UPS&DOWNS May, 1999

REMINDER OF ANNUAL MEETING
MEETING GROUND ANNUAL MEETING
at CLAIRVAUX FARM in Earleville, MD
Sunday, May 23, 1999 (rain or shine)
3 p.m. Business Meeting
4 p.m. Service of Celebration
5 p.m. dinner
There is no charge for supper, but it would help us to plan if we know you are coming. Phone: 410-275-2936  e-mail: info@meetingground,.org

A NEW VOLUNTEER

Barbara Dugan, who hails from Harrisburg, PA, has volunteered as a full-time worker at Meeting Ground for a year. This outgoing woman, who says she likes working with people and who trained volunteers for Delta Housing in her home state, moved into the Farmhouse at Clairvaux Farm in early May. A mother of four grown children and a grandmother of four who range in age from three months to eight years, Barbara began making herself useful almost the minute she arrived.

She found Meeting Ground through the Presbyterian Church, who sent her information about options for volunteering that met her criteria of being within the United States, serving homeless persons, not being too far from her home in Pennsylvania and being near the water, which she loves. Her parents are both living and in good health, but not being too far away seemed like a good plan. After her telephone and on-site conversations with workers here, she made plans to come.

She brings a variety of experiences to our work. Church has always been important to her, but the degree of participation has varied with her life circumstances. Since the death of her husband, she has completed 50 hours of training as a Stephen minister, an achievement that designates her as a lay minister and has prepared her and other church members in various denominations to be caring friends to members within their congregations, and perhaps later to others in need in the community.

Delta Housing, where she worked with volunteers, was a two-year program for young mothers which provided housing to mostly homeless women. Barbara recently has agreed to train Meeting Ground volunteers in sessions that are scheduled to begin soon.

Barbara's positions in the the business world have also included technical posts, such as supervising claims in a dentist's office, for one, and have often involved working on teams. Her church participation has involved leadership assignments on the Stephen ministry team and in her Bible study group. She has probably already discovered there is no shortage of work at

Meeting Ground.

HAPPY WEDDING DAY TO SCHAUNEL STEINNAGEL, Program Coordinator at Clairvaux Farm, whose marriage is scheduled for June 19.

WAYFARERS' HOUSE NEWS

WELCOME to Kristen. FAREWELL to Gayle, Robin, Joan and Layla.

CONGRATULATIONS to Sebastian on his first visit from the Tooth Fairy, to Yong on her May birthday and to Michelle and Jessica on their new jobs.

More congratulations to Mandy and Linda on receiving their Level III certificates representing attendance at twenty-four sessions of the parenting group, and to Jong, who received her Level I certificate.

A Nutrition class, provided by the Extension Service of the University of Maryland and focusing first on health and safety in food preparation, began at Wayfarers' this month. It meets on Monday evening from 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. and is open to all residents.

THE RAINBOW FUND, which is to provide emergency medical assistance to homeless persons, has been established recently by contributors who hope their initiative will spark more contributions to this fund. It will provide urgent medical and dental care for which other money or help is not available to homeless persons and their families. If you wish to help, designate your contribution for "Rainbow Fund," Meeting Ground, P.O. Box 808, Elkton, MD 21922.

ALL (100%) of the gifts to The Rainbow Fund will go to emergency medical assistance to homeless persons.

A list of SPECIAL NEEDS at this particular time follows. You may recall that this is the season when work groups come to help at Meeting Ground, but did you know they PAY for the privilege?

WISH LIST:

Fruit Drink Mixes
Canned Food, especially vegetables, soup, meats, tuna (#10 size, large cans are very helpful)
Sheets, pillows, blankets
Trash bags (33 gal.)
Insect repellent spray
Disinfectant floor cleaner
Toilet paper
Coffee, sugar
First Aid Supplies
Non-aspirin pain reliever
Laundry and dish soap
Paper napkins and towels
Flashlights and batteries

GROUPS AT WAYFARERS'

Sun., 4 p.m. Chapel at the Farm (Transportation at 3:15 p.m.)
5 p.m. Dinner at the Farm
Mon., 2-4 p.m. Dr. Aaron sees residents
Tues., 9 p.m. House Meeting
Wed., 10 a.m. Art Group
6:30 - 7:30 p.m. Parenting Group
Thurs., 7:30 p.m. Bible Study