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Re: Owls for Zooming
by Winchester Quaker Warden Jan. 9, 2024

Jan. 9, 2024

Dear Margot and all, For anyone who has not heard of Owls - this is a brand name for one of many video-conferencing devices. The Owls look easily portable, so one may be enough, but I have no experience of using them. The companies provide lots of information on their websites, and their sales teams are keen to receive enquiries. At Winchester Meeting we use a Creston soundbar (integrated microphone, smart camera, and speakers) and a wall-mounted screen - pretty good, but we'd be interested to hear about equipment used successfully in other Meeting Houses. In Friendship, Lorraine Andrew and Lorraine O'Hanlon Warden-Managers Friends' Meeting House 16 Colebrook Street Winchester SO23 9LH 01962 864184 https://winchester.quakermeeting.org/ On Sun, 7 Jan 2024 at 18:45, FM Lunnon via wardenship < wardenship(a)lists.quaker.eu.org> wrote: > > > > ---------- Forwarded message ---------- > From: FM Lunnon <margotquaker(a)googlemail.com> > To: Quaker Wardenship Support <wardenship(a)lists.quaker.eu.org> > Cc: > Bcc: > Date: Sun, 7 Jan 2024 16:31:28 +0000 > Subject: [wardenship] Owls for Zooming > > - I often go to Watford meeting and today they were gloating over > their new microphone system, it really did seem that everyone could hear > everyone > - the problem Darlington has is that the zoom kit needs to be movable > between 4 rooms > - would one or more Owls make this easy? > > Bestest, Margot L., Trustee, Teesdale and Cleveland AM > > -- > Margot Lunnon, Darlington Meeting, Teesdale Quakers; also Manchester LM > 07766 758 405 > > > > ---------- Forwarded message ---------- > From: FM Lunnon via wardenship <wardenship(a)lists.quaker.eu.org> > To: Quaker Wardenship Support <wardenship(a)lists.quaker.eu.org> > Cc: FM Lunnon <margotquaker(a)googlemail.com> > Bcc: > Date: Sun, 7 Jan 2024 16:31:28 +0000 > Subject: [wardenship] Owls for Zooming > _______________________________________________ > wardenship mailing list -- wardenship(a)lists.quaker.eu.org > To unsubscribe send an email to wardenship-leave(a)lists.quaker.eu.org >

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Owls for Zooming
by FM Lunnon Jan. 7, 2024

Jan. 7, 2024

- I often go to Watford meeting and today they were gloating over their new microphone system, it really did seem that everyone could hear everyone - the problem Darlington has is that the zoom kit needs to be movable between 4 rooms - would one or more Owls make this easy? Bestest, Margot L., Trustee, Teesdale and Cleveland AM -- Margot Lunnon, Darlington Meeting, Teesdale Quakers; also Manchester LM 07766 758 405

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Heating System advice
by Richard Marler Jan. 5, 2024

Jan. 5, 2024

Dear Friends, The gas boiler at Littlehampton Meeting House has broken down over the Christmas period and we have been advised by our service engineer to replace it. It was over 20 years old and we knew it could break down but nevertheless our premises committee hadn't prepared fully for how to replace it. We are aware that over the past few years the wardens e-group has discussed heating systems in the light of reducing Meeting House carbon footprints. However, because it is a changing picture we'd be interested in advice from Friends' recent experience and research. We have considered air and ground heat pumps but feel our listed building status and concerns about noise and effectiveness mitigate against them as a viable alternative method of heating. The Meeting House was built in the 1830s, is a grade II listed building, has cobbled exterior walls and large windows; secondary glazing is erected in the winter months and it has good roof insulation. We have considered replacing gas with gas and are aware that modern boilers are less polluting and more efficient. However, harmful emissions are still a concern. We have considered a combination of electric storage heaters and electric panels but feel this would be complicated to manage and not provide hot water. We are minded to replace the defunct combi gas boiler with a combi electric boiler. We are aware that the energy costs are much more expensive than gas but feel that there would be no harmful emissions, other than those used in producing electricity in the first place. We are encouraged by the increasing use of renewables in the production of electricity and the stated aim for the UK to be carbon neutral by 2050. Replacing the gas boiler with an electric one would be the least disruptive in terms of being able to continue use of the existing radiators and pipework. Unfortunately our listed building status precludes us from generating our own energy from solar panels which is regrettable (especially as our long roof faces due south with no obstructions to daylight). Advice and guidance on heating systems would be much welcomed. Thank you Richard Marler, Warden, Littlehampton Meeting Sent from Mail for Windows

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Parlez-vous Francais?
by Judi Brill Dec. 15, 2023

Dec. 15, 2023

Do you speak French and would like to be a resident Friend in Paris? Le Centre Quaker International a Paris cherche des Amis-residents parlant francais pour s’occupar de la nouvelle Maison Quaker qui ouvira ses portes en 2024. C’est le debut d’une aventure pour les Quakers en France et nous avons besoin d’Amis enthousiastes et plein d’idees pour renforcer une presence quaker dans la region Parisienne. Details a www.quakersenfrance.org/cqi <http://www.quakersenfrance.org/cqi> Judi Brill Wardenship Egroup Administrator Resident Warden Horfield Quaker Meeting 300 Gloucester Road Horfield Bristol BS7 8PD ///beyond.always.proof Tel: 0117 942 9142 Mob: 07967 558615 horfield.warden(a)bristolquakers.org.uk https://bristolquakers.org.uk/room-hire/room-hire-at-horfield/ -- *bristolquakers.org.uk* <http://bristolquakers.org.uk> Bristol Area Quaker Meeting is registered at Companies House as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation No CE011904 and is Registered Charity No 1175435 Registered Office: Horfield Quaker Meeting House, 300 Gloucester Road, Bristol, BS7 8PD

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Meeting House Matters notes from 14 November at Westminster LM
by Oliver Waterhouse Nov. 20, 2023

Nov. 20, 2023

Oliver Waterhouse Quaker Life Hello Friends, Attached are the notes from the recent in-person Meeting House Matters session that was at Westminster LM on Tuesday, 14 November. The two attachments are: * A set of notes from the in-person session where we explored the theme Living out Quaker values through the use of our premises. * A set of slides from the blended session on social media delivered by Naomi Major. There will be one more Meeting House Matters session this year on Tuesday, 19 December at 10.30am. This will be a social opportunity to look back over the last year and take some time for fellowship together. Bring a hot drink and something to nibble on. The joining details are below and will be sent around again in the day or two before we meet. * Join Zoom Meeting:https://quaker.zoom.us/j/81586087624?pwd=VHk3MW9sTHJUVDdsMFlTMUN3WEpmUT09 * Meeting ID: 815 8608 7624 * Passcode: WT-online I look forward to seeing all who can join. In friendship, Oliver Oliver Waterhouse (he/him) Quaker Life Team Leader, Local and Area Governance Quakers in Britain 020 7663 1007 (Direct) oliverw(a)quaker.org.uk<mailto:oliverw@quaker.org.uk> | www.quaker.org.uk<http://www.quaker.org.uk/> Follow Quakers in Britain on Twitter<http://twitter.com/BritishQuakers>, Facebook<https://www.facebook.com/BritishQuakers>, YouTube<https://www.youtube.com/quakersinbritain>, and Instagram<https://www.instagram.com/britishquakers/>. CLERKS OF TRUSTEES: Please send TARA documents to supportmeetings(a)quaker.org.uk<mailto:supportmeetings@quaker.org.uk> All Quakers in Britain staff can be contacted using their usual email addresses or phone numbers. They may be working from home, in Friends House (London), in the Yorkshire Centre (Leeds) or at a base local to them. The Quaker Centre Bookshop and Café<https://www.friendshouse.co.uk/quaker-centre/> (Friends House, London) are open to the public. If you would like to support our work, you can give online at www.quaker.org.uk/donate. Britain Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) Registered charity number 1127633 | Friends House, 173 Euston Road, London, NW1 2BJ ________________________________ Quakers say: Religion is about the whole of life.

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Meeting House Matters blended session on Tuesday, 14 November
by Oliver Waterhouse Nov. 13, 2023

Nov. 13, 2023

Oliver Waterhouse Quaker Life Hello everyone, Meeting House Matters is happening in person tomorrow (Tuesday, 14 November) at Westminster Meeting House. As part of the day there will be a blended session between 2:00pm and 3:30pm looking at social media. You can join this part of the day in the usual way using the Zoom details below. * Join Zoom Meeting: https://quaker.zoom.us/j/81586087624?pwd=VHk3MW9sTHJUVDdsMFlTMUN3WEpmUT09 * Meeting ID: 815 8608 7624 * Passcode: WT-online I look forward to seeing you either online or in-person tomorrow if you can join the session. In friendship, Oliver Oliver Waterhouse (he/him) Quaker Life Team Leader, Local and Area Governance Quakers in Britain 020 7663 1007 (Direct) oliverw(a)quaker.org.uk<mailto:oliverw@quaker.org.uk> | www.quaker.org.uk<http://www.quaker.org.uk/> Follow Quakers in Britain on Twitter<http://twitter.com/BritishQuakers>, Facebook<https://www.facebook.com/BritishQuakers>, YouTube<https://www.youtube.com/quakersinbritain>, and Instagram<https://www.instagram.com/britishquakers/>. CLERKS OF TRUSTEES: Please send TARA documents to supportmeetings(a)quaker.org.uk<mailto:supportmeetings@quaker.org.uk> All Quakers in Britain staff can be contacted using their usual email addresses or phone numbers. They may be working from home, in Friends House (London), in the Yorkshire Centre (Leeds) or at a base local to them. The Quaker Centre Bookshop and Café<https://www.friendshouse.co.uk/quaker-centre/> (Friends House, London) are open to the public. If you would like to support our work, you can give online at www.quaker.org.uk/donate. Britain Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) Registered charity number 1127633 | Friends House, 173 Euston Road, London, NW1 2BJ ________________________________ Quakers say: Religion is about the whole of life.

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Wardening opportunity in Pickering, North Yorkshire
by Wardens PickeringFMH Nov. 8, 2023

Nov. 8, 2023

Dear Friends Alison and myself are planning on moving on from being wardens at Pickering after nearly 20 years. Pickering Friends are placing the attached advert in The Friend over the next two weeks and hope it can be circulated via the Wardenship Group too. Paul Elliot's contact details are on the advert and he is looking forward to receiving enquiries about the wardening opportunity from interested people. in friendship John Lawson co warden Pickering Meeting North Yorkshire

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Communion wine at meeting
by Clare Barnett Nov. 8, 2023

Nov. 8, 2023

Hi all, We have a standard clause in our lettings policy, as I am sure many meetings do, saying no alcohol. We have had an enquiry from a group of clergy who wish to hold a gathering at the meeting house and as part of this hold communion. They wanted it know if it would be possible for them to use the communion wine in the ceremony. At business meeting today no one seemed to have any objections to this, but we said we would explore further what other meetings do. It feels like it is something which probably doesn't arise very often but I wondered if anyone had any thoughts or indeed any meetings have a letting policy which doesn't say that alcohol is prohibited? Kind Regards Clare Barnett Premises committee, Hartshill Local Meeting

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Meeting House Matters notes from 18 October
by Oliver Waterhouse Nov. 7, 2023

Nov. 7, 2023

Oliver Waterhouse Quaker Life Hello everyone, I am sorry for the delay getting these notes to you. I wanted to have what I had written about the conflict in Israel-Palestine read through and there is some additional information added which was not part of the discussion at the session. Our theme for this discussion was controversial bookings AND warm spaces. The next session will be in person on Tuesday, 14 November at Westminster Meeting House. There is a booking form linked below to book to attend in person. https://forms.quaker.org.uk/mhm-23/ There will also be an online blended session on Tuesday, 14 November at 2.00pm. You do not need to register in advance to attend online, just turn up using the joining details below. * Join Zoom Meeting: https://quaker.zoom.us/j/81586087624?pwd=VHk3MW9sTHJUVDdsMFlTMUN3WEpmUT09 * Meeting ID: 815 8608 7624 * Passcode: WT-online Notes Controversial bookings We held a conversation in relation to controversial bookings following the experience of some Quaker meetings, including Friends House, Euston, cancelling bookings made by the Socialist Workers Party. The information below was not discussed at the online session but has been jointly written by BYM colleagues to help Friends discernment on whether a booking can go ahead. Dear Friends, We have been hearing from meetings receiving request to host events relating to Palestine and Israel. The Quiet Company has also been approached to host many such events at Friends House. Here are some key principles we use to guide our room lettings in relation to Palestine and Israel and we hope this is useful to share with you, as you make your own decisions about lettings: * One of the key principles of our room letting policy is not to give space to any group calling for violence in any form. This is because Quakers have a longstanding commitment to peace and nonviolence, and we therefore cannot host an event calling for any kind of violence or armed struggle. * We support the right of the State of Israel to exist and the right to self-determination for Palestinians and we therefore cannot host any groups denying these fundamental rights. * Quakers in Britain has made a commitment to become an anti-racist organisation. We believe that all forms of racism, including antisemitism and Islamophobia, are barriers to building a just and peaceful world. We abhor the history of antisemitism and Islamophobia in the UK and around the world and the current rise in antisemitic and Islamophobic attacks. We therefore cannot host any event which uses racist language or hate speech, or might in any way build intolerance or prejudice. * We are non-partisan. We are not pro-Israeli or pro-Palestinian. We are not, however, neutral in terms of international law and human rights. We are unwavering in our belief that any practice used to occupy territory or to resist occupation must comply with international law (we call this 'Principled Impartiality'). Overall we choose not share our physical resources - including financial resources and hired spaces - with those who advocate against the Quaker testimonies to peace and equality and the principles outlined above: nonviolence, anti-racism and respect for international law. For more information on how you can take action, and support groups working for a just peace in the region, please refer Friends to our website: https://www.quaker.org.uk/our-work/international-work/responding-to-the-cur…. BYM can and will offer support on difficult room bookings. Remember that it doesn't have to be a simple 'yes' or 'no'. You can ask an organisation what its position is and also engage with them on particular speakers or messaging that you find problematic. If there is a chance that challenging messages are going to be spread about Quakers on social media, BYM asks that meetings get in touch as soon as possible. This might be before a booking has got to the point of being cancelled as this helps prepare to respond if things get difficult. For support, contact the BYM communications team using media(a)quaker.org.uk<mailto:media@quaker.org.uk>. Socialist Workers Party (SWP) On the basis of the principles above, we have decided not to give rooms at Friends House to the Socialist Workers Party at this time. This is because, on the SWP website, there are many articles calling for increased militancy and stating that 'we unconditionally support Hamas when it is engaged in military or non-military struggles against Israel'. We have written to the SWP to explain our principles and why we cannot let rooms to them at this time. We ask meetings to consider booking requests from the SWP carefully in the light of the Quaker commitment to nonviolence, and again, contact us if you would like support. General notes from the discussion * Trustees hold responsibility for premises and there needs to be a swift way for decisions to be made. * Parameters which lettings clerks or wardens can make a decision within but also know when to escalate and who to escalate to. * Simple messaging to the hirer, ideally taken directly from trustees. Pre-written text may be helpful if it can be written in a generic for that can then be adapted to new situations. * You can refer to Quaker faith & practice 14.27<https://qfp.quaker.org.uk/passage/14-27/> on use of premises and Quaker values. This is part of the picture and needs additional thought and discernment to help build a framework that decisions about hirers and bookings can be made within. * Keep copies of hire agreements or terms and conditions up to date and publicly available on the AM/LM website so that they can be referred to easily by hirers and workers. Due diligence and things that can help avoid difficult situations * Have a contract with all hirers which is renewed annually. * Don't take bookings for more than a set period ahead and not past the contract renewal time. * When checking new hirers: * Do not confirm their first booking until you have checked then thoroughly; * Ask for references; * Check their website, if they have one, and follow links to umbrella or close partner organisations; * Search the internet for the organisation's name to see if there is any information about them from credible sources that helps with discernment; * Speak on the phone instead of handling all communications by email; Warm spaces Is your meeting planning to offer a warm space again this winter or set one up for the first time? The Warm Welcome campaign offers advice and support for organisations wishing to use their venue to hold a warm space. Visit, https://www.warmwelcome.uk/, to find out information for your Quaker community. If your meeting wants to be involved but for some reason your meeting house isn't the right place to hold a warm space there are opportunities to connect with other venues in your meeting's locality. Bullet points from the discussion at the meeting * Some Local Councils are offering grant support for organisations willing to host warm spaces. The only national grant available appears to be offered by the National Lottery Community Fund and may not be one that meetings wish to apply to. * Don't be disappointed if not many people come in the first few weeks. * Even though in a good location could not get the volunteers so tried to work with others and host the space. * Is your MH efficient enough that it makes it worthwhile heating it to run a warm space? * If your meeting house is going to host a warm space be in touch with other local venues to ensure that you coordinate when each venue opens so not all on the same day / time. * Meeting was open from November to March with a soup lunch. Needed people trained in safeguarding, food hygiene. Lots of training but few people came. * Not got the human resource to open the meeting house but have got together with other churches via churches together. Unexpected outcome * Local community group contacted the meeting house to host the warm space. The MH was provided for free to this group. The group then have used the building on a paid basis through the rest of the year. In friendship, Oliver Oliver Waterhouse (he/him) Quaker Life Team Leader, Local and Area Governance Quakers in Britain 020 7663 1007 (Direct) oliverw(a)quaker.org.uk<mailto:oliverw@quaker.org.uk> | www.quaker.org.uk<http://www.quaker.org.uk/> Follow Quakers in Britain on Twitter<http://twitter.com/BritishQuakers>, Facebook<https://www.facebook.com/BritishQuakers>, YouTube<https://www.youtube.com/quakersinbritain>, and Instagram<https://www.instagram.com/britishquakers/>. CLERKS OF TRUSTEES: Please send TARA documents to supportmeetings(a)quaker.org.uk<mailto:supportmeetings@quaker.org.uk> All Quakers in Britain staff can be contacted using their usual email addresses or phone numbers. They may be working from home, in Friends House (London), in the Yorkshire Centre (Leeds) or at a base local to them. The Quaker Centre Bookshop and Café<https://www.friendshouse.co.uk/quaker-centre/> (Friends House, London) are open to the public. If you would like to support our work, you can give online at www.quaker.org.uk/donate. Britain Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) Registered charity number 1127633 | Friends House, 173 Euston Road, London, NW1 2BJ ________________________________ Quakers say: Religion is about the whole of life.

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Next Meeting House Matters session
by Oliver Waterhouse Oct. 16, 2023

Oct. 16, 2023

Oliver Waterhouse Quaker Life Hello everyone, I hope that you are all very well. There is going to be a Meeting House Matters online discussion this week on Wednesday, 18 October at 2pm. This time, following on from the experience of some meeting last week, we will be looking at cancelling a regular booking and what we might do if we receive a request from an organisation that we are not sure whether we can accept a booking from. We will also start to have a think about Warm Spaces and what we can do to prepare for the winter and supporting people in our community or locality that are in hardship. Join the meeting using these Zoom details: * Join Zoom Meeting: https://quaker.zoom.us/j/81586087624?pwd=VHk3MW9sTHJUVDdsMFlTMUN3WEpmUT09 * Meeting ID: 815 8608 7624 * Passcode: WT-online I look forward to seeing you if you can join. In friendship, Oliver Oliver Waterhouse (he/him) Quaker Life Team Leader, Local and Area Governance Quakers in Britain 020 7663 1007 (Direct) oliverw(a)quaker.org.uk<mailto:oliverw@quaker.org.uk> | www.quaker.org.uk<http://www.quaker.org.uk/> Follow Quakers in Britain on Twitter<http://twitter.com/BritishQuakers>, Facebook<https://www.facebook.com/BritishQuakers>, YouTube<https://www.youtube.com/quakersinbritain>, and Instagram<https://www.instagram.com/britishquakers/>. CLERKS OF TRUSTEES: Please send TARA documents to supportmeetings(a)quaker.org.uk<mailto:supportmeetings@quaker.org.uk> All Quakers in Britain staff can be contacted using their usual email addresses or phone numbers. They may be working from home, in Friends House (London), in the Yorkshire Centre (Leeds) or at a base local to them. The Quaker Centre Bookshop and Café<https://www.friendshouse.co.uk/quaker-centre/> (Friends House, London) are open to the public. If you would like to support our work, you can give online at www.quaker.org.uk/donate. Britain Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) Registered charity number 1127633 | Friends House, 173 Euston Road, London, NW1 2BJ ________________________________ Quakers say: Religion is about the whole of life.

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