December 29
Book Sharing. Rich Kaufman coordinated a discussion where those present each reported on a recently read book. The subject matter varied widely including a picture book of scenes from States, philosophical and religious subjects, change, and other. The discussion was stimulating and thoughtful.

December 8
Olivia Jean, daughter of David and Amy Zeh Rommel, was welcomed by Penn Valley Meeting into its fellowship. She slept most of the time during her debut. As tokens of welcome she received books and recorded music from those present.

November 24
Karin McAdams and Nancy Moon pre- sented a program on Quakers and racial minorities. In addition to historical notes, they gave Friends present the opportunity to contribute to the discus- sion. The topic aroused much interest and engendered serious and thoughtful discussion.

October 27
Part 2 of the discussion on Forgiveness coordinated by Jim Kenney took up where it left off after the first part of the discussion several weeks ago. Jim reviewed the previous discussion and then the group began to speak of our own experiences in selfforgiveness. In the process, a number of aspects of forgiveness were introduced. A number of Friends commented on the usefulness of these sessions on forgiveness, both for those we forgive and maybe even more importantly for our own peace of mind as we truly let go and forgive.

October 13
Barb Luetke-Stahlman, Penn Valley member now in Plano, TX, brought us up-to-date on activities of the Luetke-Stahlman family. Kent has a good job with Edison in Baltimore; he is in Plano with the family one week out of the month. Barb, Mary Pat (now Trisha) and Marcy live in a small apartment in Plano not far from their schools. Barb has a job she likes very much in the school system. Trisha and Marcy reported on their activities. Trisha attends high school and Marcy is in middle school. Trisha is pleased to have several other deaf students in her school; Marcy has a smaller number in middle school. She enjoys basketball a whole lot. Breeze is attending graduate school in Chicago and Hannah continhues undergraduate work at Kansas State in Manhattan. Both Breeze and Hannah are happy with their schools. It was great to be touched once more by the enthusiasm of this remarkable family. We can wish they were still with us in person, but will get by as long as we can be charged up with a visit now and then.

September 22
A Quaker Education session on the testimonies took place. Four Friends -Terry Matz, Rachel MacNair, John Griffith and Reva Griffith discussed the following testimonies: Equality, Peace, Integrity and Simplicity. Others were invited to share thoughts at the close of the meeting. Those present agreed the presentations and the discussion after were thoughtful and worthwhile.

September 8
Rachel MacNair discussed her recently published book, Perpetration-induced Traumatic Stress: the Psychological Consequences of Killing. She reports the book is selling well. It can be ordered through Greenwood.com. Those present appreciated the report from the author live.

August 25
Kevin Chafin presented a program on Disciplines, written instruments put together by yearly meetings for use as guidance for the ways Friends conduct themselves and their meetings. Kevin read pieces of several disciplines but concentrated mostly on our own. He was moved by the content of the Iowa Conservative Yearly Meeting Discipline and the approach used in expression of its ways. He recommended we do more reading of our Discipline in order to help us be more aware of what we say we stand for.

August 11
Terry Matz discussed her very first attendance at Friends General Conference.

July 21
Friends who were not at Iowa Yearly Meeting but were at meeting used this opportunity to talk about "forgiveness." Jim Kenney moderated the discussion, presenting searching questions about our own experience with forgiving and being forgiven. Those present agreed the discussion was thought-provoking and useful.

June 30
A Portrait of Penn Valley Meeting. Minta led the group in a discussion of the article she wrote for the last Friendly Connection concerned with joys, sorrows and concerns of Penn Valley Meeting. She read some of the quotations she gleaned from her request for personal reasons for coming to meeting. A lively discussion followed with good participation from those attending the program.

June 16
"Love Won Out" conference. In response to the invitation to sign a letter by clergy protesting the conference sponsored by the Focus on the Family group, those present for the program discussed a meeting response to the letter. The purpose of the conference to be held in Pleasant Valley Baptist Church in Liberty was to offer help to gays and lesbians who believe they want to change their orientation. The Lesbian and Gay Center of Greater Kansas City and 75 members of the clergy came out against this activity. The discussion aroused some differences among members of the meeting as to simply signing the letter or writing a letter of our own offering to mediate a debate between the Focus on the Family group and those opposed to their viewpoint. Friends agreed to have more discussion later to decide what action to take.

June 9
Book Sharing. The group that gathered was small in number. However, the discussion time filled as books, fiction and non, were shared by those present. Several of the books shared touched on racism resulting in that subject occupying much of the discussion. Although the attendance was disappointing, those present agreed we need to have a book sharing session again soon so that more people can enjoy taking part in it. Marc led the discussion.

April 28
Since Marilee and Dan Karamanski plan to depart earlier than thought, a farewell party was held instead of the scheduled program. They received gifts and cards to remind them of Kansas City. And it was obvious that they will be missed very much by the meeting and that they have enjoyed their sojourn here. They promised they would visit in the future, probably next October. The meeting wishes them well as they leave for Wisconsin May 15.