Sandy Spring Friends Meeting Committee Resources

Committees accomplish much of the important work of the Meeting. Most committees meet at least once a month (as noted below). Several meet more often (or only) to address special events or needs. Except as noted below, attendance at committee meetings by non-members is permitted. Committees are encouraged, where appropriate, to interact with counterparts in Quarterly, Yearly and other Monthly Meetings, and to establish liaison relationships with Young Friends and/or Sandy Spring Friends School. Committees should maintain minutes of meetings and provide copies to the Clerk and Assistant Clerk of the Meeting. The Manual of Procedures describes the responsibliities of the committees.

Committee appointments are approved at Monthly Meeting for Business and are usually for one three-year term. (A person filling a mid-term vacancy on a committee may also serve a full term following service for an interim appointment.) New committee terms begin on May 1st of the year appointed. (An intermin appointment to fill a vacancy can occur at any time.) Committee clerks and co-clerks are selected by their committees. At the discretion of a committee, a person may be elected to serve on a committee as a co-opted member.

Meeting Officers: The Presiding Clerk, the Assistant Clerk and the Recording Clerk are responsible for the Monthly Business Meeting: preparing the agenda, conducting the meeting, and attending to the necessary follow-up The Treasurer and the Assistant Treasurer are responsible for collecting and disbursing the Meeting’s funds. The Recorder is responsible for maintaining the Meeting's membership records. (Click here for the membership record form.) The Newsletter Editor and Assistant Newsletter Editor are responsible for producing the Meeting's newsletter.
Click here to contact the Meeting Clerk.

Advancement and Outreach Committee welcomes attenders and visitors to the Meeting. Provides information on Quaker faith and practices through written materials and seekers' sessions. Sets up Friendly Eights groups. Helps provide information on the Meeting and Meeting activities to the wide community. [Meets 3rd Firstday at 9:30 AM; Community House, room 5]
Click here to contact the committee.

Aging Committee addresses social activities, housing, and other concerns for the aging with some emphasis on residents of Friends House. [Meets 1st Firstday; Friends House lounge A]

Directory Committee maintains the Meeting's directory of members, attenders, and Friends organizations, and prepared a biennial directory publication. Committee members serve four years. {Meets 5th Firstday (about every 3 months) at 12:15 PM]

Educational Loan Committee administers modest college and higher education loans for members, attenders, and their children. [Meets as needed, Firstday at 9:30 AM]

Finance Committee works with all committees to determine their operating costs, and constructs the annual Meeting budget. Prepared a financial summary letter each year. Considers requests and proposals for special allocations. The Treasurer is an ex officio member. Clerk must be a member of the Meeting. [Meets as needed]

Graveyard and Grounds Committee maintains and cares for the Meeting House grounds, graveyard and memorial grove; acts on applications for grave sites; arranges for burials and the disposition of ashes; and maintains records of burials and grave site assignments. (Service on this committee includes frequent Saturday morning workdays -- friendly, fun, and as strenuous as you wish to make them.) [Meets usually 2nd Firstday at 9:30 AM; Community House]

Hospitality Committee provides greeters, arranges coffee hours (mostly those following 11 AM First Day Meeting for Worship) and potluck dinners (mostly those following 1st First Day Meeting for Business), and coordinates food arrangements for Quarterly Meeting. [Meets 2nd Firstday at 9:30 AM; Community House]
Click here to contact the committee.

Library Committee acquires, organizes, cares for, and displays books and pamphlets for the Meeting's library. [Meets 3rd Firstday at 9 AM; Community House]

Marriage and Family Relations Committee serves as a Clearness Committee for marriage under the care of the meeting, sees to the right ordering and on-going nurture of these marriages through Oversight Committees, and provides marriage and family enrichment. [Only members of SSMM may serve on this committee. Meetings are usually closed; meets 3rd Firstday at 9:30 AM; Community House] For information on marriage under the care of the Meeting, see the brochure "Procedure for Marriage under the care of Sandy Spring Monthly Meeting of Friends"

Meeting & Community House Care Committee maintains and repairs the Meetinghouse and Community House. [Meets 3rd Fourthday at 7:30 PM; Community House]

Ministry and Counsel Committee is concerned with the spiritual life of the Meeting, as exemplified in meetings for worship and business, and memorial services. The brochure "A Practical Guide for Members and Attenders Pertaining to Death" has been prepared by the Committee. [Only Friends may serve on the committee. Meetings are closed; meets 3rd Firstday at 9:30 AM; Community House]

Nominating Committee nominates persons to serve as Monthly Meeting officers, on Meeting committees, and as SSMM representatives to other Quaker organizations; suggests persons to serve on Yearly- and Quarterly meeting committees. [Members of this committee are nominated by the Meeting's officers. Only members of SSMM may serve on this committee. Meetings are closed; meets as needed]

The Membership and Spiritual Care Committee interviews prospective members of the Meeting, recommends Welcome and Nurture Committees for new members, and maintains concern for the spiritual and physical well-being of individual members and attenders. Click on the Guide to Membership for details on becoming a member. [Only members of SSMM may serve on this committee. Meetings are closed; meets 2nd, 3rd, or 4th Firstday at 9:30 AM; Community House]
Click here to contact the committee.

• Download the membership record form. ( doc | pdf )
• Download the 2006 Pastoral Letter. (doc | pdf )

Peace Committee seeks to interpret, promote, and act upon the historic and modern peace testimony of the Religious Society of Friends. Distributed peace book covers and gives Lee Stern Peace Awards in schools. Organizes letter writing by Meeting members on peace issues. Donates to peace causes. [Meets 3rd Firstday at 9 AM; Community House]
Click here to contact the committee.

Personal Assistance Committee considers requests for financial assistance by meeting members and attenders. [Only SSMM members may serve on this committee. Meets as needed; meetings are closed]

Prison Committee is concerned with incarcerated and released prisoners. Encourages prison ministry in many forms and works with other Meetings on criminal justice issues.

Religious Education Committee recruits teachers for and operates First Day School and special events, as well as adult religious education. Click here to consult the First-Day School booklet. [Some members of this committee must be Friends. Meets 3rd Firstday at 9:30 AM; Community House]

Social Order Committee is concerned about relations among all peoples. Holds fundraising events, collection of goods, and coordination of Meeting support for and representation to social service organizations primarily in the local community. Administered a modest budget allocation from the Meeting to assist such organizations. Vets social concerns before Meeting for Business. Arranges for speakers to the Meeting on social concerns. [Meets 3rd Firstday; Community House]

The Trustees is the legal body of the Meeting, responsible for Meeting property and invested funds. [Only SSMM members may serve on this committee. Meets as needed]