Durham Monthly Meeting of Friends met for the conduct of business on Sunday, January 19, 2025, with  eleven  people in attendance at the Meetinghouse and three by Zoom.

1.     Meeting Opening:

Clerk Nancy Marstaller opened the meeting with a reading by Thomas Kelly.
And the third step in holy obedience, or cousel, is this: If you slip and stumble
and forget God for an hour, and assert your old proud self, and rely upon your own
clever wisdom, don’t spend too much time in anguised regrets and self-accusations,
but begin again, just where you are.
Yet a fourth consideration in holy obedience is this: Don’t grit your teeth
and clench your fists and say, “I will! I will!” Relax. Take hands off. Submit
yourself to God. Learn to live in the passive voice — a hard saying for modern
man — and let life be willed through you. For “I will” spells not obedience.

2.     Approval of Minutes of December 2024  – Ellen Bennett

                        Meeting approved the December minutes.

3.     Rotation of Clerks

        Clerk reviewed the rotation of Clerks through 2025.

              Nancy Marstaller: January, February, March                                                                 

              Sarah Sprogell: April, May, June

              Tess Hartford/Renee Cote: July, August, September

              Ingrid Chalufour: October, November, December

4.     Nominating Report — Wendy Schlotterbeck

Regarding term limits, for this year, people will be asked if they would like to continue their committee work through 2025. Going forward, three-year terms will resume with people being asked at the end of each term if they would be willing to continue. This is an issue that will be  talked about at the retreat to be held February 8th.

Additional retreat topics will include the number of standing committees, Meeting priorities, and how we can best continue our work and meet our needs without overtaxing people.

The full list of position and committee responsibilities within the Meeting was read. Please see attached.

      Meeting approved the list of Meeting members, committee assignments, and responsibilities for 2025.

      Meeting approved the addition of Martha Hinshaw-Sheldon as member of the nominating committee.

Note: If anyone has suggestions about the upcoming retreat, please contact Renee, Tess or Leslie. Further information about the retreat will be added to the Meeting website.

5.     Clerks Group Meeting Care Coordinator Recommendation.

As approved at the December Meeting for Business, the clerks’ group met and agreed to bring forward the recommendation that the position of Meeting Care Coordinator continue through 2025.

             Meeting approved the clerks recommendation, with gratitude.

6.     Ministry and Counsel — Tess Hartford

      The position of Meeting Care Coordinator (MCC) was reviewed.

      The MCC Oversight Committee consists of representatives from M&C, the Communication Committee, and Peace and Social Concerns: Renee Cote, Doug Bennett, and Ingrid Chalufour.

      The MCC Care and Accountability Committee consists of Linda Muller, Martha Hinshaw Sheldon, and Joyce Gibson.

      Meeting approved a process reviewing and approving the MCC position at the December meeting — first to have M&C review and recommend the continuation of the position itself, and second to have the Oversight Committee recommend an individual to take on the MCC responsibilities.

          Meeting approved the proposal for M&C make its recommendation no later than November.

          Meeting approved the proposal for the Oversight Committee to make its recommendation no later than November.

Meeting approved Leslie Manning continue as MCC for 2025

The ability of Meeting attendees to hear what is being said was discussed. The recommendation was made to start with a podium microphone to see if it is adequate to address the issue of being heard, both in the meeting-room as well as on Zoom. It was also noted that speakers need to be reminded to speak within the circle outlined on the floor, not down or into a book, and to project. It was agreed to test a podium mike at the 1/27 meeting, which while unprogrammed, may give us a sense of the usefulness of a microphone.

7.     Makers Group Report — Doug Bennett

Mission of Makers Group was discussed, reinforcing its goal of outreach to the wider community, providing a screen-free place to interact and enjoy broadening our community of friends.

8.     Peace and Social Concerns — Ingrid Chalufour

Ingrid read the report.Please see report.

9.     Trustees — Sarah Sprogell

Please see report. Clerks recommended giving prior approval to Trustees to give the piano to another person if so asked.

                Meeting approved this recommendation

        Sarah Sprogell remains the contact for cemetery issues.

10.   Finance Committee — Nancy Marstaller

There was no monthly report. The annual report for 2024 will be brought to the February Meeting.

Respectfully submitted, Ellen Bennett, Recording Clerk

Attachments HERE