January 9, 2022
(The @ signifies that the minute has been read and approved during Meeting. Please note that copies of all annual reports provided during this Meeting are on file with and available from the Clerk or Recording Clerk.)
2022.1.1 Opening Worship
Ithaca Monthly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends met on-line, using Zoom remote conferencing service, for Monthly Meeting for Worship with Attention to Business on January 9, 2022. At 12:35pm, twenty-six Friends settled into worship.
Clerk shared the agenda and reviewed that the annual meeting of the corporation would precede the regular, monthly Meeting for Worship with Attention to Business.
2022.1.2 Annual Meeting of the IMMRSF Corporation
Present for the annual meeting: Liam Murphy, Chris Dunham, Melissa Travis Dunham, Shirley Way, John Lewis, Bronwyn Mohlke, Steve Mohlke, Gina Varicchio, Mike Simkin, Angela Hopkins, Pat Sewell, Ellie Rosenberg, Judith Knight, Tom Ruscitti, Carolyn Kenyon, Jill Marie, Margaret McCasland, Connie Thomas, Gary Thomas, Barbara Chase, Nancy Riffer, Elizabeth Schneider, Joanne Sturgeon, Marin Clarkberg, Ruth Yarrow, Kris Altucher, and Antonia Saxon.
Liam Murphy, co-Convener of Trustees and co-President of the Corporation convened the Annual Meeting of IMMRSF, Inc., and read the President’s Annual Report to Membership. Liam noted that trustees met by video/phone conference three times in 2021. Given a number of new trustees in 2021, we reviewed and discussed the Meeting’s Corporate by-laws to be familiar with their requirements.
With Meeting’s approval, Trustees signed contracts for the following expenditures in 2021:
Antonia Saxon, Secretary of the Corporation noted that timely and correct notice was given to the membership for the 2021 Annual Meeting of the Corporation (held on January 10, 2021). Thirty-three members attended, and the reports from the Officers of the Corporation were received and approved at that time.
Pat Sewell, Treasurer of the Meeting and of the Corporation, gave the end of the fiscal year budget report. Pat reported that IMM received $144,000 in donations while our total expense was $63,000. As of the end of the year, Ithaca Monthly Meeting held nearly $135,000 in checking, approximately $26,000 in savings and $50,000 in a Friends Fiduciary Account. Pat noted that final numbers for 2021 will be provided in March.
Liam Murphy noted the officers for 2022 would continue to be co-Conveners and co-Presidents Liam Murphy and Marin Clarkberg, with Antonia Saxon continuing to serve as Secretary for the Corporation. Pat Sewell serves as Treasurer of the Corporation and of the Meeting.
Friends approved the officers for 2022.
Liam Murphy adjourned the Annual Meeting of IMMRSF, Inc.
Clerk reviewed the agenda for Monthly Meeting for Worship with Attention to Business and recognized Pat Sewell for holding the Meeting in the Light today.
2022.1.3 Annual Reports
Clerk reminded Friends that not all annual reports are to be read in January. For the last few years, we have distributed annual reports across two or three months. Friends presented annual reports and answered questions for committees as follows:
- Ministry & Worship Committee. Friends reflected on the activities related to organizing two memorial meetings for Friends of 2021 and noted that these and other pastoral care activities were done by Friends not serving on M&W. M&W will amend the report to reflect the activities relating to Memorial Meetings. Friends received the report and expressed gratitude for the care that we receive from one another during difficult times. @
- Third Street Meetinghouse Committee. Friends expressed gratitude to the committee for their care of our Meetinghouse, even while opportunities around the Meetinghouse have been limited by the pandemic. Friends received the report.
- Hector Meetinghouse Committee. Friends reflected on the role of the Hector Meetinghouse during the pandemic. Friends received the report.
- COVID Working Group that covered its work for 2020 and 2021; that is, from the creation of the committee through to its laying down. Friends expressed gratitude for the work of this committee in a difficult and rapidly changing environment. Friends received the report.
- NYYM Representative. A Friend noted that it was just announced that NYYM Spring Session’s beginning on April 1st will be virtual. Friends received the report. @
At 2:10, nineteen Friends settled in worship before adjourning. Our next regularly scheduled Meeting for Worship with Attention to Business will be February 13, 2022.
Respectfully submitted,
Marin Clarkberg
Worship Sharing
A Friend spoke about the murder of George Floyd, of learning with others—and listening to others—as we strive to fight racism, and of hope for the future.
A Friend reflected on the realities and illusions of American democracy and our troubling history as a nation.
A Friend longed for us to use some of our time together to introduce ourselves and “check-in.”
A Friend wondered if this period of the pandemic might be followed by a period of radical extroversion. How do we reach out to one another? We must go beyond acceptance and actively, lovingly include people of color, gender-nonbinary people, and others. Are we truly welcoming to everybody?
A Friend expressed a concern that Friends may have left the meeting because of they did not feel welcome because of their political views. Are we “othering” those with whom we have a lot in common but not everything in common?
A Friend spoke of including families and children.
A Friend hoped that we might leave behind guilt as a foundation for action, and that guilt is a brick in the wall between us and the spirit.
A Friends spoke of a compelling need to find common ground. This is true in our own meeting as well as in society at large. The starting point for finding common ground is communication: talking with one another with curiosity and not with the assumption that we will always agree.