Advancement and Outreach Committee
The Advancement and Outreach Committee consists of nine members, with one-third appointed each year. The committee usually meets once a month. In addition to carrying out the concerns and activities of the Baltimore Yearly Meeting Advancement and Outreach Committee that are applicable to the Monthly Meeting, responsibilities of the Monthly Meeting Advancement and Outreach Committee include:
Welcome and nurture of seekers, new attenders, and visitors to our Meeting, specifically:
- planning for inspirational meetings, securing speakers, encouraging Meeting members and regular attenders to attend retreats, conferences, visitations, and arranging for other activities that will increase the knowledge of members and attenders of Friends' concerns;
- obtaining and maintaining materials for Meeting members and regular attenders to use for increasing their knowledge of Friends' concerns and principles and for nurturing their spiritual growth;
- greeting visitors following the rise of Meetings for Worship and providing and maintaining a guest book for visitors to sign;
- sending postcards to visitors thanking them for coming and offering help or information or suggesting a Meeting near their residence;
- keeping the table and bulletin boards in the Meeting House neat and up-to-date;
- maintaining the literature shelf in the Meeting House where pamphlets, newsletters, note paper, etc. are displayed; and
- assuring that appropriate outreach materials are displayed in the Community House for various events.
Outreach to the wider community (increasing the public awareness of Sandy Spring Monthly
Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends and maintaining and enhancing communication
channels with the public), specifically:
- posting notices in newspapers and periodicals about meeting times and our location;
- conducting seekers sessions for those who are unfamiliar with Quaker practice;
- providing speakers, when requested, at community and school events;
- providing materials for our Website;
- maintaining an answering machine that gives information about our Meeting; and
- participating in planning for Chesapeake Quarterly Meeting when it meets at Sandy Spring.
