S:F&A minutes from the
QEW spring meeting, April 2007

The committee met in two sessions, morning and afternoon.

Morning Session

Present were: Marci Ankrom, Bob Cordova, Louis Cox, Elaine Emmi, Marshall Gibson, Mary Gilbert (recording), Dick Grossman, John Hackman, Nancy Halliday, Donn Kesselheim, Ken Lawrence, Angelo Manno, Steve McConnell, Chris Paar, Noel Pavlovic (clerk), John Payton, Susan Swanstrom, Roy Treadway and Bob Wixom.

1. The meeting began with a period of silent prayer for centering.

2. QEW at UN: Mary gave an update on QEW’s presence at Commission on Sustainable Development at the United Nations. The CSD is in the second year of a 2-year cycle focused on the themes of (1) atmospheric pollution, (2) climate change, (3) energy, and (4) industrial development. The first year was a review year, and 2007 is a policy-setting year. Mary outlined the limited formal role available for civil society in general and the NGO (non-governmental organizations) community in particular, and expressed frustration about the resistance of the U.S. delegation to lobbying by citizens. Mary and Janet Frieswyk have attended a preparatory meeting for CDS 15 in February and plan to be at CSD 15 sessions for the first 2 weeks of May.

QEW is applying for certification by the UN’s Department of Public Information (DPI), which would allow us to have 2 year-round badges for access to UN proceedings in exchange for talking and/or writing about what the UN is doing.

3. Population Concerns: Men for Men: An article by Dick on this project to provide funding for vasectomies has been published in BeFriending Creation, and Dick sent another article to Friends Journal. Dick also showed a draft for a tri-fold on “M4M” to encourage participation, and asked for feedback. Roy will bring the draft to the Publications Committee.

Dick also writes a monthly column for his local newspaper in Boulder, Colo., called “Family Matters.” Dick would accept help in trying to syndicate this column.

Population Concerns: Quaker Adoption: Steve wondered if there is any way for Quakers who are considering adoption to get financial help, as it is a very expensive process, (about $20,000). Discussion clarified that insurance companies will not support adoption in place of in vitro fertilization. We discussed funding sources such as Planned Parenthood. This matter will be further discussed at our fall meeting.

4. Climate Change Tri-fold: The committee agreed that climate change is at the forefront of our minds, and discussed creating a tri-fold addressing why this is a religious/spiritual concern. The tri-fold could also refer to organizations addressing the issue, like Interfaith Power and Light. Everything in our known world depends on climate stability. Population, bio-diversity (some say 50% of species will be gone by 2100) and eco-justice were mentioned. Dick, Noel, Mary, Elaine, Bob W. (and Tracey?) expressed interest in working on the proposed tri-fold.

5. Becoming Fragrance-Free: The Continuing Council suggested that our meetings become fragrance-free events, and the Steering Committee asked us to consider the question. It is raised by Friend Alice Adams in New Mexico as part of a larger concern about the chemical sensitivity that is becoming more common and even dominating the lives of some sufferers. Friends General Council has developed guidelines for their Gatherings, and QEW could use their work as a model for creating our own. Mary said she would get a copy for our use. (Note: According to Steering Committee minutes S:F&A was asked to write an article on this for BeFriending Creation. My notes do not show discussion of this task, and no-one is listed as volunteering to write it.)

Afternoon Session

The recording clerk was not present for most of the afternoon session, so there is no record of who was in attendance. The minutes below were adapted from generously provided notes taken by Meredith Dowling, who will be anchoring QEW during Louis and Ruah’s sabbatical/walk for the earth.

6. Tri-folds: The Publications Committee has discussed the Climate Change and Men for Men tri-folds and agrees that work to write and edit them should go forward. The tri-fold on climate change is wanted in time to go out with the fall fund-raising mailing, so it should be finished in time for approval at the meeting in October. It is important to make clear the timeless and spiritual nature of the concern, so as to distinguish it from plain reaction to a crisis. The Men for Men tri-fold will be distributed at the FGC gathering next year and will be down-loadable from the QEW website.

7. Going fragrance-free: We propose an advice to the Steering Committee on going chemical-free, in time for our October meeting. We need particular details as to what attenders should do and what the facility needs to do. (See #6 above. Following subsequent communication with Louis, Mary will write a brief article for BeFriending Creation.)

8. Quaker Green Pages: It was decided to ask YM representatives to identify businesses within their YMs and report back. There was question about the definition of a “Quaker business.” Our directory should not duplicate the Co-Op America Green Business Directory. The suggestion was made that it be a Wiki-style, web-based directory, to save a lot of time, but that would have to be closely monitored.

9. Getting kids outdoors and involved: Dick reminded is that it’s important to have educational programs for teens, such as work in Nature Centers. We should consider this as a potential project.

10. The meeting closed with a period of silent prayer during which many felt gratitude for the work of the committee.