Minneapolis Friend Meeting

Minutes of Monthly Meeting for Business

June 10, 2018

[Information has been edited for publication on the internet]

10:00-11:00 AM        Semi-programmed Meeting for Worship

11:15-12:30 PM        Meeting for Worship with Attention to Business

Attendance:  John Kraft—Presiding Clerk,  Tom Ward—Recording Clerk,  33 others were in attendance

1. Clerk opened the meeting with a query, followed by a period of silence 
2. Agenda was updated and approved 
3. May Minutes were APPROVED 
4. Ministry and Counsel (M&C) – S. Olson   A clearness committee for membership met with Ellen S., and M&C heartily recommends Ellen for membership in Minneapolis Friends Meeting.  Meeting APPROVED Ellen S. for membership. A welcoming celebration for Ellen and for Juliet N. will take place on July 22. M&C has been focused on pastoral care concerns and wants to involve more people in the pastoral care process. They acknowledge that many may feel unprepared to provide this care, but one of the keys is being willing to give your complete and undivided attention to another person.  M&C thanks those who provide this support in many different ways and asks for suggestions about how to involve more people in the process. 
5. Northern Yearly Meeting (NYM) Updates:   Presiding Clerk asked some of those who attended NYM at Lions Camp in Stevens Point, Wisconsin over Memorial Day weekend to share their experiences.   For Sarah A. and her family it was the first time attending, and they found it to be a very positive experience for everyone but, especially, for those of middle and high school ages.  For the youth it was a great place to meet, talk and relate with like-minded young Quakers on everything from social to spiritual matters.  It was good for adults, too, with much music and singing and a great chance to meet other Quakers from outside our Meeting. They became acquainted with a number of folks from Twin Cities Meeting. It is at a fabulous location on a lake with a variety of options for sleeping, eating and exercising.  What a way to spend Memorial Day weekend!  Zoe S. agreed that it was a great experience for middle and high schoolers, and she appreciated the way the high schoolers conducted their own meeting for business.  She liked that they had their own space to grow spiritually with people their own age.  Jim L. especially enjoyed the location on the lake, the options for sleeping and eating – institutionally served meals or simple meals that campers prepared together.  The discussions were great and, occasionally, quite challenging; and the chance to visit with other Quakers from our Meeting, from Twin Cities Friends and from outstate was outstanding. Presiding Clerk added that he is a big booster of Northern Yearly Meeting and he loves the process of meeting for business, even though it is quite long – stretching over two days – and believes it has taught him a great deal about what it really means to be a Quaker.
6. Annual Reports
   1. Annual Property Committee Report– Linda F:  Property Committee is charged with the upkeep and maintenance of the meeting house and grounds.  Some accomplishments in the past year include: an automatic door opener at the main entrance; programming the light at the north entrance to come on at 7:30 PM and go off at 10 PM; plumbing issues such as a leaking pipe over the nursery and repairs to the drinking fountain and kitchen sink; painting the walls and ceiling of the Fellowship room; minor concrete repairs to the sidewalk; replacing the bench beneath the pergola;  cleaning the carpet in September and recently deciding that all the carpet needs to be replaced – they are in process of selecting a vendor; routine inspection of furnace, sewers, lift, piano and fire prevention equipment; completed a hydrostatic test that is required every 12 years (cost over $700); installed two carbon monoxide detectors in the Fellowship hall which, though not mandatory, felt important to do since there are occasional sleep overs in the room;  Garden committee did a lot of work on the landscape and cleaning up the east side of the building. Property Committee has scheduled the annual spring cleaning for June 24^th.   Discussion:  Friend asked if it is a good idea to replace the carpet with another carpet, since there are health issues associated with carpeting and it is hard to clean, although it is good for sound absorption.   Another Friend, a medical doctor, believes there have been lots of improvements in the manufacturing of carpet and does not believe a new carpet would pose a health issue.  Committee Clerk said they decided upon replacing the carpet primarily for the sound reduction it provides, and they are looking into installing carpet squares, which are easier to replace if damaged. The new carpet would be for both the downstairs and the upstairs.   Question was raised about why the meeting house does not have an AED (Automatic External Defibrillator).  It had been decided against some time ago but no one has a clear explanation for why we chose not to have one.  Training should not be a concern, since that is not a requirement for placing an AED.  Carolyn V. wanted to express her deepest thanks for all the work property committee does, much of it in the background and frequently unnoticed.  Meeting supported Carolyn’s expression of thanks.
   2. Mid-Morning Program Committee Annual Report – Ellen S:  Mid-Morning Program Committee plans programs between the unprogrammed and semi-programmed worship services (1015-11:00 AM), taking into consideration the needs of the Meeting for Quaker-related education and community well-being and growth.  There have been a number of successful programs, one noteworthy offering was focused on a Pendle Hill Pamphlet #292, “Hallowing our Diminishments” by John Yungblut.  The committee would like to increase attendance during the mid-morning program as well as to continue to receive topics of interest for the committee to present on Sundays. Program ideas may be submitted on a form located next to the elevator on the table.  They have collected over 60 suggestions.  They seek ideas on how to best address specific spiritual needs that arise in Meeting.  There was no discussion.
   3. Care of Semi-Programmed Worship Annual Report – Judith J:   The Care of Meeting Semi-Programmed Committee is a subcommittee of Ministry and Counsel. They plan for the speakers, musicians, microphone carriers, and closers at semi-programmed meeting, exercising discernment as to the Meeting’s spiritual and worship needs and as to the gifts of members.  They also provide speakers and closers with information and guidelines and encourage them to use selections from Quaker writings or our Faith and Practice as they prepare to speak at meeting.   The committee has found it challenging to complete all its work with their current number of members and would like to propose that an additional member be added to the committee.  Thanks to the many musicians who play preludes and hymns and assist with the singing.  These include Nancy L., Dave B., Tom W., Steve S., Kate C., and John K.  They are much appreciated. The committee would like to consider supplementing in-house musicians with paid musicians when in-house musicians are not available. The possibility of funding musicians on an occasional basis is being considered by Ministry and Counsel. They are always looking for more individuals to help with music. In addition, so many people contribute in many roles to make semi-programmed worship a success. In the fall, they are planning a program on meditation or other ways to share in meeting for worship.  Discussion:  Question was asked about the schedule on the Meeting’s webpage.  Is it up to date with our changed hours of worship in the summer? Visitors have been coming early and late to the summer worship service.  Tom W. responded that he had noticed winter hours are still appearing on website schedule and that the webmaster will be contacted to make a correction. Another Friend asked if the question about paid musicians will be discussed beyond M&C.  Yes, it will be brought to meeting for business.
   4. Trustees Annual Report – Jane F:   [See attachment #1 for full report] Terry K. has been appointed as the newest of the three Trustees, replacing Jim H. whose term has finished.  Of all the funds managed by the Trustees, the building fund is the largest at $54,000 and receives $5,000 from the Meeting budget each year.  In addition, it receives memorial gifts and undesignated donations to the Meeting.     Discussion:  Susie K asked if the Trustees had heard from Allen G. regarding the request of the community choir to use the meeting house this year. She thought the choir would appreciate a response soon. Presiding Clerk indicated this is the next topic on the agenda for consideration, today.  Friend asked if any of the Nancy Peterson Memorial Fund could be used for Quaker Voluntary Service (QVS), since that fund was initially used to help fund Quaker Quest and we no longer support Quaker Quest. The Peterson Fund might be repurposed for other outreach activities, such as QVS.  Nettie S. agreed that the Peterson Funds were initially targeted for Quaker Quest and that it would be appropriate to consider them for other welcome and outreach activities.  Judith J. said that Meeting has budgeted $4,000 as part of its contribution to the $10,000 commitment the region has made to support QVS.  There was the sense that this is sufficient to fulfill our financial commitment to QVS. Presiding Clerk suggested that the Trustees might explore whether Meeting should look into reallocating some of the funds at this time and for them to bring their ideas back to monthly meeting for further discussion.  The Sabbatical Fund was cited as one possible example of a fund that might be reallocated.   Gayle M. responded that she believed $10,000 of the Sabbatical Fund’s $29,000 was already earmarked to go to Pat as part the transition process.
7. Concert and Potluck July 22 – Presiding Clerk questioned if there would be a conflict with the date, since a new member welcoming is also scheduled for July 22.  Friends did not think this would be a problem.  However, since the concert and potluck are a joint venture between our meeting and Mayim Rabim, we still need to identify two individuals from our meeting to help coordinate the event.  The event was rescheduled from April when a snowstorm led to its’ postponement.  Carolyn V. and Sigurd indicated they would help facilitate the event.  There are two people from Mayim Rabim facilitating; and our role will be, largely, to promote the potluck and to be around during the 2 PM contemplative concert and the potluck that precedes it. The potluck was proposed as a bridge to encourage people from morning worship to stay around for the afternoon concert, but is not essential to put on the concert.  The band playing the concert will do most of their own coordination.  Discussion:  Are there dietary considerations for the Jewish meal?  Yes. The April potluck was advertised as vegetarian with no dairy, so that should be our guide.  Carolyn, asked Friends to be mindful of notifying the office and updating the calendar anytime events are rescheduled or cancelled.
8. Arne Anderson Memorial Minute –Bill H: [See Attachment #2 for full document]  The Minute was read and Friends APPROVED the Memorial Minute with great appreciation.
9. Hosting the Community Choir: Presiding Clerk   Clerk has concerns that, today,  the pressure of time, the waning attendance at meeting for business and the absence of Allen G. who is our coordinator with the choir, would make it difficult to come to an informed decision about hosting the Community Choir. There is still question about when the choir wants to begin rehearsing – this summer or in the fall, about a possibility of their having monthly potlucks, and about what to charge.   Discussion: Friend felt it important for us to communicate our intentions to host since the choir has other options to pursue and need to know soon, although they really liked the meeting room for their rehearsals. Is there a way we could inform them that we would like them here, even if the details have not been worked out? Other Friends spoke regarding the history of the choir – it was organized by Leandra, of Neal and Leandra, and they are well known to the Meeting and they find the meeting a welcoming and warm place to be in; that this is a good opportunity to publicize Quakerism to 70 members of the community; and it has been a wonderful experience for everyone involved, including Friends from the Meeting.  Others spoke of the great music, but cautioned about promising more than we can deliver. Some Friends had been expecting a decision, today.  Clerk felt there was insufficient information to come to clarity about the decision and recommended tabling the decision to host the Community Choir, with our apologies to the choir.  The decision on hosting the Community Choir was tabled until July. Clerk indicated he would talk to Allen about the choir’s request to use the meeting house and any charges.
10. Transition Minute     Presiding Clerk recommended we table discussion of the Transition Minute. We were out of time and too many people have left meeting for business.  In addition, he asked us to consider the practicality of having a called meeting to provide more time to resolve issues around the transition if we are unable to approve the minute in July.  The Transition Minute was tabled until July.
11. Correspondence 
    1. Thank you letter from Friends School of Minnesota for our $400 donation.
    2. A thank you from the Community Choir for welcoming them in their first season this spring.  They enclosed a gift of $500 and indicated they are planning to begin their second season in September. They want to know what we want to charge them for use of the building.    Carolyn V. sent an acknowledgement for the $500 we received from the choir.
12. Additional Comments: Meeting for business will be held on July 8, even though that coincides with the Gathering of Friends General Conference and the Presiding Clerk will be out of town.
13. Meeting for Business closed with a moment of silence at 12:35 PM

 

ATTACHMENTS

Attachment #1                     

MFM Trustees Report 2017/2018

June 10, 2018

Current trustees are Linda C, Jane F, and newly joined Terry K. We bid farewell and deep thanks to Jim H. Jim has reported to Monthly Meeting on behalf of Trustees throughout his tenure as a Trustee, providing insight on many topics, but most regularly and faithfully, about the challenges of attending to the physical and structural needs of our dear Meeting House.

The Trustees’ role is to manage certain aspects of the Minneapolis Friends Meeting’s legal and financial obligations. The Trustees review and sign legal contracts on behalf of the Meeting, keep track of the sections of Lakewood Cemetery that belong to the Meeting, and manage a set of funds separate from the Annual Budget that were established to maintain the integrity of the Meeting House property, and to support specific aspects of the life of the Meeting. Trustee funds come from allocations from the Annual Budget, from donations and memorials, from building use fees, and from Mayim Rabim’s rent payments.

Below is a summary of MFM Trustee Account Status as of June 10, 2018 in round numbers.

1. Mission, Service and Fellowship : $14,500 (including $1,000 Annual Budget contribution).   Purpose: This is a designated fund to be used by the Meeting to assist meeting groups working on service projects outside the Meeting. Funding: There is a Meeting annual discretionary contribution if funds are available at end of fiscal year to this fund, plus individual gifts. The fund was originally established to as seed money for youth projects (like those in the past for Cuba, El Salvador, Indian reservation work, etc. that required extension fund raising leading into the projects).
2. Conference Travel: $3,600    Purpose: Individual members or frequent attenders can request financial assistance to help facilitate their attendance at Quaker related conferences, gatherings, or workshops which will benefit the Meeting. Funding: This fund is contributed through individual gifts or Meeting contributions (but not a regular allocation of the annual budget). Outlay: Up to $1,000 yearly. Fund is drawing down. Individuals are allowed up to $250 per trip.
3. History Project: $9,500   Purpose: This fund was established to publish a history of the Meeting and Minnesota Quakers. Funding: There was a one-time gift to establish this fund. Outlay: Linda C will use these funds for publication of the history when it is completed. She is not drawing funds until then.
4. Seed Fund: $4,000   Purpose: The Seed Fund aids in the development of and enhance the life, ministry and outreach of the Meeting. Funding: A one-time gift gave rise to this fund. It operates as a matching grant, so that equal amounts must come from other sources.  Outlay: Fund has been drawn down for Winds of Change, Quaker Quest, and redevelopment of the Meeting web site. Future outlay is to be determined to continue meeting outreach.
5. Nancy Peterson Memorial Fund: $2,900 (I believe these funds still rest in the general operations checking account.) Funding: This fund is comprised of one-time memorials.   Purpose: It was originally anticipated to be used to fund Quaker Quest, or other similar community building for MFM. Outlay: Future projects to be determined. FGC no longer conducts Quaker Quest.
6. Sabbatical Fund: $29,000   Purpose: This fund has been used when the Director of Ministry is on Sabbatical, to provide salaries for those hired to fill in for the Director of Ministry, and to provide for Director of Ministry expenses. Funding: Designated annual allocation from the meeting, if funds available at end of fiscal year. Outlay: To be determined.
7. Building Fund: $54,000 (including Annual Budget for $5,000 and $2,250 in memorials)   Purpose: The Building Fund is maintained for capital expenditures, including major contracted maintenance projects and building improvements.  Funding: The funding stream is a budgeted annual allocation from the meeting of $5,000, undesignated memorials and contributions, and Mayim Rabim rent ($350 per month, and raised to $400 per month starting April 2018). Outlay: As stated in the 2016/2017 Annual Trustees Report, anticipated building needs could exhaust this fund in the next year or two. In 2017, the Property committee completed an extensive “punch list” but the only large project completed in the past fiscal year was installation of the automatic front entrance door. Last year at this time, there was work being done among Stewardship, Property Committee and the Auditor to update the Meeting’s asset replacement schedule based on estimated needs and inflation adjustment. Among the items recognized in that process needing attention were: replacing carpets, some exterior maintenance (including repair or replacement of the porch), and resealing the meeting room floor. Other projects mentioned included new signage and new kitchen arrangements. The lift remains a vital part of our assurances that all can participate in activities on the main floor and basement, but it has suffered multiple failures over the past several years.

As we continue to carry out our visions for the future, we should bear in mind that the current budget allocations to the building fund appear to be inadequate to maintain the meeting house over the next decade, and efforts towards increased individual giving and perhaps a building fund raiser directed to carry out specific projects will be necessary.

—Jane F, for the Trustees

 

Attachment #2:

Memorial Minute for Dr. Arnold “Arne” S. Anderson, Jr.

Dr. Arnold “Arne” S. Anderson, Jr., age 99, died peacefully at home on May 8, 2017, surrounded by his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

Arne and his beloved wife, Ruth Rusk Dalton Anderson, were married August 31, 1940. They began attending Minneapolis Friends Meeting in 1952. At that time, they had four children, the beginning of what was to become the Meeting’s largest family. Their children include sons, Renner, Jeffrey, Kimball, Whitney, Colin, and daughters, Lucinda, Susanna E, Amy, and Martha. Arne and Rusk were blessed with 17 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren at the time of his death.

The one thing that Dr. Anderson’s life will long represent amongst us at Minneapolis Friends Meeting is how Arne demonstrated through his life… George Fox’s ministry found in Epistle 200, “So let your lives preach, let your light shine, that your works may be seen, that your Father may be glorified; that your fruits may be unto holiness, and that your end may be everlasting life.”

Pat Jones, Director of Ministry, remembered, “Arne looked to Quakerism and to the religious philosophy of Quakerism for principles and values that he would apply to his life. His practice of medicine and the business of medicine,” and “his focus was on building communities, sowing the seeds of peace, of goodwill and cooperation and respect.”

Dr. Anderson’s will be remembered for his passion and concern for others demonstrated through his traveling missionaries that brought medical care to those with the greatest need and his passion for children’s health care. He and his family hosted numerous medical exchange students, foreign medical providers, and immigrant families. Besides providing health care through his work with Minnesota International Health Volunteers, Arne and Rusk worked to help establish and build schools in Kenya.

His contribution to his community also included working with other physicians that pooled their funds to start the Saint Louis Park Medical Center that has since evolved into Park Nicollet Medical Center. He served as the clinic’s early CEO and President of the Board of Trustees, and later founded the clinic’s Foundation for Research and Education. He established Minneapolis’ Teenage Medical Service (TAMS) and found Children’s Health Center on Chicago Avenue in Minneapolis, which since has become part of Children’s Minnesota. He worked tirelessly to raise the money and recruit the staff for Children’s; he was the hospital’s first CEO and Chief Medical Director, and later served as the director of patient care. His contributions to our local and broader global community were vast.

Arne and Rusk, also, worked with others and were successful raising and soliciting funds for the moderation and remodeling of the Minneapolis Friends Meetinghouse. Arne and his wife were instrumental in starting the unprogrammed meeting for worship at MFM.

Arne mentored many MFM’s members, and his life will long serve as a light to inspire many Friends and other members of our community.

_______________________________

1 Kevin Giles, Star Tribune MAY 19, 2017 — 9:57PM, Dr. Arnold S. Anderson, who helped found two major Twin Cities medical centers, dies, startribune.com/dr-arnold-s-anderson-helped-found-two-major-twin-cities-medical-centers/423253963/. Accessed 14 June 2017.