Meeting for Worship with attention to business opened with a period of silent worship and a reading of the Land Acknowledgement.
1. Approval of Agenda
The Clerks presented the proposed agenda, which was approved.
2. Approval of May 10, 2026 Minutes
A draft of the May 10, 2026 Monthly Meeting minutes was circulated in advance of meeting for business. Suggested changes have been incorporated into the final version.
The May 10, 2026 minutes were approved.
3. Viewing of Thee Quaker Video profile of Minneapolis Friends Meeting
After two months of deferments of viewing this video, the clerks moved this agenda item to the beginning of the meeting. The clerk expressed thanks for those that organized this effort and those that spoke. She shared that it was a fun project to work on – and the picture that was painted of the meeting was warm and welcoming.
Minneapolis Meeting collaborated with the folks from the Thee Quaker project to make it as accessible as possible. They added some audible description to aide those with visual impairments. The final video is posted at the top of the home page of the Meeting’s website.
4. Trustees and Designated Funds Annual Report
The trustees serve as the legal representative of the Meeting. This includes responsibilities such as signing contracts and serving as financial stewards. They maintain records of legal obligations including insurance. They also liaise with the Mayim Rabim Congregation, the meeting’s primary renter.
Managing a set of designated funds is a primary focus of the Trustee’s work – although this does not take much time. These funds include:
- A building fund for capital improvements
- The Seed Fund – a matching fund for projects to enhance the life of the meeting initiated by members
- The Nancy Peterson Service Fund
- A conference travel fund
- The History Project fund – this has supported the development of a history of the meeting – both the fund and the project are close to completion
- And a Peace and Social Concerns Fund
Income for these funds comes from the meeting’s budget, rental income, and designated donations. This year, the meeting received a grant that was designated for the solar project. A Friend reminded us that we do not have a way to account for designated funds in the annual budget.
This coming year, the Trustees are going to look at records management. The Meeting and its committees save a lot of paper records, and the filing cabinets are full.
Challenges – Maintaining appropriate reserves for the maintenance of the building. This year major expenses are painting the exterior of the building and replacing a water heater. The meeting always has the prospect of replacing the lift – which would be a major expense.
In the past fiscal year, there was a surplus in the Meeting’s general funds. Monthly meeting agreed to transfer $50,000 into the building fund. This will be done when a certificate of deposit matures.
The Meeting accepted the Trustee’s Report.
5. Property Committee
The property committee annual report started by highlighting brief reflections from members on their individual contributions and what they enjoyed about serving on this committee. The committee needs more members and the clerk wanted to share a sense of the variety of tasks, and the enjoyment people find in service. Currently there are 6 people on the committee and 9 would make the work easier.
Roles members take on include tracking committee tasks on spread sheets, putting out grit on the sidewalks when slippery, arranging to have the piano tuned, convening and chairing committee meetings, etc.
They described the satisfaction of working behind the scenes to keep our building beautiful and operational. All enjoyed eating homemade cookies provided by committee members. David invited Friends to contact him if they have more questions about serving on the property committee.
The committee’s job is to oversee and care for the physical meeting house and grounds. It maintains a replacement schedule of major systems and ensures regular maintenance to steward those systems. The committee meets monthly and occasionally takes field trips.
It can be challenging not to spend too much time dealing with the mysteries of the one hundred plus year-old building.
The committee has many accomplishments – keeping on top of small maintenance – such as replacing light bulbs; hiring contractors to address larger issues – like replacing the arched windows; organizing projects that need annual attention – like window cleaning; and also, special project such as addressing the moss growing on the porch roof.
The committee has been working to improve the energy and water efficiency of the building. As a result of the solar panel installation, the meeting has not made a payment to Xcel for 10 months. We’ve implemented other changes to reduce our electricity cost even more.
To use some of that extra electricity, an efficient electric heat pump hot water heater was installed, replacing an old natural gas-powered unit. To decrease our water usage, 9 new low flow faucets with ½ gal/minute aerators were installed.
The committee makes recommendations to other committees making decisions about how they can use the building. The Potluck Committee cleans the kitchen, including the appliances, so Property Committee can move on to other chores. A Property Committee member joined the ad hoc safety committee.
This coming year there are two major projects – a new hot water heater and exterior painting and wood shake siding replacement.
Other upcoming projects include repairing the landscape timbers at the patio, fixing the leak from the outside and making a more positive slope away from the building. Keeping the trees pruned and trimmed back away from the building. Replacing the gas range with an electric range. We need to decrease heat loss up the exhaust hood.
The meeting accepted the report from the property committee.
6. Mid-Morning Program Report
Mid-Morning Program committee works to ensure that all committees have an opportunity to present information important to them to the meeting. Roger reminded friends that scheduling sessions needs to be done in advance and that this can be experienced as inconvenient. Committee clerk were encouraged to put mid-morning programs on their agendas.
Program committee members work with committees to help shape each mid-morning program. As these are in many formats and may require coordination with the Zoom AV team. Last-minute tech requests may not be possible.
The committee connects individual members who have an idea to the appropriate committee. Committee members also host sessions, serving as timekeepers and microphone carriers.
Accomplishments: The committee organized two “ What’s on your mind?” sessions which provided an opportunity for discussion on current concerns. These were well received and the committee plans two more of these sessions this coming year.
There were twenty-seven programs held over the course of the school year.
The work of scheduling is a balancing act. The committee strives to meet the needs of the meeting’s committees, while also welcoming outside speakers. They do not distribute session slots equally among committees. They do try to be flexible and may ask presenters to trade dates.
Friends were reminded that this is their forum and were encouraged to use it and use it respectfully. The committee appreciates flexibility and welcomes suggestions from all.
Monthly Meeting accepted the report.
7. Web site committee report
The committee has been reviewing the website survey responses and discussing priorities for the next phase of the project.
The report included a word cloud representation derived from the survey responses. The larger words were used more frequently in the responses. Community and inclusion were mentioned most frequently followed by worship and various Friends’ testimonies
There were main themes that emerged, including
- Making the website welcoming and accessible to newcomers
- Easy to find essential information
- Ensuring current content
- Improving organization and navigation
- Refreshing visual elements while maintaining simplicity and accessibility
- Ensuring site works on mobile devices
- Highlighting the human side of the meeting.
The committee has brought forward two recommendations for the Meeting’s consideration.
- Moving the web site hosting from Blue Host to Word Press
- This change can improve security and provide access to more features – including automated backup.
- WordPress offers strong customer support
- It is expected to reduce maintenance requirements and reduce costs in the long term
- There was a question whether we can move our current domain name and email address to the new web host. The answer was yes.
The Meeting approved moving the web site hosting from Blue Host to Word Press.
- Access to funds up to $3000 for website improvements
- While the committee has discovered that much of the work can be accomplished by volunteers in the meeting, it requests that the meeting reaffirm approval of general funds up to $3000 for use by the committee. This had been approved in a prior fiscal year.
The Meeting approved the funding request.
8. Peace and Social Concerns
Peace and Social concerns recommend the Meeting sign onto a letter calling on the University of Minnesota to take action to address the threat its wild rice breeding program poses to Manoomin. This letter was drafted by Indigenous leaders of Rise and Repair. The full text is available upon request.
The letter states the threat to natural Manoomin when exposed to cross pollination with shatter resistant varieties of wild rice that the University is developing. Tribes have been calling for years for the University to refrain from modifying wild rice.
The letter lifts up that the risk to Manoomin also constitutes a risk to Tribal lifeways and culture. “Manoomin is perfect as it is; it does not require modification. It is a sacred gift that must be respected, not altered.”
Signing onto this letter will be an action that reflects our commitment as stated in the Meeting’s land acknowledgment. The Meeting was asked to sign onto this letter – joining other religious, indigenous, and environmental organizations.
The meeting approved signing onto this letter.
9. Mayim Rabim calendar/building use request and stop the bleed training
Mayim Rabim submitted a calendar request for use of the building on December 5 and 6, 2026. This may create a conflict with the use of the meeting house for the FNVW holiday fair.
We need more information from FNVW on the status of the holiday fair before making a decision.
The clerks will contact FNVW and communicate with Mayim Rabim about the delay in the decision.
Mayim Rabim has an offer from the Jewish Relations Council to hold a “stop the bleed” training for members of their congregation and our meeting. This training covers how to stop severe bleeding should it happen. If fifteen people attend the training, free kits to put around the meeting house will be provided.
Sufficient interest to participate in the training was expressed at monthly meeting to respond affirmatively to this invitation.
Friends were reminded about the July 14th Monarcha Democracy Defense training that will be held at the meeting. Some volunteers are needed to help on the day of the event.
10. Correspondence including a Detroit Friends Meeting Thank You and Request
A request for additional contributions to Detroit Friends Meeting Building Project was introduced. This will be considered in July.
11. Postponed reports
Auditor Annual Report – General Funds
Report from Northern Yearly Meeting