Third Haven Friends Meeting Trustees
2018 Annual Report
Who are the Trustees of Third Haven Monthly Meeting and what is their relationship with Third Haven Friends Meeting? That is a question that we answer annually in this report to the Meeting. The Meeting traces its beginnings to the Betty's Cove Meeting, which was established in the 1660's. Our Old Meeting House was completed in 1684. Two hundred and sixty-four years later, in 1948, membership in THFM had dwindled and there was concern that the Meeting could be laid down. If that occurred, the normal practice would be that the property and grounds would revert to Philadelphia Yearly Meeting.
Friends wanted to be sure that the care of Third Haven would remain with the people who had been involved through the years and where generations of Quaker family members were buried. The Trustees were incorporated to insure that the property and grounds would remain in our control in perpetuity. The Trustees of Third Haven Monthly Meeting are the owners of the buildings and property at Third Haven.
This year, a distinguished scholar and teacher retired as a member of the Trustees. Kenneth Carroll had served both the Meeting and the Trustees with his inspired leadership for decades. We are grateful for his long service and sorry to lose his counsel. However, we recognized his request to resign and asked the Nominating Committee to propose three candidates for the vacancy. I am delighted to announce that Bill Lane has joined the Trustees of Third Haven Monthly Meeting.
Our thanks also go to Allan Mielke, who has served as treasurer for many years and handled the demands of investing our assets with diligence and expertise. Allan has resigned his office but will remain on the board. Diana Rein has become treasurer and Larny Claggett is the new secretary. Other Trustees include Marsie Hawkinson, Sumner Parker and Adrienne Rudge.
The Annual Meeting of the Trustees was held on March 29, 2018. The assets managed by the Trustees have accumulated through legacy and other gifts and are currently invested with Friends Fiduciary Corporation in Philadelphia as well as in a smaller account with Vanguard. We also maintain a checking account at Shore United Bank. Members are encouraged to consider a legacy gift to Third Haven Monthly Meeting by designating the Trustees in their estate plans.
The Trustees' responsibility is preservation and maintenance of this historic property. This is accomplished in cooperation with the Meeting. Traditionally the Trustees pay or help to pay for capital expenses such as a new roof, a new heating system or the removal of hazardous trees. The Meeting covers operational expenses. We work with the Property and Grounds Committee to cover needed improvements to the buildings and grounds. In 2017, the Trustees supported several projects, such as the functional update of the Common Room, for a total of $23,000.
This report is given for the information of the Meeting each year and requires no action.
Adrienne Rudge, President, Trustees of Third Haven Monthly Meeting