December 2009

   The Fellowship and Hospitality committee organizes hospitality at coffee hour and potluck and at memorial services and workshops, as requested. The different committees share responsibility for providing hospitality at the rise of Meeting.

   Last year, the hospitality supplies were moved from downstairs to the library for storage. The new arrangement has been working out well but we remind those taking supplies out of the bins for coffee hour to close the bins very tightly after use. Mice can be a problem.

   Potlucks, by their nature, depend on each of us in attendance bringing food. The amount of food can vary widely - sometimes there is plenty, other times not as much. We encourage those attending to bring a little extra for last-minute guests. All guests are welcome whether they are able to bring food or not. Those enjoying potluck should be mindful of how much is available for all and take only what they need, leaving enough for the others.

   Claudia Villabord has been providing excellent help in the kitchen for potluck. We hope that Meeting members find that the benefit of serving hot food and using reusable plates and silverware, not to mention the friendly and efficient help that she provides, are a valuable asset to our Meeting community, as we on the committee do.

   Attendance at potluck varies. We would like to suggest that committees which hold meetings on potluck days come to potluck and meet over lunch. Otherwise, the tendency may be to skip the potluck because it adds to a time commitment that some may feel they cannot give.

   We are exploring ways to 'green' the hospitality. To this end, we have been putting out china mugs for coffee and tea in addition to biodegradable paper cups. Several people have chosen the mugs.

   The committee was not asked to provide hospitality for a memorial service or wedding this year but we did help out at two workshops. Our members helped to organize a vegetarian chili meal for the Helen Cobban workshop at Jane Coe's house in January and provided food for the ARE workshop on the Gospels held in the Meeting House in September.