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Friends United Meeting |
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March 1999
News from Friends United Meeting
Triennial Sessions Workshops, July 14-18, 1999
Grant Heats Refurbished Friends Schools in Ramallah
FUM Staff News
Mary Jo Mulloy, whose appointment was mentioned in the FUM News in January-February's Quaker Life, has taken a new position with a nursing home in Vincennes, Indiana. In her place FUM has appointed Nancy Wooten of Greenfield, Indiana, (Indiana Yearly Meeting) as financial systems manager. During her brief service, Mary Jo Mulloy was able to do some important preparatory work for the major accounting changes underway at FUM. In turn, Nancy Wooten brings much experience in bookkeeping, computers and insurance to her new responsibilities. She also brings much Quaker experience from years of leadership in Greenfield Friends Church.
At the January monthly meeting of FUM staff, Mary Glenn Hadley announced that she will be leaving the position of associate secretary for Meeting Ministries after the 1999 Triennial sessions. She has served in that position since July 1987. During her remaining months with FUM, she will be working closely with Board members, other FUM staff, and yearly meeting leaders to help shape the future "job description" of the Meeting Ministries program.
Grace Merrill, who served as a World Ministries secretary and more recently as FUM bookkeeper, resigned in January. Her successor is Carolyn Rhoades, who has served FUM for over five years as secretary for Friends United Press.
Grant Heats Refurbished Friends Schools in Ramallah
Winter months are cold in Ramallah, north of Jerusalem. And the all-stone buildings of the Friends Schools would suck the warmth out of a body. Students wore coats, hats and gloves to class and still complained of hands swollen and blistered from the cold. Art classes were held in an attic classroom with cold wind stirring from the old slate roof.
The 1998-99 winter has seen all that change, thanks to improvements paid for by an $850,000 ASHA grant. Ray Buback, who supervised the administration of the grant on behalf of Friends United Meeting, says central heating was installed in all the upper campus buildings. Where old propane and kerosene heaters used to struggle against the cold, and suck oxygen out of the rooms, the buildings now have hot water circulating to registers and fan coil heaters.
The new heating system required much rewiring anyway, so it was possible to refurbish the electrical system of the buildings as part of the grant. Whereas the old circuits would frequently blow out, the new system is adequate to handle increased wattage and wiring for a new computer room.
Efficient management of the grant allowed numerous other improvements. The old septic system was linked to the city's sewage system. New roofs were installed on several buildings. An additional floor was added to the classroom building. The attic of the administration building was totally remodeled, allowing for five new classrooms and the refurbished arts room, all with skylights and heat. Two neglected classrooms in the basement of the administration building were converted into a student lounge, and the kitchen of the home economics department was refurbished to the delight of long-time home ec. teacher, Laila Abu Zayyad. The top floor of Swift House was refurbished to provide housing for three volunteer teachers.
FUM Sunday Returns
Friends United Meeting is asking Friends to reserve one Sunday each year for educational and fundraising events for FUM itself. Pentecost Sunday (May 23 this year) is the suggested day for FUM Sunday, but local meetings may choose any Sunday which fits their needs and schedule.
For meetings which know and support FUM already, the day can be used to strengthen the commitment to this international fellowship and to introduce newcomers and young people to the work of FUM. Meetings which do not know FUM as well can use the day to learn more about our ministries and services. In working to help meetings prepare for FUM Sunday, FUM hopes to learn more about local meetings and their priorities. FUM is preparing suggestions and materials to help organize their FUM Sundays. Meetings will receive more information about FUM Sunday in the mail.
Jamaica Appointment
Jamaica Yearly Meeting and FUM have entered into a partnership to improve management of the Swift-Purscell and Lyndale Homes. Dwaine and Becky Williams of Spokane, Washington, have been appointed as FUM field staff. They will administer JYM's Friends Education Council and manage the Homes.
Copyright (c) 1999 Friends United Meeting
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