Note: These minutes have not been corrected.
16-83 Opening Worship: Friends gathered in worship at Vassalboro Monthly Meeting, welcomed by Vassalboro Friend Susan Davies.
16-84 Roll Call:
- Present: Sarah Gant, Clerk; Becky Steele, Recording Clerk; Travis Belcher, Deana Chase, Susan Davies, Jeremiah Dickinson, Hannah Zwirner Forsythe, Christopher Gant, Ian Harrington, Rebecca Leuchak, Carole Rein, Karen Sanchez-Eppler, Sara Smith, Bill Walkauskas
- Regrets: Holly Baldwin, Justice Erikson, Ben Guaraldi, Galen Hamann, Leana Kantt, Christopher McCandless, Jean McCandless, Anna Radocchia, Elias Sanchez-Eppler, Suzanna Schell, Philip Stone, Elizabeth Szatkowski, Don Weinholtz, Rosemary Zimmerman
- Absent: Kimberly Allen, Tom Jackson
- Ex Officio: Edward Baker (Ex officio YM Supervisor), Noah Merrill (YM Secretary), Shearman Taber (Treasurer), Fritz Weiss (Presiding Clerk)
- Guests: Joann Austin (Vassalboro), Paul Cates (Vassalboro), Darcy Drayton, Elizabeth Reuthe (Vassalboro), John Reuthe (Vassalboro), Phebe McCuskey (Hanover), Holly Weidner (Vassalboro), Kathleen Wooten, Martin Zwirner Forsythe, Mary Zwirner (Beacon Hill)
16-85 Presiding Clerk’s report (attached): Shared excitement about August 2017 Sessions. So much to report. Rejoicing at the life and activity thriving among New England Friends this fall. “Lord is at work in this thick night of darkness.” But after this recent election, we see challenges ahead that we may not have anticipated. Are we ready? Are we worthy? Remember that God sent a carpenter’s son, not Caesar. Not the wisdom of men, but the foolishness of God that we must look to. Must have confidence that it is God that is calling us, even if we don’t think we’re worthy.
16-86 Yearly Meeting Secretary’s report (attached): The Secretary shared highlights from his written report, including the following:
- Traveling to worship and visit with New England Friends
- QuakerSpeak videos
- Grant applications
- Public statement regarding the Standing Rock protectors of the earth
- Archives update
- Personnel update
- Living Faith gathering this fall
- Meeting with Shoemaker Fund trustees about young adult outreach, along with New York YM and Baltimore YM
- Post-election letter to Friends throughout New England (attached) about the need for spiritual hospitality, welcome, connection, and support after the election, which has been taken up by New York YM Friends and others in the wider community.
16-87 Treasurer’s report: written report is attached.
- The Treasurer needs help: first, for someone to serve as Assistant Treasurer; and second, for help in reviewing past finance documents and gathering data as part of an ongoing review of NEYM’s finance policies.
- Preliminary report from the end of FY 2016: NEYM is continuing to draw down reserves; the deficit for FY 2016 appears to be higher than anticipated. The Treasurer anticipates needing to draw down at least $50,000 from the Pooled Funds (called a “quasi- endowment”), but seeks authorization to liquidate up to $100,000 to cover possible additional needs from FY 16 and FY 17. Friends approved giving the Treasurer authorization to withdraw up to $100,000 from the quasi-endowment.
- There was a request that monthly meetings be informed about what NEYM needs from them in order to sustain its work (not just the budgeted amount, but what the YM needs to be sustainable).
16-88 Long-Term Financial Planning Committee: The committee shared information from its written report (attached). Friends discussed NEYM’s priorities, both as Friends and as an organization. Friends discussed the centrality of the life of the spirit moving through New England and beyond, and the ways in which NEYM’s organization supports and sustains that life. We were reminded that it is important not to mistake the garden for the tools. God makes the garden, and it is our job to make sure we take care of the tools (i.e., the organization and resources) needed to sustain the garden, and use them well.
16-89 Finance Committee: The YM Secretary presented the committee’s report on behalf of the finance committee clerk, who was out of the country the day PB met. The Finance Committee worked long and hard on the financial implications of NEYM’s compliance with overtime rules, as well as the broader question of how NEYM treats its staff. The Finance Committee came up with 3 proposals (see attached report). The YM Secretary shared that after researching salaries for comparable positions at other nonprofits, NEYM was at the low end of the pay scale. Friends noted that the budget for the entire yearly meeting is less than the budget for many individual churches in other faiths. Sitting in worship, Friends expressed messages of appreciation for the ministry staff provides to New England Friends. They felt that financial support will come if we do a good job informing monthly meetings and individuals throughout New England what NEYM has to offer. They also noted that after this past election, it is likely that all of us will be called to do more than before, and that NEYM will be needed more than ever. Friends felt that the time for avoiding hard choices has passed, and that we are being called to answer God’s call to action. Friends also recognized the need to be good stewards. We felt that when we are clear what we need to do, Friends will respond.
Friends approved raising the salaries of permanent full-time staff and offering proportional raises to part-time staff (i.e., a 13.5% raise), and committed to making sure that adequate funds are raised to live fully into this obligation without unsustainably depleting the YM’s resources. Members of Permanent Board committed personally to increasing their contributions to NEYM, with a 5% increase as a guide (with Friends giving more, or less, as they are able).
The Secretary discussed possible reasons that the FY 2016 deficit was around $8,000 greater than budget; in short, income from programs and retreats was slightly less than planned, and there is very little room in the budget for trimming expenses. The Secretary noted that, although the deficits need to be addressed, they are not extremely large in proportion to NEYM’s annual budget of around $1.2 million (including Friends Camp).
16-90 Youth Ministry Committee: The committee submitted a revised child safety policy incorporating minor changes recommended by legal counsel (attached). Friends approved the revised Child Safety Policy. The committee is completing a compilation of state laws regarding child safety, which will be available as an appendix to the policy. The revised child safety policy will be available on the YM website. The committee will consider ways to share this policy with monthly meetings, along with other resource materials on child safety that may be helpful.
16-91 Legacy Gift Committee: Friends were referred to the committee’s written report (attached). At the committee’s request, Sarah Gant will continue serving the committee in an ex officio capacity.
16-92 Yearly Meeting Nominating Committee: Friends approved Legacy Gift committee class of 2019, Nat Shed; PB class of 2021, Mary Zwirner; Publications and Communication class of 2019, Tom Jackson; Racial, Social, Economic Justice class of 2017, Scott Rhodewalt.
16-93 Friends World Committee for Consultation: Friends approved the following NEYM representatives to FWCC’s Section of the Americas: Jonathan Vogel-Borne (through 2017), Mary Hopkins (through 2017), Debbie Humphries (through 2018), and Chris Jorgenson (through 2018). Rachel Guaraldi was approved to serve out the remainder of her term after her transfer of membership from Baltimore YM. Judy Goldberger, Clerk of FWCC-NE, was approved to serve as a NEYM representative from 2017 through 2020.
16-94 Friends Camp Nominating Committee: Friends approved Doug McCown and John Reuthie.
16-95 Permanent Board Internal Nominating Committee
16-96 White Supremacy: Some Friends have stepped forward to consider Holly Baldwin, Philip Stone, Mary Zwirner; called for more Friends to come forth.
16-97 Travel Minutes: Friends authorized the PB clerk to approve traveling minutes for Karen Sanchez-Eppler (Cadwalladers too).
16-98 Informational Reports and Announcements
- Friends Camp Director’s Report: 7 November 2016
- Leadings, Meetings and Money: 15 October 2016
- Minute of Support for Standing Rock
- Thanksgiving gathering at noon at Cole’s Hill in Plymouth (Native Americans holding a day of mourning)
- Two Friends from Wellesley meeting have written Approved!, an excellent illustrated guide for children to Quaker business meeting. Copies were provided for PB members to bring back to their meetings. More copies can be ordered by contacting Nancy Haines (Wellesley meeting) or by following a link from the Secretary’s report in the October NEYM newsletter.