July August 2012 Newsletter
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Meeting for Business - Order of Worship
Attachements:
Progress Report from the Child Safety Committee
Personnel Committee Annual Report
FMW Newsletter
MONTHLY MEETING FOR WORSHIP WITH A CONCERN FOR BUSINESS
June 10, 2012
6/12- 1 Opening The Meeting opened at noon with a period of silent worship. David Etheridge served as Clerk, Meg Greene as Alternate Clerk, and Debby Churchman as Recording Clerk. The clerks read Advices, Queries and Voices concerning Simplicity which have been proposed by the Faith and Practice Revision Committee of Baltimore Yearly Meeting.
Advices
In our world, the word "simplicity" may be quickly followed by guilt and then by a sense of frustration, or even despair. We need to think of simplicity not as an impossible demand, but an invitation to a more peaceful and fulfilling Spirit-led life.
Simplicity flows from a well-ordered life. It is less a matter of doing without, than a spiritual quality that simplifies our lives by putting first things first. A simple way of life, freely chosen, is a source of strength, joy, and comfort.
The testimony of simplicity is like a bell that calls us to awareness of the Center. It challenges us to ask "what matters?" It reminds us that much of what worries us and stresses us is not all that important. It asks us to recognize the burdens we carry needlessly and lay them down. Simplicity is not about an antique form of dress or speech. It is a reminder that today, as surely as hundreds of years ago, we can choose to allow God to order our lives. It asks us to set aside time for prayer and spiritual discipline that open us to wisdom and guidance beyond our own. Today, as then, it refers to a life lit from within by the Inward Light, ordered by the Love that nourishes the core, and freed by the Spirit from bondage to the superficial.
Queries
What in my present life most distracts me from God?
What am I ready to release so that I can give my attention to what matters most?
How do the ways in which I choose to use my time, my possessions, my money, and my energy reflect my most deeply held values?
How do the ways in which we choose to use our community’s resources reflect our most deeply held values?
How do we support one another in our search for a simpler life?
Voices
Tis a gift to be simple, ‘tis a gift to be free
‘Tis a gift to come down where we ought to be
And when we find ourselves in the place just right,
we will be in the valley of love and delight.
When true simplicity is gained
To bow and to bend we will not be ashamed;
To turn and turn will be our delight
Till by turning, turning we come ‘round right. –Shaker spiritual
My mind through the power of Truth was in a good degree weaned from the desire of outward greatness, and I was learning to be content with real conveniences that were not costly; so that a way of life free from much Entanglements appeared best for me, tho' the income was small. I had several offers of business that appeared profitable, but saw not my way clear to accept of them, as believing the business proposed would be attended with more outward care & cumber than was required of me to engage in. I saw that a humble man, with the Blessing of the Lord, might live on a little, and that where the heart was set on greatness, success in business did not satisfy the craving; but that commonly with an increase of wealth, the desire for wealth increased. There was a care on my mind so to pass my time, as to things outward, that nothing might hinder me from the most steady attention to the voice of the True Shepherd. –John Woolman
I wish I might emphasize how a life becomes simplified when dominated by faithfulness to a few concerns. Too many of us have too many irons in the fire. We get distracted by the intellectual claim to our interest in a thousand and one good things, and before we know it we are pulled and hauled breathlessly along by an over-burdened program of good committees and good undertakings. I am persuaded that this fevered life of church workers is not wholesome. Undertakings get plastered on from the outside because we can't turn down a friend. Acceptance of service on a weighty committee should really depend upon an answering imperative within us, not merely upon a rational calculation of the factors involved. The concern-oriented life is ordered and organized from within. And we learn to say No as well as Yes by attending to the guidance of inner responsibility. Quaker simplicity needs to be expressed not merely in dress and architecture and the height of tombstones but also in the structure of a relatively simplified and coordinated life-program of social responsibilities. –Thomas R. Kelly
6/12 - 2 Welcome of Visitors - Approximately 43 Friends were present. All who attended had previously been to a Meeting for Business at Friends Meeting of Washington.
6/12 – 3 Clerks’ Report
1. On June 16, Baltimore Yearly meeting Interim Meeting Day will be held at Dunnings Creek Meeting in Fishertown, Pennsylvania.
2. The deadline for submitting registrations for Annual Session at the discounted Early Registration Rate is close of business on Monday, June 25. Yearly Meeting annual sessions will be from July 30 to August 5 in Frostburg, Maryland.
MAJOR ITEMS
6/12 – 4 Update from the Child Safety Committee - Tracy Hart of Child Safety presented this progress report (see attached). She thanked Clem Swisher for his founding work of starting the committee in 2006. She read the paragraph about interim arrangements, which have been created to seek inclusion on a case-by-case basis of FMW participants who have been identified as child sex offenders. These arrangements seek a balance between the safety of the children and the welcoming of all attenders. They do not represent policy or unity at the Meeting. Child Safety is in unity that their committee’s long-term mandate is confined to child safety, not to implementation or oversight of a policy regarding sex offenders involving children, nor survivor support. The number of members of the committee has expanded from 4 to 6, because the immediate mandate of the committee has been extended to include revising the current Child Safety policy as well as helping to support the development of a child sex offender policy.
The committee would like the Meeting to approve a change regarding volunteers who work with children and teens. The current policy states that such volunteers must have been members or attenders at FMW for at least six months, and receive two personal references. The committee would like to change this, keeping the six months attendance requirement but asking that the volunteers undergo a criminal background check with the police instead of personal references. The committee says that the cost of such background checks is $10/person. (A Friend says this is actually $20.)
The committee has received feedback about this proposed change. Some have wanted to know the names of the individuals currently identified. Others have wanted to have expectations for such individuals spelled out in writing. Others have pointed out that information from a personal reference is valuable in a different way from information received from the police, and asked that the Committee consider doing both.
A Friend pointed to the language about the interim arrangements, which say they involve someone "adjudicated and/or convicted for committing sexual offense against children," but does not say anything about how long ago the crime may have happened or what has happened since then. He believes we need an official policy. He also believes that asking individuals to sign a limited access agreement goes against our testimony of integrity.
Another Friend commented on formalizing background safety checks, saying that members of RE are discussing the possibility of safety monitors for child safety in the backyard. He believes they should also be included in background checks. Also, he wants whatever policy we develop to be informed by judicial decision but not tied to them. The judges who make these decisions don’t know what the needs of a religious community might be, and should not be making decisions for us.
A Friend thanked the Child Safety Committee for dealing with these issues. He wants to know what it means that these new arrangements should be "given time to settle." He is concerned about parents and survivors, and whether these interim arrangements meet their needs.
A Friend asked if anything turned up on a criminal background check would be used to exclude anyone from volunteering with children and teens. What if the individual was arrested for civil disobedience? Another Friend said that hiring decisions related to information revealed in background checks are different based on different crimes. The committee is only focused on child-related offenses, not all crimes.
A Friend points out that a full range of crimes can put someone on the sex offender registry, and believes that it is unfair to treat them all the same. We are not an arm of the police. She predicts that in the future, people on the registry will not let us know about their background. She also believes that of those on the registry attending Meeting we know of, only one needs an escort (and wishes to have one).
A Friend recently had an opportunity to test her own feelings about being with someone on the registry. She felt that she needed some kind of clarity from them that they were not going to commit the crime again. It felt like this person didn’t want to be held accountable for that or to answer her need for safety. She wants us to hold these particular offenders accountable so that we can feel safe with them and grow spiritually.
A Friend spoke to the current escort arrangement. Two of the people on the registry are members who we have known for years and with whom we have had no issue. She believes they should not have to have escorts.
A Friend says that as an adult she doesn’t personally need other people to have an escort. However, the children of the Meeting are in our trust, and don’t have equal power to adults. It is fundamental to create a community where children can learn to have trust and confidence in everyone around them. We can look to the painful history of other congregations who vest authority in adults who were not safe with children. We need to do whatever it takes to ensure that our children are safe and able to thrive here. Children are required to have an escort; child sex offenders should be as well.
A Friend points to the words in the interim arrangements that recommends that child sex offenders have an escort "as a condition of attendance." He points out that there is no policy, even an interim policy. No one has authority to exclude anyone. The arrangements we have now are voluntary.
Tracy responded to questions. Re: criminal background checks—if something turns up in an individual’s record, then the Child Safety Clerk, Religious Education Clerk, and the Clerks of the Meeting will review it to see if it has any bearing on the person’s ability to take care of children. This will be done on a case-by-case basis. They will also discern if this information should be discussed with the individual.
Tracy also says that these informal arrangements are not tied to the sex offender registry. Child Safety did come to unity that in general they think there should be an escort and alternate escort for child sex offenders, as a place of balance. These interim arrangements should not be read as either precedence or feedback on a policy for the Meeting.
A Friend reiterated that because we have no policy, anyone can attend worship without an escort.
David Etheridge says that this feedback will be used to inform the committee as it moves forward on developing a Child Safety policy.
Friends APPROVED requiring criminal background checks on anyone volunteering with children or teens.
6/13 – 5 Fiscal Year 2013 Budget – Jim Bell, Interim Clerk of Finance & Stewardship, made the second presentation of the FY 2013 budget. He would like to review the budget with the Meeting for Business on a quarterly basis. The committee has developed a set of objectives, which he will send out. They see themselves as being there for the FMW community and to balance the budget.
He noted several changes to the proposed budget from the first presentation (see attached). BYM has recalculated the apportionment, so we don’t need to renegotiate that amount. He pointed to bookkeeping fees, and acknowledged how important Laurie Wilner has been to the institutional memory of FMW’s finances. The committee decided to reduce the amount it expects to receive in contributions; the new amount seems more realistic to them. Contributions are $26,000 lower than last year, which the committee attributes to the current state of the Meeting rather than the economy. He points out that there is not a lot of wiggle room in the budget; it cannot absorb a large deficit.
A Friend asked to see a sheet that compares income and expenses on property, and asked about the difference between actual and projected income from investments. Laurie Wilner, Bookkeeper, says that the gap between actual and projected income from investments is because the check from Friends Fiduciary doesn’t come in until next month.
A Friend asked what kind of response we are receiving from the recent appeal. He also asked if households that have more than one member are asked to give at the same rate as households that only have one member. Jim said the committee will put this last question on their agenda to discuss. The committee is still in the process of sending out the appeal, and doesn’t yet know the response. They are sending two mailings—to those who have contributed but not in the last year, and to those who have contributed regularly. They didn’t mark the response envelopes, so it will be difficult to keep track of the response rate.
A Friend comments that the cost of living has risen since 2004, and would like us to consider raising the hourly rate for our Bookkeeper. He also asked if the budget includes money for a Religious Education Coordinator. Jim says it does, but only for 10 hours—not the 20-hour position that the Religious Education Committee asked for.
A Friend asked about unexpected bequests over the last 30 years—what did we do to get them? Is this something we can do again? She believes that these bequests reflected what we stand for--what can we do to be the change we want to see? She asks if the committee has wondered why people have abstained from giving. Jim says that the committee wants to develop a fundraising strategy. They have wondered why donations are down, and have some guesses. The committee is not at the point of going to donors and asking them why they did or did not give. The committee would like to consider this and bring the strategy to the Meeting before implementation.
Beth Cogswell from Nominating wondered if Finance & Stewardship should be separated
—if the talents and skills involved in a budget approach are different from the talents and skills involved in a fundraising approach. The committee has not considered this.
A Friend asks that we translate our accounting numbers into information that is meaningful to the average person. What do we lose if we don’t make the budget? Jim says we will lose the ability to do a lot of good in terms of property maintenance and activities we care about. The appeal letter focuses on the hospitality committee and its needs and services.
A Friend shared her belief that a budget is a moral document, and how you spend your money reflects what you feel is important. This budget says that keeping the Meetinghouse in the city is important to us. She urges us to consider the depth of community and our commitment to it. Our gifts should not be, what do I get for it? Instead, they should be freely given out of our love for our community. This budget is the stewardship of our love for this community.
A Friend observed that the budget calls for an increase of donations of more than 11%. We have not historically been able to make that kind of increase. She believes we need to feel comfortable going to each other and asking for money.
Olivia James, of the Finance and Stewardship Committee, asks that others who are interested in the stewardship side consider joining the committee.
A Friend asks how much the median donation per household was in 2011. It was about $500. If we added 11%, it would be $555. Laurie points out that donorship is almost impossible to measure at FMW. We really don’t know how many people attend—let alone what percentage is donating. Total donor base is about 800 households. Donations are down by $26,000. The Committee hopes this is an abnormality, and that next year, it will go back to normal. They are basing their predictions on that hope.
A Friend thinks it would be good to increase the number of donors rather than trying to increase the average contribution.
A Friend believes that we should think about how each of us can help to get the work done—how do we serve you better, so that we don’t provide extra stress to those doing the work.
A Friend asked about what "median" means—is this everyone, or regular donors? It means regular donors.
A Friend asked how much money is typically collected on first day. Laurie Wilner said that cash is rarely more than $120; often only about $50. Many donate through the auto donor program—about $10,000/month. Some people give through the mail monthly, or quarterly, or biyearly.
A Friend commented on the degree to which we do not pay our own way. The property is assessed at $12 million; we have no mortgage. We have income of $200,000/year from investments and property. He sometimes feels as if we are a primitive tribe camped out on the ruins of a past civilization that has left us behind. We need to pay for ourselves.
Friends APPROVED FY 2013 budget. Friends expressed thanks to the committee for its work.
MILESTONES
6/12 – 6 Membership Committee
1. Request for Membership of Justin Connor – David Etheridge made the second presentation of this request. Friends APPROVED.
2. Transfer of Lucia Elena Sanchez from Friends Meeting of Washington to Chattanooga (Tennessee) Friends Meeting – Gerri Williams, Co-Clerk of Membership, presented this request for transfer. Friends APPROVED this request.
OTHER BUSINESS AND REPORTS
6/12 – 7 Nominating Committee – Beth Cogswell, Clerk of Nominating, brought the following nominations:
Child Safety Committee for terms through December 2014
1. Giovanni Sella (second presentation)
2. Kathrina Peterson (second presentation)
3. Carrie Mitchell (second presentation)
Friends APPROVED these nominations.
Treasurer and Assistant Treasurers for terms through June 2013
1. Robert Meehan as Treasurer
2. Justin Connor as Assistant Treasurer
3. Michael North as Assistant Treasurer
Friends APPROVED these nominations.
Trustee for Term Ending October 2013
Susan Lepper
Friends APPROVED this nomination.
6/12 – 8 Writers of Memorial Minutes – David Etheridge said that the following Friends have agreed to write memorial minutes
1. Loie Clark for Dick Bellin
2. Dan Dozier for Winifred Walker Jones
3. Riley Robinson for M. Elois Rogers
Friends APPROVED these writers.
Reports
6/12 – 9 Annual Report of the Personnel Committee –Byron Sanford presented this report (see attached). The Committee recommended to the Committee of Clerks that Tom Cooke’s contract be extended to September 30, 2012, and that we establish a staffing study team.
A Friend points out that Laurie doesn’t have the authority to pay for the property manager beyond the end of this month. We need to extend his contract to Sept. 30, 2012. Friends APPROVED.
6/12 – 10 Update from the Capital Improvements Task Force – Neil Froemming presented the following information:
• In April, we signed an agreement to employ Lippincott Associates and Gauthier Alvarado Associates as our architects, to develop a concept and costs for a "minimum plan" elevator addition and connections and perhaps a few separately costed options.
• They immediately set to work, and have met with us and surveyed the campus.
• They have had to put considerable effort into verifying, updating, correcting, and extending the existing state drawings. We may therefore need to ask Trustees and MfB for some additional funds.
• They have met with Historical Preservation Review Board (HPRB) staff at the Meeting House.
• They provided us with some initial rough concept sketches to see if we're all on the same page about where we're going.
• Being architects, they came up with some really interesting ideas for doing such things as eliminating the existing stairs and front entrance, relocating the DPR door, and expanding the front office.
• We told them to focus strictly on the elevator addition and necessary related changes to existing buildings and the back garden.
• We need to consider back garden needs, because any future major work there would be made very difficult by the new elevator addition. In any case, some part of the back garden needs to be leveled and brought down to the Assembly room level to tie the buildings together with the new addition.
• We had hoped to preserve the Parlor as is, but because of feedback from HPRB, we now are fairly sure that the second floor connection to the MH will involve changes to the Parlor. We can’t build too close to the street, alas. We may combine 2/3 of parlor with library to make one large room.
• We hope to provide more specific plans and some cost information by the next Meeting for Business.
• The Capital Campaign Committee is gearing up. Trustees have approved $7,000 for fundraising expenses, and the Campaign Committee is drafting fundraising letters and plans and starting to talk to Friends about the campaign.
• Because existing plans required more updating and correcting than anticipated, we will need to ask for some additional funds (about $4000).
• We may also need some money for additional civil engineering studies of soil and drainage issues and for printing and copying costs.
• We plan to ask Trustees and Meeting for an additional $7,000, but hope not to spend all of it.
A Friend asked about the drainage issues and wheelchair access in the back garden. Neil said that when we get a long rain, it bubbles up in our kitchen. The question is how to drain that other than through the kitchen. We need a hydrology study. Lowering that area will probably change the drainage issue.
A Friend said that he hopes that cost analysis will be broken into segments—so much for drainage, so much for the elevator, so much for the connection with Quaker House. Neil says their strategy is to provide options—minimum requirements, plus other options. We haven’t asked the architects to provide separate costs for the connections between the MH and CH.
A Friend observed that we have been here before. We’ve already spent more than $100,000 on plans that have gone nowhere. She also reminds us that there are the remains of many friends in the back garden.
A Friend asks if the back yard is that property behind the whole campus or just the part which is currently occupied by woodchips. It is just the woodchip area. A Friend points out that many years ago we came up with an inexpensive way to build a ramp from the Meetinghouse along the back wall to Quaker House. We don’t need to reinvent this in an expensive way.
A Friend asks, isn’t the elevator the only thing we really want? The proposal the Meeting approved in 2008 was for the construction of an elevator and a new and more welcoming foyer between the Meeting House and Carriage House. Quaker House and Carriage House were constructed as residential buildings, and there is almost no connectivity between or within them.
6/12 – 11 Update from The Property Committee – Steve Brooks, Co-clerk of Property, reported the following: In the last month, we’ve finished the renovation of the corner office behind the Quaker House living room, Promundo will move in during June. They are renovating the former Peace Tax Fund space; Dupont Circle Village will be moving into that space. They are painting internally and externally at Quaker House. They are doing continuing discernment regarding the play structure and other R.E. needs.
A Friend asked how we can best connect with our space occupiers. Property will continue to do monthly potlucks with them, and perhaps get them to come speak with us. Peace & Social Concerns also would like to connect with them.
6/12 - 12 Adjournment - The Meeting adjourned at last at 2:57 pm with 27 in attendance, to convene again as way opens, July 15, 2012 at Noon.
Attachments:
Progress Report from Safety Committee
F & S Proposed FY13 Budget
F & S Budget Issues and Points (Pie Chart)
Personnel Committee Annual Report
Progress Report from the Child Safety Committee
June 2012 Meeting for Worship with a Concern for Business
Interim Arrangements: Child Safety related
“The Child Safety Committee has been asked to make informal interim arrangements for persons whom we know have been adjudicated and/or convicted of committing sexual offenses against children and who want to worship with us. While we work to develop and find unity on a Meeting policy for such situations, Friends have tried to address the immediate situation by negotiating escort agreements with two such individuals. The arrangements are specific to each individual, but in general provide for escort and alternate escort as a condition of attendance at FMW during First Day during Meeting for Worship and Business hours (9 am to 2 pm), effective June 3. Friends with personal concerns about these arrangements are encouraged to contact David Etheridge, Meeting Clerk, or Tracy Hart of the Child Safety Committee.”
The above was circulated on Sunday, May 27th, 2012 The Child Safety Committee (CSC) has received minimal feedback on this. This interim arrangement text is being presented to this Meeting for Business for informational purposes, and is intended to stay in effect until a formal policy is adopted by the Meeting. A 'zero draft' of a FMW Sex Offender Policy, Steps to Worship, SO Agreement Contract, and SO Escort Expectations was circulated for comments on May 11th, 2012. All comments received were circulated on May 18th, 2012. CSC is in unity that the "Limited Access Agreement" developed by Unitarian Universalist Rev. Debra Haffner, in her publication "Balancing Acts: Keeping Children Safe in Congregations" is an appropriate base text to use and incorporate FMW-specifics. This is our next step.
Proposed Mandate of the Child Safety Committee
As of the May 2012 Meeting for Worship with a Concern for Business, the number of members of the CSC was expanded from four to six, for a period to extend through December 2014. During this period, for as long as it takes for the Meeting to come unity, the CSC will help the Meeting discern appropriate revisions of a Child Safety Policy and drafting and finalization of Child Sex Offender Policy.
The CSC, at this moment, expresses its sense that once we help the Meeting reach unity on the two policies, the Committee will revert to its original size and mandate, mainstreaming our efforts into implementation of the revised Child Safety Policy. It is our hope that, through the above process, the Meeting might define an Ad Hoc Sex Offender Support Committee that would sustain and support any relevant policy. We would recommend that at least one member of CSC be nominated for that Ad Hoc Sex Offender Support Committee. We are in unity as a committee that our mandate is Child Safety, not the broader issue of SOs adjudicated and/or convicted of offenses concerning adults, nor survivor support. The Ad Hoc Sex Offender Support Committee could be more closely involved in these issues.
Strengthening Child Safety implementation
CSC is in unity that national criminal background checks for those members and attenders of FMW for more than six months be instituted for volunteers working in Child Care, First Day School, and/or with teens. This would replace the reference check system now in place. There are costs and labor implications for this change in procedure. The estimated charge is $10 per check; we have completed 45-50 checks over the past 5 years in our reference check system now in place. The estimated initial cost might be $300, with a yearly cost of $100-150 ensuing. FMW administrative staff have currently been requesting these criminal background checks, and this task could be taken on by either a FMW administrative office staff member and/or the Youth Program Coordinator. This change would come into effect for the Fall 2012 First Day School year. Other Child Safety implementation steps completed or underway include two trainings on the current Child Safety Policy conducted on May 20, 2012. Follow-up on underway on development of appropriate training for parents and for age-relevant children on how to prevent child abuse.
We thank all of those who have been patient, gentle, and mindful in participating in the above efforts.
To read the Finance and Stewardship documents-
Proposed FY13 Budget and Budget Issues please visit the F &S committee web pages on the FMW web page.
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YTD Actual FY 2012 |
Projected Year End FY 12 |
Total FY 12 Budget |
Total FY 13 Draft Budget |
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Revenue |
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Donations |
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Contribution - Identified |
192,638 |
210,000 |
236,000 |
236,000 |
|
Contributions - In Kind |
1,108 |
1,110 |
0 |
0 |
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Contributions - Other |
3,344 |
3,500 |
2,500 |
3,300 |
|
Total Donations |
197,090 |
214,610 |
238,500 |
239,300 |
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|
|
|
|
|
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Sales of Office Literature |
257 |
260 |
1,000 |
300 |
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|
|
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Building Revenue |
|
|
|
|
|
Space Use - Regular |
111,622 |
111,630 |
105,015 |
123,062 |
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Space Use - Occasional |
6,829 |
6,830 |
5,960 |
5,500 |
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Total Building Revenue |
118,451 |
118,460 |
110,975 |
128,562 |
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Investment Income |
39,689 |
79,050 |
78,500 |
78,000 |
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|
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Miscellaneous Income |
295 |
295 |
500 |
0 |
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|
|
|
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Restricted & Designated Funds |
60,169 |
60,460 |
0 |
0 |
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Memorials & Bequests |
2,200 |
2,200 |
0 |
0 |
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|
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Total Revenue |
418,151 |
475,335 |
429,475 |
446,162 |
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Expense |
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Personnel Costs |
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|
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Wages & Taxes (excl child care) |
80,275 |
89,800 |
85,079 |
121,085 |
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Childcare Wages & Taxes |
8,388 |
9,870 |
11,511 |
11,510 |
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Friendly Presence Costs |
92 |
100 |
0 |
0 |
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Employee Benefits & Pension |
10,833 |
11,085 |
10,812 |
9,390 |
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Office Assistance |
9,082 |
9,610 |
700 |
0 |
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Seminar & Similar Expenses |
0 |
0 |
1,000 |
760 |
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Total Personnel Costs |
108,670 |
120,465 |
109,102 |
142,745 |
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Consultants |
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Bookkeeping |
22,759 |
25,000 |
25,200 |
27,700 |
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Audit & Legal Costs |
3,800 |
3,800 |
3,800 |
3,900 |
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Consultants - Other |
85 |
85 |
28,000 |
950 |
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Total Consultants |
26,644 |
28,885 |
57,000 |
32,550 |
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Program Costs |
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Project Supplies |
28,769 |
29,000 |
3,150 |
3,680 |
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Food Costs |
6,464 |
8,000 |
8,900 |
7,800 |
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Outreach Expenses |
0 |
0 |
500 |
0 |
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Other Project Costs |
541 |
700 |
750 |
250 |
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Purchases for Community |
181 |
200 |
1,000 |
300 |
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Donations & Grants |
19,120 |
19,120 |
8,250 |
8,250 |
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Scholarship Awards |
15,800 |
15,800 |
1,750 |
2,000 |
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Dues, Subscriptions & Gift Books |
837 |
900 |
950 |
1,670 |
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Total Program Costs |
71,712 |
73,720 |
25,250 |
23,950 |
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Site Costs |
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Utilities |
18,205 |
20,000 |
25,000 |
28,850 |
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Trash & Recycle |
4,960 |
5,300 |
5,400 |
3,600 |
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Custodial |
13,126 |
14,800 |
25,150 |
21,080 |
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Building Maintenance & Repairs |
47,180 |
50,000 |
33,000 |
33,000 |
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Ground Maintenance |
8,145 |
9,000 |
15,000 |
15,000 |
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Insurance - Property & Liability |
12,748 |
14,000 |
16,995 |
14,000 |
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Building & Grounds - Other Costs |
16,912 |
17,050 |
5,750 |
32,750 |
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Total Site Costs |
121,276 |
130,150 |
126,295 |
148,280 |
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Office Expenses |
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Office Supplies |
1,241 |
1,350 |
1,000 |
1,200 |
|
Postage |
2,182 |
2,200 |
2,300 |
1,600 |
|
Printing & Copying |
1,673 |
2,250 |
3,760 |
1,800 |
|
Computer Expense |
4,693 |
5,000 |
6,450 |
4,000 |
|
Equipment Costs |
2,775 |
3,000 |
500 |
500 |
|
Total Office Expenses |
12,564 |
13,800 |
14,010 |
9,100 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other Expenses |
|
|
|
|
|
Other Payroll Costs |
1,933 |
2,400 |
2,400 |
2,400 |
|
Apportionment Expense |
61,740 |
61,740 |
59,740 |
58,320 |
|
Bank Fees |
1,333 |
1,600 |
2,000 |
1,800 |
|
Miscellaneous Expense |
29 |
30 |
0 |
0 |
|
Total Other Expenses |
65,035 |
65,770 |
64,140 |
62,520 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Expense |
405,901 |
432,790 |
395,797 |
419,145 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net Before Depreciation & Transfers |
12,250 |
42,545 |
33,678 |
27,017 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Depreciation & Transfers to Reserve |
0 |
30,000 |
16,839 |
27,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net After Depreciation & Transfers |
12,250 |
12,545 |
16,839 |
17 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Unrealized Gains |
345 |
(10,245) |
0 |
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net Revenue After Unrealized Revenue |
12,595 |
2,300 |
16,839 |
17 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Friends Meeting of Washington
FY 13 Budget
Meeting for Business Presentation - Sixth Month, 2012
The updated budget reflects several changes made by the Finance and Stewarship Committee (F&S) at their meeting on the 5th day of Sixth Month, 2012. The following list details the line items that were altered and the rationale for making the alterations:
· Identified contributions were reduced by $4,000 from $240,000 to $236,000. F&S was concerned that a goal of $240,000 was not attainable. The belief is that $236,00 is quite optimistic but that the community is capable of reaching that goal as long as we work to keep the Meeting’s financial needs in our minds and hearts. In FY 11 we received $231,786 in identified contributions. The F&S Committee hopes that this year’s significantly lower support is an anomaly.
· Bookkeeping fees were reduced by $2,300 from $30,000 to $27,700. F&S needed to reduce the budget and will work to keep the hours required from our bookkeeper to this level. The Committee took note of the fact that there has been no increase in the hourly rate paid for this service since our current bookkeeper was contracted directly with us in 2004. The increase between 2012 and 2013 for service reflects only a projected increase in hours worked.
· Utilities were reduced by $450 from $29,300 to $28,850. Specifically, telephone costs were reduced by $250, electric costs were reduced by $100, and water costs were reduced by $100. Based upon current year’s projected expenses, these reductions should not put an undue burden on those responsible for the buildings’ stewardship.
· The increased custodial services was reduced by $1,000 from $20,880 to $19,880. The budget for FY 12 for custodial service is $14,400. The reduction was done by F&S in recognition that this funding level still allows for a significant increase in custodial care of the buildings.
· Apportionment increased by $450. BYM initially requested an increase of 12% from FMW; F&S did not believe an increase of that amount was able to be accepted and initially budgeted for a 6% increase. BYM has recalculated the apportionment and has reduced the increase to 7.6% that goes into effect 1/1/13.
Personnel Committee Annual Report 2012
In the early months of 2011 Personnel Committee conferred with the Property Committee to discuss hiring a Property Manager, whose primary duties would be maintenance of FMW buildings, facilities, and equipment, event management, and space use management. All concerned clearly saw the need for such a position, to reflect the Meeting’s changed circumstances after the departure of School for Friends from Quaker House and Carriage House space, conversion of the Carriage House apartment to office space, and the renting of Carriage House space to new tenants. Personnel Committee worked with Property Committee from July to September 2011 to draft a Property Manager’s position description, and to revise, with Tom Cooke’s assent, the Administrative Secretary’s position description.
On October 23, 2011, Property and Personnel Committees met to approve a position description for a Property Manager; it was approved by the Meeting for Business November 13, 2011. The committees had agreed to the Administrative Secretary’s revised position description in September 2011.
It was understood there would be a period of adjustment while the Interim Property Manager and Administrative Secretary worked in accord with the two new position descriptions. Property Committee recruited and hired Ken Orvis to serve as Interim Property Manager from late January 2012 through June 30, 2012.
Beginning in the Autumn of 2011, Personnel Committee had anticipated and begun planning for Tom Cooke’s sabbatical leave in early 2012. In October, Tom Cooke recruited Catherine Vanderwaart to manage the office, on a part time basis. Tom also recruited a small group of Friendly Office Presences willing to staff the office during the sabbatical, and to be supervised by Catherine. Tom Cooke was on sabbatical leave in March and April 2012.
Ken Orvis worked closely, first with Tom Cooke in January and February, then with Catherine Vanderwaart, who managed the office during Tom’s sabbatical, and again with Tom Cooke after his return from sabbatical April 29, 2012.
In May 2012 the Personnel Committee discerned it had had sufficient experience of observing the two positions in operation. After consultation with Property Committee it presented [May 10, 2012] two recommendations to the Committee of Clerks. One was to extend the contract of Administrative Secretary Tom Cooke to September 30, 2012, at a salary in accord with our employment policy. Two was to establish a staffing study team to assess FMW's staffing needs, and present findings and recommendations for a suitable staffing option to the Committee of Clerks and to the Meeting. Findings and recommendations were expected to be presented in early July 2012.
July August 2012
Summer Events
William Penn House
The William Penn House, a Quaker Center on Capitol Hill, hosts monthly potluck dinners on a scheduled Sunday evening at 6:30 p.m. There is a topic, speaker, and open discussion afterwards. During July and August, there will not be any scheduled potlucks for a summer break. Check for the September potluck. In addition to monthly potlucks, the William Penn House provides low cost accommodations and Quaker center programs and seminars. Join the weekly Yoga class at the William Penn House on Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m. (Please note there will not be a class on Tuesday, July 3, 2012). All ages and all skill levels are welcome. There is a $15 charge per class. Also, daily at 7:30 a.m. to 8 a.m. a Meeting for Worship is held. On Sundays, with the exception of the first Sunday of the month, Capitol Hill Friends meet from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Workshops at the William Penn House Include: DC Workcamp, July 1-6. 15 million visitors come to Washington DC every year, but few actually see beyond the tourist attractions to the community that keeps DC going. This Workcamp will include July 4 fireworks and the Smithsonian Folklife Festival, but will go beyond as we connect with local organizations that do incredible work below the radar. In addition, we will see sites that few tourists venture to see. Lodging will be at William Penn House. The fee is $500 for the week.
The Pine Ridge Workcamp will be held on Wednesday, July 17 through Wednesday,
August 1, 2012. Workcamp colleague Mike Grey has led Workcamps to Pine Ridge South Dakota for alonst 20 years, developing deep connections in the Lakota reservation. For the past four years, William Penn House has joined Mike on these Workcamps. We spend two weeks engaged in projects that engage in the continuing of sacred traditions while addressing the challenges of the present with a vision for the future.
For more information contact The William Penn House. It is located at 515 East Capitol St. SE Washington, DC 20003, (202) 543-5560.
FriendsWilderness Center
Friends Wilderness Center is located near Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. For direction and more information, go the Friends Wilderness new web page. A short list of the programs scheduled for July and August include:
Saturday, July 7, at 10:00 a.m. (until 1:00 p.m.) a trail hike will be led by Lisa Payne, A friends Wilderness Board member and a frequent hiker. On the hike Lisa will share her extensive knowledge of the property, local history and nature lore. Reservations are requested.
On Saturday, July 21 at 2 p.m. there will be a Friends Forestry Tour. Certifies Forester, Carlen Emmanuel of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy will share her knowledge of forests and forest ecology as she leads the group over trails. Learn how to “read” the real history of former land practices; understand the ecology of the Appalachian hardwood forest and what constitutes responsible forest management. This hike is suitable for all ages up from 7th graders. Reservations are requested.
On Saturday, July 21, at 6:30 p.m. a Stargazing dinner will be held. Reservations are required. At 8:30 p.m. Stargazing session will be led by astronomer Kevin Boles. Kevin will provide a telescope and help Friends locate and view some of the wonderful objects (planets, star clusters, nebulae) and constellations that grace our summer sky. All ages are welcome to participate. Reservations are requested.
For directions, questions, or more information contact Shelia Bach at (304) 728-4820. Or go to the Friends Wilderness web page.
BYM Annual Session
Let your Spirit grow! Baltimore Yearly Meeting’s Annual Session 2012 will be held at Frostburg State University in Frostburg, Maryland from Monday July 30 through Sunday August 5. The theme for this year is Spirit-led Social Action. You can refresh yourself at Monday’s retreat, take in the exciting plenary sessions, and engage in a range of activities for the whole family. The Spring edition of the Interchange contains all of the information regarding registration, including forms and rates. This year there is online registration as well, so you can register with ease right now. There are many ways to reduce the costs of attendance, including first-time attender certificates, work grants, assistance for younger adult Friends, and scholarships from Religious Education and Ministry & Pastoral Care Committees. Register As soon as possible. Check the BYM website or call (301) 774-7663 for more information.
BYM Unity With Nature Committee Workshops
To what sort of life changes does the Quaker testimony of simplicity point us to in these times? The BYM Unity with Nature Committee invites all within the yearly meeting to explore the physical and spiritual implications and responsibilities of SUSTAINABILITY. God's creation faces threats/disturbances from climate change, environmental degradation, species extermination, and resource depletion. To help with this exploration, there will be a series of three workshops at the Annual Sessions culminating on Saturday, August 4, 2012, with a workshop entitled Are We Called to Live Sustainably?, led by Eli Fishpaw. The first workshop on Thursday, August 2, entitled When Goliath Comes to Town, will look at the hydraulic fracking disaster at Dunkard Creek, through the eyes of Quaker botanical artist Ann Payne. The second workshop on Friday, August 3, is entitled Reducing Our Carbon Footstep, with John Hudson leading. More information about the Annual Sessions is at the website www.bym-rsf.org.
FMW Adult Study Group
The FMW Adult Study Group will not be meeting for July and August. The next scheduled meeting is Sunday, September 9, 2012. At that meeting John Scales will provide an overview of the coming year. For further information contact John Scales at johnkscales@aol.com.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Summer Planning
During August, there is no scheduled Meeting for Worship with a Concern for Business. Also, in August most committees take a “summer break” and do not meet/ If your committee is scheduling a meeting, please notify the FMW Office (202) 483-3310, and schedule a room reservation. This will also ensure that committees meeting will be listed in the Sunday Announcements.
From the Vault
A monthly series of edited extracts from the historical material of the Friends Meeting of Washington.
+++++++++++
February 25, 1966
William Woodville
Washington DC
Dear Friend,
At the February meeting of the FMW Elois Rogers presented to us the "Treenware Cup" with the accompanying account: a most interesting gift and precious to Friends. We warmly appreciate your giving it to us and shall treasure it. We are asking our House Committee to take charge of it and arrange a suitable and safe place to keep it on view.
Yours sincerely,
Anne Z. Forsythe
Meeting Secretary
++++++++++++
January 8, 1962
Faustina Johnson
Chairman, House Committee
The lamp shade sent to the Meeting House by Mary Hall is on the floor lamp in the Assembly Room. The older shade (in very poor condition) is in the kitchen. The sewing ladies would be glad to have the new-to-them shade for the lamp.
Janet Snyder
++++++++++++
February 4, 1960
Lorraine G. Bacon
Washington 7 DC
Dear Lorraine,
In going through files I am reminded that Edith Leeds gave a pair of sugar tongs to the Meeting this summer, and I find no record that I told you of this. I think you, as Chairman of the House Committee, are the proper person to send a word of thanks. These tongs are in a tarnish-proof bag in the sugar bowl.
Yours sincerely,
Anne Z. Forsythe
Meeting Secretary
+++++++++
The Meeting used to be meticulous -- almost finicky -- in its recording and acknowledgement of donated items.
Hayden Wetzel
FMW Historian
anet Snyder
++++++++++++
February 4, 1960
Lorraine G. Bacon
Washington 7 DC
Dear Lorraine,
In going through files I am reminded that Edith Leeds gave a pair of sugar tongs to the Meeting this summer, and I find no record that I told you of this. I think you, as Chairman of the House Committee, are the proper person to send a word of thanks. These tongs are in a tarnish-proof bag in the sugar bowl.
Yours sincerely,
Anne Z. Forsythe
Meeting Secretary
+++++++++
The Meeting used to be meticulous -- almost finicky -- in its recording and acknowledgement of donated items.
Hayden Wetzel
FMW Historian
Thinking About Race
THINKING ABOUT RACE(Summer 2012) - “Race obliviousness” – Excerpt from Racial Healing: Confronting the Fear Between Blacks & Whites, Harlon L. Dalton, 1995, pp 109-110.
“Why do most White people not see themselves as having a race? In part, race obliviousness is the natural consequence of being in the driver’s seat. ….
“Whatever the reason, the inability or unwillingness of many White people to think of themselves in racial terms has decidedly negative consequences. For one thing, it produces huge blind spots. It leaves them baffled by the amount of energy many Blacks pour into questions of racial identity. …. It blinds Whites to the fact that their lives are shaped by race just as much as are the lives of people of color. How they view life’s possibilities; whom they regard as heroes; the extent to which they feel the country is theirs; the extent to which that belief is echoed back to them; all this and more is in part a function of their race.
“This obliviousness also makes it difficult for many Whites to comprehend why Blacks interact with them on the basis of past dealings with other Whites, and why Blacks sometimes expect them to make up for the sins of their fathers, and of their neighbors as well. Curiously enough, many of the same folk wouldn’t think twice about responding to young Black males as a type rather than as individuals.”
The Baltimore Yearly Meeting Working Group on Racism meets most months on the third Saturday from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm, at Bethesda Friends Meeting or Friends Meeting of Washington. If you would like to attend, on a regular or a drop-in basis, contact clerk David Etheridge.
FCNL Activities
Now is the time for action -- The Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL) and its supporters must move now to cut $1 trillion in projected Pentagon spending. This is a critical and historic time because legislation requiring a significant reduction in Pentagon spending has become law, in the Budget and Control Act of 2011. Congress is reconsidering the planned Pentagon spending cuts and major cuts to human needs programs are on the table to fund Pentagon increases. The FCNL requests that we work to see that the Pentagon pays its fair share and human needs funding is not cut further.
Among the efforts that would advance this cause is to lobby public officials and encourage your friends and neighbors to join the effort. The FCNL website (fcnl.org) includes background information about these budget issues and advice on making your voice heard.
If you would like to talk about how to get started; what you can do; what to say; or other matters, feel free to ask FMW liaison, Maurice Boyd, 202-488-4312. - Maurice Boyd