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New Mexico Regional Meeting of Friends
Meeting for Worship with Attention to Business
Fourth month 22nd day, 2017
Held at Durango Rec Center, Durango, CO
The meeting for worship with attention to business of the 2017 New Mexico Regional Meeting of Friends spring gathering began after worship at 1:30 p.m. on fourth month, twenty-second day, 2017.
Present:
Susan Rose – Durango Diane LeResche – Santa Fe
Pat Habicht – Taos Jan-Willem Jansens – Santa Fe
Pelican Lee – Santa Fe Sandy Feutz – Gila
Tom Vaughan – Gila Bryce Fauble – Durango
Jim Nellessen – Quaker House Betsy Lombardi – Quaker House
Cheryl Speir-Phillips – Gila Cindy Yurth – Durango
Nichoe Lichen – Quaker House Ross Worley – Durango
Susan Dahl – Durango Donne Hayden – Cincinnati Friends
Sara Keeney – Albuquerque January Kiefer – Durango
Marion Newton – Gila John Russell – El Paso
Connie Crawford – El Paso Carol O’Connor – Albuquerque
Pam Gilchrist – Santa Fe Rae Moeller – Durango
Rick Moeller – Durango Tom Harmon – Albuquerque
Clyde Milner – Albuquerque Jamie Newton – Gila
Mary Dunham – Santa Fe John Kretzmann – Santa Fe
Wyn Lewis – Santa Fe Rebecca Cecil – Durango
Travis Etling – Durango Tracy Davis – Durango
Gail Baker – Albuquerque Susan R Warren – Gallup
Nan Uhl – Durango Linda Raczek – Durango
Julia Hastings-Black – Durango Mark Elliott – Gallup
David Henkel – Santa Fe Kathleen Shadell – Durango
Robert Lea – Durango
Clerk’s Comments
David Henkel, clerk of New Mexico Regional Meeting, welcomed all to our Spring gathering in Durango. He reviewed the agenda, with a few housekeeping items; – there are several Durango hosts for those interested in gathering for supper together and there will be a sign-up sheet in the front.
NMRM 2017-04.01: Meeting in the fresh and sunny spring of Durango and hosted by the loving attention of Durango Friends, the New Mexico Regional Meeting came together for its Spring 2017 gathering. We express our gratitude to Durango Friends for their kind fellowship, delicious food, and warm welcome. Approved.
Thank you to Jamie Newton as our previous recording clerk and welcome to Kathleen Shadell as our new recording clerk.
Information and attachments will be on the New Mexico Regional Meeting portion of the IMYM website later in May. Please share with Friends who were not able to attend. The intention is to post more electronically, with less use of paper. Any final versions that will need to be done after this meeting can be sent to David Henkel and he will post appropriately.
Sanctuary: In 1983, two monthly meetings proclaimed themselves as sanctuaries. We do not have tabernacles, as in a Hebrew historical reference, but for us a sanctuary is a spiritual place of refuge. We are aware of the victimization of people here without documentation who are asked to leave our country. Albuquerque Monthly Meeting has declared themselves as a sanctuary and is currently hosting someone, making a statement for all of us. Sara Keeney spoke about the remarkable process of finding and following a leading. They researched Minutes from two years ago about what they believed about the condition of undocumented people and were moving forward with a state coalition. Then came a phone call about a person that was about to be deported and everything changed. Even though they didn’t know her – it was a real need and a real story. A business meeting was scheduled, all were called and 60 people showed up. The entire time was devoted to this question, with moving ministries coming forward and a way was opening. Other churches came forward to help with the 24/7 accompaniment and AFSC in both Albuquerque and Denver were a tremendous help with documents, resources, etc.. In a meeting of scarcity – there was a feeling of abundance. Their meeting has been transformed with new connections to community and a feeling of a right pathway.
Friends are encouraged to pay attention to recent news. A NY Times article tells of two undocumented people who have been deported recently. Let David know if you want to be included on a list for more information. Friends were also reminded of a Minute from 1986, which is still pertinent today, referenced in Pendle Hill Pamphlet #270 by Jim Corbett. The Interfaith Coalition for Immigrant Justice continues to be in need of funds and it was requested that everyone hold all who are working for immigrant justice in the Light.
The selection of campuses for FGC has not always met the needs of all who gathered, including Friends of Color. Consequently, FGC has decided to undertake a self-examination of inclusion, diversity, racism, and privilege and is asking Friends to support that initiative. Friends were asked to give some consideration to how we hold people of different backgrounds, including the issue of white privilege in our own society. Other Friends organization in recent times have addressed these same issues squarely, deeply, and with commitment.
As we prepare for upcoming spring gatherings, give some thought to themes, how to broaden the range of people in our Meetings, and ways we can attract and hold young families in our Meetings.
State of the Meeting Reports from Monthly Meetings and Worship Groups
State of the meeting reports from the following monthly meetings and worship groups were read. The full text of the state of the meeting reports will accompany these minutes as:
[Attachment NMRM-2017-04.01].
- Albuquerque Monthly Meeting
- Clearlight Worship Group, Taos
- Durango Monthly Meeting
- El Paso Monthly Meeting
- Gallup Worship Group
- Gila Monthly Meeting
- Las Cruces Monthly Meeting
- Quaker House (SF) Preparative Meeting
- Santa Fe Monthly Meeting
Nominating Committee Report
Cheryl Speir-Phillips presented the Spring 2017 report of the Nominating Committee
[Attachment NMRM-2017-04.2], showing both new nominees and Friends who have agreed to continue in their current positions. There is still a need for someone to come forward to serve a three-year term as a member of Finance Committee, and another to serve a three-year term as FWCC representative, due to recent resignations. Cheryl thanked all on nominating committee and asked that any leadings or recommendations for open positions to please contact her. Thanks for letting us to be of service to you.
NMRM 2017-04.02: New Mexico Regional Meeting approved the nominees submitted by the Nominating Committee who were identified as not needing approval by Intermountain Yearly Meeting. [Approved.]
NMRM 2017-04.03: New Mexico Regional Meeting approved the nominees submitted by the Nominating Committee to be recommended for approval by Intermountain early Meeting. [Approved.]
NMRM 2017-04.04: New Mexico Regional Meeting delegates approval to the Nominating Committee for suitable candidates to fill the two positions (Finance Committee and FWCC representative) before next NMRM business meeting in April 2018. [Approved.]
Treasurer’s Report
Sara Keeney presented the Treasurer’s Report. We continue to hold a balance of about $4,000. Each year we are spending a little more, but basically we are thrifty and self-sufficient. It is proposed that we not have an assessment for 2017, but we may want to approve one at spring regional in 2018. We came out ahead on expenses for our spring regional meeting in 2016. There are a few more expenses pending from this meeting, but we hope to break even. We have four representatives for IMYM and the cost of their travel could be approximately $1200 in 2017.
NMRM 2017-04.05: New Mexico Regional Meeting approved the Treasurer’s recommendation that contributions from monthly meetings to New Mexico Regional Meeting be waived for 2017, with the understanding that contributions are likely to be needed in future years. [Approved.]
The Treasurer’s report and potential annual operating budget for 2017-2018 are attached to these minutes [Attachment NMRM-2017-04.03]. The Treasurer’s report was accepted.
NM Regional Meeting – 2018 Annual Gathering
The Clerk reported that Gila Monthly Meeting will host the spring gathering in 2018, Santa Fe in 2019, El Paso/Las Cruces in 2020, Albuquerque in 2021 and Durango again in 2022.
IMYM Representatives Committee Report
Pam Gilchrist summarized the report. The 2017 Representatives Committee met in early February at Mountain View Friends Meetinghouse in Denver. Topics included the 2017 program, adopting the process of “Pay as Led”, whether to move from Ghost Ranch to another venue, problems in staffing Children’s Yearly Meeting and a recommendation to move storage of IMYM archives to the “cloud”. Mountain Friends Camp will be held at a new location this year at Collins Lake Ranch near Mora, NM. A Minute may come before IMYM possibly this year from FGC on a concern about diversity for those of color. Expect to hear from this committee regarding this issue and Meetings are requested to return input quickly. A Child Safety Policy is being considered by this committee
[Attachment NMRM-2017-04.04]. Report was accepted.
IMYM Arrangements Committee Report
Pelican Lee gave a brief report. IMYM will be held June 11-18, 2017 at Ghost Ranch. Registrars have reported that 45% of registrants have chosen to pay the actual cost vs. subsidized cost. Monthly meetings have provided less in assistance, perhaps because some are reluctant to ask. There are coordinators for Children’s Yearly Meeting this year but no commitments for next year, partially due to a possible venue change. Adults have signed up for Intergenerational Worship Sharing, but don’t show up – please do so lest we be thought to abandon our young Friends. Early days are in question for the future because Ghost Ranch no longer needs us to be there for an entire week. Two thirds of attenders arrive for early days and are asked to be aware of those arriving on Wednesday and incorporate F/friends into the bonding that has already begun.
Representatives to Friends Organizations Report
Written reports that were received from our representatives accompany these minutes in
[Attachment NMRM-2017-04.05]
- FCNL, read by Connie Crawford. Accepted
- FWCC, read by Cheryl Speir-Phillips for Rob Pierson. Accepted
- AFSC, read by David Henkel for Anna Darrah.
Closing worship: The meeting closed at 3:15 p.m. with worship
Faithfully submitted,
David Henkel, Presiding Clerk Kathleen Shadell, Recording Clerk
These minutes were approved during this meeting for business.
Attachments to minutes of the meeting for business of New Mexico Regional Meeting, 04/22/17
- Attachment NMRM-2017-04.01 State of the Meeting Reports
- Attachment NMRM-2017-04.02 Nominating Committee Report
- Attachment NMRM-2017-04.03 Treasurer’s Report
- Attachment NMRM-2017-04.04 IMYM Representatives Committee Report
- Attachment NMRM-2017-04.05 Representatives to Friends Organizations Reports