INTERMOUNTAIN YEARLY MEETING

Anna Baltzer is back—Jewish-American activist who has long helped Quaker meetings learn about Palestine and then take action.  We are invited to see and discuss her film, Occupied Palestine:  Eyewitness Stories and Photos,” next Wednesday, April 24,  7-8:00 pm MT,  to see how we may share the Fact of Occupation with our meetings.  Hosts will be friends from the Boulder FCC church, as part of their “Crisis in Gaza” series.  After the film, Anna, a Boulder native, just back from Palestine, is scheduled to tell how she has arranged for photographers to catch ongoing interactions between settlers and Palestinians.

To join the Zoom Meeting:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86892880708?pwd=b1d6U1hZSFZ3UTZTVk5SRHI3N2FzZz09 

Meeting ID: 868 9288 0708

Passcode: 151610  

Invite others from your meeting to join.

03/23/2024

From the IMYM Peace & Social Justice Roundtable: 

Please read an important update on LandBack to Nisenan tribe posted below.

If you want to learn more about about the Nisenan LandBack project, please watch the ZOOM recording of the March 23rd, 2024 IMYM Peace & Social Justice Roundtable here. 

CHIRP-Woolman Q&A 

(Updated 3/6/24) 

1) In addition to Quaker Meetings, individual Friends, and friends of Friends, are there other  contributors that have committed major support for this initiative, that will help ensure that the  fundraising goals are reached? Can these sources be identified and shared with the rest of us for  our information? (We do know about and are sharing the recent $565,00 contribution). CHIRP’s campaign is going out far and there are many sectors of the community amplifying and  donating. Woolman’s Executive Director Jennifer Dickey (with her husband Andrew Huang) and  Woolman board member Alexa Hauser have donated over $20k each. CHIRP's Board president Julie  Baker (with her husband Richard) donated $5k, as did Nia Impact Capital in the East Bay. There have  been a few other $5k and $10k donations, though some have asked to remain anonymous. There are a  few local businesses and clubs who have donated in the $500 range. Beyond community contributions,  CHIRP is still in conversations with Foundations and potential major donors and will keep sharing as  there are solid commitments made such as the $565k commitment recently shared. 

2) What is the actual sale price and how was that figure arrived at? What are the anticipated  improvements that will be needed once the land transfer happens? (In other words, what is the  $1.5million based on?) 

The total fundraising goal of the campaign is $2.4 million. The $1.5 million figure is the portion  _{CHIRP hopes to have raised by April 4}^th. The $2.4 million includes the purchase price of the  land/buildings (which is confidential); water/sewage system inspections, associated fees and upgrades;  housing inspections, permitting and compliance; infrastructure inspections to shift from propane to  electric; and a six-year endowment for insurance, maintenance, and upgrades. 

3) What happens if the $1.5 million goal isn’t met by April 4? Can the escrow period be  extended? Can the price be lowered? Is there a contingency plan? 

_{April 4}^th is not a hard deadline - so long as CHIRP is certain it can raise the funds prior to April 4th,  CHIRP will continue to fundraise beyond that date. Escrow goes another 30 days beyond that - that's  just the date that the $75k deposit CHIRP made is no longer refundable. If mutually agreed, escrow  extensions are possible for either party to meet its contingencies for the sale. It is not known at this  time whether an escrow extension will be needed or agreed to. Contingency plans are under discussion but are confidential in nature, at least while CHIRP and Woolman are in contract. 

4) When is the total $2.4 million due? 

The portion of the $2.4 million that is the purchase price will be due upon close of escrow. There is not a due date for the remainder. Beyond purchase price, CHIRP is raising funds for needed repairs and an  operating endowment (more in answer to question #5) and these are things CHIRP will handle as  CHIRP has the funds for them, in the order of timing needed for each issue. At some point CHIRP will  end the GoFundMe campaign and move to grants for the things that will need more funding than  CHIRP would attempt to raise while including community donations.

5) Is there any specific information on how the $2.4 million will be used? More specific than is on  the website? 

There will be more on this on CHIRP’s website soon. The $2.4 million will be used for the following:  purchase price of the land; water/sewage system inspections, associated fees and upgrades; housing  inspections, permitting and compliance; infrastructure inspections to shift from propane to electric; six year endowment for insurance, maintenance, and upgrades. 

6) Is there a public statement that we can cite about the casino question? (Unfortunately this keeps coming up.) 

CHIRP asked the Woolman Board to amend the sale agreement to add a deed restriction prohibiting  casino gaming on the land forever by any person or entity. CHIRP did this because the casino question  keeps coming up here too. The purchase contract was amended, the deed restriction executed, and it  was recorded on 2/26/2024 at the County Recorder's Office in the chain of title. It is a public  document. 

7) What happens to the money raised by CHIRP if the totals are not reached by the deadline (as  it is or as it might be extended), and the transaction does not close, whether for that or any other  reason? In particular, would money from individual donors be refunded, or offered to be  refunded? 

The CHIRP Board has adopted a resolution directing that the funds raised in this campaign be  dedicated to creating a tribal homeland. So if the Woolman trasaction does not close escrow, the funds will remain in a segregated account dedicated to a tribal homeland, and will not be used for any other  purpose. CHIRP’s GoFundMe site states: “NOTE: All funds raised for purchasing the Woolman land,  will be applied exclusively for the identification and purchase of a property that fits the needs identifiedby the Tribe, should the Woolman land purchase fall through for any reason.” CHIRP’s legal counsel  Frank Lawrence is not aware of any discussion about refunding donations if escrow doesn’t close, but  he will pass the question along to the CHIRP Board to discuss.

REGSITER AT: https://ahym-registration.pmm.life/

Dear Friends, 

Quaker Religious Education Collaborative (QREC) and Friends Peace Teams bring you:

The last of three Quaker Adult Religious Education evenings:

Essential Quaker Structures as an Ecology of Practice

March 11, 2024 at 7:00pm Eastern US/Canada time 

You must register, if you have not already done so, at: 

https://quakerrecollaborative.org/walking-friend-practice-group

You’re encouraged to read pages 45-58 in Walking in the World as a Friend or watch the Videos on YouTube. 

You may order the book at CourageousGifts.com or download a copy from the QREC link where you register. 

At the YouTube link, you can find an 8-minute overview video called Ecology of Practice: Essential Quaker Structures. There are also individual videos on each topic covered: Quaker Worship; Spiritual Companions; Monthly Meeting; Meetings of Ministers, Stewards, or Witnesses; and Faith and Practice. 

In faith,

Nadine Hoover

Buffalo Friends Meeting, NYYM

Friends Peace Teams

Beth Collea

Wellesley Friends Meeting, NEYM

Quaker Religious Education Collaborative

Nadine Hoover, Clerk, FPT Peace Ministries
PeaceMinistries@friendspeaceteams.org
+1-607-542-9029 WA or +1-607-587-9111 US Eastern
Friends Peace Teams, 1001 Park Ave, St Louis, MO 63104
friendspeaceteams.org

Hello Friends,

Hot off the presses is our IMYM Spring Newsletter 2024!!
Click HERE (or on the photo below) to open a PDF and follow along with the latest news and updates from our region and beyond. 

If you need any assistance please contact online@imym.org.

The Peace and Social Justice Committee of Friends Meeting at Cambridge, responding to calls heard for information and action suggestions, offers this resource list. Feel free to suggest other resources. Questions to skipschiel@gmail.com.

Resource list for thinking about the violence in Gaza (human beings at our worst) and what we can do about it (human beings at our potential best)

Selected and organized by Skip Schiel

Information

Light in Gaza, Writings Under Fire, by authors currently in or from Gaza—published by Haymarket Books, organized by the American Friends Service Committee, electronic version currently free (audio book avail in March 2024)

Democracy Now, news broadcast, daily TV/radio Monday thru Friday 

Mondoweiss, reliable US-based news source focused on Israel-Palestine, podcast

United Nations Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), trustable, daily on-the-ground reports

B’Tselem, Israeli Human Rights Organization in the Occupied Territories

Jewish Currents, “a magazine committed to the rich tradition of thought, activism, and culture on the Jewish left and the left more broadly“

Palestine Portal, news, much of it faith-based

Organizations 

Jewish Voice for Peace, anti-Zionist, nonviolent, non-antisemitic activist organization (not necessary to be Jewish)

If Not Now Movement (primarily for Jews and their allies)

Massachusetts Peace Action (MAPA)

American Friends Service Committee (AFSC)

Alliance for Water Justice in Palestine-Boston area rallies and information about water-related topics

Advocacy

Legislators-call for an immediate ceasefire (or permanent?)

• Jewish Voice for Peace tools and daily “Power Half-Hours” to foster advocacy

• AFSC Action Hour – Ceasefire Now Every Friday at 12 p.m. ET/ 9 a.m. PT

Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL)

Media-writeletters to the editors, comments, etc

Discuss with family, friends, and your communities (like Friends Meeting Cambridge)

Attend and organize rallies, marches, vigils, etc

Join campaigns by the AFSC-Gaza Unlocked and Apartheid Free Congregations and Communities 

Visit the region (West Bank and Israel, Gaza perhaps in the future)

Online (and later, onsite) tours with Eyewitness Palestine

Onsite tours with Americans for Peace Now/Mejdi Tours (March 4 - 13, 2024, registration deadline: January 10, 2024)

Tree of Life Educational Foundation (FOSNA)

Memorial Travel Fund from Quakers Advocating Justice for Palestine

FMC actions

TBD: Another session about Gaza on either December 31 or January 7, both Sundays-check FMC announcements for details

Write a minute or statement (examples from AFSC and other Quaker organizations, New England Yearly Meeting, Wellesley Meeting,Northeast Kingdom letter to the editor 

For further background

Quakers in Israel-Palestine Time Line

Promised Land: the Jewish Museum of the Palestinian Experience(online and a free traveling exhibit)

Born in Gaza(available on Netflix)

Connecting with the Enemy, a Century of Palestinian-Israeli Joint Nonviolence, by Sheila Katz

Tracing Homelands, Israel, Palestine, and the Claims of Belonging, growing up during the Nakba of 1948 as a Jewish Israeli, by Linda Dittmar
Skip Schiel’s blog and website

Other Quaker organizations focused on Palestine-Israel

Quakers Advocating Justice for Palestine (QAJP)

Israel-Palestine Resource Group in New England Yearly Meeting (IPRG)-

Quaker Palestine Israel Network (QPIN)

Occupied West Bank

Al Jazeera (latest analysis and information, also about Gaza)

Amnesty International (background information)

Of Land and Bread, produced by B’tselem, available on Kanopy

Donations

Many of the organizations listed above accept donations and are reputable and effective.

QUAKERS in BOLIVIA

CLIMATE CHANGE: IMPACT and ADAPTATION

“The ecological and climate crisis is, at its heart, a spiritual and moral crisis.” - Dr. Jennie Ratcliff

Travel to beautiful Bolivia and learn about the impacts of climate change on the land. See how Bolivians are adapting to meet these rapid and significant changes. Visit impacted areas to meet and exchange ideas with local climate change activists and former BQEF students working in communities vulnerable to climate change.

Come learn about Bolivia’s history and culture, from the pre-Inca traditions to the emergence of its plurinational state. Visit those who have dramatically improved their lives and communities with the

educational support of the Bolivian Quaker Education Fund (BQEF). Make warm personal connections with fellow travelers and Bolivian Friends.

Our study focus will be grounded in the work of U.S. Quaker Dr. Jennie Ratcliffe, author of Nothing Lowly in the Universe: An Integral Approach to the Ecological Crisis and Integrity, Ecology, and Community.

Drawing on Quaker testimonies and wisdom from other traditions and visionaries, the texts explore the spiritual principles that underpin an integrated deep ecology. Weaving these principles into discussions throughout the trip, we will explore attainable paths to long-term sustainability and a more peaceful and just world.

During the tour, we will travel to cities including Tiwanaku, Sorata, Copacabana, and Amacari, with the trip ending back in La Paz.

Cost: 14 nights, breakfasts, all travel, site entry and guide fees, flight from Sucre to La paz, $2,200.

For more information, please fill out this expression of interest questionnaire and we will send you the application forms. If you have any questions please contact our registrar Jim Morgan +1(412) 535-2078

(EST), qst.bolivia@gmail.com.

Registration due March 15th, 2024

The Worship and Ministry Committee of Albuquerque Monthly Meeting invites you to attend our twice-a-month online Meetings for Worship, held on the first and third Wednesdays from 7:00 to 8:20 pm. Be sure to use the correct Zoom link as they are different from one another.

ZOOM IN:
1st Wednesday link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89750287720?pwd=eE9tREVBM1ZJSXVXKzU5WTMrNXUrZz09

3rd Wednesday link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85195820625?pwd=WDQxYW90V20zTXREZnYzSlpuVWlyZz09

We are inviting members and attenders from meetings within IMYM to join us, for the dual purposes of spiritual deepening and to foster fellowship beyond just the annual gathering. Please feel free to forward this email to Friends who might be interested in attending.

The format of this meeting is as follows: unprogrammed worship for one hour (7:00-8:00 pm) and then introductions, sharing of joys and sorrows, brief announcements, and time for fellowship. We request that you enter the meeting in silence. The first person to open the link will begin expectant worship. Participants will automatically be muted as they join. Please unmute only to give vocal ministry and then re-mute during the first hour.

Should you need help during the meeting, use Chat to send a direct message to the Host, who can be found under the Participant tab. Please avoid use of the chat for any other purpose during the worship hour, as many find it distracting.

Contact Henry Selters (505-985-4981) or Lynn Huxtable (505-688-2583) with any questions. We hope to see you there!

https://quakerspeak.com/video/the-lasting-trauma-of-quaker-indigenous-boarding-schools/

“Most Quakers still don’t know our history as participants in this enterprise of forced assimilation of Native people,” Paula Palmer says. “So the first thing that we have to do is learn the truth.”

In this video, Paula discusses Friends’ role in the traumas inflicted on the indigenous peoples of North America since the arrival of European colonists—particularly in the administration of boarding schools where Native children were forced to abandon their heritage and embrace the ways of White Christian culture, where they would never be truly accepted as equals.

Although it’s easy to “shake our fingers” at previous generations, Paula warns us that retroactive judgment isn’t enough—Quakers today need to hold themselves accountable as well. “As we think about work that we do today as Friends,” she says, “we need to examine our own attitudes and make sure that ways that we are trying to do good in the world are not also coming out of a sense of superiority.”

Hello Friends,

Hot off the presses is our IMYM Fall Newsletter 2023!!
Click HERE (or on the photo below) to open a PDF and follow along with the latest news and updates from our region and beyond. 

If you need any assistance please contact online@imym.org.