A Shortage of Business Meeting Experiences?

All RantWoman all the Time MINUS RantWoman

 

In support of the latest Episode of All RantWoman All the Time MINUS RantWoman, about which more separately, RantWoman

 

1.     Had a really good time inventorying some Even More and Better Confrontational Bitch options.

 

2.     Took stock of leadings, energy, schedule conflicts, thoughts of teamwork (as in NO WAY is RantWoman going to be able to handle… on her own anyway so, t-t-try teamwork”)

 

3.     Decided no way in hell was she going to avail herself of the option of worshipping nearby at Quaker House if only because a member of the alleged Care and Accountability Committee scheduled Quaker House without asking RantWoman her thoughts, conveyed the information to a third Friend and only realized his Oops when RantWoman wrote a tart email. And what if RantWoman had chosen to sit with someone for whom several steps at the entrance to Quaker House are completely inaccessible or only accessible if there are people with strong backs available for accessibility assistance. (Abundant further tirade available about ableism among the Care and Accountability Committee.—Can anyone imagine why the word “angry” might come along somewhere in here?)

 

4.     Assessed bus schedules and possibility of visiting Beloved Curmudgeon Friend who lives in a retirement community on the same bus route and is always WAY happy to cheerlead for RantWoman.

 

5.     Worshipped, for the first time EVER actually at Salmon bay Friends!

 

RantWoman was well led.

 

1.     Salmon Bay Friends worships in the Phinney Neighborhood Center. RantWoman goes there from time to time for community events and loves the intermingling of community and faith experiences, as if Let Our Lives Speak.

 

2.     In case RantWoman was going to suffer a shortage of Business Meeting experience in her life, it turned out also to be Business Meeting at Salmon Bay, and on a schedule accommodating further RantWoman thoughts. Business Meeting graciously received RantWoman’s recommendation to put the worship time on the homepage and to update the name (and probably link) of an organization that changed its name more than a year ago. Business Meeting also later graciously received a suggestion that besides a sign they consider some kind of welcome cards to help route newcomer questions to the appropriate committee.

 

3.     RantWoman recommends a further physical accessibility note: the path from the nearest bus stop to an entry on the same level as where worship is held is entirely level. Accessible entrance info should include this info as well as the info that people who arrive in cars and have to park down a level in the parking lot need.

 

4.     Has RantWoman mentioned, in say, the last 10 minutes how helpful introductions are for helping the likes of RantWoman make connections? One Friend during introductions and pronouns spoke of discernment about use of “they.” RantWoman then gave her standard “pronouns are an essay question” comment and expressed interest in talking more about “they” discernment. RantWoman had a quite enjoyable conversation with that Friend during the break between worship and Business Meeting. RantWoman loves singular “they” for gender neutrality but is aware that “they” carries other connotations for some people.

 

5.     Introductions supplied a couple who are about to teach a course on touch and consent for 9-10 year-olds. Ambassador Thwack the variably behaved white cane insisted that he is NOT an invitation to “Grab the Blind Person and Bless Them” and RantWoman suggested that the trainers pay special attention to consent issues for any kids with any kind of mobility aid such as crutches or wheelchairs as well as canes.

 

6.     One Friend asked “…not at your own business meeting…?” and Burst out laughing when RantWoman mentioned “Co-clerk of … Not an Idiot Friend…disinvited….“ Laughter is probably not a balm to Not An Idiot Friend. Sigh.

 

7.     Friend Clerk did a great job of reading the agenda on the flip chart. RantWoman was not entirely attentive but attention is RantWoman’s problem.

 

8.     At one point during Business meeting RantWoman did her standard jump in without being recognized Annoying RantWoman Behavior. The clerk quite appropriately provided the information RantWoman really needed: the clerk saw RantWoman’s raised hand but other people had their hands up too. Madam Clerk at RantWoman’s Meeting is really good about providing information about other people’s hands as she recognizes people. RantWoman continues her ardent prayer that she might be called to speak less if thoughts on her mind will make it out of other people’s mouths at her own Meeting. RantWoman realized that it might also be useful to encourage Friends first to Speak Up and  to speak of Access needs as well as pronouns during introductions. RantWoman for her part will think about some elevator speech boilerplate to describe her own access needs.

 

As for the rest of the day, stay tuned….

 

PS Dear Readers, one member of the Care and Accountability committee is always saying “tell us what works.” RantWoman has written of the last Care and Accountability Committee meeting elsewhere. Homework for anyone who reads this: can you identify moments in this post where something either clearly works or clearly does not work for RantWoman or for others?