ym 2016 minutes public final 0602 - quakers · 2016. 6. 2. · at morija girls’ school in...
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FinalMinutes
PublicEdition
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Contents
1 WELCOME 5
2 INTRODUCTIONSANDATTENDANCE 5
3 APOLOGIESANDGREETINGS 52016/1MINUTE—APOLOGIESANDGREETINGS 6
4 TESTIMONIES 84.1 SHELAGHWILLET 84.2 IAINWILLIAMGRAYER 124.3 RONALDWATTS 144.4 DOREENDOWD,1941-2015 18
5 FINANCIALREPORTS 205.1 C&SAYMTREASURER’SREPORT&BUDGET 20
2016/2MINUTE—C&SAYMTREASURER’SREPORT 212016/3MINUTE—C&SAYMPROPOSEDBUDGET 21
5.2 ECTFREPORTFORYMMAY2016 222016/4MINUTE—ECTFANDPJDF 24
5.3 COMPASSIONFUNDREPORTTOYM2016 262016/5MINUTE—COMPASSIONFUND 26
5.4 CHRISTINEAGARQUAKERTRUSTFUNDREPORTFORYM2016 272016/6MINUTE—CHRISTINEAGARQUAKERTRUST 27
5.5 FRIENDSHUNGERFUND 282016/7MINUTE—FRIENDS’HUNGERFUND 28
5.6 REPORTINGONFINANCES 292016/8MINUTE—REPORTINGONFINANCES 29
6 REPORTSOFLOCALMEETINGS 306.1 BOTSWANA 30
2016/9MINUTE—BOTSWANA 306.2 BULAWAYO 31
2016/10MINUTE—BULAWAYO 346.3 CAPEEASTERNREGIONALMEETING 346.4 CAPEWESTERNMONTHLYMEETING 37
2016/11MINUTE—CWMM 396.5 HARAREMONTHLYMEETING 40
2016/12MINUTE—HARARE 416.6 JOHANNESBURGMONTHLYMEETING 41
2016/13MINUTE—JMM 436.7 KWAZULU-NATALMONTHLYMEETING 44
2016/14MINUTE—KZN 45
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6.8 LESOTHOALLOWEDMEETING 452016/15MINUTE—LAM 46
6.9 NAMIBIAALLOWEDMEETING 462016/16MINUTE—NAM 48
6.10 PRETORIAWORSHIPGROUP 492016/17MINUTE—PWG 522016/18MINUTE—ALLMEETINGS 52
7 REPORTOFTHECLERKSOFYEARLYMEETING–2015/2016 532016/19MINUTE—C&SAYMCLERKS’REPORT 57
8 NOMINATIONS 588.1 NOMINATIONSFROMMYRM+YMNOMINATIONS 58
2016/20MINUTE—NOMINATIONS 598.2 CURRENTOFFICEHOLDERS 59
9 QUAKERSANDCURRENTEVENTSINSOUTHERNAFRICA 622016/21MINUTE— 63QUAKERSANDCURRENTEVENTS 63
10 REPORTBYFRIENDSOFC&SAYMWHOATTENDEDTHEFWCCPLENARYMEETINGINPISAC,PERUTUESDAY19–WEDNESDAY27JANUARY2016 64
10.1 EPILOGUEBYJUSTINELIMPITLAWGIVENONMONDAYJANUARY25ASPARTOFTHEFWCCPLENARYMEETING 69
10.2 GENERALSECRETARY’SREFLECTIONONTHEWORLDPLENARYMEETINGINPISAC,PERU,JANUARY19–29,2016 71
10.3 EPISTLEFROM2016FRIENDSWORLDCOMMITTEEFORCONSULTATIONWORLDPLENARY(INTERNATIONALREPRESENTATIVESMEETING) 732016/22MINUTE—FWCCEPISTLE 75
10.4 MINUTEOFREPORTFROMFWCCAFRICASECTIONSECRETARYCHURCHILLMALIMO 75
11 OTHERREPORTS 7611.1 FRIENDSOFHLEKWENI 76
2016/23MINUTE—FRIENDSOFHLEKWENI 802016/24MINUTE—HLEKWENIREPORT 83
11.2 QUAKERPEACECENTRE(QPC) 832016/25MINUTE—QUAKERPEACECENTRE 85
11.3 SOUTHAFRICANCOUNCILOFCHURCHES(SACC)REPORT 8511.4 SAFCEI:SOUTHERNAFRICANFAITHCOMMUNITIESENVIRONMENTINSTITUTE 87
2016/26MINUTE—SAFCEI 8711.5 WCRLF:WESTERNCAPERELIGIOUSLEADERSFORUM 8811.6 REPORTONTHEWORKOFPHOENIXZULULAND,2015-16 88
2016/27MINUTE—PHOENIX 8911.7 ZIMBABWEFOODRELIEFACTION(ZFRA)UPDATEASOFLATEJANUARY2016 89
2016/28MINUTE—ZFRA 9111.8 ADVOCACYREPORTTOC&SAYM2016 92
2016/29MINUTE—ADVOCACY 93
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11.9 COMMUNICATIONSCLUSTERREPORTTO2016C&SAYM 932016/30MINUTE—COMMUNICATIONSCLUSTER 101
11.10C&SAYMHANDBOOK2016 1012016/31MINUTE—HANDBOOK 101
12 PROPOSALS/MINUTESFROMTHEMEETINGS 10212.1 PRETORIAWORSHIPGROUPTOBECOMEAMONTHLYMEETING 102
2016/32MINUTE—PWGBECOMINGPMM 10212.2 LOGOFORC&SAYM 102
2016/33MINUTE—LOGO 10212.3 NEXTMYRMANDYM 103
2016/34MINUTE—MYRMANDNEXTYM 103
13 MATTERSARISINGFROMYM 10313.1 SUMMERSCHOOLREPORT 103
REPORTONSUMMERSCHOOLATCSAYM2016ATSTAUGUSTINE’S 103ANNEXURE 106
13.2 SIGREPORT 108THEREWERESIXSIGS 1082016/35MINUTE—SIG 108
13.3 SEVEN-AND15-MINUTETALKSREPORT 1097-AND15-MINUTETALKS 109ANNEXURE:PHILLEMONTAKARINDWACHIRIMAMBOWA 109
13.4 YOUNGFRIENDSREPORT,INCLUDINGOFTHEPROPOSEDCAMP 111C&SAYMYOUNGFRIENDSREPORT2016 111
13.5 CHILDREN’SREPORT 112CHILDREN’SREPORTTOC&SAYM2016 112
13.6 PROPOSEDRENAMINGOFC&SAYM 1122016/36PROPOSEDMINUTEONQUAKERNAMECHANGE 1122016/37MINUTEONTHEABOVEPROPOSAL 114
13.7 EPISTLE 114CentralandSouthernAfricaYearlymeetingStAugustines’sPriory,Modderpoort,SouthAfrica,27April–3May2016 114
13.8 OTHERMATTERSARISING 1162016/38MINUTE—OTHERMATTERSARISING 116
14 EVALUATIONREPORT—YEARLYMEETING2016 11814.1 WHATILEARNTFROMYM 11814.2 WHATILIKEDATYM 11814.3 WHATIDIDN'TLIKEATYM 11914.4 THEFACILITATORS(CLERKS) 12014.5 THEPROGRAMMECOULDBEIMPROVEDBY… 12014.6 ISTILLNEED… 12014.7 ANYFURTHERCOMMENTS 12014.8 CONCLUSION 121
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1 Welcome
2 Introductionsandattendance
3 ApologiesandGreetings
GREETINGSFROMNEWMEXICO
DearFriends
WeareveryconsciousofyouallpreparingandperhapsalreadystartingtotraveltoYearly
MeetingandareholdingyouintheLight.
WelookbackwithdeepthanksovermanyYearlyMeetingsthatwehavebeenpartofand
knowhowimportantit isforSouthernAfricanFriendstogathertoseekLightandknow
thepresenceoftheSpiritwhichgivesuslifeandmeaning.Mayyouenjoythefellowship
and find new strength to face the complexities of the challenges of living in what are
oftendarktimes.
WeareactivelyinvolvedinAlbuquerqueMonthlyMeetingwhichisalargeMeetingwith
concern for the homeless of the city, the climate of hate which has blown up in the
electioncampaignsandmattersofjustice,peaceandhumanrights.
WelookforwardtoreadingtheproceedingsofC&SAYMandespeciallytheRichardGush
Lecture.
Withloveandprayers,
RichardandPushpaKnottenbelt
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2016/1MINUTE—APOLOGIESANDGREETINGS
GREETINGSFROMJOHNANDKELITHASCHMID
23April2016
StAugustine'sisdeartoourhearts.Backin2000itwaswhereweattended
our firstYearlyMeeting inSouthernAfrica—andwehaven'tmissedone
since.Soit iswithregretthatwecan'tpayareturnvisitthisyearandwe
shallmissnotonlythevenuebutsomanyofourdearFriends.
Earlier this yearKelithahada very trickyoperationonher spineand still
needs nursing care, but we hope her mobility will be fully restored in
anothermonthortwo.
Withwarmgreetingstoyouall,
John&Kelitha
GREETINGSFROMOVERSEASMEETINGS:
PenelopeCumminsfromBritainYearlyMeetinghassentwarmgreetings.
FWCC
This card bringswarmgreetings from the FWCC Europe andMiddle East
SectionExecutivetofriendsatCentralandSouthernAfricaYearlyMeeting.
LeeTaylor,SueMartin
BlueIdolLocalQuakerMeeting
DearFriends,
GreetingsfromushereinWestSussex!
Our Friend Kim Hope intends to travel in South Africa during April, and
planstoattendCentralandSouthernAfricanYearlyMeeting.
Through Kimwe send you our greetings. Thoughwe are separated by a
greatdistance,weareenheartenedbyyourwitnesswhich remindsusof
ourcommonexperienceasFriends.
When Kim returns, we shall be eager to learn from her more of your
activitiesandconcerns,and to share through themyour insights into the
livingtestimoniesofQuakerstoday.
Nomore,butourlove.
Inpeace,
T.RogerS.WilsonClerk
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WestWealdAreaMeeting
DearFriends,
OnbehalfofWestWealdAreaMeetinginS.E.England,whereKimHopeis
aMember, Isendgreetingstoyou inCentralandSouthernAfricanYearly
Meeting.
ItiswonderfultoknowthatthereareFriendsinsomanypartsoftheworld
thatsharesomuchofourQuakervalues.
IhopeKimwillbeabletotellusallaboutyourconcernsandactionsupon
herreturn.
Yoursinfriendship,
RogerBaker
(ClerkWWAM.)
LutonandLeightonAreaMeeting
ToFriendsinCentralandSouthernAfricaYearlyMeeting
LetterofGreeting
DearFriends,
This letter comes to you with warm greetings from Luton and Leighton
AreaMeetingwhichispartofBritainYearlyMeeting.
It is brought to you by four Friends fromMilton Keynes Local Meeting:
ColinBartlett,David Jones,DonRoweand LeeTaylor.Wehope theywill
benefitfromtheseopportunitiestomeet,talkandworshipwithFriendsin
Central and Southern Africa Yearly Meeting, thereby deepening their
spirituallifeandthatofusall.
Welookforwardtohearingabouttheirexperiencesandthelifeandspirit
ofyourYearlyMeetingontheirreturn.
Wecommendthemtoyourlovingcare.
Withbestwishes,
HelenOsborn
LutonandLeightonAreaMeetingClerk
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APOLOGIES
BulawayoMM
AnaniasKhupe
CWMM
BridgetNomondeScoble,GrahamThomas
HMM
BenoniaNyakuwanikwa
JMM
DuduzileMtshazo, EmilyMnisi,Wendy Landau, Elizabeth Roper, Thomas
Ndayiragije,JenniferKinghorn,AlexKuhn,TebogoMoteane
KZN
DuduDlamini,JoanKerchhoff
PWG
NancyFee,Amanda&JeremyGibberdandchildren
4 Testimonies
4.1 ShelaghWilletTestimony to the Grace of God as shown in the life of
ShelaghMarjorieWillet1931–2015
In2013ShelaghgavetheRichardGushMemorialLecture
atCentralandSouthernAfricaYearlyMeeting(C&SAYM).
Her subject was ‘Reverence for life’ and she ended the
lecture with the following lines from a poem by the
AmericanQuaker,KennethBoulding,whichshedescribed
asa“athrillingevocationofthebeautyoftheearth”
“Iplunge,shouting,inthefecundtide
Ofvastcreation;lavemyselfinlight.”
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Forallwhoknewher,Shelaghdidindeed‘lave’herselfinlight,alightwhichilluminatedherentire
beingandwhichshonethroughinherunfailingrespectandcompassionforothers.Theseincluded
notonlyhermanyfriends,neighboursandcolleaguesbutalsoallthosesufferingfromoppression
inneighbouringregionsandespeciallythoseforcedtofleewhosoughtsanctuaryinBotswana.
Anonlychild,Shelaghwasbornon1stDecember1931onafamilyfarmnearPolokwane.Shewas
profoundlyaffectedbytheearlydeathofherfather,soonaftersheleftschool,confidinglaterthat
shefeltanxiousandaloneuntilsheexperiencedagreatsenseofcertaintyandreliefthatGodwas
with her, bearing her up. Shelagh studied at the University of theWitwatersrand, majoring in
AfrikaansandSocialAnthropology, followedbya teacher trainingcourse.By the late1950s she
hadbecomeincreasinglydisenchantedwithwhiteSouthAfricansocietyandtookanappointment
atMorijaGirls’School inBasutoland,nowLesotho.Therewasabrief returnto Johannesburg in
theearly1960stotakeaDiplomainLibrarianship,forwhichherdissertationwasTheBushman:a
select bibliography 1652–1962. In 1965, she returned to Lesotho as Deputy Librarian at the
UniversityofBasutoland,BechuanalandandSwaziland,atitsRomacampus.
Shelagh had first become aware of Quakers during this period at a work camp held at the
ecumenical and multiracial Wilgespruit Fellowship Centre on the outskirts of Johannesburg. In
LesothoshemetthreerecentarrivalswhohadbeenattendersatQuakermeetings.Theystarted
meetingregularly forQuakerworship.Theirnumber increasedtosixwhenhermotherKathleen
andabirthright friend fromEnglandarrived. Sobeganwhatbecame LesothoAllowedMeeting.
Shelagh’s application for membership of the Religious Society of Friends was considered by
TransvaalMonthlyMeetingandshewasadmittedintomembershiparound1967.
At Roma, Shelagh worked on the Boleswa Collection (an acronym from newly independent
Botswana, Lesotho, Swaziland). She then spent several years with her fellow academic, David
Ambrose, working on a comprehensive annotated bibliography of Lesotho for a World
Bibliographic Series. When the University opened new campuses in Botswana and Swaziland,
ShelaghmovedtobecomeheadlibrarianatwhateventuallybecametheUniversityofBotswana
(UB).SheandKathleenmovedtoGaborone in1971.Oncethere,ShelaghstartedanewQuaker
meetingwhich,inthenextdecade,benefitedfromthearrivalofseveralAmericanQuakerfamilies.
Botswanawastobeherhomefortherestofherlifeandshetookcitizenshipassoonasshecould.
ShelaghalwaysregardedherselfasanordinaryMotswanaandrefusedtousetheprivilegesofa
whitecitizen,forinstancewhenshewenttohospital.Sadly,Kathleensuccumbedtoaprolonged
illness and her death in 1974 meant a great loss of family intimacy and emotional support in
Shelagh’slife.
ForShelagh,theinhumanityofapartheidwasneverfaraway,andthewayshewasaffectedbyitis
expressedmovinglyinoneofherpoemsofthetimewhichbegins
AllmylifeI’veheardyousinging.Allmylife
ThebeautyofyourvoicesHasbrokenmyheart
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AllmylifeIhavebeenhearingyourvoicesandcrying
AllmylifeI’vebeenhearingBassvoicesdeepasthunder
Women’shigh-pitchedsweetnessThrillingmetothecore.Andalways,inthatmoment
Youarenaked,Defenceless,withthepainrevealed,
Thehurt.AllmylifeI’vebeenfeelingyourtorment
TheendlessburdenofindignityAllthereinyoursinging
ThebitternessofsubjectionFrustrationandpassionateresentment.
ThiscompassionfortheoppressedfoundanopportunitywhichprofoundlychangedShelagh’slife.
Bythemid-1970sthousandsofrefugeeswerearrivingfromthesurroundingstates,beinghoused
in large camps in the north and east of the country. Butmany needed to be in Gaborone for
official and educational purposes. The small Quaker Meeting’s concern for their welfare, and
especially the shortage of accommodation, prompted Shelagh to contact Quaker Peace and
Service (QPS) inLondonforhelp inassessingtheviabilityofestablishingasmall refugeecentre.
ThisresultedinasmallhousesharedbyShelaghandelevenrefugees,butfairlysoonplanswerein
handtoconstructanewcentrejustoutsideGaboronetoaccommodateaninitialthirtyrefugees.
Throughout thisperiod, thewillingnessof theBotswanaGovernmentandpeople toacceptand
assistrefugeeswascrucial.ShelaghwasadeptatnegotiatingwithBatswanaofficialsatall levels,
withNGOs,withtheBotswanachurchesandwiththeUNHCR.Shelaghresignedfromhersecure
UniversitypostandwasappointedasaQPSvolunteermanagerwithamuch-reducedincomeand
alimitedtermcontract.
Shelagh’s short book,Voices of Kagisong, completed just before her death, illustrates how she
endeavouredtoeasethepassage,inaverypersonalway,ofthosewhoseliveshadbeendisrupted
byconflict.ExtractsfromthenumerouslettersShelaghreceivedfromgratefulrefugeesshowhow
life-changing her presence and support had been. At Kagisong they received not only physical
sustenanceandpracticalhelpbutalsoShelagh’ssympathetic,patient,non-judgemental,listening
friendship,andawarmthofcommunityseldomfoundinsuchcentres.
Shelaghwasnotanaturaladministrator,however,andwassucceededasmanagerin1985byJohn
Schmid. She returned towork atUBbut continued to live at Kagisong and to assist Johnmore
informally as a friend and counsellor for the refugees. When John’s contract ended in 1988,
Shelaghreturnedafterashortgaptobemanageroncemore.
Theseweretenseyearspolitically.ShelaghwasdeclaredpersonanongratabySouthAfricaand
KagisongwasalwaysundersurveillancebythespiesoftheSouthAfricanauthoritiesasapotential
harbouringcentre forANCmembers.AnattackbySouthAfricanDefenceForces inGaborone in
1985, in which 12 people (several quite innocent) were killed, was a particularly worrying and
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distressing incident. TheQuakers andMennonitesworked together to physically rebuild oneof
thehouseswhichbelongedtoaMotswanawidow.Thegeneralpopulacegavegenerouslytothis
project.
Kagisong alsobecame themeetingplace forQuakers inBotswana. Therewere always refugees
who attended meeting for worship. In addition to her long-term resident friends, these years
introducedShelaghtoastreamofinternationalvisitors,voluntaryhelpersandpaidworkers,with
manyofwhomsheformeddeepandlong-lastingfriendships.Shewasagoodcorrespondentand
whenshewaseventuallyallowedentrytoSouthAfricaafterthedownfalloftheapartheidregime,
sherenewedcontactwithfriendsfromthepastinthatcountry.
TheKagisongproject expandedand continueduntil 1996when theneed for this typeof short-
termaccommodationhadhappilyfallenaway.Kagisongbecamealow-budgetconferencecentre.
The original founding spirit re-emerged in the form of Botswana’s first shelter for victims of
domesticviolence, funded inpart fromtheconferencecentre,and inwhichShelaghonceagain
becamedeeply involved.Shelaghhadcommitted18yearsofher lifetorefugeeactivities,which
represented amajor step away from her profession as a librarian. She returned subsequently,
however, to her interest in the marginalised Khoe and San group in co-editing an annotated
bibliography which was published in 2002. In doing so, Shelagh coped professionally with the
digitalelectronicage,despiteaninnatepropensitytoalienatemachineryofalldescriptions!
Shelagh’sdeepQuakerfaithunderpinnedherlifeofservice.Shewasaconsistentelementinthe
vicissitudes of Botswana Monthly Meeting, whose attendance fluctuated over the years. In
MeetingsforWorshipherministriescamefromadeep,groundedspirituality.Hersteady, loving
presenceandsenseofhumouratMeetingwillbemissed.SheservedasMonthlyMeetingclerk,
relished the fellowship at the annual gatherings of Central & Southern Africa Yearly Meeting,
contributedtoSouthernAfricaQuakerNews,attendedtheFWCCtriennialconferenceinKenyain
1991,andspentatermatWoodbrookeQuakerStudyCentreinEngland.Itwassaidofherwell-
researched,thoughtfulandthought-provokingRichardGushlecturethatittouchedtheheartsof
manyFriends inSouthernAfricaandgalvanised theSociety to takeup issuesof climate change
and the just, sustainable use of the earth’s resources in a more focused and comprehensive
manner.
Shelaghwas never in robust health, suffering from high blood pressure, but her vegetarianism
heldherupeveninlateryearswhenherhearingandgeneralhealthdiminished.Herhomefrom
1995wasasmallbungalowoutsideGabanewhereshelivedwithherdogs,catsandoccasionally
chickens, and fromwhere she continued to welcome people and provide a home for those in
need. She createdother families after she lost her own: refugees, colleagues, friends and their
children. Finally, a young student whose family came from Zimbabwe whom she called her
‘granddaughter’livedwithherforherlastfewyears.Whenitwaswithinherpowers,sheseldom
refusedarequestforhelp,includingfinancialhelp,whichoccasionallycausedexasperationamong
somefriendsatthepossibilitythathergenerositywastakenadvantageof.
Throughout her life, Shelagh was open and welcoming, intelligent, gracious, warm hearted,
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cheerful in outlook, eminently approachable and an easy communicator, a woman of great
integrity and selfless empathy, who listened, understood, and inspired. As one Friend put it,
“Quietandgentle,yetsteadfast”,shemadeyoufeelthatyouwereespeciallyimportant.Shewill
be rememberedwith gladnessby allwhomether,withdeepaffectionby thosewhowereher
friends,andadeeperlove,perhaps,byherclosestfriends.Herdepthofpracticalcompassionand
willingnesstoactoutherconcernswereanexampletoallofus.
ThistestimonybeganwithtwolinesfromapoemusedbyShelaghinherRichardGushLecture.Let
itendwiththelineswhichfollowedandwithwhichsheconcludedherlecture:
SeekfirsttheKingdom—forthyjoysaredim
UntilthoufindestallthingsnewinHim.
The inward Light of the Spirit is the very essence ofQuaker belief, and Shelagh, as one Friend
wrote, “Wasagreat light–and Iwill findshe is stillwithus”.Wegive thanks for theprofound
privilegeofhavingknownher.
ChrisandRoyLovegavetheoraltestimony.
4.2 IainWilliamGrayerIainwasborninSouthport,Englandonthe21stSeptember1936toJohnWalterGrayerandElsie
AnnieWright.IainattendedAckworthSchool(1947–1954)wherehisfatherwasateacher.
ForhisNationalServiceheworkedwiththeFriends’AmbulanceServiceinSicilyasaconscientious
objector.
In1956hebeganhisapprenticetrainingasajuniorengineeratAssociatedElectricalIndustries,in
Rugby,England. In1960hemoved toScotland toworkwithBrucePeeblesEngineerswherehe
stayedforeightyears.
On 3 August 1968, hemarriedMargaret Elliot Anderson and almost immediately thereafter he
tooktheopportunitytoimmigratetoSouthAfrica.HereheworkedforGECMachinesuntil1980.
In1980hestartedworkwithABBIndustrywhereheremaineduntilhisretirementin2007.
His work as an Electrical Engineer spanned 51 years and was a
majorpartofhislifebuthehardlyeverspokeofitoutsideofwork.
He designed the largest synchronous motor ever built in South
Africa. He was regarded as a leading expert in the field of large
electricmotordesign,andworkcolleaguesspokeveryhighlyofhis
knowledge,skills,experienceandempathetichelpfulnature.They
saw him as a very special man with a cheerful personality,
optimismandcuriosityabout life.Hewasamanofgreatenergy:
physically, intellectually and artistically and hewas not someone
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wholetproblemsbuildup;hetackledthemimmediately. Iainhadawiderangeof interestsand
hisengineeringskillsstretchedwellbeyondhisworkplace.
Someofhisdaughters’happiestmemoriesareofswimmingwithIainintheirpoolafterhecame
homefromwork.
Iainalsolovedtowalk,hikeandclimb.Inhisyoungerdayshedidsomemajormountaineeringin
the Alps, in the Lake District, in the Cuillin Hills of Skye, in the Scottish Highlands, and in the
Drakensberg. In Benoni the family often walked down to the local dam or around the bird
sanctuarytogethertowatchthesunsetoverthewater.
Iain’sothermajorpassionwasclassicalmusicwhichhebothplayedandlistenedto.OnSaturday
mornings,attheageof40+,hestartedviolinlessons.Hisdaughterswouldhearhimpracticinghis
violin after theywent to bed. The family regularly attended symphony and chamber orchestra
concertsattheStateTheatre,LinderAuditorium,orattheWitsGreatHall.Hewasamemberof
the JohannesburgSymphonyOrchestra forapproximately35yearsand thesame for the Jewish
GuildOrchestra.WhateverIaindid,hedidwithcare,lovingdevotionandunshakableloyalty.
He could sit for hours outside in the still night air or watch a thunderstorm pass in deep
contemplativesilence.
HewasfirmlyrootedinhisQuakerheritage.HisstillnessofSpirit,hisabilitytomeditateandtobe
inthemomentgavehimgreatstrength,greatcompassionandgreathumanity.
Hehadaprofoundsenseofseeingallhemetasequalsworthyofrespect.Hewasapacifistanda
peacemaker.Heabhorredviolenceandwarfare. In theUKhewasa conscientiousobjectorand
chosevoluntarynon-militaryserviceasameansofbuildingpeaceanddevelopment,workingon
ambulancesandbuildingroadsinSicily.
Hewasahighlymoralman.Hebelievedthatourownsecurityisnotensuredbyarmingourselves
andbuildinghighwallswithrazorwire,butbyeconomicjusticeandbuildingstrongcommunities.
His generosity knew no bounds. He invested in the education of those he came to knowwho
neededassistance.Hegaveeasilyandwithgreatlove,inservice,intimeandinmoney.
Hisconsistentand loyalservice to JohannesburgMeetingwas invaluable,quietbutassolidasa
rock. He was a regular attender at Meeting for Worship. He rarely if ever ministered and on
Sundaymornings,yearinandyearout,wasoftenthefirstpersontoenterQuakerHouseMeeting
Room.HeservedasTreasurer,wherehismeticulousrecordkeepingwasofgreatvaluetoFriends.
He also served with diligence on the Premises Committee where his engineering skills and
methodicalapproachtoanyproblemsweregreatlyprized.
Heissurvivedbyhistwodaughtersandthreegrand-daughtersfromhismarriagetoMargaretand
byhiswife,Saskia,andtheirtwochildren.
RoryShortgavetheoraltestimony.
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4.3 RonaldWattsThanksgivingfortheGraceofGodasshowninthelifeofour
Friend,RonaldWatts,1930 –2015
EdwardRonaldWattswasborninBournvilleon15thFebruary1930,
the youngest of three boys. Janet Clark (nee Taylor), his
grandmother,wasamuch-lovedsisterofElizabethCadbury,andhis
father, Harold, worked at the Cadbury’s factory in personnel.
AccordingtoRonald,thepolicywastoallowworkerstotakehome
asmuchchocolateas theywanted,knowing that theywouldsoon
get sick of it. Marjorie, Ronald’s mother, loved leaving Cadbury’s
chocolateunderhergrandchildren’spillowswhentheyvisited.She
was consequently known as ‘Chocolate Granny’. Ronald enjoyed his Cadbury connections, and
from babyhoodwas a regular at Boxing Day gatherings of relatives atWinds Point, one of the
Cadbury’shomesinMalvern.Hewassofamiliarwiththeroutethatevenafterastrokethatmade
himblind,heknewwhenawrongturnwastaken.
HarolddiedunexpectedlyonholidayinMentone(RonwouldpronounceitinanItalianaccent,as
it hadoncebelonged to Italy),whichwasa favouriteholidaydestination for ElizabethCadbury.
This was particularly poignant, as Ron had been looking forward to living with him in Reading
whilst studying for his undergraduate degree in Agriculture. Hismother died suddenly in 1967
whentheWattsfamilywereonholidayinMombasa,andhedidn’thearthenewsuntilafterthe
funeral.
MargueriterecentlytoldRonnieaboutaphotoshe’dfoundofhimwithhisbrothersandparents,
posinginformallyforthecameraintheBournvillehouse.Ashislanguagewaslimitedbythestroke
hesaidratheralarminglythathewas‘bleeding’.Whenaskedifhemeantitwasapainfulmemory
hesaid‘yes’.Hemissedhisfamilywhenawayfromhome,andconsequentlykeptupaformidable
correspondencewhenworkinginAfrica.
BecauseofconcernsaboutBirminghambeingbombedatthebeginningoftheWar,Ronaldjoined
hisbrothersRichardandJoshuaatSidcot,aQuakerschoolinSomerset,atthetenderageofnine.
Sidcot becamea home for himas he sometimesdidn’t get back toBirmingham for a year at a
time. Lifelong friendships were forged there, including Kendall Clark, Kurt Strauss andWilliam
Stanton.Hewasveryfondofschool,recountingstoriesofcollectingbatswhilstcavingandletting
them go in the subway that connected the girls’ and the boys’ buildings. He also remembered
spottingwhatheandfriendsthoughtwasMorsecodebeingflashedacrosstheBristolChannelat
night, and trying in “derring-do” style to decode it. Ronald started school a “Tufa” (aword he
wroteonthebackofayoungphotoofhimself,possiblymeaningmidget)andleftover6foottall.
Thiswasaninterestingaffairfortherugbyteam,asRonwasthehooker;somethingthattickled
him. He also loved playing tennis and continued into his 70s. In spite of sounding cheeky, his
headmasterdescribedhimasbeingof“goodsteadycharacter,agreatcontributortothelifeofthe
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school, and ideally suited to agriculture”
inwhichhewasdevelopinganinterest.
As part of his National Service as a
conscientious objector (CO) Ron worked
at Forest Lodge, a sheep farm near
Brecon. His family used to holiday in
Walessohedevelopedadeeploveofthe
countryfromanearlyage.This lovemay
have prompted his purchase in 1968 of
Maes yr Eglwys, a sheep farm in the
Swansea Valley. When Ron went on to
study Agriculture at Reading University in 1950, he met a group of Nigerian students being
preparedforIndependence,whichmayhavepiquedhis interestinAfrica.Whilsttrainingforthe
Colonial Service in 1953 he also met Victor Ngu, who later became Minister of Health in
Cameroon.RonstudiedHausabutwassenttoaYorubaspeakingareaasRuralEducationOfficerin
Ibadan. This frustrationmight have contributed to his lacklustre attitude to learning languages!
Whenheturned28,Ronhadagapyearofsorts:hitchhiking,sailingandtakingpublic transport
around Cameroon, Ghana, Angola, Tanganyika, Uganda and Kenya after which, he described
himself as being “under the spell of Africa”. He followed this with a diploma in Agricultural
EconomicsatStPeter’sCollege,Oxford.Headmittedthatatthistimehewaslookingforawife(or
so it says in his book Eyes on Africa, published in 2005). He spotted the beautiful, articulate,
intelligentandpassionatedoctor,TheresaPiper,whohadjustreturnedfrompre-registrationwork
inUganda.TheymetattheAfricaInterestGroupduringQuakerYearlyMeetingatFriendsHouse
inLondon in1958.Ashared loveofAfrica,Quakerismandadesiretobeofservicesealedtheir
partnership. Ron and Theresawere both idealists and pragmatists, with shared values of living
simply(”...thatothersmaysimplylive”)andsharingtheirgifts,privilegesandknowledgetoenable
Africa to become independent. It wasn’t a one-way relationship, as Africa and Africans taught
themalotmoreaboutcommunity,sustainability,theenduranceandbeautyofthehumanspirit,
laughter, singing, dancing and African beliefs, cultures and customs. They married at Jordans
FriendsMeetinghouseonJuly18th1959.
Ronald’snext jobhadtheexotic titleofTribalAgriculturalOfficer fortheBamangwatotribe.He
andhisnewwifesailedofftogethertoCapeTown,thentravelledbycartoSeroweinwhatwas
then the Bechuanaland Protectorate. Theresawas guarding the secret of her first child as they
motored north to the Kalahari desert. Marguerite was born seven months after they arrived.
SeretseKhama,(whobecamethefirstpresidentofBotswana)andhiswifeRuthwereneighbours
and became friends. Ron had an interesting time working with the tribe’s cattle, battling the
problemsoffootandmouthdiseaseandlackofwater,andre-startingthelocalAgriculturalShow,
anotherlife-longinterest.
After the Sharpeville massacre in South Africa, Ron and Theresa found themselves putting up
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refugees and helping them escape to Ghana – including Adelaide Tambo, the wife of ANC
President Oliver Tambo. Visitors to the house also included the first white national hero of
Zimbabwe,GuyClutton-Brock,andhiswifeMollie,whobothsubsequentlyadvisedRonaldonhis
career. Ronald decided hewould always be an expatriate and not a settler, and promoted the
needfor‘Africanisation’.
In1961whenthePanAfricanCongressadoptedarmedstruggleaspartof theirpolicy,Ronand
Theresa leftBotswana,moving toKenya in1962 toworkat theQuakerMissionaryCollegeand
hospitalinKaimosi.Ronwaslecturingthere,andinturbulenttimeswithstudentsregularlystriking
heseemedtobeapeaceful,diplomaticpresence.Kageha,theirsecondchild,alongwith13other
babieswere fosteredaround this time from thehospital Theresaworked in.WhenKagehawas
later adopted, Ron and Theresaworked hard to have out-dated ideas overturned, for example
lobbyingforblackpeopletohaveaccesstotheswimmingpoolinKisumu.TheWattsfamilythen
moved to Embu, where Ronald took up the post of Principal at the Institute of Agriculture.
Following this, the family moved to Uganda where Ron taught agricultural extension work at
MakerereUniversity.
Around 1967 theWatts family took extended leave in the UK to adopt
Jeremy.Theystayed inoneof theWattscottagesnearHenleywhichhad
beenboughtbyHaroldin1933.Thesewerethedayswhenprimaryschools
gave out little full-cream milk bottles with straws — a huge novelty toMarguerite and Kageha.Milk was ladled out of farmmilk churns at the
bottomoftheroadintojugsforhouseholduse.
ReturningtoUgandawithJeremy,thechildrenhadanexcitinglifeonthe
agriculturalextensioncampus,KabanyoloFarm.Thefamilymadegooduse
ofthetennisandsquashcourtsaswellasaswimmingpoolatthenearby
NamulongeCottonResearch Station. Indeed, theWatts familywas at thepool theday in 1971
whenIdiAmintookoverfromOboteinacoup.RonandTheresalovedtheBBCWorldservice,and
itwastheearlymorningnewsthathadalertedthemtothecoupjust intimetostoptheschool
bussettingoffforKampala.AminwasverypopularwiththeBagandaandinitiallywiththeBritish,
and Ron gave him a tour round the Kabanyolo farm campus. Ron felt that Amin was
knowledgeableabouttheproblemsofthesmallfarmer,andhewasdelightedwhenthePresident
announced that agricultural programmes would be aired on the radio daily. Ministers were
appointedtotheirpostsbyradiotoo…itoftenbeingthefirsttheyheardaboutit.
As thingswere starting tounravel in 1972, theWatts’s leftUganda for theUK, in between the
forceddepartureoftheIsraelicommunityandtheexpulsionof80,000Asians.Thejourneybackto
UKwasanepiconebytrainandthenshipfromMombasaandaroundtheCape,withchallenging
momentsforthefamily,andparticularlyKageha,astheypassedthroughapartheidSouthAfrica.
A few years on the farm in Wales from 1972 enabled Ronald to progress in his career as a
journalist,whichhadstartedwith“Letterstotheeditor”backwhenhewasaCO,andwasaided
bylessonsinjournalismwheninOxford.HewroteforFarmersWeeklyandTheGuardian’sforeign
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pages,havingpreviouslywrittenfor
African papers like the Uganda
Argus, East African Standard and
Daily Times of Lagos. Photography
was another of Ron’s lifelong
enthusiasms, and he had many
slides in photo libraries for use by
the media. His photo of Entebbe
airportwasusedby leadingpapers
and was shown on the television
news at the time of the Israeli
hostagecrisis.
Ron’s career in themedia reached itspeakwhenheandTheresa lived in Zambia from1977 to
1986. Whilst Ronald worked with the government teaching agricultural extension, he also
presented ‘Lima Time’, an agricultural TV programme. The President, Kenneth Kaunda,
occasionallywatched theprogramme,and in themid-90’sunexpectedlydropped inonRonand
Theresa when they were working in Katete. He introduced Ron to the small crowd that had
gatheredastheLimaTimepresenter.Amazingly,childrenbythesideoftheroadinruralZambia
would recognise Ron’s trademark red hat and shout “MrWattsss, MrWattsss” whilst running
alongsidethecar.ItisdifficulttoimaginewheretheywouldhaveseenaTV.
Throughout his life, Ronwas interested in connections, networking, people’swork and stories,
andalltheabsurditiesofbeinghuman.Hislopsidedgrinandhumorous,openquestionsledtohim
beinginvitedtowriteacolumncalled“LighterLook“inTheHerald,formerlytheRhodesianHerald.
Whilst in Harare from 1990 to 1993, Ron and Theresa contributed a Quaker view to religious
programmesontheradio,someexcerptsofwhichwereusedathisfuneral.Roncontinuedwriting
whentheylivedinSouthAfricaandalsostartedtrainingtobecomeacounsellor,althoughhewas
consideredunsuitablebecausehetalkedtoomuch!
Ronaldhada remarkableability tobe flexible,adaptableand imaginative inhis careerpath.He
foundmanyways to communicatehis visionof the centrality and importanceof agriculture for
African independenceand to share thevalues thatQuakersholddear, including stewardshipof
the earth and its resources and looking for
that of God in everyone. As AIDS swept
throughAfrica, Ronwas involved inworking
with AIDS organisations to give good
information and support to affected
communities. Population control was also a
concern, and Ron tried to spread family
planning ideas that would be culturally
acceptable.Therewasawidearrayofstrands
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which ran throughRon’s life, leading to consultancies for the InternationalCoffeeOrganisation,
OxfamandtheFoodandAgriculturalOrganisation,lecturetoursaroundSouthAfricatoallayfears
overindependence,conferencesonLandReform,andnumerousQuakeractivities.RonwasClerk
forCentral&SouthernAfricanYearlyMeetingforanumberofyearsandlovedattendingQuaker
AfricaInterestGroup,andlatterlyU3AandtheRoyalAfricaSociety.
EvenafterhisfirststrokeRonandTheresagaveatalkandslideshowtoalocalschoolinGilwern,
hoping to inspire the children on African issues. Many of Ron’s images and memories, which
appear tohave remained inhis visual cortex afterhewentblind,were todowith committees,
filmingandconferences.
Asa father,Ronaldwaspatient,kind,gentle,curious,humorous, teasingand fullofAfricanand
Welshstoriesandcharacters.Therewasasteadinessandopennessabouthimthatpeoplewere
drawnto.
HelenValegavetheoraltestimony.
4.4 DoreenDowd,1941-2015Doreen started life in Sandymountwhichwas then a suburb of Dublin and grew through early
childhood there,whereher father ran a smallMarketGardenorNursery and sold theproduce
mainlythroughtheMunicipalMarketinthecity.
Her father was of Quaker background and her mother had joined some time before their
marriage,havinggrownupintheChurchofIreland(Anglican).
This is where some explanation of Doreen’s character and motivation can be found. She was
raised in a home where the orthodoxies of Christian belief were predominant. Attendance at
MeetingforWorshipwasasinequanon,withattendanceatTheFriends’MissionGospelMeeting
on Sunday evening. During her teens she would have attended, and later helped to organise
Quakercampsandsimilaractivities.AtvarioustimessherepresentedIrishQuakersatconferences
inEngland,Switzerland,AmericaandKenya.
HerparentshadservedasmissionarieswiththeFriends’EvangelisticBandinEngland,sometimes
workingfromacaravan.TheyhadaspirationstobecomemissionariesinAfricabutacertainHerr
A.Hitlerintervened!
Doreendecidedatanearlyagethatshewantedtoqualifyasadoctorandpursuedthisobjective
relentlessly, winning scholarships through secondary school and university. Subsequently she
specialisedasachestphysicianand,apartfromafewyearsgainingexperienceabroad,shespent
mostofhercareerintwoofthemajorteachinghospitalsinDublin.
Doreennotonlyexpectedthehigheststandardsfromotherpeople,butmadesureto liveupto
them herself. She was quite rigid in many of her attitudes, but they were always qualified in
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presence of real trouble or suffering. There was not the least tincture of egotism in her and
everythingshedidwasfocusedontheserviceofherSaviourthroughherfellowcreatures.
HerlifewasinformedbyprayeranddailyreadingsoftheBible.Shedidnotattempttoimposeher
beliefsonanyonebutwasalwaysreadyto“answerforthehopethatwasinher”,andtotakeher
stand.ThecentraleventinherlifewasthedayshegaveherlifetoJesus.
Followingthepassingofherparentsduringthedecadeofthe’80s,shefeltthecalltoserveher
Lord in Africa and resigned from her consultant position in 1992. She spent some time vainly
searchingfortherightpathtofollowandthen,whenthetimewasright,theopportunityopened
to work in the Salvation Army Hospital in Chikankata, Zambia. She enjoyed the challenge of
developingher skills in amulti-disciplinaryenvironment, though theworkwasat timearduous.
During 1997 what seemed like unfortunate circumstances developed there and consequently
Doreen returned to Dublin. She was deeply challenged and troubled by these events but still
believedthathervocationwastowork inAfrica.Almostayearpassedand,throughwhatsome
mightcalljustaco-incidence,whilesittinginacoffeeshop,shemetacolleaguefromearlyinher
career that shehadnot seen fordecades. They compared their respectiveworkexperiences. It
transpiredthathewasthenworkingwithIrishAidandhetoldherofavacancywiththeLesotho
FlyingDoctorService.Andsoanotherdooropened.WhenshetoldherbrotherAlanthatshewas
goingtobeflyingovertheDrakensbergMountainsinalittleCessnaaircrafthisresponsewas,“I
can’tbelievethis!Youareanervouspassengerinmycar!”
DoreenarrivedinLesothoinearly1998.
She immediately stepped into her job as a practical, hands-on doctor and flew off regularly to
remote, inaccessible areas armed with her stethoscope and medicine box and an absolute
minimumofcasenotes.Probablyhalfhertimewasspentupintheremote,sometimesneglected,
clinics.
SheworkedwiththelargelyAmerican/Canadian-backedMissionAviationFellowshipwherespirit
andhumanitarianpracticalityflourishedtogether.Oneofhermorefamousachievementswasthe
safe delivery of a baby in a small single-engine aircraft – with a New Zealand sheep farmer
passengeractingasmidwife.
DespitemuchtimeawayfromMaseru,DoreenquicklybecameakeenmemberofLAMandwhen
CarolandJackUrnermetwith injury/death inacaraccident, theweeklyMeetingmovedtoher
home(exceptwhenshewasawayworkinginthemountains).
ShegaveenormoussupporttothoselessfortunateoftheMeeting–sponsoringsomefortraining
inSA,payingforARVsandfornutritionalbackup.Hercontributionmusthavebeenwaymorethan
thebiblical10%tithe.
AfterherreturntoIrelandshemadeatleasttworeturnvisitstoLesothoand,rightuptotheend
ofherlife,continuedtogivepracticalandfinancialsupporttotheMeeting.
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DoreenretiredtoherhomeinDublinin2004wheresheenjoyedworkinginhergarden,oneofher
great loves. She remained committed to theQuaker community inDublinand for several years
workedpart-timeintheiroffice.Sadlyshewasdiagnosedwithcancerand,althoughsheexpected
full recovery following several surgical procedures, unforeseen complications developed.
Throughoutherfinalstrugglewiththe illnessoverseveralmonths,herfaithneverwavered.She
wastakento“thep-lacereservedforher”on18thMarch2015.
JimMcCloyfromLAMgavetheoraltestimonytothelifeofDoreenDowdwhobelongedtoLMM
andattendedmeetingbetween1998and2006.
TestimoniesfortwoLAMFriendsrecentlydeceased,namelyRoseParadiseandNeoMasiloane,and
aCWMMFriendrecentlydeceased,JohnBroom,willbegivenatthe2018YearlyMeeting.
5 FinancialReports
5.1 C&SAYMTreasurer’sReport&Budget
FIGURESINQUAKERRECORDS
1. Introduction
ThecurrentTreasurertookofficeinJanuary2015.Althoughitwasasmoothhandoverin
some respects, the lack of financial records for YM 2015 has made it difficult to fully
reconcileallthefiguresrelatingtoYM.Wearestillintheprocessofsortingtheseout.
2. SomeManagementIssues
The management of the Yearly Meeting bank account with Standard Bank had been
uneventful,untilearlierin2016,whensignatorieswereneededtoauthoriseaccesstothe
account.The first issuewasthe lackofeasilyaccessible informationaboutwhotheYM
signatories were (even the signatories were uncertain!). Secondly, the tortuous
procedurestobefollowedforwhatshouldbesimplebankingarrangements–ofcourse
thisproblemiswellknowntous,butitmayrequirearethinkonwhereandhowtokeep
ourfunds.
3. Income
Themain source of income for YearlyMeeting is the annual quotas paid by individual
members and attenders via their localMeetings. All but twomeetings have paid their
quotasfortheyear2015–2016,thoughsomeofthepaymentswerereceivedwithinthe
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newfinancialyear.
It would appear that some members are not managing or are not able to pay their
quotas,withtheresultthatthereislessincomeforYM.Asareminder,wealthierFriends
inaparticularMeetingareexpectedtoaugmentwhatlesswell-offmembersareableto
paytowardstheirquotas,wherepossible.
4. Expenditure
TheMeetinghaslargelykeptwithinbudget,andthishasbeenhelpedgreatlybytheflow
of annual quotas into our account. The statement of account is at a draft stage at the
timeofwriting,andwehopetohaveamorerefinedversionintimeforYM.
2016/2MINUTE—C&SAYMTREASURER’SREPORT
AnadditionalamountofaboutR8000toR9000tobeaddedtotheIncomefigureforregistration
fees.
5. ProposedBudgetfor2015–-2016FIGURESINQUAKERRECORDS
Themotivationforcertainaspectsofthebudgetis:firstlytoretainthemembershipfees
closetowhattheywereinthepreviousyear.TheSACCcontributionisunderdiscussionat
present.ItissuggestedthatYMconsideranincreaseinthefeespaidforadministration,
asthisissuchavaluablecontributiontothelifeofYM.
A further consideration for YM is to increase the annual quota to R500perMember –
alwayswiththeprovisoofabilitytopay.Themotivationforthismayturnouttobequite
lengthy,butinessence,itiswhatweasindividualsexpectofourrelationshipwiththeYM
body.Havingmorefundsavailablewillhelpinmanyways,includinglessdependenceon
the Trust funds, andwill open up the possibility of YM contributing to the PJDF – and
others.
MarkPovall
Treasurer
2016/3MINUTE—C&SAYMPROPOSEDBUDGET
Itisproposedtodividethebudgetintothreeparts.ThenextYMbudgetwillbeforthe2017–18
year and the numbers are imponderable. However MYRM will happen in 2017 and require a
budget; the numbers there will be known. Things that happen outside of YM also need to be
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budgetedfor,e.g.SACCmembership.Anincreaseinquotasisproposed.
1.CSAYMBUDGETFOR2015/16-DRAFT
FIGURESINQUAKERRECORDS
SAFCEIcontributionincreasedtoR1000.
SecretarialassistanceR20500—R1500pm(Oct-Apr),R2000pm(May-Sept)
2.CSAYMBUDGETFOR2016/17-DRAFT
FIGURESINQUAKERRECORDS
Note:Thequotaforthenextfinancialyear,Oct2016/Sept2017,hasbeenincreasedtoR600forSouthAfricanFriends,andR550fornon-SouthAfricans.
Thisissimilarinstructuretothe2015–16budget.Theclerks’travelallowancehasbeenincreased
toallowforthelikelyextraneedsarisingfromanincomingclerk.
Quotas increase by 20% to R600, but the budgeted/anticipated income makes allowance for
Friendswhocannotmanagethisamount.
Thisbudgetwasapprovedasadraftbudget,subjecttocorrections.
3.CSAYMBUDGETFORMYRM(April2017)-DRAFT
FIGURESINQUAKERRECORDS
Note:Attendanceestimated: 2YMClerks 1Secretary,
2CommunicationsCluster15fromMeetings
InthepastwhentherewerelongergapsbetweenYMs,morepeopleattendedMYRManditwas
longer.ThenextYM is in January2018somorepeoplecouldbe included (20).MYRMcouldbe
brought forward to an earlier date, namely April 2017. Attendance at MYRM is ‘by invitation’
insofarasitinvolvestheclerksandservesthepurposeofplanningYM.
5.2 ECTFReportforYMMay2016Globalmarketshaveenteredintoturbulenttimesamidmuchpoliticaluncertainty,thelowprice
and glut of oil, the end of quantum easing and the prospect of perpetually low interest rates.
Nationally, corruption, lack of leadership, over-dependence on commodity sales to a slowing
Chinesemarketandlackofdiversificationwiththealmostinevitableforthcomingjunkratingare
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allleadingtoafallingmarket.
ECTFhadaprettygoodyearin2014/15butthecurrentyearislikelytoseeasignificantfallinthe
value of our assets for the reasons stated above. The latest statement (31st December 2015)
valuestheportfolioatR13,555,446comparedtoR13,885,398ayearearlier.Thisisadecreaseof
R329,552.
DuringthefinancialyeartodateNokuthulaMbeteattendedameetinginKenyainherroleasco-
clerk of FWCC Africa section and she, Justine Limpitlaw and Khosi Daniel attended the FWCC
meeting in Peru. Two of these places were funded by FWCC and not by ECTF. It has been
questionedastowhetherwegetanyvalueoutofourmembershipofFWCC.Theminutesdonot
seem to reflect what was discussed, are not agreed at the time and there are problems of
patriarchyandhomophobia.
Whilst there is enough income to meet our requirements this financial year (October 2015 to
September2016),nextyearourincomewillalmostcertainlybereducedandwewillneedtocut
ourclothtofit.
Currentlyexpenditureissplitasfollows:
YM 60%
MYRM 11%
YF 7%(whichisnotenoughtocovercostsandrequirestopupfromCAQT)
FWCC 7%
Clerksadmin 5%
Localmeetingsupport 3%
Travelintheministry 1.5%
Clerkscourses 0.5%
Contingency 5%
ThetrustalsoagreedtoactastheconduitforthePeace,JusticeandDevelopmentFundwhichis
divided into Long-Termand Short-Term funds. At the year-end the Long-Term Fund reflected a
balanceofR200,000.
Thetrustdeedneedsupdatingurgently;currentlythetrusteesonthelistheldbytheHighCourt
areMarkPovall,RodWoollgarandCaroAtwell.CaroresignedasaQuakerover13yearsago.Mark
wishestobereplaced.Rodhasalsosuggestedthatduetohisageheshouldalsobereplaced.In
practiceNokuthulaMbeteand JulieSubergalsoactas trusteesandhavedone foragoodwhile
albeitnotformallyappointed.Inaddition,TebogoMoteaneissupposedtobeatrustee,however,
therehasneverbeenanycorrespondencereceivedfromTebogo,whichisaproblem.Ashedoes
notseemtohavereadyaccesstoemailhehasbeendroppedfromcorrespondence.
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Going forward there are likely to be more calls on ECTF than can be accommodated and
applicationsfortravelandaccommodationgrantsforYMarelikelytohavetobeadministeredon
afirst-comefirst-servedprinciple.
KayeFoskettandColinGlen
February2016
2016/4MINUTE—ECTFANDPJDF
TebogoMoteane’[email protected].
YF Budget: an amount of R25 000 is available for the current year. If the camp takes place
immediatelyaftertheendofthefinancialyeartherewouldbeR50000available.Whennecessary,
top-up ismadefromCAQTwhereprovision isalsomade.Materialspurchasedfor thechildren’s
activitiescancomefromdiscretionarymoney.
TheYearlyMeetingwishestoexpressitsverygreatthankstoColinGlenandKayeFoskettforthe
sterlingworkthattheydoonECTF.Correspondenceisalwayspromptlyrespondedtoandrequests
forfundingsympatheticallyconsidered.
Themeetinghasreceivedthe2016ECTFReport.
Themeetinghasanumberofconcernstherewithwhichitwouldliketominuteandrequeststhe
Clerks to convey the sentiments expressed in the minute to Colin Glen and to Kaye Foskett
reflectingthese.Theseconcernsare:
1. Themeeting is of themind that statements regarding the YM’s relationshipwith FWCCought to be determined by the YM itself. The meeting is of the view that there are
numerousbenefitstobeingpartofFWCC.
2. ThemeetingalsoconfirmsthatitisoftheviewthatTebogoMoteanehastheconfidenceoftheYMtobeatrustee.
3. Themeetinghadquestions regarding thedetailed accounts, includingwanting clarityontheLoansofR49185.66referredtointhebalancesheet(towhom,forwhat,etc)andno
oneatYMwasabletoshedlightonthese,whichwasunfortunate.
4. The meeting wanted to know if there is a way in which the annual accounts can bepresented in a simplified form so that they are understandable to people without
accountingbackgrounds.
5. Themeetingisoftheviewthatit isessentialthateitherKayeFoskett,orColinGlen,ora
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dulyauthorisedFriend(whoisfullyconversantwiththeECTFaccountsandwhoisableto
answerquestionsthereonandtorelaytheconcernsofthemeetingbacktoKayeandColin)
needstobe inattendanceatYMtotalktotheECTFreportandaccountsandtoshare in
theexperienceofYMtobeabletofullyappreciatethedirectionandconcernsofC&SAYM.
6. Friends from Bulawayo expressed some frustration regarding the ECTF funding of localBulawayo activities as agreed. The Treasurer offered to find a solution to the banking
difficultiesthatexistwithaviewtosolvingtheseexpeditiously.
ReportofthePJDF(Peace,JusticeandDevelopmentFund)–YearlyMeetingApril2016
ThePJDFwasestablishedatthe2015YM,usingtheresidualvaluefromthesaleofHlekwenias
capitaltoopenthefund.
The fundwas set up by the KZNMM, initiated byGeoff Harris, to enable Friends to start small
projectswhichalignwiththevaluesproclaimedinthenameofthefund.
Disbursablemoneysfromthefundmayaccrueintwoways:(1)annualproceedsfrominvestment
of the capital; and (2) new donations whose donors indicate that the money is immediately
available for spending on appropriate projects. If a donor does not indicate a preference, that
donationwillbeallocatedinequalsharestocapitalandcurrentfunds.
Donorsmayalsoearmarkpartoralloftheirdonationstogrowthefundcapital.
AnanonymousdonationofR15000,availablefordisbursal,wasreceivedduring2015.
TworequestsforPJDFgrantswerereceivedandapprovedbytheQuakerFinancesCommitteein
2016. One was to finance the purchase of wool for a volunteer knitting project in Durban –
Beanies and Blankets for Babies (B+B4B) –which knits garments for poor communities in rural
KZN. Theotherwas to finance twoAVPworkshops inBulawayo,where experienced facilitators
fromKZNandNamibiamentoredlocalAVPfacilitatorstoempowerthemtocontinueofferingand
runningAVPworkshopsintheBulawayoarea.
ThesegrantstogetheramountedtoR8100.
FIGURESINQUAKERRECORDS
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5.3 CompassionFundreporttoYM2016
FIGURESINQUAKERRECORDS
2016/5MINUTE—COMPASSIONFUND
Thenarrativereportwaspresented.SevenFriendswereassistedwithatotalofR11103,lessthan
what had been budgeted. The balance can be carried forward. The problems were short-term
assistance in unemployment, a need for spectacles, and food aid. Itwasmentioned that some
local meetings also distribute their own compassion funds. This has been reported in meeting
reports.
C&SAYMCompassionFundCommitteeReport–YearlyMeetingApril2016
C&SAYM Compassion Committee has worked well together, communicating from Maseru,
Johannesburg,CapeTownandPietermaritzburgasneedshavearisen, since last YearlyMeeting
heldinHartebeespoortduringJanuary2015.
SevenFriendshavebeenassistedduringthisperiod,withgrantstotallingR11103.Thisislessthan
theamountbudgetedtobeavailableforgrants.CompassionCommitteeFundsarereflectedinthe
C&SAYMFinancialStatements.
ThegrantssupportedaFriendwhohadbeenretrenched fromhis job;aneedyFriend inurgent
needofspectacles;andfiveFriendswhosefamilieswereenduringhungerbecauseofthesevere
drought.
The process of considering requests has led to somemodification of the application form, the
latestversionofwhichisonthewebsite,orcanbeobtainedfromtheYMSecretary.
Warm thanks to Friends who serve on the Compassion Committee, blending sensitivity to the
needsof Friendswith careful consideration and realismabout the limited capacity of the fund.
ThanksalsotoourTreasurer,andtoYearlyandMonthlyMeetingClerkswhohaverespondedto
theneedsofmembers.
JulieSuberg,DuduMtshazo,CeciliaNkesiandJohnInglis
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5.4 ChristineAgarQuakerTrustFundReportforYM2016Globalmarketshaveenteredintoturbulenttimesamidmuchpoliticaluncertainty,thelowprice
andglutofoil,theendofquantumeasingandtheprospectofperpetuallylowinterestratesinthe
developedeconomiesoftheworld.Nationally,corruption,lackofleadership,overdependenceon
commoditysalestoaslowingChinesemarketandlackofdiversificationwiththealmostinevitable
forthcomingjunkratingareallleadingtoafallingmarket.
CAQThadareasonableyearin2014/15butthecurrentyearislikelytoseeasignificantfallinthe
valueof itsassetsforthereasonsstatedabove.Thelateststatement(31stJanuary2016)values
theportfolioatR5,990.014comparedtoR6,584,691ayearearlier.ThisisadecreaseR594,677.
During the financial year thebulkof thegrants (R193,740 in total)weremade to Johannesburg
MonthlyMeeting(55%)forAdministrationSupport,SecurityandUtilities;followedbyagrantto
the Compassion Fund (31%); Co-operation with others for Xenophobia and AVP (4%); The
CeasefireCampaign(1%);SAQN(1%);ExcessofIncomeoverExpenditurereinvested(8%)
Of the total fundsavailable for grants this financial yearR200,000 (October2015 toSeptember
2016),R39,000hasbeenallocatedorspentsofar,leavingR161,000available.
Thetrustmanagedthe financesofboththeQuakerBasic IncomeGrants (BIG)andtheGervaise
LegUpTrust(GLUT):
BIG–TheincomeofBIGfortheyearwasR11,500andgrantsmadetotalledR13,320reducingthe
capitalfromR29,873toR28,017.
GLUT–madenograntsduringtheyearandreceivedashareonincomefromCAQTofR5,099.56
takingitscapitalupfromR106,065at30September2014toR111,165at30September2015.
TheTrusteesareBetsyCoville,DuduMtshazoandRoryShort.TheclerkandtreasurerisColinGlen
ColinGlenFebruary2016
FIGURESINQUAKERRECORDS
2016/6MINUTE—CHRISTINEAGARQUAKERTRUST
Itwasnotedthatourincomehasdroppedverysubstantially.Itislikelytodosofurther,especially
ifSAisgivenjunkstatus.
Itwasproposedthatifloansaremade,nonamesshouldbedisclosed.Trusteesoffundsneedto
beinformedofthis.
Werecognise that it is in the interestof transparency that theCAQTaccountsaresubmitted to
YM.We note that there are some inaccuracies in the balance sheet and the 2015/16 Budget.
ThesewillbetakenupwithTrusteesandtheAdministrator.TrusteesareremindedoftheirQuaker
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andlegalresponsibilities.
5.5 FriendsHungerFund2016/7MINUTE—FRIENDS’HUNGERFUND
GeoffHarriswillwritetoMeetingclerkstorequestdonationstothisfundwhichwillbemanaged
bytheCSAYMtreasurer.
TheproposalisthatMMclerksofBQMandLAMshouldpurchasemealiemealandbeansasper
the approved amounts, to be distributed to the families monthly. It was proposed that the
amountsbeincreasedby10%asfoodpriceswillincrease.Alsoprovisionshouldbemadeforcosts
incurred in purchasing and distributing the food. It was queried why the existing food relief
schemeinBulawayocouldnotcoverthisneed,insteadofanotherschemebeingsetup.Aletteris
tobe sent to JohnandKelitha inwhich theycanbeaskedwhether theyarewilling to consider
includingurbanhouseholdsintheirdistributionscheme.TheCompassionFundcanalsocontribute
tocoverthecostsofthisemergencyfoodrelief.
MINUTEPREPAREDBYGEOFFHARRIS:
1. ThatC&SAYMestablishahunger relief fund toprovideassistance for familiesassociatedwith localmeetings— currently 12 in Bulawayo and five in Lesotho— for a 12-month
period.
2. That a separate account be set up under C&SAYM, to which monthly meetings andindividualscontribute.TheCompassionFundandCAQTmayalsocontribute.
3. That funds be sent to the BQM and LAM clerks who will arrange for the sourcing anddistributionof food. For12 families inBulawayo:Mealiemeal: onebagper family@$11
(R165)perbag=R23760;Beans:6kgper family@$7(R105)=R15120.TotalR270per
month per family = R38 880 p.a. For five families in Lesotho (80%of Zimbabweprices):
Mealie meal: 6 kg per family@R132 per bag = R 7920. Other food (beans are not
commonly eaten in Lesotho) @ R84=R5040. Total R216 per month per family= R12
960p.a.
Totalamountperannum:R51840.
Itwasproposedthatthesumbeincreasedbynomorethan10%toaccommodate
expectedincreasesinthepriceofthesestaplesinthecomingyear.
4. The BMM and LAM clerks will report to the Quaker Funds Committee, copied to theC&SAYMTreasurer,attheendofeachthreemonths.Thesereportswillguidefundingfor
thenextthreemonths.
5. AnycostsincurredinsourcingandredistributingfoodwillbereimbursedbyC&SAYM.
6. InthecaseofBulawayo,thisoperationisentirelyseparatefromZFRA.
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5.6 ReportingonFinances2016/8MINUTE—REPORTINGONFINANCES
1. TheMeetingacknowledgesourweaknessinsomeareasoffinancialoversight.
2. The C&SAYMMeeting agrees that the Co-clerks and the Financial Oversight Committeeprovidebasic training in trusteeshipand financialoversight forFriendswilling to takeon
the necessary and legally required role of trustees of our funds, and directors of
organisations.
3. WethanktheClerkforherclarityandleadershipduringanextremelytestingtime.
4. Financial statementsshouldbeposted timeouslyon thewebsite,behindapassword, formemberstostudythembeforeYMandMYRM.
5. FriendswereremindedthatFinancialreportsandaccountsofallconcernsunderthecareof Yearly Meeting or of a monthly meeting within the YM (such as the Quaker Peace
Centre, The Bursary Scheme, ZFRA, Quaker Service Western Cape, etc.) ought to be
reportedonatYearlyMeetingsoastodeveloptransparencyandanongoingcommitment
tosupportingeachotheringoodcorporategovernanceprinciples.
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6 ReportsoflocalMeetings6.1 BOTSWANA2016/9MINUTE—BOTSWANA
NoreportwasreceivedfromBotswanaMonthlyMeeting.
Thecurrentclerk,BrigittevanderCasteel,hasmovedtoCapeTown.
TheMeeting has requested the Co-clerks to send the following correspondence to the Clerk of
BotswanaMonthlyMeeting.
LettertoBrigittevanderCasteel
DearBrigitte
Warm greetings from YM 2016 on whose behalf we write to voice our
sympathy foryouandyour family,andalsotowishyouwell inyournew
homeinCapeTown.
We also write to ask you, as Clerk of BMM and now that you have
relocatedtoCapeTown,tofindoutwhatassistanceYMcanprovideshould
BMMwish to continue as aMonthlyMeeting. If there is a Friendwilling
andabletotake-uptheroleofClerk,wewouldbedelightedtowelcome
himorherintotheposition.
Ontheotherhand, ifafterassessingthesituationwithinBMM, it isclear
thatcontinuingasaMonthlyMeetingwouldnotbefeasible,itwillbecome
necessarytolaythemeetingdowninaccordancewithrightordering.
If BMM does decide to lay down the meeting, Friends in Botswana can
continue to be part of CSAYM as Isolated Friends,with the possibility of
reviving the Meeting at a future date should the number of Friends in
Botswanaincreasesufficiently.
Welookforwardtohearingyourconcernsandconsiderationsaboutthese
questions.
InFriendshipandlove
HelenandJohn
Co-ClerksC&SAYM
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6.2 BULAWAYO6.2.1 Membership
Members 8
Visitingmembers 1
Attenders 7
Averageattendance 8
Absent/Inactivemembers 5
YoungFriends 3
Children 3
6.2.2 Intervisitations6.2.2.1 Meetinghadanopportunity forworshipand fellowshipwith theseFriends:NolaNixon
fromMoyalow,Portadown,NorthIreland.Shewasstayingafewmetresfromthemeet-
inghousewithafriend.Shegenerouslydonated$40tothemeetingaccount.Richardand
PushpaKnottenbeltwerewelcomeonafarewellvisitastheywereleavingZimbabwefor
thestateofNewMexicointheUSA.GeorginaMbambo,amemberofCWMM,worships
with us each time she visit relatives in Bulawayo. Rosina Sithole from Lincolnshire UK
cametoworshipwiththemeetingwhenshevisitedherrelativeshereinBulawayo.Sarah
JoyLeitchfromHebdenBridgeMeeting,WestYorkshire,UKvisitedusinFebruary2016.
FromourmeetingJohnandKelithaSchmidwereinHarareforabouttwomonthsstaying
with Richard and Pushpa Knottenbelt in the HMM cottage. Ananias and Solomon
attendedMYRMinAugust2015atKoinoniaCatholicChurch,Johannesburg.
6.2.2.2 YearlyMeetingClerks– Justine LimpitlawandHelenHolleman togetherwithYMElder,HelenVale,visitedBulawayoinMay2015.AworkshopwasheldinBurnside.Thepurpose
oftheworkshopwastohealdivisionsaftertheclosureofHlekweniRuralTrainingCenter.
Themeetingseemedlosingspiritual focusandbeingovertakenbyother issuesthatun-
derminethespiritualityofthemeeting.TheworkshopwaswellattendedbymanyBQM
members/attenders.Adetailedreportwaswrittenandsharedwiththewholeregion.The
three visitors attendedmeeting forworshipwith the group in themeetinghouseon7
June2015.
6.2.2.3 MariekeClarke fromOxfordQuakerMeetingUK,ahistorian, visitedBulawayo in2015.We had an opportunity for worship and fellowship with this Britain Yearly Meeting
Friend.Themeetingsharedsomearchiveinformationwithher.Shelikedtheinformation
butwasconcernedathowourdocumentswerekeptincardboardboxes.MariekeClarke
inUKmanagedtoraise$120thatshedonatedtothemeetingforametalfilingcabinet.
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ShecontactedaZimbabweanfriendwhoadvisedustovisitKingsAuction.Weboughta
second-handmetalfilingcabinet,gotitrepairedandspray-painted.Earlieronherwaygo-
ingbackthroughSouthAfricasheraisedR1,100thatshedonatedintoourlocalcompas-
sionfund.
6.2.3 SpiritualLifeoftheMeeting6.2.3.1 MeetingforWorshipisheldeverySundayforanhourfrom9.30–10.30am.Meetingfor
WorshipforBusinessisscheduledtobeheldonthesecondSundayofeverymonth.John
Schmid,whenhe isaround,bringsshort (5-minute)piecesofclassicalmusicwhich lead
straightintosilentworship.
6.2.3.2 Quakerliteraturethatissharedfromallpartsoftheworld:TheFriendmagazine(BYM),AustralianFriend,QuakerVoices(BYM),ExperimentwithLightjournalspamphletsbooks
&CD’s,QuakerSpeakVideos,StepsTowardsInnerPeaceetc.
6.2.3.3 ThemeetingEldersproposedtouse30minutesofthemeetingforworshiponeSundayeverymonthtostudyAdviceandQueries,Handbooketc.
6.2.4 ContributionstoServiceandSocialJusticeZimbabweFoodReliefAction:JohnandKelithaSchmiddistributefoodonbehalfofYearly
Meeting.Thereportispresentedseparately.
ZimbabweBursaryFund:Thereportispresentedseparately.
SiphoNsimbiisinvolvedinLivelihoodSupportprogramsforWidowsandSingleParentsin
theMatebelelandregion.
SolomonMakadzange continueswithEmakhandeniCommunityBasedRehabilitationand
Advocacygroupforpeoplelivingwithdisabilitiesinward11Bulawayoasthechairperson.
Phillemon Chirimambowa is the representative of Meriwether Foundation Trust in the
region:SouthAfrica,ZambiaandZimbabwe.
6.2.5 MattersarisingfromYMYearly Meeting Treasurer’s concern on payment of quotas: Bulawayo Quaker Meeting
FY1415quotas:onlyninepaidtheirquotas.Itwasagreedthatthequotaperyearbe$30to
besplitinthreeparts—$10forthemeetingexpenses,$10goestoC&SAYMand$10isfor
thelocalcompassionfund.FinYr15/16sofaronlythreemembershavepaidtheirquotas
andonehasmadepartpayment.
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33
6.2.6 FinancialPositionason26Feb2016BULAWAYOQMACCOUNTSSUMMARYAllaccountsareinUSdollars(USD)
FIGURESINQUAKERRECORDS
The Bursary Fund is a fund for Zimbabwe Secondary School Bursary Scheme: currently
fundsaresourcedinUKbyFriendsofHlekweniTrustees–UK.
TheHouseFundaccumulatesfromrentalspaidbythetenants.Purposeofthefundisfor
the property maintenance and currently extension work of the main house and an
extensiontotheexistingCottage.Bothfoundationshavebeenlaiddownandpassedbythe
CityCouncilinspector.
TheBulawayoMeetingaccountisafundfrompartquotapaymentsformeetingexpenses
e.g.teaprovisions.
The Bulawayo Compassion Fund accumulates from part quota payments and in Fin Yr
14/15thefundwasboostedbydonations.
The Eveline Cadbury Fund is funded by ECTF – SA for local travel, YM gatherings
accommodation&journeysandICTsubscriptions.
TheSuspense&DebtorsAccountisanaccountforfundswaitingforclarificationandloans
tomembersfromthismoneypool.
6.2.7 LiaisonwithotherOrganizationandInstitutions6.2.7.1 ThemeetingmaintainslinkswithHarareMonthlyMeeting.
6.2.7.2 Schoolsattendedbystudentssponsoredbythebursaryfund.
6.2.7.3 LiaisonwithFriendsofHlekweniTrustees.AgnesNdhlovuis involvedinactivitiesrunbyFriendsofHlekweni.
6.2.7.4 MeriwetherFoundationtrustthroughPhillemonChirimambowa.
6.2.8 General:OtherConcerns/Matters6.2.8.1 ThemeetingdecidedtochangeBulawayoMonthlyMeeting toBulawayoQuakerMeet-
ing.Thisdecisionwaspromptedbytheopeningofthebankaccount.Themeetingconsti-
tutionwith the bank carries BulawayoQuakerMeeting. Themain reasonwas avoiding
BMMthatcouldmeanBotswanaMonthlyMeeting.
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6.2.8.2 Starvation:someFriendshaveappliedfor foodassistancetoYMCompassionFund.ThelocalCompassionFundiscurrentlybuyingsomemaizemealforthosewhoappliedwhilst
waitingforaresponsefromYMCompassionFundTrustees.
6.2.8.3 Loans:Thepay-backdateoftheamountborrowediscausingconcern.
SolomonMakadzange,Clerk
27February2016
2016/10MINUTE—BULAWAYO
FriendsofHlekweniTrustappreciatetheongoingrelationshipwithBulawayo:Lee&Jessicaspent
amonthwithBQMandDavidBrownalso visited. The trustdoes fundraising that supports the
Bursaryschemeforneedystudents.
ThedetailsoftheloansstillowingbyfriendstoBQMwerediscussedindetail.
Ways in which C&SAYM can assist alleviating hunger among Friends will be explored with the
QuakerFundsCommittee.
6.3 CAPEEASTERNREGIONALMEETING6.3.1 Membership
Port Elizabeth Members: John Blair, Jennifer Bowler, Wendy Nunn, Kholekile Tshanga,
AngusMorton;Attenders:JohnandPatBartels,LornaMortonandThaliaEccles(untilher
returntoEnglandinmid-2015).
Grahamstown Members: Rosemary Smith, Adrienne Whisson, Wouter and Helen
Holleman,SusanWinters-Cook,DoreenBekker,CheRoberts,RommelRoberts,Paulineand
Les Mitchell, RodWoollgar, Rosemary and Talbot Elliott, Gisela Zipp (Isolated Friend in
China).
Attenders: Felicity Edwards, Wendy Viljoen, Julia Mann, Liz Gowans, Zukiswa Gobevu,
LouiseKrueger,LizCampbell.
Rosemary and Talbot Elliott are in an old age home in Kirkwood and, although they are
difficulttocontactbecauseRosemarynolongerhasacellphoneandit isdifficultforthe
stafftobringthelandlinetoher,wesendthemawrittenmessageeveryregionalmeeting
andAdriennekeepsincontactwiththeirson,Phillip.
GiselaZipppaidafleeting,surprisevisittoGrahamstownfromChinawheresheisstillvery
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35
happyteachingEnglishtojuniorschoolchildren.
MeetingsinPortElizabethareheldonthefirstandthirdSundayofeverymonth.Thefirst
Sundayisastudygroup,andthethirdisaMeetingforWorship.
Meetings in Grahamstown are held every second Sunday; one Sunday is Meeting for
Worship, and the following fortnight,Meeting forWorship is shortened andmore time
giventodiscussingtopicsthatthegrouphasagreedon.AttendanceatMeetingsaverages
seventoeightFriendsandattenders.
6.3.2 Inter-visitationHelen andWouter Holleman have attended CapeWesternMonthlyMeeting on several
visitstoCapeTown.InhercapacityasCo-clerkofYearlyMeeting,HelenvisitedMeetingsin
Windhoek,GaboroneandMaseruinFebruary2016.
6.3.3 SpiritualLifeoftheMeetingPortElizabethMeetinghasbeenworkingthroughtheGospelsusingthecommentariesof
William Barclay, starting withMatthew, which offers a very good understanding of the
contextofthelifeofJesus.Progressthroughthematerial isslow,butthediscussionsare
wonderfulathelpingtounpackthe issuesandrelatethebiblical teachingandcontextto
ourowntime.
GrahamstownMeetinghasexplored issuesof living theQuaker testimonies:Howdowe
live simply? How do we practice equality in our lives? How do we apply the peace
testimony to the xenophobia inGrahamstown?Wehavewatched the disturbing videos,
The end of poverty? Think again, andMiners shot down, and struggledwith the role of
Quakersinthosesituations.Sharingideasandviewshasbeenstimulatingandenlightening.
We have also – on one occasion – done a little circle dancing, which is a wonderful,
meditativeactivity.
TheMeetinghasaconsiderablelibrarywhichisnowstoredineightsealableplasticboxes,
four of which are housed in Port Elizabeth and four in Grahamstown. They will be
exchangedfromtimetotime.AlistoftheholdingsisavailabletoFriendsfromanyother
Meetingswhowanttoborrowbooks.
6.3.4 ContributionstoServiceandSocialJusticeSomeFriendsfindtheircontributionintheveryworktheydo:JenniferBowlerlecturesin
social justice at NMMU, and uses the opportunity to alert her students to the central
notion of social justice within capitalism. Wendy Nunn, who is one of the group of
supportersoftheChildren’sFeedingTrustinPortElizabeth,doespro-bonoworkaspartof
herpsychologypractice.
Kholekile Tshanga has a group of people interested in a gardening project in Walmer
Township,buthasrecentlystruggledtogetseedsdonated.
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36
RosemarySmithisthesecretaryoftheAlbanyHospitalBoard,Settlers’Hospital,whereshe
has introduced the Board to the practice of taking minutes Quaker style! She is also a
foundermemberof theFriendsof theLibraryCommittee inGrahamstownand foryears
has driven the fund-raising activities by organising speakers twice a month on a wide
variety of topics. The efforts of the Library Committee have raised funds for two rural
libraries,amobilelibrary,andeightlibrariesingreaterGrahamstown.
AdrienneWhissonhasbeenamemberoftheGrahamstownFeedingAssociationsince its
inception and at present is acting Chairperson. The organisation supplies hot soup and
bread to about 700 people everyMonday to Friday from three bases in Grahamstown.
AlthoughshehassteppeddownasChairperson,AdriennecontinuestoserveontheCorner
HouseCommitteewhich runsagrouphome forpeoplewithpsychiatricproblemswhose
families areunable to care for them.Shewas recently appointedDeputyChairpersonof
theAlbanyHospitalBoardonwhichshehasservedforsixteenyears.Sheisalsoactivein
the Grahamstown Training College Fund, the interest on the investments of which is
distributedannuallytoanumberofappropriateeducationalinstitutions.
PaulineandLesMitchellhavereturnedtoGrahamstownwheretheycontinuetheirwork
withAVP.
HelenHollemanhasbeeninvolvedwiththeWaterforDignitygroupfromJoza,capturing
the data they collect from interviewswith residents in the township in connectionwith
water problems. Their aim is to provide the Municipality with information that the
Municipalitycan thenacton.WouterHolleman is treasurerofCERMaswellasEditorof
SAQN.
The Meeting supported two GADRA Matric Students who successfully completed their
matricexams.TheMeetingalsocontributedfoodandcookingequipmenttothevictimsof
xenophobiainGrahamstowninOctober2015.
6.3.5 FinancialpositionCERMIncomeandExpenditurefor2014/15
* This amount does not formpart of the income, but is held in the bank account, ring-
fencedforSAQN.
Wehavebeenblessedwithagenerousmonthlydonationto theRosemaryMullins fund,
whichtodate,hasbeenusedtopurchaseresourcesfortheMeeting.
6.3.6 Liaisonwithotherorganisations,churchesandinstitutionsHelenHollemanattendedameetingcalledbytheMinistersFraternal(GrahamstownEast)
inconnectionwithconcernsaboutthelevelsofcrimeinGrahamstown.
CERMwasinvitedtojoinSpiritFest2016,heldduringtheNationalArtsFestival,butisnot
inapositiontodosothisyear.Wehopetheinvitationwillberepeatednextyear.
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6.4 CAPEWESTERNMONTHLYMEETINGCape Western Monthly Meeting (CWMM) consists of two local meetings; Cape Town
Meeting and South Peninsula Meeting. Meetings for Worship for Business are held
alternately between these twomeetings. The Cape TownMeetingmeets on Sundays at
09.30atQuakerHouseinMowbray.
The South Peninsula Meeting meets at 10.00 am in members’ homes in the Lakeside
/Simon’sTown/ScarboroughareaseverysecondweekforMFWwithoccasionaladditional
meetings.
6.4.1 MembershipCAPETOWNMEETING
ActiveMembers: 23
Attenders: 7
VisitingMembers: 2
Absent/inactivemembers: 0
Children/JuniorMembersandYoungFriends: 1
NewMembersbyname:SophieRandriamahefasoa 0
Whohasleftbyname:none 0
Weddings,BirthsandDeaths:JohnBroom 1
AverageAttendance:MeetingforWorship:20 20
BusinessMeeting:(CWMMMWBarejointmeetingswithSouthPeninsula) 15
SOUTHPENINSULAMEETING
ActiveMembers: 10
Attenders: 2
VisitingMembers: 0
Absent/inactivemembers: 0
Children/JuniorMembers: 3
NewMembersbyname:KevinJohannson 1
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Whohasleftbyname: 0
Weddings,BirthsandDeaths:None 0
AverageAttendance:MeetingforWorship:,BusinessMeeting:(asabove) 15
6.4.2 IntervisitationVisitsbyMembers/Attenders:MembersofourmeetingvisitedmeetingsinUSA.
VisitsfromotherMembers/Attenders:WehadseveralvisitorsfromUSA,AustraliaandUK.
6.4.3 SpiritualLifeoftheMeetingStateoftheMeeting:Membershipremainsfairlysteady;about20peopleattendworship
eachweekatMowbrayandapprox7atSouthPeninsula.
Howmeetingisencouragingthespirituallifeofthemembers:Theprayergroupnolonger
meetasagroupbuttelephoneprayerrequeststooneanother (oneQuakerandoneex-
Quaker)andprayattheirrespectivehomeseveryweek.
A small groupofQuakersmeet in the homeof an attenderwho is not able to come to
meetingatMowbray.
AdiscussiongroupmeetsatQuakerHouseonthefirstSundayofthemonth.
AretreatwasheldatStRaphael’sinAprilattendedby30adultsandyoungpeopleonthe
theme “Deepening our Quaker Experience”. Felicity Kaal from UK led a session on
“OpeningtotheLight”andothermembersaddressedotherrelevantthemes.
6.4.4 ContributionstoServiceandSocialJusticeMembersareinvolvedwithmanyactivities.SeveralmembersofCWMMbelongtoQuaker
Service Cape, others are members of, and on the Board of the Quaker Peace Centre.
Membershavealsobeenvery involvedinspiritualcounsellingata localhospice,working
with users or survivors of psychiatric services as well as environmental, health, human
rightsandinternationalaffairs.
Professionally there are members working with NPO’s concerned with early childhood
education,post-matriceducationandearlychildhoodwelfare.
Somememberswhosupporteda lettertotheCapeTimes inNovember2013concerning
theperceived threat todemocracy in theWesternCapeare still active in theConcerned
Citizens Group that arose out of that concern and are helping to organise workshops
dealingwithhousingandsanitationintheCapeTownregion.
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39
6.4.5 MattersArisingfromYMMinutesSeveralmeetingswereheldfollowingtheconcernregardingviolenceinSouthAfrica.Afilm
aboutthelifeofAlbieSacksentitledSoftVengeancewasshownatQuakerHouseon17July
andAlbie Sackswas present to answer questions. Another film about the life of Bayard
Rustin—Quakercivilrightsorganiserandactivist—wasshownon28August.
6.4.6 FinancialPosition:(asat13/12/2015)
FIGURESINQUAKERRECORDS
6.4.7 LiaisonwithotherOrganisations,ChurchesorInstitutionsWe are members of the Western Cape Religious Leaders Forum, South African Faith
CommunitiesEnvironmentalInstituteandCapeTownInterfaithInitiative.
6.4.8 General:otherconcernsormattersWehavecontinued7-minutetalksonvariousthemesattheendofmeetingforworshipat
CapeTown.
Wehaveanincreasinglyageingmembershipthatwillneedmoresupportastimegoeson.
TherearefewYoungFriendsandtheyattendveryirregularly.
Dividing the roleof clerkbetween threepeople, each serving for fourmonths, proveda
goodwayofspreadingtheworkload.Italsoprovidedopportunitiesforlearningforthose
memberswhohadbeen lessactively involvedbefore.Therehasbeengoodco-operation
andhand-overbetweenthethreeclerks.
AttendanceatMWBismuch improved,averaging15people.BykeepingMWBtoapprox
onehour people are able to attend and structure their time. Tomanage this it requires
FriendstobemindfuloftheQuakerprocessandonlytoaddressatopiconceifpossible.
2016/11MINUTE—CWMM
CWMMwasaskedtodoatestimonytothelifeOFJohnBroomfornextYearlyMeeting.
Theclerkshaveoffered to supportCWMM in strengthening theirmeetingespecially in creating
continuitybetweenclerksandthetwomeetings.Thethreeco-clerksarecurrentlysharingclerking
fortheyear.
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6.5 HARAREMONTHLYMEETING6.5.1 Membership
Members 6
Attender 1
YoungAdultattender 1
6.5.2 Inter-visitationWehavehad threepeoplewhowork forAFSC (American Friends ServiceCommittee) in
Kenyaformeetingforworship.Wealsohaveavisitor,SarahJoyLeitch,amemberofthe
HebdenBridgeMeetinginYorkshireinEngland.
6.5.3 SpiritualLifeoftheMeetingWhenwehadQuakerwardens,aclose-knitfamilyhadformed.Fewaswealwaysare,we
are still bonded to each other, though we feel a gap created by Richard and Pushpa’s
departuretoUSA.Westill readasegmentofAdvicesandQueries thefirstSundayofthe
monthinthemeetingforworship.WhenIanandLingleavefortheUKattheendofMarch,
therewillbeafurthergapintheMeetingforWorship.
6.5.4 ContributiontoServiceandSocialWitnessThemeetinghasdonated small amounts to theorphanage that is rununderMulti-Help-
Trust. The number of children has gone down as some have been relocated by Social
Services.
Asameeting,wehavebeenpayingschoolfeesforthreestudentswhosesituationscalled
for help and who are known tomembers.Margaret Nhembe has been involved in this
Bursaryfund.
Wewatchout for localactivities thatwecanparticipate in,butso farwehavenotdone
one.
6.5.5 FinancialPositionThemeetinghasitsincomefromrentingthecottageonthepremises,aswellasfromtwo
or three other Church groups that use our hall.We also received donations from some
Quakersources.
Dues have remained at 12US$ per person and we have urged members to commit to
payingthisdespitethe financialdifficulties.Thebankingsystemhasnotchangedandwe
havenotchangedeitherthewaywelookafterourfinances.
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41
6.5.6 LiaisonwithOtherOrganisationsThe financial requirement has still been prohibitive for us to join Zimbabwe Council of
Churches.
6.5.7 OutreachWeshallhavetothinkandprayaboutthewaytoreachouttopeopleatlargeinaQuakerly
way.Buildingnumbersisgoodwiththededicatedandunderstandingpeople.
6.5.8 GeneralIthasnotbeeneasy tosettle the issueofwardenship.Wehaveresolved toenter intoa
month’sleaseagreementatatimeuntilwegetasuitabletenantorQuakerwarden.
BenoniaNyakuwanikwa(ClerkHarareMonthlyMeeting)
28thFeb2016
2016/12MINUTE—HARARE
JenniferKavanaghsuggestedthattherecouldbecommunicationbetweenHMMandWestminster
MMabouthowtosupportHMM.
The clerks suggested that HMM explore outreach possibilities or Quaker Quest as a way of
growingthemeeting.
6.6 JOHANNESBURGMONTHLYMEETING2015was a yearof significant change for Johannesburg Friends.Aftermeeting formore
than50yearsinQuakerHouseat3GordonTerrace,Doornfontein,itbecamecleartousall
that the time had come for us to move. A series of break-ins coupled with seemingly
endless problems regardingmaintenance and utilities helped Friends to realize that our
continuedownershipofthebuildingwasnolongerfeasible.
Several potential buyers came forward, but somehow the sales never carried through.
Eventually,agroupofyoungengineersboughtQuakerHousewiththeintentionofturning
it into student accommodation. Following the sale in October, an intense period of
organizing and clearing the building followed. The new owners expressed the need to
beginworkonDecember1inordertobeabletoaccommodatethestudentswhowould
be arriving in early 2016. Several Friendsworked extremely hard throughout November
distributingfurniture,sortingbooks,andclearingcupboards.
ThedreamofthenewownershasfinallybeenrealizedandtheoldQuakerHouseisnow
hometo17Universityof Johannesburgstudentsplusour formercaretakerwhowillalso
remainthere.
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OtherQuakeractivitiescontinuedtotakeplacethroughoutthisrathertumultuousyear.
WeweredelightedtovisitandbevisitedbyournearneighboursinthePretoriaWorship
Groupthisyear.AparticularlyfestiveoccasionwashostedbythemlastAugustwhenwe
joined together for Meeting followed by fellowship at the Theosophical building in
Pretoria.We are happy to learn that Pretoria Friends have now started the process of
becomingaMonthlyMeeting.
Experiment with Light groups have taken place following Meeting for Worship several
timesduringtheyear.Friendsfounditparticularlyhelpfultohavethesesessionswhilein
theprocessofdiscerningthebestwayforwardforthesaleofQuakerHouse.
Children’s Meeting has continued to meet on the First Sunday of every month, with a
varyingnumberofchildrenattending.
6.6.1 Membership
AttendanceatMeetingforWorshiphas increasedsincethemovetoournewvenuehigh
abovetheWitsArtMuseuminBraamfontein.Thenumbergenerallyvariesfrom10–20on
a Sunday morning. Three regular attenders have given stalwart support during recent
monthsandour connectionwithmoreoccasional attendershasbeen strengthened.Our
membershipnumberisnow21.
Two Friends with deep connections to JMM passed away in 2015. Our former warden,
Trevor Kerr died in Englandwhere he has lived for a number of years.Our long-serving
member, IainGrayer,diedaftera long illness.WehelpedhiswidowSaskia inplanninga
QuakermemorialservicewhichwasheldattheirhomeoutsidePretoriaandattendedby
manyfriends,relatives,andformerworkcolleagues.
Wecontinue to communicatewitheachotherby telephone, theMeetingemail list, and
ourWhatsAppgroup–aswellasface-to-face!
6.6.2 FellowshipMid-weekgatheringshavebeen rather irregularduring thepast year andourhope is to
havethemonamoreregularbasisgoingforward.
Wedid,however,haveseveralThursdaymorninggatherings.Wemadea“PrayerShawl”
andbroughtittooneofourmembersfromSowetowhohadbeenillandunabletocome
toMeetingforsometime.WeenjoyedhavingMeetingwithherinherhome.
WealsovisitedtheOriginsCentreatWitstogetherfollowingMeetinginMay.
AnotherhappytimetogetherwasspentatapicnicunderthetreesatEmmarentiaDamlast
May.
AweekendretreatwasheldatSt.Benedict’s inRosettenvilleat theendofOctober.The
themewas“TransitionsinOurLives”.TenFriendsattended.
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6.6.3 OutreachWehavehadseveral“QuakerQuest”sessionsthroughouttheyear.
Our“10-minuteTalks”heldoncepermonthenableustohearfromvisitorsaswellasour
ownmembers and have provided insight into the many positive efforts taking place in
SouthAfrica.
Severalofourmemberscontinuetobe involved inthe“AlternativestoViolenceProject”
andtwoattendedthenationalgatheringwhichwasheldinPortElizabethlastAugust.
Severalofourmemberstookpart inthemarchheld inresponsetoxenophobia lastApril
and also the Anti-Corruptionmarch held in Pretoria last September. One of our Friends
evenappearedontelevision!
Johannesburg Friends look forward to another active year of involvement as we find
supportandfriendshiptogetherinfacingthechallengesofourchangingsociety.
ElizabethRoper
BetsyCoville
Co-Clerks,JohannesburgMonthlyMeeting
6.6.4 FinancialReports
FIGURESINQUAKERRECORDS
ColinGlen
JMM
2016/13MINUTE—JMM
Theflourishingchildren’smeetinghasbeenaparticulargifttothemeetingasitbuildsthemeeting
andsupportsparentstoattendMeetingforWorship.
FriendsappreciatedthehospitalityofJMMwhohostedfriendsattendingMYRM.
The meeting continues to support each other through QBIG which has been running for
approximately10yearsandhadcontributedtoafeelingofequalityandfriendshipinthemeeting.
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6.7 KWAZULU-NATALMONTHLYMEETING
TheKZNMMconsistsoftwogroupings,inDurbanandPietermaritzburg.Eachgroupmeets
every Sunday, and we have joint meetings two or three times per year. In December
DurbanFriendshostedthejointmeetingatthehomeofJulieandMarkPovall.Ourplanned
sharedretreathadtobepostponed.
6.7.1 MembershipDurban:WehaveacoreoffivememberswhoattendMeetingforWorshipregularly,plusa
circleofanothertenorso(includingthoselivingfarfromDurban)whoattendoccasionally.
Twofriendswhowereregularattendersin2014and2015havere-located.
Pietermaritzburg:Threeofourmembersandoneattendermeet regularly forworshipat
the home of John Inglis and Marie Odendaal. We are occasionally joined by another
attenderandoneortwoyoungfriends.WehaveonceheldMfWattheHowickhomeofan
elderlyFriendwhorecentlyreturnedafter living inCapeTown,andplantorepeatthis in
2016.
6.7.2 SpirituallifeofthemeetingDurban: MfW is at the centre of our spiritual lives and we continue to find it very
meaningfulandmutuallyencouraging.Wealsohaveoccasionalhomemeetingseveryfew
months at which we discussmatters of interest, including watching recent Swarthmore
Lectures(theUKequivalentofourRichardGushlectures)fromtheWoodbrookewebsite.
Pietermaritzburg:MfWisourprimaryspaceforspiritualrenewalandsupportofeachother
asweexperiencepersonal,familyandprofessionalchallenges,whichhavebeenespecially
heavyforsomeofusoflate.Wecherishthestrengththatcomesfromoursharedsilence,
our‘afterwords’,andourfriendshipandFriendship.WewerejoinedinoneMfWbyvisitors
fromHowickwhosharedwithustheirstrugglestoliveanalternativeeco-friendlylifestyle.
Oneofourco-clerksparticipatedintheWoodbrookeclerkingcourse.
6.7.3 ContributionstoserviceandsocialjusticeDurban:We continue to be heavily involved in a range of concerns, including the South
AfricanFaithCommunitiesEnvironmentalInitiative,DiakoniaCouncilofChurches,Phoenix
Zululand,AmnestyInternational,theDenisHurleyCentreandtheInternationalCentrefor
NonviolenceatDurbanUniversityofTechnology.
Pietermaritzburg:MembersareactiveinoractivelysupportingtheAlternativestoViolence
Project in KZN, southern Africa and Africa Region, and internationally; and th