Committees
State College Friends believe that all members minister to one another. Without a minister, members perform the vital work of the meeting in committees. Members come to know each other as they collectively apply the Quaker principles of Simplicity, Integrity, Peace, Community, Equality and Stewardship in our community life.
Advancement and Outreach: The committee seeks to nurture inquirers and attenders within the Meeting community and to inform those in the larger State College area about our Meeting and its activities. To reach out and develop the spirit of the meeting, the committee coordinates workshops and seeker groups, and provides literature for newcomers. Its members take responsibility for greeting visitors/attenders prior to Meeting for Worship and, afterwards, answers questions of newcomers and introduces them to other members. It also coordinates Website development and the meeting photo board. Meets monthly.
Building and Grounds: Responsibilities include: 1. General maintenance and repairs of the building, sometimes on an emergency basis. 2. Maintenance of lawn mowing and snow removal equipment. 3. Maintenance of the grounds, including mowing the grass, removing snow and ice in the winter, weeding in the spring and summer, trimming bushes, ground cover and trees. 4. Participate in special work parties as scheduled. 5. Hand out and collect keys for building use. 6. Maintain Meeting apartment and monitor its use. 7. Long-range planning relative to facilities. Meets once a month and as needed. 8. Committee attempts to identify ways in which the Meeting cn be environmentally conscious in its stewardship of our building and grounds.
Care and Concern (Meeting membership required): Pastoral care and counseling of the Meeting membership are the responsibility of this committee. Members take a personal interest in the spiritual and physical welfare of each member of the Meeting. The C&C committee arranges for clearness committees for membership, marriage, and discernment, and assists the Memorial Committee in arranging Memorial meetings. The committee also seeks to provide conflict resolution to reconcile differences that may arise between/among members of the monthly Meeting. The committee meets monthly and members are appointed for three years. (The Nominating Committee appoints three members to this committee each year.)
Finance: Following the traditional custom of the Religious Society of Friends, the State College Meeting looks to a small appointed committee to assess and report to Monthly Meeting all matters pertaining to financial needs, including the annual budget, proposals, requests and expenditures. The committee has responsibility for overseeing financial obligations, banking, annual audits, monthly and annual financial statements, investments, insurance, obligations to other Quaker organizations and solicitation of funds.
Friends for Lesbian and Gay Concerns: The group works to create a welcoming atmosphere for gays, lesbians, their friends and families. We serve as a resource for the Meeting and the community about Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual issues. This committee meets for potluck and worship sharing as needed. All are welcome to participate, even if only occasionally. (Children are welcome at meetings, too!)
Friends School Board (Meeting membership required): The Board defines the mission of the school and creates a vision for its future. It establishes policies and provides financial oversight to ensure that the school operates in accord with Friends' principles and spiritual values. A majority of members are appointed by the Meeting for three-year terms. Trustees meet on the fourth Tuesday of each month. Most members serve on at least one subcommittee. The Board seeks members with a commitment to Friends' education, an ability to work cooperatively with others, and a willingness to learn about the management of a growing nonprofit institution. It would be especially helpful to include trustees from the Meeting with skills or experience in the following areas: elementary education, financial management, strategic planning, admissions recruitment, fundraising, personnel management, and marketing and property management. (The Nominating Committee works with the Friends School Committee on Trustees to appoint members to the Board.)
Literature: Committee responsibilities are: 1. Selecting, ordering, processing and shelving books for the Meeting library. 2. Selecting, ordering, processing and shelving Pendle Hill pamphlets for the library and for sale. 3. Reviewing books and periodicals for the newsletter. 4. Posting and making up overdue book lists. 5. Creating book displays.6. Maintaining orderly shelves and records.
Memorial Committee: Members are responsible for coordinating memorial or funeral services for members and attenders and for arranging for the completion of memorial minutes.. (Forms providing guidelines can be completed by persons interested in recording their wishes and the committee maintains a file of these forms at the Meeting House.) Persons interested in serving this committee need to be comfortable helping people under emotional and sensitive circumstances.
Music Committee: This committee arranges for music in the spirit of Friends at the rise of Meeting. The committee encourages Young Friends with musical talents to participate in special musical activities throughout the year. The committee maintains the music books, distributes them within the Meeting room and investigates new sources of music.
Newsletter and Bulletin Committee: This committee gathers news, edits and types it to produce a monthly publication that includes the official minutes of Monthly Meeting for Worship for Business and a monthly calendar. Copies are distributed as Bulk Mail. Especially needed are members who can get to the post office during the day and who can be available during the last week of the month. Nominating (must be a member): This group seeks to fill positions on other Meeting committees through a spiritually-based process of careful discernment. Its goal is to match willing representatives to the tasks and duties of our religious community, while bearing in mind the good of the Meeting, the committees, and the individual. (The Worship and Ministry Committee appoints two members each year.)Peace and Social Action: The Peace and Social Action Committee works to translate the beliefs and principles of Quakerism into action, within our Meeting and in the wider community. Compelled by conscience, we learn about, teach about, and campaign for the issues of the day that relate to Quaker ideals of peace, equality, integrity and simplicity. We connect with larger Quaker organizations such as FCNL, AFSC and Baltimore and Philadelphia Yearly Meetings, as well as other groups with similar goals, such as the Alternatives to Violence Project, Right Sharing of World Resources, and other peace churches. Our committee is blessed with some elders who have long been peace activists and who guide us as we respond to leadings and concerns about peace.
Personnel Committee: The personnel committee shall be appointed by the Nominating Committee and shall consist of members of the following committees, in consultation with committee clerks:
- Member of Religious Education
- Member of Finance
- Member of Buildings and Grounds
- Member of either Advancement and Outreach, or of Care and Concern
- Supervisor
The supervisor must have previous supervisory experience, be a problem-solver and good listener. All tasks not listed on the previous page to be assigned to the secretary must be discussed with the supervisor, who will assign them as appropriate to the secretary. The personnel committee shall interview and hire, and assist the supervisor (not the employees.) The supervisor shall delegate, supervise work performed, and provide feedback to the employees. The paid part-time positions of the Meeting include the secretary, Religious Education coordinator, child care provider(s), and janitor.
Program Committee: This committee plans the First Day morning discussions. Members brainstorm new ideas for topics, contact speakers, send the schedule to the newsletter, and try to attend adult discussion regularly. We ask Meeting members and committees to suggest topics, as the Meeting community has been an important source of ideas and support for the committee.
Refreshments and Potluck: This committee is responsible for both potluck and refreshments. The majority of committee work is conducted by phone. We order supplies and coordinate refreshments with Religious Education for First Day School, and refreshments/potlucks following Meeting for Worship for Business. The committee is responsible for cleaning cupboards, stoves and refrigerators. We may be called upon to organize refreshments for memorial services. This is an excellent committee for those who prefer minimal meeting, but members must do their share because the committee's work is highly visible.
Religious Education: This committee is an energetic group of people actively involved in the First Day School program. The majority of committee members teach or assist in classes for various time commitments throughout the school year. Others support special activities such as the Christmas program, Secret Friends, Right Sharing or the Intergenerational Breakfast. There is always a need for more people interested in working with the Meeting's children. No experience is required, just lots of enthusiasm and a good sense of humor.
Worship and Ministry (Meeting membership required): Is concerned with the quality of the Meeting for Worship and for the religious development of the members and attenders. Members have a responsibility to show encouragement and loving guidance to those who show promising spiritual gifts. An important duty of Friends appointed to this committee is to help make diversity creative. A commitment to attending Meeting for Worship and Meeting for Worship for Business regularly is required. Members serve three years. (The Nominating Committee appoints three members each year.)
Interfaith and Community Coalition Against Prejudice and Violence: A liaison is needed to keep Friends Meeting members and attenders informed about the activities of this group.
Interfaith Mission (Meeting membership required): The group is dedicated to aiding volunteer organizations in this area financially and actively, e.g., Food Bank, Head Start, Habitat for Humanity, County Prison Volunteers. The representative is expected to attend a monthly Board meeting and report to Monthly Meeting.
Spruce Creek Recreation Association: Representatives to this association act as liaisons between the Meeting and the Spruce Creek Recreation Association, the group that maintains the tree farm where Meeting retreats are often held. Committee members participate in two work parties (May and October) each year.