Minutes
Epistle to Friends Everywhere 2018
Seventh Month, 28, 2018
To Friends Everywhere,
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.”– John 1:1-5
“When we pause, allow a gap and breathe deeply, we can experience instant refreshment. Suddenly, we slow down, look out and there’s the world.” — Pema Chodron (Buddhist teacher, author, nun and mother)
We send you warm greetings from Iowa Yearly Meeting (Conservative) as we gather at Scattergood Friends School Seventh Month 24-29 for the 141st annual session of our yearly meeting.
This week, we have explored our theme, “Being Centered in an Uncentered World.” We were reminded that God is the constant in our fast changing world. The love and care of God is at the center of our being and all of Creation. By staying open and responsive to this Light Within, we find the path and hope needed to navigate these changing times.
During our time together, we practiced many ways of staying centered. A slide show of one of our member’s photographs taught us the importance of paying deep attention to the beauty of the natural world and people around us. We gathered for Bible study, reading a selected passage then sharing out of worship as the Spirit moved us. We learned how to stay grounded as we interrupt situations of interpersonal and state violence around us. We also examined ways to avoid or overcome burnout, and we listened carefully as members shared insights about how to practice discernment. As always, our members’ diverse and sometimes humorous gifts made us laugh and uplifted us during our annual talent show.
As we look toward the future of Scattergood School and Farm, we want to build on our strengths. The school has been such a vital and precious part of who we are as a yearly meeting. Its influence extends across many generations and continents. This year we have been blessed by the gifts of Scattergood students and staff who fed, housed and nurtured us once more. During the week we considered and then approved a proposal from our School Committee to expand the mission of Scattergood School and Farm that included a major financial commitment that we accept on faith.
Considering change is unsettling. Change can bring angst to our hearts as we worry if we have anticipated all of risks we have to face. Change can be exciting as we consider new ways to undertake our work and our mission, and as we are invited to consider which parts of our mission hold the most Life. We struggled as we wondered if we are truly being led by the Light Within or by emotions around fear of loss many of us feel because of our deep connections with Scattergood school.
We are grateful for the development and seasoning of this proposal by the Scattergood School Committee and staff, for our process of discernment and our practice of doing business in meeting for worship as we attempt to be guided by the Inward Light. The path to the future is often uncertain. We ask our friends everywhere to hold our yearly meeting and Scattergood staff in the Light.
Another change we face every year is the loss of beloved, long-time members. Each year, this change touches us in a unique way, because each person brought different gifts to the life of the yearly meeting, and each of them leaves behind a different pattern of grief among us.
Our time together has been blessed by the presence of a small group of young people this year who attended worship daily and also made a video, flew kites, played capture the flag, went swimming, and ate s’mores by the Scattergood pond among other things. Two beloved young adults who grew up in the meeting have been leading all these energetic activities.
As we draw to the end of our yearly session, we send to you the love that we were able to experience together, and we look forward to hearing how the Spirit has been moving among you.
Our sessions next year will be held 7/23-28, 2019 at Scattergood School and Farm near West Branch, Iowa. Please join us!
In love,
Deborah Dakin, clerk
On behalf of Iowa Yearly Meeting (Conservative)
Scattergood School Committee Report to IYMC 2018
Peacemaking is a slow, every day process. It requires us to over and over again show up, be present, listen, build trust, work together and work through. It is not shiny or exciting, but creates an underlying foundation upon which we can build the world we envision. At Scattergood we give young people the chance to understand the slow work of making peace by not only learning about themselves, but also by learning to live with each other in community. This may be the most difficult practice of all, but it is a crucial skill for them to cultivate in these divisive times.
The current picture:
Development efforts are improving with increased alumni outreach, involvement, and giving. Thomas Weber and Ruth Hampton have hosted alumni gatherings in various parts of the country and we see results. The school’s current financial reporting is dependable, giving an accurate picture of our finances. These reports reveal a budget where money is frugally and wisely spent. Thomas has worked hard at guiding the business office through changes and the school has survived the past few years of low enrollment because of good management and extensive effort and sacrifice by the staff to reduce costs. Through very tight budgeting and some extraordinary help from the Foundation, we have met our budget last year. However, this performance is not sustainable.
The frustrating anomaly is that enrollment is so low when the school’s programs are so robust. The academic programs are exceptionally creative, including integration of the farm into the curriculum and project based learning; students are excelling in college preparation. The residential program is healthy and Quaker values continue to guide us: the students are encouraged to explore their spiritual path, crews develop skills and provide them with a sense of community belonging, and they are given leadership roles in managing residential life. The innovations in the academic and residential programs of the past few years have been initiated by the Head and the staff, and their latest efforts are focused on identifying new strategic initiatives.
Our assessment:
We have witnessed an influx of energy, ideas, creativity, and optimism from the staff and Head that resonates within us, gives us confidence for the future, and the courage to change and evolve. For this we are grateful because simply carrying on with what we have been doing is not an option. We, like most residential high schools in the US, are experiencing difficulties with enrollment, a result of shrinking middle class and a change in parenting styles. Further, the political climate nearly eliminates our ability to bring in international students, who have always been an important part of the Scattergood culture.
Marketing initiatives implemented in the past year based on the recommendations of an outside marketing firm are visible in the website and other materials are already proving fruitful, but these efforts are not reaching a broad enough audience. With our tight budgets we cannot adequately fund further marketing activities that would help our situation.
Because of low enrollment, for the last several years the school has been unable to generate a sustainable level of revenue. The school is surviving, but this isn’t a long-term solution. It will take a significant investment to implement plans to secure sound long-term footing. Putting appropriate resources into marketing and recruitment can’t be expected to bear fruit in less than 2-3 years, and any substantive initiatives will need up-front funding to launch.
Our recommendation:
The School Committee approved a proposal to increase enrollment and improve our financial condition by pursuing the following initiatives that the school has cultivated. These programs would increase and diversify our income, outreach, and visibility:
1) merit scholarships based on community leadership qualities
2) the development of a middle school for day students of the Iowa City area
3) a gap-year program for under-resourced students admitted to Grinnell College
4) implementation of the marketing plan from Kelsh Wilson
The School Committee asks that the Yearly Meeting give us their support and trust to mortgage up to $800,000 to develop these programs and bolster marketing and admissions for Scattergood’s traditional program while we build the new programs. We believe all of these are consistent with the mission of the school and the work of our Yearly Meeting.
The choice the Yearly Meeting has to make is this: Are we willing to support this plan, trusting that school committee, Head, and staff have done the best job they can to develop a way forward for the school’s future? Without the loan we are fairly certain the school would close, a process that would also require significant funding.
There is certainly risk involved in launching these initiatives. However, utilizing the assets of the school on its future existence seems like the most responsible course of action at this moment in time. The collateral for a loan exists in the land the school occupies. The money borrowed would not jeopardize the Yearly Meeting nor the land. Though the loan would use the property as collateral it would be backed by the existing funds of the Scattergood Foundation, which was established to ensure Scattergood meets its financial obligations. It would provide adequate funding to financially secure the land in a worst-case scenario.
Our struggle to find a way forward for Scattergood Friends School has been difficult but it has also been good: it winnows away the chaff and keeps us true. This labor requires we give our full faith and attention to Scattergood Friends School, what we believe is the Yearly Meeting’s peace-building ministry to the wider world, as it continues to nurture young people who give us hope for the future. The school is greatly needed and, God willing, we will find a way for it to continue and flourish.
On behalf of the School Committee,
Ruth Hampton, clerk
Queries and Selected Responses 2018
Minutes of IYMC 2017
Minutes of
Iowa Yearly Meeting
of Friends
(Conservative)
2017
Held at Scattergood Friends School and Farm,
near West Branch, Iowa
Seventh Month 25 – Seventh Month 30, 2017
Iowa Yearly Meeting of Friends (Conservative)
Set in 11 pt. Times New Roman using Microsoft Office Word 2010.
Printed and bound using acid-free, recycled paper.
Available in PDF format at: http://www.iymc.org
For additional printed copies or for more information, contact: Deborah Dakin, Clerk
Iowa Yearly Meeting of Friends (Conservative)
206 2nd Avenue N.W.
Mt. Vernon, IA 52314
(319) 895-8133
debdakin@gmail.com
Table of Contents To
The
Minutes of Iowa Yearly Meeting (Conservative)
NOTE: Topical index is found at the end of the Minutes.
Fourth Day – Wednesday – 7/26/2017
Monthly Meeting Appointments of Representatives to Yearly Meeting
Monthly Meeting Appointments of Caretakers to Yearly Meeting
Representatives Appointments
Midyear Meeting Report
Midyear Meeting Treasurer’s Report
Interim Meeting Minutes
American Friends Service Committee CorporationReport
Epistle from Ohio Yearly Meeting
Fifth Day – Thursday – 7/27/2017
Minute of Third and Fourth Day Activities
Selections from Epistles from Other Yearly Meetings
Friends World Committee for Consultation Representatives Report
Publication Committee Report
Entertainment Committee Report for 2016
Archives Committee Report 2016
Sixth Day – Friday – 7/28/2017 Morning Session
Minute of Fifth Day Activities
Scattergood Friends School
Farm
Head of School
Scattergood Friends School and Related Entities Financial Report
As of June 30, 2016
Scattergood Friends School Foundation Trustees Report
Trustees Financial Report
Scattergood School Committee
Sixth Day – Friday – 7/28/2017 Afternoon Session
Audit Committee Report
Yearly Meeting Treasurer’s Report
Fiscal year ended June 30, 2016
Special Needs Committee Report
Pendle Hill Scholarship Committee Report
Friends Peace Teams Report
Report of the IYMC Representative to Friends Peace Teams
Peace and Social Concerns Committee Report – Part I
Queries and Selected Responses
Seventh Day – Saturday – 7/29/2017 Morning Session
Minute of Sixth Day Activities
Epistle from Junior Yearly Meeting
Minute from Peace and Social Concerns Committee
Peace and Social Concerns Committee Budget
Ministry and Counsel Committee Report
State of the Meeting Reports
Ames Monthly Meeting State of the Meeting
Bear Creek Monthly Meeting State of the Meeting
Laughing Waters Preparatory State of the Meeting
Decorah Monthly Meeting State of the Meeting
Des Moines Valley Monthly Meeting State of the Meeting
Iowa City Monthly Meeting State of the Meeting
Lincoln Monthly Meeting State of the Meeting
Omaha Monthly Meeting State of the Meeting
Paullina Monthly Meeting State of the Meeting
Sioux Falls Area Friends State of the Meeting
Penn Valley Monthly Meeting State of the Meeting
Silver River Worship Group State of the Meeting
West Branch Monthly Meeting State of the Meeting
Whittier Monthly Meeting State of the Meeting
Seventh Day – Saturday – 7/29/2017 Afternoon Session
Recorders Report
Representatives Report
Iowa Yearly Meeting (Conservative) Budget for Fiscal 2015-2016
(Budget figures have been corrected)
Monthly Meeting Apportionments
Special Replies Committee
Nominating Committee Report
Committees and Representatives to Other Quaker Bodies
IYMC Representatives to Friends Agencies
Letter to Absent Friends
Epistle to Ohio Yearly Meeting
Closing Minute
Reports received but not read in annual sessions
AFSC Midwest Region Report
FCNL Report
Iowa Peace Network
Exercise Committee Report
Peace and Social Concerns Committee Reports
Religious Education Report
William Penn House Report
Topical Index
Directory of Monthly Meetings and Worship Group
Guidelines for Request for Reimbursement from IYMC
Iowa Yearly Meeting Conservative Minutes of
140th Annual Sessions
Seventh Month 25 to Seventh Month 30, 2017
Fourth Day – Wednesday – 7/26/17
At the 140th annual session of Iowa Yearly Meeting Conservative held at Scattergood Friends School, near West Branch, Iowa from Seventh Month 25 to Seventh Month 30, 2016.
There is a spirit which I feel that delights to do no evil, nor to revenge any wrong, but delights to endure all things, in hope to enjoy its own in the end. Its hope is to outlive all wrath and contention and weary out all exaltation and cruelty, or whatever is of a nature contrary to itself. It sees to the end of all temptations. As it bears no evil in itself, so it conceives none in thoughts to any other. If it be betrayed, it bears it, for its ground and spring is the mercies and forgiveness of God. Its crown is meekness, its life is everlasting love unfeigned.
John Naylor 1660
We are glad to have the presence of these visitors: Carol Bartles Clear Creek Monthly Meeting, Illinois Yearly Meeting, Neil Mesner Clear Creek Monthly Meeting, Ill YM, Grace Mesner Clear Creek Monthly Meeting, Ill YM, David Eley Keystone Fellowship Friends Meeting, Ohio Yearly Meeting, Mariane Beane FGC, Charlotte Friends Monthly Meeting, Piedmont Friends Fellowship and Y.M., Elenor Hinshaw Mallendore unafiliated, Tom Rawson Lopez Island Friends, North Pacific YM, John Krieg AFSC Des Moines
Readers for this morning’s business sessions Lynda Fife and David Hanson.
Monthly Meeting appointments of Representatives to Yearly Meeting
Ames – Dan Treadway
Bear Creek – Burt Kisling, Cheryl Sutton
Decorah– Bill Deutsch
Des Moines Valley – Andrea Holveck, Cindy Winchell
Iowa City – Sara Andrews, Carole Winkle-black
Lincoln– Jean Eden, Dan Schlitt
Omaha– Lynda Fife, Carol Gilbert
Paullina– Doyle Wilson
Penn Valley – Shirley Scritchfield
West Branch – Jim Cottingham, Callie Marsh
Whittier– Julie Davis, Bob Yeats
Monthly meeting appointments of Caretakers to Yearly Meeting
Ames – none appointed
Bear Creek – Bob Winchell, Jackie Leckband
Decorah– Martha Davis
Des Moines Valley – Peter Clay, Jack Holveck
Iowa City – John Andrews
Lincoln– Marge Schlitt
Omaha– Frank Griffith
Paullina– none appointed
Penn Valley – none appointed
West Branch – Larry Marsh
Whittier– Mike Hammer, Alice Hampton
There are 14 representatives and 8 caretakers present. Others may be attending later sessions.
We approve the following appointments suggested by the Representatives:
Exercise Committee – Lorene Ludy, Liz Oppenheimer,
Dan Treadway
Epistle Committee – Peter Clay, Julie Davis, Callie Marsh
Special Replies – Carole Winkleblack, Deb Fink
Audit Committee Burt Kisling, Cheryl Sutton
There are advantages and disadvantages of both ways (as a standing committee and during sessions) to doing our nominating process. Having time to thoughtfully carry out this work is vital no matter which method we use. Whether our nominating work is done throughout the year or during our sessions, all Friends need to “buy in” to the process of identifying and nurturing Friends in their monthly meeting who will grow alongside us in faith as well as through the opportunity an appointment offers.
The nominating process offer us the way to open our meeting participation as widely as possible. We want this.
We will continue having our Nominating Committee remain as a standing committee, with members appointed by the monthly meetings.
Preliminary Nominating Committee Report 2017
This was an experiment whether the nominating process might better be done with a standing committee. The agreement was to try to get the process completed before the yearly meeting sessions.
We began in the last week of April seeing what slots needed to be filled, and via email, we were able to do this with a few exceptions. Maybe it was difficult because some members thought that there was no urgency to do this promptly because we have so much time. But doing things via email takes a lot of time and everybody has to buy into the process and work promptly.
In any case, this process is probably better than trying to do it at session time as has been done in the past. The drawback is that corporate discernment is not easy when we are not interacting face to face.
A.M. Fink
The complete 2017 Nominating Committee Report is listed in the Saturday afternoon report (see Index for page numbers)
We listened to the report of our 2017 Midyear Meeting. We are grateful to Bear Creek Friends and Des Moines Valley Friends for all the work they do each year to make this gathering possible.
2017 Midyear Meeting Report
Over 100 Friends met at Bear Creek Meetinghouse on March 25-26, a rainy weekend. The theme was “Quakers and Quaker Schools.” Drew Smith, the Executive Director of the Friends Council on Education, started by giving a short history of education by various Quaker groups in the US. It began with the founding of a Philadelphia school which is now Penn Charter School Penn believed that Pennsylvania needed leaders of high moral character, and his vision for a school was not to make preachers of its students, but to help them visualize and create an ideal society. He wanted to offer a new kind of education that would prepare young people – boys, girls, African-American, wealthy, and poor – to be teachers, merchants, builders and farmers, as well as political and professional leaders.
In a later session, several Scattergood students had the opportunity to speak about their experiences at a boarding school. Each expressed the sentiment that the most important benefit was the community. In the last session Drew said that the future of Quaker schools would include more cooperation between various schools using the tools available from the internet.
For the children, several outdoor activities were planned but had to be cancelled because of cold, wet weather. However, the weather cooperated enough for the children to create a beautiful mandala using objects from nature.
Following the Saturday afternoon session, Scattergood students joined the children for snacks, then talked about life at a Quaker boarding school. Indoor activities included games of charades, still-life photography using a film camera, creativity with paper and colored pencils, board games, playing with toys brought by participants and those provided by Bear Creek Meeting, as well as fun in the loft. Saturday night featured movies and cartoons with popcorn to share. On Sunday morning, the booklet “On Sitting Still” was read, followed by participation in the first part of Meeting for Worship. At meals, the children were eager to help in the dining room, picking up trays and generally being useful and cheerful. Their help was appreciated.
As usual the craft sale for the benefit of AFSC was a huge success.
We express hearty thanks to Bear Creek Meeting for once again hosting midyear meeting.
2017 Midyear Meeting Finance report.
| Donations | $3,590.00 | |
| Expenses | ||
| Speakers expenses | $426.12 | |
| Cook | 500.00 | |
| Food | 827.00 | |
| Dallas City Lodge | 210.00 | |
| Committee expenses | 37.00 | |
| Hosting Fee | 300.00 | |
| Scattergood travel | 300.00 | |
| Grounds repair | 125.00 | |
| JYM snacks | 32.75 | |
| Total Expenses | $2757.87 | |
| Forwarded to Yearly Meeting Treasure | $832.13 |
Submitted by A. M. Fink, clerk
We listened to the 2017 Interim Meeting Report and are thankful to Friends who take care of our business during our Midyear Meeting.
2017 Interim Meeting Report
Attending:
Deborah Dakin, Clerk – Whittier,
George Bergus, Assistant Clerk – West Branch
Ruth Hampton – Whittier
Carol Gilbert – Omaha
Bob Winkleback Iowa City
AM Fink – Ames
Burt Kisling – Bear Creek
Bob Yeats – Whittier
Marge Schlitt – Lincoln
Lynda Fife – Omaha
Lucinda Winchell – Des Moines
Luellen Phelps – Paullina
Bill Deutsch – Decorah
Our Nominating Committee, serving as a standing committee throughout this past year, brought forth the names of two people to serve on yearly meeting committees for us to consider. We approved the appointment of Matthew Hennes to the Jr Yrly Meeting /Young Friends Planning Committee (term ending in 2018), and Judy Plank to the Book Table Committee (term ending in 2018).
We approved Bob Winchell attending Ohio Yearly Meeting on our behalf. We also encourage others to join him if they are so led. As of this meeting, we do not have anyone to attend North Caroling Yearly Meeting (Conservative) on behalf of our yearly meeting. Our yearly meeting clerk will ask Doyle Wilson if he would like to attend. If he is unable, the clerk will act on behalf of the yearly meeting to see if there is another person to attend the NCYM(C) annual sessions as a representative of Iowa Yearly Meeting (Conservative).
We discussed the value of having relationships between yearly meetings, and a desire to strengthen the ties between ourselves and Iowa Yearly Meeting (IYM) was expressed. The clerk will extend an invitation to IYM with information about our 2017 annual sessions and inviting them to join us. The clerk will also send notice to our monthly meetings offering encouragement and support to any IYMC Friends who are interested in attending IYM sessions. We briefly discussed the idea of creating an “inbound scholarship” to assist others from different yearly meetings who would like to attend our annual sessions.
We read a letter from Deborah Fisch telling of her travels in the Ministry to
Red Cedar Friends in Lansing, Michigan during the time of this gathering. We are glad she is able to do this and join with her in the prayer that both our gatherings be richly blessed.
We appreciated hearing the good AFSC Corporation Report.
AFSC Corporation Report 2017
The Corporation of the American Friends Service Committee met in Philadelphia in Mid-April in conjunction with the organization’s Centennial Celebration. A full roster of your representatives, Dan Schlitt, Bob Yeats, Ann Stromquist and Andrea Jilovec, arrived grateful for the Philadelphia spring weather and eagerly anticipating the days to come. The 100th anniversary celebration added alumni reunions, academic symposiums, keynote addresses, and issue- oriented workshops to the regular Corporation business meetings. There were art exhibits and historical displays held at other locations. The wide range of activities made it impossible for your representatives to visit more than a few of the activities. The workshops gave us a chance to talk to the truly dedicated folks who do the remarkable work of the organization.
It was inspiring to hear a formal address by Nobel Peace Prize winner and two- time president of Costa Rica, Oscar Arias Sanchez. Dr. Arias was a courageous voice for peace in his Central American region, refusing to allow the United States to use Costa Rican territory to pursue its misguided Contra War against the elected Nicaraguan government. We also heard a truly inspiring talk by the youthful researcher Erica Chenowith. We support non-violent protest because it is the right thing to do. Professor Chenowith’s research of movements from around the world shows that it also the most effective way to make lasting change. Ghandi was right after-all!
There have been no major changes in governance. The most interesting reports were financial. While fundraising has been successful, including $35 million raised for the Centennial Wage Peace Campaign, long term demographic trends have inevitably lead to a decline in bequests.
The past year has been fraught by mandatory across the board cuts to all programs. Here in the Midwest, three more programs were lost to budget cuts. Programs in NE Ohio, Kansas City, and Chicago were lost to financial woes. This brings a total of 6 programs closed in the region in the past two years. This is especially troubling in the Midwest region, where cutting a long-standing program leaves a huge geographic area unserved. Demographic shifts could be anticipated a long time in advance, but instead seem to creep up on the financial people, forcing swift action.
The Corporation and guests were introduced the new General Secretary, Joyce Ajlouny, who will take over September 1, 2017 from Shan Cretin. Joyce has most recently been Director of the Ramallah Friends School where she had also been a student. She has worked for the United Nations and Oxfam, UK. As a Palestinian-American Quaker, she will bring an international perspective to leadership in Philadelphia. Join us in holding her in the Light as she begins in these challenging times.
The Des Moines Office has been blessed by the addition of Erica Johnson as director of the Immigrant Rights Program. The daughter of an Iowa Quaker Pastor, and a seasoned activist, Erica has hit the ground running in this difficult time for immigrants.
This Centennial year is a great time to reflect on what a remarkable organization AFSC has become. Begun as a way to support conscientious objectors in WWI, it has grown into a worldwide aid group tackling many problems that seem untouchable by other organizations. Staffed by some truly dedicated people, AFSC truly represents our faith with its work in the world. Working for peace, representing the oppressed, seeking justice and speaking truth to power, AFSC is an organization that we should allow ourselves a moment to take pride in.
For the Committee,
Bob Yeats
We listened to the interesting and informative report from the Ad Hoc Possibilities Committee. We are grateful they have undertaken this for us and look forward to joining with our monthly meeting members in seeking new possibilities and realities for our yearly meeting.
IYMC Possibilities Committee Report to
Iowa Yearly Meeting (Conservative)
Our charge as an ad hoc committee is spelled out in the 2016 IYM-Conservative Yearly Meeting Minutes (pg. 79): “The 2016 Representatives recommend the formation of an “Iowa Yearly Meeting (Conservative) Possibilities” ad hoc committee as follows: representatives will return to their monthly meeting, preparative meeting, or worship group requesting that they appoint one member to serve on this ad hoc committee. The committee member will talk to members of their respective meetings, consider the replies to the Clerk’s questions, explore ways to build relationship between IYM(C) Friends outside the monthly meeting and consider ideas to increase participation in IYM(C) annual sessions. Each ad hoc committee member will report on their progress at the 2017 Interim Meeting. We recommend Carole Winkleblack of Iowa City Monthly Meeting as convener of this ad hoc committee.”
Currently our committee members are: Carole Winkleblack (Iowa City), Deb Fink (Ames), Nancy Jordan (Lincoln), Doyle Wilson (Paullina), Daniel Willems (Whittier), Jackie Leckband (Bear Creek), Rebecca Bergus (West Branch) and Martha Davis (Decorah). We came together as a committee for our first meeting in April 2017 and met again in June. We developed a set of queries to use to solicit reflections about yearly meeting and possibilities for changes:
Who here has attended an IYM July annual meeting?
If you do attend IYM yearly meeting, why?
If you don’t attend IYM yearly meeting or you only attend part of it, why?
For you, what is the purpose of annual meeting?
What are your most cherished aspects of yearly meeting?
What would enrich or deepen your or others’ experience?
Are there changes in format, length, programming, etc. that you have considered?
As of early June, we have surveyed individual Friends and meetings in West Branch, Decorah, Iowa City, Ames, and Paullina. Since that time Lincoln, Bear Creek, Laughing Waters, and Whittier surveys have been submitted or are in process.
We have learned that Iowa Yearly Meeting (Conservative) has tasked a committee like ours to consider the content, format, length, time, and location of our yearly gathering many times in the past 35 years. The committee in the 1981 Minute Book (page 53) contain a report in which the committee suggests shrinking the time spent on business by measures such as using a 2-year budget. The 1995 minutes (page 70-7) and the 1996 minutes (page 28-29) consider rescheduling and places other than Scattergood to meet. Suggestions for changes to Iowa Yearly Meeting sessions were not adopted.
Our committee plans to continue our work after annual meeting. We have not yet developed a time frame for recommendations to be brought forward for changes, if any, to deepen and widen Friends experience of yearly meeting. We will conclude when our work as a committee is finished.
The quiet that settled over the body as we listened to the epistles from Ohio Yearly Meeting and North Carolina Yearly Meeting (Conservative) reminded us of the precious ties we have with Conservative Friends.
North Carolina Yearly Meeting Epistle
Seventh Month 16, 2017
North Carolina Yearly Meeting (Conservative) P.O. Box 4591
Greensboro, NC 27404
Email: ncymc.clerks@gmail.com www.ncymc.org
Dear Friends in Iowa Yearly Meeting (Conservative)
We gathered at UNC Wilmington, NC on Seventh Month 13-16, 2017 for our 320th Annual Sessions. As we gather we remember our distant Friends with great fondness and love. This year we are gathered under the theme “Our Life is Love: the Quaker Spiritual Journey”, also the title of a book written by Marcelle Martin. Marcelle not only gave the plenary talk on Sixth Day evening, she also led the Bible Study based on the writings in her book. In her book, she outlines the ten different stages of the Quaker spiritual journey. She uses examples from both early Quakers and modern-day Quakers to illustrate the steps.
We are grateful for the visit from Iowa Yearly Meeting Conservative Friends Sheryl and Doyle Wilson to our annual sessions. We appreciated their presence in our business meetings and in our other activities. We are sorry to report that we will not have any representatives attending your Yearly Meeting.
On Fifth Day evening, we were grateful to hear from several Friends during a panel discussion on Living our Love. Cynthia Doran spoke of her family’s journey into greater faith through her son’s incarceration. Morgan Barlow shared about saying “yes” to a leading to undertake Alternatives to Violence Project work with prisoners. Susan Wilson spoke about following God’s leading to love in various ways throughout her personal spiritual journey. A time of rich worship-sharing followed the panel discussion.
Our Young Friends always enjoy coming to Wilmington for Yearly Meeting as frequent trips to the beach are part of their program. Each evening the Young Friends helped lead intergenerational activities. On Seventh Day evening, they MC’ed an intergenerational talent show with many jokes, skits, and musical acts. The adults also participated with song and music and the first ever Quaker Lady Speed Knitting Competition. Good fun was had by all.
The Financial report is not usually the most spiritually inspiring time during Yearly Meeting. But this year we had put before us information that led many people to speak from the heart and share deeply. It is always amazing the places that God finds to shine a light from our hearts.
The Book of Disciple revision is in its fourth year. The committee has been faithful in its work and the Body is grateful for all it has done. The revision work this year moved us to listen deeply to each other and to allow time and space for everyone to sit with the revisions and hear God’s voice. We labored with the story of our Quaker ancestors and with language that reflects who we are in this present time. We identified discussions that we will need to have in the future that will allow us the opportunity to look at how we define ourselves. We are richly blessed to have undertaken this work and to have people who are gifted by God to do this work.
We were blessed to hear in-person reports from Quaker House, AFSC, FCNL, and FWCC. Incredibly passionate and productive members of our yearly meeting represent us in all of these organizations. Our representatives commented that for a small yearly meeting like ours we have a wide influence in the Quaker world. We are grateful. In particular we were grateful to have Lynn and Steve Newsom from Quaker House come and give their final report to us before their retirement in September. Quaker House has flourished under their direction and we look forward to seeing this continued under the new director, Kindra Bradley.
We hold you in our hearts and pray that you are able to feel the Love that we have for you. May you experience the Love of God with which we have been so richly blessed. Please know that it would warm our hearts if you were able to visit with us next year. We will meet for our 321st session in Greensboro, NC, Seventh Month 12-15, 2018 if in accordance with Divine Will.
On behalf of North Carolina Yearly Meeting (Conservative),
Nancy Craft, clerk
Ohio Yearly Meeting Epistle
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Iowa Yearly Meeting (Conservative),
It is a good thing that the heart be established with grace. Hebrews13:9
For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
John 1:17
We greet you in the name of Christ Jesus, who offers us the hope of salvation.
We have gathered this year during the first week of 8th Month 2016 in Stillwater meetinghouse and on the grounds of Olney Friends School to conduct the business of our 204th Yearly Meeting and to refresh ourselves in the fellowship of Friends and the moving presence of Christ among us.
In the relative cool of the early morning, we have gathered for Bible reading under the direction of the Lord.
Our morning sharing time has been devoted to the theme of “What Do We Bring From Our Lord to Declare?: Living as Conservative Quaker Christians in the 21st Century.” In these sessions, we have searched our hearts and our relationships with our Lord, noting that what we have to declare to the world, to each other and ourselves is not in fact ours, but is given to us by God. We are at our best when acting as instruments of the Lord, who guides us and who is nearer to us than our very breath.
We have joined together in worship and been favored with ministry in spoken words and in song, revealing to us God’s grace, forever renewed and renewing us. Jesus commanded us to love each other as He has loved us, and we are reminded that this is possible through His strength if we will die to ourselves to become his instruments.
During some business sessions, Friends worked through concerns together, emerging with a reaffirmed sense of our love and the reservoirs of forgiveness and faithfulness which we can draw on. We have also been pleased to know that significant progress has now been made on several projects begun by the Yearly Meeting years ago, including the continuing restoration of the Plummer House, one of the earliest Quaker structures in our area.
From the simple, spacious setting of Stillwater meetinghouse, we moved to the Olney Friends School’s Stillwater Science Center for one business session. After business, we heard from the Head of School, Ken Hinshaw, who has brought to Olney a wealth of experience from his years at Scattergood Friends School. We were pleased to hear about the school’s new competency -based curriculum that allows students to progress at their own rates, mastering skills and applying them to real -life problems and projects on the Olney campus and beyond.
An evening panel discussion of several chapters of Friends Brian Drayton and William P. Taber’s book, A Language for the Inward Landscape, was fruitful. This rich work, best read in small chunks to allow reflection, quietly takes Friends to surprising places in their search for deeper faith. Listening to the convincement stories of several Friends has also helped us strengthen our bonds and examine our faith.
We look forward to presentations prepared for us by Junior Yearly Meeting and Young Friends at the end of these sessions.
We have been blessed by deep and welcome fellowship during our time together. We pray that you may experience Christ’s love through each other as we have, and that we and you may together walk in that strength which allows us to live truly as the body of Christ.
Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.
Hebrews 13: 15-16.
On behalf of Ohio Yearly Meeting,
Seth Hinshaw, clerk
We now adjourn to meet again Fifth Day at 9:30 a.m.
Fifth Day – Thursday – 7/27/2017
We return to the business of the Yearly Meeting.
Assistant Clerk: To be a Quaker is not simply to subscribe to doctrines about Jesus; not only to be a follower of the teachings of Jesus, but to have met the inward Christ.
Paul Lacey 1985
Sarah Andrews and Bill Deutsch have been appointed readers this morning.
Minute of 3rd Day and 4th Day Activities
Our 2017 yearly meeting evening presentations began with Christina Nobiss, Donnielle Wanatee and Peter Clay offering a panel discussion on ”Building Bridges with Native Americans.” Peter shared what he has learned this past year from going to the Oceti Sacowin Camp at Standing Rock to stand in solidarity with the ongoing protests against the Dakota Access Pipeline. Christina spoke of her role in establishing ‘Indigenous Iowa’ and ‘Little Creek Camp’ and stressed the importance of decolonizing our minds and including a true history of Native Americans in the history of all of us so that we can move forward together. Donnielle Wanatee spoke of the importance of building community, and how the history of the Meskwaki tribe and settlement teaches valuable ways to do this. Both Cristina and Donnielle emphasized that we all come from somewhere, are all “indigenous”, our stories are intertwined, and by not fearing but embracing the truth in our history, we can come to understand that “we are one”.
On 5th day afternoon, we heard reports on the important work undertaken by FCNL and the AFSC Midwest region. Our Yearly Meeting FCNL delegates told of their experience visiting with their members of Congress during a FCNL lobbying day in Washington DC and participating in local FCNL Advocacy Teams to lobby their senators and representatives in their home districts. We were all encouraged to “Ask Them About Their Relationship” with their elected representatives and join them in these efforts.
Jon Krieg introduced us to the newest AFSC staff member in DesMoines, Erica Johnson, who brought us up to date on the work of her office defending immigrant rights in the state of Iowa. Nora Vera-Godwin, co-clerk of the Midwest Region offered an overview of the work of AFSC and how it continues to evolve. And impassioned discussion about our dreams for our children closed the afternoon. These organizations employ two different approaches to their work. We shared the desire that the values of Friends shape our youth as they grow up and discussed what FCNL and AFSC might offer to help them along the way.
We closed the evening in the meetinghouse with Tom Rawson, from Orcas Island Friends Meeting of North Pacific Yearly Meeting. He pulled out a banjo, a guitar and ukelele and incorporating our theme of “Building Bridges”, invited us to sing with him. We sang. We sang. We sang. He spoke a bit. We sang some more. As Tom brought our session to a close, we sang. It was great fun and truly lifted our spirits.
The excerpts from epistles around the world chosen for us by our Document Committee challenged us. We feel a kinship with other Friends in our shared struggles to live faithfully.
Document Committee Report
Epistles 2017
Epistle from Central European Gathering of Friends May 2017
The Central European Gathering has been evolving towards a regional meeting from a bridge-building started by Austria, Czech Republic and Hungary and EMES, gathering isolated Quakers and groups in central Europe.
Friends remembered dearly (departed ones). We brought their presence amongst our midst through our words and memories. The children playing outside offered us a sense of continuity.
Epistle from the Fellowship of Friends of African Descent
August 2016 Philadelphia PA
Greetings to Friends everywhere: Friends of African Descent, their families and friends, representing meetings from across the United States, attended the Fellowship of Friends of African Descent’s annual gathering, August 12–14, at Arch Street Friends Meeting in Philadelphia, PA. The theme of the gathering was Recharge, Renew, Rejoice.
Affirming the presence of God in all people, Friends gathered for three days of worship, with a concern for business, presentations and fellowship. The gathering explored the concerns and crises facing the African American community, including state-sanctioned violence against men, women and children of African descent. A minute was created to express the Fellowship’s testament concerning the state-sanctioned violence against people of African descent. The minute contained four action items: to create a peace force; to establish peace centers; to promote community training of the police; and to advocate for disarmament of both the police and the community.
Epistle from Ireland Yearly Meeting April 2017
In our Ministry & Oversight session, the topic was “Feeling Alone”. We were deeply moved to hear the stories of Friends’ loneliness at particular times in their lives and how they came to an acceptance of being alone. We were encouraged to be sensitive to the situation of friends and to listen. The words of our Lord from Isaiah 41:10 “Be not afraid, I am with you”
brought – and continue to bring – comfort to Friends.
Epistle from New England Yearly Meeting August 2016
“Being the hands of God- a Call to Radical Faithfulness”
As a unifying thread running through most of the week’s programs and activities, the theme of radical faithfulness reminded us that what we are doing together as a Yearly Meeting is holy work. In these unsettled but holy times of crisis and decision we can be the hands of God only when we place ourselves in the hands of God.
Yearly Meeting programs and activities took us deeper, into the radical commitment and openness that are required if we are to be transformed to minister to a broken and suffering world. The wide range of topics and current issues that we considered during the week all led to the basic questions: “What are we called to do about this concern as individuals and faith communities?” “What barriers—both personal and organizational— are holding us back from this work?” “What are specific steps that we need to be taking, now?”
We listened to the Friends World Committee for Consultation Report (FWCC). Many times our reports tell us what has been done. It was helpful to hear a list of things we can do to be part of FWCC’s healing work. This report offers us a blueprint we can return to again and again when we want to re-energize our desire to work for peace.
Friends World Committee for Consultation (FWCC) 2017 Report
We would like to start this report with a story, the story of Musato. In 2013, one of your FWCC reps was contacted by Robin Mohr, Executive Secretary of FWCC Section of the Americas. She knew that this rep knew a little French, enough French to respond to an inquiry from Quebec, Canada. Through the use of Google Translate, Musato began corresponding with this one committee representative. Musato first wrote pleas for help. He was a “lonely Quaker” lost in Canada. Could we help him achieve his dreams of starting a Quaker meeting and helping refugees from Democratic Republic of Congo?
What came next were years of written correspondence. We talked about the need for Bible and Quaker Study, as well as the need for Friends worship when starting any project such as organizing a meeting or church. We established that Musato had been a part of Friends Evangelical Church in the Congo.
We wrote to every Friends organization we knew.
Prayers were exchanged. Quaker visitors came and went. Many contacts followed through, and, behold, this year (2017) we received a well-written resume of church planting in Quebec. Throughout Musato’s correspondence there is a longing for more of a Quaker presence.
Now, how might you become involved in similar projects— projects that bring Quakers together across differences? Some ways in which you can join in FWCC’s healing work:
Sign up for the e-newsletter on the new FWCC web page. www. fwccamericas.org. The story of Musato is just one story of connecting Friends around the world.
Watch for connections.The Alternatives to Violence program, “Godly Play for Youth education” and Fair Trade schemes all bring us together under common concern.
Celebrate World Quaker Day. See www.worldquakerday.org
- Apply for the FWCC volunteer corps of Spanish- and English-speaking Friends to serve as traveling ministers across Yearly Meeting lines and other divisions among Friends in the Americas. See fwccamericas.orgfor more.
- Request a visit. Monthly and Yearly Meetings in the Americas can request a traveling ministry visit from the traveling ministry team. Again see fwccamericas.org.
For the FWCC Representatives,
Mary Snyder
It takes a tremendous amount of work to put together our printed minutes and we are grateful for this committee’s tackling of this. We note that value of having our printed minutes also available on our website and aim to continue that practice.
These minutes are important to us and we appreciate getting them as soon as possible.
The clerk the Publications Committee brought errata sheets to include in our 2016 minutes books.
These are available for each monthly meeting to take home and will also be sent to the institutions that archive our records.
We agreed that we would like a second printing of our Faith and Practice to be made. We ask the Representatives to consider this when setting the budget for the upcoming year.
PUBLICATION COMMITTEE REPORT 2017
The Publication Committee appreciated the timely and accurate receipt of the minutes and reports from the committee clerks and our Yearly Meeting clerk for our 2016 Minute Book. We also appreciated the prompt response from the monthly meetings for information and corrections in the directory listings for each individual meeting. Steven Deatherage of West Branch Meeting deserves our special appreciation for receiving, organizing, and sending the directory to the publications committee. This extra effort by all Friends allows the committee to publish the minute book in a more timely manner.
The cost of printing the Minutes of Iowa Yearly Meeting (Conservative), and the cost of mailing this publication to the individual meetings will be listed with this report. This list will also include the cost of mailing to Quaker colleges, institutions and individuals who have requested our yearly publication. This list is reviewed each year and anyone wishing to see this list is asked to contact Martha Davis at davismartha67@gmail.com.
The committee continues to receive requests for the spiral-bound copies of the Minute Books. So we will continue to ask monthly meetings for the number of spiral-bound and spine-bound copies for their meetings and member/attenders. The committee encourages each meeting to be conservative in their requests to save the cost of printing and mailing. The committee welcomes suggestions and comments on the minutes and directory of our Yearly Meeting.
The Clerk wishes to thank the members of the committee who were able to assist her with the preparation of this publication. Because of several issues, she did not request assistance from all members of the committee this year: this will be changed with the 2017 Minute Book, so it truly reflects the work of the whole committee. The printing of the 2016 Minute Book was changed to allow for local assistance for the Clerk: the printer for the 2017 Minute Book will return to Bob Goodfellow in Iowa City.
Printing and Postage costs for 2016 Minute Book:
260 spine-bound (perfect bind) and 43 spiral-bound 303 @ 3.853 =$1,162.00
262 books mailed to Monthly Mtgs, Worship Grp, Friends Schools, IA State Hist. Soc, Individuals = $ 223.70
Total $1,385.70:
At the request of the Yearly Meeting Clerk, contact was made with Goodfellow Printing regarding the files of our 2011 Faith and Practice. These files are available and reprints can be ordered. A minimum printing of 300 copies would be necessary for them to offer a price point of $5.00-$6.00 per book.
For the Committee, Martha Davis, clerk
Addendum to the 2016 Minute Book
Pg. 80 The following information should be included in the 2016 Representatives Report
Clerk – Deborah Dakin
Assistant Clerk – George Bergus
Treasurer – Rebecca Bergus
Assistant Treasurer – Jean Sandstrom
Statistical Recorder – Tim Shipe
It was suggested moving the IYMC checking/savings accounts to a financial institution accessible to both the Treasurer and Assistant Treasurer. There are at least two credit unions with offices in both Iowa City and Des Moines. The IYMC Representatives recommend the Yearly Meeting authorize the Treasurer to select one of these credit unions for our accounts. We suggest the authorized signers on said accounts be Rebecca Bergus, Treasurer; Jean Sandstrom, Assistant Treasurer; and Deborah Dakin, Clerk.
We recommend the next annual sessions for Iowa Yearly Meeting (Conservative) be held at Scattergood Friends School, Seventh Month 25 to Seventh Month 30, 2017.
On behalf of the 2016 IYMC Representatives,
The Entertainment Committee Report was helpful in the amount of detail it gave. We appreciate all the work not only to create this report but also in making our 2016 Yearly Meeting possible. We wish to be kept aware of any additional expense that occur from our use of Scattergood.
2016 Entertainment Committee Report
The 2016 Entertainment Committee consisted of Omaha, Lincoln, Paulina and Laughing Waters monthly meetings, as well as Paulina’s associated worship group in Sioux Falls. Having meetings and worship groups in four states, we made good use of technology. The whole committee was able to meet face-to-face three times: Yearly Meeting 2015 to be oriented by the previous committee and do our own preliminary planning; Midyear Meeting to share what had been accomplished and finish planning; and Yearly Meeting 2016 to evaluate our work and orient the next committee. Although the option was open for anyone to arrange a conference call with the whole, the rest of the work was done by subcommittees by phone, email, conference calls and video chat.
Although there were options to register via email or postal mail, most (62 groups) registered online. The online registration collated the data in categories so it was not necessary to go through individual registrations and count ourselves. The online registration also had the advantage of enabling subcommittee clerks to look at the collated data and individual registrations at their leisure. This was especially helpful for the Food, Registration, Evaluation and Childcare subcommittees.
The evaluations were also done online. The registration form asked for registrants’ email addresses. This allowed us to email the access information for the evaluation to all registrants. Through this method, we received more evaluations than previous years. There were a limited number of printed evaluations available at sessions for those who chose to use paper. Paper evaluations were also given to Junior Yearly Meeting to fill out. The Evaluation subcommittee input the paper evaluations so that all the data could be categorized and accessible online. We received 57 evaluations, eight that were paper. Access to the evaluations and collated data was given to all of the 2016 Entertainment Committee and also the contact person on the 2017 Entertainment Committee. This again, enabled us to access the evaluations and collated data at our leisure.
The program was published online on the IYM(C) website. We relied on monthly meeting clerks and IYM(C) contact people to publicize the program’s online presence and ensure paper copies were printed for those in their meetings who did not have online access. Paper copies of the program were available during yearly meeting sessions for those who did not wish to access the program on their own phones or computers.
In addition to the increased access by many at their leisure and collating of data categories, printing and postage costs, as well as paper use, were diminished by these online practices.
The theme for Yearly Meeting 2016 was “Be Not Afraid, I Am with You.” Elizabeth O’Sullivan (Laughing Waters) led the theme based Bible study each morning. All evening programs were titled “Be Not Afraid Of…” Third Day, the program committee led an interactive evening subtitled “Looking at Ourselves and Sharing With Each Other.” Fourth Day’s program was a panel led by Greg Elliot (AFSC), subtitled “Change in Our Communities – Quaker Social Change Ministry: a model for Spirit-Led Action.” Fifth Day’s program was led by Robin Mohr (FWCC), subtitled “Connecting More Deeply Within the Religious Society of Friends.” Robin also facilitated the theme based First Day Pre-Meeting. Sixth Day was a music program subtitled “Singing and Rejoicing” presented by Aaron Fowler and Laura Dungan (Great Plains Yearly Meeting). Since there were no Young Friends this year, Junior Yearly Meeting emceed the Seventh Night talent show.
The Program subcommittee had been asked by the Ministry and Council Committee to provide time for a workshop on “Tending to the Safety of Our Children and Youth.” This happened Fifth Day afternoon.
The Entertainment Committee had other responsibilities. They provided oversight of the game room and arranged for Judy Cottingham to volunteer her time to provide a preschool/childcare program. The committee worked with Scattergood to provide meals, on campus lodging, and meeting facilities. Set up and clean up before and after sessions were accomplished. Transportation was coordinated for all presenters and for those attendees who requested assistance. An information/registration table was staffed most waking hours. We arranged for the collection and disbursement of the funds necessary to pay for the sessions and provide start-up funds for next year’s committee.
We innovated and we accomplished, as we were led by the Spirit.
We thank the committee for the work they do on our behalf.
We agreed that the two additional copies of the 1883 and 1914 Iowa Yearly Meeting Disciplines should be donated to the State Historical Society of Iowa (SHSI) and also agreed to renew our five-year agreement with them.
We have grappled for a number of years now with the question of where the records of IYMC monthly meetings outside the state of Iowa should be kept. We note that the possibility of creating digital copies now offers the ability to have our records in more than one state.
We held an extended conversation regarding this issue and will continue having it with the assistance of this committee.
Our history is important to us and with the Iowa legislature threatening to not adequately fund SHSI in Iowa City so that it may remain open, we were implored to contact Iowa State Senators and Representatives to remind them of the value and importance of adequately funding Iowa history.
We thank the committee for the work they do on our behalf.
Archives Committee Report 2017
Our current agreement with the State Historical Society (SHSI) Library in Iowa City expires at the end of 2018. Under this agreement, “records of the yearly meeting and such quarterly, monthly and subordinate meetings as may be entrusted to the yearly meeting” are held in the SHSI library manuscript collection and made available to the public during the library’s open hours but remain the property of Iowa Yearly Meeting (Conservative) (IYMC).
Archives Committee recommends that our current agreement with SHSI be renewed for another five years. If the yearly meeting approves of this, the committee will work to have that renewed agreement ready for IYMC trustees’ signatures by the beginning of next yearly meeting.
In addition, this year, Archives Committee was asked to respond to three questions.
Question 1: New Mexico Friends were culling their collection and sent two Iowa Yearly Meeting Disciplines printed after the 1877 split: one printed in the year 1883 and the other printed in 1914. Does the committee advise that we keep these?
Archives Committee has not yet been able to examine the books in question, but we believe they are both disciplines from IYMC. The catalog of the collection in the William Penn Room here at Scattergood indicates that there are already copies of both of these books there. The online catalog of SHSI indicates that they have a copy of the 1883 discipline in their Iowa City library, but not in their Des Moines library. It appears neither SHSI library has a copy of the 1914 discipline.
Because we already have copies of both, Archives Committee recommends that these two books be offered to SHSI as donations.
Question 2: We are hoping the committee might offer suggestions as to what should be done with multiple copies of old minute books.
The clerk of the committee has personally been accepting copies of back issues of our printed minutes for several years. He has brought them to this yearly meeting and is offering them free to good homes. Would you like to have a collection of these in your home or meeting house, or to donate a set to a local library? If so, please help yourselves.
The question remains of what to do with those that remain after Friends have taken what they want, and we would be glad for suggestions on how to find additional good homes. After that it has been suggested they should be destroyed because of the personal information in the directory section.
Question 3. There is an ongoing question first brought up from Nebraska Friends but also relevant to any IYMC Friends outside of Iowa, as to where their records should go. Do the Nebraska records belong in Nebraska or do we want to keep our yearly meeting records together in Iowa?
Records of monthly and preparative meetings are the property of those meetings, and the decision of what to do with them belongs to them. As noted above, records “entrusted to the yearly meeting” can be included in our collection at SHSI and remain our property. Other institutions may require records to be donated.
With photocopiers available these days, it may be possible to place records both locally and at SHSI.
Archive Committee’s clerk would be glad to discuss further details with any meeting.
For the committee,
Daniel Treadway
Clerk
We now adjourn to meet again Sixth Day at 9:30 a.m.
Sixth Day – Friday – 7/28/17 MORNING
We return to the business of the Yearly Meeting.
When I am able to set my ideas aside, and you are able to set your ideas aside, doors are opened which allow solutions to enter on a shaft of light. Barry Morley 1993
Penny Majors and Stan Sanders have been appointed readers this morning.
Minute of Fifth Day activitie
In the afternoon, Tom Rawson offered a workshop in joyous song Some songs were light-hearted and we laughed as Friends contorted themselves attempting to put their fingers on their ears and toes. Other songs were serious and reminded us that the struggle for truth and justice is ongoing. The mix was entertaining, enriching and enlivening.
In our evening program José Woss told us that IYM(C) might be small in number but our influence on public policy was remarkable through our involvement in FCNL lobbying days and our Advocacy Teams. However, our work is not done. Legislation such as mandatory minimum sentencing has resulted in the over 2 million Americans currently being incarcerated. African-Americans make up a disproportional percentage of these prisoners. The influence of racism on this state sanctioned discrimination is rarely seen or acknowledged. José pointed out that working on policy is the easy part. The harder part is tackling our implicit bias. When you “live in the nuances, it is difficult to understand the experiences of those existing in the larger reality.” We need to have hard conversations. José had us look at our own experiences where racism was involved in what we said, thought, or did.
The good Academic, Farm and Head reports painted a very full picture. We heard about the diversity of our students in terms of language, country of origin and gender identity.
Scattergood continues to be innovative in its curriculum. The integration of the farm into the life of the school and its use as a learning laboratory continues to grow and strengthens the school.
We are also aware that the school continues to struggle with enrollment. Despite this struggle, the Head and staff endeavor to shepherd the resources of Scattergood wisely and effectively. The staff remains committed to the mission of the school.
Our graduates and alumni tell us how much Scattergood shaped their lives. In the face of financial struggles, there is a clear commitment on the part of both the school and the yearly meeting to not further reduce the number of staff and affirm our shared goal that they are paid fairly.
The reports made clear the tremendous weight being carried in order to keep this school and we want to help shoulder the weight. We are called to support our school through donation of our time, skills, and creativity.
Scattergood reports
Academic Subcommittee Report
Scattergood is a small community that has the advantage of being very diverse. That fact is a rich asset to help us prepare our students not only for college but mostly for life. This year our Senior Class had Black, White, Asian, Latino and African students coming from the east and west coasts of North America and three other continents. Only Senior students spoke more than 7 different languages. But diversity did not stop with race, ethnicity, religion and language but also with different gender identities and different learning abilities.
Admission to a four-year college or university is one of the school’s requirements and our Senior students were accepted this year at the following colleges and universities: Kalamazoo College (3), Warren Wilson College (3); University of Iowa (3), Cornell College, Knox College, Reed College, Mills College, Luther College (2), Augustana College, Purdue University, Calvin College, Graceland University, Earlham College (4), Macalaster College and Marist College.
As part of our mission, we actively encourage leadership among our students, and we consciously provide opportunities for them to exercise it. As a clear example of that leadership embedded in the Quaker values of equality and social justice, this year our students led conversations about diversity that permeated our community. They helped us to talk about sensitive issues that are not necessarily part of our day-to-day conversations. One morning during Collection, a group of Black students shared their past experiences of racial inequality. The ownership and sharing of those experiences foster their need to raise awareness in our community about the the Black Lives Matter movement. These students helped us think and understand the relevance of skin color, even more in this specific historical moment of our country.
Our transgender community compelled us to rethink gender conceptions as they pushed to break the predominant binary view at the school, working with staff to make changes in policies and practices to create even a safer living environment for students facing gender identity struggles.
Moreover, a student with Down syndrome enrolled for a post-graduate year presented the school with another challenge to our assumptions of “normalcy” that kept us constantly questioning our expectations and limitations to deal with inclusion. All this healthy unrest was fuel to organize the first Eastern Iowa Diversity Conference for Independent Schools, with more than 250 participants coming from three independent schools of the area. Middle School, High School, and Staff all gathered in our campus to talk about these issues. We are hoping to continue these conversations internally and looking to involve more schools in the near future.
In order to help our students struggling with emotional and mental issues we decided to split responsibilities between a student support team (SST) and the structured study hall team (SSH). SST focused on emotional and behavioral needs, seeking professional help for our students and helping teachers navigate the impact of this issues in the classroom. The SSH team focused on learning and academic needs, developing strategies such as different situations of homework, test preparation, materials and time management. Statistics about anxiety and depression among high school students are alarming. Publications of the National Institute of Mental Health mention more than a 60 % increase in the number of students reporting these problems in the last ten years, and our community is not an exception. All the strategies are designed to help students succeed academically. In order provide more structure for the SSH and SST teams, we developed, implemented, assessed, and adjusted different tools, processes, and procedures designed to provide more consistency and accountability. Among them is a contract for twelve hours of on-campus service each week by a licensed mental health counselor.
Our strategic plan and marketing differentiation placed the farm in a very important position. For the last two years we had at the beginning of the year the Farm Immersion Program (FIP) for our freshmen and sophomore students. Four teachers were involved designing the curriculum and implementing the program. Students’ FIP feedback reflected some of their concerns missing class time in classes required for graduation and the difficulties for upperclassmen to connect with sophomores and freshmen and build stronger peer relations. The analysis of this situation, combined with the success of our May Term classes, motivated us to create a new farm term this year. All teachers are preparing interdisciplinary, hands on learning classes for the farm term which will take place in morning during the the first three weeks of the first quarter. All students will attend the farm term. Math and seminar classes will be shifted to the afternoon so key subjects do not miss class time. This first term will also emphasize the development of the 21th century skills as enumerated by educator and author Tony Wagner (Critical thinking and problem solving, collaboration across networks; agility and adaptability; initiative and entrepreneurship; effective oral, written and multimedia communication; accessing and analyzing information; curiosity and imagination). It is clear that these skills are as Wagner explains “survival skills” to prepare students for college and their future work life, and we are working to insert them across the curriculum.
For this May term we had a Greenhouse construction class to build a structure to protect thousands of seeds that we need to transplant out into our garden every year. Students used the windows from the old sunroom. It has been a sustainable way to recycle our old farmhouse! They began the project at the design stage and finished with the actual construction of the building. Along the way they learned about design, geometry, materials, tools, teamwork, and problem solving.
Finally, another thought-provoking project this upcoming school year will be the writing of the Self-Study for our re-accreditation by the Independent Schools Association of the Central States (ISACS). Sharing only about the section of the self-study report that talks about the academic program, the steering committee in consultation with faculty decided to choose a different structure to present our program that goes in tune with our movement towards an interdisciplinary, and project based learning integrated curriculum. In the Self-Study we will talk about “Developmental Stages” instead of the more standard description of our program through academic disciplines. The developmental stages included will be Intellectual, Aesthetic, Kinesthetic, Ethical/Moral and Social Practical.
I am very thankful for experience gained during this past academic year and I am ready to continue the journey and the seeding of values and ideals in the brains and hearts of the Scattergoodians that chose our community as their educational soil.
Respectfully submitted,
Gabriela Delgadillo, Assistant Head of School
Scattergood Farm Report
July 2017
Dear Friends,
Since winter I have been pondering a quote from Wes Jackson, founder of the Land Institute in Salina KS, who famously said “If you are working on something that can be finished in your lifetime, you are not thinking big enough.” Though I fancy myself a thoughtful farmer, and I am certainly focused on perennial issues of food production and soil health, offering valuable learning experiences and being a good neighbor, and I feel that these fall short of the challenge Jackson posed.
This seems especially relevant this past year in which we have lost two former Farm Managers, Belle Hinshaw and Don Laughlin. They likely faced the same issues that we currently face, some short-term like too much rain or too little, poor quality hay and not enough of it, soil too wet or too dry and always too weedy; and also some longer term issues like how to honor and encourage the gift of fertility, how to let our work speak to the world, how to cultivate wonder and awe and offer experiences that can inform or transform an adolescent life.
Embodying love and integrity Don and Belle each thought big and lived well, finishing plenty and leaving just enough for the rest of us.
So what have we finished this past year?
Ninth and tenth graders who were part of the Farm Immersion Program studied sustainability and developed rubrics to help the Farm evaluate its performance in managing soil health, water conservation, energy use, biodiversity and doomsday preparedness. Agricultural Research class studied biochar production and benefits, aquaponics, and proper potato storage conditions. May Term Class designed and constructed a greenhouse lean-to on the south side of the barn, repurposing windows from the condemned farm house. Farm Projects and crews helped in so many of the daily functions of the farm, while Prairie Project and PE removed autumn olive and helped manage the sheep as they grazed parts of the prairie for the first time. All students took part in a massive squash harvest in October as well as Farm Fun day during orientation in which we harvested, constructed, weeded, and organized, followed by a picnic and the first Meeting for Worship of the school year. Two graduates, Isaac Chen and Theodore Byrnes contributed greatly to the Farm during their four years here: night feedings of bottle fed lambs, weeding, harvesting, planting, and simply being present to all that happens on the farm and advocating for it.
They will be missed.
The Scattergood Farm also welcomed many guests. Students from Mark Twain Elementary, Willowwind School, Stepping Stones Preschool, and Taproot Nature Experience all from Iowa City, as well as Summit School in Cedar Rapids visited throughout the year. Campers from the Scattergood Summer Camps, Peace Camp, Outdoor Adventures and Congregational United Church of Christ visited this summer. Environmental Science class undergrads from Cornell College and Regional Planning graduate students from the Universities of Iowa and Minnesota visited last fall. We also grew food for a wedding, hosted children’s activities at the Iowa City Farmers Market and remained active in Practical Farmers of Iowa, Iowa Farmers Union and Field to Family.
All of this was the work of many. Ben Bowman remained diligent in his work with the livestock. Dana Foster shepherded the Farm Immersion Program and May Term Farm Class. During his time at Scattergood. Mike Severino established the Agricultural Research class, worked hard to maintain the prairie, and never seemed happier than when he stood before a large pile of manure with a shovel in his hands. Tim Schulte guided the razing of the farm house and the raising of the new greenhouse. Our cooks continued making wonderful meals maximizing the bounty from the farm. Sam Taylor, Karen Huff and Isaac Chen have helped keep the farm productive and beautiful this summer. Ken Fawcett managed our row crops and advised us in many other areas. And the Farm Subcommittee of the School Committee again listened carefully and assisted when necessary.
So, does working hard on a beautiful farm producing food for its community pass the Wes test? Likely not, but then I think of the early Quakers of Iowa Yearly Meeting Conservative who fought long to start Scattergood, to keep it open until they couldn’t, who reopened it to start another perennial battle of enrollment issues and fiscal challenges, and I am so thankful for their foresight and strength and faith and generosity, so that I might now continue the work of Don and Belle, and do a thing I love, for people whom I love, in a place that is worthy of so much love. Perhaps for some, the work of this lifetime is enough.
Respectfully Submitted,
Head of School Report
Scattergood Friends School and Farm
July 2017
Dear Friends,
To know yourself and your place in life is always an unfolding mystery. This was my mind during Meeting for Worship a few days ago with Scattergood alumni in the Hickory Grove Meeting House. During that hour I reflected on my experience sitting here four years ago as a prospective staff person for the school: I felt at peace and at home in a place that was wholly new to me. I write today with that same mysterious sense. I realize that I remain called to be here, and I’m grateful for this opportunity to report again to the Yearly Meeting.
Priorities, themes and accomplishments this past year
Nine students received diplomas June 4th as the Class of 2017 this year with letters of admission to colleges and universities: Jazz Baizel, Theodore Byrnes, Esteban Zambrano Cabrera, Isaac Chen, Amen Fekadu Gabre, Lovangel Faulk, Reza Dad Mohammadi, Tsion McYates, and Savanna Yang. Additionally, two received certificates of attendance as post-graduates this year: Luis Rios Nuricumbo and Matthew Trueblood
Cameron McReynolds ‘18 was recognized as the year’s Berquist Scholar, and Kian Ganbari ‘18 earned our Fine Arts Scholarship.
In our program this year, engaging courses in the arts, humanities and projects were offered along with the core subjects of math, science, and Spanish. Courses titled Human Health, Disease, and Physiology, Medieval Longsword, Art Drawing, The Messianic Motif, Literature and the Natural World, and Principles of Modern Computing were among the numerous options that gave students a wide variety of avenues for academic growth and skill development.
The academic year concluded early in May, when seniors remained on campus to build an arbor by the pond, paint dorm hallways, and install wood paneling (from boards reclaimed from the school’s old farmhouse) in the student lounge. Other students went off campus to canoe and hike the Ozarks or they travelled to a working farm in Michigan that promotes international rural development where they volunteered their energy.
Later, May Term classes and trips were again held in which students investigated topics of death and dying, chess, food writing, performance art, automobile repair, greenhouse design and construction with reclaimed building materials, or they explored rivers in Missouri and northern Wisconsin with kayaks, and 250 miles of the Appalachian trail with backpacks.
Earnest and sustained community conversations on diverse facets of racial, cultural, gender, and ability identity were undertaken throughout the year, and these are enumerated in the Academic Report to this year’s Meeting. Staff were very much involved and discussed best practices in regard to their interactions with students and recent alumni and developed a better understanding what constitutes sexual harassment. I have been greatly inspired by the respect and sustained attention given by all staff to these difficult conversations in committee and staff meetings. Open and compassionate communication among staff and students on these issues has in my view strengthened the integrity of our small community. I believe it essential if we are to sustain ourselves in these current economic and social circumstances.
Strategic planning has been the other critical element of this past year’s work. At the heart of this effort is to focus on the central question: how do we rebuild student enrollment to sustainable levels? We continued this year with the initiatives to bring the farm closer to student life and learning, and we also chose to enlist professional advice in the marketing of our school. In January we invited Kelsh Wilson, a firm that has provided consulting and design services to Carolina Friends School among other Friends schools and small colleges. Their visit and extensive interviews produced a detailed report that has been well received by the School Committee as well as the administration. They feel we should put three central messages out in our initial communications with audiences:
We are an authentic alternative to traditional high school programs, be they public or private.
Our farm and prairie serve as unique living laboratories for study.
Our student trips throughout the year provide unique and enriching opportunities for exploration and personal development.
A re-design of the Scattergood.org website reflects new messaging that more strongly engages prospective students and their parents. We are adding new short videos and hiring professional help to position ourselves through social media to further these recommendations. Lastly, we’ll shift our market outreach to focus more on our local market for day and boarding students, as the national market is extremely competitive and international student recruitment has been significantly hampered by Federal policies and pronouncements.
Enrollment, Budget, and Financial Outlook
Outreach
My personal outreach this for the school this past year has included the following:
Fall Friends School Head’s Conference at Pendle Hill
Spoke at Strategic Planning Retreat for Chicago Friends School
Evanston Meeting House Second Hour with four Scattergood
students
Midyear Meeting: On the relevance of Friends Schools in our current
society with Scattergood students participating
Alumni Gatherings in the Twin Cities and Denver-Boulder corridor
Northern Yearly Meeting
Illinois Yearly Meeting
Staffing
Eight staff have moved or are moving on to new chapters in life after service to the school this year: Catherine From, Claire Tanager, Michael Carlson, Sophie Shanahan, Seth Wenger, and Shumpei Yamaki. Alicia Taylor leaves the Admissions Office after four years to become a mother, and Cindy Oliverius leaves after five years, with the last two as our Business Director. Andrew Orrego Linstad was an early departure in August of 2016 and we were without a Director of Development this year.
We welcomed new staff after last July’s report: Gwen Morrison taught Social Studies and U.S. History and Government and became a dorm sponsor and Eric Andow taught Physics and provided technology support. Lisa Kofoed has served as associate business office clerk to Cindy last year. With 30 years’ experience in accounting and business operations, Lisa will provide the school with vital continuity in our business office. A search for a new second clerk will begin soon to preserve integrity of business operations.
This summer we are bringing the following individuals to the school community: Matthew McCutcheon is our new Academic Dean with Gabriela Delgadillo assuming the leadership of residential life as Assistant Head. Kelsey Clampitt and Chelsea Hunt-Teachout will co-teach Biology
and Advanced Biology, while Kelsey will also be our Prairie Manager and teacher of Agricultural Research, and Chelsea will provide academic support with her training in special education. Genevieve George is our new English Language Learner instructor and will coordinate support for our international students. Keva Fawke will be our next artist in residence to teach ceramics among other duties. Administratively, we’ve welcomed Jennifer Jansen
as our new Director of Admissions and Miranda Nielson as our new Development Coordinator.
We will for the first time engage professional psychological counseling services for 12 hours a week in the 2017-18 year for on-campus consulting for students and staff.
Enrollment, Budget, Giving, and Major Capital Improvements and Needs
The school continues to receive requests for applications and we predict enrollment to remain even with our end-of-year number in June: 33 students. We continue to receive inquiries and make careful assessment of academically qualified students to determine if their social and emotional needs can be met by our program. Life and learning at Scattergood takes a huge personal commitment by each and every student, and each must draw primarily on their internal resources to rise to the expectations of classes, crew, and life in a small and relatively isolated community. Like a good orchard keeper’s view, healthy trees attract healthy insect and birdlife and repel the pests that lead to their demise. So must we ensure a healthy student body for future growth.
Capital improvements this year included linking the two wells on campus to ensure water if one well fails, the installation of LED lights in the gym increasing illumination while reducing electricity consumption, and asbestos removal and salvage of materials from the old farmhouse which is soon to be razed. We are now also fully wired with fiber optic connectivity that now allows for seamless video conferencing. I am optimistic that this new capacity will bring meaningful collaboration with experts and classrooms around the world in our classrooms.
Our preliminary totals for the 2016-17 fiscal year show a $16,000 deficit in a $1,200,000 budget. Prudent budgeting and spending, along with improved collections and payments by the Business Office have contributed to this overall positive result. That said, we remain very concerned about the level of non-tuition support needed to balance budgetary losses in a period of low enrollment. The cash balance in any given month has required close and vigilant attention. We fell well short of our budgeted goals for annual giving and for a campaign of 3-year commitments of $10,000 or more this year. We were able to make each month’s payroll and payables, but a healthier operating cash cushion is needed if we wish to do more than tread water. Working with members of the School Committee and the Scattergood Foundation Trustees, I am preparing a 3-year budget outlook to better fund our efforts to bring more sustainable enrollment to the school. We’ll work with a team of development-minded individuals to make a more concerted effort to increase annual giving beyond the totals of the last two years.
Looking Ahead
At Pendle Hill last fall I was among heads of school who learned about Horizons National, an organization which incubates summer programming for at-risk students and receive additional support throughout the year. Summer programming at Scattergood has yielded very low enrollments in recent years, and I hope to further this initiative to not only increase enrollment (and income) but also attract philanthropic support from sources previously out of reach of Scattergood.
The Academic Report to the Yearly Meeting describes our first-ever Student Diversity Leadership day last April. As a next step I hope to initiate a Middle School Student Diversity Leadership session with Scattergood students in the coming year.
Catherine From and I will give a talk to the National Association of Independent School Educational Consultants in Washington DC in November, where we will relate the successes and challenges of our work for transgender inclusion in a residential school setting.
We will engage a Scattergood alumnus and filmmaker to produce short films in which recent alumni will talk about what Scattergood as done for them. These films will be posted on our updated website and promoted with social media.
In Year Two of our re-accreditation cycle the school will conduct the writing of our self-study: a community-wide assessment and report of all that makes for a healthy school and its pursuit of its mission. It is a vital component to maintaining continuous improvement and integrity to the service of our school mission.
Concluding remarks
I close with my continued thanks to the Yearly Meeting for their continued and significant support of the school. We appreciate that we are prominent among your ministries.
Respectfully submitted, Thomas Weber, Head of School
PDF Scattergood Friends School Financials 2016-2017
We heard the Yearly Meeting Trustees Report and thank them for their good work. all these numbers tell a story.
Yearly Meeting Trustees Report
We appoint Robert Yeats and Larry Marsh to the Foundation Trustees with term ending in 2021.
The Scattergood Foundation is charged with the stewardship of the school’s growing endowment, currently valued at approximate $5.4 million. Through a diversified portfolio of socially responsible investments, primarily stocks, bonds, and farmland, the Foundation makes annual distributions to support the school’s mission. At present, approximately half of the assets support capital improvements and the operations of the school, with the remaining half supporting scholarships to students. Funds are invested with a balanced approach to capital preservation and moderate growth. The Foundation has asked the Westwood Trust #1 to divest from fossil fuels.
In calculating the annual disbursements to the school, the Foundation follows the instructions of donors and the Foundation’s own standard payout policy. During the 2016-17 school year, the Foundation distributed $104,650 to support tuition scholarship, as well as $25,800 toward capital improvements. The Foundation has committed to new scholarship distributions for the 2017-18 academic year totaling $111,150, as well as $19,850 toward capital improvements.
Assets Held by the Scattergood Friends
School Foundation as of 6/30/2017:
Everence $37,402.49
Westwood Trust #1
Financial Report for Yearly Meeting Trustees
Initial balance 7/1/16 $569.19
From Iowa Yearly Meeting (C) $1000.00
From IYM Entertainment Committee $1509.08
Donations for land purchase $1000.00
Interest Total Funds Available $1.39
Total Funds Available $4079.66
Disbursements Louis Herbst (painting $150.00
Darlene Kabela (land purchase) $2500.00
Scattergood (repairs $210.50
Total disbursements $2860.50
Bank balance 6/30/2017 $1219.16
Funds available 6/30/2017 $1219.16
The School Committee Report reminded us of many things:
It is evident, that just as Scattergood School and Farm needs us, we need the Scattergood School and Farm.
At a time when others define “education” as mastery of facts and information, this school offers a safe place for students. It offers them a safe place to struggle with their identity and the issues of diversity. It is a safe place for them to grow into who they are called to be.
One gift in this report is the reminder that how we join together in carrying the weight of keeping Scattergood viable is a matter of faith. If we carry Scattergood in our hearts, then those seeds will be planted when we talk to others about Scattergood.
As this School Committee Report reminds us: “…What a gift it is to have and endeavor that each day works to practice our core values. Let us rejoice.”
Scattergood School Committee Report to IYMC 2017
“Our initiatives should always nurture a strong learning community that develops our understanding and facility to practice our core values along with open-mindedness, curiosity, problem-solving, and effective communication. Together these values develop the individuals’ capacities to better understand themselves, others, and make individuals and communities ready to face the challenges of a world in constant change.”
These are words from the school’s update of the Strategic Plan, and they speak volumes in today’s dissonant times. This spring’s graduating class of students came from various countries, a wide range of learning abilities and differing gender identities. As they accepted their diplomas to venture out into the world in this uneasy year, we are grateful for this school, which is both a strong learning community and sanctuary that has become more relevant and important than ever. We have witnessed the miracles that can unfold when people are allowed to become truly themselves. The School Committee is deeply appreciative for the dedication, creativity, and hard work given by staff and students to create and maintain this manifestation of Love.
Staying on track with both academics and these core values is a daily practice and a task that can never be finished. Internally the school is healthy and viable in its academic and spiritual life and is blessed with strong leadership. However, to carry out our mission we must find solutions to declining enrollment or the long-term viability of the school could be jeopardized. Because we need to find new students in a competitive market, outreach has become more important than ever. How can we connect with others and let the world know we are here? Outreach is imperative: we all need to share with our communities the gem that is Scattergood.
To that end, outreach with alumni is being invigorated. Thomas and Ruth met with alumni in small groups across the country and recently at Scattergood, reconnecting, helping them meet each other in their local areas, asking for help with outreach in their communities, and planting the seeds of creating a self- directed alumni association.
Furthermore, a major outreach step was taken by hiring Kelsh Wilson Design, a Philadelphia based firm that has worked with other Quaker schools. Kelsh Wilson visited Scattergood in the fall and helped us develop a multi-year marketing plan and launch a new website. Their encouraging assessment stated that though there are many challenges with our location and size, what we offer is unique, needed, and very promising.
We are optimistic that this outreach work will help increase enrollment. The difficult reality is that the implementation of this marketing plan will take time and during this period our enrollment numbers will likely remain low.
Thomas continues to shepherd our school’s affairs with great care and attention as Head. His budgets are sound and he and the staff have carefully kept expenditures on track even within the constraints of a tight budget. The critical issue we are facing is that we fall short of our income projections not only because of low enrollment but also because we have not met our Annual Fund goals. We are suffering the effects of not having had a development director, so we are particularly excited to have Miranda Nielson join our community as Development Coordinator. Our challenge over the next few years will be to raise the extra funds to pursue the marketing plan and continue to keep our community and programs strong without sacrificing quality during this time of fiscal hardship.
In April, Midyear Meeting invited Drew Smith from Friends Council on Education to explore with us the relevance of Quaker Education today. Drew opened with a quote from Daryl Ford of William Penn Charter School, “I believe Friends Schools are the hope for the world,” he said. They strive to help their students “visualize and create an ideal society…to create good people, world citizens.” What a gift it is that we have, right here in our midst and in our care, one of these places that is helping to create world citizens. What a gift to have the privilege of being able to nurture it, and by doing so nurture ourselves. What a gift we have in this Yearly Meeting, let us rejoice in supporting this human endeavor that each day works to practice our core values.
For the School Committee, Ruth Hampton, clerk
We close our morning session to meet again this afternoon at 2pm.
Sixth Day – Friday Afternoon 7/28/17 2:00 pm
We resume the business of Yearly Meeting
Our method of making decisions together is probably the practice we have best preserved from early times. The individual practice of meditation, has largely gone into abeyance, but our corporate practice of deciding things together has remarkably survived intact.
Rex Ambler 2012
Shirley Scritchfield and Bob Yeats have been appointed as readers this afternoon.
This year’s Audit Committee members were Burt Kisling and Cheryl Sutton. We thank the auditors for checking our numbers.
Audit Committee Report
We have examined the Iowa Yearly Meeting (Conservative) treasurer’s report and supporting documents for 2016-2017 fiscal year and find them to be in good order. We appreciate the work of the treasurer, Rebecca Bergus, in keeping the accounts of the yearly meeting and preparing reports for our annual session.
Burt Kisling and Cheryl Sutton
We listened to the Treasurer’s Report and discussed different reasons for budgeting more money than our expected expenses. We are grateful for the work of our yearly meeting Treasurer.
(note: The Yearly Meeting Fiscal Year runs from Seventh Month 1 to Sixth Month 30.)
Yearly Meeting Treasurer’s Report
Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 2017
| Contributions | Budget | Actual |
| American Friends Service Committee | $1,000.00 | $1,000.00 |
| Friends Committee on National Legislation | $1,000.00 | $1,000.00 |
| FCNL Capital Campaign (one-time donation) | $200.00 | $200.00 |
| Friends General Conference | $200.00 | $200.00 |
| Friends World Committee for Consultation | $700.00 | $700.00 |
| Iowa Peace Network | $100.00 | $100.00 |
| Nebraskans for Peace | $400.00 | $400.00 |
| Friends Peace Network | $500.00 | $500.00 |
| National Religious Campaign Against Torture | $100.00 | $100.00 |
| Pendle Hill | $500.00 | $500.00 |
| Peace and Social Concerns Committee | $1,100.00 | $1,100.00 |
| Quaker Earthcare Witness | $300.00 | $300.00 |
| Quaker United Nations Office | $200.00 | $200.00 |
| Right Sharing of World Resources | $400.00 | $400.00 |
| Scattergood Friends School | $54,000.00 | $54,000.00 |
| Scattergood Facilities | $2,000.00 | $2,000.00 |
| William Penn House | $300.00 | $300.00 |
| Total Contributions | $63,000.00 | $63,000.00 |
| Delegate Expenses | ||
| FCNL | $1.200.00 | $1.200.00 |
| Friends Peace Team | $1,200.00 | $501.40 |
| FWCC – General | $1,200.00 | |
| Quaker Earthcare Witness | $900.00 | |
| Conservative Yearly Meeting Visitations | $1,200.00 | $496.56 |
| Total Delegate Expenses | $5,700.00 | $2,197.96 |
| Yearly Meeting Expenses | ||
| Archives Committee | $200.00 | |
| Clerk’s and Other Admin. Expenses | $400.00 | $104.32 |
| Committee Expenses (Other) | $300.00 | |
| Conscientious Objector PSC Subcommittee | $100.00 | |
| Friends Travel & Conference | $1,000.00 | $1,000.00 |
| Iowa Yearly Meeting Trustees | $1,000.00 | $1,000.00 |
| Junior Yearly Meeting | $1,500.00 | $998.20 |
| Pendle Hill Scholarship Match | $400.00 | $100.00 |
| Publication Committee | $3,200.00 | $1,385.70 |
| Quaker Youth Camp Scholarship | $500.00 | $500.00 |
| Special Needs Committee | $750.00 | $134.99 |
| Young Adult Friends | $300.00 | |
| Young Friends | $1,500.00 | $600.00 |
| Midyear Planning Committee if receipts inadequate |
$500.00 | |
| YM Entertainment Committee if receipts inadequate |
$500.00 | |
| Contingency Fund | $1,000.00 | $130.00 |
| Transfer to Reserve Fund | $1,000.00 | $1,000.00 |
| Total Yearly Meeting Expense | $14,150.00 | $6,953.81 |
| Total Budget | $82,850.00 | $72,151.77 |
Income & Expenses
July 1, 2016 – June 30, 2017
| Receipts | Assets | Liabilities |
| Monthly Meeting Apportionments | $71,660.00 | |
| Excess Midyear Meeting Funds | $832.13 | |
| Interest | $22.28 | |
| Total | $72,514.41 | |
| Expenses | ||
| IYM Contributions | $63,000.00 | |
| IYM Delegate Expenses | $2,197.96 | |
| IYM Expenses | $6,953.81 | |
| Total | $72,151.77 |
Cash Balance
July 1, 2017
| Veridian Credit Union | Assets | Liabilities |
| Savings | $5.00 | |
| Checking | $17,922.47 | |
| Outstanding Checks | $546.56 | |
| FinancialPlus Credit Union | ||
| Share Savings | $25.00 | |
| Money Market | $0.63 | |
| Checking | ||
| Required Minimums | $1,800.00 | |
| Required Minimums | $30.00 | |
| Cash Reserve Fund | $4,000.00 | |
| Cash Available for 2017-2018 Budget | $15,176.54 |
We appreciate the report and the work of the Special Needs Committee
2017 Special Needs Committee Report
The Special Needs Committee has mainly been involved in repairing and refining things that were already in place. We refined the sound system by retiring the cobbled together FM headphones so that we now rely solely on our new induction loop for hearing aids. We also have headphones as needed for those without t-coil hearing aids. We purchased some nearly new wired microphones on EBAY to replace our fading collection of Crown PZM microphones.
We have over the last few years improved the accessibility of our yearly and midyear meetings. We still have quite a way to go to be truly open to folks with physical challenges. Our biggest challenge is making the dining room at Scattergood truly wheelchair accessible. An elevator would be an ideal but expensive solution. A smooth road (or wooden walkway) down the backside of the Main would be a temporary solution that would allow better travel than what we have now. A short ramp up to the platform under the tree would also be an easy way to make that area available to everyone.
We need to stay alert for ways to help people with challenges whether or not they advocate for themselves. It would be a shame to deprive ourselves of anyone’s spiritual gifts because of physical challenges.
Bob Yeats (convener) John Andrews, Bob Winchell, Harry Olmstead, Sherry Hutchison
We listened to the Report of the Pendle Hill Scholarship Committee and are glad that some of these funds were used.
Pendle Hill Scholarship Committee
2017
The Pendle Hill Scholarship committee has a budget of $400 each year with which we hope to encourage people of our yearly meeting to participate in a workshop at Pendle Hill, a Quaker retreat and study center in suburban Philadelphia. These workshops are on a variety of topics of interest to Friends and are anywhere from a weekend to 5 days long. Some choose to use a similar time period to sojourn at Pendle Hill, structuring time as they wish.
This year, we did not give a full scholarship, but fulfilled the request from an IYMC member for the small assistance of $100 to participate in the workshop, “Creating a Moral Economy.”
We hope each of us will consider making a request for this scholarship as many of us have had very positive experiences during a time at Pendle Hill.
Jean Eden
We enjoyed hearing the good report of our delegate to the Advisory Board of Friends Peace Teams.
Friends Peace Teams Report 2017
Be valiant for the Truth upon the earth.
George Fox, 1656
Friends Peace Teams valiantly continue to wage peace. Three initiatives engage in grass-roots peace work in areas of tension throughout the world. Using Friends’ principles and process, they develop long term relationships, bringing programs for peace building, healing, and reconciliation. Examples of programs include trauma healing workshops for female war survivors in El Salvador, election monitoring in Kenya, and a community training center in Central Java. Further examples include a clinic for HIV+ women in Bujumbura, Burundi, trauma healing among Bhutanese refugees, and a first ever Alternatives to Violence workshop in the Mayan language in Guatemala. The programs are numerous, like the branches of a tree whose roots are our Peace Testimony.
It is a time of transition for Friends Peace Teams. Val Liveoak, who initiated and led Peacemaking in Las Americas for 13 years, has retired. David Zarembka, who initiated and led the African Great Lakes Initiative for 18 years, has stepped down. Both of these individuals have done tremendous work, laying the groundwork for the existence of their respective initiatives. For the first time, paid staff are coordinating initiatives. Monica Maher, an American residing in Ecuador now coordinates Peacemaking in Las Americas. She is fluent in Spanish and deeply grounded in the Alternatives to Violence Program. David Bucura, a Rwandan Friend, coordinates the African Great Lakes Initiative. As Friends Peace Teams enter their second generation, the Council works on developing protocols for governance. These protocols include the relationship between each initiative’s working group and its coordinator as well as financial accountability. A new part time Communications Specialist creates materials for print and website, providing bridges between the initiatives, the Council, and yearly meetings.
As our yearly meeting’s representative to the Friends Peace Teams Council,
I have had the opportunity to participate in the Face to Face Meeting of the Council the last two years. I have been humbled by the courage, empathy, and willingness to serve among those involved with the Peace Teams. As our Faith and Practice states, “Pacifism is not passive. It requires courage to wage peace at every level of human relationship, bringing God’s wisdom and love to bear on interactions ranging from interpersonal to international.” Friends Peace Teams actively engage the world in both practical and spiritual aspects of peace work. They forge enduring friendships that acknowledge, in the words of the Alternatives to Violence Program, each person’s transforming power. Remarkably, hope predominates.
Thank you for your support of Friends Peace Teams. I welcome conversations about their work.
Respectfully submitted,
Sonja Sponheim
We appreciate the work of Quaker Earthcare Witness detailed in this report of our Delegate to the QEW Steering Committee.
2017 Report of IYMC Representatives to
Quaker Earthcare Witness Steering Committee
Iowa Yearly Meeting (Conservative) representatives to Quaker Earthcare Witness Steering Committee were Peter Clay and Marilyn McNabb. Neither of us was able to attend any meetings nor were we able to serve on any working groups or subcommittees of QEW during the past year. Peter anticipates attending the QEW Steering Committee meeting at Pendle Hill in October 2017 and hopes to also attend the April 2018 meeting in Chicago. At the Steering Committee meeting in October QEW will be celebrating their 30th anniversary and some early supporters of Friends in Unity With Nature may join for visioning and planning for the future.
In the General Secretary’s report for October 2016 – April 2017, it was emphasized how the work of QEW is needed now more than ever. The finances need bolstering for QEW to continue and for it to build a stronger organization. Monthly donors are sustaining the organization now and many more are needed. The annual shortfalls leave QEW about 10 to 15 percent short of what is needed to remain sustainable on an annual basis. Existing resources to cover the annual shortfalls will be exhausted within two to three years. Friends who are able to contribute are invited to consider becoming monthly donors.
Shelley Tanenbaum, the General Secretary had many opportunities to speak and write about the work of QEW over the course of the year. These included a plenary address at South Central Yearly Meeting in April with a focus on earthcare, Standing Rock, nonviolent action and environmental justice and an interest group at Intermountain Yearly Meeting in June on divestment from fossil fuels. There was an article by the General Secretary published in Friends Journal about Standing Rock and Iowa Yearly Meeting member Jeff Kisling had an article published in the March-April issue of Befriending Creation about the successful efforts in Indianapolis to defund the Dakota Access Pipeline and demonstrating how nonviolent actions can create new friendships and allies when we find the courage to live out our truth and let our lives speak.
The QEW United Nations Working Group (UNWG) was very active during the past year, led by their clerk Pamela Boyce Simms. A concern now being seasoned is how the internal QEW committees and the external relationships with other Friend’s organizations seem to be separated and how this “siloing” is problematic for the emergence of a unified vision of how QEW will approach the complex challenges before us.
The UNWG worked on the re-localization of food production and the restorative potential for sustainable agriculture to raise beef and dairy cattle in the larger context of “living systems” and sequestering carbon in the soil to help mitigate climate change.
QEW’s UN Working Group is leading an Earthcare Coalition of NGO’s from the world-wide African diaspora, to inform the UN High Level Political Forum about food sovereignty, land retention, and access to water. The working group helped put together a panel discussion in July at the United Nations and a parallel workshop event for non-governmental organizations to inform the UN High Level Political Forum (HLPF).
The QEW team co-sponsored lobbying training with Friends Committee for National Legislation (FCNL) in April, just before the People’s March for Climate, Jobs and Justice in Washington D.C. QEW’s General Secretary was part of the Faith Contingent planning sessions leading up to the march. It has been a full year of faithful, challenging work. All Friends are invited to engage with and support the work of Quaker Earthcare Witness over the coming year and beyond.
Peace and Social Concerns Committee Report – Part 1
We approved the following minute brought to us by our Peace and Social Concerns Committee. It is our understanding that legislation to reinstate the death penalty may be considered in the Iowa State Legislature this session. Friends are encouraged to share this as they are led, with Iowa state legislators, newspapers, friends and neighbors.
(Minute)
Iowa Yearly Meeting of the Society of Friends (Conservative) is deeply distressed by new attempts to reinstate the death penalty in the Iowa Legislature. We have a long-standing history of opposition to capital punishment as being contrary to basic Quaker values. Quoting from our own Faith and Practice, (2011), “Friends oppose capital punishment because it violates the sacredness of life. No person is beyond redemption. The God-given dignity and worth of every human being requires that punishment allow for reform of the offender and possible revision of the sentence. Execution is brutalizing and degrading to the individuals who impose it and to the society that endorses it.”
While we recognize the anger and fear that arise from brutal crime, focusing these emotions on the offender often misdirects energies that could be spent on building community and victim support as well as rooting out the causes of violence – such as social injustice, poverty, substance abuse, and hopelessness. Iowa Legislators should be aware that “legal” murder neither teaches that killing is wrong, nor recognizes the sanctity of all life. Thus, the Iowa Yearly Meeting of Friends, asserts on public record our opposition to any attempts to reinstate the death penalty in the State of Iowa.
We approved having the yearly meeting clerk send the following letter to the U.S. Representatives and Senators of Iowa Yearly Meeting Conservative, with the appropriate word choice
(letter)
Dear _________________
Members of the Iowa Yearly Meeting of Friends (Conservative) (IYMC) believe that healthcare is a basic human right. This principle has been neglected in the current debate over healthcare.
IYMC members in your _________ (district/state)believe the single payer system would best serve all Americans.
No human right should be conditioned on ability to pay. Access to healthcare should not be governed by profit for drug companies or any other private enterprise, including insurance companies. Most of these entities have a fiduciary obligation to generate profits for their shareholders.
All this debate would be unnecessary if the United States recognized healthcare as a basic human right, and made free universal, tax-supported healthcare our standard, as it is for the rest of the developed world.
Queries and Selected Responses
CONSIDERATION OF QUERY 1: MEETING FOR WORSHIP
QUERY
Are our Meetings for Worship held in a spirit of expectant waiting and communion with the Holy Spirit? How do we prepare our hearts and minds for worship?
How do we refer to that which is divine? How does ascribing gender to the Holy Spirit affect our worship?
How does the vocal ministry of the meeting contribute to its spiritual life?
In what ways do we recognize and nurture vocal ministry and other spiritual gifts?
RESPONSE
Quakers are stubbornly different from one another as well as from the rest of the world. For instance, many like coming into a room where the earlier arrivals have already settled into silence; it helps them settle in quickly as well. In fact, it seems that getting to Meeting very early to set up alone is an inspirational time as well. However, there are those who are so pleased to see other Friends after a week that they treasure the time before Meeting as a precious time for catching up,
There are other ways to help us come to Meeting for Worship ready to center ourselves. Those who attend Bible study before Meeting report having a rich fund of inspiration to help them go on to worship and indeed to the rest of the week, and those whose daily lives include moments or longer spells of quiet also find these practices to carry over into their First Day experience.
There are words that can help up connect with our spiritual selves, and there are words that divide us. Sometimes they are the same words. Asked if we all believe that there is a divine Spirit, many nodded, but others thought of it as meaning “God” and found uncomfortable associations with it. Similarly, “Sacred” was a term that most could apply to spaces as well as beings and that they found comfortable, whereas “Holy” had more overtly religious connotations. All seemed to feel that the “still, small voice within” was something they hoped to find in their quiet moments.
No matter what words we use, we agree that we want our worship to feel to old timers and newcomers alike to be a welcoming place and time where something out of the ordinary warms and guides us.
CONSIDERATION OF QUERY 2: OUTREACH
QUERY
Do we encourage intervisitation within the Yearly Meeting and with other Friends?
What are we doing to share our faith with others outside our Friends community?
How do we speak truth as we know it and yet remain open to truth as understood by others?
In what ways do we cooperate with persons and groups with whom we share concerns? How do we reach out to those with whom we disagree?
How do we make the presence of our meeting known to the larger community? Do we invite others to share in our Meetings for Worship and other meeting activities?
Do we welcome everyone and appreciate the gifts that differences such as race, creed, economic status, disability, age, gender or sexual orientation may bring to us?
RESPONSE
We try to welcome visitors and other Friends warmly whenever they join us for meeting and find it enriches and deepens our own worship experience.
Sharing with others who do not necessarily share our own religious experiences and ideas often brings us gifts we had not anticipated. Making connections under these circumstances bring opportunities for growth and often leave us with fresh perspectives about our own faith.
We continue to experience blessings that came with our 130th anniversary celebration including renewing family connections as well as the interest from the wider community that was demonstrated at that time.
Attending IYMC and other Friends meetings when traveling has been an enriching experience for those who have the opportunity.
CONSIDERATION OF QUERY 3: MEETING FOR BUSINESS
QUERY
How can we hold our Meetings for Business in the spirit of love, understanding and patient search for unity without becoming frustrated by differences of opinion or the pressures of time?
How do we respond when no one else in the meeting seems to hold the views that we do on an issue? How do we respond to a dissenting minority?
How do we share responsibilities among Friends in our meeting? How do we serve our meetings?
RESPONSE
There are other questions as a part of this query, but we focused on these, searching for leadings on ways to find a sense of the meeting when there are differences of opinion. As we had someone among us with limited experience with Quaker ways of doing business, it was helpful to remind ourselves of what makes our meetings unique. We envy the sense of peace that often comes with business at Iowa Yearly Meeting Conservative and concluded that a part of that comes of long periods of silence, including during the times when the recording clerk is creating a minute.
Listening to each other is vital at yearly meeting and at successful business meetings at Penn Valley. If we are to find solutions, we must be able to let go of our own expectations and be open to those of others. If we are to avoid having a discontented minority, everyone must feel that they have been heard.
Finally, we seek to avoid the pitfalls that come with voting. We try to avoid two opposing sides, with one winning and the other losing. It helps to consider that Spirit is present with us and that residing in it may be a third way that we had not previously considered. To do that requires a worshipful attitude and an open mind and heart.
CONSIDERATION OF QUERY 4: HARMONY WITHIN THE MEETING QUERY
What can we do to deepen our relationships with one another? How does gender affect the way we relate to each other?
How does our meeting balance the needs for honesty and kindness? What topics do we avoid for the sake of “unity”?
When in conflict with others, do we cultivate a forgiving spirit?
Do we look to that of God in ourselves and seek to address that of God in those with whom we disagree?
RESPONSE
Since there have been few conflicts in our meeting in recent years, this query is challenging. Are we afraid to speak up? Do we not trust our own options? Are we ignoring differences that should be addressed? We feel there may be strength in finding answers to these questions. If we notice small differences and acknowledge them, then we will be ready for larger issues.
Our failings may be in the lack of awareness that there is a concern that requires attention either by Ministry and Counsel or Meeting for Business. As we grow stronger as a spiritual community, we gain personal confidence as well and hope that keeping in touch will be easier and welcome.
Those who have experienced attendance in other meetings expressed noticing that differences, or perhaps life experiences and educational backgrounds. One example was on the issue of support of the military.
Practicing in presenting and supporting ideas is often evident in those more skilled, whereas those who are not gifted in dialog may feel intimidated and less supported. We welcome any message and respect the speaker.
CONSIDERATION OF QUERY 5: MUTUAL CARE QUERY
How do we respond to each other’s personal needs and difficulties in sensitive and useful ways?
Do we encourage both men and women to share in care giving?
What are we doing to welcome and draw members and attenders of all ages into the fellowship of the meeting?
How do we help our children feel the loving care of the meeting? What do the children contribute to the meeting?
How do we keep in touch with inactive and distant members and attenders?
RESPONSE
The biggest change in how we keep in contact with others in the meeting has been our meeting email newsletter. It has kept us well informed of the activities of the meeting and sometimes aids in making decisions regarding an issue that can’t wait to be addressed until regular meeting for business. The newsletter has also allowed us to keep in contact with those who have been part of our community but have moved on to another area. While this has proven very beneficial in many ways we are aware that personal contact is still the best way to maintain close relationships with one another.
We try to be aware of the need to make personal contact with those who have health issues and also those who do not use electronic communication. One expressed how important seeing familiar faces week after week at meeting for worship helps making difficult adjustments more manageable and gives support when difficult personal needs arise. Another person who was newly returned to the community shared how meaningful the memories of childhood growing up in the meeting had become.
Our recent Sunday school Christmas tree decorating party brought all the children together at one time and was a wonderful way for all of us to enjoy their activities.
CONSIDERATION OF QUERY 6: EDUCATION QUERY
How can we most effectively foster a spirit of inquiry and a loving and understanding attitude toward life?
What effort are we making to become better acquainted with the Bible, the teachings of Jesus, our Judeo-Christian heritage, the history and principles of Friends, and the contributions of other religions and philosophies to our spiritual heritage?
In what ways can we encourage an educational process that is consistent with the values Friends cherish? How do gender-based expectations affect the goals we set and the way we learn?
Do we take an active and supportive interest in schools, libraries and other educational resources in our communities and elsewhere?
How do we prepare ourselves and our children to play active roles in a changing world?
RESPONSE
We find the heart of education to be creativity nurtured by playfulness and inquisitiveness. If we are to be effective educators, we must not take ourselves too seriously. Nurturing our children is good for the health of the meeting.
Parker Palmer used the phrase “the courage to teach.” That is especially apt today. The world is changing so fast; some estimate that half of what children learn will be obsolete by graduation. In these circumstances, we certainly need “the courage to teach” but also the courage to learn, unlearn, and relearn. We should remember that we don’t learn much if we only stay within our comfort zones.
In geology, we learn by looking at the edges of things. What happens at the edges not in the core is most revealing, whether observing rocks in a lava flow, or the changes in continents. The insides of things tend to be homogeneous, the edges less so. The same holds for societies, where different cultures rub up against each other. At Scattergood School different cultures encounter each other. To its credit, it is a school with a lot of edges.
We form special bonds with our teachers. We honor their teaching and the experience of learning with them. This has been especially true for the guidance given by older Quakers and the strong relationships we have had with women among them. Margie Lacey made this point about the women of Yearly Meeting: “saying their names is an epiphany.” We grieve our loss of them but also remember their teaching. They never told us what to do. What they did give us was a drive to think, listen and let God lead. For this we are grateful.
CONSIDERATION OF QUERY 7: HOME AND FAMILY QUERY
How can we make our homes places of love and hospitality?
What different expectations do we hold for women and men, boys and girls? How can we bring more equality into our relationships?
How do we develop and maintain lines of communication?
In what ways do we share our deepest experiences, struggles, concerns and beliefs with our children and others, yet encourage them to develop their potential as the Spirit leads them?
What place do we make in our daily lives for meditation, spiritual renewal and reading of inspiring literature, such as the Bible?
How does our Meeting support families of all kinds?
RESPONSE
The response to this query occurred at a time of the year when many of us reconnect with traditions and memories that evoke a special meaning for families and create a shared happiness.
Past stories and present memories are shared in spirit that is unique to our common understanding of what defines a family. We were challenged by one member to examine possibilities that stretch our awareness about what it means to have a “home”, what is means to provide “sanctuary”. For this member, family has come to be defined as “those who have your back and will stand with you, physically, emotionally, and psychologically in these spiritually bleak time”.
May we know resilience when troubled times descend on us. May we know a humble courage what there is opportunity to keep a stranger, as we keep our children, in love and safety, and out of harms way.
CONSIDERATION OF QUERY 8: PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY
QUERY
How do we center our lives in the awareness of God the’ Spirit, so that all things may take their rightful places?
How do we structure our individual lives in order to keep them uncluttered with things and activities? How does Meeting help us examine our personal lives for simplicity?
Do we choose recreational activities which foster mental, physical and spiritual health?
How are our lives affected by tobacco, alcohol and drug use? What can we do to deal with problems resulting from their use? What can we do to recognize and deal with unhealthy ways we treat ourselves?
How do we ensure that we act with fairness and integrity? Are we sensitive to our own use of language which may be offensive or oppressive to others?
RESPONSE
We wondered what had been early Friends testimony regarding tobacco and alcohol use. One Friend who has studied his Quaker ancestry extensively shared that somewhere in his family’s history it was noted that a committee had been appointed by the Meeting to meet with a Friend regarding his excessive use of alcohol. Our impression is that historically — perhaps 17th through 19th centuries — Friends concern was in regard to excessive use rather than any use. In some of our own families alcohol simply was not used; in others moderate use was accepted. We reflected on the use of the Meeting appointed committee to meet with a Friend regarding excessive use, some perhaps feeling the Meeting was interfering, others realizing that such intervention could be appropriate and necessary. We recognize that our society today has a strong leaning toward individualism and individual responsibility, but we feel that in many situations a corporate responsibility is needed.
Today many of us feel challenged to be centered and at peace, not because of any issues related to alcohol or tobacco use, but because of the challenges our present national leadership is providing us, coming from a value system that feels alien. Every day it seems that something new confronts us and it is troubling. Again we need to challenge today’s obsession with individualism and try to move to a philosophy of collective responsibility, in regard to health care for example, we need to challenge the present administration’s way of defining community and family narrowly; this leads to a narrow understanding of the country’s responsibility. As we think about fairness and integrity, we note that ‘checking your truth’ is important. We need to investigate to the best of our abilities and be open to being wrong and admitting it.
CONSIDERATION OF QUERY 9. CIVIC RESPONSIBILITY QUERY
What conflicts do we perceive between the laws of the State and our religious convictions? -How do we resolve those conflicts in our lives? In what ways do we assume responsibility for the government of our community, state, nation and world?
How do we share our convictions with others? Do we express our opinions with courage, yet with love, mindful of the Divine Spirit within everyone?
How do we maintain our integrity when we find ourselves in a position of power?
-How do we respond when we feel powerless? Do we really respect and help those we seek to serve?
Are we careful to reach our decisions through prayer and strengthen our actions with worship? Are we open to divine leadings.
RESPONSE:
Decorah Friends discussed the conflict between American Indians and a proposed oil pipeline that had the potential to poison their water supply and cross part of their tribal land. We are concerned about the continuing conflict between for-profit corporations and the health of our environment. We may not always oppose the laws but oppose how they are administered. Many friends have a continuing concern about the percent of our taxes that go to pay for the military. They see the Peace Tax Bill as an unresolved issue. Our local Peace and Justice Center does outstanding work on important issues and is currently involved with the issue of guns and the gun laws in Iowa and the U.S.
CONSIDERATION OF QUERY 10: ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY
QUERY
What are we doing about our disproportionate use of the world’s resources?
Do we see unreasonable exploitation in our relationship with the rest of creation?
How can we nurture reverence and respect for life?
How I can we become more fully aware of our interdependent relationship with the rest of creation?
To what extent are we aware of all life and the role we play?
What can we do in our own lives and communities to address environmental concerns?
RESPONSE:
In much of the Midwest environmental degradation has been subtle: soil erosion took quite a few years before it was really noticed; our water was clean before chemicals became common usage; etc. Now at last, we are aware that so much damage has been done it may be irreparable. How can we continue to be educated and educate others about the seriousness of our negligence? How can we wake people up?
Recent floods remind us that we have not always done the right things when we have acted. And the legislative bodies have not been changing how we build cities or how we do agriculture. Levees are only a temporary fix before they fail.
Our natural environment is our connection with the transcendent; for many just being outdoors is a means of spiritual renewal. There is an order that must be preserved and made available to everyone.
.
CONSIDERATION OF QUERY 11: SOCIALAND ECONOMIC JUSTICE QUERY
How are we beneficiaries of inequity and exploitation? How are we victims of inequity and exploitation? In what ways can we address these problems?
What can we do to improve the conditions in our correctional institutions and to address the mental and social problems of those confined there?
How can we improve our understanding of those who are driven to violence by subjection to racial, economic or political injustice? In what ways do we oppose prejudice and injustice based on gender, sexual orientation, class, race, age, and physical, mental and emotional conditions?
How would individuals benefit from a society that values everyone? How would society benefit?
RESPONSE
Several Quakers in Ames meeting shared experiencing discrimination from the Ames police force. An example shared was an African American child was playing in the park and the police stopped and asked the child what he was doing there.
This inspired our meeting to write a statement about this. Our meeting also invited the police chief to come and speak to us after meeting. We met with a police officer who listened to our concerns. The police office shared what the police force is doing to decrease discrimination in their department. He mentioned trainings about discrimination the police officers regularly go to and eventually getting cameras for the officers.
He also shared a program where community members can go on ride a longs with the police for a couple hours. A few from our meeting participated in this. As a meeting, we will continue to stay in communication with the local police and plan to have further dialogue with the police in the future.
CONSIDERATION OF QUERY 12: PEACE AND NONVIOLENCE
QUERY
What are we doing to educate ourselves and others about the causes of conflict in our own lives, our families and our meetings? Do we provide refuge and assistance, including advocacy, for spouses, children, or elderly persons who are victims of violence or neglect?
Do we recognize that we can be perpetrators as well as victims of violence? How do we deal with this? How can we support one another so that healing may take place?
What are we doing to understand the causes of war and violence and to work toward peaceful settlement of differences locally, nationally, and internationally? How do we support institutions and organizations that promote peace?
Do we faithfully maintain our testimony against preparation for and participation in war?
RESPONSE:
We are reminded that the often- quoted phrase from the Bible, “where two or three are gathered together,” occurs in the context of conflict resolution. Many of us try to work for peace but wonder how to educate people. Giving to FCNL and lobbying our Senators and Representatives never seems like enough. How can we educate people to understand that security is not just a big army? It is people who are content with their lives. War starts in our minds and starts with fear. The more that fear is cultivated, the greater the inclination toward violence against the perceived enemy. Although we can act to influence events as much as it is possible for us, peace starts inside, with dealing with fear. The only thing we have against fear is love. How do we teach love and create an environment where love is practiced and lived, and becomes a part of the way we think and what we do?
We now adjourn to meet again at 9:30 a.m.
Seventh Day Saturday 7/29/2017 9:30 a.m.
We return to the business of Yearly Meeting
Here is a central paradox of Quakerism, the one thing which does not change is the experience of the continuing direct and perceptible guidance of the Holy Spirit. Yet this unchanging guidance provides both impetus and director for continuing change in almost every other aspect of Quaker faith and practice. It is the unchanging the ensures that our faith is continually changing.
Lloyd Lee Wilson 2011
Martha Davis and Carol Gilbert have been appointed readers this morning. We are blessed to have the presence of José Santos Woss join us.
Minute of 6th day Activities
We listened to Linda Rabben as she educated us about sanctuary and asylum. Her research suggests that the practice of sanctuary:giving refuge to the vulnerable or threatened stranger, is universal among humans. She reminded us that Quakers have a long and well documented history of sanctuary giving. Early Quakers invited those seeking safe asylum into Philadelphia and later offered stations on the underground railroad. More recently IYM(C) provided Scattergood as safe sanctuary for refugees from Europe. There is now great need for refuge as the situation for asylum seekers is becoming increasingly difficult. Barriers and laws against asylum seekers have been implemented in many countries. Linda called on us to take the initiative to protect those facing mistreatment by officials of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Dear Junior Yearly Meeting,
Thank you for joining us this week.
Thank you for your participation in our yearly meeting.
We enjoyed the onions you harvested. Thank you!
Thank you for helping our Peace and Social Concerns Committee deepen their awareness of the dangers of greenhouse gases and the ravages of war.
Thank you for writing personal letters that teach us how we too can build personal bridges.
Thank you Claire and Thomas for being part of JYM.
Thank you for helping us feel such joy and optimism and thank you for witnessing to the certainty of God’s presence in our midst.
Thank you.
Jr. Yearly Meeting Epistle
July 28, 2017
Dear Friends Everywhere,
Greetings from Scattergood Friends School in West Branch, Iowa! Junior Yearly Meeting met here again at Iowa Yearly Meeting Conservative Sessions from July 25-30. The week was a busy one, full of playing outside, swimming, farming, singing, laughing, and so much more.
We started the week with the daily worship we share with the greater Yearly Meeting, and then discussing this year’s theme of “Building Bridges”, as well as our own personal experiences with that. Later that day, we collaged our souls onto paper using National Geographic magazines donated to us by Scattergood School, and then put them on display for the rest of the Yearly Meeting to enjoy. We also that first day, had a very exciting ice cream adventure, where it rained so hard, we had to turn around as soon as we arrived at the store because it started to flood, and didn’t manage to get ice cream until we made a return trip later that evening. That same evening, we went to a sing-along lead by Tom Rawson, a Friend from Seattle, who also came and did a workshop with us the next morning.
Over the week, we learned about Quakers all over the world, and then wrote letters to Quakers around our age living in Kenya in an effort to get to know them better and build bridges of our own. Then we went swimming in the pond- an activity that was repeated multiple times over the week. That night, we drove to a movie theater in Iowa City, and watched films that we all enjoyed a lot. We also went to the Scattergood School Farm one morning to help harvest onions for our meals. We ate fresh pears and cherry tomatoes, interacted with sheep, pigs, and baby turkeys, and finally had a blast jumping around on top of freshly rolled hay bales.
We used pastels on the sidewalks of campus to draw the flags of countries all over the world, most importantly a half-Kenyan, half-American flag that we took a picture of to send to our Kenyan pen pals. One night, we had a campfire down by the Scattergood pond, where we swam, sang, told stories, and ate some delicious, sticky s’mores. On our last day, we took our annual trip to the Tipton Swimming Pool, where we enjoyed the water slides. We wrapped up the week by hosting the IYM(C) Talent Show.
Overall, our week was a blast, and we are looking forward to meeting again next summer
In Friendship,
Chris, David, Rhyla, Gillie, Lucia, Liam, and Samuel
We enjoyed reading the epistle from Young Friend Richie. We also appreciate Nate Lien being part of Young Friends with Richie this year.
Young Friends’ Epistle
Iowa Yearly Meeting Conservative Young Friends Group
We had so few people within our demographic,
We had to pair up with the Junior Yearly Meeting.
Taking tours through the nice serene Iowan pasture
Until the collective eventually decided to
Commence a hearty lunch consisting of food
All of which made by the people running
The camp, On the next day we decided
To not venture, but rather have just
A nice intellectual break where I created
My now infamous collage
And we did just eventually deteriorate
Into smacking a ball up at each other,
fun none the less
And on the next day we decided to ditch Scattergood
Took to a nice movie instead, I saw
Animē feature film and I didn’t pay a dime
I have no idea how this will end, but I know
1 thing for certain
I need to say thanks to Scattergood.
Richie E.
We approved having Nancy Jordan attend the 2018 sessions of North Carolina Yearly Meeting (Conservative) on our behalf.
We listened to the Website Committee Report and approved their request for funding. We trust the committee to explore and choose whatever website hosting will work best for us. We are grateful to John and Sarah Andrews for spending the effort and time on researching for us.
Website Committee Report
July 26, 2017
Our committee began our work maintaining a website that uses PHP technology which was inherited from the publications committee.
The website loads quickly for users, but when a change and/or an addition is requested, the current website requires that a special HTML text file be edited. As far as we know, only 2 people on the committee know how to do this. Some have mentioned that there is a lack of visual appeal. We have considered switching to a newer technology using more user-friendly technology, such as Drupal, but use of such a product requires a technical person to update the software on a regular basis.
After considering various options, we feel that using the Quaker Cloud product from Friends General Conference would be our best option moving forwardbecauseitcanbeeasilymaintainedwithminimaltechnicalskills. We anticipate being able to have pages for each committee if desired.
As of this writing, we are awaiting a response from FGC regarding pricing, but they do quote a price of $300 per year with a $60 setup fee for a Quarterly meeting. We will also have to pay an additional fee to keep our our current web address of iymc.org.
There are numerous documents and other files associated with the names of various meeting committees on the data storage associated with the current website, and in the near future we will be asking for guidance from individuals and committees to what should be done with the data.
For the Committee,
John Andrews, Convenor
We were inspired by the powerful Peace and Social Concerns report. This report represents much work thoughout the yearly meeting. It also reminded us to seek courage to look fearlessly at the Adversary that also resides within ourselves. We thank the committee very much.
Peace and Social Concerns Committee Report 2017
In our Peace and Social Concerns Committee meetings we shared the spiritual leadings of our meetings in the past year. Much work on immigration and
sanctuary, Islamophobia, the environment, police relations, fair housing, medical care and tutoring. Many meetings and members support Water Protectors at Standing Rock.
Lincoln Meeting established a Peace and Social Concerns Committee and are better able to act as a body. Penn Valley Meeting described the difficult process of inviting the Kansas Chapter of the Council on American Islamic Relations to use space in the meetinghouse that became available when AFSC had to close their Kansas City office. Bear Creek Friends continue to labor with the challenges related to reducing the use of fossil fueled engines in a rural environment. Whittier Friends have developed relationships with the wider Whittier community related to replacing trees damaged by storms. Ames Friends facilitated discussions with the police department related to community policing. Iowa City Friends participated in a number of activities intended to bring their spiritual and political understandings together. West Branch Friends feel the absence of Don Laughlin as they work on environmental concerns. Decorah Friends have explored white privilege. Des Moines Valley Friends brought a minute related to the possible reintroduction of the death penalty in the Iowa Legislature, which our committee approved. Omaha Friends participated in election campaigns. Paullina and Des Moines Valley Friends were among the meetings considering providing sanctuary.
We are exploring concerns of our younger Friends. Junior Yearly meeting at this Yearly Meeting are concerned about greenhouse gas emissions and rebuilding infrastructure in countries ravaged by war.
We grappled with what it means to be peacemakers in a violent society. U.S. politics have descended into deadlocked ideologies, neglecting real imperatives. Our country has expanded its military operations around the world and militarized its local police. State sanctioned violence has killed unarmed people. Denying basic needs for clean water and air, food, housing, education, safety and medical care is also violence.
The witness and commitment of the Water Protectors at Standing Rock inspire us, as does the support for them from Indigenous Peoples all over the world. Nahko Bear, a Native American activist and spiritual leader, told the gathering of youth who had been attacked by dogs the message he was given repeatedly as he traveled around the world: “remember that nonviolent direct action is the way to a successful revolution.” An Iowa Conservative Friend was arrested in nonviolent action protesting the Bakken pipeline in Iowa.
Stories collected by Don Laughlin remind us of the witness of Iowa Quakers who were imprisoned for refusing to participate in the military. We seek ways to share these stories with the wider community.
Members of our Committee were encouraged to study the new book calling for national nonviolent direct-action, The Gandhian Iceberg, by Chris Moore- Backman, who sent us the following message:
I pray that Quakers and others will move to hold bold action far above the careful crafting of right answers. In the end Jesus’ teaching is simple. Letting go of our attachments to our personal status quos is the catch. Intellectual rigor and discernment has its place, of course, but only – I believe – in service to direct, loving action and sacrifice.
We accept the admonition of the Rev. William Barber, who called for us to be the moral defibrillators of our time; to shock the nation with love and justice; to remember that Jesus was a brown skinned, Palestinian Jew; to return to the public square. We encourage Friends to provide witness with peace vigils in public squares and to speak out in print and social media and legislators’ offices.
In 2006 the Yearly Meeting approved the following Minute:
Basic to Quaker belief is the faith that the same Light we recognize in our own hearts illuminates the souls of all other people. This belief leads us to seek nonviolent means of resolving conflicts at all levels— interpersonally, within communities, among nations—and to work for justice as a basis for lasting peace. We find ourselves bound in many ways as citizens of the United States to policies of our government which are abhorrent to us and in violation of our most deeply held beliefs. Our efforts to encourage our government to establish policies that will lead to peace and justice here and around the world have not been adequate to bring about the change which is so urgently needed. The destructive forces unleashed in our world threaten the future of all people and the planet itself. Throughout our history, Quakers have at various times found ourselves called to suffer for beliefs which have placed us in opposition to our government. Based on this history of courageous witness, we challenge Friends to now consider participating in nonviolent civil disobedience.
This call is even more urgent today. We encourage Friends to discern how they are called to bear witness for peace and justice and to support each other in doing so.
We approved the following two minutes:
1. Don Laughlin and Sherry Hutchison
The death of Don Laughlin, and absence of Sherry Hutchison, are keenly felt at these annual sessions of Iowa Yearly Meeting (Conservative). We have appreciated their life long examples of spiritual integrity and tireless work for peace, social justice and care for our environment and for all those who have been fortunate to have worked with them.
- Ethical Transportation
Radically reducing fossil fuel use has long been a concern of Iowa Yearly Meeting (Conservative). A previously approved Minute urged us to reduce our use of personal automobiles. We have continued to be challenged by the design of our communities that makes this difficult. This is even more challenging in rural areas. But our environmental crisis means we must find ways to address this issue quickly.
Friends are encouraged to challenge themselves and to simplify their lives in ways that can enhance their spiritual environmental integrity. One of our meetings uses the term “ethical transportation,” which is a helpful way to be mindful of this.
Long term, we need to encourage ways to make our communities “walkable”, and to expand public transportation systems. These will require major changes in infrastructure and urban planning.
Carpooling and community shared vehicles would help. We can develop ways to coordinate neighbors needing to travel to shop for food, attend meetings, visit doctors, etc. We could explore using existing school buses or shared vehicles to provide intercity transportation.
One immediately available step would be to promote the use of bicycles as a visible witness for non-fossil fuel transportation. Friends may forget how easy and fun it can be to travel miles on bicycles. Neighbors seeing families riding their bicycles to Quaker meetings would have an impact on community awareness. This is a way for our children to be involved in this shared witness. We should encourage the expansion of bicycle lanes and paths. We can repair and recycle unused bicycles and make them available to those who have the need.
We approved having the yearly meeting clerk mail the following two letters to the U.S. Representatives and Senators of IYMC members:
- Defense Spending
Dear ___________
Quakers of Iowa Yearly Meeting (Conservative) ask you to vote to reduce military spending, increase support of real human needs, and renew support for the United Nations.
The House of Representatives has passed its 2018 National Defense Authorization Act allocating $688.3 billion to the Pentagon, which is a ten percent increase ($54 billion) over the 2017 budget. Any increase in military spending entails diminishing national commitment to health, education, environment, diplomacy, and international development. In terms of discretionary spending, our overall security needs are being sacrificed to a bloated military.
The United States spends more on its armed forces than the next seven countries combined. None of our recent military actions have bought us peace or security, nor enhanced our international standing. In the process, many people have died. Many more exist in perilous limbo as refugees. The human and economic costs will be with us for generations.
Quakers have long opposed violent conflict. Recognizing that of God in every person, how can we kill? Peace and justice are our goals, and we do not believe violence will achieve them. George Fox stated, “We seek to live in the virtue of that life and power that takes away the occasion of all wars.”
Your influence and your vote are critical in furthering true security.
2. Reducing the influence of money in politics
Dear ____________
Friends of Iowa Yearly Meeting (Conservative) have long been concerned about the disproportionate influence of money and wealth on our lives and our government. Attempts were made to restrain this influence with campaign finance reform. The U. S. Supreme Court’s “Citizen’s United” decision led to the abandonment of any attempt to restrain the takeover of our government by wealthy corporations and their owners. In this decision, the Court held that corporations have the rights of living human beings. The proposed amendment clarifies what is obvious.
Human beings, not corporations, are endowed with constitutional rights.
Money is not speech, and therefore regulating political contributions and spending is not equivalent to limiting political speech.
We ask you to co-sponsor Joint Resolution 48 of the 115th Congress that reinstates the right of the people to regulate the political spending of corporations.
The voices of the people are more powerful when we limit the influence of money from corporations. We encourage Congress to support amendments to the Constitution that rectify this.
Peace and Social Concerns Budget 2017
| Alternatives to Violence Project (split evenly between Iowa, Nebraska, and South Dakota) | $150.00 |
| AFSC Midwest Region (for immigration) | $100.00 |
| Frontera de Cristo (for Migrant Resource Center) | $50.00 |
| Friends Peace Teams (for Peacemaking en las Americas) | $100.00 |
| Nebraskans for Alternatives to the Death Penalty | $50.00 |
| Missourians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty | $50.00 |
| Friends for a Nonviolent World | $100.00 |
| Monteverde Friends School | $100.00 |
| Quaker House near Fort Bragg NC | $50.00 |
| STAR PAC | $50.00 |
| Women’s Internatonal League for Peace and Freedom | $50.00 |
| Iowans Against the Dealth Penalty | $50.00 |
| Indigenous Iowa | $100.00 |
| Middle East Peace Education Coalition | $100.00 |
| Total | $1,100.00 |
We listened to the thoughtful Ministry and Counsel Committee Report and appreciate the insights it offers and the spirit of the report.
Ministry and Counsel Report 2017
The Ministry and Counsel Committee of IYM(C) met daily, Third through Seventh Days, with an additional meeting on Seventh Day. In this time together we shared how our spiritual lives have deepened, reviewed our on- going work, and considered new concerns brought to us.
Several meetings report being enriched and invigorated by new attenders. We share a concern for inclusiveness, noting that our announcements may assume unity or knowledge which is not actually there. M&C continues to discuss how to welcome and include newcomers to Yearly Meeting, having heard the comment: “You are all used to one another, but you’re not used to reaching out.”
We received a report from our subcommittee on child safety practices. They have compiled the resources from the 2016 program and had begun writing possible practices and guidelines for yearly meeting. With the addition of another member, this committee, which we are calling the Ad-hoc Committee on Child Safety Practices, under the care of Ministry and Counsel, now consists of: Penny Majors, Liz Oppenheimer and Sonja Sponheim.
We continue to look at our Advices and Queries. One meeting reports that only the Advice, and not the Query, is read for consideration.
The Scattergood Friends School Committee approached M&C with the following: After the 2014 IYM Session, the YM Clerk sent monthly meetings a query formulated by the SFS Committee: “What relationship shall the yearly meeting have with the school in the future? What charge does the yearly meeting give to the School Committee for the school?” Meetings were invited to respond and thoughtful conversations occurred. The results of these conversations were neither shared with the School Committee nor at Yearly Meeting. The School Committee asked for guidance in following up on these conversations. We spent some time with these questions in our meeting. We are sorry that the conversations were not compiled and shared with the wider meeting. We believe that visitation in both directions would go a long way in understating and increasing the relationship between monthly meetings and Scattergood Friends School.
We had a discussion of the challenges faced by the Entertainment Committee. A concern had been expressed that the school is not adequately clean. Noting that Des Moines Friends help clean Bear Creek Meetinghouse in preparation for MidYear Meeting, it was suggested having a clean-up day at Scattergood prior to yearly meeting. We do not know whether M&C is where this idea might be seasoned. There is a concern that people may be discouraged from volunteering for entertainment committee because there are high expectations and Friends might not be understanding when expectations are not met.
M&C affirms that it is important that each monthly meeting be represented at our meetings during yearly meeting sessions. We have been missing members for several years. When the appointed M&C members cannot attend the annual sessions, we urge the monthly meeting to name a substitute. We are troubled that there are only two men on our committee and wonder whether this reflects the gender balance on monthly meeting ministry and counsel committees.
We listened with care to the State of the Meeting reports and tenderly held meetings’ joys and struggles. We return them to the Yearly Meeting clerk with the recommendation that they be read during these annual sessions.
On behalf of the Ministry & Counsel Committee, Lorene Ludy, clerk
We listened to the State of the Meeting Reports.
STATE OF THE MEETING REPORTS
STATE OF THE MEETING 2017 – AMES FRIENDS MEETING
It has been an active and interesting year for Ames Friends. May 2016 marked 50 years since our meeting was incorporated with the State of Iowa. It was discovered that the original articles of incorporation included a 50-year time limit. With some legal assistance we were able to revise the articles so that our status will continue in perpetuity.
Our membership has grown as several meeting-attenders chose to become members and new people moved into our community. We average 15-18 Friends who regularly attend worship. Participation in Meeting for Business is also good and the care and maintenance of our Meeting House and grounds is shared widely.
Our schedule operates as follows on a monthly basis. The first “First Day” worship is from 10:30-11:30. The second “First Day” worship is from 10:30- 11:15, following by Quaker Conversation from 11:30-12:30. Conversations this year have included discussions of Queries and guest speakers. The third “First Day” worship is from 10:30-11:15 followed by a Potluck lunch. The fourth “First Day” worship is from 10:30-11:15 followed by Meeting for Business. For months with five “First Days” the fifth day is worship from 10:30-11:30. We believe this schedule meets both the need for adequate time for worship and allows for the busy lives of Ames Friends.
Ames Friends are blessed to have a comfortable and well-designed Meeting House in a quiet neighborhood in Ames. The house and grounds are well kept by the shared efforts of Friends. This summer we are engaged in painting the outside of the Meeting House in another group effort.
Peace and Social Justice concerns have been much on the minds and hearts of Ames Friends this year. The outcomes of state and national elections, and subsequent actions by the legislative and executive branches of our state and nation, have raised the level of concern for the rights of refugees, immigrants, and minorities. Ames Friends have been active in responding to these concerns.
Living in complex and sometimes frightening times has created challenges for Ames Friends as we work to come to agreement on how to respond to and communicate our concerns. It is an opportunity for growth in spirit and to use our Quaker principles to strengthen us as individuals and as members of our communities at all levels. State of the Meeting 2017 – Ames Friends Meeting
It has been an active and interesting year for Ames Friends. May 2016 marked 50 years since our meeting was incorporated with the State of Iowa. It was discovered that the original articles of incorporation included a 50-year time limit. With some legal assistance we were able to revise the articles so that our status will continue in perpetuity.
Our membership has grown as several meeting-attenders chose to become members and new people moved into our community. We average 15-18 Friends who regularly attend worship. Participation in Meeting for Business is also good and the care and maintenance of our Meeting House and grounds is shared widely.
Our schedule operates as follows on a monthly basis. The first “First Day” worship is from 10:30-11:30. The second “First Day” worship is from 10:30- 11:15, following by Quaker Conversation from 11:30-12:30. Conversations this year have included discussions of Queries and guest speakers. The third “First Day” worship is from 10:30-11:15 followed by a Potluck lunch. The fourth “First Day” worship is from 10:30-11:15 followed by Meeting for Business. For months with five “First Days” the fifth day is worship from 10:30-11:30. We believe this schedule meets both the need for adequate time for worship and allows for the busy lives of Ames Friends.
Ames Friends are blessed to have a comfortable and well-designed Meeting House in a quiet neighborhood in Ames. The house and grounds are well kept by the shared efforts of Friends. This summer we are engaged in painting the outside of the Meeting House in another group effort.
Peace and Social Justice concerns have been much on the minds and hearts of Ames Friends this year. The outcomes of state and national elections, and subsequent actions by the legislative and executive branches of our state and nation, have raised the level of concern for the rights of refugees, immigrants, and minorities. Ames Friends have been active in responding to these concerns.
Living in complex and sometimes frightening times has created challenges for Ames Friends as we work to come to agreement on how to respond to and communicate our concerns. It is an opportunity for growth in spirit and to use our Quaker principles to strengthen us as individuals and as members of our communities at all levels.
BEAR CREEK STATE OF THE MEETING REPORT 2017
Our beloved community of seekers gathers to share in the oneness of Spirit that nurtures our commitment to loving–kindness and mutual care.
We find that our gift for hospitality moves us to create a space where we welcome neighbors and friends to share our meeting house for a variety of gatherings throughout the year. We are especially grateful for the opportunity to host Mid-Year Meeting. We draw strength from the preparation and fellowship. The welcome assistance from nearby Des Moines Valley Friends is greatly cherished.
The topic for the Mid-year gathering this year focused on Quaker education, and deeply touched many in our Meeting, who feel our Yearly Meeting support for Scattergood school is a dynamic and crucial witness for Quaker values and testimonies. Several of our members attended school at Scattergood over the years, and for some families it has been a tradition for grandparents, parents and children. As students from small rural communities, it greatly expanded their lives, and continues to be a valuable and important part of their Quaker experience.
We recognize, and often struggle in our awareness of the demographics that have defined our small, rural Meeting over the years. Once the center of life, Spirit, and community in an agriculturally centered economy, we now depend on a diverse membership who travel a distance to faithfully contribute to the Meeting family. We are also blessed by our distant members and Laughing Waters Friends, who tenderly contribute to the Spirit of our Meeting with additions to the Query discussions and attention to various issues of concern.
We are called to stay present and trust God’s Spirit, especially in difficult and challenging times. The Meeting is blessed as members become involved in new ways and share spiritual experiences. This is evidenced as the meeting is providing a care-and-accountability committee to a member who is carrying a concern for addressing whiteness and racism among Friends, and a support committee for a member who is part of the Deeper Roots Quaker program. We keep in touch with a member who writes blogs about climate change and spiritual leadings.
As we come to know one another more deeply, we try to speak to each other in a Spirit of love and concern. and continue to explore the spiritual roots that strengthen the foundation of our faith.
STATE OF THE MEETING REPORT 2017
LAUGHING WATERS PREPATORY MEETING
To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.
(Ecclesiastes 3:1, KJV)
Laughing Waters Friends Preparative Meeting has had a change in its seasons. We are again welcoming visitors and newcomers to our meetings for worship. One new household has been worshiping with us regularly, and that connection is fostering new relationships with a few nearby college students and Friends from another meeting. We watch in wonder as babes grow into middle- schoolers and high school seniors. Even the youngest child among us starts grade school this fall.
Our former clerk laid down her work in August 2016. What we notice is the movement of Spirit amongst us tending to basic clerking needs, yet we also notice what tasks are not being done. We have had no meetings for worship for business since the end of last year. At times we are challenged to gather for worship regularly, which for us is twice a month.
This past year Laughing Waters did take under our care one of our member’s community efforts to hold a series of educational forums on justice work for Friends in the Twin Cities area. Also, over half of our households have had intervisitation with members from Bear Creek Meeting. We continue to deeply appreciate the friendships and support we have through Bear Creek Meeting.
In summary, we share from our minutes from Tenth Month 2016:
“We [affirm] the importance of knowing where we are in our process and what we can or cannot do—similar in yoga, to not ‘hold a pose’ longer than we can, nor to press ourselves beyond our capacity because of perceived expectations or an external standard. This is in tension with the yearning to embody the spiritual discipline that IYMC models for us, such as answering queries.
“We acknowledge that the culture of IYMC is something that a number of us intentionally strive to integrate and allow for our own internal transformation, bringing us closer to God and to a living spiritual community. First Day School, answering queries, taking up peace and justice work, worshiping more frequently: Are we truly okay with how we actually are, or do we want something more than that?…
“…What allows us the greatest opportunity and freedom to be a conduit of the Light, serving one another, being faithful to God?”
DECORAH FRIENDS MEETING
STATE OF MEETING 2017
“I have the assurance that two or three will be gathered in quiet waiting, seeking together, it is a time of going within, and for seeking my calling, with others who share that search “.
Decorah Friends Meeting continues this weekly gathering, in faithfulness, and in the expectation that it will “take me out of the 2-day mentality”. Many times more than two or three (oftentimes ten or twelve) gather, depending upon the comings and goings of our mostly post-workforce-age members and attenders. There are times when words of wisdom come through Meeting for Worship; there are times when we long for more vocal ministry in Meeting. One young adult attender appreciates our fellowship but seeks more spiritual community with people her own age. This is a sadness, both for her and for us.
We have strong participation and good spirit in attending to business at Meeting. This past year saw us as a Meeting hosting the Driftless Friends Gathering in Decorah, a winter retreat of sorts, with about 30 Friends from the Driftless Bioregion attending. We also decided to install photovoltaic panels on our property, and continue to maintain and upgrade our Meetinghouse, and the upstairs apartment for our long-time tenant. When we’ve turned outward, we contribute to a quarterly religion page column in the paper, we are active in the local peace and justice center, we’ve participated in an ecumenical study of white privilege, and have submitted several letters to the editor on issues of concern.
One of the anchors for Decorah Friends Meeting in the past year has been care for relationships – with others in our fellowship, with others in our community, and within the web of life. The practices of worship, breaking bread, and special activities through the year help us create right relationship with each other and remind us of right sharing of our resources. Health challenges in the past year have continued to help us practice our care for each other. We sometimes wonder what lies ahead for Decorah Friends Meeting, as we age, and as few young people find us. At this time, it is enough for us to continue to gather, and to sit in expectant waiting,
DES MOINES VALLEY FRIENDS MEETING
STATE OF THE MEETING REPORT 2017
The life of our meeting was stretched by many challenges, as well as many opportunities during the past year. Vigorous, and yet fragile if not tended, our meeting continues to be diverse in many ways. Friends are aging and changing. We are blessed with a number of younger seekers, whose presence enriches and energizes our worship and our community. New attenders sojourn with us for variable amounts of time as they follow their own leadings. We celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of the meetinghouse with a community- wide open house and creation of a booklet of writings and drawings. Sharing these reflections deepened our relationships, especially across the generations. Truth has prospered within our meeting through our worship, from the ministry arising from the Spirit in our midst and from faithfully following the leadings of individual Friends. These leadings brought us challenges, as we sought the sense of the meeting for supporting immigrants and refugees as part of an interdenominational sanctuary coalition. Our meetings for worship with attention to business have been generally well attended and we have found that allowing time for discernment has yielded greater mutual understanding. As we have faithfully followed Quaker leadings and practices, so have we been nurtured as individual Friends and the needs of our faith community have been well tended. We are grateful for the presence of our elders, our children and all those in between. With optimism and resilience, we continue to explore what faith and love can do to heal and transform the world.
2016-17 STATE OF THE MEETING, IOWA CITY
Iowa City Meeting seems to have reached a more stable core of members and attenders who are sustaining this spiritual community. Both attendance and vocal ministry increased, beginning with the experiment with Light Groups who met for several months and provided a bond for those who participated through sharing our varied lives. We have welcomed young families, graduate students and/or University faculty who come from many backgrounds and experiences, eager to explore the deeper insights and outlooks we offer through worship and fellowship. There has been a greater use of our reorganized and refurbished library; we are grateful for the dedication of those who tend it and provide occasional reviews of current publications to encourage its use.
Many visitors come to our Meeting throughout the year. One memorable visit this year was the woman whose family made our Meeting House a reality many years ago when they left the University and allowed our Meeting to assume the mortgage on the property. She was back in Iowa City with a grand- daughter who is now attending the University of Iowa. Several of our most faithful members live some distance from Iowa City, but frequently make the drive to worship with us an enrich our programs with their dedication and spiritual leadership.
Two ongoing programs have strengthened our Meeting this year: the sharing of spiritual journeys on a sporadic basis; and an adult education series expanding our appreciation for Quaker principles and practice.
STATE OF THE MEETING
LINCOLN MONTHLY MEETING, 2017
There is a sense of positive new energy in the Meeting this year. We are better integrated in our internal dynamics and working together on new projects. This energy seems inspired, in part, by the troubling times faced by the country since last year’s presidential election. There is renewed sense in the Meeting of commitment to involvement in community affairs. After years of hiatus, we re- started our Peace and Social Concerns Committee. A member commented on the sense of purpose and testimony by example in the actions of the Meeting. The Meeting has worked well together this year on a beautiful wedding, our fall gathering for Nebraska Friends, and the memorial service for a beloved long-time Friend. The Alternatives to Violence Project continues to be part of spiritual life of Meeting, and participants have found a home here. We have also been blessed to have new people attending Meeting.
Over the past several years the Meeting has had trouble with expenses exceeding its income. Our treasurer explained the problem in depth to the Meeting this last year. Contributions to the Meeting have since increased, and we are pleased that currently our financial condition has stabilized. We recognize with caution that this stability is dependent on continuing contributions by members.
We felt a greater atmosphere of sincere caring and compassion for each other this year. People reached out to support one another in response to illnesses. In general there has been a feeling of more interconnectedness.
While our “core” group may be few in number, there is a strong and vibrant strength of spirituality and community in the Meeting. We endeavor to be a welcoming place for new and returning attenders and Friends. One Friend expressed thanks for Meeting for Worship; saying the word “thankful” is not big enough to encompass the healing experienced. Another Friend expressed delight in seeing the Spirit holding us in the Light.
OMAHA MONTHLY MEETING
STATE OF THE MEETING – 2017
The Omaha Monthly Meeting has seemed to grow smaller in this past year. We had several younger attenders the previous couple of years, but they have not been a part of our meetings this year and we fear they have grown unhappy with our small size and not seen a reason to continue to join us. Nevertheless, we continue to meet every Sunday for worship and discussion, and we have enjoyed worship and fellowship with several traveling guests.
We have discussed whether we should continue as a Monthly Meeting or become a worship group instead. So far, hope abounds and we continue to act as a Monthly Meeting. We have, however, dropped our monthly business meetings in favor of meeting every other month or when an item needs to be discussed. Our worship continues to be a refuge and inspiration for the people attending.
Our second-hour discussions have been on widely varied topics of both spiritual and social concerns, including reading Thomas Kelly together.
PAULLINA MEETING –
STATE OF THE MEETING REPORT 2017
We continue to be enriched by our weekly meetings for worship with our small community of members and attenders. We are grateful for our friends and families who have visited us throughout the year, especially the large family reunions. Our children particularly enjoy the Sunday school program every fourth Sunday, while our monthly adult discussions led by our members or guests give us the opportunity to reflect how we navigate this world as Friends.
Although our numbers are small, our meetings for worship are filled with a rejuvenating spirit. The monthly queries enable us to discuss how we as individuals and as a meeting can further our quest for a peaceful and compassionate community and world.
We continue to make improvements and repairs to our buildings. It is fun to see everyone working together to get the various projects done.
We have had several discussions about our meeting becoming a sanctuary site for immigrants facing deportation. With our small numbers and with many of our members living a fair distance away, the logistics of this endeavor would be a challenge. We are discussing the best way to be of assistance to those in need.
We are thankful for our community and look forward to another joyful year with family and friends. We share our love with all.
STATE OF SOCIETY REPORT 2017
SIOUX FALLS AREA FRIENDS WORSHIP GROUP
Under the care of Paullina Monthly Meeting
On most First Days, between three and nine friends gather for worship in Sioux Falls. We come with a sense of contentment and expectant waiting seeking a place of refuge and shelter from the tyranny of cable news and the ocean of darkness that engulfs our country and world. We are physically scattered and when we return to worship together we have a sense of coming home, of caring for one another and of spiritual intimacy. Our sharing after worship and our social times together over meals also help draw us into beloved community. Intervisitation with other Friends Meetings continues to enrich our spiritual life, as well.
Sometimes during worship we experience a profound sense of the presence of God in our midst. We try to carry this presence into our daily lives so that this Light within us may reach out and be a blessing to others. We are grateful for the path revealed by the prophets and Jesus—to love our neighbor and our enemies, to seek reconciliation with those experiencing injustice and to walk humbly with our God.
Attendance ebbs and flows over the years. We are grateful for the presence of new attenders and for those who are no longer attending due to changed circumstances or death. We appreciate the time they spend on loan with us and the many ways they enrich our community. We have experimented with changing meeting times and continue to be open to how we can best welcome current and new attenders.
On our drives through the countryside to meeting we frequently experience the beauty of the ever changing creation. It is with surprise and joy that we experience the changing seasons –the bright greens of early summer, the golden hues of the autumn harvest and the sparkling snowy landscapes of winter. These simple pleasures take us back to a simpler time in our childhood when we enjoyed being present to the frogs and crayfish along the creek banks. May we all become more like children open to the wonder and glory of God’s creation.
PENN VALLEY MONTHLY MEETING
STATE OF THE MEETING
In the midst of the trauma permeating our world in 2016-17, the Winds of the Spirit were definitely at work on, within, and through Penn Valley Meeting. We actively engaged the larger community—contributing to/participating in efforts such as Standing Rock, flood victims in Louisiana, New House Shelter for victims of domestic violence, Haitians besieged by poverty and storms, and the Justice Alliance forming here in KC. We sought to grow through a wide- ranging and thoughtful set of programs, ranging from spirituality to advocacy. Yes, it was a good year. Yet, there were and are significant challenges.
To best capture the essence of the Spirit’s leadings this year, two images are helpful—that of grass making its way to the sun through slowly cracking asphalt and a ribbon of contention running through the fiber of the Meeting. Both images were offered up by members and taken together they represent cross-currents Penn Valley is traversing as we move forward.
The image of grass breaking through asphalt came to one of us in the midst of Penn Valley’s discernment regarding renting office space (soon to be vacated by AFSC-KC’s closing) to the Kansas Chapter of the Council on American Islamic Relations. Strong passions and differences emerged, at points seeming to overwhelm us. The honest, but often quite contentious, deliberations brought forth a plethora of emotions and questions, including a strong sense of calling to stand with our Muslim neighbors, fears for safety both as individuals and as a Meeting, perceptions that Quaker integrity required our standing up despite our fears, uneasiness at our lack of real knowledge of Islam, and the discomforting awareness that U.S. Islamophobia informs our world views. Yet, the faithfulness of the Spirit was palpable, even as some of us began to doubt we could find our way. In the end, the hardened asphalt began to disintegrate and blades of grass began pushing their way toward the sun—and the clear sense of the Meeting was to move forward with the rental agreement with CAIR-KS.
The second image that depicts our journey is that of a ribbon of contention running through the fiber of the Meeting. That ribbon hides much of the time as we pride ourselves on being a community that cares for each other. And, that is certainly true. But, we also don’t always deal well with conflict. Instead, we often back away from confronting the ribbon, perhaps pretending that it isn’t really there. So, the ribbon persists. It appears when we try to learn Quaker discipline in ALL of our dealings with each other—not “just” Meeting for Worship with Attention to Business or in Vocal Ministry. It shows up when we begin to deal with the realities of an aging meetinghouse that will likely require costly repairs in the near future. Relatedly, it becomes apparent when we begin to consider getting serious about creating a new “home”—one that could more readily serve the needs of children and their parents. Again, as in the case of CAIR-KS, the Spirit seems to be asking us to face up to this reality. Indeed, another of us describes it as, “There is a strong current being used constructively to bring us to a place of peace.”
Yes, the Winds of the Spirit are blowing through Penn Valley. Now, we must work to stay open to the Spirit’s continuing guidance and live faithfully into these realities, leaning on the fruits of the Spirit to sustain us.
STATE OF THE MEETING REPORT
SILVER RIVER WORSHIP GROUP
LA PLATA, MO
We want to begin by expressing our gratitude to both Penn Valley Friends Meeting and IYMC for their interest and support in our worship group.
Our worship group is a small but vibrant group of individuals from La Plata, Kirksville and Truman State University. Our median age is about 30 with a lot of 20-something’s participating. Most attenders are affiliated with the Possibility Alliance (PA) in some way. Visitors to the PA often attend Meeting and quite a few have gone on to attend Quaker meetings in other parts of the country.
The silence in our meetings for worship is deep and powerful. We continue to worship outside by the herb gardens under the walnut trees when weather permits. This brings a depth of connection to creation and God’s presence in all the living things that sing and breathe around us. Our vocal ministry is not as strong as it has been in the past, mainly because so many of our attenders are new to Quaker worship and the practice of speaking out of the silence. Many of us, including the children, miss the regular singing we used to do before worship (before our piano accompanist moved away). It lifted our spirits and helped us center. To date, none of the attenders has requested membership.
We would benefit from and deeply appreciate regular visits by Friends at Sunday Meetings for Worship. We would also appreciate a workshop on vocal ministry andothertopics. Atthepresenttimewedonothavetheconsistentpresenceof seasoned Friends in attendance that we have had in the past. Victoria Albright and David Wilcox have only been able to attend two meetings this summer. We miss them and the visits from Jim and Ginger Kenny (although we fully understand that they are not able to travel here anymore). Their interest and support in starting this worship group is greatly missed.
We ask that the Yearly Meeting hold us in the Light as at least two of the regularly attending families are considering moving out of Missouri. This puts our future in uncertain waters unless other attenders choose to take on the responsibility of continuing. It would be helpful for members of Penn Valley and/or IYMC to organize a clearness committee process in the near future to help us discern the future of Silver River Worship Group.
STATE OF THE MEETING REPORT 2017
WEST BRANCH MONTHLY MEETING
This has been a year of loss and rekindling for West Branch Meeting. In August,Don Laughlin, our oldest and one of our most devoted members, fell and injured himself. He decided that he had completed his life’s work, and that he was ready to move on to the next part of his journey. He considered his choices with care and decided to stop eating and drinking. Over the following days he welcomed visits from family and friends. Many Friends visited him; it was a time of much tenderness. We miss him dearly and mention him often.
He has set a high bar for all of us when it comes to being good stewards of our planet.Whenever any of us travel by airplane we feel Don traveling beside us, softly encouraging us to do better for the Earth.
This year we have also welcomed new attenders to our meeting. We had Cindy,Peter,and Mathew Trueblood join in our worship for the year while Mathew completed a year at Scattergood Friends School and Farm. We have benefitted from their presence and their ministry. Our numbers at First Day Meeting also continue to be bolstered by the students and faculty from Scattergood who join us for worship on First Day. We benefit from their attendance and the messages they share with us.
Our monthly pre-meeting Adult Education series enhances our spirituality and allows members to listen to other perspectives about being a Friend and why we have chosen to be active members of a monthly meeting. Many of us are awed by the wisdom and insights of the authors we read for Adult Education and our discussions about these readings.
We have also continued to struggle with the work associated with our meeting. This includes the planning and committee staffing at our monthly meeting and Yearly Meeting, as well as taking on tasks such as clerking, keeping our budget, recording our membership, paying our bills, weeding our plantings, and the list goes on. Sometimes we think and on occasion we even verbalize that the work is not uniformly distributed and that we appreciate the few who do so much for the meeting. We have not found a solution to this continued struggle. From conversations at Mid-Year and Yearly meeting we know that members of West Branch Monthly Meeting are not alone in this struggle.
We continue to work on our outreach and try to stay in contact with non- attending Friends who are either nearby or far away. We often receive notes from these members who appreciate their continued relationship with the meeting. We appreciate learning that our monthly meeting is important to these individuals and hope that they will join us in person when the way opens.
WHITTIER STATE OF THE MEETING 2017
Recently at Whittier we had a business meeting and during this business meeting we all seemed to realize that we missed having them. We didn’t seem to miss the issues we were trudging through but in discussing those issues it was obvious the care and love we had for each other. There were smiles, looks of care, active listening, loving suggestions and the meeting ended with us having a sense of belonging and purpose. We mattered to each other.
We discussed one issue in particular and that was our tree grant covered all but a certain amount of the cost of our trees we planted/ replaced at Whittier. We decided to “let it be”: not fix it, not do anything but just let the costs sit as they were. The next week we received a check making up the shortfall in funds. The person who did this helped us realize how many people came forward to help. We opened our doors and said, “We need you to help us.” So many people came forward. We became part of the community and the community became part of us. What a loving bridge to build. Our discussions now need to be how we will continue to maintain this bridge.
Meeting for worship, after-meeting discussions and potlucks… these are just a few of our blessings at Whittier. All of these things help us connect with each other, support each other and hold each other close in love and respect. They also give us a chance to air our worries, ask for help, give help to others and strengthens our spiritual muscle so we are not only collectively strong but individually strong. Our nurturing of our spirituality is a priority. As it should be.
We close the morning session to reconvene at 2:00 p.m.
Seventh Day 7/29/2017 Afternoon Session 2:00 p.m.
We resume the business of Yearly Meeting
Courage is not the absence of fear, but the ability to act despite it. Archbishop Desmond Tutu 2016
Karen Greenler and Nancy Jordan have been appointed as readers this afternoon.
We thank Tim Shipe for preparing our Yearly Meeting Recorder Report for us.
We remember Belle Hinshaw who, while not listed in our Recorder’s Report because she was not a member of our yearly meeting, deeply impacted so many people during her many years working at Scattergood School and Farm.
These Friends who have passed have touched our lives: We learned from them, we laughed with them, the works they left behind will continue to shape many generations into the future.
Iowa Yearly Meeting of Friends (Conservative)
2016-2017 RECORDER’S REPORT
| DEATHS | ||
| Ames | Marian Solomon (date corrected from 2016 minute book; included in 2016 statistics) | December 31, 2015 |
| Bear Creek | Gladys Marie Bierma | April 2, 2017 |
| Paullina | Theodore M. Crosbie | July 23, 2016 |
| West Branch | Donald Eugene Laughlin Ernest | August 19, 2016 |
| Alfred Lang | March 26, 2017 | |
| Luther Pemberton | May 4, 2017 | |
| BIRTHS | ||
| Des Moines Valley | Leland Samuel Howard (to Benjamin Howard and Michelle Gillotti Howard | January 31, 2017 |
| West Branch | Thomas Fitch Karanikolas (to Amanda Patton Karanikolas and Steve Karanikolas) | September 19, 2016 |
MARRIAGES UNDER THE CARE OF THE MEETINGS
| Lincoln | Lee Tesdell | August 2016 (by request) |
| Ebby Luvaga | August 2016 (by request) | |
| David Hansen | September 2016 | |
| (by certificate from Las Cruces Meeting) | ||
| Penn Valley | Patric Garrison | October 2016 (by request) |
| Sharon Eiker | May 2017 (by request) | |
| West Branch | Eric Tucker | February 12, 2017 |
| Robert Tucker | February 12, 2017 |
Friends approved the Representatives Committee Report with appreciation.
2017 Representatives Committee Report
With our Treasurer, the Representatives propose a budget for the coming year with the following changes:
Yearly Meeting entertainment committee line is being zeroed out, as it is no longer part of Yearly Meeting budget. Quaker Earthcare Witness Delegate Expense increased to $1200; Yearly Meeting Expense for Friends Travel Conference increased to $1300; Publication Committee decreased to $3000; $450 added for Website Committee; and a new line item for printing of Faith and Practice of $2000.
The Publications Committee, in consultation with the Yearly Meeting Clerk, is the body to discern what corrections are to be made with reprinting of the Faith and Practice.
We recommend keeping for one additional year a line item of $2000 for Scattergood facilities.
In response to an inbound scholarship request/concern from Interim Meeting, representatives suggest that a letter be sent to other Yearly Meetings from our Yearly Meeting clerk. This letter would note that IYM(C) has no set fees for registration or housing on campus. We did not include a line item in budget
Apportionments remain essentially at the same levels.
We note that $71,800 is being raised by apportionment. If the entire budgeted amount of $85,000 is expended, we expect that $13,200 will be drawn from cash on hand.
We recommend that the Possibilities Committee continue as an ad hoc committee, exploring options for how to increase participation in Iowa Yearly Meeting sessions. The Possibilities Committee is encouraged to think about an option for Yearly Meeting to offer financial support to attendees from our own monthly meetings to offset individual costs, if cost is a barrier.
The Representatives would like to express appreciation to the Yearly Meeting for the work of our Clerk, Assistant Clerk, Treasurer, Assistant Treasurer, and Recorder. We are grateful for many years of service by Jean Sandstrom and George Bergus. We suggest the following appointments for the coming year:
Clerk: Deborah Dakin
Assistant Clerk: in discernment
Treasurer: Rebecca Bergus
Assistant Treasurer: Shirley Scritchfield
Recorder: Tim Shipe
The person considering assistant clerk position continues under discernment. We ask for nominating committee to bring a name to Interim Meeting for approval, if the current person is unable to accept the position before that time. We are open to other suggestions for how to make this appointment in the interim, if unfilled
We suggest Yearly Meeting be held from 7/24 to 7/29, 2018 at Scattergood School and Farm, near West Branch, Iowa.
On behalf of the representatives,
Cindy Winchell, clerk
Yearly Meeting Budget FY 2017-2018
| American Friends Service Committee | $ 1,000.00 |
| Friends Committee on National Legislation | $ 1,000.00 |
| Friends General Conference | $ 200.00 |
| Friends World Committee for Consultation | $ 700.00 |
| Iowa Peace Network | $ 100.00 |
| Nebraskans for Peace | $ 400.00 |
| Friends Peace Teams | $ 500.00 |
| National Religious Campaign Against Torture | $ 100.00 |
| Pendle Hill | $ 500.00 |
| Peace and Social Concerns Committee | $ 1,100.00 |
| Quaker Earthcare Witness | $ 300.00 |
| Quaker United Nations Office | $ 200.00 |
| Right Sharing of World Resources | $ 400.00 |
| Scattergood Friends School | $ 54,000.00 |
| Scattergood Facilities | $ 2,000.00 |
| William Penn House | $ 300.00 |
| Total Contributions | $ 62,800.00 |
| Delegate Expenses | |
| FCNL | $ 1,200.00 |
| Friends Peace Teams | $ 1,200.00 |
| FWCC – General | $ 1,200.00 |
| Quaker Earthcare Witness | $ 1,200.00 |
| Conservative Yearly Meeting Visitation | $ 1,200.00 |
| Total Delegate Expenses | $ 6,000.00 |
| Yearly Meeting Expenses | |
| Archives Committee | $ 200.00 |
| Clerk’s and Other Adm. Expenses | $ 400.00 |
| Committee Expenses (Other) | $ 300.00 |
| Conscientious Objector PSC subcommittee | $ 100.00 |
| Friends Travel & Conference | $ 1,300.00 |
| Iowa Yearly Meeting Trustees | $ 1,000.00 |
| Junior Yearly Meeting | $ 1,500.00 |
| Pendle Hill Scholarship Match | $ 400.00 |
| Publication Committee | $ 3,000.00 |
| Faith & Practice Reprint (one-time expense) | $ 2,000.00 |
| Website Committee | $ 450.00 |
| Quaker Youth Camp Scholarship | $ 500.00 |
| Special Needs Committee | $ 750.00 |
| Young Adult Friends | $ 300.00 |
| Young Friends | $ 1,500.00 |
| Midyear Planning Committee if receipts inadequate* | $ 500.00 |
| YM Entertainment Committee if receipts inadequate* | $ 0.00 |
| Clerk’s Contingency Fund | $ 1,000.00 |
| Transfer to Reserve Fund | $ 1,000.00 |
| Total YM Expenses | $ 16,200.00 |
| Total Budget | $ 31,376.54 |
| Funding Sources | |
| Cash Balance Available for Budget | $ 15,176.54 |
| Monthly Meeting Apportionments | $ 71,800.00 |
| Total Anticipated Available Funds | $ 86,976.54 |
Fiscal Year 2017-2018
Monthly Meeting Apportionments
| Amount | |
| Ames | $ 4,400.00 |
| Bear Creek | $ 5,500.00 |
| Decorah | $ 1,500.00 |
| Des Moines Valley | $ 15,500.00 |
| Iowa City | $ 6,000.00 |
| Lincoln | $ 7,200.00 |
| Omaha | $ 3,250.00 |
| Paullina | $ 8,500.00 |
| Penn Valley | $ 5,500.00 |
| West Branch | $ 11,250.00 |
| Whittier | $ 3,200.00 |
| Total Apportionments | $ 71,800.00 |
We approved the good letter written by our Special Replies Committee on our behalf.
Special Replies Epistle
Dear Friend,
Greetings from Iowa Yearly Meeting (Conservative) gathered for our 140th annual session at Scattergood Friends School and Farm near West Branch, Iowa. We miss you and hope you will be able to join us for our annual sessions next year, 7th month, 24-29, 2018.
Our theme this year, “Building Bridges,” is especially appropriate at a time many of us experience divisions, discord, and isolation in our communities and in our country. We are exploring ways to deepen connections with each other and with those outside the Friends community.
Each day has begun with early morning worship and ended with singing in the Hickory Grove meetinghouse. Evening collections are lively and enriching. On Third day we heard about a Friend’s experience at Standing Rock, the work of Indigenous Iowa, a new movement to bring together indigenous voices, and the intention of the Mesquakie Indians to maintain their tribal integrity in Iowa. We are reminded that all of us, no matter our race or ethnicity, have a story to tell and that our stories are intertwined. On Fourth day, folksinger and Quaker peace activist Tom Rawson led us in songs that emphasized our connections to each other and to the wider world. José Voss, Legislative Associate at Friends Committee on National Legislation, told us of FCNL’s work in advancing legislation to address mass incarceration and the targeting of immigrants for harassment and deportation. He challenged us to plumb our own racism and implicit bias as we work for good legislation. On Sixth day Linda Rabben, author, anthropologist, and human rights advocate, reminded us that Quakers have both gained and given sanctuary since the very beginning. She outlined ways we can protect “the stranger” and asked us to consider what our conscience compels us to do.
We are strengthening bridges among IYM(C) meetings and among each other as individuals. Delight in the children and young Friends amongst us is a common thread, and the bonds between us are evident as we labor together in committees and meetings for worship with attention to business. We laugh and talk beneath the big maple tree outside the Main and over delicious meals featuring Scattergood Farm food.
We feel the Spirit move us as we fulfill the purpose of yearly meeting sessions – to conduct the business of IYMC and renew ties to one another. We are reminded that what holds our yearly meeting together is community: “knowing one another in things eternal, temporal and trivial.” (Cheltenham Quaker Meeting, UK, 2014)
We look forward to your presence at our 2018 sessions.
love,
Deborah Dakin
We approved the Nominating Report with gratitude to the committee for their work.
The yearly meeting clerk will write a letter of gratitude on behalf of the yearly meeting to Lucy Hanson, thanking her for all her years of service for us as an appointed member of our Scattergood School Committee from Iowa Yearly Meeting.
Nominating Committee Report
- Nominating Report 2017 Yearly Meeting
Committees and Representatives to Other Quaker Bodies
Archives Committee
| 2018 | 2019 | 2020 |
| Daniel Treadway | Jeff Cox | Lucy Hansen |
| Shel Stromquist | Jeff Kisling | Tim Shipe |
Book Table Committee
| 2018 | 2019 | 2020 |
| Megan McCormick* | Mikel Johnson | Sarah Andrews |
| Judy Plank |
DOCUMENT COMMITTEE
2018
Bear Creek
Entertainment Committee
| 2018 | 2019 | 2020 |
| Decorah | Paullina | Ames |
| Iowa City | Omaha | Des Moines Valley |
| West Branch | Lincoln | Penn Valley |
| Whittier | Laughing Waters |
Interim Meeting (appointed by monthly meetings)
Each monthly meeting can name up to 2 members to represent them on Interim Committee
| 2018 | 2019 | 2020 |
| A.M. Fink (Ames) | Marge Schlitt (L) | Linda Fife (O) |
| Richard Johnson (BC) | Bill Deutsch (Dec) | Burt Kisling (BC) |
| Alice Hampton (W) | Deborah Fisch (Pl) | Gordon Bivens(A) |
| Bob Winkleblack (IC) | Cindy Winchell (DMV) | Andy Juhl (Pl) |
| George Bergus (WB) | Catherine Dorenbach (L) | Ginny Winsor O) |
Junior Yearly Meeting (for Yearly Meeting)
| 2018 | 2019 | 2020 |
| Deborah Fink | Jean Sandstrom | Sonja Sponheim |
| Elizabeth O’Sullivan | ||
| Carol Gilbert* |
Young Friends Planning Committee (For Yearly Meeting)
| 2018 | 2019 | 2020 |
| Liz Oppenheimer | Joseph Sorenson | Bill Deutsch* |
Jr. YM/Young Friends (Midyear)
| 2018 | 2019 | 2020 |
| Carol Gilbert | Matthew Hennes | DJ Newlin* |
| Jean Sandstrom |
MIDYEAR PLANNING COMMITTEE
| 2018 | 2019 | 2020 |
| Christine Kelly | A.M. Fink* | Osa Bricker |
| Ruth Dawson | Cindy Winchell | Jenny Cisar |
| Winifred Standing | Burt Kisling | Jackie Leckband |
Ministry & Counsel Committee (appointed by monthly meetings)
| 2018 | 2019 | 2020 |
| Faith Juhl | Ebby Luvaga | Carol Gilbert |
| Catherine Dorenbach | Alice Hampton | Alberta Kisling |
| Dean Wilson | Chris Pohlman | Martha Davis |
| Deborah Fisch** | Sarah Andrews | Ann Stromquist |
| Liz Oppenheimer | Ann Robinson | Lorene Ludy |
| Peter Clay | Sharon Eiker | Liz Voss |
Nominating Committe (appointed by monthly meetings)
| A.M. Fink (Ames) | Jackie Leckband (Bear Creek) |
| Decorah (Bill Deutsch) | Des Moines Valley (Cindy Winchell) |
| Iowa City (Carole Winkleblack) | Lincoln (Jean Eden) |
| Omaha (Carol Gilbert) | Paullina |
| Penn Valley | Judy Cottingham (West Branch) |
| Andrea Jilovec (Whittier) |
Peace & Social Concerns Committee
| 2018 | 2019 | 2020 |
| Sherry Hutchison | Jeff Kisling* | Nancy Jordan |
| Jim Bruener | Judy Plank | Ann Stromquist |
| Quinn Dilkes | Winifred Standing | Frank Griffith |
| Robert Yeats | Kathleen Hall | Christine Ashley |
| Patty Wengert | Stan Sanders | Jack Holveck |
| Bridget Durst | Chris Kelly | Rachel MacNair |
Pendle Hill Scholarship Committee
| 2018 | 2019 | 2020 |
| Shirley Scritchfield | Jean Eden* | Ruth Dawson |
| Callie Marsh |
PUBLICATIONS COMMITTEE
| 2018 | 2019 | 2020 |
| Callie Marsh | Ginny Winsor | Jackie Leckband |
| Ann Stromquist | Lollie Ockerstro | |
| Martha Davis* |
Website/Computer Committee
| 2018 | 2019 | 2020 |
| Katie Jacoby | John Andrews* | Sarah Andrews |
| Julie Davis | Nat Case | Cheryl Sutton |
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION COMMITTEE
| 2018 | 2019 | 2020 |
| Bill Deutsch* | Marshall Massey | Jan Powell |
Scattergood Friends School Committee
Iowa (FUM), Illinois YM and Northern YM are also invited to name a representative to the committee. Terms start in August after Yearly Meeting and end after the July School Committee meeting.
| 2018 | 2019 | 2020 |
| Ginny Winsor | Kent Tjossem | Rebecca Bergus |
| Bob Winkleblack | Roy Helm | Dan Schlitt |
| Ruth Hampton* | Robert Winchell | Karen Greenler |
| Lucy Marsh | Russ Leckband | Tom Wahl |
| Ann Robinson |
Scattergood Friends School Foundation Trustees
| 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 |
| Barb Garlinghouse | Richard Johnson | Lowell Wilson | Daniel Treadway |
| Carole Winkleblack | *Lee Tesdell | Robert Yeats | Larry Marsh |
SPECIAL NEEDS COMMITTEE
| 2018 | 2019 | 2020 |
| Sherry Hutchison | Harry Olmstead | Bob Yeats* |
| John Andrews | Deborah Fisch | Bob Winchell |
YEARLY MEETING TRUSTEES
| 2018 | 2019 | 2020 |
| Jonathan Fisch | Bill Deutsch | Jim Cottingham* |
| Cathy Dice | Carol Gilbert |
IYMC Representatives to Friends Agencies
AFSC Corporation Members
| 2018 | 2019 | 2020 |
| Ann Stromquist | Robert Yeats* | Andrea Jilovec |
| Rebecca Bergus (alt.) | Dan Schlitt |
FRIENDS COMMITTEE ON NATIONAL LEGISLATION (FCNL)
| 2018 | 2019 | 2020 |
| Martha Davis | Deborah Fink | Rebecca Bergus |
| Dan Schlitt | Andy Juhl | Carole Winkleblack |
FRIENDS PEACE TEAMS ADVISORY BOARD
Sonja Sponheim
FRIENDS WORLD COMMITTEE FOR CONSULTATION (FWCC)
FOUR PEOPLE
| 2018 | 2019 | 2020 |
| Thomas Greenler | Mary Snyder | Nancy Jordan |
| Ebby Luvaga |
Iowa Peace Network
Patty Wengert
Quaker Earthcare Witness Steering Committee
| Peter Clay* | Marilyn McNabb |
CONSULTATIVE WILLIAM PENN HOUSE COMMITTEE
Lolly Ockerstrom
We approved the epistles written by our Epistle Committee to be sent to Conservative Monthly Meetings as well as to other Yearly Meetings throughout our country and all over the world and thank them for their faithful work.
EPISTLES
Seventh Month 29, 2017
To Friends Everywhere:
There is that of God in everyone, but it lies dormant in us like a seed that has been trampled underfoot. As Quakers we try to become nurturers of the seed and not tramplers of it. If nurtured, the seed will grow and give us new life. As we seek to follow the promptings of God, we will be called to live our lives in new ways.
Will Taber
We send you warm greetings from Iowa Yearly Meeting (Conservative), as we gather
at Scattergood Friends School Seventh Month, 25-30 for the 140th annual sessions of our yearly meeting.
This week we have explored the theme, “Building Bridges.” Peter Clay with guests, Christine Nobiss, Plains Cree-Salteaux of the George Gordon First Nation and founder of Indigenous Iowa, and Donnielle Wanatee Bi-we- ni-wa Thunder & Eagle clan from the Meskwaki Nation, an advocate for Iowa and its people, led a panel on building bridges with Native Americans. Tender listening and respect among the panel speakers allowed us to hear more deeply, to share their respect and care for each other. Decolonization of our minds and consideration of received history were presented to us with authenticity and care for nurturing relationships among us all.
On Fourth Day we were blessed with a concert and sing-along with Tom Rawson from Orcas Island, Washington. We found our spirits lifted and our hearts energized as we sang our way through the evening. Fifth Day afternoon gave us another opportunity to sing, laugh and open ourselves to the Spirit with Tom. He was a gift for us all.
José Woss of the Friends Committee on National Legislation brightened our days with his warmth, interest in us, and sharing his work with FCNL. He spoke with us about race and mass incarceration on Fifth Day. We much appreciated his invitation to have intimate conversations with one another, sharing experiences of our own racism or how we responded when we have witnessed the hurtful words or actions of another.
Linda Rabben attends Adelphi Friends Meeting in Maryland, is an anthropologist and human rights advocate. She shared her thoughts and experiences with the history of sanctuary and asylum. She encourages Quakers and other faith communities to discern how to respond to the present moment, when many vulnerable people are targets for detention and deportation.
Elizabeth O’Sullivan again led us in Bible study each morning after breakfast. Her approach is fresh, and her passion for her subject engaged and moved us, as she linked our theme of Building Bridges with her knowledge of the Bible.
We greatly appreciated Shirley Scritchfield’s pre-meeting consideration of Moving Beyond Silence on First Day morning.
We are especially grateful for the depth and tenderness of our consideration of Scattergood Friends School. We heard the Head’s report of the School, the Farm report, the report from the Academic Director, and the report of the School Committee. We stand with the school community in its fullness of heart and recognition of the challenges that lie ahead in increasing the number of students. We are delighted and impressed with the strength of community and education that the school is providing. We understand the importance of our own outreach, know that we need to share our knowledge with our communities. We are thankful for Thomas Weber and the entire staff for their good work. We do not take their commitment to the school lightly. Scattergood Friends School gives the Yearly Meeting purpose and direction.
Our final evening together culminated as always with a talent show planned by the Junior Yearly Meeting and Young Friends. Sharing and laughter brought us to a gathered sense of Light and Love.
We have been singing, visiting, washing dishes, setting tables in the dining room, sweeping floors, serving food, and even doing a little weeding one afternoon in a flower bed. We have found ourselves with open hearts and minds as we have worshiped and learned together. We are grateful that we continue to read and send epistles. We give thanks.
In love,
Deborah Dakin, clerk
On behalf of Iowa Yearly Meeting (Conservative)
To Friends in Ohio Yearly Meeting:
There is that of God in everyone, but it lies dormant in us like a seed that has been trampled underfoot. As Quakers we try to become nurturers of the seed and not tramplers of it. If nurtured, the seed will grow and give us new life. As we seek to follow the promptings of God, we will be called to live our lives in new ways.
Will Taber
Expanded 1st paragraph in epistle sent to Ohio Yearly Meeting:
We send you warm greetings from Iowa Yearly Meeting (Conservative), as we gather at Scattergood Friends School Seventh Month, 25-30 for the 140th annual sessions of our yearly meeting. Your member, David Eley, is always a very welcome guest. Our mutual affection is important to us all. It is our hope that Friends from our yearly meeting can visit your yearly meeting another year. We value our sense of community with you always.
To Friends in North Carolina Yearly Meeting (Conservative):
There is that of God in everyone, but it lies dormant in us like a seed that has been trampled underfoot. As Quakers we try to become nurturers of the seed and not tramplers of it. If nurtured, the seed will grow and give us new life. As we seek to follow the promptings of God, we will be called to live our lives in new ways.
Will Taber
Expanded 1st paragraph in epistle sent to North Carolina Yearly Meeting (Conservative):
We send you warm greetings from Iowa Yearly Meeting (Conservative), as we gather at Scattergood Friends School Seventh Month, 25-30 for the 140th annual sessions of our yearly meeting. We have valued our visits to your yearly meeting sessions in the past and hope to continue that visitation in the future. Our sense of community with you is important for us all
Closing Minute 2017
“In the realm of the spirit, our fathers taught us thousands of years ago that when God created man, he created him as everybody’s neighbor. Neighbor is not a geographic term. It is a moral concept.”
(Rabbi Joachim Prinz)
“But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “and who is my neighbor?” (Luke 10:29 NIV)
Iowa Yearly Meeting (Conservative) Friends, live in different states and with many miles between us. We only come together twice a year. But the number of miles between our heart are few, and when we met this past spring at Bear Creek for our Midyear Meeting, it wasn’t surprising to learn the theme chosen for this annual gathering gave words to what was already in our hearts… Building Bridges.
Building Bridges: what a wonderful thread running through our gathering this week.
We want to build bridges to meet our neighbors, both within and without this yearly meeting.
We also know that sometimes our work is not to build a bridge, but to maintain or repair the ones we already have.
Our 140th annual gathering was filled with doing this bridgework in some very concrete ways:
The concrete was mixed and poured as we gathered together to worship, sing, listen, and hear stories of old and new friends. It was in the reports and minutes so lovingly prepared and in the generous report listening. Our bridges held us as we played croquet, weeded the garden, pruned the cherry tree, washed dishes, swept floors, and looked for the missing part of the immersion blender.
We tested the strength of our bridges when we listened deeply, and in the moments we stopped and recognized the infinite gifts surrounding us: the exquisite weather, the delicious food, the rich Bible study, the very fact we are here together at this time and place.
Our evening sessions tutored us in building bridges with the neighbors outside our communities that we would like to know but haven’t had the chance to meet.
We heard a persistent challenge asking if we have the courage to build the more “difficult” bridges:
bridges with whom we find it difficult to be neighborly and bridges with those who find us to be difficult neighbors.
We want to build these bridges. How do we do this?
Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the Lord guards the city, the guard keeps watch in vain.
It is in vain that you rise up early
and go late to rest,
eating the bread of anxious toil;
for he gives sleep to his beloved. (Psalm 127:1-2 NRSV)
Our journey together takes across a bridge in seeking the Light that leads and connects us to all of God’s creation.
You only need a tiny scrap of time to move toward God. (Book of Unknowing)
We have been richly blessed.
We now conclude our 2017 annual session, planning to meet again, God willing, at Scattergood Friends School and Farm, near West Branch, Iowa, 7th month 24 to 29, 2018.
Reports Received But Not Read In Annual Sessions
To All Friends in the Midwest
From Brant Rosen, Regional Director, AFSC Midwest Region
Summer’s greetings to Friends from the Midwest Region of the American Friends Service Committee. Please know we’re with you in spirit as you gather to pray, reflect and act for greater peace and justice in your communities, across the country and around the world.
It’s been said (perhaps by a Friend?) that for any problem, community is the answer. You may find that helpfully simple or overly simplistic, but there’s truth in it. As I reflect on the past year – a deeply divided country and the election of a divisive president; the continued assaults on people of color, native peoples, immigrants, women and many other marginalized groups; a steady parade of violence near and far, and in so many forms – it feels overwhelming.
And yet, from the prairies of North Dakota to the streets of Chicago, from the farm fields of Iowa to the community gardens of St. Louis and beyond, people are coming together to resist and to dream. Acting in community, drawing strength from each other and our deepest values, we the people are striving for a world that truly does recognize “that of God in everyone.”
Birthed by Friends 100 years ago, AFSC has been, is, and will continue to be an important part of this creative community. Working in tandem with Friends and others who share our imperfect witness to equity and inclusion, we serve and act in sometimes quiet, sometimes bold, always nonviolent ways.
Here’s what our Midwest community looked like over the past year:
In St. Louis, a remarkable young Quaker named Chloe Jackson is working with AFSC’s Youth Undoing Institutional Racism (YUIR) program to tend a garden in an urban “food desert,” connecting with other youth and bringing fresh vegetables to neighbors. Joshua Saleem, AFSC Program Director, adds:
As far as Quaker involvement, the first thing that comes to mind is our Program Committee. Kelly Bono, a member of the St. Louis Friends Meeting whom I met on my first trip to the Meeting in 2012, has been involved from the beginning. She is currently co clerk of the PC and has been instrumental in bringing more local Quakers to the table.
In the past, the Meeting has supported us by providing space for the AFSC Freedom School, space for guests to stay when in town for AFSC related work and space for AFSC events like Palestinian journalist Mohammed Omer’s visit in December.
In the future, we’re planning an Undoing Racism workshop co- sponsored by the Meeting’s Michael Brown Working Group and Peace and Social Justice Committee. We’re also looking at how members of the Meeting can be more involved with the Peer Mediation work that we’re doing in schools.
This spring, young people at Earlham College in Indiana partnered with AFSC staff to support AFSC’s work in St. Louis and learn more about that city’s unique civil rights history.
In Indiana, Chicago and across the nation, AFSC’s Communities Against Islamophobia (CAI) campaign has led bystander trainings and challenged the dominant narrative that equates Islam with violence and terror. It’s also looked at policing and police budgets and helped people re-think what really leads to community safety. We encourage you to be in touch with Mary Zerkel (MZerkel@afsc.org) in our Chicago office to host a CAI training in your community.
True community means defending those at risk within it. In Iowa, AFSC has dramatically increased its support of immigrants who face discrimination and the ever-present fear of detention and deportation. Our staff leads a statewide Sanctuary coalition, urging communities of faith, including many Friends, to protect those who courageously stand for justice.
We’re working on “Welcoming” resolutions at the city and county levels to resist the often heavy-handed oppression of federal authorities. Our low-cost immigration legal services program provides a key service for immigrants and refugees alike, again strengthening families and communities.
Sometimes, creating community means bridging wide gaps. In Michigan, AFSC’s Good Neighbor Project continues to connect people serving long prison sentences with co-mentors on the outside, including Friends. As one prisoner writes, “I have grown in this project because I feel like a member of the community. It is hard to be alone in here. I have benefited tremendously by having a mentor in my life.”
Our Michigan program also provides invaluable parole readiness workshops and responds to literally thousands of prisoner correspondence each year; the ultimate goal is reducing the number of people in prison.
In Ohio, AFSC is relentlessly pursuing the empanelment of a state commission which would bolster the rights and opportunities of African refugees. “I strongly believe that we are all called to extend hospitality to refugees, to lift up their voices and stories, and to build bridges of friendship that would eliminate xenophobia once and for all in this country,” says Migwe Kimemia, who directs AFSC’s work in Dayton.
In the Twin Cities, along with AFSC Freedom Schools and YUIR work, staff and interns are promoting restorative justice in schools and shining a bright light on a troubling federal program called “Countering Violent Extremism.” Intern Sara Osman, a Somali Muslim youth, says, “We see ourselves as part of the greater Twin Cities community, but we are constantly being rejected.”
Friends are playing important roles in supporting the No Way to Treat a Child campaign, a joint effort of AFSC and Defense for Children International- Palestine. Its goal is to end the Israeli military’s abusive detention of Palestinian children. NWTC chapters are opening across the country, and Friends have been active in signing petitions and encouraging federal lawmakers to speak up for the human rights of Palestinian children.
I’m very sorry to report that budget cuts have weakened AFSC’s presence in several communities. In Northeast Ohio, we’ve had to say good-bye to long- time staffer Greg Coleridge and Leah Davis. Later this year, we’ll bid farewell to retiring staffers Darlene Gramigna in Chicago and Ira Harritt in Kansas City. Between them, these four have given over 100 years of creative service in pursuit of peace and justice. They have nurtured strong communities which are all the more resilient for their work.
This movement to build, strengthen and protect community – on our block and around the world – is bigger than anyone can imagine. It’s stronger than any president’s small-minded budget proposals and mean-spirited policies. As AFSC embarks with Friends and allies on our next 100 years of peace-making, may our faith and spirits be bolstered by the most powerful weapon of all: love.
Thanks again for your steadfast support of AFSC, both as individuals and monthly and yearly meetings. Thanks to the many Friends who give so generously of their time to serve on AFSC’s governance bodies, including the Midwest Executive Committee.
As always, please feel free to contact me directly with any questions, concerns and ideas. My e-mail is BRosen@afsc.org; I’m on Twitter @RabbiBrant; and I often answer the AFSC Chicago phone at 312-427-2533.
FCNL Report
Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL), founded in 1943, is the oldest religious lobby in Washington D.C. From the beginning, FCNL has brought Friends’ testimonies to bear on public policy, seeking to live our values of integrity, simplicity, and peace as we build relationships across political divides to move policies forward. IYMC has supported and participated in the governance of FCNL since its inception. Years ago, FCNL supporters relied upon paid lobbyist to act on our behalf in nudging legislation that promoted peace and social justice legislation forward. Today, FCNL depends on thousands of grass root activists to lobby their legislators directly and to call, write, and email when alerted by FCNL that an important piece of legislation is being considered. Quakers and like-minded others use the FCNL materials, the “Washington Newsletter,” and FCNL’s website (fcnl.org) as an education and advocacy toolkit.
IYMC appoints six representatives to serve on FCNL’s governing board, the General Committee, which is comprised of approximately 180 members of the Society of Friends from meetings, churches, and Friends’ organizations across the country. In addition, four of the six currently serve on FCNL standing committees. In November 2016, all six representatives attended FCNL’s annual meeting and lobby day. “Spirit-led Action” was the annual meeting’s theme. IYMC Friends joined IYM-FUM Friends and several more Iowans in advocating for the passage of sentencing reform and recidivism risk reduction legislation as part of an effort to address mass incarceration in our country. The offices of both senators and all four representatives were visited. Hundreds of Quakers lobbied on a single day with a single message:end our country’s system of mass incarceration that victimizes persons of color and the poor.
Many IYMC Friends individually and with their meetings work all year long advocating for legislation that seeks “a world free of war or the threat of war, a society with equity and justice for all, a community where every person’s potential may be fulfilled and an earth restored.” In addition, three FCNL Advocacy teams, have been working in cooperation with some 50 teams around the country to reduce the Pentagon’s budget, this year’s focus for advocacy team lobbying. Team members participate in monthly calls to FCNL and plan action which includes face-to-face lobbying, attending town hall meetings, lobbying by conference call with Congressional staff, and writing letters to the editor. IYMC Friends participate in Advocacy teams active in the Iowa City and Waterloo, Iowa and Madison, Wisconsin areas.
July 1, 2017 marks the end of FCNL’s 5 year, $15 million “Now is the Time” capital campaign. The campaign was successful, exceeding its goal. FCNL is already benefitting from this campaign: expanding work with young adults, creating a Quaker welcome center in the property adjacent to the FCNL office building, growing lobbying capacity, and re-establishing the Friend in Washington program so that Friends from around the country with special expertise and interest can sojourn with FCNL.
For most of us, whatever our political affiliation, the past year in politics – filled with accusations, bitterness, fear, and dysfunction – has been difficult. In a recent letter to supporters, FCNL Executive Secretary Diane Randall speaks of her source of hope: “FCNL gives me hope – the dedicated network of indefatigable individuals across the country taking action on issues of peace and justice.” She offers us advice that applies not only to advocacy but to every aspect of our lives: “Our faith gives us the tenacity and long-term vision necessary to continue this work. I encourage you to return to that Center – often – to find comfort and to gather strength.”
Carole Winkleblack, on behalf of IYMC FCNL Representatives
Dear friends,
The Joint Oversight Committee and I would like to thank you for your continued support this year – 2016-2017. We continue to appreciate your church’s participation in the Joint Oversight Committee and donations from various congregations, individuals, and state conferences from our four founding/ supporting church denominations.
We published and sent journal/newsletters to over 600 organizations, churches, and individuals throughout the year. Our goal is to publish these 3-4 times a year. Among other things, this year we covered and promoted issues such as human trafficking, CPS – both an American history and an Iowan history, a restorative justice program in Polk County, features on Martin Luther King, Jr., and an idea on fees and dividends to curb climate change problems, among many others.
In addition, we continue to email a weekly peace calendar of state- wide events to approximately 350 individuals and organizations. We hear continued appreciation of this work.
We maintain IPN’s website, www.iowapeacenetwork.org, and a Facebook page. This includes adding posts regularly and updating the events page weekly. Many articles bring over 1000 views over the course of several months. This shares perspectives on peace & justice, and hopefully spurs on others to act for peace and justice. IPN has also cosponsored, attended, and reported on various events this year including the Palm Sunday Procession for Peace, Annual Walk for Peace & Justice sponsored by MFSA (Methodist Federation for Social Action), the Hiroshima/Nagasaki commemoration event, as well as several other events. In June we hosted and planned a Christian Peacemaker Teams talk by two CPTer’s in June, and later we hosted our annual Holiday Open House along with an Alternative Gift Faire on Dec. 3, 2016. We hosted the co-founder and another staff from Nonviolent Peaceforce of the Twin Cities to present at our Open House- we were happy it was well attended and there were many good comments on their presentation as well.
We thank you for your giving, and covet it for the future. We believe the work we’re doing is important and helpful to the persons we reach throughout the year.
In appreciation, IPN Staff and Members of the Joint Oversight Committee
Jess Hoffert (convener) Rev. Gary Nims (alternate convener) Patty Wengert (alternate convener) Joel Beane, Myrna Frantz (Secretary), Sue McCullough, and Christine Sheller (Coordinator)
Exercise Committee Iowa Yearly Meeting (Conservative) 2017
Dear Lord, as we gather to do Your business may we have the patience to wait for your Word which is your wisdom, and our wisdom, and may we have whatever strength or courage we need to be faithful to whatever Word your share with us.
As we gather for our business, as we do our work, as we eat and play together, help us to hear each other with love and with kindness throughout this week.
In this meeting house during yearly meeting time, I like to imagine the faint sounds of traffic outside is the sound of wind whirling and I’m safe within the meeting house. I’m safe within my community, I can just be quiet and perhaps know a little of God.
I love the presence of children amongst us, I love the children and youth and those of us young at heart. I love the squirming, the burbling, the smiles, the singing, the sweeping floors. When I need to remember what it means to walk cheerfully over the world, I only need to remember the children amongst us to remember how near at hand God is.
“There is a river the streams thereof shall make glad the city of God.” I give thanks this day to be gathered with so many streams and that we are all a part of that river.
Love. Love! Love is my shepherd. I shall not want.
God is Love. Love is a process. God is a process.
When our hearts are open, we can see the places where the light is shining through and be grateful.
Love be with us. Be our shepherd. Stay close to us. Hold us. Transform us. Refine us.
I have been reading a book I’ve read before many times. It is the story of a woman in Plantagenet England, about the 1300s. One thing that struck me, in part because I was reading it while here, was how much their language was infused with talk of God. They would greet each other with “God’s blessing on you,” and used the phrase “God’s bones” for good and bad. Both peasants and wealthy people, their lives were infused with talk of God. They had many chapels and churches, and people went on pilgrimages. I’m sure one of the reasons was, not only was life was more physically difficult then, but it was also uncertain. They had fires and plague. If they caught the black plague, there was little chance of getting better; there was very little anyone could do. People didn’t live as long. Perhaps that is why they implored through work, words, and pilgrimage the protection of God. Our lives in the present day first world are not as physically difficult. We have heat and air conditioning. If we get really sick, we can go the doctor or the hospital and we will probably get better—we are likely not going to die. At least we have the belief that perhaps we will not die. But our world is still very much uncertain. Things can still happen in a moment as they did then. In a lot of the world, things DO happen and perhaps people can’t get help
to stay alive. Why don’t we, in this privileged part of the world, infuse our speech, our thoughts, our time in worship, prayer, perhaps pilgrimages with God? Perhaps there are a lot of people who do, Friends who do. Perhaps if we’re not, we can be more mindful to gratitude.
There are two stories sitting and living with me. The first is Paul talking to the Romans, whose religion was to build and worship statues, saying God does not live in temples made by human hands.
God is the Source of everything! God made the grass, the stars. What does God need of me? I am a piece of grass. I feel a great sense of inadequacy, of imperfection. Knowing that God is the Source of everything frees me from a legalism, perfectionism, inadequacy that I impose on myself.
The second is the story of the talents. ‘Talent’ is the word for their unit of money, but I think of as all the resources God entrusts to us. The servant who was given 5 talents now has 10, the one who was given 2 now has 4. The master is well pleased. But the one who buried his talent, and who had returned it maybe with dirt on it, he had brushed it clean before presenting it—he buried it because he was scared. He could say, “At least I didn’t lose it!”
He was not experiencing the Spirit of all love and compassion and goodness, the Source of life. He was walled off from God. I know how I fortress myself from God. But I also know that there’s no place we can go to be too far away from God. The master’s response to the man with one talent was: “Dude, you should have put it in a bank—I’d at least have gotten a little interest!”
It reminds me of a response someone may make to Isaiah’s “Here I am, Lord”: “Here I am—send HER!” And that’s okay. Sometimes it would be nice if we were to think about a person’s condition first. If I’m operating from fear, I’m just putting it in the bank. It would be great in those times for Christ to reach out to our most wounded places and tell us “Well done, my good and faithful servant. I love you, I really LOVE you.” We all need to hear that, and that’s one of the kinds of love God has for us.
A simple form of love in action which makes sense to me is to see a need and fill it, kindly.
Whenever I sit in this meetinghouse I think: where am I? I’m in the U.S., in Iowa, in rural Iowa, surrounded by corn, soybeans, sheep grazing. I have an image of waving fields of grain, which we don’t have much of in Iowa. Perhaps it is prairie grass waving. I had a dream in which I saw an unpronounceable word starting with S, in italics. And I felt a call to say something at meeting for worship.
Earlier this week a Friend asked if we would have Iowa Yearly Meeting Conservative if not for Scattergood Friends School. We need to remember that the farm is part of Scattergood too. Would we have IYMC if not for the farm? The people who started Scattergood were farmers and the people who helped them. Agricultural things are so important to remember and Scattergood helps us to remember it. Many of us have grown up on farms or have parents who did. My message to you is: we are in the country. The farm is so important because it ties us to the people who originally started IYMC. We need to keep alive the image of farms and waving fields of grain.
“My heart leaps up when I behold / A rainbow in the sky / So it was when my life began / So it is now I am a man / So be it when I shall grow old / Or let me die! / The Child is the father of the Man / And I could wish my days to be / Bound each to each by natural piety.”
One the joys of being on microphone duty is having to keep my eyes open and sit on the front bench. I get to look out on the rainbow of our community and my heart leaps up.
We heard a story about Big F and Little F. In my meeting we’re learning how to tell each other things so we can be of assistance to each other. So I’m going to use all of you as a resource. A week from Monday I’m having cancer surgery. I’ve had a long wait and I’m hoping for regression instead of progression. I ask you to hold me in the Light, and thank you for being a distraction. We’ve also been talking about health in general: mental health, health of the earth, and in relationships, so let’s think about health in general as we go forth from this gathering.
As has been said, the view from this front bench is beautiful. My husband and I have been coming to yearly meeting for 31 years. I remember so many beloved faces that I’ve been able to look at in this meetinghouse, from this and other meetings. Some of them can no longer come to yearly meeting, and some have moved on to the next world. I’ve learned so much from them. Now I see other beloved faces and I’ve learned so much from you. And I see brand new beloved faces and, if Way is open, I look forward to learning from you.
The Bible verse that comes to my mind is when I am exceedingly glad or just bored is “God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.” (1 John 4:16) Most of the time I’m not sure what is love, I’m not sure what is God. A Benedictine colleague of Thomas Kelly has helped me labor with my confusion. He said “You don’t trust God.” I asked “How do I trust? What does it mean? What do I do? What steps do I take? I’m not sure what the word means.” He grinned a Thomas Merton sort of grin. “Just say thank you. Say thank you all the time, like when you find a parking space.” He meant for me to live in gratitude.
I’m familiar with thanking for food, for nature, but I have a long way to go to make it a sustaining fiber of my being. Throughout this session and our deliberations, I have been overwhelmed with my sense of thankfulness. Thank you to the Entertainment Committee for the metaphor of bridges. It’s concrete. My bridges are ropes with slats missing. My bridges are often closed for repairs. My bridge to Scattergood has been fragile for nearly 30 years. My bridge to Yearly Meeting has been fragile. I’m grateful for the faithfulness of those who wait in silence and create an intention that invites all of us together and allows us to feel that fearful and awesome Presence. Thank you.
Looking at the metaphor of building bridges, struggling with the understanding of bridge as a tool to jump over gaps or separation. But when I’m able to feel the Light, and grasp that idea, I see that there are no divisions. Separation is a thing we build in our head. You cannot divide the Light. It is One, so why do we need bridges? We need to wake up to the consciousness of that Oneness where the divisions are categories I put on with my mind, my ego. If I could wake up I wouldn’t struggle with fear— because in the Light, there is no fear; darkness doesn’t exist. If you have a candle in a stadium, you can see it wherever you are. With the Light, the darkness disappears. But if I cannot see that we are the same, I cannot know the Light and that we are one. So my work is the consciousness of that Light. I can’t hate anyone if we are the same. I’m very grateful for this group of souls who believe there is Light in each of us and work to be aware of that.
We have been given to build bridges. One of them is between Scattergood and young people and their families, who need to know about Scattergood. It’s a gift we can offer, from that love, the belief that we can have a better world.
Peace and Social Concerns Committee Reports 2017
Ames
Ames Friends have acted on the following concerns in the last year:
We have joined with Ames Interfaith Refugee Alliance (now Ames Welcoming Refugee Alliance) to pursue sponsoring refugee families in Ames We have revitalized our membership in AMOS (A Mid-Iowa Organizing Strategy), which works on immigrant issues. We have distributed “Hate Has No Business Here” posters to Ames businesses. We have been active with Good Neighbor, a Story County agency that offers food, rent and utility assistance to county citizens. One of our members serves on the Good Neighbor Board of Directors At Good Neighbor’s spring fund-raising auction, Friends donated an African dinner, packages of lamb, and gift cards. We have active involvement in Friends Committee on National Legislation, two of our members being on standing committees and on the general committee. We had an FCNL Visiting Friend speak to our meeting. Together with Bear Creek Meeting, we sponsored a young adult attending FCNL’s Spring Lobby Weekend. She provided the meeting with a lively and enthusiastic report of her experience. Because of concerns over unfortunate interactions between people of color and the Ames Police, we invited a representative of the Police Department to speak with us. We followed up with a letter thanking him for his presentation and expressing our continuing concerns.
We invited a representative of the local Mosque to speak with us about Muslims experiences in Ames. He said that expressions of hostility toward Ames Muslims have been minor and thanked us for our ongoing support.
Bear Creek
Bear Creek Friends are painfully aware of the multitude of issues that confront us in today’s world. Seeking just and sustainable pathways, we share concerns and insights with each other. Individually and as a group, we follow the leadings given us, as our time and energy allow.
In support of Black Lives Matter, one member designed a beautiful decal which was shared with many.
Several have long worked in the Alternatives to Violence program in Fort Dodge prison. This all volunteer group has a good record for breaking recidivism.
Our meeting co-sponsored, with Ames and Des Moines Valley Meetings, a young adult Friend to attend FCNL Spring Lobby week-end.
In solidarity with the sister demonstration held in Washington, D.C., a number of our group were part of the twenty-six thousand who gathered in Des Moines for the Women’s March in January of this year, to stand for equality, peace and justice. Similar groups gathered around the world.
In response to the deep concern of one member about ethical transportation, a conference call was held, resulting in a proposed minute for consideration by the monthly meeting as a whole, to be shared further as way opens. This item speaks to the broad issue of environmental concern as it relates to climate change, and severely impacts our daily lives and the choices we make. Several members were involved in various ways with the Native American efforts to keep the Dakota Access Pipeline from being built so close to their land, under their source of water. An amazing aspect of this was how many groups and people joined in support, from so many places around the world, in so many ways. Friends were moved by the deep spirituality of the efforts, and profound commitment to prayer and nonviolence, which was especially impressive in light of the violence repeatedly directed at the water protectors. One member helped organize donations from several Quaker sources to purchase a large shelter and supplies that had been requested by the tribes. Another member helped support a number of ceremonies and activities in Indianapolis, including removing over $110,000 from banks that were financing the pipeline. Inspired by the prayerful approach of the Native American water protectors, and concerns about the safety of the pipeline dissecting Iowa farmland and waterways, several members participated in meetings and rallies in Iowa.
The Meeting hosted high school students from Arlington Nebraska involved in the “Underground Railroad, Network to Freedom” program of the National Parks Service. They were researching a documented story about Freedom Seekers sheltered by Quakers in the Bear Creek area. We learned that the teacher has expanded the class to Include: “Students preserving history of the Underground Railroad and creating awareness for modern day slavery” … and human trafficking. (Walk Forever Free)
Attached is the minute about Ethical Transportation approved by Bear Creek Meeting.
Decorah
Although we have not sponsored any activity as an individual church, our members have participated in a variety of activities: Three of us participated in a community awareness effort on “white privilege”. It spanned 6 sessions. Four people visited the “Standing Rock” protest and several others sent various other kinds of support, like money, ware clothing and bedding. We continue to be active in the Northeast Iowa Peace and Justice Center especially in the effort to bring community awareness to gun violence prevention.
This summer we are a part of a community group that is making lunches for kids under 18, and handing them out at noon, Monday through Friday, at the school. Our meeting house is being used by community groups including Alcoholics Anonymous and the Farmers Market vendors.
We are happy to be an active part of our community. Respectfully submitted, Joann Hagen
Des Moines Valley Friends
Iowa City Friends
Many members of the Iowa City Friends Meeting have participated during the past year in a variety of peace and social concerns activities. Our intent in these activities is to bring our spiritual and political understandings together, in particular to respect the humanity even of those we oppose and to advocate for non-violence in all walks of life. Our library continues to grow with the same ideals in mind.
Two of our members have worked steadily with the Consultation of Religious Communities (CRC). Clothing drives, used book donations, and gifts for adults have drawn volunteer help from our meeting. Several members have continued to teach weekly English classes for the increasing immigrant population. Another member prepares newcomers to this country for the citizenship test.
Three from our meeting are active in the Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL) Eastern Iowa Advocacy Team which this year is lobbying and writing letters to the editor on need to reduce Pentagon spending. One member represents us on the Scattergood School Committee. Our meeting is contributing to a scholarship fund to support an Afghan student at Scattergood Friends School.
Another member is on the Human Rights Commission where he works especially on issues of disability rights. In January several of us attended either the Women’s March in Des Moines or the Women’s March in D.C. That same month some of us attended an Iowa City “Abraham’s Walk” to Jewish, Muslim, and Christian Orthodox faith communities, also Hispanic and Indigenous student centers. Each place provided a program and delicious food.
In May one of our members helped organize an Iowa City sister march for the huge climate march and rally in D.C. In June our meeting sponsored a Pride week Quaker booth as part of the LGBTQ festival in the Iowa City pedestrian mall. Several of us organized and helped table that booth.
Our meeting contributes regularly to PEACE Iowa. Our members volunteer and attend fundraisers for that organization. One of our members is Director of PEACE Iowa, another is treasurer of PEACE Iowa and on its board of directors. One of us attends a peace vigil held every Friday from 4:00-5:00 which is sponsored by PEACE Iowa along with Veterans for Peace. Several of us attended the Conscientious Objectors Day observance and the International Symphony of Peace Prayer in April.
Several members contributed recipes and/or essays to “Taste a Little of the Summer: Eating Locally, Living Sustainably,” a cookbook produced and sold at cost by members of the Friends Earth Care Working Group. One of our members has actively participated in protesting the proposed travel ban against people in certain Muslim countries. She has also in various ways been involved with community outreach to refugees.
Lincoln Friends Meeting
At our January Meeting for Business, Friends agreed to form a Peace and Social Concerns Committee to consider and possibly act on issues brought to us by Friends Committee on National Legislation. We also want to bring Friend’s principles to bear on local issues. With a committee, we are better able to act as a body. Several F/friends expressed a desire to serve on this committee. Issues on which Lincoln Friends have taken action include: sending a letter to Representative Fortenberry asking for his support on two bills in the House of Representatives on criminal justice reform; three of us visiting with staff in Senator Fischer’s office requesting her support on sentencing reform legislation; hand delivering a letter to Representative Fortenberry asking him to participate in the Climate Solutions Caucus; and personally delivering a letter to Rep. Fortenberry regarding Congressional authorization for use of military force. Individuals published in our local paper as well: Marilyn McNabb wrote a carefully researched op ed on climate change; Marge Schlitt wrote a letter on budget priorities; and Jean Eden on the need for health care. In addition, the Meeting wrote letters to our Board of Parole in support of two attenders of our Meeting as they approach release. The Meeting supports the prison ministry of three of our members. The Meeting House is used at least one weekend each month for Alternative to Violence workshops primarily for inmates in Community Corrections and approaching release; Marge Schlitt provides both leadership and meals for these workshops and other F/friends serve on facilitation teams.
Omaha Friends Meeting
Members of the Omaha Friends Meeting have participation in National, State, and Local Election Campaigns, including local campaigns for the reform of Mental Health, Refugees, Death Penalty, and Palestine rights.
Penn Valley Monthly Meeting
The Peace & Social Concerns work of Penn Valley Meeting—as individuals and as an organization—took several forms this past year, including:
financial contributions to various causes and endeavors (e.g., AFSC, FCNL, NODAPL, flood relief in Baton Rouge, Haitian relief); providing items needed by a local shelter for victims of domestic violence; participating in a number of demonstrations (Women’s March, NODAPL, Living Wage, etc); joining the newly-formed Kansas City Alliance for Justice; working to register voters in Kansas; working to protect the voting rights of all citizens at the polls; inviting Quakers from throughout the Midwest region (of all branches) to participate in the White Privilege Conference, held in KC in April, and offering hospitality to several Quakers from throughout the U.S. who attended the conference; participating in Peaceworks; involvement in the planning and conduct of the Prairie Village (KS) Earth Fair.
Two particular aspects of Penn Valley work in this realm deserve special comment.
For over 30 years, Penn Valley Meetinghouse had housed AFSC-KC essentially free to that organization. In the Fall, we received word that AFSC was closing the local office in the summer of 2017. We were—and are— deeply saddened by this closure as the local office has been, in many ways, the public face of Quaker values and commitments in the metro area. Indeed, under the directorship of Ira Harritt, the office had done amazing work and developed an outstanding network and reputation throughout the area. The closure will leave a very big hole in the realm of conflict mediation and constructive, non-violent change work.
The impending departure of AFSC-KC also created an opportunity for Penn Valley to broaden its own outreach to the larger community as we sought to find a like-minded tenant to step into the vacated space during the week. At our request, Ira Harritt put the word out in his extensive network that we were seeking such. And, to our simultaneous delight—and trepidation—the Kansas Chapter of the Council on American Islamic Relations expressed strong interest. While it felt like—and still feels like—the Spirit was calling us into a new path, the opportunity resulted in some very serious introspection and deep discernment processes in the Meeting. Ultimately, after intense and honest conversations, the Meeting was united to live into the uncertainties of “loving our Muslim neighbors” as they are found in this organization. (More about this is in our State of the Meeting report.) We are confident that the Spirit is leading us to undertake this new form of growth— and, we pray that we may remain open to the Spirit’s direction as we go forth.
Paullina
This has been a busy year for our Paullina Monthly Meeting members, regular attenders and distant members alike. There is no lack of issues that deserve our immediate attention. Many of our Meeting members were involved with the U.S. Presidential election last fall. The election of a new president has moved some to be in more regular contact with our elected officials through email, letter, town hall meetings and personal contact at the regional offices in Sioux City.
We were represented at the annual FCNL conference and lobbying day in D.C. One member is part of New Roads Reentry team assisting felons in their return to society from prison. We collected blankets and cold weather gear for Standing Rock. We also collected food and funds for our local food pantry. Several members are also volunteers for food pantries in their community.
In response to the increased deportations of undocumented people in the country, and a request from CASA, a local organization involved with migrants, our Meeting pursued the question of becoming a sanctuary church. We invited CASA representatives to speak at our adult discussion group to answer additional questions we had. Our Meeting will first support assisting migrant neighbors in our area facing deportation and will support area church that might become a sanctuary church, while we examine further any larger role we might be led to take.
This is just a sample of the work our members do on a daily basis to scatter good in our world.
West Branch Meeting
It has been a year of transition for this committee. In particular, the Earth Care Working Group started strong but in the course of the year laid down its monthly “supper theaters” due to dwindling attendance. This was the eighth year for the group, and it was a positive force for most of that time, offering a variety of educational and inspiring films plus the chance for community discussion and subsequent action. The passing of Don Laughlin, whose home we met in, changed the nature of our gatherings. And though we met several times in different venues, it became apparent that there was insufficient interest to continue. Our fall schedule included A Sense of Wonder (about Rachel Carson), Weconomics, Anthropocene, and East of Salinas.
Even though the monthly events are no longer happening, the group’s major project was a huge success. We published a book of gathered articles, recipes and how-to instructions all focused on sustainable living. Titled Taste a Little of the Summer: Eating Locally, Living Sustainably (named after Greg Brown’s song Canned Goods). The book received many positive reviews locally and sold more than we ever imagined. We’re proud of this achievement, which brought together more than 40 authors and much useful information.
For our Simple Supper, we heard Gerald Schnoor of the University of Iowa College of Engineering speak about climate change. Throughout the year, many of our members participated singly or in groups in a number of peace, social, and environmental efforts, both local and national.
Also, through contributions from Friends in the meeting, we were able to send a contribution of $1,750 from the meeting to the FCNL Capital Campaign. The committee also recommended to the Meeting 12 organizations worthy of contributions, and the meeting approved these recommendations.
Whittier
Whittier is continuing its interest in and support of local and state ministries, including the Anamosa Head Start, Willis Dady Home Services, and Iowa Justice for Our Neighbors. We have also supported no DAPL and the Standing Rock demonstrators with money and a demonstration at the nearest Army Corps of Engineers office.
A new project this year was replacing a number of trees felled by a severe storm. We applied for and received a grant from Alliant Energy, administered by Trees Forever. We took flyers door to door in Whittier and were delighted that several neighbors came and participated in the tree-planting event. Beyond the obvious environmental value of the trees, which were chosen to provide animal shelter and flowers for pollinators, as well as shade, we had a goal of bringing the Meeting and the Whittier community (where no Friends live now) together, and we are pleased with the results.
Additionally, we are planning a prairie pollinator garden, with the assistance of the county conservation service. We asked and received $250 from Quaker Earthcare Witness to purchase and install two rain barrels. Our meeting house does not have running water, and we will need them for our new plantings. One of our attenders has built the framework for the barrels. We have several members and attenders who faithfully carry out Quaker principals, both in their jobs (a lawyer who does pro bono mediation, a nurse at Oakdale Prison Health Services, and a social worker at Abbe Center) and by voluntary work in the community, at the Free Health Clinic and tutoring English Language Learners. One of our attenders has become a strong voice for affordable housing, through his work at Willis Dady Home Services. We have attenders who have travelled the world to visit children they have sponsored through different organizations. Two of our members continue to represent us at AFSC
Many of our members are actively involved in influencing national policy to better reflect our values. We remember the words of an FCNL leader: “We are called to get lawmakers to act on what we know in our hearts.” This involves us in demonstrations for peace and justice, letter-writing, e-mails and phone calls to our representative and senators, and submitting letters and columns to the Cedar Rapids Gazette. One of our members regularly attends town hall meetings and visits the local offices of our elected Representative and Senators to discuss our concerns with their staff.
We support each other in our loving community and are pleased to also minister to others who find our meeting and come for understanding and support.
Letters and Minutes
Des Moines Valley Friends Death Penalty Minute
This is a minute from the Peace and Social Concerns Committee at Des Moines Valley Friends that we hope to have considered at Iowa Yearly Meeting. The Iowans Against the Death Penalty group here is hoping to gather statements from various Iowa faith communities to include in a pamphlet for citizens and legislators.
Thanks. Bill Howard
Iowa Yearly Meeting of the Society of Friends (Conservative) is deeply distressed by new attempts to reinstate the death penalty in the Iowa Legislature. We have a long-standing history of opposition to capital punishment as being contrary to basic Quaker values. Quoting from our own Faith and Practice (2011), “Friends oppose capital punishment because it violates the sacredness of life. No person is beyond redemption. The God-given dignity and worth of every human being requires that punishment allow for reform of the offender and possible revision of the sentence. Execution is brutalizing and degrading to the individuals who impose it and to the society that endorses it.”
While we recognize the anger and fear that arise from brutal crime, focusing these emotions on the offender often misdirects energies that could be spent on building community and victim support as well as rooting out the causes of violence – such as social injustice, poverty, substance abuse, and hopelessness. Iowa Legislators should be aware that “legal” murder neither teaches that killing is wrong, nor recognizes the sanctity of all life. Thus, the Iowa Yearly Meeting of Friends, asserts on public record our opposition to any attempts to reinstate the death penalty in the State of Iowa.
Whittier Healthcare Letter
Dear _________________,
Members of the Iowa Yearly Meeting of Friends (conservative) have long been led to uphold the basic human rights and dignity of each person. We believe that healthcare is a basic human right. This principle has been neglected in the current debate over healthcare.
No human right should be conditioned on ability to pay. Access to the human right of healthcare should not be governed by profit for drug companies or any other private enterprise, including insurance companies. Their basic goal and responsibility is to make money for their stockholders and their very well paid management.
Current Congressional debate seems to center on reducing government support of healthcare, so that taxes may be cut for large drug companies and the wealthiest 1% of taxpayers. All this debate would be unnecessary if the United States recognized healthcare as a basic human right, and made free universal, tax-supported healthcare our standard, as it is for the rest of the developed world.
Bear Creek Ethical Transportation Minute
Bear Creek Meeting recognizes the long-standing concern that a member has held for several decades, regarding ethical transportation and care for the environment. As Standing Rock Water Protectors warn all of us, “We can’t drink oil. Keep it in the soil!”
We recognize that fossil fuel is a limited resource. Many of us consider the gravity of that fact seriously. At this time, some of us continue to drive personal vehicles and use other gas- powered items, including farm equipment.
We recognize the discord between what we know–that we cannot rely on fossil fuel forever–and how we act. We are mindful that our driving is sometimes for convenience or matters of necessity, given the current structure of our urban, suburban, and rural landscape.
Engines and vehicles powered by renewable energy may be part of the answer, especially in rural areas and places without public transportation. Electric cars are not the entire or final answer. We also consider the infrastructure needed to support personal vehicles and the harmful extraction of resources and waste of materials involved in producing machinery that sits idle for so much of its lifetime.
With Divine leading, we endeavor to consider the urgency to take concrete steps now to prepare ourselves for prayerful discernment of a decision to give up our personal vehicle; to explore alternatives such as carpools, community- shared vehicles, moving to live close to public transit, etc.
Bear Creek Friends heeds the Counsel to take a serious look at making revolutionary and/or incremental changes in our lifestyles so we may move away from relying on fossil fuels, seeking to care for all creation.
Whittier Meeting Move to Amend
After the 2010 Citizens United Decision almost everything in our government is for sale to the highest bidder. This decision said that laws cannot limit political contributions by corporations and anonymous because money is a form of speech protected by the First Amendment. Corporations are said to have the same constitutional rights as humans. The only way open to change this absurd interpretation is a constitutional amendment that makes it clear that corporations are not people and that money is not speech.
Unless we limit corporate and billionaire donations to political campaigns, no amount of organizing, or lobbying will be able to overcome the influence that corporate and entrenched old money will have on every aspect of our lives. In the recent Georgia House race at least $50 million was spent, a historical record. There is no way that ordinary people can counter this tidal wave of cash. Are we concerned about the environment, health insurance, war, corruption? There is a ready pile of money ready to be unleashed on ordinary citizens trying to make their lives a little better. Move to Amend provides a grass-roots way to begin taking our land back from the top 40 richest families and the corporations that they own.
We propose signing on as supporters of the Move to Amend movement as a yearly meeting and suggesting that local meetings and individuals also consider signing on at movetoamend.org.
As Friends, we have long been concerned about the disproportionate influence of money and wealth on our lives and our government. Attempts were made to restrain this influence with campaign finance reform. The Supreme Court’s “Citizen’s United” decision led to the abandonment of any attempt to restrain the takeover of our government by wealthy corporations and their owners. In this decision the Court stated that corporations have the rights of living human beings. The proposed amendments clarify what is obvious.
- Human beings, not corporations, are endowed with constitutional rights.
- Money is not speech, and therefore regulating political contributions and spending is not equivalent to limiting political speech.
We ask the Yearly Meeting to sign on as a supporting organization of the national Move To Amend campaign.
We ask the Clerk to write our representatives asking them to Cosponsor House Joint Resolution 48 that reinstates the right of the people to regulate the political spending of corporations. We encourage Monthly Meetings to contact their state legislators with similar resolutions.
Without action on limitations on money in politics, the voices of the people will always be drowned out by wealthy corporations and their owners.
Article V of the Constitution outlines how to amend (modify) the document. It consists of two steps: proposal and ratification.
- Propose An Amendment Either Congress or the States can propose an amendment to the Constitution.
Both Houses of Congress must propose the amendment with a two-thirds vote. This is how all current amendments have been offered. Two-thirds of the State legislatures must call on Congress to hold a Constitutional Convention.
- Ratify An Amendment Regardless of how the amendment is proposed, it must be ratified by the States.
Three-fourths of the State legislatures must approve of the amendment proposed by Congress, or Three-fourths of the states must approve the amendment via ratifying conventions. This method has only been used once, to repeal Prohibition (21st Amendment).
- House Joint Resolution 48 introduced January 30, 2017
- Section 1. [Artificial Entities Such as Corporations Do Not Have Constitutional Rights]
The rights protected by the Constitution of the United States are the rights of natural persons only.
Artificial entities established by the laws of any State, the United States, or any foreign state shall have no rights under this Constitution and are subject to regulation by the People, through Federal, State, or local law.
The privileges of artificial entities shall be determined by the People, through Federal, State, or local law, and shall not be construed to be inherent or inalienable.
Section 2. [Money is Not Free Speech]
Federal, State, and local government shall regulate, limit, or prohibit contributions and expenditures, including a candidate’s own contributions and expenditures, to ensure that all citizens, regardless of their economic status, have access to the political process, and that no person gains, as a result of their money, substantially more access or ability to influence in any way the election of any candidate for public office or any ballot measure.
Federal, State, and local government shall require that any permissible contributions and expenditures be publicly disclosed.
The judiciary shall not construe the spending of money to influence elections to be speech under the First Amendment.
Proposed letter to U.S. Representatives
Dear Representative
We have long been concerned about the disproportionate influence of money and wealth on our lives and our government. Attempts were made to restrain this influence with campaign finance reform. The Supreme Court’s “Citizen’s United” decision led to the abandonment of any attempt to restrain the takeover of our government by wealthy corporations and their owners. In this decision, the Court stated that corporations have the rights of living human beings. The proposed amendments clarify what is obvious.
- Human beings, not corporations, are endowed with constitutional rights.
- Money is not speech, and therefore regulating political contributions and spending is not equivalent to limiting political speech.
We ask you to cosponsor House Joint Resolution 48 that reinstates the right of the people to regulate the political spending of corporations.
Without action on limitations on money in politics, the voices of the people will always be drowned out by wealthy corporations and their owners.
Article V of the Constitution outlines how to amend (modify) the document. It consists of two steps: proposal and ratification.
- Propose An Amendment Either Congress or the States can propose an amendment ot the Constitution.
Both Houses of Congress must propose the amendment with a two-thirds vote. This is how all current amendments have been offered. Two-thirds of the State legislatures must call on Congress to hold a Constitutional Convention.
- Ratify An Amendment Regardless of how the amendment is proposed, it must be ratified by the States.
Three-fourths of the State legislatures must approve of the amendment proposed by Congress, or Three-fourths of the states must approve the amendment via ratifying conventions. This method has only been used once, to repeal Prohibition (21st Amendment).
Proposed letter to U.S. Senators
Dear Senator
We have long been concerned about the disproportionate influence of money and wealth on our lives and our government. Attempts were made to restrain this influence with campaign finance reform. The Supreme Court’s “Citizen’s United” decision led to the abandonment of any attempt to restrain the takeover of our government by wealthy corporations and their owners. In this decision, the Court stated that corporations have the rights of living human beings. The proposed amendments clarify what is obvious.
- Human beings, not corporations, are endowed with constitutional rights.
- Money is not speech, and therefore regulating political contributions and spending is not equivalent to limiting political speech.
We ask you to cosponsor House Joint Resolution 48 that reinstates the right of the people to regulate the political spending of corporations.
Without action on limitations on money in politics, the voices of the people will always be drowned out by wealthy corporations and their owners.
Article V of the Constitution outlines how to amend (modify) the document. It consists of two steps: proposal and ratification.
- Propose An Amendment Either Congress or the States can propose an amendment ot the Constitution.
Both Houses of Congress must propose the amendment with a two-thirds vote. This is how all current amendments have been offered. Two-thirds of the State legislatures must call on Congress to hold a Constitutional Convention.
2.Ratify An Amendment Regardless of how the amendment is proposed, it must be ratified by the States.
Three-fourths of the State legislatures must approve of the amendment proposed by Congress, or
Three-fourths of the states must approve the amendment via ratifying conventions. This method has only been used once, to repeal Prohibition (21st Amendment).
Yearly Meeting Religious Education Report 2017
Eight religious education reports were received. Friends have many interests and concerns, as reflected in the range of topics that are considered in their discussions. More of these discussions than in years past include exploration of Quaker practice and thought, especially as it relates to Iowa Yearly Meeting Quaker practice.
Meetings are interested and willing to provide First Day school to young members. Four meetings report offering first day teaching for youth, even with sporadic attendance; four meetings reported not having any youthful attenders.
We will compile these responses and share with monthly meetings in their entirety; we also encourage use of the Quaker Religious Education Collaborative as a resource for First Day School programming, including “First Day School in a Box”.
William Penn House Report 2017
William Penn House is in a strong position today, building programs for a second half-century of service. Programs are expanding, improving facilities, and following new leadings to respond to the current political environment and support faithful social witness in the Quaker tradition.
During this time of increased activism and political engagement, William Penn House is supporting citizens coming to Washington to witness and work for social justice, peace, and equality. They have opened doors to citizen-activists working for gender equity, food justice, the right to health care, and climate justice, among other urgent causes.
Iowa Yearly Meeting (Conservative) will contribute $300 to William Penn House.
Alberta Kisling, clerk
DIRECTORY OF
IOWA YEARLY MEETING OF FRIENDS (CONSERVATIVE)
This directory is published solely for use by Iowa Yearly Meeting of Friends (Conservative) and for personal use by members and attenders. Any other use of information obtained from this Directory requires prior permission of Iowa Yearly Meeting of Friends (Conservative).
(2017) TOPICAL INDEX
REPORTS
American Friends Service Committee Corporation Report ………..7
American Friends Service Committee Midwest Region Report..107
Archives Committee Report………………………………………………….22
Audit Committee Report ………………………………………………………45
Entertainment Committee Report for 2017……………………………..20
Exercise of the Spirit Committee Report for 2017 …………………. 113
Friends Committee on National Legislation Report………………..110
Friends Peace Teams Report ……………………………………………….58
Friends World Committee for Consultation Representatives
Report ……………………………………………………………………………16
Interim Meeting Report………………………………………………………….6
Iowa Peace Network Report . ……………………………………..112
Midyear Meeting Report ………………………………………………………..4
Midyear Meeting Treasurer’s Report ……………………………………….5
Ministry and Counsel Report ………………………………………………..76
Nominating Committee Report ……………………………………………..98
Peace and Social Concerns Committee Report………………………70
Peace and Social Concerns Committee Budget ……………………..75
Peace and Social Concerns Committee Minute …………………..53
Peace and Social Concerns Committee Reports from Monthly Meetings ……………………………………………………………………..117
Pendle Hill Scholarship Committee Report …………………………….49
Possibilities Committee Report IYMC……………………………………9
Preliminary Nominating Committee Report …………………………3
Publication Committee Report………………………………………………18
Quaker Earthcare Witness Steering Committee Report……………51
Recorder’s Report ………………………………………………………………90
Religious Education Committee Report………………………………..130
Report of the IYMC Representative to Friends’ Peace Teams . …50
Reports received but not read in annual sessions………………….107
Representatives Report……………………………………………………….92
Iowa Yearly Meeting (Conservative) Budget for Fiscal 2017-18…94
Monthly Meeting Apportionments ………………………………………….96
Scattergood Friends School and Farm – Farm Report ……………..29
Scattergood Friends School and Farm – Academic Report ……….26
Scattergood Friends School and Farm – Head of School Report .31
Scattergood Friends School Financial Report…………………………37
Scattergood Friends School Committee Report………………………42
Special Needs Committee Report …………………………………………48
Treasurer’s Report………………………………………………………………46
Trustees Report………………………………………………………………….41
Trustees Financial Report ……………………………………………………41
Website Committee Report …………………………………………69
William Penn House Report ……………………………………………….130
EPISTLES FROM
Document Committee Report……………………………………………….15
North Carolina Yearly Meeting (Conservative) ………………………..10
Ohio Yearly Meeting ……………………………………………………………12
Junior Yearly Meeting ………………………………………………………….67
Young Friends ………………………….. ……………………………….68
EPISTLES TO
Friends Everywhere…………………. ………………………………..102
North Carolina Yearly Meeting (Conservative) ………………………105
Ohio Yearly Meeting ………………………………………………………….104
Special Replies Report – Letter to Absent Friends…………………..97
QUERIES AND SELECTED RESPONSES
- MEETING FOR WORSHIP ………………………………………. 54
- OUTREACH …………………………………………………………..55
- MEETING FOR BUSINESS ……………………………………… 56
- HARMONY WITHIN THE MEETING ………………………….. 57
- MUTUAL CARE ………………………………………………………. 58
- EDUCAITON …………………………………………………………..59
- HOME AND FAMILY ………………………………………………… 60
- PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY …………………………………61
- CIVIC RESPONSIBILITY …………………………………………. 62
- ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY ………………………63
- SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC JUSTICE …………………………. 64
- PEACE AND NONVIOLENCE ………………………………….. 65
STATE OF THE MEETING REPORTS
Ames Monthly Meeting.. …………………………………………………..77
Bear Creek Monthly Meeting …………………………………………. 79
Laughing Waters Preparative Meeting ……………………………….80
Decorah Monthly Meeting…………………………………………………81
Des Moines Valley Monthly Meeting…………………………………..2
Iowa City Monthly Meeting ………………………………………………82
Lincoln Monthly Meeting…………………………………………………..83
Omaha Monthly Meeting ………………………………………………….84
Paullina Monthly Meeting …………………………………………………85
Sioux Falls Area Worship Group ……………………………………….85
Penn Valley Monthly Meeting ……………………………………………86
Silver River Worship Group………………………..87
West Branch Monthly Meeting…………………………………………..88
Whittier Monthly Meeting ………………………………………………….89
DIRECTORIES
(pages in the printed book which included member and attender information are omitted from the online PDF.)
Directory of Monthly Meetings, Preparative Meetings, Worship Groups, and Scattergood Friends School and Farm …………..133
Guidelines for Request of Reimbursement from IYMC … ……..195
SESSIONS
Fourth Day – Wednesday – 7/26/2017…………………………………….1
Meeting Appointments of Representatives to Yearly Meeting …1
Meeting Appointments of Caretakers to Yearly Meeting…………2
Representatives Appointments……………………………………………2
Fifth Day – Thursday – 7/27/2016 …………………………………………14
Minute of Third and Fourth Day Activities……………………………….14
Sixth Day – Friday – 7/28/2017 Morning Session ……………………24
Minute of Fifth Day Activities ………………………………………………..25
Sixth Day – Friday – 7/28/2017 Afternoon Session ………………….45
Seventh Day – Saturday – 7/29/2017 Morning Session……………66
Minute of Sixth Day Activities ………………………………………………66
Seventh Day – Saturday – 7/29/2017 Afternoon Session …………90
Closing Minute………………………………………………………………….105
DIRECTORY OF MONTHLY MEETINGS,
PREPARATIVE MEETINGS, WORSHIP GROUPS, AND SCATTERGOOD
FRIENDS SCHOOL AND FARM
Ames Monthly Meeting
Worship: 10:30 a.m. First Day
Business Meeting: 11:15 Fourth First Day
Simple Potluck each Sunday following worship
Pre-meeting: 9:30 a.m. First Sunday of Month, Query Consideration; Other Sundays, reading and discussions
Location: 121 S. Maple, Ames, Iowa
Co-clerks: David Hansen
(515) 450-5222
1506 13th Street
Ames, IA 50010
Meeting phone: (515) 232-4610
Email address: mjhansen53@hotmail.com
Website: http://amesfriendsmeeting.wordpress.com
Bear Creek Monthly Meeting
(Schedule may vary occasionally – check email or phone number below.)
Pre-meeting: 10 a.m. First Day
Worship: 11 a.m. First Day
Business: 10 a.m. 3rd First Day, with potluck lunch following worship
Location: 18058 Bear Creek Road, rural Earlham. From I-80 Earlham exit #104, 1 mile north on “I” Ave. to Bear Creek Road, then East to 2nd driveway.
Mail: c/o 19186 Bear Creek Road, Earlham, Iowa 50072
Clerk: Jackie Leckband, (515) 758-2232
Email address: newharmony@earthlink.net
Website: http://www.bearcreekfriends.org
Decorah Monthly Meeting
Pre-Meeting: 9:30 a.m. First Day, except in summer
Worship: 10:30 a.m. (9: 30 a.m. in summer) First Day
Business: Scheduled every six weeks
Location: 603 E. Water Street, Decorah, Iowa
Clerk: Bill Deutsch 1478 Friends End Road, Decorah, IA 52101, (563) 382-3699
Email address: billdeutsch@gmail.com
Des Moines Valley Monthly Meeting
Worship: 10 a.m. First Day
Business: 11:30 a.m. 2nd First Day
Location: 4211 Grand Avenue, Des Moines, Iowa, (515) 274-4717 (answering machine)
Co/Clerks: Lynne Howard/ Cindy Winchell
Email address: billlynne5@gmail.com
Iowa City Monthly Meeting
Worship: 10 a.m. First Day
Business: 2nd First Day following worship
Location: 311 N. Linn Street, Iowa City, Iowa 52245;
(319) 648-5047 (clerk)
Clerks: Bob Winkleblack, (319) 648-5047, winkfam@windstream.net
Quinn Dilkes, (319) 530-1756, quinndilkes@gmail.com
Website: http://www.iowacityfriends.org
Laughing Waters Friends Preparative Meeting
Under the care of Bear Creek Meeting
Worship and Business: We are in a transition. Check website for scheduling and location, often held on First Day afternoons in the
Minneapolis-St. Paul area.
Website: http://www.laughingwatersfriends.org
>Phone: (651) 659-9340
Clerk: Sonja Sponheim
address: laughingwaters.friends@gmail.com
Lincoln Monthly Meeting
Worship: 10 a.m. First Day
Potluck: after worship and sharing on first First Day
Meeting for Business: following worship on third First Day
Location: 3319 S. 46th Street, Lincoln, Nebraska, (402) 488-4178
Clerk: Jean Eden, 5905 Wolff Lane, Lincoln, NE 68521, (402) 476-4948
Email address: jeanleden@gmail.com
Omaha Monthly Meeting
Worship: 10:00 a.m. First Day
Business: 11 a.m. 3rd First Day
Location: St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, 925 S. 84th, the Blue Room
Clerk: Bob Ramalay, 1517 Happy Hollow Blvd. Omaha, NE 68104
(402) 926-6583 (cell)
Email address: rramaley@gmail.com
Paullina Monthly Meeting
Worship: 10:00 a.m. First Day
Potluck and discussion follow worship on 4th First Day
Location: on U.S. 59, 3 miles east and 1.25 miles north of Paullina, or 5.5 miles south of Primghar, Iowa
Clerk: Doyle Wilson, 5550 400th Street, Primghar, Iowa 51245, (712) 757-3875
Email address: dswilson@tcaexpress.net
Assistant Clerk: Beth Wilson
Email address: bewilson@iowatelecom.net
Website: http://paullinafriendsmeeting.wordpress.com/
Penn Valley Monthly Meeting
Worship: 10 a.m. First Day
Business: 1st First Day following worship
Location: 4405 Gillham Road, Kansas City, Missouri 64110,
(816) 931- 5256, fax (AFSC office) (816) 561-5033
Website: http://www.kcquakers.org
Contact: Rachel MacNair, 811 E. 47th St., Kansas City, MO 64110
(816) 753-2057 (household)
Email address: rachel_macnair@yahoo.com
Silver River Worship Group
Under the care of Penn Valley Monthly Meeting
Singing: 10 a.m. First Day
Worship: 10:30 a.m. First Day
Location: 28408 Frontier Lane, La Plata, MO 63549
Contact: Ethan Hughes, 28408 Frontier Lane, La Plata, MO 63549, (660) 332-4094
Contact: Victoria Albright, (713) 851-0613
Email address: albrightv@yahoo.com
Sioux Falls Area Worship Group
Under the care of Paullina Monthly Meeting
Worship: 10:30 a.m. First Day (Small group, wise to call beforehand)
Location: Dow Rummel Village Conference Room, 1321 West
Dow Rummel, Sioux Falls, across West Avenue from the stadium
Contact: Anna Gieschen, 1101 South West Avenue, Sioux Falls, SD 57105, (605) 376-8863
Email address: AnnaGieschen@gmail.com
West Branch Monthly Meeting
Worship: 10 a.m. First Day
Business: 2nd First Day following worship
Pre-meeting: 9:00 a.m. 3rd First Day
Location: 317 N. 6th Street, West Branch, Iowa
Mail: P.O. Box 582, West Branch, Iowa 52358
Clerk: James Cottingham, (319) 643-5949
Email address: cottinghamjj@gmail.com
Whittier Monthly Meeting
Worship: 10:30 a.m. First Day
Business: every two months at call of Clerk
Location: 3200 Whittier Road, Springville, Iowa 52336, 3 miles east of Highway 13 on County Home Road
Clerk: Kathy Hall, 2357 Aspen Ln NE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52402
(319) 393-2508 Email address: khall479@aol.com
Co/Clerks: Andrea Jilovec ajilovec1@gmail.com and
Bob Yeats bob.yeats@gmail.com
Scattergood Friends School and Farm
Worship: Thursdays 1:45 p.m. while school is in session
Location: 1951 Delta Ave., West Branch, IA 52358
Phone: (319) 643-7600
Head of School: Thomas Weber tweber@scattergood.org Website:www.scattergood.org
Facebook:www.facebook.com/scattergoodfriendsschool
The following guidelines did not arise from the Yearly Meeting sessions but are printed here for reference
GUIDELINES FOR REQUEST FOR REIMBURSEMENT FROM
IOWA YEARLY MEETING (CONSERVATIVE)
The Iowa Yearly Meeting (Conservative) treasurer makes all reim- bursements for budgeted funds.
Clerks of yearly meeting committees that have approved budgets should submit bills for payment and/or requests for reimbursement directly to the yearly meeting treasurer. Receipts should be included when requesting reimbursements. Clerks are also responsible for giving names, addresses, and clear instructions regarding to whom the check is to be written and where it is to be sent. For example, the clerk of the Publication Committee can send the bill for printing of the yearly meeting minutes directly to the yearly meeting treasurer.
Members of committees with expenses that are reimbursable by the Yearly Meeting are asked to submit their receipts to the clerk of their committee who will then forward them to the yearly meeting treasurer. For example, someone from the Junior Yearly Meeting Committee may purchase supplies for the Junior Yearly Meeting. They should submit the receipt for those supplies to the Junior Yearly Meeting Committee clerk who will then forward them as approved to the yearly meeting treasurer.
Members of the Yearly Meeting who are official representatives to a wider Quaker organization on behalf of the yearly meeting, such as AFSC, FWCC, or FCNL, can submit travel expenses with receipts and/ or documentation directly to the yearly meeting treasurer. Funds are dis- bursed on a first-come basis. Representatives are asked to visit with their co- representatives to get an idea of who expects to be traveling and what kind of assistance they might need from the travel funds. Traditionally, these funds are underused and we urge Friends to seek reimbursement if needed.
Friends seeking to use unassigned budgeted funds, such as the scholarship money available for Quaker Youth Camp, are asked to submit requests to the yearly meeting clerk for approval before April 1. After April 1, those seeking assistance will be informed of the amount available. Those seeking assistance for the first time will be given priority so that as many young people as possible have the opportunity to attend a Quaker camp. If no requests are received by April 1, the clerk will approve requests on a first-ask basis.
Unbudgeted requests: All requests for financial assistance not in the fiscal year budget should be submitted to the yearly meeting clerk, who will consult with the Interim Committee clerk if action must be taken before the next annual sessions. If there is an urgent request, the Interim Committee, which conducts the business of the Yearly Meeting between sessions, may be called to meet.
Nominating Committee Report 2017
Nominating Committee Report
• Nominating Report 2017 Yearly Meeting
Committees and Representatives to Other Quaker Bodies
Archives Committee 2018
Daniel Treadway Shel Stromquist
Book Table Committee 2018
Megan McCormick*
2019
Jeff Cox Jeff Kisling
2019
Mikel Johnson
2020
Lucy Hansen Tim Shipe
2020
Sarah Andrews Judy Plank
98
DOCUMENT COMMITTEE
2018
Bear Creek
Entertainment Committee
2018
DecorahIowa City West Branch Whittier
2019
Paullina
Omaha
Lincoln Laughing Waters
2020
Ames
Des Moines Valley Penn Valley
Interim Meeting (appointed by monthly meetings)
Each monthly meeting can name up to 2 members to represent them on Interim Committee
2018
A.M. Fink (Ames) Richard Johnson (BC) Alice Hampton (W) Bob Winkleblack (IC) George Bergus (WB)
2019
Marge Schlitt (L)
Bill Deutsch (Dec) Deborah Fisch (Pl) Cindy Winchell (DMV) Catherine Dorenbach (L)
2020
Linda Fife (O) Burt Kisling (BC) Gordon Bivens(A) Andy Juhl (Pl) Ginny Winsor O)
2020
Sonja Sponheim
Junior Yearly Meeting (for Yearly Meeting) 2018 2019
Deborah Fink Jean Sandstrom Elizabeth O’Sullivan
Carol Gilbert*
Young Friends Planning Committee (For Yearly Meeting)
2018 2019
Liz Oppenheimer Joseph Sorenson
Jr. YM/Young Friends (Midyear) 2018 2019
Carol Gilbert Matthew Hennes Jean Sandstrom
MIDYEAR PLANNING COMMITTEE
2020
Bill Deutsch*
2020
DJ Newlin*
2020
OsaBricker Jenny Cisar Jackie Leckband
2018
Christine Kelly Ruth Dawson Winifred Standing
2019
A.M. Fink* Cindy Winchell Burt Kisling
99
Ministry & Counsel Committee (appointed by monthly meetings)
2018
Faith Juhl
Catherine DorenbachDean WilsonDeborah Fisch**
Liz Oppenheimer Peter Clay
2019
Ebby Luvaga Alice HamptonChris PohlmanSarah Andrews Ann Robinson Sharon Eiker
2020
Carol Gilbert Alberta KislingMartha DavisAnn Stromquist
Lorene Ludy Liz Voss
Nominating Committe (appointed by monthly meetings)
A.M. Fink (Ames)
Jackie Leckband (Bear Creek) Decorah (Bill Deutsch)
Des Moines Valley (Cindy Winchell) Iowa City (Carole Winkleblack) Lincoln (Jean Eden)
Omaha (Carol Gilbert)
Paullina
Penn Valley
Judy Cottingham (West Branch) Andrea Jilovec (Whittier)
Peace & Social Concerns Committee
2018
Sherry Hutchison Jim Bruener Quinn Dilkes Robert Yeats Patty Wengert Bridget Durst
2019
Jeff Kisling*
Judy Plank Winifred Standing Kathleen Hall Stan Sanders Chris Kelly
2020
Nancy Jordan Ann Stromquist Frank Griffith Christine Ashley Jack Holveck Rachel MacNair
2020
Ruth Dawson
2020
Jackie Leckband Lollie Ockerstrom
Pendle Hill Scholarship Committee 2018 2019Shirley Scritchfield Jean Eden*
Callie Marsh
PUBLICATIONS COMMITTEE
2018
Callie Marsh Ann Stromquist Martha Davis*
2019
Ginny Winsor
100
Website/Computer Committee
2018
Katie Jacoby Julie Davis
2019
John Andrews* Nat Case
2020
Sarah Andrews Cheryl Sutton
2020
Jan Powell
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION COMMITTEE 2018 2019
Bill Deutsch* Marshall Massey
Scattergood Friends School Committee
Iowa (FUM), Illinois YM and Northern YM are also invited to namea representative to the committee. Terms start in August after Yearly Meeting and end after the July School Committee meeting.
2018
Ginny Winsor Bob Winkleblack Ruth Hampton*Lucy Marsh
2019
Kent Tjossem Roy Helm Robert Winchell Russ Leckband
2020
Rebecca Bergus Dan Schlitt Karen Greenler Tom Wahl
Ann Robinson
Scattergood Friends School Foundation Trustees
2018 2019 2020
Barb Garlinghouse Richard Johnson Lowell Wilson Robert Yeats
Carole Winkleblack *Lee Tesdell SPECIAL NEEDS COMMITTEE
Daniel Treadway Larry Marsh
2020
Bob Yeats* Bob Winchell
2020
Jim Cottingham* Carol Gilbert
2018
Sherry Hutchison John Andrews
2019
Harry Olmstead Deborah Fisch
YEARLY MEETING TRUSTEES
2018
Jonathan Fisch Cathy Dice
2019
Bill Deutsch
IYMC Representatives to Friends Agencies AFSC Corporation Members
2018
Ann Stromquist Rebecca Bergus (alt.)
2019 2020
Robert Yeats* Andrea Jilovec
Dan Schlitt
101
2021
FRIENDS COMMITTEE ON NATIONAL LEGISLATION (FCNL)
2018
Martha Davis Dan Schlitt
2019
Deborah Fink Andy Juhl
2020
Rebecca Bergus Carole Winkleblack
FRIENDS PEACE TEAMS ADVISORY BOARD
Sonja Sponheim
FRIENDS WORLD COMMITTEE FOR CONSULTATION (FWCC)
FOUR PEOPLE
2018
Thomas Greenler Ebby Luvaga
Iowa Peace Network
Patty Wengert
2019
Mary Snyder
2020
Nancy Jordan
Quaker Earthcare Witness Steering Committee
Peter Clay* Marilyn McNabb
CONSULTATIVE WILLIAM PENN HOUSE COMMITTEE
Lolly Ockerstrom
Midyear Meeting Report 2017
2017 Midyear Meeting Report
Over 100 Friends met at Bear Creek Meetinghouse on March 25-26, a rainy weekend. The theme was “Quakers and Quaker Schools.” Drew Smith, the Executive Director of the Friends Council on Education, started by giving a short history of education by various Quaker groups in the US. It began with the founding of a Philadelphia school which is now Penn Charter School Penn believed that Pennsylvania needed leaders of high moral character, and his vision for a school was not to make preachers of its students, but to helpthem visualize and create an ideal society. He wanted to offer a new kind ofeducation that would prepare young people – boys, girls, African-American, wealthy, and poor – to be teachers, merchants, builders and farmers, as well aspolitical and professional leaders.
In a later session, several Scattergood students had the opportunity to speak about their experiences at a boarding school. Each expressed the sentiment that the most important benefit was the community. In the last session Drew said that the future of Quaker schools would include more cooperation between various schools using the tools available from the internet.
For the children, several outdoor activities were planned but had to be cancelled because of cold, wet weather. However, the weather cooperated enough for the children to create a beautiful mandala using objects from nature.
Following the Saturday afternoon session, Scattergood students joined the children for snacks, then talked about life at a Quaker boarding school.Indoor activities included games of charades, still-life photography using afilm camera, creativity with paper and colored pencils, board games, playing with toys brought by participants and those provided by Bear Creek Meeting, as well as fun in the loft. Saturday night featured movies and cartoons with popcorn to share. On Sunday morning, the booklet “On Sitting Still” was read, followed by participation in the first part of Meeting for Worship. Atmeals, the children were eager to help in the dining room, picking up trays andgenerally being useful and cheerful. Their help was appreciated.
As usual the craft sale for the benefit of AFSC was a huge success.
We express hearty thanks to Bear Creek Meeting for once again hosting midyear meeting.
Scattergood Reports 2017
Head of School Report
Scattergood Friends School and Farm
July 2017
Dear Friends,
To know yourself and your place in life is always an unfolding mystery. This was my mind during Meeting for Worship a few days ago with Scattergood alumni in the Hickory Grove Meeting House. During that hour I reflected onmy experience sitting here four years ago as a prospective staff person for the school: I felt at peace and at home in a place that was wholly new to me. I write today with that same mysterious sense. I realize that I remain calledto be here, and I’m grateful for this opportunity to report again to the YearlyMeeting.
Priorities, themes and accomplishments this past year
Nine students received diplomas June 4th as the Class of 2017 this year withletters of admission to colleges and universities: Jazz Baizel, Theodore Byrnes, Esteban Zambrano Cabrera, Isaac Chen, Amen Fekadu Gabre, Lovangel Faulk, Reza Dad Mohammadi, Tsion McYates, and Savanna Yang. Additionally, two received certificates of attendance as post-graduatesthis year: Luis Rios Nuricumbo and Matthew Trueblood
Cameron McReynolds ‘18 was recognized as the year’s Berquist Scholar,and Kian Ganbari ‘18 earned our Fine Arts Scholarship.
In our program this year, engaging courses in the arts, humanities andprojects were offered along with the core subjects of math, science, and Spanish. Courses titled Human Health, Disease, and Physiology, Medieval Longsword, Art Drawing, The Messianic Motif, Literature and the Natural World, and Principles of Modern Computing were among the numerous options that gave students a wide variety of avenues for academic growth and skill development.
The academic year concluded early in May, when seniors remained on campus to build an arbor by the pond, paint dorm hallways, and install wood paneling (from boards reclaimed from the school’s old farmhouse) in thestudent lounge. Other students went off campus to canoe and hike the Ozarks or they travelled to a working farm in Michigan that promotes international rural development where they volunteered their energy.
Later, May Term classes and trips were again held in which studentsinvestigated topics of death and dying, chess, food writing, performanceart, automobile repair, greenhouse design and construction with reclaimed building materials, or they explored rivers in Missouri and northern Wisconsin with kayaks, and 250 miles of the Appalachian trail with backpacks.
Earnest and sustained community conversations on diverse facets of racial, cultural, gender, and ability identity were undertaken throughout the year, and these are enumerated in the Academic Report to this year’s Meeting. Staff were very much involved and discussed best practices inregard to their interactions with students and recent alumni and developed a better understanding what constitutes sexual harassment. I have been greatly inspired by the respect and sustained attention given by all staff to these difficult conversations in committee and staff meetings. Open andcompassionate communication among staff and students on these issues hasin my view strengthened the integrity of our small community. I believe itessential if we are to sustain ourselves in these current economic and social circumstances.
Strategic planning has been the other critical element of this past year’s work. At the heart of this effort is to focus on the central question: how do we rebuild student enrollment to sustainable levels? We continued this year with the initiatives to bring the farm closer to student life and learning, andwe also chose to enlist professional advice in the marketing of our school.In January we invited Kelsh Wilson, a firm that has provided consulting and design services to Carolina Friends School among other Friends schools and small colleges. Their visit and extensive interviews produced a detailed report that has been well received by the School Committee as well as the administration. They feel we should put three central messages out in ourinitial communications with audiences:
We are an authentic alternative to traditional high school programs,be they public or private.
Our farm and prairie serve as unique living laboratories for study. Our student trips throughout the year provide unique and enrichingopportunities for exploration and personal development.
A re-design of the Scattergood.org website reflects new messaging thatmore strongly engages prospective students and their parents. We are adding new short videos and hiring professional help to position ourselvesthrough social media to further these recommendations. Lastly, we’ll shift our market outreach to focus more on our local market for day and boarding students, as the national market is extremely competitive and international student recruitment has been significantly hampered by Federal policies and pronouncements.
Enrollment, Budget, and Financial Outlook
Outreach
My personal outreach this for the school this past year has included the following:
Fall Friends School Head’s Conference at Pendle Hill
Spoke at Strategic Planning Retreat for Chicago Friends School
Evanston Meeting House Second Hour with four Scattergood students
Midyear Meeting: On the relevance of Friends Schools in our current society with Scattergood students participating
Alumni Gatherings in the Twin Cities and Denver-Boulder corridorNorthern Yearly Meeting
Illinois Yearly Meeting
Staffing
Eight staff have moved or are moving on to new chapters in life after serviceto the school this year: Catherine From, Claire Tanager, Michael Carlson, Sophie Shanahan, Seth Wenger, and Shumpei Yamaki. Alicia Taylor leaves the Admissions Office after four years to become a mother, and Cindy Oliverius leaves after five years, with the last two as our Business Director. Andrew Orrego Linstad was an early departure in August of 2016 and wewere without a Director of Development this year.
We welcomed new staff after last July’s report: Gwen Morrison taught Social Studies and U.S. History and Government and became a dorm sponsorand Eric Andow taught Physics and provided technology support. Lisa Kofoed has served as associate business office clerk to Cindy last year. With 30 years’ experience in accounting and business operations, Lisa will provide the school with vital continuity in our business office. A search for a new second clerk will begin soon to preserve integrity of business operations.
This summer we are bringing the following individuals to the school community: Matthew McCutcheon is our new Academic Dean with Gabriela Delgadillo assuming the leadership of residential life as AssistantHead. Kelsey Clampitt and Chelsea Hunt-Teachout will co-teach Biology and Advanced Biology, while Kelsey will also be our Prairie Manager and teacher of Agricultural Research, and Chelsea will provide academic support with her training in special education. Genevieve George is our new English Language Learner instructor and will coordinate support for our international students. Keva Fawke will be our next artist in residence to teach ceramics among other duties. Administratively, we’ve welcomed Jennifer Jansen as our new Director of Admissions and Miranda Nielson as our new Development Coordinator.
We will for the first time engage professional psychological counseling services for 12 hours a week in the 2017-18 year for on-campus consultingfor students and staff.
Enrollment, Budget, Giving, and Major Capital Improvements and Needs
The school continues to receive requests for applications and we predict enrollment to remain even with our end-of-year number in June: 33 students. We continue to receive inquiries and make careful assessment of academically qualified students to determine if their social and emotional needs can be met by our program. Life and learning at Scattergood takes a huge personal commitment by each and every student, and each must drawprimarily on their internal resources to rise to the expectations of classes, crew, and life in a small and relatively isolated community. Like a goodorchard keeper’s view, healthy trees attract healthy insect and birdlife and repel the pests that lead to their demise. So must we ensure a healthy student body for future growth.
Capital improvements this year included linking the two wells on campus
to ensure water if one well fails, the installation of LED lights in the gymincreasing illumination while reducing electricity consumption, and asbestosremoval and salvage of materials from the old farmhouse which is soon to be razed. We are now also fully wired with fiber optic connectivity thatnow allows for seamless video conferencing. I am optimistic that this newcapacity will bring meaningful collaboration with experts and classroomsaround the world in our classrooms.
Our preliminary totals for the 2016-17 fiscal year show a $16,000 deficit in a $1,200,000 budget. Prudent budgeting and spending, along with improved collections and payments by the Business Office have contributed to this overall positive result. That said, we remain very concerned about the level of non-tuition support needed to balance budgetary losses in a period of low enrollment. The cash balance in any given month has required close and vigilant attention. We fell well short of our budgeted goals for annual giving and for a campaign of 3-year commitments of $10,000 or more this year. We were able to make each month’s payroll and payables, but a healthier operating cash cushion is needed if we wish to do more than tread water. Working with members of the School Committee and the Scattergood Foundation Trustees, I am preparing a 3-year budget outlook to better fund our efforts to bring more sustainable enrollment to the school. We’ll work with a team of development-minded individuals to make a more concerted effort to increase annual giving beyond the totals of the last two years.
Looking Ahead
At Pendle Hill last fall I was among heads of school who learned about Horizons National, an organization which incubates summer programmingfor at-risk students and receive additional support throughout the year.Summer programming at Scattergood has yielded very low enrollments in recent years, and I hope to further this initiative to not only increaseenrollment (and income) but also attract philanthropic support from sources previously out of reach of Scattergood.
The Academic Report to the Yearly Meeting describes our first-ever Student Diversity Leadership day last April. As a next step I hope to initiate a Middle School Student Diversity Leadership session with Scattergood students in thecoming year.
Catherine From and I will give a talk to the National Association of Independent School Educational Consultants in Washington DC in November, where we will relate the successes and challenges of our work fortransgender inclusion in a residential school setting.
We will engage a Scattergood alumnus and filmmaker to produce short films in which recent alumni will talk about what Scattergood as done for them. These films will be posted on our updated website and promoted with socialmedia.
In Year Two of our re-accreditation cycle the school will conduct the writingof our self-study: a community-wide assessment and report of all that makes for a healthy school and its pursuit of its mission. It is a vital component
to maintaining continuous improvement and integrity to the service of our school mission.
Concluding remarks
I close with my continued thanks to the Yearly Meeting for their continuedand significant support of the school. We appreciate that we are prominentamong your ministries.
Respectfully submitted,
Thomas Weber, Head of School
Scattergood reports
Academic Subcommittee Report
Scattergood is a small community that has the advantage of being very diverse. That fact is a rich asset to help us prepare our students not only for college but mostly for life. This year our Senior Class had Black, White, Asian, Latino and African students coming from the east and west coasts of North America and three other continents. Only Senior students spoke more than 7 differentlanguages. But diversity did not stop with race, ethnicity, religion and languagebut also with different gender identities and different learning abilities.
Admission to a four-year college or university is one of the school’s requirements and our Senior students were accepted this year at the following colleges and universities: Kalamazoo College (3), Warren Wilson College (3); University of Iowa (3), Cornell College, Knox College, Reed College, Mills College, Luther College (2), Augustana College, Purdue University, Calvin College, Graceland University, Earlham College (4), Macalaster College andMarist College.
As part of our mission, we actively encourage leadership among our students, and we consciously provide opportunities for them to exercise it. As a clear example of that leadership embedded in the Quaker values of equality and social justice, this year our students led conversations about diversity that permeated our community. They helped us to talk about sensitive issues thatare not necessarily part of our day-to-day conversations. One morning during Collection, a group of Black students shared their past experiences of racialinequality. The ownership and sharing of those experiences foster their need to raise awareness in our community about the the Black Lives Matter movement. These students helped us think and understand the relevance of skin color, even more in this specific historical moment of our country.
Our transgender community compelled us to rethink gender conceptions asthey pushed to break the predominant binary view at the school, working withstaff to make changes in policies and practices to create even a safer living environment for students facing gender identity struggles.
Moreover, a student with Down syndrome enrolled for a post-graduate yearpresented the school with another challenge to our assumptions of “normalcy” that kept us constantly questioning our expectations and limitations to deal with inclusion. All this healthy unrest was fuel to organize the first Eastern Iowa Diversity Conference for Independent Schools, with more than 250participants coming from three independent schools of the area. MiddleSchool, High School, and Staff all gathered in our campus to talk about theseissues. We are hoping to continue these conversations internally and looking to involve more schools in the near future.
In order to help our students struggling with emotional and mental issues wedecided to split responsibilities between a student support team (SST) and the structured study hall team (SSH). SST focused on emotional and behavioralneeds, seeking professional help for our students and helping teachers navigatethe impact of this issues in the classroom. The SSH team focused on learningand academic needs, developing strategies such as different situations ofhomework, test preparation, materials and time management. Statistics about anxiety and depression among high school students are alarming. Publications of the National Institute of Mental Health mention more than a 60 % increase in the number of students reporting these problems in the last ten years, and our community is not an exception. All the strategies are designed to help students succeed academically. In order provide more structure for the SSH and SST teams, we developed, implemented, assessed, and adjusted differenttools, processes, and procedures designed to provide more consistency andaccountability. Among them is a contract for twelve hours of on-campus service each week by a licensed mental health counselor.
Our strategic plan and marketing differentiation placed the farm in a veryimportant position. For the last two years we had at the beginning of the year the Farm Immersion Program (FIP) for our freshmen and sophomore students.Four teachers were involved designing the curriculum and implementing theprogram. Students’ FIP feedback reflected some of their concerns missing class time in classes required for graduation and the difficulties for upperclassmen to connect with sophomores and freshmen and build stronger peer relations. The analysis of this situation, combined with the success of our May Term classes, motivated us to create a new farm term this year. All teachers arepreparing interdisciplinary, hands on learning classes for the farm term whichwill take place in morning during the the first three weeks of the first quarter. All students will attend the farm term. Math and seminar classes will be shifted to the afternoon so key subjects do not miss class time. This first term will also emphasize the development of the 21th century skills as enumerated by educator and author Tony Wagner (Critical thinking and problem solving, collaboration across networks; agility and adaptability; initiative and entrepreneurship; effective oral, written and multimedia communication; accessing and analyzing information; curiosity and imagination). It is clear that these skills are as Wagner explains “survival skills” to prepare students for college and their future work life, and we are working to insert them across the curriculum.
For this May term we had a Greenhouse construction class to build a structureto protect thousands of seeds that we need to transplant out into our gardenevery year. Students used the windows from the old sunroom. It has been a sustainable way to recycle our old farmhouse! They began the project at the design stage and finished with the actual construction of the building. Along the way they learned about design, geometry, materials, tools, teamwork, and problem solving.
Finally, another thought-provoking project this upcoming school year will be the writing of the Self-Study for our re-accreditation by the Independent Schools Association of the Central States (ISACS). Sharing only about the section of the self-study report that talks about the academic program, thesteering committee in consultation with faculty decided to choose a different structure to present our program that goes in tune with our movement towardsan interdisciplinary, and project based learning integrated curriculum. In the Self-Study we will talk about “Developmental Stages” instead of the more standard description of our program through academic disciplines. The developmental stages included will be Intellectual, Aesthetic, Kinesthetic, Ethical/Moral and Social Practical.
I am very thankful for experience gained during this past academic year andI am ready to continue the journey and the seeding of values and ideals in the brains and hearts of the Scattergoodians that chose our community as theireducational soil.
Respectfully submitted,
Gabriela Delgadillo, Assistant Head of School
Scattergood Farm Report
July 2017
Dear Friends,
Since winter I have been pondering a quote from Wes Jackson, founder of the Land Institute in Salina KS, who famously said “If you are working on something that can be finished in your lifetime, you are not thinking big enough.” Though I fancy myself a thoughtful farmer, and I am certainlyfocused on perennial issues of food production and soil health, offeringvaluable learning experiences and being a good neighbor, and I feel that these fall short of the challenge Jackson posed.
This seems especially relevant this past year in which we have lost two former Farm Managers, Belle Hinshaw and Don Laughlin. They likely faced the sameissues that we currently face, some short-term like too much rain or too little,poor quality hay and not enough of it, soil too wet or too dry and always too weedy; and also some longer term issues like how to honor and encourage thegift of fertility, how to let our work speak to the world, how to cultivate wonder and awe and offer experiences that can inform or transform an adolescent life.
Embodying love and integrity Don and Belle each thought big and lived well, finishing plenty and leaving just enough for the rest of us.
So what have we finished this past year?
Ninth and tenth graders who were part of the Farm Immersion Program studiedsustainability and developed rubrics to help the Farm evaluate its performance in managing soil health, water conservation, energy use, biodiversity and doomsday preparedness. Agricultural Research class studied biochar production and benefits, aquaponics, and proper potato storage conditions. May TermClass designed and constructed a greenhouse lean-to on the south side of thebarn, repurposing windows from the condemned farm house. Farm Projectsand crews helped in so many of the daily functions of the farm, while PrairieProject and PE removed autumn olive and helped manage the sheep as they grazed parts of the prairie for the first time. All students took part in a massive squash harvest in October as well as Farm Fun day during orientation in which we harvested, constructed, weeded, and organized, followed by a picnic and the first Meeting for Worship of the school year. Two graduates, Isaac Chen and Theodore Byrnes contributed greatly to the Farm during their four years here: night feedings of bottle fed lambs, weeding, harvesting, planting, and simply being present to all that happens on the farm and advocating for it.
They will be missed.
The Scattergood Farm also welcomed many guests. Students from Mark Twain Elementary, Willowwind School, Stepping Stones Preschool, and Taproot Nature Experience all from Iowa City, as well as Summit School in Cedar Rapids visited throughout the year. Campers from the Scattergood Summer Camps, Peace Camp, Outdoor Adventures and Congregational United Church of Christ visited this summer. Environmental Science class undergrads from Cornell College and Regional Planning graduate students from the Universitiesof Iowa and Minnesota visited last fall. We also grew food for a wedding,hosted children’s activities at the Iowa City Farmers Market and remained active in Practical Farmers of Iowa, Iowa Farmers Union and Field to Family.
All of this was the work of many. Ben Bowman remained diligent in his workwith the livestock. Dana Foster shepherded the Farm Immersion Programand May Term Farm Class. During his time at Scattergood. Mike Severino established the Agricultural Research class, worked hard to maintain the prairie, and never seemed happier than when he stood before a large pile of manure with a shovel in his hands. Tim Schulte guided the razing of the farmhouse and the raising of the new greenhouse. Our cooks continued makingwonderful meals maximizing the bounty from the farm. Sam Taylor, Karen Huff and Isaac Chen have helped keep the farm productive and beautiful thissummer. Ken Fawcett managed our row crops and advised us in many otherareas. And the Farm Subcommittee of the School Committee again listenedcarefully and assisted when necessary.
So, does working hard on a beautiful farm producing food for its community pass the Wes test? Likely not, but then I think of the early Quakers of Iowa Yearly Meeting Conservative who fought long to start Scattergood, to keep it open until they couldn’t, who reopened it to start another perennial battle of enrollment issues and fiscal challenges, and I am so thankful for their foresightand strength and faith and generosity, so that I might now continue the work of Don and Belle, and do a thing I love, for people whom I love, in a place that is worthy of so much love. Perhaps for some, the work of this lifetime is enough.
Respectfully Submitted,
Mark Quee, Farm Manager
Exercise Committee Report 2017
Dear Lord, as we gather to do Your business may we have the patience to wait for your Word which is your wisdom, and our wisdom, and may we have whatever strength or courage we need to be faithful to whatever Word your share with us.
As we gather for our business, as we do our work, as we eat and playtogether, help us to hear each other with love and with kindness throughout this week.
In this meeting house during yearly meeting time, I like to imaginethe faint sounds of traffic outside is the sound of wind whirling and I’m safe within the meeting house. I’m safe within my community, I can just be quietand perhaps know a little of God.
I love the presence of children amongst us, I love the children andyouth and those of us young at heart. I love the squirming, the burbling, the smiles, the singing, the sweeping floors. When I need to remember what it means to walk cheerfully over the world, I only need to remember the children amongst us to remember how near at hand God is.
“There is a river the streams thereof shall make glad the city of God.” I give thanks this day to be gathered with so many streams and thatwe are all a part of that river.
Love. Love! Love is my shepherd. I shall not want.
God is Love. Love is a process. God is a process.
When our hearts are open, we can see the places where the light is shining through and be grateful.
Love be with us. Be our shepherd. Stay close to us. Hold us. Transform us. Refine us.
I have been reading a book I’ve read before many times. It is the story of a woman in Plantagenet England, about the 1300s. One thing that struck me, in part because I was reading it while here, was how much their language was infused with talk of God. They would greet each other with “God’s blessing on you,” and used the phrase “God’s bones” for good and bad. Both peasants and wealthy people, their lives were infused with talk of God. They had many chapels and churches, and people went on pilgrimages. I’m sure one of the reasons was, not only was life was more physically difficult then, but it was also uncertain. They had fires and plague. If they caught the black plague, there was little chance of getting better; there was very little anyone could do. People didn’t live as long. Perhaps that is why they implored through work, words, and pilgrimage the protection of God.Our lives in the present day first world are not as physically difficult. We have heat and air conditioning. If we get really sick, we can go the doctor or the hospital and we will probably get better—we are likely not going to die. At least we have the belief that perhaps we will not die. But our world is still very much uncertain. Things can still happen in a moment as they did then. In a lot of the world, things DO happen and perhaps people can’t get help to stay alive. Why don’t we, in this privileged part of the world, infuse our speech, our thoughts, our time in worship, prayer, perhaps pilgrimages withGod? Perhaps there are a lot of people who do, Friends who do. Perhaps if we’re not, we can be more mindful to gratitude.
There are two stories sitting and living with me. The first is Paul talking to the Romans, whose religion was to build and worship statues, saying God does not live in temples made by human hands.
God is the Source of everything! God made the grass, the stars. What does God need of me? I am a piece of grass. I feel a great sense of inadequacy, of imperfection. Knowing that God is the Source of everything frees me from a legalism, perfectionism, inadequacy that I impose on myself.
The second is the story of the talents. ‘Talent’ is the word for their unit of money, but I think of as all the resources God entrusts to us. The servant who was given 5 talents now has 10, the one who was given 2 now has 4. The master is well pleased. But the one who buried his talent, and who had returned it maybe with dirt on it, he had brushed it clean before presenting it—he buried it because he was scared. He could say, “At least I didn’t lose it!”
He was not experiencing the Spirit of all love and compassion and goodness, the Source of life. He was walled off from God. I know how Ifortress myself from God. But I also know that there’s no place we can go to be too far away from God. The master’s response to the man with one talent was: “Dude, you should have put it in a bank—I’d at least have gotten a little interest!”
It reminds me of a response someone may make to Isaiah’s “Here I am, Lord”: “Here I am—send HER!” And that’s okay. Sometimes it would be nice if we were to think about a person’s condition first. If I’m operating from fear, I’m just putting it in the bank. It would be great in those times forChrist to reach out to our most wounded places and tell us “Well done, my good and faithful servant. I love you, I really LOVE you.” We all need to hear that, and that’s one of the kinds of love God has for us.
A simple form of love in action which makes sense to me is to see a need and fill it, kindly.
Whenever I sit in this meetinghouse I think: where am I? I’m in the U.S., in Iowa, in rural Iowa, surrounded by corn, soybeans, sheep grazing.
I have an image of waving fields of grain, which we don’t have much of inIowa. Perhaps it is prairie grass waving. I had a dream in which I saw anunpronounceable word starting with S, in italics. And I felt a call to saysomething at meeting for worship.
Earlier this week a Friend asked if we would have Iowa YearlyMeeting Conservative if not for Scattergood Friends School. We need to remember that the farm is part of Scattergood too. Would we have IYMC if not for the farm? The people who started Scattergood were farmers and the people who helped them. Agricultural things are so important to remember and Scattergood helps us to remember it. Many of us have grown up onfarms or have parents who did. My message to you is: we are in the country.The farm is so important because it ties us to the people who originally started IYMC. We need to keep alive the image of farms and waving fieldsof grain.
“My heart leaps up when I behold / A rainbow in the sky / So it was when my life began / So it is now I am a man / So be it when I shall grow old / Or let me die! / The Child is the father of the Man / And I could wish my days to be / Bound each to each by natural piety.”
One the joys of being on microphone duty is having to keep my eyes open and sit on the front bench. I get to look out on the rainbow of ourcommunity and my heart leaps up.
We heard a story about Big F and Little F. In my meeting we’re learning how to tell each other things so we can be of assistance to each other. So I’m going to use all of you as a resource. A week from Monday I’m having cancer surgery. I’ve had a long wait and I’m hoping forregression instead of progression. I ask you to hold me in the Light, andthank you for being a distraction. We’ve also been talking about health in general: mental health, health of the earth, and in relationships, so let’s think about health in general as we go forth from this gathering.
As has been said, the view from this front bench is beautiful. My husband and I have been coming to yearly meeting for 31 years. I remember so many beloved faces that I’ve been able to look at in this meetinghouse, from this and other meetings. Some of them can no longer come to yearly meeting, and some have moved on to the next world. I’ve learned so much from them. Now I see other beloved faces and I’ve learned so much from you. And I see brand new beloved faces and, if Way is open, I look forward to learning from you.
The Bible verse that comes to my mind is when I am exceedingly glad or just bored is “God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.” (1 John 4:16) Most of the time I’m not sure what
is love, I’m not sure what is God. A Benedictine colleague of Thomas Kelly has helped me labor with my confusion. He said “You don’t trust God.” I asked “How do I trust? What does it mean? What do I do? What steps do I take? I’m not sure what the word means.” He grinned a Thomas Merton sort of grin. “Just say thank you. Say thank you all the time, like when you find a parking space.” He meant for me to live in gratitude.
I’m familiar with thanking for food, for nature, but I have a long way to go to make it a sustaining fiber of my being. Throughout this session and our deliberations, I have been overwhelmed with my sense of thankfulness. Thank you to the Entertainment Committee for the metaphor of bridges. It’s concrete. My bridges are ropes with slats missing. My bridges are often closed for repairs. My bridge to Scattergood has been fragile for nearly 30 years. My bridge to Yearly Meeting has been fragile. I’m grateful for thefaithfulness of those who wait in silence and create an intention that invites all of us together and allows us to feel that fearful and awesome Presence.Thank you.
Looking at the metaphor of building bridges, struggling with the understanding of bridge as a tool to jump over gaps or separation. But
when I’m able to feel the Light, and grasp that idea, I see that there are no divisions. Separation is a thing we build in our head. You cannot divide
the Light. It is One, so why do we need bridges? We need to wake up to theconsciousness of that Oneness where the divisions are categories I put onwith my mind, my ego. If I could wake up I wouldn’t struggle with fear— because in the Light, there is no fear; darkness doesn’t exist. If you have
a candle in a stadium, you can see it wherever you are. With the Light, the darkness disappears. But if I cannot see that we are the same, I cannot knowthe Light and that we are one. So my work is the consciousness of that Light. I can’t hate anyone if we are the same. I’m very grateful for this group of souls who believe there is Light in each of us and work to be aware of that.
We have been given to build bridges. One of them is between Scattergood and young people and their families, who need to know about Scattergood. It’s a gift we can offer, from that love, the belief that we can have a better world.
Ministry and Counsel Report 2017
The Ministry and Counsel Committee of IYM(C) met daily, Third through Seventh Days, with an additional meeting on Seventh Day. In this timetogether we shared how our spiritual lives have deepened, reviewed our on-going work, and considered new concerns brought to us.
Several meetings report being enriched and invigorated by new attenders. Weshare a concern for inclusiveness, noting that our announcements may assume unity or knowledge which is not actually there. M&C continues to discuss how to welcome and include newcomers to Yearly Meeting, having heard thecomment: “You are all used to one another, but you’re not used to reaching out.”
We received a report from our subcommittee on child safety practices. They have compiled the resources from the 2016 program and had begun writing possible practices and guidelines for yearly meeting. With the addition of another member, this committee, which we are calling the Ad-hoc Committee on Child Safety Practices, under the care of Ministry and Counsel, now consists of: Penny Majors, Liz Oppenheimer and Sonja Sponheim.
We continue to look at our Advices and Queries. One meeting reports that only the Advice, and not the Query, is read for consideration.
The Scattergood Friends School Committee approached M&C with the following: After the 2014 IYM Session, the YM Clerk sent monthly meetings a query formulated by the SFS Committee: “What relationship shall the yearly meeting have with the school in the future? What charge does the yearly meeting give to the School Committee for the school?” Meetings were invited to respond and thoughtful conversations occurred. The results of these conversations were neither shared with the School Committee nor at Yearly Meeting. The School Committee asked for guidance in following up on these conversations. We spent some time with these questions in our meeting. Weare sorry that the conversations were not compiled and shared with the widermeeting. We believe that visitation in both directions would go a long way in understating and increasing the relationship between monthly meetings and Scattergood Friends School.
We had a discussion of the challenges faced by the Entertainment Committee. A concern had been expressed that the school is not adequately clean. Notingthat Des Moines Friends help clean Bear Creek Meetinghouse in preparationfor MidYear Meeting, it was suggested having a clean-up day at Scattergoodprior to yearly meeting. We do not know whether M&C is where this ideamight be seasoned. There is a concern that people may be discouraged from volunteering for entertainment committee because there are high expectations and Friends might not be understanding when expectations are not met.
M&C affirms that it is important that each monthly meeting be represented at our meetings during yearly meeting sessions. We have been missing members for several years. When the appointed M&C members cannot attend the annual sessions, we urge the monthly meeting to name a substitute. We are troubled that there are only two men on our committee and wonder whether this reflects the gender balance on monthly meeting ministry and counsel committees.
We listened with care to the State of the Meeting reports and tenderly held meetings’ joys and struggles. We return them to the Yearly Meeting clerk with the recommendation that they be read during these annual sessions.
On behalf of the Ministry & Counsel Committee,
Lorene Ludy, clerk