receive the following report from the Hospitality
committee:
Hospitality Committee Report
The Hospitality Committee recommends that Bulls Head-Oswego Meeting continue to
have weekly refreshments after Meeting using a “Potluck” approach where each Friend
contributes to the refreshments as able. The Hospitality Committee suggests that the
Meeting continue this practice until January.
However, we ask that Friends sign up on the sheet in the Gathering Room to either “Set
up” or “Clean up/close up” at least once a month. This shares the challenge of arriving
early or staying late among all Friends and does not burden any one person or the
Hospitality Committee with this weekly responsibility.
Additionally, the Committee will leave a sheet on the refrigerator where you are asked to
list items that the Hospitality committee needs to replenish such as sugar, coffee, etc.
The Hospitality Committee budget is $100 for the year so if an item is needed, you may
want to purchase that item for the Meeting as your contribution to refreshments for that
week. We do ask that you leave the receipt on the refrigerator or indicate the amount
spent so that we have a more accurate accounting of the actual budget needed for
Hospitality.
Julia Giordano, Elizabeth Prenot, Carol Rice
Friends approve the recommendation that the current practice (with the addition of a sign-up
sheet for “set-up” and “clean up/close-up”) be continued and reconsidered by the committee in
Dec 2010. The committee will report to the December Monthly Meeting.
2010-53. LIBRARY: Mary Cadbury reported that the following materials have been added to the
library.
Added in 2009:
Fit for Freedom, Not for Friendship, Quakers, African Americans, and the Myth of Racial
Justice by Donna McDaniel and Vanessa Julye. The authors spoke at New York Yearly
Meeting 2009.
Directory for Traveling Friends 2008, from Friends General Conference. A listing of
Friends who are willing to host you along with guidelines for visiting.
Being Home, a Book of Meditations by Gunilla Norris. A favorite of Leah Muller’s.
Hidden in Plain Sight, Quaker Women’s Writing, 1650-1700, edited by Mary Garman.
September 12, 2010
Right Relationships, Building a Whole Earth Economy, by Peter Brown and Geoffrey
Garver. A project of the Quaker Institute for the Future, the book presents a proposal for
bringing our economy, our ethics, and our environment into alignment.
Materials added to the Library January through July 2010:
Light in the Shadows, Meditations While Living with a Life-Threatening Illness, by Hank
Dunn, a Hospice chaplain with many years experience. (pamphlet)
The Dynamics of an Unprogrammed Meeting for Worship, by Mary R. Hopkins, published
by Friends General Conference.
Study Guide for the book Fit for Freedom, Not for Friendship, Quakers, African
Americans, and the Myth of Racial Justice. Prepared for FGC by Wren Almitra.
The Beautiful Soul of John Woolman, apostle of Abolition, by Thomas Sisughter.
(paperback)
Engaging Scripture: Reading the Bible with Early Friends, by Michael Birkel. (pamphlet)
Books have been rescued from the Oswego MH to be sorted and decisions made about where
they should go.
Meeting closed with a brief silence at 1.45, to meet again October 10, 2010 at 12.30 pm.
Karen Snare, clerk
Denise Sherman, recording clerk
