FRIENDS COMMITTEE ON MAINE PUBLIC POLICY
Minutes of the Meeting – December 6, 2014
PRESENT:
Acadia
Belfast
Durham
Eggemoggin Reach
Carole Beal
Daryle Carter
Sarah Spragell
Ed Snyder
Kay Carter
Leslie Manning
Gray Cox
Diane Oltarzewski
Ralph Chapman
Farmington
Midcoast
Shirley Hager
Jim Matlack
Mark Rains
Carmen Lavertu
Andy Burt
Vassalboro
Peter Garrett
FCMPP gathered at the Midcoast Meeting House in Damariscotta at 10 a.m. on December 6th
with fifteen Friends in attendance. After a period of silent worship, Clerk Jim Matlack opened
the meeting. The agenda was accepted with gratitude and those present introduced themselves.
Jim Matlack reported that at the recent meeting in Washington DC of the Friends Committee on
National Legislation (FCNL), the “Ed Snyder Peace Award” was presented to Senator Chris
Murphy (CT) - and shared a photograph of the moment.
I. Brief History of the FCMPP
Ed Snyder then gave a brief history of the Committee, stressing that to be effective it must
represent all Quakers in Maine, as had been confirmed at a meeting in 1990. At that time, key
criteria were established:

Experience in the areas addressed

Credibility

Unity

Ability to make a difference
and the Committee determined that two areas met these criteria:
1.
Criminal justice/mental health
2.
Native American concerns/developing a relationship with MITSC following the Land Claims
settlement
By modeling reasoned and civil discussion, the Committee quickly developed credibility with
the legislature. A third area of concern that emerged was campaign reform and clean elections, and
Monthly Meetings supported expanding the activities to include these concerns.
Ed described his work with Tom Ewell and Cush Anthony to support the development of Wabanaki
educational materials and tribal economic opportunity (e.g., the Four Directions program, which is
supported regularly by the Midcoast Meeting).
After the scathing report by Amnesty International on the status of the Youth Correctional Center, the
Committee also worked to make changes that resulted in great improvement for the facility. Leslie
Manning described the painstaking work with the legislature and state agencies that is required to effect
such changes, and the need to work patiently together to find solutions. Jim Matlack commented that
Quakers were an early, caring ear for the abuses suffered through state child welfare policies.
Though Meeting members and attendees number perhaps 1000 in Maine, our impact is greater than this
number suggests and Leslie Manning urged that we continue to be a voice and a beacon, providing a safe
space for the disadvantaged to share their stories and receive support.
In 2010, with the departure of Diana White and Sarah Walton, the need for new leadership of the
Committee was becoming apparent.
II. What are we called to do now?
The Clerk suggested we begin with a broad-brush discussion of our concerns. Leslie Manning
reviewed the Meetings in the Falmouth Quarter, noting Portland’s preoccupation with administering recent
gifts and the Friends School. Ralph Chapman, as an elected representative to the State House, expressed
willingness to be our resource on legislative matters, but he pointed out the critical importance of nurturing
leadership skills in navigating fear-based vs. inspirational-based realities of power. Structural problems
exist and present great difficulties that require wise leadership. He recommends reading Parker Palmer on
leadership. Parker Palmer is the author of Healing the Heart of Democracy and he is a Quaker, a wellknown educator and author, and was Dean of Studies at Pendle Hill.
Shirley Hager spoke of the paramount concern with climate change, noting that as Wabanaki in Maine
increasingly are taking leadership in terms of environmental concerns, Quakers can be partners with them
in activism for environmental justice. She referenced the current lawsuit brought by the Penobscot Nation
to counter the state’s attempt to deny tribal rights to the Penobscot River.
Andy Burt described the growing eat-local/food sovereignty movement, noting the potentially
destructive impact of an East-West highway on farming. Limiting development and preventing watershed
pollution alligns us with the Tribes and with younger activists.
Carmen Lavertu stressed the importance of building relationships with legislators. We can also
encourage Monthly Meetings to hold legislators in the light. Daryle Carter suggested that we can relieve
tension by mediating among groups within the legislature. (Peggy Rotundo is an ally and Quaker legislator
in her last term as House Appropriations chair; she is always a good model of thoughtful, civil behavior.)
Carole Beal seconded this idea by encouraging informal discussions among contentious groups, over
“Quaker soup.”
Diane Oltarzewski spoke of outreach to the wider population, to educate on Wabanaki jurisdictional
issues and the international consensus on aboriginal rights where Maine is lagging behind.
Jim Matlack considered whether we have enough support from Friends statewide to take on a public
role, and how effectively can we address issues with our limited resources. Gray Cox wondered what
would be a reasonable way forward in leadership development.
After lunch: Jim Matlack circulated the letter in the Free Press documenting the increased demand for local
funds for food and fuel costs in the wake of deep cuts in state-funded support programs. Leslie Manning
read from Advice and Queries on Social Responsibility, to look at the roots and causes of social problems.
The group then agreed wholeheartedly that the FCMPP’s first focus for action should be to continue
to support Wabanaki Tribal concerns with an emphasis on those concerns that relate to
environmental issues and climate change; the Wabanaki rely on us to be a strong ally. Restorative
justice should also continue to be a focus, building on existing relations.
Regarding other areas of concern, Ed Snyder noted that we endorse the work of Maine Citizens for Clean
Elections. Ranked choice voting and a constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United are still
actively being discussed. Ed and Gray Cox are working on the dangers of artificial intelligence and anyone
interested in that area should contact them. As individual Friends are led to advocacy on broader issues of
climate change, clean elections, and alleviation of poverty, the FCMPP can encourage them but retains its
primary focus on Native American concerns and Criminal Justice matters.
III. Practical Matters
A. Committee Roles
Jim Matlack volunteered to become the Clerk of the FCMPP. Leslie Manning sees a role for herself in
legislative advocacy, and the tracking of bills. (Ed Snyder affirmed the importance of such a legislative
representative for the group, and suggested we underwrite subscriptions to assist in this work.) Those
attending welcomed this news and thanked Jim and Leslie for stepping up in this way.
Daryle Carter agreed to remain as Treasurer, and announced an operating balance of $1876.
B. Support for Wabanaki concerns
Shirley Hager will serve as our liaison for Wabanaki concerns. A sub-group for this area will include
Jim Matlack, Beth Clifford (to be invited), Janet Hough (as her time permits), Diane Oltarzewski, Andy
Burt, and Mark Rains. They will seek to support the tribes and their representatives in common endeavors
to include dealing with environmental issues and will report back to FCMPP on this liaison work.
Mark Rains observed the importance of posing questions, even if we may not have the answers, e.g.,
the definition of sovereignty. Carole Beal hopes we can widen the group to get input from further afield;
Beth Clifford as Co-Clerk of Cobscook has been involved in consulting on educational materials suitable
for outreach regarding Native Americans. Daryle Carter would like to push for more pro-activity generally.
C. Criminal Justice
Leslie Manning reviewed current issues in prisoner advocacy, and named the groups that meet regularly
to monitor healthcare, repatriation of prisoners, solitary confinement, and care of the mentally ill. There has
been no comprehensive treatment plan for substance abuse. Manning stressed our need to look at the matrix
of mental illness/substance abuse/incarceration in a holistic way.
The ACLU has a grant to look at mass incarceration and decriminalization of minor drug offenses.
There are potential alliances with conservatives in seeking rehabilitation models that actually work. Ed
Snyder urged that a delegation of Friends meet with whoever is confirmed as the new Commissioner of
Corrections.
D. Interacting with the Legislature
Ed Snyder also suggested that FCMPP meet with new legislators and relevant committee chairs when
they are confirmed. Ralph Chapman noted that public input is welcome even before confirmation.
E. Possible Invited Speakers
Jenna Mehnert (National Alliance on Mental Illness), Sherri Mitchell (Land Peace Foundation and
Pinetree Legal), John Dieffenbacher-Krall or another MITSC member, Grainnie Dunne (ACLU), were
mentioned as potential speakers. Carole Beal suggested opening up to the public the invited speaker
segment of our meetings; Jim Matlack advised doing this case-by-case. Mark Rains reiterated the need to
limit our priorities to those that meet the established criteria.
F. Next Meeting
Saturday, February 28 was set as the date for the next meeting, with a speaker on legislative issues
and a review of the list of bills pending. Leslie Manning will investigate the possibility of the UU church
in Augusta.
After a brief period of quiet worship, the meeting was adjourned.
CLERK: Jim Matlack
RECORDING CLERK: Diane Oltarzewski