April 7, 2019
Present: Isabelle Haines, Clerk; Mark Hemendiger; David Corleto-Bales, recording clerk; Ami Corleto-Bales; Mary Ellen Blakey; Barbara Gold; and Elisabeth Prenot.
The meeting began with the acknowledgement of the original Haudenosaunee ownership and stewardship of the land where the meeting house sits, and a gathered silence.
The minutes from the March 3rd business meeting were read and approved.
In absentia Treasurer’s Report, (from Alex Haines-Stephan)
a. Checking account–438.00
b. Savings account–2,919.82
c. Peace week–3,759.45
d. Expenses–215.56; i) 90.00, Mirabito Propane, ii) 100.00 Mirabito pre-pay, iii) 25.56 NYSEG
e. Donations–20.00
There was no information regarding the link for the PayPal account that was set up by the treasurer in this report.
Building and Grounds Report, from Mark Hemendiger:
Six mouse traps were set to deal with the problem of mice in the meeting house; one mouse was caught. Little evidence of mice in the meeting house has been found of late, since the weather has improved.
Friends were reminded to lower the toilet seat so that mice won’t drown in the toilet bowl.
A spring work day will be set at a future date. Probably in May.
The State of the Meeting Report summary, by Buffy Curtis, was read by Elisabeth Prenot. Friends approved the summary with a few edits. The clerk will submit the approved summary.
Advocacy Team Meeting, will be on April 14th, at John Bailey’s house in Hamilton, at 3:30.
a. On Thursday, April 18th, the Advocacy Team will be meeting with Rep. Anthony Brindisi in Utica to ask him to vote to rescind the 2001-02 “AUMF” bill, (Authorization for Use of Military Force) that was been invoked 30 times in the last 18 years.
b. The Advocacy team will also meet will the staffs of Sen.Chuck Schumer and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand’s on the afternoon of the same day to discuss the same issue.
Visions and Desires for the Future which were discussed in the last few months during discernment of the state of our Meeting will be addressed through working groups and ad hoc committees.
It was proposed that First Day School will be the first desire to be addressed. Elisabeth Prenot, Isabelle Haines, and Ami Corleto-Bales volunteered to form an ad hoc committee to make a plan for a weekly First Day School program.
A proposal was made for the meeting to host a screening of a documentary film, ”The Last Refuge”, about the role of immigrants in the rehabilitation of Utica. This film screening could serve as an outreach and be open to the public. Ami Corleto-Bales will contact the filmmakers about this.
“Next Door Clinton”, which is a community event forum for the village of Clinton and surrounding area could be used to offer the use of the meeting house for outside groups. Mark Hemendiger will look into this.
Religion Presentation at Utica College;
a. There will be a presentation of various religious faiths at U.C.’s Newman Center on Tuesday, May 7th at 4:30 p.m.
b. Elisabeth Prenot was asked to present her Quaker beliefs in response to student questions. Isabelle Haines will accompany her. Friends approved this.
Potluck was confirmed for Sunday, April 21st after meeting.
The next business meeting was set for Sunday, May 5th.
The business meeting ended with gathered silence.
Minutes read and approved 5/5/2019