Meeting for Worship on the Occasion for Business – May 2026
GRASS VALLEY FRIENDS MEETING
Of the Religious Society of Friends of the Truth
College Park Quarterly Meeting, Pacific Yearly Meeting
MINUTES & RECORD
Meeting for Worship on the Occasion of Business
May 10, 2026
We met in a hybrid meeting in person and on Zoom.
Present: Gordon Starr, clerk; Amy Cooke, recording clerk; fosten wilson, Kathy McCreery, Dianne Marshall, Judy Hamilton, Reed Hamilton, Steve Borrum, Mary Starr, Anita McCormick, Heather Certik, Chamba Cooke, Arly Helm.
The Meeting opened with silent worship.
Clerks’ Remarks and Query: The clerk invited us into a practice of sounding an OM for world peace. After three rounds, he invited Friends to share their experiences. Friends shared some concern about how people would receive the practice, that Om is an open doorway. Two people shared about babies named Om. It reminded one Friend about prior experiences in a Transcendental mediation practice.
Amy Cooke, recording clerk, proposed reading the minutes after each section for approval as we go, rather than reading all the minutes at the conclusion of the Meeting for Worship for Business. This was approved.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
(see reports appended, committee clerk is noted in bold)
Spirit and Witness: Amy Cooke (clerk), 2024-2027, Stuart Smith, 2025-2026, Reed Hamilton, 2025-2028, Dean Olson, 2024-2027, Doug Hamm, 2025-2026, Gordon Starr, 2026 (ex-officio, GVFM Clerk)
Amy Cooke, clerk, read the report, appended.
The immigration statement from Pendle Hill calling for immigration reform and an end to unjust enforcement has been shared via the email tree. The clerk invited the meeting into discernment about signing this statement as a supporting Meeting.
Some Friends expressed discomfort with the statement. The statement appeared to be vague with undefined terms, no clear audience, and no associated actions or goals. The statement was not as well written as was desired, and it was seen as overly weighty with words and concepts. It was suggested that the statement may not reflect us as a meeting. It was clarified that Pendle Hill is not asking for endorsement, just sharing of the letter.
Minute 2026.05.01: Dianne Marshall, Arly Helm, Steve Borrum and Anita McCormick volunteered to work on a statement on immigration on behalf of the meeting. Dianne will convene the working group of these four members. The work will be held under the care of the Spirit and Witness committee.
On May 31 Liz from Hospice of the Foothills will be offering a program after Meeting on end of life issues. There will be an opportunity to look at the Five Wishes document as well as the GVFM end-of-life form.
The Peace and Justice Walk will take place on May 30. Participants are asked to RSVP to the committee organizing the walk so that there can be sufficient food provided. Gordon and Mary Starr will be hosting an Open House after the walk at their home at 500 Butler Street in Grass Valley and all are invited.
The subcommittee under Spirit and Witness that has been holding the after-meeting program opportunities and schedule would like to change their name from Programs Committee to Spiritual Life. This change will be reflected in their updated Job Description to be brought to the Meeting in June.
Stewardship: Mary Starr (Clerk), Gordon Starr, Pat Phillips, Reed Hamilton, David Bowman. Dianne Marshall (ex-officio, Newsletter editor), Don McCormick (ex-officio, Librarian), Hailey Wilson (ex-officio Tech Support).
Mary Starr gave the report.
Minute 2026.05.02: Grass Valley Friends Meeting approves spending $200 from unbudgeted expenses for the t-shirts, and allocating $261 additional expenses to meet the total cost with the understanding that donations can meet or exceed this additional expense.
Welcome: Peter O’Rourke (Clerk), Nancy Anderson, Judy Hamilton, Kathy McCreary
Kath McCreery gave the report.
Amy and Gordon plan to write an article on the Meeting’s move from the old Woolman site to town for publication in the Union. The article will be sent out for review on the email tree and comments are welcome.
Gordon also noted that signage is in process with Peace Lutheran Church.
It was mentioned that some meetings have been hosting reunions to invite people back to the meeting who may have not attended in a while alongside sending postcards to the people in our directory. It was noted that timing is important.
All of these pieces would need to be coordinated. It was suggested that these items go back to the Welcome and Stewardship Committees for coordination and discernment.
Religious Education: Judy Hamilton (Clerk), Doug Hamm, Alan Stahler, Don McCormick, Dean Olsen, Reed Hamilton.
Judy Hamilton gave the report, appended.
It was noted that there is a restricted fund for projects.
Nominating Committee: Fosten Wilson, 2024-2026, Mary Starr, 2025-2027, Chamba Cooke, 2025-2026, Dean Olsen, 2025-2027
fosten wilson read the report, appended. The initial slate was presented and will be seasoned until the Sixth month Meeting for Worship for Business. It was noted that the conveners need to be identified. The slate will go out in the newsletter and on the email tree. Friends are asked to contact Chamba Cooke, Mary Starr, Dean Olson, or fosten wilson with corrections, concerns, or comments. There were some suggestions for corrections that were noted in the meeting and these will go out to the meeting for review in the newsletter and the email tree.
OFFICER REPORTS and REPRESENTATIVE REPORTS
Treasurer’s Report: No report.
Co-Archivists/Recorders: Information form coming out again – please fill it out if you have not yet filled it out. The end-of-life form will be available on May 31st at the program offered by Hospice of the Foothills.
Pacific Yearly Meeting: July 17-22. Onsite at CSU Monterey Bay & Online via Zoom. Annual Session Registration opens May 15th.
College Park Quarterly Meeting: Spring Quarterly Meeting took place April 24-26.
Interfaith Nevada County: Dianne Marshall reported that the group remains active.
Sharings from the wider Quaker world:
- FWCC World Quaker Day 2026 theme and materials announced: Let Peace Be Among Us. The theme for World Quaker Day on 4 October 2026 is Let Peace Be Among Us, with the supporting Bible passage Hebrews 12:14, “Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy.”
FWCC is planning a massive online Meeting for Worship on World Quaker Day (4 October), bringing together Friends across borders, time zones, and Quaker traditions with a shared focus on peace.
- There will be a fix-it day on Sunday May 18 at Madelyn Helling Library.
CLERK’S REMARKS
ITEMS SEASONING or CARRIED OVER
The Nominating Slate is seasoning and will come back to the Meeting for Worship for Business in June. It was noted that the conveners need to be identified. The slate will go out in the newsletter and on the email tree. Friends are asked to contact Chamba Cooke, Mary Starr, Dean Olson, or fosten wilson with corrections, concerns, or comments.
READING OF THE RECORD AND MINUTES : The record and minutes were approved in the course of the Meeting for Worship on the Occasion for Business.
GVFM Newsletter Reminder: Please have items into Dianne Marshall by Tuesday at 10 am. Please do not format reports in blue.
Meeting closed with worship.
APPENDICES:
Spirit and Witness Committee Report
May 2, 2026
The Spirit and Witness Committee met online on May 2, 2026. Present were Reed Hamilton
(stand-in clerk), Gordon Starr (stand-in recorder), Doug Hamm, and Stuart Smith.
The meeting opened with worship.
The committee reviewed the Meeting Tenders script and approved the addition of a section for
requests for care during the final ten minutes of Meeting for Worship. Friends felt this addition
would strengthen our ability to hold one another in practical and spiritual care within the life of
the Meeting.
The committee also discussed the current name of the Program Committee. Gordon Starr
proposed returning to the previous name, “Spiritual Life Committee,” noting that several Friends
have found the current name vague and unclear. The committee was generally supportive of this
change and asked Gordon to consult further with Amy and Don, the other members of the
committee, before bringing forward a recommendation.
Gordon also raised the possibility of holding an extended Meeting for Worship on a Saturday.
Friends discussed possible locations, including renting the main room if attendance warranted, or
using the library for a smaller gathering. The committee expressed interest in exploring this
possibility further.
The committee continues to hold several members of the Meeting in pastoral care and prayer.
Regarding the Peace and Justice Walk, the committee noted with appreciation that the Meeting
approved adding its name as a supporting organization during the April Meeting for Worship for
Business. Reed Hamilton will contact the organizers to gather additional information and
coordinate next steps.
The committee also reviewed the Spirit and Witness Committee job description. Revisions will
be made, with the intention of bringing an updated version forward for approval in June.
The next meeting of the Spirit and Witness Committee will be held online on June 6, 2026.
Stewardship Committee
Minutes from meeting on May 7, 2026
Present: Mary Starr, clerk, Gordon Starr, recorder, Reed Hamilton, Judy Hamilton, Dianne Marshall, Fosten Wilson.
Finance. Mary reported donations in April totaled $382, Expenses were $536.
Proposed Library/Newsletter Survey. The committee discussed and approved a survey, put together by Judy, Dianne and Kathy McCreery seeking feed-back on usage of the Meeting’s library and format and content of the newsletter. It was proposed to use Survey Monkey to get it on line, either as a link or as a form to fill out. It will be sent to everyone on both the Meeting’s contact list and the Newsletter list. Dianne will contact Peter O’Rourke for help with this.
Meeting Tee Shirts. A continuing discussion of the design and purchase of Quaker tee shirts to wear at the Faith, Justice and Democracy walk: A mild preference for teal color. Much discussion around graphics and lettering: Keep the square around the circle; on the front, make the Quaker letters the same size as on the back; otherwise, good. On the back, replace UNITY with STEWARDSHIP. We will purchase 25 shirts, 10 medium, 10 large and 5 x-large. Dianne will take this information to the printer. Cost is $461 which will come from miscellaneous unbudgeted expenses. A donation will be requested of those who take a tee shirt. Any amount not covered by donations will be covered by Dianne .Since the budgeted amount for miscellaneous unbudgeted expenses is $200, the excess $261 must be approved by Meeting for Business.
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION COMMITTEE REPORT
SPRING 2026
We met on April 29
th via Zoom. Present were: Don McCormick, Dean Olson, and Judy
Hamilton.
We checked in as to how things are going with our monthly classes. Don is enjoying being
the ‘buddy’ but might feel led to co teach a class with Alan (the first Sunday teacher). Dean
is excited about a series he has found on the importance of different animals in Native
American culture. This is told in the form of stories which he will introduce this month.
Judy is excited about the knitting project, she and Anita will be embarking on this month
(fourth Sunday). We will be knitting blankets (maybe beanies, as well) for use in the local
hospital’s nursery. We are all enjoying the energy of Juno, the 3 year old that attends most
Sundays.
We are going to use $50 from our budget for knitting supplies.
We discussed the fact that now that we are in town, it might be easier to get together with
teen programs in other faith communities. Judy will check to see if this is something
Dianne can bring up in the next Interfaith Nevada County meeting.
Also, because we are in town, we revisited the idea of going to a downtown coffee shop
and discussing/critiquing a passage from Faith and Practice.
We closed with silent worship and will be meeting again in July or August.
Welcome Committee
5/4/26 / 7:00PM / Zoom
Attendees: Judy, Kathy, Nancy and Pete
- Potluck update
- Judy and Reed hosted Potluck on May 2
- Get together – GVFM Friends will gather at Gordon and Mary’s home after Peace Walk on May 20
- Kathy and Fosten – tentative July
- Judy reviewed prototype Name Tag holder that Judy and Gordon modified
- Directory update request sent out – We have not heard from a few Friends in months/year whose names are in directory – Nancy will get direction from Spirit & Witness
- Follow-up items
- Union paper
- Posted new location information in Union Newspaper
- Union paper
- YubaNet
- Posted and will run for 4 weeks then renewed
- As suggested at last Business Meeting, we updated YubaNet information to include singing from 9am – 10am
- Website
- Updates all current
- Looking for photos of any activities; then post only 50
- Newsletter & announcements (GVFM email
- Any new visitors
- We are happy to see past Friends returning
Next Meeting – June 8th – 7pm
Silent worship to close out our meeting
Nominating Committee
Your Nominating Committee has completed the Slate – shown on pages two & three – and
present it today for comments & seasoning. This will allow for seasoning and approval
possible in June. If you have thoughts or concerns about the proposed Slate, please notify
anyone on the Nominating Committee during May. The Committee members are Chamba
Cooke, Dean Olson, Mary Starr, & fosten wilson.
We are pleased that so many people in our Meeting were both able & willing to do the work
needed for the coming year. Thank you all for your help.
fosten wilson, clerk
Nominating Committee.
Proposed Nominating Slate, 2026-27
| <>Spirit and Witness | |
| Amy Cooke (24- 27) | |
| Pat Phillips (26-29) | |
| Dean Olson (24- 27) | |
| Reed Hamilton (25- 28) | |
| fosten wilson (26-29) | |
| Gordon Starr (ex-officio) | |
| <>Stewardship | |
| Mary Starr (ex officio, Treasurer) | |
| Gordon Starr | |
| Reed Hamilton | |
| Pat Phillips | |
| fosten wilson | |
| Dianne Marshall (ex officio, newsletter) | |
| Judy Hamilton (ex officio, Library) and Kathy McCreery | |
| Hailey Wilson | |
| <>Welcoming | |
| Peter O’Rourke until 2-2027 | |
| Kathy McCreery | |
| Gordon Bishop | |
| Don McCormick | |
| Ros Bae | |
| Nancy Anderson ex-officio | |
| Judy Hamilton ex-officio | |
| Nora Lisette-Runyan, ex officio, website? | |
| <>Religious Education | |
| Judy Hamilton | |
| Doug Hamm | |
| Dean Olson | |
| Cheryl Hendrickson | |
| Gordon Starr, support | |
| Reed Hamilton | |
| Al Stahler | |
| Don McCormick, support | |
| Anita McCormick | |
| Shera Banbury, occasional | |
| <>Meeting Clerk | Gordon Starr 2026-2028 |
| <>Recording Clerk | Amy Cooke 2026-2027 |
| <>Newsletter Editor | Dianne Marshall |
| <>Newsletter Distributor | Pat Phillips |
| <>Email Coordinator | Judy Hamilton |
| <>Treasurer | Mary Starr |
| <>Tech Coordinator | Hailey Wilson |
| <>Website/Face Book | Nora L.-R. (Peter O. until February 2027) |
| <>Librarian | Judy Hamilton & Kathy McCreery |
| <>Recorder-Archivist | Arly Helm |
| <>Directory Clerk | Nancy Anderson |
| <>Mail Clerk | Dean Olson |
| <>Interfaith N.C. | Dianne Marshall |
| <>PYM Representative | Keith Lisette-Runyan |
| <>CPQM Representative | – |