Minneapolis Friend Meeting
Minutes of Monthly Meeting for Business
April 12, 2020
[Monthly Meeting for Business was conducted remotely via Zoom]

In attendance: John Kraft – Presiding Clerk, Tom Ward – Recording Clerk, plus forty other participants

1. Silent Worship
2. Requests – Leave time in between each speaker. Take time to let emotions settle and the Light’s message form before speaking. Speak from the Light instead of simply responding to another’s’ message, unless you want to clarify what’s been said. We are seeking a common understanding of what the Light is telling us as a community, not just trying to get our individual point across. Wait for the microphone.
3. Clerk began meeting for business with a reading.
4. Agenda was posted online and APPROVED
5. March Minutes were APPROVED
6. Ministry and Counsel(M&C) Report – Bill H. This is his first report as incoming clerk of M&C. M&C meets on the first Thursday of the month and will continue this schedule through the summer. In the fall they may consider changing the schedule depending on member’s schedules. They reviewed a list of the committee’s responsibilities that include the general care of all meetings for worship, for business, for marriage and memorial services coordinated by its Death and Memorial Committee. They are mindful to keep the structures and operations of the Meeting consistent with Quaker faith and practice. Other responsibilities include: developing opportunities for deepening the Meeting’s spiritual life, nurturing leadership within the Meeting and supporting committee clerks, assisting people exploring membership or considering marriage, helping to prepare the state of society report, and encouraging attendance at Yearly Meeting and other events of the wider community of Friends. Our meetings for worship shared on Zoom have been well received during the pandemic but some participants do not have access to a computer. It is possible to connect to a Zoom meeting via phone and directions are provided in the Zoom invitation. Friends are encouraged to help each other work through these technology challenges so everyone has the chance to participate in the Meeting’s online activities during this time of social isolation due to the COVID-19 flu pandemic. M&C recommends that we do not try to sing hymns together during worship while using Zoom. It is too problematic. Other ways to participate in Meeting activities on Zoom include the mid-week worship held on Wednesday evenings from 7P-8P, facilitated by Steve S. during April, and the Friday drop-ins from 1P-3P that are facilitated by Bill H. M&C is reviewing whether to extend these mid-week sessions. Summer schedule, with one service alternating between unprogrammed and semi-programmed worship, begins on Sunday, May 24; and it starts with unprogrammed worship. M&C is considering sponsoring a session in the fall featuring an outside speaker. Discussion: Friend explained that the reasoning behind stopping hymn singing during Zoom services was it caused an out-of-sync, non-unison sound that was too jarring. Committee clerk: there has been some concern about security on the Meeting’s webpage, if the web site were to provide anyone with instructions on linking to our Zoom services. So, those instructions are coordinated by the office, with the office sharing the links with the Google group and in the bulletin. People still needing assistances are asked to contact the office. Sandy O. reminded us that members of Care and Counsel Committee are reaching out to individuals during this trying time, providing meaningful outreach from the Meeting.
7. Reports:
   1. 2019 Annual Census Report – Carolyn V.: This is a mostly informal survey she conducts every year by reviewing the directory and counting people she sees on a regular basis. There are about 101 adults regularly attending Meeting activities – 63 are members and 38 are attenders. (Last year, there were 97 adult attenders). We had two new members: one by transfer – Carol B., one by convincement – Tom H. Two members were released through death: Pat M. on July 5, 2019 and Dick W. on August 29, 2019. Twenty-one children participated in Meeting activities: 4 – under 2 years of age, 1- ages 2 to 5, 6 –grades 1 thru 5, and 5 in high school. Average attendance at unprogrammed worship this year – 21; at semi-programmed worship – 45; and average attendance during the summer combined worship was 54.
   2. Meeting Emergency Fund – John S.: Ten days ago the Care and Counsel committee started working on a mechanism to provide financial aid to people in the Meeting who are experiencing financial need during this COVID-19 crisis. So far, the plan has been reviewed by a number of people in Meeting, and Allen G. has studied it for any tax consequences. Monthly meeting viewed the document online while it was read out loud. This is the plan:
                                                           COVID 19 Response Fund
      “MFM knows that the Coronavirus has brought sudden financial hardship to many people, including our members and attenders. The procedure described here is to provide some temporary relief to Friends in need due to situations like unexpected health care costs, unemployment, car repair or insurance, sudden new issues with aging parents—any financial emergency connected to the virus and resulting quarantines. These are just examples, we know there are a lot of reasons people would feel hardship now. We ask that people receiving these funds not apply again for 60 days, so that all may be served.
      1. 1. 1.  1)   $ 10,000 will be allocated from the Operating Budget.
            2.  2)   People connected with the meeting, that is, members and attenders, can apply for emergency funding up to $1,500. The contact person is the Clerk of Care and Counsel. Applicants should write to Nettie S., stating that the request is due to COVID 19, and the amount they need, a need they cannot presently meet, up to $1,500. Nettie will authorize that a check be written by one of the meeting’s check writers.
            3.  3) Care and Counsel will distribute the funds, keeping a record of when and to whom, which will be kept confidential.
            4. 4)  Care and Counsel will report the status of the fund, without identifying recipients, every month at Meeting for Business.These are emergency provisions. Care and Counsel is collaborating with Trustees and Stewardship on a longer-term plan for a Fund for Sufferings that could be replenished by contributions from people in the meeting. Meanwhile the Minneapolis Friends Meeting is able to provide some help to those suffering right now from this world-wide crisis.”
         2. The decision was made to refer to the plan as the COVID-19 Response Fund, rather than the more commonly used Quaker term – “Fund for Sufferings”. The Covid-19 Response Fund is for specific needs arising from hardships related to the current pandemic crisis. The plan suggests some examples of these needs, but is by no means inclusive of every situation. The intent is to award financial assistance from the fund only once in 60 days, and it is intended for emergency needs caused by the pandemic. Financial assistance would be available for members and attenders, but not for extended family members or for friends of Friends. Applications would go to the clerk of Care and Counsel. A short application form has been developed that meets the Meeting’s legal tax requirements for dispersing the COVID-19 Response Fund. [See attachments for the form] Confidentiality will be maintained at all times regarding applicants and recipients of the funds. An oral report on the progress of the fund will be made monthly, but a written report will not be recorded. It will not be possible for individuals, if they so desire, to make a contribution to increase the fund balance, since the fund derives from the operating budget of the Meeting, and any increase in the fund balance requires action by Monthly Meeting for Business. In the future a Fund for Suffering may be established by Meeting. This fund would enable people to make tax-deductible donations, but such a fund is not in place at this time. Discussion: Clerk inquired if recipients would have to claim this money on their taxes. Allen Gibas said it would not need to be reported. Friend suggested that the $1500 maximum per request is inadequate, given how great the need is, and that the maximum should be $2000. A number of Friends responded, describing how the amount was determined and that there is a trade-off. If the payments were increased beyond $1500, fewer potential recipients would receive assistance. Given the fund balance of $10,000, keeping the maximum individual disbursement to $1500 seemed to strike the most equitable balance between the number of people receiving assistance with the amount given. It was mentioned that this is just the beginning of the process and, if the need proves to be larger, Meeting can increase the size of the fund. Friend who had questioned the amount of the individual disbursement was satisfied with the process in establishing the limit. It was suggested that individuals may be reluctant to ask for financial assistance, and the questioner asked if a committee should take on the role of reaching out to those who may be in need, pro-actively. Another Friend responded that the process needs to be anonymous, and we must guard against judging why people are asking for financial assistance. Maybe it would be ok to reach out informally, but it should not be done formally through a committee. The process needs to be dignified. Care and Counsel has been meeting on a weekly basis and has been reaching out to people. They have been hearing back about needs within the Meeting community. Friend commented that individuals within Meeting must be comfortable receiving support. There was clarification that individuals could re-apply for assistance after waiting 60 days, once they have received help. Friends APPROVED establishing the COVID-19 Response Fund. Information and documents regarding the fund will be posted in the minutes.
8. State of Society Preliminary Review – Presiding Clerk:  Clerk reports he just received the document from Judith J., who is compiling the report. He has made a few edits, but appreciates the challenge Meeting for Business has, trying to edit a lengthy document while conducting business over the internet on Zoom. He proposes sending out this draft to the Google group and having comments sent to him or Judith and not receiving feedback or trying to edit it during the video broadcast. Next year Ministry and Counsel is charged with writing the State of Society Report, so it makes sense to get their feedback before sending this year’s draft out for general reaction. He plans to distribute the draft report on Google group next week after receiving input from M&C. Clerk read out loud the draft State of Society Report. Discussion: Clerk remarked that it still needs more editing, which he plans to do, before forwarding it. In prior years, comments were combined and incorporated by the writer(s) into one document. This year, the process was different, with quotes from numerous individuals comprising the main subject material of the report. We need to review how this has influenced the creation of the document. Friend remarked that they noticed some repetition in the different quotes.
9. Correspondence: Clerk has not been to the meeting house due to the stay-at-home order and is unaware of any correspondence. We will wait until next month.
10. Additional comments:
    1. Friend wanted us to honor and record the celebration of Barbara C.’s 100th birthday, today, April 12. Due to COVID-19, all plans to celebrate this remarkable achievement and her remarkable life had to be cancelled.
    2. Friends are asked to complete an online survey created by the Mid-Morning Program committee to get ideas for future programs. A link to the survey is located in the weekly bulletin, and the bulletin can be accessed through the Meeting’s website.
11. Business Meeting concluded and Friends took a few minutes to visit and to transition to semi-programmed worship on Zoom