January 21, 2007, 8:30 AM
Westtown Meeting House

Lifting up names for prayer, aid, or appreciation:

• Appreciation was shared for the hard work on the Advent Garden, Christmas Eve Service and the New Year’s Eve Service.
• We shared our gladness at having Kevin Gallagher back and our deep thanks to those who served in his stead. Kevin expressed his appreciation for the meetings support for himself and his family.

Announcements:

• Adult Education: “Experiment with Light” will begin January 28, 2007 and continue on each of the succeeding fourth Sundays through May. We will gather at 9 AM.
• Concord Quarter Religious Education sharing day at Westtown Meeting, Saturday February 24, 2007.
• Visit of West Chester Second Presbyterian Church to Westtown Meeting, Sunday February 25, 2007 for sharing of Bayard Rustin’s life.
• Hickman Cleanup, Saturday April 14, 2007 8AM to noon.
• PYM Annual Meeting March 23-25 at Arch Street and Residential YM at Rowan University Thursday 7/26-Monday 7/30/07
• This evening at 7:00 in the South Room a discussion on economic justice and a viewing of the film, “Walmart: The high cost of low prices.”
• March 16, 2007 Christian Peace Witness for Iraq at the National Cathedral in Washington. www.christianpeacewitness.org
• Be sure to check the Black Notebook in the Social Room for more announcements also check the CQM and PYM websites.

Correspondence:

Letter from Nicholson Law Center: John T. Nicholson, introduces himself as an expert on elder law and help for elder seniors as they work through government programs, retirement choices, and estate planning. John offers to come and speak with the meeting on issues of elder care and sends business cards to distribute as we deem appropriate. Friends spoke of the real help they have heard he is able to provide. Perhaps Pastoral Care and Concerns would like to consider his offer. Perhaps the group as a whole doesn't need this but as individuals we may be in the place to benefit from his knowledge. The contact information is as follows: Nicholoson Law Center, John T. Nicholson, PO Box 596, West Chester, PA 19395, 610-431-2205.

Old Business:

• Expressions of thanks were shared for the Advent Garden and the 32 children that walked the garden. It went very well. Two families have shared that the experience has led to ongoing discussions.
• Christmas Eve, over one hundred people were present and we ran out of hymn books!
• “Experiment with Light” begins next Sunday at 9:00AM. Rex Ambler’s Light to Live By will be our text. 30-40 minute meditation practice followed by 30 minutes of discussion. It is fine to just show up without having read the book.
• February 25, 2007 we will have visitors from members of West Chester Second Presbyterian Church here. At first day school we will have folks here to speak with the First Day School children about their work with Bayard Rustin. Expect around 50 adults and children (probably 6 children). Ginny Sutton and Linda Forrester are handling the meal preparations. Ginny has been visiting this church once a month all year so there is a real ongoing connection. When we are gathered together for lunch we will have opportunity to share Quaker beliefs with our Presbyterian Friends.

Pastoral Care and Concern:

• Progress with First Day School is swimming along. PC&C is in the process of connecting older members with newer members through a buddy system. This is in process and will move forward as the way becomes clear. We have discussed the audio system upstairs and folks are researching this and we will take this up again in March. PC&C is working on generating an annual timeline of events that happen in the meeting. Open to listening to the meeting to hear what it needs for this group to do.
• Concern was raised as to the shape of the buddy system, what about attenders? There are some families in the First Day School who have live questions and it would be wonderful if someone in addition to Ginny was there to answer their questions.

Nominating Committee:

Margaret Brown will be stepping down as our member at Interim Meeting. We will be looking for a new representative. This is a once a month responsibility. Anna Mays name was mentioned. Peter Lane will call. And we continue to need an assistant clerk.

Concord Quarterly Business:

Meeting on January 28, 2007. Correspondence has been ongoing with Beth Lawn and others about a Quarter wide service proposal. Do we need to discuss this? There isn't enough information to take it up at this time.

New Business:

• In May we will discuss how we like the new structure as well as the Advent Garden, Christmas Eve Etc.
• Pete Lane is the advocate for the PYM Annual Appeal.
• Finance Report: Branin Boyd
  • $6000 left over in Education Fund it was moved to the Fiduciary Education Operating Fund.
  • Never actually approved this year's budget. This year's budget is reduced 10% from last years. This is in face of the realities of meeting last year's budget.
  • Questions were asked about the work of the Education Grant Committee. This committee consists of Patti DiGiaccamo, Bill Goulding, and Sam Wagner.
  • The Covenant with PYM was reduced as part of this reduction. The Covenant with Concord Quarter was not reduced and the amount for the CQM staff person was increased.
  • PC&C allotment was reduced but the insurance policy for the meeting went up by $100.
  • Giving over the last five years 2001-2006 has varied significantly year to year.
  • We approved the budget.
  • About 50% of our members have given so far. About 65% of our members tend to give at all. We are going to be about $5500 short by late spring and will need to send out a second appeal to members to catch those who have yet to give.

The Minutes were approved. The Meeting Adjourned until our February meeting.

Respectfully submitted,

Margaret Haviland
Recording Clerk