MaY 20, 2008

7-9 p.m.

Members Present:

Juanita Anderson, Cherie Berthon, Kasey Carter, Alan Corwin, Sr. Monika Ellis, Kathy Erlandson, Jeanne Gordner, Janice Holz, Steffe Jewell, Terry Kirkpatrick, Tia Kremer, Pat Lisoskie, Miles, Pat Perry, Dan Ryan, Luther Smith, Dickie Stentz, Connie Walker, Wendy Wilson, Rich Young.

ADMINISTRATIVE ITEMS

· Meeting called to order at 7:10.

· Administrative announcements: Kathy asked everyone to be sure they get a new handbook and a new directory, as there have been changes to both.

· General introductions made.

· Miles introduced the new Mentor Program. Each delegate is encouraged to find someone from your faith community to come with you to a program council meeting. If they are willing, they can learn from you as an apprentice, then fill in when you are gone, be an extra delegate, or take over from you when you step down. Even if they choose not to become a delegate, at least they will be more familiar with IW and IW's programs.

· Meditation: Rich Young offered a reading about service by Rachel Naomi Remen from her book My Grandfather's Blessings.

· Mixer: Each person around the table shared something that had happened to them in the last month.

· Pass the Hat. Hat provided by Kathy Erlandson. $63 collected ($53 for IW's general fund, and $10 for June snacks).

· Volunteers for June 17 program council meeting:

o Meditation - Janice Holz

o Focus - Sr. Monika

o Snack - Dan Ryan & Sr. Monika

o Hat - Pat Perry

· March program council minutes and April annual meeting minutes approved as distributed.

· Director’s report accepted.

· Treasurer’s report accepted. We have more money in the bank than we did at this time last year, mostly because of income from the World Sacred Music Festival, and partly because the office spent $1000 less than budgeted.

PROGRAM REPORTS

· Interfaith Thanksgiving Committee: Billy Harris & Luther Smith are co-chairs. The first planning meeting is Tuesday, June 3. The committee needs volunteers, and volunteers do not have to be delegates.

· Community Meditation for Global Peace: The 5th annual meditation for peace will be the first weekend in August, 12 noon Saturday, August 2 - 12 noon Sunday, August 3. Dan Ryan & Dickie Stentz are co-chairs. The location is already reserved. The committee is considering making it "…Meditation and Prayer …" so the title communicates the inclusiveness of the event. They need volunteers and ideas. The next planning meeting is Thursday, May 29, at Dan's house - call for directions.

· CropWalk: The walk was May 4. $47,000 in donations counted so far this year (compared to $20,000 this time last year of the eventual $50,000 total). 525 walkers came, 25% more than last year.

· Shelter: The Lacey Homeless Ordinance will not affect our Emergency Overflow Shelter program. The most recent homeless census results will be published within a month; IW will post a link on its Shelter program web page.

· World Sacred Music Festival: The committee is already planning the March 7, 2009, festival. They want to make it even better, including a good recording of the festival. Volunteers are welcome.

NEW BUSINESS

· Letter to United Nations: The Board requested the Program Council's approval to send a letter to the United Nations about the treatment of the Bahá'í children in Iran. Rich Young gave background about the persecution of Bahá'ís (as well as other religious minorities) in Iran. Approval to send the letter was given.

· Kathy asked for volunteers to meet to consider the future of IW's Emergency Overflow Shelter program. Steffe Jewell, Terry Kirkpatrick, Dan Ryan, Dickie Stentz, and Connie Walker volunteered.

The meeting was adjourned about 9:00 p.m.

Respectfully submitted by Janice Holz, acting secretary.

Action Items:

Ø Delegates: get a new handbook from IW

Ø Delegates: find someone from your faith community to come with you to a program council meeting.

Ø Janice Holz: prepare Meditation for June 17 program council meeting

Ø Sr. Monika: prepare Focus for June 17 program council meeting

Ø Dan Ryan & Sr. Monika: bring Snacks to June 17 program council meeting

Ø Pat Perry: bring Hat to June 17 program council meeting

Ø Volunteers needed for

Interfaith Thanksgiving Celebration planning committee,

Community Meditation for Global Peace planning committee, and

World Sacred Music Festival planning committee.