"Gary Reams is the first new member of Herndon Friends Meeting. At the Business Meeting of 5/12/96, the Meeting approved the recommendation of the Ministry and Oversight Committee to accept Gary Reams as a Member."

"Matthew Glazer is a collector of reptiles. He has a newly acquired Columbian boa--currently only one foot long--to join two chameleons, five African waterfrogs, and two woodboring beetles. (No , beetles areen't reptiles, but beware of them, too.) Watch where you sit in meeting.

Do you make your home a place of affection where God’s presence is felt? Do you practice family prayer? Do you share your deepest beliefs and interests with all in the family? Do you grow together through sharing prosperity and adversity? Can you keep a sense of humor and avoid taking yourself too seriously? Do you establish family standards including the mutual obligations of children and adults? Are you as children learning to be accountable for your own actions? Do you as parents help your children to grow in independence and responsibility? Do you consider the needs of grandparents and older members of the family circle.

Fifteen Friends gathered for Meeting for Worship with attention to business at 12:15 PM. Clerk Ting Yi Oei opened the session with a reading followed by a brief silent worship and then committee reports.

As one of it's first orders of business, the meeting united with the recommendation from the Ministry and Oversight committee to henceforth have May business meetings on the 3^rd First Day of the month, rather than the 2^nd, to avoid conflict with Mother's Day.

Ting Yi presented for the Ministry and Oversight committee. Bonnie Stockslager, Cathy Tunis, and Dennis Jones participated as members of a clearness committee for Al and Ione Taylor in their request to become members of the meeting. The meeting united with the recommendation from the ministry and oversight committee to accept Ione Taylor and Al Taylor as members of Herndon Friends Meeting. Al and Ione are weighing a request for their children to be entered as associate members. (See Related Story) The Hospitality Committee will organize a formal welcoming.

The M&O committee also announced plans for some future activities. The fall Catoctin retreat will occur 9/7 through 9/9/01. The theme will center around the life and work of James Naylor, the 17^th century Quaker who was arrested and tortured for blasphemy for riding into the town of Bristol on a horse in imitation of Jesus' arrival in Jerusalem on a donkey. BYM Friend Rita Hawkings will lead two discussion sessions about this controversial and ostracized Quaker thinker.

M&O is planning an event for the Herndon Community to mark the 5^th year that Herndon Friends have occupied our current building. The celebration will occur in mid October.

A draft of the spiritual state of the meeting report prepared by Dennis Jones was reviewed by the meeting for business.

Harry Tunis reported for the ad hoc building committee. The committee has reviewed the detailed feasibility study submitted by architect Evan Lippincott regarding an addition to the meeting house. Assistant treasurer Al Taylor prepared a detailed report of the financial implications of undertaking such a project, with an estimated cost of $400,000. Yearly mortgage and building costs would approach $40,000, requiring the meetings total yearly budget to increase by 2 and 1/2 times.

Harry noted that it is unlikely the Meeting could recover this through increased rental activity because our conditional use permit from the town of Herndon limits the hours for which our space can be used apart from the mission of our organization. The Building Committee believes the addition is beyond the current or future resources of the Meeting, and that alternatives to meet the needs of our Meeting and First Day School program must be sought.

The meeting united with the recommendation that the meeting begin the process of articulating more clearly over the next 9 months our mission and needs over the next five years. The current clerks of the meeting and the past three meeting clerks are asked to develop a plan that will allow all Friends the opportunity to contribute, possibly including allowing for written submissions, retreats, Quakerism discussion groups, use of a professional facilitator, and/or input from BYM.

Bonnie Stockslager reported the success of the Easter Potluck. The Big Kids filled and hid eggs for 32 children in the younger classes.

Hospitality worked with Religious Education to sponsor a First Day School Teacher Recognition at the May potluck. First Day School volunteers were feted with apples, candies, and medallions emblazoned "I'm Proud To Be A Humble First Day School Teacher". There was cake, too.

Harry Tunis reported that about a dozen Friends participated in the Spring Clean up day. Several minor repairs have been made to the Meetinghouse. The low water pressure in the kitchen sink has been fixed, the gutter on the right side of the Meetinghouse has been replaced, and there is a new outside faucet handle near the kitchen door. At the fire marshal's suggestion, a fire extinguisher has been mounted next to the exit door. Harry expressed appreciation to Ting Yi for mowing the lawn.

Debbie Kirkman reported for the Religious Education Committee. The formal First Day School Curriculum will end on June 17^th. The committee will present Bibles to the graduating 6^th graders at the June potluck.

Cathy Tunis presented the treasurer's report. Contributions through 5/12 (36% of the way through the year) totaled $9601, which is 37% of our budget for the year. Capital expenditures this year have totaled $4530 including $2340 for the architects feasibility study, and $1680 for removal of the tree in the front yard. The treasurer is looking at changing the Meeting's insurance to a program sponsored by BYM

There is a spirit which I feel, that delights to do no evil, nor to avenge any wrong, but delights to endure all things in hope to enjoy its own in the end. Its hope is to outlive all wrath and contention, and to weary out all exaltation and cruelty, or whatever is of a nature contrary to itself. It sees to the end of all temptations. As it bears no evil in itself, so it conceives none in thought to any other: if it be betrayed, it bears it; for its ground and spring are the mercies and forgiveness of God. Its crown is meekness, its life is everlasting love unfeigned, and takes its kingdom with entreaty, and not with contention, and keeps it by lowliness of mind. In God alone it can rejoice, though none else regard it, or can own its life. It is conceived in sorrow, and brought forth without any to pity it; nor doth it murmur at grief, and oppression. It never rejoiceth but through sufferings; for with the world's joy it is murdered. I found it alone, being forsaken. I have fellowship therein with them who lived in dens, and desolate places of the earth, who through death obtained this resurrection, and eternal holy life.

When children reach the point at which they can have the understanding to make the commitments of membership, they may apply. Children too young to make this commitment may be recorded as junior (associate)members at the request of member parents or guardians. Some Meetings record minor children as full members upon the request of member parents or guardians at birth.

Children are equally a part of the Meeting, whether they are junior (associate) or full members, and should be encouraged to be active in the Meeting.

As children mature, the Meeting through its appropriate committee should consult from time to time with those who did not themselves make the commitment of membership, both junior (associate) members and full members by parental request, to determine if they are committed to the spiritual and practical responsibilities of adult members. If they do not indicate interest in full adult membership during the Meeting's contacts over a period of several years, their names should be removed from the membership rolls, and they should be so notified.

Virginia has no scheduled executions following the stay of execution for Walter Michems. With the confusion about the handling of Timothy McVeigh's case, there is renewed consideration of the fallibility of the criminal justice system. Now is a good time to write the governor and other officials about the need for a moratorium on the death penalty.