Charlotte Friends Meeting Open Committees

Appointed Committees

The committees listed below are designated as Appointed Committees. Members of these committees are named and approved annually in June by the Meeting. These committees meet on a regular basis as they provide the core leadership of the Meeting. Members and attenders of the Meeting who have a concern to bring to one of these committees should contact the Clerk of the respective committee to discuss the concern. The clerk of that committee may take that concern to the committee for discussion, and/or may invite the individual to meet with the committee as a special circumstance.

Finance

Develops the budget for Meeting approval and provides financial guidance for the Meeting.

Members serve 3 year terms.

Ministry & Counsel

Oversees and nurtures the spiritual health and growth of the Meeting. Provides guidance and support to the Meeting community, individuals and committees as needed. Coordinates clearness committees. Provides support and nurture to the Clerk of the Meeting. Must be Members of CFM. Members serve 3 year terms.

Long Range Envisioning

Provides guidance to the Meeting in discerning and carrying forward its collective vision with attention to program, process, and setting of priorities for use of the meetinghouse space.

Nominating

Seeks to discern the varying gifts and interests of Meeting members/attenders for carrying forward the work of the Meeting. Annually develops a proposed slate of officers, representatives and committee clerks for approval by the Meeting.

Members serve 3 year terms from January to January. New members are appointed by the Clerk with the help of an Ad Hoc Naming Committee .

Nurture

Gives attention to the support and nurture of members and attenders who have “practical” needs and concerns. Has a close connection to the monthly Meetings for Healing, and the Email healing ministry.

Communi-cations

Seeks to create a sense of community and connectedness via a structured system for communications within and outside the meeting.

Composed of the Telephone Liaison, Newsletter Friend, Email Liaison, Directory Friend and Web Friend.

The Clerk is selected by the committee.

Standing Ad Hoc Committees

The committees listed below are compromised of members from other committees. Ad Hoc committees meet as needed.

Scholarship

Considers/approves requests for financial assistance from Meeting members and active attenders that will help with an educational need or enable a spiritual enrichment activity for the individual or family making the request. Composed of representatives from Ministry and Counsel (serves as Clerk), Long Range Envisioning, and Finance.

Outreach

Reviews past donations made by the Meeting and recommends which agencies/groups beyond those already approved in the budget, will receive contributions in the current year. Responds to outreach requests throughout the year.

Composed of representatives from Finance (serves as Clerk), Long Range Envisioning, Ministry & Counsel, Peace & Social Concerns and Clerk of the Meeting.

Open Committees

The committees listed below are designated as Open Committees. The Clerk of each of these committees is nominated by the Nominating Committee, and approved by the Meeting. Membership on these committees is open to the discernment of each member/attender as she/he feels led to volunteer time, talent and interest in service to the Meeting.

Members of Open Committees are committed to helping in the planning and ongoing work of their respective committees. The “new year” for the committees and any change of Clerks occurs mid-September on “All Committee Day,” but Friends may join a committee at any time during the year.

Fellowship

Organizes opportunities for Meeting fellowship (special potlucks and parties), schedules First Day greeters, gathers information from new attenders, makes name tags and organizes the Friendly Eights program.

First Day School

Develops curriculum for First Day school, schedules lessons and activities for First Day and other young Friends projects and activities. Recruits and schedules Friends to teach lessons and help with activities.

Forum	Schedules forums, programs and events that provide spiritual enrichment and addresses social concerns which are of interest to Friends.
Hospitality	Coordinates the volunteers for First Day refreshments, food for Meeting potlucks and other food events planned by the Meeting. Maintains kitchen stocks and perishables.
House & Grounds	Monitors the upkeep and repair of the building and grounds. Schedules cleaning and work days for the members/attenders of the Meeting to participate in specific chores. Responsible for opening and closing the Meetinghouse on First Day.
Library	Provides care and management of the Meeting library. Interacts with other committees in the selection of materials
Music	Coordinates opportunities for expressions of music in the life of the Meeting, including music on First Days prior to worship, music forums, and other events.
Peace & Social Concerns	Keeps informed on local, state, national and international peace and social issues. Educates and involves the Meeting in action to address issues, items, or conditions of concern.
School Committee	Nurtures the relationship between the Meeting and the Friends School, primarily through communication and coordination between the two entities.

Dear Friends,

“Let our lives speak” is an old Quaker saying. Our common Testimonies are Simplicity, Peace, Integrity, Community, Equality.and Service.

Therefore, to gain the full understanding of Quakerism, we believe it is helpful to reach beyond just attendance at Meeting for Worship. Thus, each member and attender of Charlotte Friends Meeting is encouraged to participate in the life of the Meeting community by joining in the scheduled or sponsored activities of the Open Committees.

You may volunteer to teach a First Day School class or help in the nursery, participate in a work day, provide refreshments on a First Day, work at the winter shelter, participate in an ECO project, etc.