Testimonies and Concerns 2023 Annual Report:
Testimonies and Concerns (T&C) Committee maintains interest in several key projects to provide community involvement options for Third Haven members. T&C is served by Mary Yancey, Stephanie French, Beth Mufson, Lorraine Claggett and Paige Tilghman, Clerk. The T&C Committee organizes a monthly dinner delivered to the Talbot Interfaith Shelter (TIS) through its partnership with Talbot Association of Clergy and Laity (TACL), of which THMM has been a partner. T&C invites members to contribute food supplies, prepare the dinner and deliver the meal to the shelter, feeding approximately 18 adults and children monthly. Friends also continue to donate food supplies weekly for local the Neighborhood Service Center food pantries. T&C supports Cynthia Quast and her work with Asbury United Methodist Church for the coordination of the annual Thanksgiving Dinner. Several members volunteered to provide food and to deliver over 200 dinners on Thanksgiving Day. T&C provides oversight for members and attenders who volunteer library services to detainees of the Talbot County Detention Center (TCDC). The book lending system was updated this year and the collection of over 5,000 books has been purged with more current books added to the library. The maintenance of the library system is provided for by Stephanie French and Jeanne Halpin with approximately 12 volunteers. Many members of THMM volunteer with the Chesapeake Multicultural Center, providing English as a second language training and tutoring students. The Chesapeake Multicultural Center celebrated 10 years of service to immigrant families and children on April 20th with a wonderful exhibit in Easton. This year several members reached out to representatives of the Pocomoke American Indian Tribe to learn more about our early Quaker history and interaction with native peoples. T&C hosted a visit to TH for our Quarter from Peace Team representatives in May.
Our Meeting embraced several environmental initiatives throughout theyear to improve our ability to buy bulk food, reduce waste and take better care of our grounds. Mary Yancey led many environmental initiatives including Meeting’s participation with Faithful Green Leaders training. Dona Sorce continues to monitor Quaker Voice on behalf of Meeting to keep us apprised of legislative issues. T&C Committee continues to make an annual recommendation to Meeting for Charitable Giving contributions and produces a Giving Guide that outlines local and Quaker organizations as suggestions for individual charitable giving in keeping with our testimonies. Members of the Meeting continue to participate in a weekly Peace Vigil at the Talbot County Courthouse in Easton led by John Turner.
Question: How has the Shoffner fund for international education for world understanding been executed? Discussion ensued concerning past uses under T&C. Better coordination of all Meeting donations might be considered.
Annual Giving Guide: compiled and to be circulated with recommendations for Meeting and members for charitable contributions, organized by our testimonies with local and Quaker organizations.
Testimonies and Concerns recommended the following organizations receive $3000 from our contributions to demonstrate our Quaker values in our community and the world:
- Originally proposed: $500 to United Palestinian Appeal, $500 to Ukraine Red Cross
- Discussion concluded with sending this $1000 through the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) for humanitarian assistance to people affected by the Israel Hamas conflict. Approved
- $400 to Multicultural Center, MidShore Council on Family Violence, For All Seasons, Lifetime Wells, and Choptank Habitat for Humanity. Approved.