Testimonies and Concerns 2012 Annual Report:
Quaker concerns are deeply rooted, inherited truths of past generations. Testimonies are our witness to these truths as we, in community, perceive them to be in this present time. With the measure of the Light that is granted us, your committee has undertaken work in some, certainly not all that we would wish, witness to the needs in the world. This report takes the form of responses to queries posed in Faith and Practice. It is notable that this year our involvement in interfaith work and attention to worldwide connections have greatly increased, taking up a good portion of our activity.
How do we work to overcome social, legal, economic and political injustice in our community and the wider world?
- Two Faith in Action programs with simple food presented conditions in Columbia by Aguayuda and undocumented workers in the United States by the Multicultural Center in Easton.
- Clean water projects in Columbia have been: underwriting a water delivery truck to Cachaca II for the second year and supplying a family with a home water filter, the Multicultural Center and local migrant worker camps receive volunteers and donations.
- The Shoffner International Education Fund will make connections that sponsor needs in the wider world. We have collaborated with First Day School youth to develop areas of need around the world where funds may be used. The youth have reported four organizations which they want to support.
- Quaker meeting responses to the Occupy movement, including a letter from Wicomico Meeting, were discussed and circulated with a request that the meeting add its support. This was not approved in meeting for business.
How do we serve the community through action on concerns for civic improvement?
The meeting continues to be active in the following meeting and interfaith activities: Marilla's lunches, the Talbot Interfaith Shelter, food and clothing donations to the Neighborhood Service Center, lunches to Ridgeway House, a mission to the migrant workers in Caroline County, a lending library in the Talbot detention center, volunteers at the Multicultural Center after school program.
How do we act to advance peace, to oppose violence, and to support the constructive use of authority in our community, nation and the world?
Our connection to P.E.A.C.E. has been reinvigorated. We have taken part in the yearly Multicultural Festival and the annual Christmas parade with messages of peace, and with presences at the weekly peace vigil at the Courthouse and the World Day of Peace recognition. We support Easton's mayor as a Mayor for Peace. The Meeting makes token monetary donations to Quaker organizations and to a few local ones at the committee's recommendation. No recommendations for donations have come from the meeting during this part of the fiscal year. Last year the following were recommended by committee: AFSC, FCNL, Friends General Conference, Friends Journal, Pendle Hill, Quaker Earthcare Witness, Neighborhood Service Center, Good Samaritan Fund of TACL, PEACE, Talbot Interfaith Shelter, Migrant Ministry.
The Meeting established and the committee has oversight of the Shoffner International Education fund to promote peace in the world. The HIPP (offshoot of AVP) program, which we hoped to establish at Easton High School, was not implemented and the funds not spent were used for the water truck for Aguayuda. We support Friends Committee on National Legislation with two members attending the annual lobby day and advocacy at Senator Milkulski's and Representative Harris' offices.
Lorraine Claggett, Clerk, Gwen Beegle, Cindy Browne, Susan Claggett, Susan Dabney, Leigh Anne Dodge, Connie Pullen, Sarah Sayre, Nancy Wohlsen, Helen Womack, Ralph Young