Present:
16/21 Previous minutes. The minutes of our last meeting on 30th May [2] were approved. The Recording Clerk was asked to send a copy to Mark Barker for the archives.
17/21 Treasurer’s Report. 4 transactions were made since our last meeting. 3 Deposits from our CD’s, and 1 check to Dover Monthly Meeting Sanctuary Project. We have $377 in unrestricted funds available. We accepted the report.
18/21 Question about the CD for poor ministers that matures in November. We decided to ask the treasurer to put that money into our savings account rather than have it roll over or stay in a CD. We considered putting the money into the Community Loan Fund but questions also arose about what is meant by poor/indigent ministers and whether we need to consider ways to support the ministers amongst us. We approved sharing about ways we support our ministers at our Quarterly Meeting on October 31.
19/21 Invite Brian Drayton, one of our recorded ministers, to come share with the Quarter about his ministry at our October 31 meeting.
20/21 Guidance to Meetings about financial support of the Quarter. Question arose about whether we have any guidance about each meeting’s support of the Quarter. It was noted that some meetings had lowered their contributions to the Quarter, when the Quarter was not actively spending money. Some yearly meetings recommend a suggested amount of financial support for the monthly, quarterly, and yearly meeting depending on the number of members of the meeting. We suggested that we ask each meeting to bring their ideas to our October 31 meeting of :
21/21 Representative to NH Council of Churches - Replacement. Marian Baker, our long-time representative, shared that she wanted to step down from this appointment and to encourage others to have the opportunity to serve NHCC. Several Friends shared their positive experiences with what the Council does and praised the work of Jason Wells who has just stepped down as Director, and of Heidi Carrington Heath, the new director. Marian was asked to write up a description of this opportunity to serve, so that word can be spread around the Quarter to find who might feel led to take her place. We will make a decision at our October meeting.
22/21 Report on Dover Sanctuary Project. Beth Collea reported that the renovations of the meetinghouse to meet the town safety codes will begin this fall, after delays due to the surge of construction projects and scarcity of building supplies resulting during the Covid Pandemic. Dover Meeting is only 6 miles from the county jail where illegal immigrants are often jailed. They, thus, can be first responders to provide temporary housing for those being released from jail, while more permanent accommodations can be found. The large banner (15’x25’) will be on display until 5 November. It has drawn interest in the community. Other churches have held brief worship services/vigils next to the banner. Other Friends Meetings are also welcome to come. The banner is available to travel to another church in NH. Check out the website at: https://www.familiaseperadas.com/phaseshome/phasethree [3] for details.
23/21 Report from NH AFSC. Maggie Fogarty reported recently a group that called on Governor Sununu asking that NH welcome Afghan refugees. Individuals and local meetings are encouraged to also write Governor Sununu asking that we welcome not just military people, but other civilians from Afghanistan as well.
Maggie also reported that AFSC NH hired a formerly incarcerated person, Anthony Harris, to help people are adjusting to life outside prison.
24/21 Updates of local meetings/ worship groups.
25/21 Formally connecting a new meeting into the Quarter. Friends from Nashua asked how to formally join the Quarterly Meeting. Jeremiah will check with others in the Yearly Meeting to see how a formal membership in the Quarter can be accomplished.
26/21 Question arose about the National Diversity Organization of Friends, whether we had any Friends from NEYM as representatives. AFSC NH has an extensive anti-racism training. See details at https://www.afsc.org/quakersuprootingracism [4]. Candace will bring further information on this topic to our next meeting.
We adjourned purposing to meet next on 31 October, 2021.
Marian Baker, Recording Clerk
Jeremiah Dickinson, Clerk
Addendum:
Your clerk did not see this until after the meeting. It is included here for your information.
Although West Epping will not be attending the meeting today, I am providing the following updated information.
West Epping has not resumed in-person gatherings. Members do have their own keys to the meeting house, and go individually for worship. Once the Delta Variant has settled down, we will be discussing resuming in-person gatherings.
We have never had bathrooms or running water of any kind at the Meeting House. We are, however, moving forward with plans to have a septic system, well, running water and a bathroom installed. A test pit was dug and the work viewed by the town building inspector. The results were very good. Meridian Land Services was hired to design a septic system, and the plans have been submitted to the State for approval. Once that is received, we will move forward with local approvals. We will also be pursuing having a well drilled and installed. Once all is in place, we can move forward with having a small bathroom installed. Depending on timing, this work may not be completed until spring.
We conducted general maintenance and mowing at the West Epping Quaker Cemetery, and had several headstones repaired.
Best regards,
Bridget Rogier, Clerk, West Epping Religious Society of Friends
Holdings at Holy Rosary Credit Union (Rochester, NH), Beginning Balances as of 2021-05-29 | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Checking Account | $1,385.32 | Allocation | ||
Savings Account | $5.01 | Unrestricted Funds | $1,289.71 | |
Certificate of Deposit | $1,000.00 | Restricted Funds | $1,100.62 | |
TOTAL | $2,390.33 | TOTAL | $2,390.33 |
Holdings at Holy Rosary Credit Union (Rochester, NH), Ending Balances as of 2021-08-28 | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Checking Account | $478.54 | Allocation | ||
Savings Account | $5.01 | Unrestricted Funds | $377.94 | |
Certificate of Deposit | $1,000.00 | Restricted Funds | $1,105.61 | |
TOTAL | $1,483.55 | TOTAL | $1,483.55 |
Unrestricted Funds | |||
---|---|---|---|
2021-05-29 | Beginning Balance | $1,289.71 | |
2021-08-21 | Dover Friends Meeting, ck 420 Sanctuary Renewal, per Nov 2020 DQ Minute [6] |
-$911.77 | $377.94 |
2021-08-21 | Ending Balance | $377.94 |
Restricted Funds** | |||
---|---|---|---|
2021-05-29 | Beginning Balance | $1,100.62 | |
2021-05-21 | CD Interest, May 2021 | $1.68 | $1,102.30 |
2021-06-21 | CD Interest, June 2021 | $1.63 | $1,103.93 |
2021-07-31 | CD Interest, July 2021 | $1.68 | $1,105.61 |
2021-08-28 | Ending Balance | $1,105.61 | |
Unavailable Funds: 60-Month CD (2.00% interest, matures 2021-11-17) Note: Published 60-Month CD Annual Percentage Yield is 1.09% |
$1,000.00 | ||
Available Restricted Funds | $105.61 |
Respectfully submitted,
s/ LeeAnn M Stevens
Treasurer, submitted 2021-08-29
**Restricted Funds are the “Mary G. Morrell and Horatio S. Morrell Trust Funds. Such funds are dedicated to help ‘poor...ministers… in the service of the Lord.’” (In the 1st Month 2000 Dover Quarterly Meeting for Business minute, the treasurer was directed to maintain the $1000.00 of the Restricted Funds as “principal” in keeping with restrictions on the funds, with the remainder available for use by the Quarter.) In 7th month 2017, it was agreed that interest earned on the H.S. Morrell Trust Fund will be accumulated and available as allowed by the Fund.
Links:
[1] https://www.concordfriendsmeeting.org/sites/all/files/documents/DoverQuarterlyMeeting2021-08-29Minutes.docx
[2] https://www.concordfriendsmeeting.org/2021-05-30DoverQuarterlyMeeting
[3] https://www.familiaseperadas.com/phaseshome/phasethree
[4] https://www.afsc.org/quakersuprootingracism
[5] https://www.concordfriendsmeeting.org/sites/all/files/documents/DoverQuarterlyMeetingTreasurersReport2021-05-29through2021-08-28.docx
[6] https://www.concordfriendsmeeting.org/2020-11-29DoverQuarterlyMeeting#20.4.3