Greenfield Group Minutes
Since 1927
A Unitarian Universalist Ministers Study Group
Greenfield Group
Fall, 2007
LaSalette Center, Attleboro, Massachusetts
The meeting was called to order by Moderator, Bill Gardiner, at 11:00 AM
Minutes of the Spring 2007 Meeting
Moved to accept minutes (PASSED)
Report of the Treasurer
The Treasurer reports a balance of $1162.00
Dues of $20 are due in the spring. Bb noted that there was a slight deficit (about $100) for snacks
and drinks in th spring which was paid. For this retreat, a check has been written to reimburse the
Keeper of the Snacks and Soft Drinks. There was a sale of left over drinks and Bob will write a
check for the Keeper of the Spirits.
There was a spring date mis-communication with La Salette so we will be moving to The Sacred
Heart Retreat Center in Wareham, Mass. - for one time. We will be back at Lasalette in the fall
of 2008. Maps and directions will be on the web site.
Bob is working on the fees with La Salette (fee still lower than past site - $145) which is likely to
go up to $165 for the fall fo 2008.
Moved: Additional $5 for snacks will be added to the cost of our group meetings. (PASSED)
Report of the Scribe
Absences: Rosemary Brae McNaught (excused - father in law dying), Tom Wintle (excused -
funeral), Will Saunders (unexcused), Marta Flanagan (unexcused).
Moved that we grant grace to Will and Marta (Hall) Noted that they are choosing other groups
over Greenfield.and that will put membership at risk. (PASSED)
Resignation: Greg Chute (putting a great deal of time into building homes in Africa and has to re-do his life to support that work. Resigns with regret.)
We have a limit of 28 members. We have four openings and two prospective members as
invitees at this meeting.
Invitees: Amy Freeedman, Barbara Fast
Amy and Barbara accepted the invitation to join Greenfield Group and were welcomed with the
traditional extended Greenfield chant.
The following nominees will be extended an invitation to the next meeting:
Tony Lorenzen ( Susan Suchocki)
Keith Goheen (Anita Farber Robertson)
Review of Greenfield Group Disciplines
The review centered on having the disciplines in line with current practices:
Scribe and Treasurer have been split up
Keeper of the Spirits and Keeper of the Soft Drinks and Snacks has been split
Moderator has added welcoming and orienting invitees
Added to the eightfold path (now eleven . . . . or twelve)
bring hymnal to each session (to lessen carbon footprint (photocopying))
copies of papers, responses, anchor, etc., sent to webmaster for online archives.
We have moved sections which belong together so that there is greater consistency when reading
the Disciplines.
We have added an officer:
Caring Maven
He/She will be responsible for providing caring cards for signatures of members
of the group, and will mail the card to those who resign, saints, and those unable
to attend a gathering of the group. The list will be provided by the Scribe at least
a week before the convocation.
Discussion about the date of meeting, but no changes at this time.
Approved as presented.(PASSED)
Report of the Nominating Committee
The Nominating Committee (Frank Carpenter, Chair) Wendy Bell, Brian Kopke
presented the following slate:
Moderator: Mary Harrington
Vice Moderator: Josh Pawelek
Treasurer: Bob Thayer
Scribe: Brian Kopke
Historian: Nina Grey
Assistant Historian: Nannene Gowdy
Program Chair Spring 2008: Wendy Bell
Program Chair Fall 2008: Susan Suchocki
Caring Maven: Tracey Sprowls-Jenks
Keeper of the Gong and Greenfield Stapler: Anita Farber-Robertson
Keeper of the Spirits: Rosemarie Smurzinski
Keeper of the Soft Drinks and Snacks: Joel Miller
Webmaster: Brian Kopke
Cantor: Will Saunders
(Approved by acclaim)
Program Chair (s-2008) Report
WendyBell, Chair, reported on the topic: Food and Spirituality
Committee:Mary, Nannene, Bob, Joel
Paper Topics and Responders:
Food and the Ethics of Eating" Joel Miller / Responder: TBA
Food as Autobiography" Mary Harrington / Responder: Nanenne Gowdy
Food as Sacrament" Wendy Bell / Responder: Tom Wintle
Anchor: TBA
Change of Pace: Carol Rosine
Chapels
Monday PM - Barbara Fast
Tuesday AM - Amy Freedman
Tuesday PM - Josh Pawelek
Wednesday AM - Bob Thayer
Wednesday NOON - Mary Harrington (moderator)
Required Readings
1. Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver
2. Food & Faith: Justice, Joy and Daily Bread, edited and compiled by Michael Schut (C)
2002 by Earth Ministry (copies can be ordered through Earth Ministry online store:
http://www.earthministry.org/store.htm or from Amazon.com)
3. Excerpts from History and Food-> PDF on web site
4. Excerpts from various sources -> PDF on web site, including:
A. "Food, Farming, and Democracy" by Frances Moore Lappe
B. "Does God Care What We Eat? Jewish Theologies of Food and Reverence for
Life" by Jonathan D. Brumberg-Kraus
C. "On Food and Happiness" by Charles Simic
D. "A Religious Art" by Judith B. Jones
5. Watch the movie, Babette's Feast.
Supplemental Readings:
1. How To Cook Your Life: From the Zen Kitchen to Enlightenment, Zen Master Dogen
and Kosho Uchiyama Roshi, translated by Thomas Wright, Shambhala, Boston, 2005.
2. The Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan
3. Food for Life: The Spirituality and Ethics of Eating by L. Shannon Jung
4. Sharing Food: Christian Practices for Enjoyment by L. Shannon Jung
All will be posted online(and added t minutes) following receipt from the Program Chair.
Webmaster will send out a notice to all members when it is posted.
Program Chair (f-2008) Report
Susan Suchocki, Chair, reported on the topic: Truth and Reconciliation
Paul, Nannene, Brian, Susan
Looking at many resources and good books now . . . .
All will be posted online within a week of receipt from the Program Chair. A notice will be sent
out to all members when it is posted.
Report of the Keeper of the Spirits and Keeper of the Sift Drinks and Snacks
Rosemarie - money needs to go into the basket - sale of leftovers held with good results.
Rosomarie attested to good quality of wines.
Report of the Keeper of the Gong and Stapler
Gong and Stapler were present at the meeting but rarely used.
Moderator’s Comments
Moderator called for a higher level of committment to the disciplines and their observance at the
next meeting. We were increasingly lax at this meeting. Response from Frank Hall - we have
had an excellent convocation and we are back on track from an historical point of view.
Thanks given for people who did papers on both sides of the page. It lowers our carbon
footprint.
Meeting adjourned for chapel.
by Moderator Bill Gardiner.
11/28/2007/BSK
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