Western Quarterly Meeting Summary
First Day, January 22, 2012
About 30 Friends gathered at Newark Meeting for the first Quarterly Meeting of 2012. Friends Heather Sowers of London Grove MM, Cynthia and Robert Lawling of Lancaster MM and Mary Lou Hatcher of Lehigh Valley MM lead a presentation and discussion on the impact of “fracking” for natural gas in the Upper Susquehanna Quarter of Pennsylvania. Last autumn, about a dozen Friends from PYM travelled to Tioga County to learn more about this issue and its impact on residents of the area including members of Wellsboro MM. In October, 2011 Western Quarter hosted a meeting on the more technical sides of fracking with Professor Tim Kelsey, PhD. from Penn State University.
During this most recent Quarterly Meeting four topics were addressed: 1) Risk management of current drilling; 2) Socio-economic impact on the community; 3) “Not in my backyard” — i.e. we can say “no” , but how does it affect others when the burden falls on them; 4) The protection of Mother Earth.
Overall, presenters emphasized the following points:
*** A central risk is when the operations do not work the way that the gas and oil companies mean them to work. Pennsylvanians are essentially guinea pigs; Natural gas is considered “green” and “clean”, but is it really?;
*** Some people agreeing to fracking believe that they have no choice; that the land around them is being ruined so before their land becomes useless, they sign drilling contracts;
*** People living in the fracking areas feel very much alone – e.g. the PA EPA is not taking a strong stand in favor of the residents and their quality of life;
*** Fracking is not going to stop, but it can be responsibly regulated and slowed down. For example, state and national forests can be excluded from drilling;
The following organizations have an active interest and involvement in the issue of fracking in Pennsylvania and beyond:
www.lehighvalleyquakers.org
www.marcellusfacts.org
www.pym.org
www.fcnl.org
www.palwv.org
In order to support the Quaker concern of the impact of drilling in the Marcellus Shale, Western Quarter has agreed to:
- Support our Co-clerks in writing a letter of solidarity with Friends at Wellsboro Monthly Meeting and the surrounding area;
- Compose and circulate a Minute from WQM for Monthly Meetings to endorse. (This minute will be sent out to MMs under separate cover.)
Other news: Quaker Quest is beginning on First Day, 2/26 at London Grove and West Grove MMs – check www.localquakers.org or contact these meetings for more information.
William Jackson Fund/Friends Education Committee scholarship deadline is 3/15/12. These funds assist students from the Quarter who attend Friends Schools. Pat Horrocks is the Clerk.
Wednesday, 2/1/12 is the Program Planning Committee meeting for the next QM.
Tuesday, 2/14/12 is the next Interim Meeting for the Quarter. Business of the Quarter will commence at 7 pm at Kennett MM.
Respectfully Submitted,
Annamarie Medeiros,
Recording Clerk for Western Quarter
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