Philadelphia Quarter
of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends
Business Meeting Held at Unity Monthly Meeting
April 27, 2012
A Business Meeting of the Philadelphia Quarter open to all members and attenders
was held April 27, 2012 at Unity Monthly Meeting.
Present: Tom Hardy (Green Street Monthly Meeting), Jean Warrington, Phil
Anthony (Chestnut Hill Monthly Meeting), Ahavia Lavana (Central Philadelphia
Monthly Meeting) Edward Rhoads, Tom Grabe (Germantown Monthly Meeting),
Carol Clark (Unity Monthly Meeting), Peg Szurek and Marion Parkinson (Frankford
Monthly Meeting), Jeremiah Scalia (West Philadelphia Worship Group), Hollister
Knowlton (Evergreen Worship Group, attending Central Philadelphia Monthly
Meeting), Wright Horne (Hockessin Monthly Meeting)
The Meeting opened with silent worship.
1.
Minutes
The minutes of the January 23 Business Meeting and the February 26 Quarterly
Program Meeting were approved.
2 . Additional Philadelphia Quarter Program Meeting
Friends approved a PQM family picnic July 14 Saturday at Historic Fair Hill Burial
Ground. The annual Fair Hill summer event includes a cookout with neighbors,
horse and carriage rides, old-fashioned games and music from 11-4pm. Hotdogs,
watermelon, lemonade will be provided by Historic Fair Hill. Friends may bring a
side dish to share.
Jean Warrington will send a draft invitation to Jeremiah Scalia, who will publicize
the event to the Quarter. She will also email Wright for a description of Western
Quarter’s annual picnic and Carla Childs for a description of Germantown Monthly
Meeting’s retreat and children’s program.
2. Financial statement and FY 13 budget (attached)
Edward Rhoads presented the finance report. The fiscal year 2013 budget was
approved with an increase of $300 income and expenses for a raise for the
coordinator after one year. Friends also approved adding a button on the PYM
website for contributions to the Quarter via credit card.
Change in budget – additional $2000 with increase of hours from 8 hrs to 10
hrs/week.
The Quarter currently has assets of $19,300, $4000 of which is restricted for a
brochure or electronic publication for Quarter Outreach.
Edward Rhoads will call PYM to ask about office space for next year.
A Friend suggested that the Quarter do its own fundraising next year. Western
Quarter will do this and is now working out the details. ‘
3. Coordinator
Jean Warrington reported for the Oversight committee (Tom Hardy, Paula Cell, and
Jean Warrington) that Jeremiah Scalia who started in January is doing a very good
job. They will do a six-month review in June and increase hours. In December, there
will be another meeting and increase in salary if budget allows.
4. June 3 Program meeting at Green Street Meeting
Jeremiah will coordinate the program and will invite newsletter editors, web people,
those interested in building community through communications. He will propose
to the Quarter membership a new online feature – an art show where Friends share
their creative work with digital images or words. He thinks this will bring Friends of
different ages, meetings, and backgrounds together with new vitality. Jeremiah will
be able to add this within his current duties and hours. The meeting approved this
initiative.
5. Work Camp
Wright Horne, of Hockessin Monthly Meeting presented a plan for a new Quaker
work camp. Quakers started work camps. AFSC was in part a PYM program. 70
years ago, David Ritchie started the PYM work camp that was then taken up by the
Van Hoys. After years, interest waned. The house and van and staff were expensive
in times of short budgets. Work camp was laid down. This was at core a ministry.
Involvement needs to be deeper than just a weekend visit. Young people have new
ideas about community.
Wright spoke to many people regarding the work camp.
The Work camp needs to aim for a longer-term relationship between participants
and the served. Camp needs to find out their needs and then offer something useful.
Participants will have experiences and they should take these stories back to their
meetings. “I was changed and I will tell you about it.”
Wright found three shovel ready projects: SHARE food bank, Affordable Housing for
seniors at Guild House West, and Historic Fair Hill.
Wright reported the first need is a committee of interested people. They will want
to hire staff, so that needs to be a possibility before a committee if formed. The staff
person needs to be full time. It will cost a minimum $15K to hire an intern. He
suggests that the person be hired to explore feasibility. Let that person get to work
and those who are interested will come forward. The housing is available free.
Transportation is low cost. Other Quarters are waiting for Philadelphia to do this.
Wright will send his report with executive summary and Tom will get it into
Monthly Meeting newsletters, asking for volunteers for a committee. A committee
should form in the fall to expect to begin work in summer of 2013.
6. Stapeley
Ahavia Lavana urged Friends in PQ not to forget the Friends at Stapeley. She invited
Friends join them for worship first Sundays at 6:30. She also encouraged Friends to
keep spreading the word so Friends move in and help with the Benevolent Fund,
and see that the organization continues in some ways to operate in the manner of
Friends. Tom will get this report into the minutes and sent out to Monthly Meetings.
7. Burlington Meeting has written a minute to share with the MM’s. They propose
that PYM has a called meeting entirely for worship
Recorder Jean Warrington
Next PQM program meeting June 2, Green St.