First Day Meeting for Worship 10:30 am
First Day School 10:30–11:15 am
Wednesday morning Meeting for Worship 8:30–9:00 am with GSFS
First Sunday evening Meeting for Worship 6:30–7:00 pm at Stapeley Hall
May 2011
Sunday, 1st 9:30 am Breakfast with a Friend—Margie Felton and Cynthia Jones
Rise of Meeting Coffee Hour—Andy Jickling and Eric Corson
12:00 Care & Counsel Committee Meeting
Sunday, 8th 9:15 am Peace & Social Concerns Program (no information received by print time)
Rise of Meeting Coffee Hour—Jim Glackin and Jonathan Perry
Saturday, 14th 7-9 pm Refreshments at 6:30 pm—Louder than a Bomb –The story of four teams
competing in the world’s largest youth poetry slam, all from Chicago. (see below)
Sunday, 15th 9:15 am Property Committee Meeting
Rise of Meeting Monthly Meeting Lunch— Russ/Vicki Endo
Sunday, 22nd 9:15 am Friendly Bible Study
Rise of Meeting Coffee Hour —Charity Marshall-Womack and Jean Prestas
Sunday, 29th Rise of Meeting Coffee Hour—Patrick Egan/David La Fontaine
12:15 Hospitality Committee Meeting
ÿPeace and Social Concerns
Please see the About F/friends section for information about the second Saturday film night, Louder than a Bomb.
Draft Minutes of Monthly Meeting for Business Held Fourth Month 17, 2011
At Green Street Monthly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends, held at 45 West School House Lane, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on Fourth Month 17, 2011:
We gathered at the appointed time of 12:45 pm in worship. The Clerk read the first portion of the Fourth Query on Care for the Meeting Community: Care for One Another from Philadelphia Yearly Meeting’s Faith and Practice.
4-11-1 In response to the query: A Friend thanked the Care and Counsel Committee for carrying the charge suggested in the Query on behalf of the meeting. There is a need for each of us individually to respond to this charge—to be aware of each other, members and attenders, to offer each other encouragement and support. This responsibility is a part of the spiritual journey that is being part of this community. Another Friend noted that part of the query addresses Property Committee’s continuing need to make our building more accessible both to those who are challenged in terms of stairs and challenged in their hearing. Another Friend noted that accessibility to others includes our members’ openness to others in many ways, and mentioned our members’ willingness to participate in Morning with a Friend with Greene Street Friends School classes. Another Friend has been thinking about the leadership of this meeting and our broader cultural practice of being hard on our leaders, and reminded us of our need to nurture those who are willing to be our leaders.
4-11-2 The Clerk reviewed the agenda with Friends.
4-11-3 Tracey Smith-Diggs reported on behalf of a new effort in our work with EMIR (Every Murder Is Real)—our application to the Shoemaker Fund for funding to support youth leadership work with the youth clients of EMIR. This application is a continuation of work previously supported by our meeting in partnership with Germantown Meeting, a program of nonviolence training that Tracey facilitated with students at Germantown High School. The Meeting approved our sponsorship of this project.
4-11-4 The Clerk presented the serious nature of the called meeting of Philadelphia Quarter on the future of Friends Neighborhood Guild (FNG) and sought a volunteer to attend on our behalf on Thursday, April 19. We were reminded that David La Fontaine is a Board member of FNG and might be willing to attend on our behalf. The Clerk will contact him, and Friends were asked to remain open to other leadings.
4-11-5 Sharon Mullally, speaking as Clerk of the School Committee, rose to present the Greene Street Friends School Master Plan. She was supported by Anthony DiGiovanni both in preparation and presentation, and thanked the Structures Committee for Anthony’s support offered in the ongoing process of nurturing the Meeting/School care relationship.
She stated that three decisions were sought: Acceptance of the Master Plan by the Meeting;
Acceptance of the process for implementing the Master Plan; and Approval of additional Meeting members to serve on the GSFS Property Planning Committee.
Sharon reminded us of the long history of the Meeting’s consideration of the bank property, and its desire to control the space in such a way that this property would be a positive presence for the School, the Meeting, and the community. This is a continuation of that path. Once the bank property was purchased, a “futures” planning process was begun to consider what the Meeting and School community values about the school so that the physical development and planning would remain grounded in these values. Sharon and Anthony reviewed those values and distributed a sheet of Program, Facility, and Campus Priorities created in the futures planning process, which are attached to the minutes. [This sheet is available from the Meeting Secretary.]
These Key Elements of the Recommended Plan were presented:
New multi-purpose building (combination gym and theater)
Middle school
- Learning and technology center – 1st floor
- Additional classrooms
Lower school
- Handicapped accessible
- Additional classrooms
Playing Field, more green space, groundwater runoff management
Diverse play areas and gardens
Extension of meetinghouse dining space
New entry drive, pick-up, and drop-off routing, and redeveloped parking
Timing was presented (proposed and subject to change):
An $8–10 million capital campaign Planning is beginning now
Work towards a playing field 1–2 years (pending the bank’s release of open space)
Multipurpose facility approximately 5 years
Full realization of plan 15–20 years
Questions/Concerns were raised and addressed:
What is the current enrollment in relationship to the priority stated to “Add facilities that will allow us to become a two-section-per-grade school”? Right now there are two sections per grade through the 3rd grade, and one classroom per grade 4th through 8th. The goal is to grow the Middle School to increase the social possibilities for children as they grow older. Many parents experience the current smaller class size as a disincentive, not allowing enough social opportunity for their children. Right now most classrooms are close to 20 students, which has been held as a limit for classroom size. The 7th grade is an anomaly in the School, with only nine students.
Is the market there for doubling the class size in the upper grades? We have been very strong in terms of applications and enrollment compared to other independent schools in the economic downturn.
Why is a multi-purpose facility a higher priority than a Science Lab? These were the priorities from the planning process, which included many members of the School community, including several members of the Meeting.
How have we looked at the Meeting’s wanting the campus to remain open to the community in the face of vandalism over the last five years? We all are struggling with the continuing need to balance an open campus and security.
If we are building to attract more students, but not yet at full enrollment in the current setting, how can we ensure that we will not be strapped with increased costs and no additional students to support them? There is careful planning going on. Growth will be a conscious and slow process, with adjustments made along the way.
As the campus expands, how will the current affordability of a GSFS education be maintained or even enhanced? Has there been thought that the capital campaign could include raising money for endowment for scholarship as well as for new building maintenance and other increased costs? The Finance Subcommittee of the GSFS School Committee and those planning the capital campaign have this as a primary concern and see affordability as a basis of GSFS’s unique diversity. That is why building maintenance endowment is built into the proposed capital campaign. Further, there is a hope that, if the enrollment in the middle school is grown, the additional tuition income will allow for more money to finance additional scholarships, especially from the immediate neighborhood. Endowment for scholarships is not built into the capital campaign, but the principle of not increasing tuition in order to allow this building program to occur is built in to the assumptions underlying the plan.
Can the Meeting continue to offer scholarship support to Meeting children given decreased Meeting income, increased numbers of Meeting children, and the likelihood of continuing increases in tuition? This will be a challenge.
Will those planning the School’s Capital Campaign engage in a feasibility study as the actual fundraising goals and commitments are shaped? It is not at present clear that a full-fledged Feasibility Study will be necessary or undertaken. Edward Marshall, head of the School, is at present engaged in a series of trips and conversations with potential supporters, asking many of the same questions that a feasibility study would pose to many of the same people whose opinions would be sought. The School is planning for a capital campaign in the range of $8–10 million.
Will the recent grant from the Evans Family’s Snave Foundation to honor the 90th birthday of the family leader, involving planting a perennial garden, conflict with possible cafeteria expansion and an access ramp? The garden will be planted now, and when necessary, it will be moved.
Why “accept” rather than “approve” the plan? Several of those present expressed the sentiment that it would be clearer to approve the plan.
As to the second and third decision items sought from the meeting, “acceptance of the process for implementing the Master Plan,” and “approval of additional Meeting members to serve on the GSFS Property Planning Committee,” Sharon suggested that future communication should occur to and from the Property Planning Committee, and that additional Meeting representation was sought there. Questions were raised as to the time commitment for participation. This is not clear, and is likely to shift over time, but will be a significant commitment. As to skill sets sought, specialized and relevant skills will be appreciated, but the primary need is for people who know the Meeting, know its concerns, and have a sense of openness and collaboration, who will then bring the issues back and forth between the committee and the Meeting. Dan McDevitt, clerk of the Meeting Property Committee, already serves on the Property Planning Committee. Michael Van Hoy has agreed to serve. David La Fontaine said he would be willing to serve. The question was raised: are these people representing the Meeting? Sharon answered: Yes, but with the understanding that the responsibility for approval still rests with the Meeting. It was noted that Margaret Walters has a great depth of experience and insight. The Clerk suggested that David and Michael be appointed to the Property Planning Committee, with Margaret Walters serving as an alternate member. The Meeting approved.
A discussion then followed as to the language for the Meeting’s acceptance and/or approval of the Master Plan and the process for implementation. It was recognized that new movement pulls energy and focus, and property development and construction will pull our attention there. There is a desire to stay firmly anchored and continually to ask whether the process going forward is nurturing the School we love and want; to be attentive to the impact on the School; and to work to ensure that this next stage of the School’s life will further its mission.
The Meeting accepted and approved the Master Plan, with great appreciation for the work that has gone into it. In so doing, it recognizes that this plan, grounded in the values of the School and intending to support a broader vision of the School’s future, is a plan for the physical development of the property. The Meeting shares the concern with the School and the School Committee that the plan be implemented in such a way that the raising of new funds and the building of new buildings support the affordability and diversity of the school, and that this basic goal be overtly included in all forward planning. The Meeting expects to support the School in its fundraising efforts, and to support the ability of the School and Meeting community to maintain a clear focus on the intangible values at the heart of the School, while dealing with the challenges of physical plant and land development.
As to the process for implementation, the Meeting requests presentation on the details of the capital campaign as they are developed, as well as the other aspects of implementation to be discussed in the School’s Property Planning Committee.
We adjourned then to meet again at the appointed time on Fifth Month 15.
Robert Dockhorn, Interim Clerk
Alyson Scott, Acting Recording Clerk
Members present: Charlotte Anderson, Richard Bansen, Shirley Bansen, Doris Clinkscale, Elizabeth Cunningham, Susan Christian, Anthony DiGiovanni, Robert Dockhorn, Russell Endo, Margie Felton, Andy Jickling, David La Fontaine, Sharon Mullally, Jonathan Perry, Alyson Scott, JoAnn Seaver, Tracey Smith-Diggs, Margaret Walters.
Attender: William Van Stone, Traci Hjelt Sullivan, Walter Hjelt Sullivan
Staff: Gail Woodbury, Secretary
About our F/friends
(News and announcements of concern to the Meeting)
Sunday, May 1, 2nd Annual Interfaith Green Fair at Germantown Monthly Meeting
Green Street Monthly Meeting is a sponsor of this fair. Learn how to green your home, community, and the world. There will be workshops, products, services, and other programs. The hours are 1 to 5. Germantown Monthly Meeting is in the middle of the block on Coulter St., between Germantown Ave. and Greene St. Please go to www.germantownmeeting.org for more information. Coulter St. is one way from Germantown Ave. to Greene St.
E.M.I.R. 2nd Annual Silent Auction, May 1, at 5213 Germantown Ave. from 2 to 5 pm.
After spending some time at the Interfaith Green Fair, hop over the silent auction held be Every Murder Is Real, (EMIR) One wonderful item is a quilthandmade quilt made by the Mennonite women. It is queen size, eight point star pattern. Joanne Sever donated beautiful items from her trip to India, a beautiful Makisa 8 piece dish collection, etc. Admission is $10.00 and light refresments will be served.