FMW Newsletter, October 2015

Queries & Advices

Minutes

Safety & Welcoming Guidelines

Simpson Scholarship Report

Upcoming Events

Thinking About Race

Quaker v. Goliath

Pro Bono Lawyer

Book Reviews

Random Happenings

Comics

 

 

Friends Meeting of Washington

Minutes

Monthly Meeting for Worship with a Concern for Business

September 2015

 

Queries

Do you promote social justice and make your life a testimony to fair dealing? Do you seek to understand and appreciate differing cultures and social values? Do you support fair treatment of all regardless of race, gender, age and other differences? Are you concerned for those in our society who are disadvantaged? Do you take your full share of civic responsibility by voting and giving service? Do you oppose the use of land, labor, technology and capital for human exploitation or in ways destructive to other living things?

 

Advices

Friends believe that the aim of government is to preserve a community in which justice, peace, good order and individual development are possible. Members of our Society are also citizens of the community and the nation. Quakerism is not intended to be a refuge from the disturbing events of our times, but rather a source of strength and support in facing them. The free institutions under which we live give many of our members a direct share in the responsibilities of government and in forming a healthy public opinion.

 

Friends have supported the state as long as its requirements have not opposed the leadings of the Inner Light. They have generally believed that:

…if any be called to serve the commonwealth in any public service, with cheerfulness it be undertaken, and in faithfulness be discharged unto God.

• Meeting of Quaker Elders at Balby, 1656, BYM Faith and Practice 

 

Voices

It seems to me that the moving force behind the Quaker social witness has got to be some vision, however faint and tantalizing, of what the world would be like if we were really obedient to God.

• Deborah Haines

 

True godliness doesn’t turn men out of the world but enables them to live better in it and excites their endeavours to mend it… Christians should keep the helm and guide the vessel to its port; not meanly steal out at the stern of the world and leave those that are in it without a pilot to be driven by the fury of evil times upon the rock or sand of ruin.

• William Penn, 1682

 

2015/9-1 Welcome of Visitors  Starting at 12:25 pm, 21 Friends entered into silence to begin our Meeting for Worship with a concern for Business for Ninth Month 2015. Queries, Advices, and Voices were read concerning social justice. Osa Appleforsberg was welcomed.

 

2015/9-2  Clerk’s Report  Meg Greene, Clerk, asked us to hold Sharon and Grant Thompson in the Light, as Sharon undergoes treatment for cancer. She congratulated Kate Gould for her work in steering the Iran deal through Congress. Meg mentioned the Moral Action on Climate rally on the National Mall on September 24^th that will take place while the Pope is in Washington, DC. She mentioned the new Welcome to the Quaker Experience initiative instituted by Ministry & Worship. Meg reported about the lawsuit instituted by former member Kevin Camp: we expect that the lawsuit will be permanently dismissed at the request of all parties once the papers are filed. Friends shared their deep appreciation for our pro bono attorney, David Kendall, for his work. We intend to write a letter to him detailing this appreciation.

 

Major items

 

2015/9-3  Safety and Welcoming Guidelines – Kim Acquaviva and Robin Appleberry presented this version of the guidelines (see attached), created with the support of four committees (Child Safety, Religious Education, Personal Aid, and Healing and Reconciliation) as well as other individuals. Kim said these guidelines show a huge move forward for the whole Meeting. The outcome represents the work of all Friends involved in this labor.

 

Robin highlighted these details:

• The guidelines cover more than convicted offenders; a conviction is not necessary for beginning this process.
• The scope is to create due process, which rests on discernment by many Friends.
• If the discernment of a mutual agreement doesn't work out, or there is a safety concern, the group may ask the Clerk for the Meeting to take steps to ensure safety (rather than the committee taking unilateral action). This acts as a safety valve.
• The first step in the process is to assess the reasonableness of the concern before any response on the part of the Meeting is set in motion. This will prevent triggering the process for every small concern.
• The Support Group has important input, but not the only input, into the discernment process.
• The Committee of Clerks and Trustees will also be made aware of these situations, to bring a little more Light from a few more people.

 

Kim emphasized the responsibility of the community: the intention is not for us to stop welcoming people who have a conviction or who are struggling with this issue, but rather to encourage structured dialogue between us.

 

A Friend asked about the “no child shall be alone with an adult who is not their parent or guardian” policy. What happened to the fun of doing one-on-one between an adult and child?, she asked. Kim answered that this is part of our child safety policy. It is easy to arrange some one-on-one time while in the company of a larger group.

 

A Friend raised a concern about the phrase “his or her participation in the FMW community.” He thinks it betrays a certain arrogance on our part to say that we may not fully welcome everyone. Kim says the concern is how to make our community both safe and welcoming. Robin pointed to the context of this phrase—it’s after a real concern has been identified, and a small group has met and gotten to know the individual. Then the question to the individual is, what are your hopes regarding participation in the Meeting? However, there could be restrictions on someone's participation, as discerned by the individual and the group. The Friend emphasized the importance of applying our standards and expectations to everyone fairly. The Friend asked that we hold this over for more discussion.

 

A Friend thanked everyone who was involved with the production of these guidelines. It was a long struggle, and he is proud to be part of a group of people who came up with these guidelines.

 

A Friend told an anecdote about an event at the Meetinghouse in 1986, when she volunteered to help with the Directory. Secret Service people came in with guns to make sure the Meetinghouse was “safe” for an upcoming memorial meeting that would include a high up government official. The Assistant Administrative Secretary was taken aback, and unable to respond in a way that blocked the guns from entering. This Friend thinks we should be prepared for difficult situations so that we can respond appropriately even when things do not go well.

 

The clerk of the Personal Aid committee is concerned that this recent draft has not been reviewed by Personal Aid. She asks that we pause so that Personal Aid may view the draft.

 

The sense of the Meeting was to hold the guidelines over for one month for further sharing with the Meeting community. Friends with any additional concerns should raise them directly with the Clerks.

 

2015/9-4  Mary Jane Simpson Scholarship – Anne Kendall, Clerk of the Mary Jane Simpson Scholarship Committee, highlighted a few things about their five new scholars (see attached report). They were picked from a very large, strong applicant pool. The committee is now giving $1500/year to each of our scholars. This is a fundraising challenge, but Anne thinks we are equal to it. FMW contributes $5000 out of its budget, and also conducts a fundraiser for the scholarships. Bethesda Friends Meeting and Langley Hill Friends Meeting also contribute.

 

Each scholar is appointed a mentor, which can help as these students negotiate their college careers. They are predominantly the first in their families to get into college.

 

Anne told about two students who are now at the end of their undergraduate degrees, as they launch into the world.

 

The Clerk thanked the committee for the wonderful profiles of each new scholar.

 

Friends accepted this report.

 

2015/9-5  Membership – Marcia Reecer, co-clerk of Membership, presented the committee’s recommendation for membership of Anita Drever-Orvis. Two members of the committee met with her and enthusiastically endorse her. Marcia read from her application letter. Anita spoke with us about her long journey at Meeting, including both wonderful and challenging things. She feels very comfortable becoming a member of this meeting. This recommendation lies over for a month, as is our custom.

 

2015/9-6 Nominating Committee – Harry Massey, Clerk of Nominating, made the following recommendations. 

 

Nominations

Trustees

·Robin Appleberry (Member), first term ending in 2021 Approved

·Virginia Avanesyan (Member) willing to serve second term ending in 2021 Approved

· John Scales (Member) willing to serve second term ending in 2021 Approved

 

Property

·Francisco del Pozo (Attender), ending at the end of 2017 Approved

 

 

Child Safety

·Virginia Avanesyan, (Member), Member of the committee, for Clerk beginning immediately and ending on 12/31/2015. Approved. 

 

FOP Coordinator

· Jane Edgerton (Member)  Approved

 

Peace and Social Concerns

·Mike Duvall (Attender), Clerk beginning immediately, ending at the end of 2015. Continuing with a waiver, Approved

 

Resignations
Trustees

·Arne Paulson, Accepted

 

Harry mentioned the upcoming Committee Fair on September 27, and asked each committee clerk to staff a table and prepare a 45-second description of their committee.

 

2015/9-6  Search Committee

The Clerk presented the recommendation of the Search Committee (Steve Coleman, Arne Paulsen, and Meg Greene). They recommended Todd Harvey to Nominating Committee starting in January 2016. Approved

 

Other business

 

2015/9-7  Report on Baltimore Yearly Meeting Annual Sessions  Friends reported that it was a lot of fun. Four FMW Friends attended for the first time. BYM is especially good with and for kids. Wayne Finegar had an embolism during the Annual Session and was taken to the hospital; the staff struggled on and everything turned out fine for Wayne, the staff, and the Annual Session. It was a joy to watch such good clerking.

 

___________________________________________________________________________________

 

Friends Meeting of Washington Guidelines
for Safety and Welcoming of Individuals Who Raise Concerns about the Safety of Children

September 2015

 

Background

Quakers are convinced that there is that of God, or something of the Divine Spirit or Light, in everyone. This belief is manifested in the testimonies of Integrity, Equality, Community, Simplicity, and Peace, which generally lead us to welcome Friends and strangers to our Meeting community and worship without further inquiry.  In the case of persons who may be perceived to pose a threat to our children, we need to find ways to know them better and understand their situations well enough to manage possible dangers and our own fears and concerns.

These guidelines grow out of established Quaker structures and practices for corporate oversight and discernment that can be adapted to maintain the security of our children and honor our values as a Religious Society of Friends community. They complement the Child Safety Policy adopted by the Meeting at our Meeting for Worship with a Concern for Business in October 2013. The guiding principle of that policy is that no child will be alone with an adult who is not his or her parent or guardian while he or she is on Meeting property or engaged in a Meeting activity.

 

Guidelines

Individuals of concern may fall along a broad spectrum ranging from those who have been convicted and ultimately released to the community to those whose actions raise concerns for the first time. These guidelines are intended to address all such concerns as they become known to us. When community members become aware of individuals of concern, they are expected to contact the Clerks of the Meeting or the Clerk of the Child Safety Committee. The Clerks and Committee of Clerks will respond promptly to each case by assessing the reasonableness of the concern and, if appropriate, by identifying a Safety and Welcoming Discernment Group (“SWDG”) of 4 or more members. This ad hoc group should include, but not be limited to, members of the Child Safety, Religious Education, Personal Aid, and Healing & Reconciliation Committees. The Committee of Clerks will select individuals with an eye toward the Meeting’s dual concerns for safety and welcoming. The Committee of Clerks and SWDG members must agree to honor and protect the individuals’ privacy within the confines of the law.

The SWDG will meet with the individual to explore his or her needs and the community’s expectations. The SWDG is responsible for getting to know the individual well enough to evaluate concerns raised by his or her participation in the FMW community, form a plan for managing those concerns, and assist in putting that plan into effect. It will inquire into details of the individual’s history of child sexual abuse, views regarding that history, treatment experience, legal status and aspirations for his or her role and level of participation in the FMW community. During the discernment process, the individual may attend Meeting events when children are present if escorted by a member of the SWDG or another responsible adult in the FMW community appointed by the SWDG.

The SWDG will work with the individual to decide on the terms of that person’s participation in FMW activities. Those terms may range from total exclusion from the community to unrestricted inclusion under the terms of the current Child Safety Policy. Most such individuals will be expected to agree to avoid direct interaction with children at the Meeting and refrain from volunteering for or participating in First Day School activities. The process and the agreement will be tailored to the individual and may include specific procedures (e.g., identifying a subset of the SWDG to serve as a support group for the individual, having an escort at meeting events at which children are expected to be present, and so on). The procedures and limits may be adjusted or terminated with the mutual agreement of the SWDG and the individual. If the SWDG is unable to achieve agreement with or cooperation from the individual concerning procedures and limits, it may, in consultation with the Clerk, ask the Meeting to take steps outside of this process to protect the community, including restricting the individual’s participation in Meeting activities. 

If desired by the individual or recommended by the SWDG to protect the children of the Meeting and as protection from unwarranted accusation, members of a support group will provide an escort, or the SWDG will identify other responsible adults from the FMW community, to accompany the individual at Meeting events at which children are expected to be present. All decisions of the SWDG will be recorded in writing and reported to the Committee of Clerks and the Trustees of Friends Meeting of Washington.

Community Responsibilities
Members and Attenders share responsibility for ensuring the safety of our children and welcoming newcomers to our community. Parents are asked to talk with their children about child sexual abuse, safety and safe conduct at Meeting activities. The Child Safety Committee will provide assistance to any parents who seek support on how to speak with their children about this issue. Affirming our belief in the Light in each individual, the community invites and expects individuals who may have difficulty managing feelings of sexual attraction to children to reach out to a member of the Committee of Clerks. Each of us is called upon to work in concert to make our community the joyous, safe and welcoming haven we want it to be.

 

 

Mary Jane Simpson Scholarship Committee Report

July 29, 2015

 

The Mary Jane Simpson Scholarship Committee enters our 35th year. With the inclusion of this year’s five scholars, we will have provided support for 111 students. This year we are partnering with both Bethesda Friends and Langley Friends. The Friends Meeting of Washington has generously given $5000 from the annual budget and other members of the meeting have made generous contributions as well. With all three meetings working together, we are able to give our scholars four- year grants of $1500 a year for a total of $6000 per scholar.  This year we will support 19 students, for a total of $28,500.

Let me introduce you to our five new scholars:

Betel Asfaha, is a graduate of Banneker High School.  She was born in Eritrea but grew up in DC. She described her experience in the following way, “I grew up in what is considered Washington, D.C’s most dangerous neighborhood. However I never saw my community in that light. In my opinion, my neighborhood was the most culturally enriched and possessed the most naturally intelligent and curious people that knew about a wide array of topics. Despite the violence, my neighborhood served as a microcosm for the United States; it was a place where people in every county felt free to express and share their culture.”

Betel is a strong student who was on the Honor Role throughout high school. She passed the National Latin exam summa cum laude and took 5 AP classes.  Her teachers describe her as a student leader in the classroom. During her high school years, she worked several jobs and also did community service work. One job was working in a program to prevent teen smoking. During the school year, Betel was a tour guide at the holocaust museum and talked about modifying her talks in response to the age and experience of people taking the tour. She was the student representative to the DC Board of Education and lobbied DC to reduce the charges students pay for public transportation to school. She noted that some students must stay home because they don’t have the $30. a month to pay for transportation. She is currently working at Hagen Das to make money for college.

Betel plans to attend Howard University. She wants to major in engineering and finance with the aim of becoming a chemical engineer.

Braswell Chappelle came to the interview in dress pants, dress shirt and a bowtie.  He wrote an essay about his “Bow Tie Mentality.” He explained that he started dressing up every day because he wanted to show that he was not a ghetto kid, but a man. As a result of this resolve, he changed the way he talked, respected others and reached out to help others. He said that he had transformed himself by sheer force of will.

Braswell attended Anacostia High School where he was third in a class of 140. He has a history of learning problems that made standardized testing difficult. However, he has persevered and took 4 AP classes and 3 honors courses.  One of the AP classes was particularly hard and Braswell went to his teacher for help every day before school and during lunchtime. Braswell is a leader at the school, the president of his class in his sophomore and junior years and the President of the Student Government Association in his senior year.  He also is an athlete and has played basketball and baseball.

Braswell recently lost his grandmother who has been a central figure in his life providing economic and social support. Braswell is working for the DC Department of Employment Services to save money for college.  He also volunteered at the DC Central Kitchen and at the school food bank.

Braswell will be attending the University of Arizona.

Jenifer Gonzalez also graduated from Banneker High School where she had a stellar high school record earning a GPA of 3.71 while taking 5 AP classes.  Jenifer spoke in a meaningful way about her struggle as an immigrant from Mexico. She said, “As a broken soul, I seek to aid those who are abandoned by society, those who have suffered traumatic events and those who seek help and are given none. “ 

Jenifer was involved in school activities. She was a varsity soccer player and co-captain of the school soccer team. Writing is a major interest and she was a member of both the Journalism Club and the Newspaper Club. She has done volunteer work at the Brightwood Educational Campus tutoring elementary students after school. She has also helped at a nursing home and serves in the church choir at St. Stephen and the Incarnation Episcopal Church. Jenifer has worked at Panera throughout high school.

Jenifer plans to attend UDC and major in sociology. Her goal is to work on immigrant issues and with refugee organizations.

 

Maryam Hassan went to Seed Charter School and graduated as valedictorian of her class. In her graduation speech she told her fellow students that they had spent 2190 days working to graduate. Now the remaining 1400 days needed for college seem manageable.  In her essay, Maryam explained that being a Somali-American Muslim made her different from her classmates. She has come to embrace her identity. While at Seed, she was a boarder and she credits this with making her independent. She had a GPA of 3.76 and took 5 AP classes.  Her teachers comment on her discipline and ability to “self-advocate. She was the captain of a co-ed soccer team two years in a row, “I am the voice of the team.”

Maryam has volunteered at Horizons, Martha’s Table and Hungry for Africa.  She says that she has learned patience as a tutor.

Maryam will attend Virginia Tech. She wants to become a pediatric surgeon.

 

Daniel Larios-Joya graduated from Wilson High School. He is one of four siblings and the first to graduate from high school.  He has had to be responsible for babysitting his younger siblings while his parents work.  He describes himself as a Salvadorian-American and native Spanish speaker. One of his coaches at Wilson says that he admires Daniel’s work ethic, and steady attendance. He notes that Daniel has been very active organizing and facilitating a variety of athletic events at the school. He is described as a leader and also a strong team member.  This summer Daniel is working for the city. He has worked as a camp counselor and done maintenance work for the camp.

Daniel plans to go to North Carolina Central. This is a traditional black college. He welcomes raising their hispanic representation. His goal is to work in sports management, perhaps as a  physical therapist.

______________________________________________________________________

(here ends the Minutes and Reports for the September 2015 Meeting for Business)

 

UPCOMING EVENTS

 October 2015

 

September 30 – October 2:  Quaker Fundraisers Gathering, Wyndham Philadelphia Historic District (Philadelphia, PA)  Every other year Friends Fiduciary sponsors the Quaker Fundraisers Gathering – a learning and networking opportunity for development and fundraising staff at Quaker organizations – including Yearly, Quarterly and Monthly Meetings. We have a particularly strong program this year and are trying to get the word out to as many Friends Meetings, churches, schools, and organizations as possible. We know that many Meetings (incl. Quarterly & Yearly) are struggling with their budgets and becoming more deliberate about fundraising as one way of increasing revenue to better fulfill the mission. For full information, see the Friends Fiduciary website (www.friendsfiduciary.org [1]). Early Bird registration will end on August 7.

 

October 2 – 4: FMW Catoctin Weekend: Join us for an unprogrammed weekend, when we share meals and fellowship in the lodge; we enjoy canoeing and hiking; we toast s'mores on Saturday night; and we worship on Sunday morning at a warm spot in the sunshine. Sign up here: http://tinyurl.com/CatoctonSignUp [2] For more information, contact Anita, anita.drever@gmail.com [3]

 

October 3: The Marriage and Family Relations Committee is sponsoring a workshop titled:  “We Love Each Other But,...”. in the Assembly Room from 10:00 AM to 3:30 PM.  Jane Connor, a certified trainer in nonviolent communication, will help us increase our ability to connect with the loving spirit or inner light of all people. A light pizza lunch will be provided for a cost of $7/person.  To register please contact Jim Bell at (301) 263-9894 or email:  kelleybell21@comcast.net 

 

Oct. 3: Come to SOME and help make breakfast for our vulnerable neighbors. Starts at 6:15 am. For more info, contact Betsy at betsy.bramon@gmail.com [4]

 

October 3 – 4:  Junior Young Friends Conference, Goose Creek Friends Meeting (Lincoln, VA)   It’s the first JYF con (for 6th to 8th graders) of the year! Please arrive at 10 am with sleeping bag, pad, pillow, change of clothes and toiletries. Please remember that the deadline to register and be guaranteed a slot is one week before the conference (September 25). Any one registering after that date will be placed on a waiting list and may not be able to attend. For more information, contact Jocelyn Dowling, Youth Programs Manager [5]. To register, go to the JYF Registration page on the Yearly Meeting website [6].

 

October 3:  Clerks of Committees Workshop, Friends Meeting School (Ijamsville, MD)  The Yearly Meeting will host a workshop for Clerks of Committees, beginning at 10am to 3pm. This will provide an opportunity to learn about the ways in which BYM office can help you, but also to talk together about the ways in which committee life can be spiritually nourishing – and get work done! Current, former, and maybe-in-the-future clerks are welcome. Tasha Walsh, Clerk of Interim Meeting, will facilitate the workshop. Please let Wayne Finegar at the office know if you plan to attend (admin@bym-rsf.org [7])

 

October 4:  World Quaker Day   Join Friends all around the world for a joint day of worship and celebration. As the sun rises in each area of the world we want to remember that Quakers are worshiping through every time zone, celebrating our deep connections across cultures and Quaker traditions. We are united in love and can accompany each other on this special day. As we worship, let us hold each other in prayer and thanksgiving, and let our hymns of praise resound across the world. Friends can:

• Use shared worship resources that will be used by other churches and meetings;

• Plan an activity that connects the church or meeting with other Friends;

• Support Friends worldwide by contributing to FWCC: any collection given to the Section marked WQD will be shared between the Section and the World Office;

• Share the day’s activities by sending a documentation of what you have done to harrya@friendsworldoffice.org [8], then see what others have done on www.worldquakerday.org [9]. Also find us on the FWCC World Office Facebook page or on Twitter #wqd.

 

October 4, at 5:00 p.m., people interested in learning more about the Olive Oil Ministry (OOM) will gather for a potluck dinner at Westmoreland Congregational Church, 1 Westmoreland Circle (where Massachusetts and Western Avenue meet). Daoud Nasser from Tent of Nations will talk about the impact of the OOM in Palestine, and Reverend Deborah Hunley will speak about Canaan Fair Trade and their work with the agricultural sector. There will be plenty of time for Q&A. For details and to RSVP, Robert Mertz at ramertz@gmail.com [10] or 301-229-0973.

 

October 4:  William Penn House Potluck & Dialogue  F(f)riends are invited to a potluck and

Quaker dialogue at William Penn House on Sunday, October 4, at 6:30 p.m. Representatives from the Friends Fiduciary Corporation will talk about Quaker investment policies and report on their recent conference. Bring a dish to share; family members and friends are always welcome. WPH is at 515 East Capitol Street, SE. For details: www.WilliamPennHouse.org [11] or 202-543-5560.

 

Oct. 7: The Grate Patrol will prepare sandwiches and soup to take out to the city’s vulnerable people starting at 5:30. For more information, contact Steve Brooks at sbrooks@uab.edu [12]    

 

October 9 – 11:  Family Camp Weekend, Shiloh Quaker Camp (Hood, VA)  Family Camp Weekends at Baltimore Yearly Meeting Camp Properties offer us all a chance to come and enjoy our beautiful camp properties at a special time of year. Individuals and families are invited to come and enjoy the camps for a day or for the weekend. This fall, we will have a program coordinator at each weekend who will plan camp-type activities for Saturday and Sunday mornings, as well as Saturday afternoon and evening. These may include things like playing in the creek, a crafts project or hiking around one of the most precious places on earth. There will also be plenty of work projects to do! Work projects offer people with all kinds of skills the opportunity to enjoy some meaningful and satisfying work! We will enjoy meals together, have time to explore and even spend some time around a camp fire in the evening. Come and enjoy a camp experience, give the gift of your time, participate with children in activities and find yourself rejuvenated.

 

October 9 to 12: Silent Retreat for Friends  Is your spirit in need of nourishment and refreshment? Join members of Annapolis Friends Meeting for a Silent Retreat. We will keep the silence from Friday evening until after worship on Monday, enjoying the beauty of God’s creation in meadows and woods and listening for the “still, small voice” at Dayspring Retreat Center in Germantown MD. The cost of the retreat is $290, and the deadline for registrations is October 3. For details, contact facilitator Jean Christianson (jschristianson@gmail.com [13], 410-544-1912). If Dayspring is new to you, see www.dayspringretreat.org [14] to get a sense of it.

 

Oct. 10: Cracking the Codes: The System of Racial Inequity  Anyone interested in creating an equitable and just society in the U.S. is warmly invited to come to the North Room at Friends Meeting of Washington on Saturday October 10 from 9:30 a.m. until noon to watch and discuss Shakti Butler’s DVD, Cracking the Codes: The System of Racial Inequity.  The film uses story, theater and music to illuminate the larger frame of structural/systemic racial inequity.  It will provide a foundation for understanding the existing system of race in the U.S. and for addressing the barriers to creating communities with equitable and sustainable access to resources for all. Film segments are interspersed with periods of facilitated dialogue. This event is sponsored by the Friends Meeting of Washington Waking Up White book discussion group. For more information, contact David Etheridge at david.etheridge@verizon.net [15]

 

October 10:  Grow Your Meeting Workshop,  Valley Friends Meeting (Dayton, VA)  Baltimore Yearly Meeting and Friends General Conference invite you to Grow Your Meeting. This workshop empowers teams of Friends to create programs and opportunities within their home Meetings that focus on three important components of growth: inreach, outreach, and welcoming newcomers. Your Meeting’s team will leave ready to make a plan for initiating growth and vitality into the lift of the Meeting. The workshop is co-sponsored by FGC and BYM, with a fee of $100 per Meeting team (up to 3 Friends per team) and includes a resource toolkit, lunch, and dinner. To learn more, including registration instructions, see www.fgcquaker.org/grow-our-meetings [16].

 

October 10: Fun and Work in the Wilderness Day from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. or when you need to leave, at Friends Wilderness Center.  What better way to spend a beautiful fall day than sharing the fellowship, work, and Sheila Bach’s great cooking as we help with chores around the cabin and in the yard at the Friends Wilderness Center. RSVP to Sheila to let her know you are coming for work and partake in a free lunch. If you need directions or have questions, please contact Sheila Bach (snbach@earthlink.net [17], 304-728-4820). The website is www.friendswilderness.org [18]

 

October 17: Lydia Pecker and Carl Johnson will be married under the care of our Meeting at 10:30 am  in the Meeting Room. All are welcome.

 

October 17:   Interim Meeting at Goose Creek Friends Meeting (Lincoln, VA)  Get to know Yearly Meeting Committees and Friends from other Meetings! Be a part of important decision making. Join Friends for morning committee meetings and the afternoon’s Interim Business Meeting. Goose Creek Friends Meeting is hosting the Tenth Month Interim Meeting. Friends will begin gathering at 10:00 am. Lunch will be provided, and the afternoon Business Meeting will be held with dinner following the rise of Meeting. Check the Yearly Meeting website for more information [19].

 

October 19: For four Mondays in a row, Michael Cronin will lead a Quaker Inquirer’s Class to answer your questions about the faith and practice of the Religious Society of Friends. We meet from 7:00 to 8:30 pm. All are welcome, whether you’ve been coming to FMW for a week or a century. For more information, contact Michael at mcronin943@gmail.com [20]

 

October 23 – 25:  Family Camp Weekend, Catoctin Quaker Camp (Thurmont, MD)  Family Camp Weekends at Baltimore Yearly Meeting Camp Properties offer us all a chance to come and enjoy our beautiful camp properties at a special time of year. Individuals and families are invited to come and enjoy the camps for a day or for the weekend. This fall, we will have a program coordinator at each weekend who will plan camp-type activities for Saturday and Sunday mornings, as well as Saturday afternoon and evening. These may include things like playing in the creek, a crafts project or hiking around one of the most precious places on earth. There will also be plenty of work projects to do! Work projects offer people with all kinds of skills the opportunity to enjoy some meaningful and satisfying work! We will enjoy meals together, have time to explore and even spend some time around a camp fire in the evening. Come and enjoy a camp experience, give the gift of your time, participate with children in activities and find yourself rejuvenated.

 

October 24:  Witches and Quakers at Friends Wilderness Center. Save the date; more

information will be coming.

 

October 25: Welcome to the Quaker Experience  Members of Ministry & Worship will lead a very brief Q&A about the faith and practice of the Religious Society of Friends, in the North Room (next to the Assembly Room on the ground floor) at rise of Meeting for Worship. All are welcome.

 

October 25:  Friendly Sing-In, Gunpowder Friends Meeting (Sparks, MD)  Join Friends from across the Yearly Meeting at 9am for a day of singing, worship, and a potluck meal. For more information, contact Marilyn Rothstein. (443-660-9325 or marilynrothstein@comcast.net [21])

 

October 30: Inquirers’ Weekend at Pendle Hill  Pendle Hill is a wonderful educational and

 

THINKING ABOUT RACE (October 2015) – Serena Williams

I asked how winning felt for her. I was imagining winning as a free space, one where the unconscious racist shenanigans of umpires, or the narratives about her body, her ‘‘unnatural’’ power, her perceived crassness no longer mattered. Unless racism destroyed the moment of winning so completely, as it did at Indian Wells, I thought it had to be the rare space free of all the stresses of black life. But Serena made it clear that she doesn’t desire to dissociate from her history and her culture. She understands that even when she’s focused only on winning, she is still representing. ‘‘I play for me,’’ Serena told me, ‘‘but I also play and represent something much greater than me. I embrace that. I love that. I want that. So ultimately, when I am out there on the court, I am playing for me.’’….

Because just as important to me as her victories is her willingness to be an emotionally complete person while also being black. She wins, yes, but she also loses it. She jokes around, gets angry, is frustrated or joyous, and on and on. She is fearlessly on the side of Serena, in a culture that that has responded to living while black with death.

From The New York Times Magazine, August 25, 2015, “The Meaning of Serena Williams:  On tennis and black excellence,” by Claudia Rankine.

The Baltimore-Area Working Group on Racism usually meets 7 – 9 pm on the 2^nd Sunday of the month in the Stony Run dining room.  We consider issues around racial justice, share personal experiences, and plan and host special events.  All are welcome to attend. 

 

The following article appeared in Congressional Quarterly Weekly on September 8, 2015. It would be unQuakerly of us to brag, but in the interest of telling truth, it should be pointed out that Kate Gould is OUR member.

 

Quaker vs. Goliath

 

The Quakers don’t fit the stereotypical image of high-powered lobbyists. But these peacemakers, led by Kate Gould, just claimed victory in the most hard-fought battle in Washington, after enough Senate Democrats pledged to uphold the Iran nuclear agreement negotiated by President Barack Obama. Gould, a registered lobbyist, is the legislative associate for Middle East policy at the Friends Committee on National Legislation, where for the past four years she has led the group’s advocacy regarding Iran, as well as Iraq, Syria, Israel and Palestine. Despite furious lobbying and millions of dollars spent on national television ads to oppose the Iran deal, this young Quaker helped mobilize a diverse group of grassroots activists, nuclear nonproliferation experts and faith-based groups to win the backing of at least 34 Senate Democrats. Even if the Republican-led Congress passes a resolution of disapproval to block the agreement in the coming weeks, Obama’s veto would be sustained. “Securing 34 Senate votes for the Iran nuclear accord to move forward is a victory for the clear majority of Americans who want to see their lawmakers let diplomacy work,” says Gould, 31, who got her first taste for political advocacy more than a decade ago as a student at Western Washington University deeply involved in the anti-Iraq War movement. According to people closely involved in congressional advocacy in favor of the Iran deal, Gould has been a critical player doing behind-the-scenes organizing work. “Kate has one of those rare talents: she understands that these issues are deeply cared about across the country and, importantly, knows how to help grassroots communities bring their voices to Washington,” says Joy Drucker, a former deputy assistant secretary of State for House affairs and now a consultant working with the White House and nonprofit groups to round up congressional support for the Iran deal. “Few advocates really can marry those two skills together.” Gould’s efforts included directly lobbying lawmakers and their staffs, as well as rallying activists to attend over 50 constituent meetings during the August recess, tracking whip counts in Congress, getting letters-to-the-editor in support of the deal in newspapers in all 50 states and shepherding a letter to Congress signed by 53 Christian leaders in support of the agreement. “One of the things that is most impressive about Kate is her commitment and enthusiasm,” says Kelsey Davenport, director for nonproliferation policy at the Arms Control Association. Prior to working for the Quaker lobby, Gould was director of advocacy and outreach at Just Foreign Policy, a group pushing for liberal U.S. foreign policies, and worked as an intern for Democratic Sen. Jeff Merkley of Oregon. She says her belief in “that of God in every human being” guides her work for peace, and she spent several years living and working in the Middle East. Her work included teaching English to Palestinian school teachers and coordinating a radio program produced by the Israel-Palestine Center for Research and Information. Building support for the Iran deal, however, has been an experience all on its own, she says. “It’s been amazing to see how the citizen advocacy work is really working.”

 

The following letter was sent to our Pro Bono lawyer, David Kendall, to thank him for his work on the Meeting’s behalf when a former member filed suit against the Meeting. That suit has now been permanently dismissed.

 

Dear David,

 

I am writing on behalf of Friends Meeting of Washington to express our gratitude for your pro bono legal representation. Your legal expertise and deep familiarity with Quaker process – and the quirks of our Meeting – made you the very best lawyer we could have hoped for.

 

The suit brought by a former member was very unsettling for our community, especially for those individuals who were named and were closest to the goings-on. You were continually reassuring and communicative, from the community meeting at which you answered questions to the many calls and emails you engaged in with me, Dan and others. Your sense of humor made the situation seem more manageable and less worrisome.

 

We recognize and appreciate the contributions of Michael Fishman and Whitney Hermandorfer as well; we know they were engaged in behind-the-scenes work that contributed to the capable handling of the suit.

 

With gratitude and best wishes,

 

 

BOOK REVIEWS – FROM THE FMW LIBRARY

Speaking of Murder by Tace Baker

 I normally do not read a lot of mysteries, but I was intrigued about a novel written by a Quaker with a Quaker protagonist.  I would say the book is entertaining.  I did want to keep reading to see what happened and find out “who did it.”  But the book is quite unrealistic in the behavior of the main character.  She is a linguistic professor who takes it upon herself to try and solve the crimes and is constantly getting herself into trouble.  I surprised by how often she put herself into precarious situations and everyone she meets seems to be connected to the crime or in solving the case.  Her Quaker faith was mentioned but did not seem to play a bit part of her life or was showcased in the book. 

• Review by Abby Thomsen

 

However Long the Night is a biography of Molly Melching, founder of Tostan in Senegal.  Tostan means hatching in Wolof, the most used of several languages in Senegal.  For Melching's work, Tostan was a series of carefully thought out classes for women, in hygiene and human rights, using local people and lively theatrical methods.  Her efforts succeeded in ending Female Genital Cutting (FGC) throughout most of Senegal and some neighboring countries, and the slow process she used democratized women's position.  (FGC are the initials used throughout the book, a bit startling for Quakers.)

 

Molly herself was very much an American, born in Houston in 1949.  She almost didn't get to Senegal, since the exchange program she wanted to participate in was called off as she was arriving in 1973, but she worked it out, and to learn her story you should read the book. 

 

• Review by Faith Williams

 

RANDOM HAPPENINGS

My, we are a well-travelled bunch. I heard the other day from Gray Handley. He was in Mongolia. Then I started seeing Facebook photos of Associate Member Noura Connor, in Germany. Nick Farr is starting at Evergreen College in Washington State. Liz Pomerleau, not to be outdone by veteran biker babes Betsy Bramon and Zoe Plaugher, is on a one-woman, 11 day, 600-mile bike trip through the Outer Banks of North Carolina to Wilmington. On day 3, she covered 80 miles!

And in case you’ve been missing Victor Freeman, here’s what he’s been up to lately:

 I have been travelling for work and typically leave on Sunday mornings in order to cross the country and be on site, early Monday morning...

There is an entirely new coding system coming to all of health care---

And I am one of a handful of physicians that can train other physicians the

transition for the current 20,000 codes to the new 140,000 code system...

 

 So I am almost constantly on the road, but stealing a weekday or two to see

my wife and new son. I am just coming down from Anchorage, Alaska and am

currently in Walla Walla, Washington. My extensive travel  will all end

October 1, when the new coding system is put in place... (But the coding

nightmare for health care will just be starting, because many physicians

will Not have done adequate preparation...!) For now, I am doing the best

that I can to get as many trained, as possible...

 

Sending travelling mercies to all of these Friends and any others as they wend their way to and fro.

Friend Cynthia Terrell, who gathers homemade hats, gloves, mittens and blankets for the children in the D.C. shelters, wrote the following thank you note for the batch we sent, mostly done by Emilie Schmeidler:

Thank you dear Friends at Friends Meeting of Washington [25] for the great batch of hats - I will add them to my stack of lovely knitted hats, mitts, scarves, and sweaters for children who will be homeless in DC this winter. My daughter Savanna Richie [26] and I plan to knit some blankets for infants who will be homeless - perhaps some of my knitting friends/Friends might like to join us?

This month, the Nominating Committee gets serious about matching each of us with a committee where our gifts can grow and contribute. My nomination for Most Fun Committee (lately) is Hospitality, whose email exchanges I get to see occasionally. A recent flurry involving the disappearing coffee carafes included accusations of dastardly heists, True Confessions, Papal forgiveness, and other quips. I wonder what these people are like to work with in person? Want to find out? Contact Harry Massey on Nominating, harrymassey@aol.com [27]

For Very Busy Committee, I nominate Ministry & Worship. In September, they launched a new welcoming effort called Welcome to the Quaker Experience, which includes having a designated Quaker in the Corner at the large 10:30 Meeting for Worship, creating a one-page handout and a welcome brochure, and initiating a monthly talk at rise of Meeting on Quaker FAQs. Their hope is to help visitors and other seekers to find their way in to our large, diverse Meeting and better connect with the people and programs we offer. Response so far has been very positive.

Ministry and Worship has also been holding some much-needed Listening Sessions to hear from those who were hurt by our former member. It is painful to hear from these courageous speakers, and we are so grateful to them for their willingness to share their experience. Some excellent suggestions have been made to help the Meeting better protect all of its members and attenders against these kinds of hurts, and steps are underway to develop and implement these ideas. The Clerks will share more as these steps are developed, and will bring them forward for community input and discernment.

Meanwhile, October looks like it’s going to be a very fun month. The Catoctin Weekend starts the month off  (October 2-4). This is a wonderful, low-key, low-tech weekend where Friends of all ages get together to eat, hike, lounge, visit, and become rested and refreshed at Catoctin Quaker Camp. You can bring a tent or stay in a cabin. Many Friends just come for a day. You can sign up for this at http://tinyurl.com/CatoctonSignUp [2]   

Then, mid-month, Lydia and Carl are getting married under our care! The wedding is at 10:30 a.m. on October 17, and should be very wonderful—just like the couple. Ya’ll come.

Finally, on Sunday, October 25, the Hunger & Homelessness Taskforce are serving us lunch in an effort to raise funds for the Shoebox Project. I personally like to express my generosity by eating, so this works out very well for Debby. Bring your appetite, and leave your check.

• Debby

 

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