Fox Valley Friends Meeting for Business, September 12, 2021

Final – Approved for posting on November 14, 2021

Present:  Katie B, Carol C, Jim C, Lindsey D, Sue F, Jill H, Reed H, Tina M, Francesca P, Mary K - Clerk

Approval of Minutes:  Minutes from the May 16 meeting were read and approved for posting.

Treasurer's Report:  All bills are paid.  We expect more contributions from members will be coming in during the last months of the year so we can pay all of our budgeted donations.

New Business.

None

Reports from Coordinators of Work Projects.

Care of Meeting for Worship:  We had a deep discussion on how to proceed with Meeting for Worship as the pandemic continues.  We have some members who prefer virtual meetings and some who prefer in-person meetings following CDC guidelines.  We want our virtual and in-person meetings to be blended, not separate from each other.  In the blended meeting we need to develop a way to hear each other clearly, particularly during our sharing circle.  Visual is not as important.  We decided to start having small in-person meetings at Jim and Carol’s home.  If they are not available, the back-up location will be Bob and Joan’s home.  Third back-up is Katie’s home.  Those who want to attend in person should pay attention to their e-mail for changes in location.  We will try passing a phone around the room for individuals to use during the sharing circle to see if that improves the audio.

Mauthe Center:  Reed H is checking on the status of new WiFi at the Mauthe.

First Day School:  Lindsey will let Mary know when their family is interested in starting FDS again.

Potlucks:  Fall potlucks have been scheduled for September 24, October 15, November 19, and December 17.  They will be hosted by Sheila and all attendees are vaccinated.

Communications:  Francesca and Mary will meet to discuss some website issues.  Meeting approved posting the Zoom link for our Meeting for Worship on our website so others might find it and join us.  We will not post publicly about the in-person meetings.  Lindsey will keep our Facebook page updated with the Zoom link, too.

Outreach:  Mary never got a response from St. John’s about helping with their summer program.  St. Anne's Episcopal Church, along with GIFT, is offering a series of interfaith conversations beginning September 14th. These will be on the second Tuesday of the month at 6:30pm. At this point, they are planning on these being in-person only, at St. Anne's (347 S. Libal Street, De Pere, 54115).  Mary will be speaking on Quakers at the October 12 event.

Prison Ministry:  Katie is in conversation with the chaplain at Green Bay Correctional Institute about the possibility of having Quaker meeting in their chapel for inmates who are interested.  They are not allowing any in-person visits yet.  Our most faithful attender, Carl, has been transferred to Racine Correctional.

Tina and Mary will meet to arrange a time we could have a special meeting to share and discuss the many prison issues being addressed by WISDOM, perhaps before a future Meeting for Worship.

NYM:   NYM Fall Interim Session will be October 28-31.  It is virtual and anyone can attend.

Next Meeting for Business:  The next FVFM Meeting for Business will be November 14, 2021.

Respectfully submitted,

Mary K, Clerk