March (Third Month) 2014 Newsletter

March 2014 Newsletter

(Third Month)

Meeting for Worship

& First Day School

Sundays at 11:00 a.m.

Midweek Meeting for Worship, Wednesdays at 6:00 p.m.

Meeting for Worship for Business 

Advices:

Come to Meeting with hearts and minds prepared to be open and faithful to the leadings of the Spirit. Then the conduct of business will lead to truth, unity, and love.

When a matter is before the Meeting for Business, each person present contributes to the corporate search for a decision that accords with the will of God. Inaction is a form of action. Silent worship in the Meeting for Business contributes to the process of achieving unity.

Listen attentively to others’ words and use the silence between messages to reflect carefully on what you might contribute. When you are clear, speak simply what is in your heart, without repeating what has already been offered. while making your insights clear, lay aside personal opinions and attend to what God requires.

Queries:

Do I attend Meeting for Business regularly?

Do I speak in Meeting for Business only when I am led to speak?

Is the Meeting for Business held as a Meeting for Worship in which we seek divine guidance for our actions?

Are we tender and considerate of different views, coming to a decision only when we have found unity?

Do we give prayerful support for our clerks that they may be sensitive to the movement of the Spirit among us?

San Francisco Monthly Meeting
February (Second Month) Meeting for Business
2/9/2014

Meeting for Business began at 1:05 pm with 28 people present. After a period of worship, the clerk read a passage from the PYM Advices & Queries for Second month on “Spiritual Life.” The reading was followed by silent reflection and vocal ministry.

Previous Month’s Minutes

2-01: Meeting approves the minutes of January 12, 2014 as presented.

Treasurer's Year-End Report for 2013

Amy Baker, treasurer, presented the final report of 2013 expenses, income, and meeting balance sheet (attached to archive copy of these minutes). Highlights include:

• ●  Donations lower than usual, with fewer individuals donating than in previous years. Property & Finance Committee is considering how to address this.
• ●  Rental income much higher than expected, due to good work of our building manager.
• ●  Meeting subsidized the annual retreat more than budgeted. ● Retreats Subcommittee is exploring new ways to increase attendance and economize on the retreat for 2014. ● Building fees, maintenance, personnel costs were all as expected.

• ●  Committee spending was under budget which indicates good stewardship of our funds.
• ●  We ended 2013 with a net income of nearly $8,000 above expenses.
• ●  Our balance sheet now reflects ownership of the Rausch Street property, at the valuation assigned by the assessor’s office. The balance sheet also reflects the draw-down of various reserves to complete the renovations of upstairs offices and the meeting kitchen space. The meeting accepted the report with appreciation.
• ●  Amy also reported opening a brokerage account to receive the bequest of Jack DeBeers, which will be arriving in the form of securities that we intend to liquidate upon receipt.
  

Quarterly Meeting Winter Session Report

• Alice Elliott-Sowaal, College Park Quarterly Meeting representative, reported on the Winter Session held at our meetinghouse in January. The theme of the gathering and worship-sharing sessions was the “Blessings of Spiritual Discomfort.” Other Friends who attended shared about their experience. Teenage Friends were active in the gathering, stayed overnight, engaged in a session on clerking, and hosted a threshing session on gender-nonconformity and inclusion. Friends expressed appreciation of Paula Joyce and David Erickson for the good work they did coordinating the day’s arrangements.

Ministry & Oversight Committee

• ● Markley Morris, co-clerk, reported on the following issues which have been brought to M&O for consideration:
• ● Rolene Walker read a letter signed by eight meeting members introducing the “San Francisco Worship Group” and requesting it be taken under Meeting's care. (Copy attached to archive copy of these minutes.) M&O recommends taking this action. In a lengthy discussion, Friends expressed both support for nurturing this new group and concerns that it may draw resources away from the larger meeting community.
• ●  The sharing of Joys and Concerns at the rise of meeting seems to be serving its intended purpose of deepening community. The committee plans to continue it at least through March, and continues to invite feedback.
• ●  A 2nd-hour session is planned to host Robin Mohr to make a presentation about her work with Friends World Committee for Consultation, Section of the Americas on March 23rd, 2014.
• ●  The Retreats subcommittee will sponsor a pizza party on March 23rd as well.
• ●  The topic table on membership at the February potluck was a success. At the March potluck, the topic tables will focus on service to the meeting. And at the April potluck, the topic table will be on membership again.
• ●  Stephen Matchett read a letter from Alison Pence requesting release from membership. Markley reported that M&O recommends releasing Alison from membership as requested.
• ●  Markley read a letter from Sandra Schwartz requesting to transfer her membership to San Francisco from Adelphi Meeting in Maryland. M&O has formed a clearness committee to meet with Sandra consisting of Rolene Walker and Chad Stephenson. Markley also read a letter from Tim Schwartz making a similar request. The committee to meet with him is being formed. A Friend reminded us that transfer requests need to be directed initially to the meeting where the membership is held, and that we cannot act until we receive a certificate of transfer from that meeting. The clerk committed to follow up on this oversight, indicating that in the mean time there was certainly no harm in proceeding with the clearness process at this end.
• ●  M&O has appointed a committee consisting of David Matchett and Marian Chatfield-Taylor to meet with Keith Wedmore about his certificate of transfer from Marin Meeting.
  
  

2-02: Meeting approves taking the San Francisco Worship Group, currently meeting in homes in San Francisco at 9:30 am on Sunday mornings, under our care.

2-03: Meeting approves releasing Alison Pence from membership.

Peace & Social Concerns Committee

Dirk von der Horst, clerk, announced that this would be his last meeting for business with us, as he is moving to Riverside for a new job. He reported that P&SC fostered several discussions of the Quaker Peace Testimony over the past year, the most recent during a second-hour on January 26th. He hopes these discussions will nurture seeds of future peace work. On April 18th there will be a Good Friday service at Livermore Laboratory. Jan Hartsough and Sandra Schwartz will now serve as P&SC’s liaison to the meeting Food Pantry. Charles Martin, meeting’s American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) liaison, reported on the recent visit by Lucy Duncan, who coordinates AFSC’s outreach efforts with Quaker meetings and churches across the country, including a gathering of area meeting and church liaisons hosted here at the meetinghouse earlier in the month. Charles reported he plans to organize further dialog with AFSC and more frequent presentations about their service work for the meeting.

Rausch St. Committee

Amy Baker presented the committee’s request that meeting approve financing the renovation of 46-48 Rausch Street through a loan of $230,000 from Security Financial Services. (Copy of proposal attached to archive copy of these minutes.) These funds are needed to cover renovations, closing costs, and loan payments for 24 months. Repayment of the loan would come from rental income of the two apartments. Amy said the goal is to operate the Rausch St. property in such a way that it will not be a financial drain on the meeting. In the future, the goal is for the meeting to “dedicate the building to Quaker purposes” by putting the space to use supporting Quaker organizations. Friends were reminded that the action requested was in fulfillment of the plan approved when Meeting agreed to take on the property and formed the Rausch St. Committee. One Friend raised a continued reservation about the plan to rent the renovated upstairs unit at even the below-market rate being proposed. While noting the concern, the clerk indicated that it did not present a stop to going forward, since the rental was an integral part of the plan the meeting had already approved.

2-04: Meeting approves of the Rausch Street Committee financing the renovation of 46-48 Rausch Street through a loan of $230,000 from Security Financial Services, which will cover the following: $180,000 for building renovations; $10,000 for closing costs; and $40,000 for loan payments for 24 months. The Rausch Street committee consists of Amy Baker, Marian Chatfield-Taylor, Philip Gerrie, Tim Schwartz, and Rolene Walker.

Steve Leeds asked to be recorded as standing aside.

Meeting for Business closed with worship at 4 pm with 27 people in attendance.

Respectfully submitted,

Blake Arnall, Recording Clerk
Stephen Matchett, Clerk of Meeting

Meeting News

Annual Retreat Pizza Party

The Retreats Subcommittee will hold a Pizza Party on First Day, March 23, shortly after rise of meeting.  The pizza party will recall pizzas served at the traditional closing meal of the Annual Retreat.  At this pizza party, we will be inviting children to build their own pizza slices using a variety of toppings.  Adults can build their own or try standard versions.  We will also be discussing possible events at the Retreat, starting registration for the Retreat and asking for contributions to help make it possible for all Friends and friends of Friends to attend the Retreat regardless of financial resources.   Please let us know how many pizza builders to expect so that we can be sure to have enough toppings.  (Retreats Subcommittee is comprised of Ann Marie Snell, Marian Chatfield-Taylor and Bob Kovsky.)

News from Heidi Pidcoke

Dear Friends,

Since I was with you at the beginning of January much has happened. As most of you heard, I received the news the weekend I was with you in San Francisco that my sister was diagnosed with lymphoma, two weeks after we heard the news confirming that our Mother was diagnosed with metastasized melanoma. My sister couldn't face telling my Mom the news, so I said I could do it when I was back in LA with them. My Mom took it better than expected and we are all so touched by the huge outpouring of love and prayers. I postponed my return to Nairobi by a week so I could be with Heather as she started her chemotherapy. Mom was admitted into a clinical trial (an hour before it closed) for a new drug that has had good results in treating fourth stage melanoma. She started her treatment the last week of January.

In the light of this family news, Anand and I are in discernment of when, how and where to move back to the US sometime later this year. I plan to close my psychotherapy practice at the end of June. We're considering renting out our home as it feels too daunting to give it up and find new homes for our animals in the midst of all this flux.

We are blessed to have Emily Schwartz with us for two and a half months. She arrived in early February and will stay until mid-April. Last week she was volunteering with PINCC in Kibera with Carol Cruikshank. This week she'll be starting to apprentice as an AVP facilitator before we whisk her away to Meru National Park for three days to celebrate her birthday.

Her focus as our AVP intern is to increase the presence of AVP Trust in the local media, help us roll out the Roots & Shoots program and assist our coordinator with fundraising and grant writing. The concern for the program is how they will continue raising funds after I give up my practice, which is the official fundraising activity of the AVP Trust.

Anyway, I would deeply appreciate you holding us in the Light as we navigate through these turbulent times.

Love and hugs,

Heidi

News from Friends

February 2014 News from AFSC

67 Sueños

AFSC’s youth program, 67 Sueños, is sponsoring an important event on March 7 from 6-9 p.m. in Oakland to showcase their latest mural about the Bracero Program in Stockton California.  The youth developed a mural about the program last summer, which will be on display. They also recorded stories from people who came to this country to work in the fields. It is a crucial conversation to have as Congress debates immigration policy changes that may well include a new “guest worker” proposal. How can we have such a program without exploiting workers, or putting workers in jeopardy of deportation at the hands of unscrupulous employers. Come and join the discussion. A screenshot of the beautiful flyer for the event may be downloaded at: Showcase.

Professor Mukesh Kapila

AFSC is sponsoring the speaking tour of Professor Mukesh Kapila, author of “Against the Tide of Evil,” his story of work to get the international community to have a robust response to mass atrocities and genocide. He is speaking at the following venues at the end of February:

•    Tues., Feb 25, 12 noon - World Affairs Council, Sacramento, hosted by Pacific McGeorge School of Law, 3200 Fifth Avenue, Classroom A, Sacramento, CA

•    Tues., Feb. 25, 7:00 pm - Shasta College, Room 802, Redding, CA. 

•    Weds., Feb 26, 12 noon - Santa Clara University, Arts and Sciences Building, Wiegand Room, 55 El Camino Real, Santa Clara, CA, 

•    Weds., Feb. 26, 7:30 pm - Westminster Presbyterian Church, 240 Tiburon Blvd., Tiburon, CA

•    Thurs., Feb. 27, 12 Noon - Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA 

•    Thurs., Feb.. 27, 6pm - Monterey Institute of International Studies, Irvine Auditorium, Monterey, CA

AFSC National Office March Call for Spirited Action

The March “Call for Spirited Action” conference call will take place on March 15, 2014 from 10:30AM - 12PM EDT. The title is “Ending the New Jim Crow and mass incarceration” and is led by Lewis Webb (AFSC) and John and Gail Fletcher (Norman Friends Meeting). You can participate in the conference call by dialing: 1-866-740-1260 and entering the access code 2419995#. All Friends are invited to participate!

March 2014 News from Ben Lomond Quaker Center

Treasurers, accountants, bookkeepers, and finance committee members: this workshop is for you! Please join us for an open conversation about how finances can better express our Quaker values. This program, Friends Finances through the Lens of Spirit will be similar to the financial management program Quaker Center offered in 2010 and Jill Hoyenga is returning to co-lead it with Jeff Perkins, Executive Director of Friends Fiduciary. Anyone who is interested in Friends’ finances is welcome to come and engage with the financial concerns of Friends groups of all sizes. We encourage meetings, churches, and organizations to support those involved in financial decision-making to attend from March 21st-23rd.  Find out more and register online at: http://www.quakercenter.org/friends-finances/.

Seed and Soil: Growing the Beloved Community, begins Sunday, April 13^th – Friday, April 18^th.

Jim Anderson, will return to co-facilitate another weeklong program with Marilee Eusebio, and Diego Navarro. Each day will be grounded in expectant worship, group study, worship sharing, and time to explore other daily spiritual practices. We hope that this week of community life and personal reflection will be a time of spiritual refreshment and help us to return to our meetings and daily life as instruments of renewal– as both seed and soil. For more information call Kathy or Bob Runyan at 831-336-8333 and to register online see http://www.quakercenter.org/seed-and-soil-growing-the-beloved-community/.

 Quarterly and Yearly Meeting News

College Park Quarterly Meeting

The upcoming College Park Quarterly Meeting will be May 16 - 18 (Fri-Sun) at Ben Lomond

Pacific Yearly Meeting

The upcoming Pacific Yearly Meeting session will be July 14-19, 2014 at Walker Creek Ranch in Petaluma, CA

Submissions to the newsletter are due by the next-to-last First Day (Sunday) of each month in the News Committee mailbox at the meetinghouse, or by e-mail to news@sfquakers.org. This newsletter is also available for reading or downloading on our website at http://www.sfquakers.org/news.html.

Members of the News Committee are Kate McCarley (clerk, editor), Eli Bishop (web servant), Catherine Fox (production), and Noel Schwerin (distribution)

Calendar of Events for March 2014

(all events at 65 9th St., unless noted; *see details elsewhere in newsletter)

Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
2 9:30a Bible Study 11a Meeting for Worship, Community potluck following	3	4 7p Property & Finance Mtg	5 8:30a SFFS Community Mtg for Worship† 6 Meeting for Worship 7p Ministry & Oversight Mtg	6 12p Peace Vigil‡ 7p Potluck & Quaker Study	7	8 10:30a-1p Food Pantry
9 11a Meeting for Worship 1p Meeting for Business	10	11	12 6p Meeting for Worship	13 12p Peace Vigil‡ 7p Potluck & Quaker Study	14	15 10:30a-1p Food Pantry
16 9:30a Bible Study 11a Meeting for Worship	17	18	19 6p Meeting for Worship	20 12p Peace Vigil‡ 7p Potluck & Quaker Study	21	22 10:30a-1p Food Pantry
23 9:15 Non-Violent Comm. Practice Group 11a Meeting for Worship 12p Annual Retreat Pizza Party	24	25	26 6p Meeting for Worship	27 12p Peace Vigil‡ 7p Potluck & Quaker Study	28	29 10:30a-1p Food 2antry
30 9a Extended Meeting for Worship	31	1	2 6p Meeting for Worship	3 12p Peace Vigil‡ 7p Potluck & Quaker Study	4	5 10:30a-1p Food Pantry

‡Federal Building, Golden Gate Ave. and Larkin St. †San Francisco Friends School, 250 Valencia St.