Peace and Social Concerns Committee meeting of 6/15/15

Present: Dan G, David G, Chris M, Roger C, George M, Katherine G, Frank G, Morgan R, Diane C, Ruth H, Beth A, Jane J.

1. We began with a time of silence and an invitation to all to say how we came to the committee.

2. Ruth is very interested in the discussions in the Race and Class group and would like to have some relationship or oversight of the group by our committee. Tom M is laying down the leadership of that group, and Ruth is clear that she would not want to take that up alone, but she offered to work with others to consider the group’s relation with us and with the meeting. It was clear that we want the group to continue and that we want to find a way to support it. Dan expects to attend the group in June. It was suggested that the group might find a sort of embassy role to other faith groups. Ruth offered to arrange a discussion during the group’s Marinade time to consider how to move forward.

2. Frank is our ION representative (Interfaith Opportunities Network, interfaithamherst.org) and spoke of it and its activities. Mostly it serves as a communication vehicle between the faith communities involved, and it has events which we are invited to attend. He will be publicizing these in the Newsletter and considering ways to cooperate with our committee.

3. Diane will oversee letter writing on July. On June 21 Carol will do it, as she offered earlier. One issue is the governor’s reduction of regulations. Roger will send the League of Women Voters’ letter on this matter to the committee. (See that at more at https://lwvma.org/league-asks-gov-baker-to-amend-executive-order-on-regulations/)

4. Diane will clerk our July 20 meeting.

5. In July’s meeting we will consider whether or not to meet in August.

6. George will continue to monitor our bulletin board, now with Beth’s help, and he has our permission to reorganize it if that seems advisable.

7. David expressed a strong hope that an in-person gathering of faith communities could be brought about to find ways we can work together.

8. The Not Bread Alone project at the First Congregational Church in Amherst, Saturdays 9:30-2:00, continues and we and all Mount Toby people are encouraged to take part. Frank mentioned that on Wednesday mornings breakfast is served at the Unitarian church and others are invited. We are aware than several Mount Toby Friends are involved in a similar project in Franklin County.

9. Jane brought up possibilities for the use of the home and farmlet of Juanita and Wally Nelson, and the fact that the pipeline is proposed to go very close to it, which may be grounds for a campaign or project. We did not have time to consider this carefully but will put it on a future agenda. We also ran out of time to consider the topics in the letter forwarded to us by Sandi Shea.

10. After several announcements, we closed in silence.