Chapel Hill
Friends Meeting
Newsletter

June/July 2004

Query: Are the Meeting’s concerns and energies adequately directed toward correcting social, economic, and political injustices, and to lessening the divisions of race, financial resources, and opportunities? Are we careful that the use of Meeting funds is consistent with the testimonies of the Religious Society of Friends?

Contents

Important Dates

Worship Schedule

Conscientious Objector Guidance

Minutes of the Meeting for Worship with Attention to Business

2004-2005 Budget

Nominations for Committees 2004

Nominations Annual Report

Lutheran Family Services Refugee Resettlement Program

Update on Lucille Hawk

Waterbed Needs a Home

Need a Place to Stay in London

Speak Out

Ongoing Weekly Vigils For Justice And Peace

Speak Truth To Power

Friends General Conference Religious Educators Institute

Letter from Andrew Barker

Learn About Friends House Moscow

YRE Newsletter

Calendar

Important Dates

· July 3 – 10: Friends General Conference Gathering in Massachusetts (contact Catherine Elkins or Betty Flash)

· July 13: Friends House Moscow Presentation

· July 24: Conscientious Objectors Workshop

· August 8: Next Meeting for Worship with Attention to Business

· August 19 – 22: Religious Education Committee of Friends General Conference is having another conference for Quaker parents and teachers at Camp Asbury in Silver Lake, NY

· August 22: Fall/Winter/Spring schedule of 9:00 and 11:15 worship resumes

Worship Schedule

Chapel Hill Friends Meeting will continue with the summer schedule (meetings for worship at 9:00 and 10:30, with first-day school at 10:45) through August 15.

Beginning August 22, we will return to the academic year schedule:

§ 9:00 – 10:00 Meeting for Worship (childcare provided)

§ 10:15 – 11:00 Forum (childcare provided)

§ 11:30 – 12:30 Meeting for Worship (childcare and first-day school provided)

There will be no Meeting for Worship with Attention to Business in July. The next business meeting will be Sunday, August 8. All are invited.

Conscientious Objector Guidance – July 24

Conscientious Objector Guidance subcommittee (COG) is sponsoring a workshop for young men and women approaching their 18^th birthday. The workshop will be held on July 24, 2004 from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. at the Chapel Hill Meetinghouse. Lunch will be provided.

Participants will discuss and share their evolving beliefs about conflict resolution, peace-making, violence, war, the Quaker peace testimony, and participation in the military. We will describe procedures for documenting the decision to declare oneself a conscientious objector. For information or to register, call Alice Carlton at 929-6927 or Curt Torell at 968-2174.

Chapel Hill Religious Society of Friends

Meeting for Worship with Attention to Business

Minutes of June 13, 2004

The meeting began with worship and the reading of the query: “Are the Meeting’s concerns and energies adequately directed toward correcting social, economic, and political injustices, and to lessening the divisions of race, financial resources and opportunities? Are we careful that the use of Meeting funds is consistent with Friends’ testimonies?”

One friend responded by saying it is tempting to say ‘we are doing our part.’ But we need to keep in mind that we are, most of the time, white, educated, and middle class. This Friend noted that we take no effort to reach out and bring into our meeting people of a different culture, race, or economic status. At a recent conference at Quaker House on “Interfaith Peace Efforts” most people there were from the peace churches. There was one Pentecostal. The Pentecostals reach out. It began as a working class movement, but is changing. They reach out—to blacks, Latinos, everyone. They are growing very fast. A number of years ago when this Friend was on the central committee of FGC, it was called to the meeting in Queens. The meeting was surrounded by Koreans. The membership lived way out in Long Island. It has declined. They won’t think about converting it to a Korean church. We stay the way we are, giving money, doing our part to ease social and economic problems, but doing very little to reach out and bring in the world.

Approval of Minutes from May 9 Business Meeting

The meeting approved the minutes as written in the May newsletter, with the addition of Marilyn Dyer to the list of attendees.

Fiscal Year 2004-2005 Budget

Catherine Elkins presented the 2004-05 budget. Total budgeted expenses now stand at $62,765; $2,600 more than last year’s budget (see attached budget).

The meeting approved the budget, with appreciation to finance committee.

Monthly Treasurer’s Report

Catherine Elkins presented the monthly Treasurer’s report. In May we had a total of $3,788 in income, and $6,255 in expenses, leaving us with a total of $25,823 in our checking/savings accounts. For the entire year so far (not including June) we have a deficit of approximately $3,000.

The meeting approved the monthly report.

Peace & Social Concerns: Environmental Discretionary Fund

Bob Gwyn reported that a sum of $6,000 is allocated in the 2004-05 budget for the Social Action Discretionary Fund, which is an increase of $3,000 over the amount requested in past years. Peace & Social Concerns proposes using $3,000 of these allocated monies to establish the Environmental Discretionary Fund, the purpose of which is to help the meeting and larger communities of which we are a part to better understand the environmental impacts of our lifestyle, take opportunities to preserve and restore environmental integrity, and gain knowledge as to how to do this in a long term context by means that reflect Quaker values. The fund would be administered by the Peace & Social Concerns Committee with grants approved by Business Meeting in the same manner as the Social Action Discretionary Fund.

Friends clarified that these funds (for Social Action Discretionary and the proposed Environmental Discretionary Fund) do not roll over from year to year. Each year the funds must be re-funded through the budget process.

There was some concern over whether this money is to given to outside organizations (in the manner of our regular benevolences) or is to be used primarily to educate the meeting and get the meeting involved in projects. Bob clarified that requests for funds can come directly from community groups, and that each request is looked at individually.

Bob pointed out that many of the suggested expenses are aimed at educating our own meeting and improving the example of our own community in its concern for the environment.

Another friend suggested that the discretionary funds are useful for funding projects that simply weren’t thought about by the budget deadline.

Bob noted that the Social Action Discretionary fund (and by extension, the Environmental Discretionary Fund) is usually used for one-time assistance, while benevolences are more generally long-term commitments to organizations that have connections to our meeting or Quaker organizations.

Friends approved setting up this fund and asking Peace & Social Concerns to write a short description for use in the directory.

Peace & Social Concerns: Requests for Funds from Social Action Discretionary Funds

Deborah Parker, a past attender of the meeting and current attender of Durham meeting, has requested funds to finance a service trip to El Salvador with CrisPaz. She is a graduate of Guilford College and the School of Social Work at UNC and hopes to improve her Spanish and better her understanding of the culture of Central America through this trip. She is requesting $300. Friends approved granting this money from the Social Action Discretionary Fund and request that she report back to the meeting when she returns from her trip.

Nancy Milio has requested reimbursement for her attendance at the FCNL policy meeting in Washington DC in June. She estimated her costs at $610. In future years, this money could come out of the recently approved travel fund. Friends expressed their gratitude for Nancy’s participation within FCNL and for the excellent manner in which she educates our meeting about issues FCNL is grappling with, and approved granting up to $610 dollars from this year’s Social Action Discretionary Fund to reimburse Nancy for her expenses in traveling to the June FCNL meeting.

Peace & SC: Requests for Participation in Sponsoring Burmese Refugees

The meeting has received a request from the Lutheran Family Services to help sponsor Burmese families coming to this area. The specific need is for individuals to sign up for particular responsibilities. If individuals are interested in volunteering, they should contact Bob Gwyn and also Gov Elder (of Lutheran Family Services).

Friends were reminded that the meeting already has a fund for refugees, and donations can be received by the meeting.

Nomination Committee: New Committee & Service

The slate of nominees for the new fiscal year was printed in the May newsletter.

Friends approved the list with the following corrections:

· Marilyn Dyer is NOT on library committee

• Mike Green should be ADDED to Publications and Records
• Isabel Lewis should be ADDED to Publications and Records
• Tom McQuiston should NOT be on the Quaker House Board
• Nicky Brown should be ADDED to Peace & Social Concerns
• Change Matt Drake on CFS Early School Liaison to a representative from Buildings and Grounds (not hospitality)
• Ed Brown should be ADDED to Mary and Claude Schotts Fund & Leadership Development Fund.

The approved list is attached.

Nomination Committee Annual Report

Pam Schwingl presented the Nomination Committee Annual Report. Friends approved the report (attached) with great appreciation for the Committee’s work.

Building & Grounds Update

Margie Brache updated that Bruce Archer (a professional painter who has worked at Carolina Friends School) has signed a contract to wash, prepare, and paint the outside of the meetinghouse in late June. He is coordinating with Sue Caldwell to coordinate schedules with the Early School.

Minute of Appreciation for the Clerk

The meeting minuted their great appreciation for Carolyn Stuart’s service as Clerk. She has gone the extra mile time and time again, been a proactive clerk in meeting with committees and ad hoc groups, and helped guide the decisions of this meeting. We are grateful for her gentle spirit and her exceptional ability to listen to and nurture the meeting.

Clerk’s Report

Asta Crowe, Chris Ringwalt, Alice Carlton, Carolyn Stuart, Richard Miller, Robert Andrew Smith, Ruth Zalph, Linda Cherney, Etta Pisano, Jimmy Kylstra, Emilie Condon, Jimmy Malone, and Tom Munk worked at the Carrboro Century Center during the week of May 23-29 to help IFC with sheltering homeless men.

There is still a need for help with food while the IFC homeless shelter is being renovated. Please contact Gwynne Pomeroy if you are interested in volunteering.

Announcements

• Tom Munk has an updated version of Speak Truth to Power that is emailed to meeting members.
• There will not be a July business meeting. The next meeting will be August 8.

The meeting closed with worship.

Attendees: Pam Schwingl, Catherine Elkins, Lynn Drake, Matt Drake, Bettie L. Flash, Nan Emory, Marilyn A. Dyer, Susan Inglis, Margie Brache, Maria Darlington, Terry Mehlman, Martha Gwyn, Bob Gwyn, Nancy Milio, Edwin Brown, Nicky Brown.

Carolyn Stuart, Clerk

Marsha Green, Recording Clerk

2004-2005 Budget

Expenses		Benevolences
Facilities Expenses		Support for Quaker Concerns - Internal
Utilities	3,500	Physical Plant Reserve Fund	1,500
Insurance	5,000	Leadership Development Fund	3,000
Landscaping		Meeting for Suffering	135
Maintenance & Improvement	1,500	Social Action Discretionary Fund	3,000
Total Facilities Expenses	10,000	Environmental Discretionary Fund	3,000
		Meeting Fund for National Quaker Service	2,000
		Care & Counsel's Fund	1,000
Committee Expenses			13,635
Finance	400
Contingency	1,000	Support for Quaker Concerns - Internal
Hospitality	250	Adult Religious Education Committee
Library	400	Friends Center, Guilford College	150
Ministry & Worship	2,150
Nominations	100	Peace & Social Concerns Committee
Care & Counsel	50	American Friends Service Committee	1,000
Peace & Social Concerns	200	Carolina Friends School	6,180
Publications	3,000	Food, Faith and Farms	200
Religious Education - Adult	200	Friends Comm. on National Legislation	1,000
Religious Education - Children	4,000	Friends Comm. on Unity w/ Nature	800
Religious Education - Youth	1,000	Habitat for Humanity - Orange County	250
Total Committee Expenses	12,750	Interfaith Council	6,500
		NC Council of Churches	400
Facility Exp.	10,000	People of Faith Against the Death Penalty	300
Committee Exp.	12,750	Quaker House	7,000
Benevolences - internal	13,635	Right Sharing of World Resources	200
Benevolences - external	26,380	Rural Southern Voices for Peace	100
Total Budget	62,765	Schoolhouse of Wonder	300
		Total Peace and Social Concerns	24,230
		Ministry & Worship Committee
		Friends General Conference	700
		Friends Journal	200
		Friends World Committee	350
		Piedmont Friends Fellowship	550
		School of the Spirit	200
		Total Ministry & Worship	2,000
		Total Support for Quaker Concerns - external	26,380
Budget approved June 13, 2004		Total Budgeted Expenses	$62,765

Nominations for Committees 2004

CARE AND COUNSEL: Returning: Jennifer Leeman, Bonnie Raphael, Arny Post, Susan Inglis, Leslie Rountree, Jim Palmer, Kay Eager, Marnie Clark, Martha Gwyn*, Deborah Gibbs. No New Members

MINISTRY AND WORSHIP: Returning: Robin Williams*, Michael Green, Sharon Ringwalt, Allie Scales, Jim Bartow, Ruth Zalph, Chris Ringwalt, Marilyn Dyer

New Members: Alice Carlton, Bill Schweke

FINANCE: Returning: Richard Brown, Catherine Elkins, Steve Grathwohl, Asta Crowe, Etta Pisano, Ken Grogan

New Member: Terry Mehlman

YOUTH RELIGIOUS EDUCATION: Returning: Tom Munk, John Hite, Wren Hendrickson, Catherine Elkins, Jeff Brown, Dan Darnell, Curt Torell, Tamsin Green
New Members: Beth Kurtz-Costes, Bill Cleaver, Eli Darnell

ADULT RELIGIOUS EDUCATION: Returning: Lloyd Kramer, Nan Emory, Janet Jones, Ann Filiaci, Frank Coyle
New Members: Sue McMurray, Anne Kessimeyer

CHILDRENS RELIGIOUS EDUCATION: Returning: Mike Bishop, David Brower, Alexis Moore, Eloise Grathwohl, Susan Inglis
New Members: Carolyn Stuart, Nancy Martin, Kimberly Haufler

BUILDING AND GROUNDS: Returning: Margie Brache, Wade Barber, Peter DeLeeuw, Peter Malone, Tom Smith, Tom Whitmore, Matt Drake, Max Drake, Polly Ulin No New Members

NOMINATIONS: Returning: Kathy Davis, Faye Stanley, Annette Broadwell, Pam Schwingl, Ed Brown New Members to be nominated by Meeting

PUBLICATIONS AND RECORDS: Returning: Bobbie Ackley, Isabelle Lewis, Tony Sullivan, Lisa Sullivan, Marsha Green, Mike Green (recorder)
New Member: James Harper

PEACE AND SOCIAL CONCERNS: Returning: Arnold Post, Dick Ulin, Tom Munk, Maria Darlington, Tim Heninger, Nancy Milio, Ed Brown, Dirk Spruyt, Bob Gwyn, Martha Gwyn, Max Drake, Nicky Brown
New Member: Rich Guerin

LIBRARY: Returning: Asta Crowe, Nancy Post*, Anne Filiaci, Nan Emory, Karen Bates Durovich, Nancy Martin, Bobbie Ackley No New Members

VISITATION: Returning: Kay Eager, Faye Stanley No New Members

HOSPITALITY: Returning: Susan Burke, Marnie Clark, Carolyn White*, David Curtin, Bonnie Raphael, Kathy Davis, Dottie Heninger
New Members: Tara Carr, Tracy West

MARY AND CLAUDE SCHOTTS FUND & LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT FUND: Returning: Julia Cleaver, Bob Gwyn, Anne Filiaci, Renee Prillaman
New Member: Ed Brown

QUAKER HOUSE: Returning: Chris Ringwalt, Maria Darlington, Bob Gwyn
New Member: Wendy Michener

IFC: Returning: Frank Coyle , John Alexander , Lois Ann Hobbs
New Members: Emily Condon, Gwynne Pomeroy, Allie Scales

PFF: Returning: Curt Torell, Ainsley Morse No New Members

CFS BOARD: Returning: Chris Stanley, Lynn Drake*, Pam Schwingl, Mike Bishop, Anne Flash, Judy Purvis, Hugh Meriwether No New Members

CFS EARLY SCHOOL LIASON: Returning: Sue Caldwell (CHES), Matt Drake (Bldg/Grnds), John Hite (resident) No New Members

CLERK: New Member: Judy Purvis

RECORDING CLERK: Returning: Marsha Green,

RECORDER: Returning: Mike Green

CORRESPONDENCE CLERK: Returning: Margaret Heyboer

TREASURER: Returning: Etta Pisano

MEETING TRUSTEES: Returning: Emilie Condon, Bettie Flash, Lois Ann Hobbs

Needs as yet unfilled:

Adult Religious Education - 1 or 2, Children's Religious Education - 1, Nominations - 3, Peace and Social Concerns - 1, Mary and Claude Schotts Fund - 1 , PFF - 2

Service members for CRE, YRE and IFC

Revitalization of PFF and leadership

Nominations Annual Report

June 13, 2004

The Nominations Committee has the responsibility for finding volunteers who are willing and able to carry out a variety of tasks for the Meeting community. Because the Meeting has no paid minister, committee work carries a heavy responsibility and requires the service of active members. At the same time, service to the Meeting is seen as a choice that each person makes taking into consideration, at a given point in time, their leadings, gifts, commitments, and priorities. Thus, as was so eloquently put in last year’s report, Nominations committee “walks a fine line between encouraging service and bringing pressure to bear on the Meeting and its members” to step forward and serve when significant gaps in committees make their work difficult or impossible.

This year the Nominations Committee had the weighty task of finding a new Clerk since our current Clerk, Carolyn Stuart, decided not to continue in this role for a second consecutive term. Carolyn worked with the committee to develop a roster of Meeting members who could be asked if they would consider acting as Clerk for the next three years. The committee recognized early on that several Meeting members who were seen by the committee as qualified to act as clerk may not be able or willing to make this commitment this coming year, or they may simply not realize that they are viewed as potential candidates for this position. Thus, the committee decided to draft a broad list of potential candidates and to ask them to consider the position of Clerk, if not for this term, then to open themselves to the idea for a later time. Committee members felt that this could be an effective way to sow the seeds for a next generation of Clerks.

The committee is pleased to report that committees have full or nearly full rosters of members ready to accomplish the work of the Meeting for the upcoming year, 2004-2005. We are continuing to seek one or two new members for the Adult Religious Education Committee; one member for Children’s Religious Education Committee; one or two members for the Mary and Claude Schotts Fund; and two new members for the PFF committee.

To fill the rosters Nomination members asked Committee heads to recommend individuals who would be interested in and suited for the work of their respective committee. In the past systematic efforts were made to outreach to those newly

listed in the directory, participating in Quakerism 101, and at newcomer teas. This year committee efforts were less than systematic in this regard, but we intend to use these resources in the coming year as we continue to fill anticipated and unanticipated committee vacancies. However, this year we did distribute a survey at several First Days hoping to find out more about the committee interests of meeting attenders in an effort to bridge the committees’ knowledge of the skills and interests of meeting attenders and the needs of Meeting committees. An ongoing challenge of the Nominations Committee continues to be knowing enough about the attenders and members of this very large, rich meeting to match their interests and skills with needs of Meeting committees. However, with only a few exceptions, our most active and known members completed the forms, and we learned very little additional information about other attenders/members from this effort.

Another way we considered making the committee work of the Meeting more visible to newer attenders and thereby encourage more committee participation by the broadest membership possible is to create a brochure describing the Meeting committees, what they do, and how attenders can become part of a committee. While the directory does a very nice job of describing this work, not everyone is aware that they can find this valuable information about committees in the directory. To more adequately communicate this information to new attenders, we believe that some redundancy may be required. In the coming year, the Nominations Committee is willing to create a brochure for this purpose.

In our conversations this year, we were aware of how work is done by members and attenders that is not presently defined as “committee work.” As was mentioned in the Nominations Report last year, many Friends actively serve in the First Day School (FDS) and appropriately consider this their “service.” As FDS continues to grow, the search for Friends with time available for other committee work becomes challenging. Nominations committee members are not always aware of who is teaching in FDS, and who plans to continue teaching. Only the FDS Religious Education Committees, CRE and YRE, who have the responsibility of finding teachers, keeps rosters of teachers and their commitments. It would help Nominations committee to have a listing of teachers who are currently teaching and are “scheduled” to teach in the coming year as they consider volunteers for various committee positions. One way to accomplish this would be to have teachers explicitly mentioned in the directory as part of a “Teacher Roster.” This would help Nominations committee members have a more complete picture of the current commitments of individuals in the meeting, and would be one small way for the meeting to formally recognize the work that individuals perform for the Meeting by teaching FDS. However, there may be additional ways this end could be accomplished and we would like to engage the FDS committees in a conversation about how this might best be done.

In addition, in Fifth Month’s Business Meeting, the idea of a Conscientious Objector Guidance Committee was mentioned. In the past two years, Curt Torrell and Alice Carlton have been actively engaged with teens in the Meeting to help them define their leadings about military service and conscientious objector status. This is a substantial service commitment and has potential for expanding beyond the immediate Meeting community. Formation of a committee is the role of the Business Meeting, but Nominations committee is prepared to assist the formation process by finding additional members if needed.

In addition, the Nominations Committee will also continue conversations that were begun this year about how best to include teens in the work of committees. Whether to have a rotating teen position, or open the possibility of multiple teens being on a given committee will be discussed.

Susanne Gomolski, and Dan Young will be leaving the committee this year. During the course of the year, Robin Harper, Linda DiLorenzo, and Louise Hobbs were not able to continue on with committee work for a variety of reasons. However, in December, Pam Schwingl joined the committee, and Faye and Pam acted as co-clerks through the spring with the loving support of Carolyn Stuart, and will continue in this role next year. Annette Broadwell and Kathy Davis will continue on with the committee. Three new members will be needed for the committee next year. To balance the committee, we would recommend that any new members be regular attenders at early First Day meeting, be representative of parents with young children, or be representative of older attenders.

From Lutheran Family Services Refugee Resettlement Program

Dear Members of the Friends Meeting of Chapel Hill,

In the past the Chapel Hill Friends Meeting has worked with refugee

resettlement.  It is time again to form a team of 4 to 5 people, with one person being the coordinator, to co-sponsor a Burmese refugee family in conjunction with our office at Lutheran Family Services Refugee Resettlement Program.

The reason for the need is that the US government in cooperation with the UNHCR has agreed to resettle 2,000 or more refugees from Burma in the USA starting in June. We have already gotten five families who are being resettled by churches in the community. We are expecting to resettle another 10 families during the rest of this summer and into early fall.  We need your community's prayerful consideration and quick action to help co-sponsor a family. We are already working with another 6 to 8 congregations in the community to help as well. I hope that you can join us in this response which is both exciting and also

urgent.

Our office staff and the Burmese community in Carrboro of 100 are organized to work with you to make the resettlement a success and the refugee an active new member of the growing Burmese community in Carrboro and Chapel Hill.

Please contact your leadership within the Friends meeting and also call

me at or Jeff to ask questions and express your interest.

Grace and Peace to you all,

Gove Elder, Co-sponsorship Developer of Lutheran Family Services in the

Carolinas

Please let Bob Gwyn or Carolyn Stuart know if you are interested in either being a team member or coordinator for this project.

Update on Lucille Hawk

Lucille Hawk, who is currently homebound, occasionally needs rides. She would appreciate Friends providing them as they can—it is a good way for us to stay connected while she cannot come worship with us. If you can offer rides to Lucille, call her. – Susan Inglis

Need a Place to Stay in London?

The latest newsletter from the Penn Club (a British Quaker organization) indicates that they are having trouble filling their rooms. They are an inexpensive, pleasant bed and breakfast located two blocks from the British Museum (just off Russell Square near the Heathrow bus stop). They have a library, TV room, and breakfast room downstairs and a garden in the back.

The address is 21/23 Bedford Place, London, WC1B5JJ, England. Fax: 020-76365516.

I have enjoyed staying there many times. The other guests are largely Friends and/or academics. --Ann Matthysse

Waterbed Needs a Home

I am moving to a smaller house, so I have a king size waterbed with headboard

available for pickup from near Hillsborough. It uses multiple tube bladders to

help limit any wave action and adjust firmness, and does not require a heater.

It comes complete with extra bladders and repair kit. -- Dave Curtin 245-3745

Speak Out

Want an easy way to speak truth to David Price, Elizabeth Dole, and John Edwards about Quaker priorities for the budget? Use the FCNL website. Use their letter verbatim, or write your own. http://capwiz.com/fconl/issues/alert/?alertid=5962411&type=CO

Ongoing Weekly Vigils For Justice And Peace

Chapel Hill:

· 5 - 6 PM, Mondays, Franklin Street Post Office;

· 5 - 6 PM, Fridays, corner of Elliott Road and East Franklin Street.

Durham:

· Saturdays, Noon - 1:00 PM, Gregson and Main Streets, opposite Brightleaf Square.

Speak Truth To Power

Speak Truth to Power is an occasional email newsletter written under the care of the Peace and Social Concerns Committee of the Chapel Hill Monthly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends. Please contact the editor, Tom Munk, if you have questions, comments, or if you are not receiving the email and would like to receive it.

FGC Religious Educators Institute – August 19-22

Have you ever taught First Day School? Have you ever discussed God with a child or an adult?

If so, you are a religious educator.

Friends General Conference is hosting its annual Religious Educators Institute late this summer (August 19 – 22) at Camp Asbury in Silver Lake New York. The 3½ day workshop (Thursday dinner through Sunday lunch) includes a choice of 6 workshops and 11 interest groups. Workshop topics include:

• An Introduction to Godly Play
• Opening to the Light: Adult Spiritual Formation for Friends
• Daring to Teach Christianity
• Tapping Teen Potential
• Enhancing Racial and Ethnic Diversity in our First Day Communities
• Equipping Practical Peacemakers of All Ages

Interest groups run the gamut from Quaker Parenting to Using the environment in First Day School and much more.

The cost of the retreat is $220 if you register before August 2 ($245 if you register late) and includes the workshops, meals, and lodging, but not travel. A children’s program (for ages 0-12) is available for $40 - $100 (depending on lodging arrangements). Financial assistance is available from the Meeting.

Our meeting would reap a great benefit if several meeting members could attend this ambitious workshop and return to spread the ideas among us. Please consider whether you have a leading to attend. Contact Marsha Green for registration information.

Learn About Friends House Moscow July 13

Julie Harlow, a board member of Friends House in Moscow, will present a program at the meetinghouse on Tuesday, July 13, 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM.  Friends House in Moscow is supported by our meeting in its work with Quakers in Russia.  In existence in 1996, board members include members from Great Britain, Norway, Germany, Russia & the US.  Friends House in Moscow supports a monthly meeting in Moscow, which is a member of FWCC, translates materials in Russian, conducts programs on alternatives to violence, and supports work with refugees.  Julie is traveling across the US to "put a face to the work of Friends House in Moscow."  Come meet Julie and enjoy learning more about Friends' work in this part of the world. 

Letter from Andrew Barker

At the February 8, 2004 meeting for business, Andrew Barker read the following letter and asked for the meeting support of his efforts to establish I-A-O status, should a military draft be re-instated.  The meeting minuted our approval of Andrew, but his letter was not included in the newsletter.  The following is a transcription of Andrew's thoughtful letter:

To the Chapel Hill Friends Meeting:

My beliefs at this time are still crystallizing.  I don't know at this time in my life if I would register as a CO, but I do know that I could not kill a person while participating in war.  I am against the present war in Iraq, not because of a political stance, but because it is the only war I am presently witnessing.  Therefore, it is the war in Iraq that has made me think about my own views about personal participation in war.

I am a Quaker and was raised under certain beliefs that are common to our meeting.  One of the most important for me is that killing another person is unacceptable.  This does not mean that I would refuse to join the military.  Innocent people get injured in war, and I feel an obligation to help and to serve my country.  However, this obligation falls short when it comes to taking someone's life.  My dad was in the Air Force.  I respect his views but sometimes they stand against typical Quaker views. So, at this point in my life, if I were drafted, I would seek I-A-O status, in which I would participate in the military but would refuse to be a combatant.  I could serve as a medic or a similar role which would be consistent with my current beliefs.  I would like to thank the meeting for support and to ask the meeting to please keep this letter for documentation.

Sincerely,

Andrew Barker.

YOUTH RELIGIOUS EDUCATION NEWSLETTER

Chapel Hill Friends Meeting

June, 2004

Middle School News

The first day of the summer FDS program was June 13 and will run through August 15. The rising 9th graders will stay with the middle school group until August 22 (when they start the 9^th grade and join the high school group) and the rising 6^th graders have the choice to remain with the middle school group until the fall or move into the high school group now.

Kathy Davis has started a summer curriculum on stewardship with attention to food.

There will be a middle school retreat this weekend June 26 and 27 starting Saturday at Emerald Pointe water park. After much splishsplash excitement the middle schoolers will return to the meetinghouse for dinner, games, and an overnight stay. Contact Catherine Elkins for details.

High School News

Our high schoolers got together again with the Unitarian teen group for another fun evening last Wednesday June 16. They went bowling, shot pool, and got to know their UU counterparts better.

There is interest in coordinating more teen activities with both the Unitarians and also with the Durham Friends youth group. Several kinds of joint activities including a possible movie night are being considered. Please let us know if you have any particular suggestions and interest in this.

SAYF at SAYMA was, as usual, a wonderful experience for our teens. Eleven youths associated with the meeting attended. Thanks go to Wren Hendrickson, Jim Bartow, Tom Munk, and Jennifer Leeman who were the friendly adult presence and drivers for the SAYF retreat at Warren Wilson College this past June 10-13.

High School First Day School Program

June 2 Community building activity

July 4 John Hite presents pictures and stories of his European travels

July 11 High Schoolers will attend the meeting for worship

July 18 Community building activity; play the board game Scruples

July 25 The iconoclastic vision of Quaker outreach, discussion led by Tamsin

Aug 1 Watch the movie Veggie Tales

Aug 8 Bowling For Columbine movie and discussion, part I, downstairs at 11:15

Aug 15 Bowling For Columbine, part II, downstairs starting at 11:15

Aug 22 Welcome the rising 9^th graders into the high school group

Retreats

July 3 – 10 FGC CONFERENCE at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst campus. Visit www.FGCQuaker.org for more information.

Sept. 24 – 26 SAYF Retreat, at the Chapel Hill meetinghouse.

Special Events

July 24, 10am – 2pm: Conscientious Objector workshop including a role play of a draft board review, presented at Chapel Hill Meeting House. Teens approaching their 18^th birthday (young women included) are invited to attend. Curt Torrel and Alice Carlton are coordinating. Pizza to be served.

August 19 – 22: Illuminating Our Divine Connections Conference, near Rochester NY. Individuals interested in learning more about youth religious education programming will want to attend. Register by Aug. 2. See Marsha Green for details.

Another Parents of Teens Potluck is to be scheduled for this summer. Alice Carlton hosted the most recent potluck at her home on May 28.

This summer keep in mind Snow Camp’s summer theater, outdoor drama depicting Quaker stories. Plays are presented each night except for Monday and Tuesday. Consider inviting someone from another generation when you go.

YRE Committee News

Many thanks and kudos to Alice Carlton who has completed her term as clerk for the YRE Committee. Alice has done a wonderful job of keeping us focused and cohesive about YRE concerns and issues.

Also many thanks to Hart Pillow who served as recorder for the committee as she will be finishing her term. We will miss Hart’s enthusiasm and patient attention to detail.

Jeff Brown will be taking over as the new clerk starting this July. Beth Kurtz-Costes and Bill Cleaver will be joining the Committee.

Query: Are the Meeting’s concerns and energies adequately directed toward correcting social, economic, and political injustices, and to lessening the divisions of race, financial resources, and opportunities? Are we careful that the use of Meeting funds is consistent with the testimonies of the Religious Society of Friends?

Chapel Hill Monthly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends

531 Raleigh Road, Chapel Hill, NC 27514

Phone: 919-929-5377

Clerk of the Meeting: Carolyn Stuart (919-929-2287)

Assistant and Recording Clerk: Marsha Green and Judy Purvis

Clerk of Ministry & Worship: Robin Williams

Clerk of Care and Counsel: Martha Gwyn

Treasurer: Etta Pisano and Karon Lashow

Meeting House Resident: John Hite

Meetings for Worship

(September through May)

First Day Meetings at 9:00 and 11:15 AM Forum at 10:15 AM

Child Care: 9:00-12:30 First-Day School: 11:15-12:15

(June through August)

First Day Meetings at 9:00 and 10:30 AM No Forum

Child Care: 9:00-11:45 First-Day School: 10:45-11:45

Meeting for Worship with Attention to Business:

1:00 PM on the second Sunday of each month

Committee Meetings

Third Tuesdays: Finance Committee, 7:30 p.m.

Fourth Sundays:

Children’s Religious Education, 9:30 a.m.

Buildings and Grounds, 1:00 p.m.

Peace and Social Concerns, 1:00 p.m.

Hospitality Committee, 1:00 p.m.

Affiliations: Piedmont Friends Fellowship and Friends General Conference

Meeting Telephone Tree

To initiate the meeting telephone tree, call either the clerk of Meeting, clerk of Ministry and Worship, or clerk of Overseers. These clerks will then notify members of their committees and they will share the responsibility for contacting all residents in this directory.

Home Page on the Internet

The home page of the Meeting has the following address: http://www.rtpnet.org/chfm

Calendar

Note: For regularly scheduled committee meetings, please see the previous page.

Sun., June 27	9:00 and 10:30 a.m.	Meeting for Worship (every Sunday at 9:00 and 10:30 through the summer)
July 3 – 10		Friends General Conference Gathering in Massachusetts
Sun., July 4	9:00 and 10:30 a.m.	Meeting for Worship (every Sunday at 9:00 and 10:30 through the summer)
Sun., July 4	11:30 p.m.	Potluck and IFC Sunday (each first Sunday).
Wed., July 7	10:00 a.m.	Women’s group meets at Marnie Clark’s home (1^rst and 3^rd Wednesdays)
Wed., July 7	11:30 a.m.	Conversations on Alternatives to Violence at Med Deli (every Wednesday)
Thurs., July 8	7:30 – 9:00 p.m.	Midweek Meditation at the Meetinghouse (every Thursday evening)
Sun., July 11	9:00 and 10:30 a.m.	Meeting for Worship
Tues., July 13	7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.	Friends House Moscow Presentation
Sun., July 18	9:00 and 10:30 a.m.	Meeting for Worship
Sat., July 24	10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.	Conscientious Objectors Workshop
Sun., July 25	9:00 and 10:30 a.m.	Meeting for Worship
Sun, August 1	9:00 and 10:30 a.m.	Meeting for Worship
Sun. August 1	11:30 a.m.	Potluck and IFC Sunday
Sun. August 8	9:00 and 10:30 a.m.	Meeting for Worship
Sun. August 8	12:00 noon	Meet for Worship with Attention to Business
Sun August 15	9:00 and 10:30 a.m.	Meeting for Worship
Sun. August 22		Resume Fall schedule: 9:00 meeting for worship, 10:15 Forum, 11:15 meeting for worhip