QUAKER NEWSLETTER GAINESVILLE MONTHLY MEETING OF THE RELIGIOUS SOCIETY OF FRIENDS 702 NW 38th Street, Gainesville, FL 32607; (352) 372-1070 www.gainesvillequakers.org Annie McPherson, clerk

Quakers for Gun Control: On Friday from 5 to 6 pm, join the demonstration at the corner of NW 16th Avenue and NW 34th Street to wave signs to show support for gun control. We get a few "No" responses from passersby and dozens of waves and friendly smiles. (No demonstration on Friday, March 29 because of SEYM annual gathering).

Member News: Tim Ray is on the Board of Directors of Action Network. About a year ago, PICO-Florida contacted congregations in the Gainesville interfaith community about restarting the Action Network by focusing on the PICO priority of advocacy for the poor. PICO stands for People Improving Communities through Organizing. Action Network now has 15 active congregations.

PICO-Florida is helping Action Network to pursue economic development strategies that would create jobs with career ladder opportunities for advancement, to address the extreme wage disparity that afflicts especially the east Gainesville area.

Hold in the Light: Hap Taylor, Amy Van der Porten, Bart Hulett, Marie Parsons

A Welcome to GUI YING: Morrie Trimmer’s wife just arrived from China. He says: “Her name is pronounced as one word, Guiying. She is 67 and has three lovely children: two girls and a boy — not really children since they are all married with grown children except the son whose son is 10. Her younger daughter lived in Singapore most of the time I was in China but came home for our wedding. Guiying speaks only Mandarin, which I speak with a southern accent. We have no trouble with everyday language but I have a 12 year old’s vocabulary which limits serious discussions.” Gainesville Meeting Newsletter — 2 — Fourth Month, 2013

Keep America Beautiful: On Saturday April 6, come between 9:00 am and noon bringing your energy, gloves and lunch. We will clean up the creek on our property and eat our brown bag lunches together.

Forum: On April 7, the Peace and Social Concerns Committee will host a forum on a subject to be determined.

Film Night: On Friday, April 12 at 7pm we will see Michael Collins is a dramatic 1996 historical biographical movie starring Liam Neeson as Michael Collins, the Irish patriot and revolutionary who died in the Irish Civil War. Produced jointly by companies in Ireland and the United States, it won the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival and became the top grossing film ever in Ireland. Julia Roberts stars as Kitty Kiernan, who is engaged to Collins and also loved by his comrade in arms, Harry Boland. This film is a must for all who honor St. Patrick or enjoy drinking green beer once a year. Ray is looking for suggestions for the film night. Let him know if you have a film to show.

Get Acquainted Dinner: We will be welcoming new members and attenders at a Quaker Dinner on April 20, at 6pm with favorite comfort foods. There will be presentations about our standing committees and other activities.

Pizza and Games: On April 27 come to eat pizza and join Laura and David in a game of Rich Man - Poor Man and other games on our pilot game night.

Retreat: Nancy Fennell will lead a Retreat on May 4. The theme is ”Living in the Light”.

Save Stamps and Cards: Earl Walker, who converts stamps, etc. for Quaker and peace activities wants the following materials to sell: (a) All stamps cancelled and minted from USA and foreign countries. (b) Domestic stamps attached to envelopes prior to 1940. (c) Post cards (new and used with stamp attached) from the USA and from foreign countries. (d) Old birthday cards, get-well cards and special occasion cards from the 1930's and before. Polly Doughty hopes you'll remember to save your postal history and bring it to Meeting. A large envelope will be near the stamp box for envelopes and post cards. Polly is also selling as many stamps as she can at the local stamp club, to add to the Gainesville Friends Meeting treasury. (She recently sold $35 worth.)

Food for the Hungry: Please donate non-perishable canned and dry goods. Be sure donations are not out-dated. Canned meats, vegetables and fruits are especially sought. Rice, dried beans, pasta, and cooking oil also continue to be very much needed. We provide this help to the hungry through Gainesville Community Ministries.

Clothing for the Homeless: We are collecting bedding, towels and clothes for homeless individuals and families in our community. Please look through your closet for extra items such as blankets, towels, jackets, hats, pants, socks, t-shirts, shorts, even swim suits. Gainesville Meeting Newsletter — 3 — Forth Month, 2013

Calendar of Events: (online at www.gainesvillequakers.org)

Every Sunday: 11:00 am Meeting for Worship; 11:15 am First Day School

Every Monday: 6:00 pm Yoga with Gary

Every Friday: 5:00-6:00 pm Demonstrate for Gun Control: NW 34th St + NW 16th Ave. (No demonstration on Friday March 29)

Tuesday, April 2 11:30am Friendly Lunch at Sweet Berries - our trial lunch was delicious Saturday, April 6 9:00am Keep America Beautiful creek clean-up – we need volunteers to clean our creek Sunday, April 7 9:30am Library, Hospitality, Building & Grounds Committee Meetings 1:00pm Forum by Peace and Social Concerns Committee Friday, April 12 7:00pm Film Night @ the Meetinghouse: Michael Collins Sunday, April 14 9:30 am Singing 12:45pm Meeting for Worship for Business Saturday, April 20 6:00pm Quaker Get Acquainted Dinner: welcoming new members and attenders Sunday, April 21 12:15pm Potluck Saturday, April 27 5:30pm Pizza and Games Night: Rich Man – Poor Man Sunday, April 28 9:30 am Peace and Social Concerns 1:00pm Bible Study Saturday, May 4 Meeting Retreat with Nancy Fennell Sunday, May 5 9:30 am Library, Hospitality, Building & Grounds Committee Meetings 1:00pm Forum: Retreat Wrap-up, Nancy Fennell Tuesday, May 7 11:30 am Friendly Lunch at Sweet Berries Saturday, May 18 6:00 pm Local Foods Dinner with a showing of the film “3-11” Gainesville Meeting Newsletter — 4 — Forth Month, 2013 current proposed AFSC 200 50 Proposed Budget: FCNL 200 50

FGC 150 50 2013-14 FWCC 350 50 Here is the budget, to Friends Journal 200 50 be proposed at the April Pendle Hill 50 50 business meeting and Pro-Nica 100 50 approved at the May Scholarships/Travel 500 750 meeting. The present Friends Peace Teams 50 new budget is listed for QUNO 50 new comparison. SEYM Assessment 8800 80009308 SEYM proposal Gnsville Com Min 200 50non-Quaker Special Projects 400 300 Campus Ministry dues 50 50 non-Quaker Actn Ntwork PICO 50new Donations Total 11200 9650

Insurance 3000 3400 Landscaping 500 500

Grounds Maintenance 600 600

Building Maintenance 1600 1600 Fire Assessment 300 300 Telephone 420 420 Hospitality 120 400 Cleaning 1500 1500 Utilities 2800 2800 500 as needed to Contingency Fund 1540 replenish fund Meetinghouse Total 12380 11520

Ministry & Nurture 300 300 Forum 50 50

Peace & Social Cncrns 100 350 Earthcare Witness 100 100 Library 350 350 Firstday School 300 300 Advertising 250 850 Newsletter/web site 500 500 Ofce 300 300 Corporation Fee 70 70 Fund Raising 100 Program Total 2320 3270 25748 w/SEYM TOTAL EXPENSES 25900 24440proposal GF Contributions Other Income 25748 w/SEYM Total Income 25900 24440proposal Gainesville Meeting Newsletter — 5 — Forth Month, 2013

A Walk in the Quaker Woods by Jean Larson, with photographs by Bill Mitchell March 17, 2013

On Saturday, March 16, Bill and I both worked at the meeting property. I tidied the entrance to our parking lot and Bill tidied the meeting for worship in nature area for our Sunday outdoor worship.

At one end of the split rail fence we saw the fringe tree (Chionanthus virginicus) blooming and putting out its first few leaves and at the other end the Chickasaw plum (Prunus angustifoia) full of fresh leaves with a few remnant blossoms.

In the woods, Bill pointed out a green dragon (Arisaema dracontium) that was sending up its flower. Wandering through the woods, I commented on the patches of pink wood sorrel flowers (Oxalis debilis). It is non- native -- our native is the common yellow wood sorrel (Oxalis corniculata) is also in evidence in the slope below the ramp to the meetinghouse. If you look closely, you can see some of the blue-eyed grass (Sisyrinchium angustifolium) blooming.

On Sunday we had beautiful weather for our meeting for worship in nature. People approached the area and enjoyed the lyre- leaf sage(Salvia lyrata) blooming there. Sandy pointed out a tall pine tree firmly rooted with a deep taproot. Then she spoke of other trees with broad, shallow root systems all benefitting from the interlocking roots of nearby trees. She made the analogy of Quakers standing tall supported by fellow Quakers through deep or broadly spread systems of connections. I am thankful for the deep and wide support I feel from the meeting. Gainesville Meeting Newsletter — 6 — Fourth Month, 2013

Queries for the Fourth Month: Mutual Care

• How do we foster a spirit of community among the Meeting’s members and attenders? • How does the Meeting keep in contact with all of the Meeting’s members and attenders? • How does the Meeting assist couples and families to communicate, grow together, and rear children in a loving environment? • Does the Meeting Community nurture the Meeting’s children? • How does the Meeting care for those who live alone, the sick, the aging, the widowed, the separated or divorced, and others with families affected by disruption? • Do we assist Friends in need as their circumstances require? • How do we labor with and care for those whose conduct or manner of living give grounds for concern? • How are visitors to our Meeting made to feel welcome?

Gainesville Monthly Meeting of The Religious Society of Friends 702 NW 38th Street Gainesville, FL 32607