MEMBERSHIP AND OUTREACH COMMITTEE 

The Membership and Outreach Committee (M&O) has two primary functions: shepherding the Meeting membership process, and organizing outreach opportunities among Meeting members, attenders, newcomers, and the wider community.

Membership

It is the responsibility of the committee to keep the community informed about the process and spiritual significance of Meeting membership. To this end, M&O maintains a document which elaborates on the meaning of membership in Ann Arbor Monthly Meeting.

Committee members create opportunities for attenders to discuss questions about Quakerism and the Meeting, and invite people to consider membership. The committee is particularly responsible for encouraging young adults who retain their junior membership to consider whether they wish to apply for full membership. 

All new applications for membership are referred to this committee. On receiving a membership application, M&O arranges a clearness committee to meet with the prospective new member and appoints a convener for this committee. In the event that the clearness committee recommends Meeting membership, the recommendation is brought to Meeting for Worship with Attention to Business by the M&O Committee.

Community Outreach

M&O organizes opportunities for members and attenders to get to know each other and to deepen their sense of connection to the Meeting community. M&O organizes greeters at the door for Sunday worship, and coordinates welcome activities for newcomers and those interested in learning more about Friends; these activities can include discussions on what it means to be a Quaker. The committee is also responsible for outreach to the local community beyond the Meeting.

Examples of past and possible outreach activities:

  • Hosting Seeker series
  • Hosting “What Does It Mean To Be A Quaker?” discussion evenings.
  • Coordinating Young Adult Friends dinners
  • Assisting with Newcomer Library
  • Providing handouts about what to expect in Meeting
  • Organizing Family Fun Days
  • Celebrating new members
  • Sending holiday cards to members who have moved
  • Reaching out to absent friends
  • Sending care packages to college kids 
  • Reaching out to college students on campus 
  • Coordinating “smallworld” community-building partners
  • Organizing Friendly Eights groups
  • Ordering and organizing name tags
  • Facilitating directory and email list sign-ups