Hello Friends,
Welcome to the Waterford Monthly Meeting Website. You can read any recent notices here. If you have any queries or feedback regarding the site please email wmmclerk@gmail.com.
Waterford Quakers Meeting for Worship is held every Sunday at 10am and visitors are welcome to attend.

Epistle from FWCC Plenary in Peru

Dear PM Clerks

Epistle as promised for circulation to all meetings. (LINK)
Ten Irish Friends attended the FWCC World Plenary Meeting in Peru.
Many thanks,

Rachel Bewley-Bateman

Pastor Position Upstate New York

Just in case Friends may be aware of anyone with an interest in this.

Valerie H.

From: Walter [mailto:walter@nyym.org]
Sent: 18 February 2016 15:44
To: walter@nyym.org
Subject: Pastor position opening

Full-time pastor, Adirondack Meeting
Adirondack Friends Meeting (gathered in 1767) is seeking a full-time pastor. Our programmed meeting is open and affirming, and includes waiting worship as well as a pastoral message. We are a small faith community with an enduring commitment to our Quaker heritage and to all in our Meeting. Our Meetinghouse and adjacent parsonage are nestled in the southern Adirondacks of upstate New York.

Please submit your letter of interest and resume to:

Ministry and Council/Search Committee
Adirondack Friends Meeting
27 Saratoga Avenue
South Glens Falls, NY 12803
adirondackfriendsmeeting@gmail.com

Junior Yearly Meeting

From: Judith Poole [mailto:jud.poole@gmail.com]
Sent: 19 February 2016 16:59
To: Quaker Office <office@quakers.ie>
Subject: JYM 2016 Announcement

Please can you forward to clerks.
Many thanks.
PM Clerks,
Junior Yearly Meeting will be held in Newtown School, Waterford from 24th-28th March 2016 for 14-18 year olds.
The information and application forms are available to download on Ireland Yearly Meeting Website (search 'JYM 2016').
Forms to be returned no later than 26th February.
Contact Judith Poole with any queries. jud.poole@gmail.com
Judith

Dear Clerks
Would you please bring the following to the attention of Friends.

The upcoming Irish general election.
 It is likely that this will happen before next Peace Committee's Meeting. We discussed and agreed upon the following text, to be circulated to preparative meetings and individual Friends:

Friends have a testimony that there is a better way than war and conflict for settling differences. Please consider how the questions which you may ask canvassers and candidiates can promote Friends' Peace Testimany and discourage people from doing to others what they would not like to have done to themselves.

In this context, we ask you to remember Friends' Peace Testimony of 1661: "We utterly deny all outward  wars and strife and fightings with outward weapons, for any end or under any pretence whatsoever. And this is our testimony to the whole world."

In November 2015, the Peace and Service Consultation of the Europe and Middle East Section of the Friends World Committee for Consultation wrote: "We call on those in power to reject military responses, and adopt non-violent strategies to bring about stability and safety for all people."

In this context, Ireland Yearly Meeting Peace Committee has considered concerns which you might put to candidates and canvassers.

Our  list of concerns is:
Do you support Irish neutrality?
Is Ireland doing enough to support people driven from their homes by war?
Do you oppose Ireland's drift towards NATO and the militarisation of the EU?
Do you support Irish development of military equipment  including drones?


If you would like further information please contact Seán McCrum at:
 smccrum.1949@gmail.com
or 087-947 4459

Woodbrooke in Ireland

Dear Clerk

Attached please find details (LINK) of the next Woodbrooke-in-Ireland Weekend Course to be held from Friday 29^th April 2016 to Sunday 1^st May 2016 at the Ennismore Retreat Centre, Montenotte, Cork City.

We would be grateful if you could include details in your Sunday notices and put a copy of the flyer on your notice board.

With thanks.

Yearly Meeting Training Group.

Ireland Yearly Meeting 2016

Dear Friends,

Please follow this LINK for information  and booking forms for this year's Ireland Yearly Meeting which takes place on Thursday 31st March to Sunday 3rd April at The King’s Hospital School, Palmerstown, Dublin 20. No bookings will be taken after 18th March.

Regards,
Craig               

QCEA

From: Andrew Lane [QCEA] [mailto:alane@qcea.org] 

Sent: 02 February 2016 18:43
To: 'andrew.lane@qcea.org' <Andrew.Lane@qcea.org>
Subject: Re: QCEA Action Alert: 24 hours to contact your MEP about EU arms sales to Saudi Arabia

On 02/02/2016 18:21, Andrew Lane [QCEA] wrote:

Friends,

On Thursday 4 February the European Parliament will vote on an emergency motion about EU arms sales to Saudi Arabia.

Some of our supporters have contacted us following media coverage of the increasing supply of weapons to the Middle-East, and especially to Saudi Arabia. This is happening despite allegations about the Saudi government's role in Syria and Yemen, and human rights violations in Saudi Arabia.

If you have been concerned about this issue, please join with arms-trade campaigners from across Europe by emailing to your MEP. On Thursday they will discuss motions and amendments calling for:

·         An immediate stop to EU arms transfers and military support

·         The adoption of an EU arms embargo against Saudi-Arabia and it allies.

Take action today by emailing an MEP

A template email is attached (LINK), designed by the European Network Against the Arms Trade.

You will find MEP email addresses at: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/meps/en/map.html [Select your country, click on an MEP and then click 'Email' on the right side of the page. If you live in a country that elects MEPs on a constituency system, please use the 'constituency' tab to find MEPs that represent your region].

We suggest you particularly write to MEPs in the socialist & democrats group (e.g. British Labour party). If you have time you might like to also email an MEP is one of the two main conservative groups (known as the EPP and ECR). Greens and Liberals in the European Parliament are already likely to support the motion.

Please let me know if you get a reply, and feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

Let's work together to build a Europe of peace!

Andrew

-- 

Andrew Lane

Representative - Quaker Council for European Affairs

Quaker House, Square Ambiorix 50, 1000 Brussels

www.QCEA.org, Twitter: @QCEA

This is the link to the short documentary on Pendle Hill that Jonathan spoke of on Sunday

http://bbc.in/1PaDEYg

From: Neville Keery [mailto:neville@keery.com] 

Sent: 24 November 2015 16:12
Subject: International Human Rights Day 10 December 2015

Dear Friends

We seem to be at a time when dissemination of the message that an understanding of human rights is of particular global importance.

This e-mail is to draw attention to Human Rights Day and assess the level of interest in an event to mark 10 December.  This is an issue that certainly merits a little time and reflection among concerned citizens everywhere.

Information about International Days is available on the About the UN/United Nations website.  www.un.org

The UN Home Page offers you a heading called OBSERVANCES  and when you click on that you get the option of clicking on a list of International Days.  It is a fascinating list which makes one wonder why government and media seem to make so little use of it as a tool for promoting an extraordinary range of important issues.  It may even raise questions as to why government departments with commitments made at the UN on behalf of the people of Ireland so rarely seem to cite or highlight those commitments in a positive way.

Thank you for your attention.  All responses welcome.

Neville Keery (former Senator, founder member of the Quaker Council for European Affairs) 

News copied from - http://www.fwccemes.org/news/european-quakers-call-for-an-end-to-the-cycle-of-violence

European Quakers Call For An End to the Cycle of Violence

As Quakers from across Europe, meeting in Belgium in the aftermath of the recent murders in Paris and Beirut, we mourn with those who have lost someone close to them. We also acknowledge the anxiety and fear people are feeling across France, Lebanon and elsewhere.
No one is secure unless all of us are secure, and that includes the people of Syria and other war-torn countries as well as the people of France and the rest of Europe.
We call upon our respective governments and the European Union to break the endless cycle of violence that has been fuelling war and terror in recent years. We need to move away from expensive, indiscriminate and ineffective military power and stop fuelling war and the spread of arms.
Instead, to prevent violent extremism, European governments should support the political settlement of the conflict in Syria, and foster economic development in the region. Both in Europe and the Middle East, appropriate funding and civil-space must be provided for community groups, social services, educators and families, to support people who are susceptible to ideologies of violence.
Sustainable and shared security can be created only by addressing the root causes of violence. The stream of refugees testifies to the fact that all people need safety, ways to earn their living, and a hopeful and positive future for themselves and their children. The refugees are fleeing from persecution, war and violence in their countries. Please listen to this clear message.
The faith that led us over the past centuries to deny war, oppose slavery, support conscientious objection, help rescue Jewish children in the 1930s, care for refugees and rebuild war-torn Europe, impels us today to pledge ourselves to serve our neighbours, whoever and wherever they may be, and to take a principled stand against the belief that violence is the solution to conflict.
We call on those in power to reject military responses, and adopt non-violent strategies to bring about stability and safety for all people.
- – - – -
Ends – - – - –
Statement of the Peace and Service Consultation of the Europe and Middle East Section of the Friends World Committee for Consultation of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), meeting at Kortenberg, Belgium, from 20th to 22nd November 2015.

Dear Friends,

Our next Monthly meeting will be held on Wednesday 9th December at 8pm

I also include a link to the ​IQFA Newsletter Autumn 2015​ 

Many thanks,

Craig

(On behalf of WMM Committee - acting Clerk of WMM)​

www.waterfordquakers.ie

Dear Clerks,
Please see the attached minute sent to you all by Quaker World Relations Committee of Britain Yearly Meeting.
In peace
Marisa

--

Marisa Johnson
Executive Secretary
FWCC-EMES
P.O. Box 1157
Histon
Cambridge
CB24 9XQ

+44 1223 479585
+44 7949 190465 (mobile)
www.fwccemes.org

emes@fwccemes.org

follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/FWCC-Europe-and-Middle-East-Section-EMES-Quaker/103165943085680

Friends World Committee for Consultation - Europe and Middle East Section
Scottish Charity number: SC 036528

IQFA Christmas Bazaar

A Notice to remind Friends that the Annual IQFA Christmas Bazaar will be held on Saturday 5^th December in Rathfarnham Meeting House in Crannagh Road from 12-3pm. We will have lots of great Stalls including Books, Antiques & Collectables, Cakes & Savouries, Vegetables & Plants and of course Toys for the Children, decorating Gingerbread Men and lots of Entertainment for the Younger People. We really hope you can come and stay for lovely homemade Soup, Breads & Treats.

If anybody could make cakes they would always be welcomed and any books or antiques that you would like to donate – please bring them to Rathfarnham on Friday evening between 6-8pm or on Saturday morning BEFORE the Sale opens.

100% of all money collected goes directly to IQFA  projects that they support – last year some of the money was given to:

Zimbabwe Food Relief

Tiglin Centre for Rehabilitation for drug users

Mutoto School Uganda

Support for International School in Gaza

Relief Funds for Madagascar

Thank you and we look forward to seeing as many of you there as possible. Posters & Flyers will be forwarded next week to be left & put up in your Meeting House

                     

                      

Thanks

Sarah Lamb

Hunter-Gatherer.ie

087-2314757

Dear PM Clerks in Ireland

Please find the latest 6-monthly newsletter from the Quaker Peace Centre Committee attached, with news of recent activities in the non-violent schools campaign and other work in Cape Town, as well as the activities of the committee.

I would be grateful if you would include this in your mailing to your members.

In friendship

Carole

Carole Rakodi

Cape Town Quaker Peace Centre Committee of Central England Quakers

c/o Friends Meeting House

40 Bull Street,

Birmingham B4 6AF

029 2051 4701

rakodiqpc@talktalk.net

www.qpccommittee.wordpress.com

Special Interest Groups at
IRELAND YEARLY MEETING 2016
To be held at:
Kings Hospital School
Palmerstown
Dublin 20

Thursday 31st March to Sunday 3rd April 2016

THEME:
Who is My Neighbour?

“How can we, such a small insignificant group of people as the Society of Friends help to stem the tide of evil and hate, and greed and fear that is so wide-spread in the world today?”  -                                                           C Winifred Lamb, c. 1954 – QL&P 4.13  

SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS

Have you a concern or a topic which you would like to share and discuss with Friends?  During IYM, time will be allocated on Friday and Saturday afternoons for Friends to examine, consider and reflect on any areas of disquiet or thought. 

If you would like facilitate a  Special Interest Group about your concern,  please contact  Helen Fanning at helenfanning80@outlook.com 

Notices 2nd February

Friends, we have received the following Notices:

Dear Friends,

Ireland Yearly Meeting 2014 will be happening 24-27 April in Dublin.
The Programme will include a number of optional Special Interest Groups.
These are usually interactive discussions or activities (rather than talks or lectures) facilitated by one or more people.

Anyone who would like to facilitate a Special Interest Group should please send a proposed title and short description (1 or 2 sentences) to me (d.gabuzda@ucc.ie) as soon as possible, and no later than 21st February, so that it can be considered for possible inclusion in the Programme.

In Friendship,
Denise Gabuzda

Notices 19th January 2014

Dear Friends,

We have received the following notices:

Request for Assistance in distributing visitation request to Friends in Ireland

Adelphi Friends Meeting House, Washington DC - looking for caretaker and application form here

WMM Notices 12th January

Dear Friends,

We have received the following notices:

• IYM Training Committee is running a Woodbrooke in Ireland Quaker Studies Course entitled "What is My Ministry?". The Course is to be held 21st-23rd February at the Orlagh Retreat Centre, Dublin 16. More details regarding the course and booking can be found here.

• The South East Junior Youth Club will be goint to the Dunmore East Adventure Centre on Sunday 2nd February (2.50pm-5pm) The cost will be €10 per person. More details can be found here.

• Carolyn McMullan is also organising an overnight stay in Newgrange Lodge Donore, Co Meath and hike in the area for 14 to 30 year olds from Friday 7th to Saturday 8th March. More details here.

• Rachel Bewley  has forwarded us a notice from FWCC Clerk Betsy Cazden who is running an on-line course entitled "Can a Meeting do THAT?". More details here. and here.

• We have received a reminder of the QCEA study tour in April More details here.

• Quakers in Ireland Website -

"A reminder to all Friends around the country to please advise Valerie Howard in the office (Quaker House Dublin) of any Committee (or other) Meetings or any Gatherings, Lectures etc that may be of Quaker interest. Please include date, time, venue and basic details.Valerie will include these in the Quaker Calendar on our website, when requested." - Quaker House (More Details) 

• Quaker House has forwarded an invitation sent by Alan Harrison for an information meeting regarding Newtown School to be held at Bloomfield on Monday 13th January at 4pm. More details here.

Breakfast Meeting Sunday 19th

The hospitality committee has organised a breakfast for Sunday Jan 19th at 9am. Please contact Valerie Fletcher if you would like to come to the breakfast. Sunday school for the 4-10 year olds will also be organised.
There will be a collection box for Irish Quaker Faith in Action, so please consider bringing a donation. You can find out more about IQFA here
Meeting will begin at the later time of 10:15 to allow for clean up.

Children's Sunday school

The following are the dates for children's Sunday school.

Jan 19th
Feb 2nd and 16th
March 2nd and 16th
April 6th and 20th (Easter)
May 4th and 18th
June 1st and 15th

Christmas meeting times

Nativity Play arranged for 22nd December
Christmas Meeting 8 am and 10 am on 25th December.
Meeting on 29th December and 5th January will be held at 11 am
Children’s Meeting scheduled for 5th January, 19th January
Junior meeting arranged for 12th January, 19th January

Newtown School Christmas Concert

We have received an invitation from Keith Lemon:

Dear Friends, 

As the sound of the Christmas bells get ever closer I would like to invite you all to join us here in Newtown for the Christmas Concert on Thursday 19th December at 7.30pm. It is always a lovely occasion to lift your heart and meet friends just before we go our own ways for our Christmas Holidays.
I would also like to thank all of the Friends in Waterford Meeting for their support in so many ways over the year, for your thoughts and prayers, and a special thanks to those who gave of their time to come to school and lead Collect on Wednesday mornings. It is much appreciated.

May every blessing be upon you and your families this Christmas and I do hope you can make it on Thursday evening.

Happy Christmas

In friendship
Keith

Keith Lemon
Newtown School Waterford

Update on WMM Clerkship and WMM Committee

Dear Friends

The Nominations Committee appointed by Monthly Meeting (WMM85/13) met on the 19^th November and appointed Jeni Pim, Jonathan Fletcher, Brenda Mullally, Craig Johnson and Roger Johnson (with Alan Pim as his alternate) to serve on our Waterford Monthly Meeting Committee until the end of 2014. As agreed at our last MM, this committee will act as the Clerk of our Meeting, this committee is also our standing nominations committee which also has power of appointment (It is not the Triennial Nominations Committee). It is expected that this committee will deal with the Monthly Meeting Business in between Monthly Meetings in addition to business that does not require a Monthly Meeting decision.

We hope that you will bear with and support this committee as it finds its feet and comes to terms with its role. All minutes of the WMMC will be available to WMM and are likely to form part of its minutes. All decisions that require WMM consideration or decision will be brought to WMM.

This committee (WMMC) has met twice since being established, to deal with the business of the meeting. Having identified the immediate business to be dealt with, including requesting reports from WMM sub-committees, appointing auditors, checking on donations to be made, forthcoming dates of importance, times of meetings, QM minutes received etc., it agreed that there was not enough business to warrant December's Monthly Meeting. Please feel free to pass any comment or observation or in particular any query that you have that an item is being attended to to wmmclerk@gmail.com.

The next Monthly Meetings are scheduled for Wednesday 5^th February 2014 at 8pm and Wednesday 2^nd April 2014 at 8pm.

Jeni, Jonathan, Brenda, Craig & Roger

IQFA Christmas Bazaar - Churchtown 7th Dec

‘The Annual Irish Quaker Faith in Action Christmas Bazaar will be held on Saturday 7th December, at Quaker Meeting House, 64 Crannagh Road, Rathfarnham, Dublin 14 from 12.00 to 3.00pm.
This is a great opportunity to support worthy causes at home and abroad while meeting up with Friends over a bowl of homemade soup.

There are the usual great Stalls; Cakes and Savouries, Antiques and Collectables, Books, Fruit & Vegetables and Children’s Toys.
We will also have a Fun Zone, for kids of ALL AGES!, Where you can try your hand at modern and more traditional games. As well as the very popular Decorating Gingerbread People.
We are also delighted to announce that back by popular demand is the fantastic Magic Show.
Put the date in your diary and make sure you come for the day and stay for a Tasty Homemade Lunch.
If there is anyone who is interested in getting involved and helping out, please contact William Bell, Sarah Lamb or Simon Bewley from Churchtown Meeting. And we are particularly looking for Young Friend to become more involved.
If anyone has any items they wish to give to any of the stalls, we would be most grateful to receive them, if they could be brought to Rathfarnham Meeting House on Friday evening 6th December between 7.00 and 8.00pm or on the Saturday morning BEFORE the sale opens at 12.00.
Remember we cannot accept any broken, damaged, chipped or electrical goods and receiving goods once the doors have opened can cause chaos, we appreciate your understanding on this.
We are also looking for any items for the Cakes & Savouries Stall, if you are making anything we just ask that you put a label on the item stating what ingredients are used.
Thank you and look forward to seeing you there.

Sarah Lamb:
William Bell:
Simon Bewley:

Change in MQM date 2014

Please note that Munster Quarterly Meeting has been changed from 2nd March to 9th of March. This meeting is in Cork. The other 2014 MQMs remain June 15th (Western Regional) and October 19th (Waterford)

Hello Friends,
Please consider visiting the  FWCC Philippines appeal, Donations can be made directly on the FWCC site or sent to Alan Pim or given to him this Sunday at Meeting.

ELDERLY FRIENDS’ BURSARY FUND COMMITTEE

ELDERLY FRIENDS’ BURSARY FUND COMMITTEE

Notice to be sent twice yearly to all Preparative Meetings

ELDERLY FRIENDS BURSARY FUND
46 Glenbrook Park,
Rathfarnham,
Dublin 14.
The Elderly Friends Bursary Fund would like to remind Friends and Attenders that the Fund can help with small expenses for older people and those with disabilities who may need financial assistance.

All requests are treated in strict confidence.

Application forms may be obtained from any of the Committee members listed below:

William F.S. Bell (Churchtown)
Patrick E de B Bewley (Churchtown)
Elizabeth A. McElnea (Frederick Street)
Charlotte McNeilly (Rathfarnham)
Alan C. Pim (Waterford)
R. Joy Simpson (Monkstown)
S. Margaret Bewley (Churchtown)
John A. Grubb (Limerick)
Sylvia H. Wigham (Churchtown) Convenor

The Fund is largely financed by donations and bequests from individuals. Please remember us in your Will.

QCEA at a turning point

QCEA at a turning point

Background
The Quaker Council for European Affairs was founded about 35 years ago by European Friends whom it keeps abreast of political developments in Europe and on whose behalf it makes representations to those in decision-making roles based on our fundamental beliefs on issues relating to peace, human rights, economic justice, democratic governance and sustainable energy security. The payment of the Representative and 2 or 3 Programme Assistants (PAs) has very recently had to be amended as a consequence of changes in Belgian law.

The previous Representatives were not taxed on the value of the flat in Quaker House that they occupied as a condition of their employment. In 2012 we learned that from then on tax would be levied on the occupant for the flat’s full market value of 920 euro/month. To enable this, a salary is being paid higher by an amount that, after tax, covers most of this additional payment. This, in turn requires additional social security payments (ONSS) at the high rate charged in Belgium. QCEA has to pay much more while the Representative ends up with a lower disposable income. We have recently heard that PAs must receive additional terminal bonuses equal to 15% of their salaries and that some other ONSS payments are to increase.

The funds of QCEA
The costs of maintaining historic Quaker House are great and QCEA will not use for this purpose money Friends give for Quaker work, so Council pays them from a separate House Fund established some years ago. Into this go any surplus (after all expenses have been covered) from hiring rooms to outsiders, and the subsidies for the house maintenance and renovation from the landlord (Britain Yearly Meeting) and Brussels Capital Region. At the end of 2012 it had a debit balance of 13 500. This has turned to a credit in 2013.
QCEA’s other money (the General Fund) includes a Cashflow Reserve of about 3 months expenses (65 000 euro), available for when expenditure precedes income. The rest – the General Reserve – can be used, while it lasts to fill any gap between the income and expenditure over the whole year. It started 2013 at almost 150 000 euro, thanks to an anonymous gift of 60 000 and a legacy of 15 000 in 2012. We now review how far this can help QCEA.

The financial position of QCEA
Most of QCEA’s expenditure is for staff pay and on-costs. In 2011, within the then larger staff, the total cost of salaries and ONSS for two Representatives, 2 PAs and the office manager was 126 000 euro. In 2014, we expect to be paying 173 000 euro for one Representative, a Deputy Representative, 2 PAs and the office manager. This is the main reason why, even with reduced staffing, we anticipate an overall budget deficit of 40 000 euro, with the General Fund’s expenditure exceeding its income by 50 000 euro while the House Fund adds a prudent 10 000 towards future works costs. Given that the General Fund is likely also to be in deficit in 2013, about half of the General Reserve is likely to have been eroded by the end of 2014. A deficit in 2015 like that of 2014 would make the General Reserve insufficient to cover the following year.

A worst case scenario
If income does not increase significantly before the budget for 2015 is prepared, with projections to 2016 and beyond, Council may feel QCEA needs to reduce staffing further by the end of 2015 in order to continue to operate in future years. Reduction in staff would have a more than proportional impact on advocacy; far less could be accomplished as essential management work necessarily takes a certain amount of time.

An increase in donations will avert disaster
Friends on Council from all the Yearly Meetings are sure that the Quakers they represent wish QCEA to continue and, if anything, intensify its activity. The need for a Quaker voice speaking to such institutions as the European Union, the Council of Europe and the European Investment Bank as well as to members of the European Parliament is great – as is the need to explain to Friends around Europe what is really going on at these levels.

An increase in donations is therefore needed to an overall level about 25% above that of 2012. This should not be too difficult. In 2012 there were trailblazing gifts from well-wishers: let the need be known and such gifts may be repeated! Besides that, some Yearly Meetings – and their constituent monthly and local meetings – may be able to contribute more substantially – or in some cases even for the first time – to this essential Quaker work.

Make sure that any turn is for the better!                                       Tom Heydeman, treasurer, QCEA