CMM 2009-01-11

Minutes of Meeting for Worship for Business

Concord (NH) Monthly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends

1^st Month 11, 2009

Concord (NH) Monthly Meeting gathered in Meeting for Worship for Business at the Merrimack Valley Day Care Center in Concord, NH. Friends present were Mark Barker, Don Booth, Lois Booth, David Freeman-Woolpert, Greg Heath (recording clerk), Ruth Heath (treasurer), Grace LeClair, Jay Smith, Sara Smith (clerk).

1.1 After a period of silent worship, we sang “Spirit of God in the Clear Running Waters.”

1.2 Minutes of the November and December meetings were reviewed and corrected.

1.3 Treasurer’s Report. Treasurer Ruth Heath presented a report of our income and expenses year to date. Two clarifying questions were answered and the report was accepted.

1.4 Mutual Aid fund. The clerk asked for a reaffirmation of the procedures for the Mutual Aid Fund. We would like to discuss this issue at another time.

1.5 Special Collections. The Meeting reaffirmed its position that the treasurer may accept earmarked contributions when the Meeting has approved establishing a fund to hold the contributions. This issue arose from a request, brought to the clerk from a friend of the Meeting, that we open a special collection for a specific refugee family. The Meeting is hesitant to move ahead at this time. There is concern that there are many issues relative to local refugee resettlement programs and our action may not best address the needs. We would like to look more deeply into the concerns expressed. We were reminded that we have been intending to invite Molly Messenger, AFSC NH staff member, to the meeting, and she has expertise in this area. Jay Smith will contact her.

1.6 Meeting House Project Financial Statement. Treasurer Ruth Heath presented a current Meeting House Project financial statement. The report was accepted as presented.

1.7 Gathering of All NH Friends. The Meeting agrees to contribute 50 servings of soup for the event. David and Don will organize the work.

1.8 Memorial Minutes for Adelaide Nichols, Roberta Nichols and Graham Chynoweth are needed for our February business meeting. The minutes will be drafted by committees. Initial appointments are: Ruth Heath, Lois Booth and Linda Peters (pending her acceptance) for the minutes for Roberta and Adelaide Nichols. Greg Heath, David Freeman-Woolpert, and Rob Spencer (pending his acceptance), and Don Booth are appointed to write the drafts for Graham Chynoweth’s minute. The clerk will announce these committees and invite others via email to express their interest so they may have the opportunity to participate.

1.9 Fundraising. The committee distributed “How we can get there from here,” a document they have prepared for the specially called meeting to be held next First Day at 6:00 p.m. at Havenwood. Individuals with questions are encouraged to contact the committee members.

1.10 After a brief period of worship, the meeting was called to a close by the clerk.

Respectfully submitted,