Minutes of Peace and Social Concerns, May 23, 2016

Present: George O, Dan G, Carol L, Jane J, Roger C, Ruth H, Ka R, Beth A

1. George offered to clerk the meeting.

2. Race/Class group: Ruth told us of recent activities of the group. There have been times of low attendance but also some times of deep discussion in the group. Ruth and Carol, who have been involved with it, would like our help in assessing how much interest there is at MtToby in these issues and how to proceed. It seems that education should be a focus. The sense was that race and class are important issues in MtToby, and that the group should continue, perhaps involving a book reading. Meeting during Fellowship Lunch may be a possibility for Friends who find it hard to meet at 9am.

3. Letter writing in June will be at the retreat, and Beth will take charge of it.

4. The packet of information which Scott R duplicated was passed out to all of us present. We are charged to take these materials home and read them. We may discuss the issues they raise, next month.

5. The Team Build possibility offered by Habitat for Humanity was discussed. The $250 price for us to participate is an obstacle. One thought was to do a build in Holyoke. We may find a way to discover who in the meeting will actually want to participate in a build, and if there is a significant number, figure out how to raise the $250 or negotiate it down. Roger will talk with Andy about all this.

6. Beth gave a report on the Earthcare Fair which she organized, and she passed out some of the leftover handouts which she had prepared for it. Generally it was a good event and those who went were pleased with it.

7. The Open Letter to Hilary Clinton will be sent around to committee members.

8. Ka reported on the Friends in Faith panel discussion held at the JFK school, on multi-faith issues, organized by the Interfaith group. She mentioned an event to which non-Muslims are invited during Ramadan - an inter-faith Iftar (breaking of the Ramadan Fast), and “Two Episcopalians and a Truck” to gather materials for refugees. Both would be appropriate for newsletter announcements, after-meeting announcements, and items for the listserv. Ka will send these by email to Roger who will send them on the listserv.

9. We will ask Frank if he is willing to clerk in June.

10. We closed as we opened, with a time of silence.