Durham Monthly Meeting of Friends DRAFT Minutes, November 17, 2024, Ellen Bennett — Recording Clerk
Durham Monthly Meeting of Friends met for the conduct of business on Sunday, November 17, 2024, with 15 people in attendance at the Meetinghouse.
1. Meeting Opening
To open the meeting, Ingrid Chalufour, Clerk, read the following:
When you act on behalf We just need to practice knowing that
of something greater than yourself, and remembering that we are sustained
you begin by each other
to feel it acting through you in the web of life.
with a power that is greater than your own. Our true power comes as a gift, like grace,
because in truth it is sustained by others.
This is grace.
Today, as we take risks If we practice drawing on the wisdom
for the sake of something greater and beauty
than our separate, individual lives, and strengths
we are feeling graced of our fellow human beings
by other beings and the Earth itself. and our fellow species
we can go into any situation
Those with whom and on whose behalf we act and trust
give us strength that the courage and intelligence required
and eloquence will be supplied.
and staying power
we didn’t know we had. Joanna Macy, “Grace and the Great Turning,”
2. Approval of Minutes of October 2024 — Sarah Sprogell* (October recording clerk pro tem)
Meeting approved the October minutes.
3. Finance Committee — Nancy Marstaller
- Third quarter Budget Report:
- Income: Note that contributions have improved since last quarter, leading to optimism we’ll meet our budget. In addition, pooled funds have generated more interest.
- Looking at line items outside of our operating budget, note that Portland Friends meeting has contributed significantly to the Sisters Meeting Account.
- Charity Account monies have been used to help support a member in need over the winter. Requests for support of this nature will come through Meeting clerks.
b. Proposed 2025 Budget: Think about funding for travelers to Cuba and material supplies that may go, e.g., medical supplies and tech. Right now, there is enough money in the account to pay for the three travelers’ basic expenses, and almost enough to cover $3600 donation for each traveler to carry. In the future, would like to have money remaining in the account to build for the upcoming February trip.
c. Suggestion for an approach to budgeting for funding items outside of the operating budget (Please see report). Specifically consider approaches for annual capital and charity expenses. It was suggested that we think not of limits for charity and capital accounts, but thresholds, not a ceiling but a floor.
Finance committee proposes adding more money to the Sister Meeting account this year. Also, increasing the amount budgeted in 2025. Idea: Separate travel money from donation money, and fund to ensure that travelers can take the total of $3,600 each for donations for future trips.
The proposal was made to put $3,600 in Sister Meeting Account both for this year and for next year. Meeting will sit with these proposals to be discussed again in December.
4. Makers Ad Hoc Committee — Craig Freshley
The proposal to support the Makers activities was made at an earlier meeting: both the use of the Meetinghouse space and $1,000 for an 18-month trial period, plus $200 for signage. Finance suggested the $1000 come from the charity account and for the sign from our maintenance and supplies budget. The charity account has also been used to support leadings for ministry and outreach, and this fits that category well.
Meeting approved use of $1,000 from the Charity Account and $200 for the sign from our maintenance and supplies budget.
5. Ministry and Counsel — Renee Cote (co-Clerk)
No action items. Renee referenced the Winthrop Friends Guidelines about Winthrop’s new worship practice since they no longer have a pastor that was brought to our attention by Sarah Sprogell. We are reviewing the guidelines (and the brochure). Martha Sheldon has made suggestions for updating our brochure, as well. Will send current information around for people to see.
6. Trustees Report — Sarah Sprogell
No action items. Please see report.
7. Nominating Committee — Wendy Schlotterbeck
Please see report. Note particularly the idea of convening a day-long retreat to do some celebration and some visioning moving forward.
8. Peace and Social Concerns — Ingrid Chalufour
Please see report for description of full array of activities undertaken by this committee. Request that the meeting provide a letter of support to apply for funding from Obadiah Brown foundation. M&C Clerk, Renee Cote, agreed to write the letter.
9. Items of Interest
- LACO Christmas Fair is 12/7 and starts at 9 a.m. at the Lisbon Falls Baptist Church.
- UU Church sponsoring a vigil on 12/14 in memory of the shooting in Lewiston, and in memory of all those taken from us due to gun violence; 2-4 pm.
- Please look for a sign-up sheet in the Gathering Room to attend and/or assist with the first Makers event, wreath-making, on December 5th.
- Thanks to Jo-an Jacobus, there will be a Christmas Eve service at Durham Friends at 7 pm.
10. Closing Worship
Respectfully submitted, Ellen Bennett, Recording Clerk
