Durham Monthly Meeting of Friends met for the conduct of business on Sunday, June 16, 2024, with 9 people in attendance at the Meetinghouse and one attending by Zoom. Sarah Sprogell clerked the meeting.

1.     Meeting Opening: Gathering, Centering and Opening Reading

Clerk opened the meeting by reading a portion of an obituary of a life-long member of Durham Friends Meeting, Ercil Perreault, (joined 12/19/1951), who passed away in 2020. The following lovely text was authored by her husband.

“Ercil L. Perreault passed away on Saturday, April 4, 2020, at Brentwood Nursing Home… Born at Mrs Smart’s Nursing Home on Longfellow Avenue, Brunswick, to Ira d. White and Marie E. (Shea) White on Sept. 14, 1938, premature and ready to make life better for other people. Although short (4 feet 11 inches) Ercil stood tall in life with a heart of gold, loving all of God’s creations; humans, animals and birds. Ercil never hated nor spoke ill-will of anyone. A lifelong member of the Durham Friends Meeting House, she was always appreciative of her very strong religious and parental upbringings…. Ercil applied and was accepted as Secretary of Brunswick High School Athletic Director, a job she truly loved so she could be of help to all BHS athletes, and especially those with financial needs. She retired after 20 years in the job…. She was a true outdoor person. Ercil was brought up to learn to accept what is presented in life and to make the best of it, and keep going. Ercil is survived by her husband, William R. “Bill” Perreault [whom] she married in 1957; her sons, Stephen M., Dale W. and john M. Perreault…. Ercil’s final desire was to be cremated with her remains spread at her most loved deep woods camp in Jackman and also in her parent burial plot at the Lunt Cemetery on the Lunt Road in Brunswick… Ercil was a very shy, warm, caring, loving person who in a positive way ad a strong influence in other people’s lives. A very unique person walked on the face of the earth.”

2.     Approval of Minutes of May 2024 — Ellen Bennett

        Recommended clarifying addition to item 7.

               With the addition, Meeting approved the minutes.

3.     Ministry and Counsel — Renee Cote, Tess Hartford

        M&C proposed cancelling meeting for business in August.

               Meeting approved not holding meeting for business in August.

        Discussed reserving space for people who wish to separate and wear masks while in Meeting.

Meeting approved removing signs for designated area, and remaining alert to any changes which may prompt us to return to signage.

        Discussed the use of Zoom during meeting. Suggest not using the projector during June and July, e.g., turn off projector after first hymn, and turn it back on for joys and concerns. Threshing session scheduled for September 22. Please see report.

Meeting approved experimenting with turning off the projector for a portion of the Meeting, as well as the possibility of setting up a TV monitor to both cancel projector noise and cast a smaller image. For July 14 and 21, the projector will be turned off at a time M&C suggests. M&C will come up with a schedule and proposal for experimentation for August.

FWCC has announced an outreach-oriented Quaker Connect Program, with the possibility of grants to participating meetings. To provide a basis for further discussion of this possibility, a web address for the project information will be included in the next newsletter, on the website, and in the weekly “This Week at…”

4.     Peace and Social Concerns — Ingrid Chalufour

The committee highlighted this summer’s primary activity, which is the work involved in establishing an ad hoc committee of the Town Council of Brunswick. The overall purpose of this new committee is to lift up the history and culture of the Wabanaki in various ways, such as in the naming of parks. A preliminary gathering will take place on 7/17, the purpose of which is to generate a draft of a mission statement and discuss the process the ad hoc committee will use to do its work. The actual ad hoc committee will be formed after the meeting. There has been a tremendous amount of interest and many have indicated that they wish to attend this first meeting. Please see report.

5      Trustees Report — Sarah Sprogell

        Please see report. Update only.

6.     Other

Maine Immigrant and Refugee Services (MEIRS) has extended an invitation to Durham Meeting to attend their gala celebration, and they’ve indicated that meeting members may attend as their guests. On July 12.

There is an opening for care of worship on June 30.

Please consider the emotional, as well as the technical aspects of Zoom during meeting.

7.     Closing Worship

Respectfully submitted, Ellen Bennett, Recording Clerk

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