MAINTENANCE  TECHNICIAN  JOB  DESCRIPTION

BEN LOMOND QUAKER CENTER

MISSION STATEMENT

“Quaker Center seeks to nurture the spiritual growth and faithfulness of Friends and others, while strengthening Quakerism and its witness in the world. We offer programs and personal retreats exemplifying Friends’ testimonies of community, integrity, simplicity, peace, and equality. We strive to live in right order with all creation, especially with the redwood forest that sustains us here in the Santa Cruz mountains.”

The Maintenance Technician is responsible for performing routine and periodic maintenance tasks, making improvements to the buildings and grounds, and implementing the preventive maintenance program for Quaker Center. This is a full-time position and should require an average of 40 hours per week. Because it is a residential “on call” position, however, these hours will not be restricted to any scheduled time.

The Maintenance Technician reports to the Center Co-Directors and works in coordination with them and the Buildings and Grounds Committee, establishing long-range plans, developing the maintenance and capital improvements budgets, and reviewing and amending the preventive maintenance program.

Job Responsibilities:

• Take care of the shop, tools, equipment storage areas and Quaker Center vehicles.
• Make general repairs.
• Train and manage a part-time maintenance assistant.
• Maintain the water system, and be able to respond effectively to changing water system regulations.
• Maintain Quaker Center’s septic and fire systems.
• Collect and haul all trash and recycling.
• Design and draw plans for new facilities, in cooperation with builders, architects and government agencies.
• Submit applications for building permits and respond effectively to government mandates relating to the physical facilities at Quaker Center.
• Select qualified contractors using objective and explainable criteria, and supervise these contractors and their work.
• Orient and train new employees, and supervise their work in regard to maintenance duties.
• Maintain the roads and trails.
• Cut and store firewood.
• Perform periodic housekeeping tasks as needed.
• Coordinate and supervise work projects and crews of the annual workcamp, and provide support as needed to other Quaker Center camps.
• Attend all Buildings and Grounds Committee meetings.
• Keep Center Co-Directors informed about work completed and scheduled.
• Attend weekly staff meetings; clerk and take notes as part of a rotation of meeting roles/ responsibilities..
• Attend BLQCA board meetings when maintenance/buildings and grounds issues are being discussed, as requested.
• Assume the time-critical functions of the Director(s) in their absence.

Qualifications:

• Possess good mechanical aptitude, and the knowledge and skills necessary to perform the stated job responsibilities.
• Willingness to work toward Level 2 water treatment certification (preparation to begin immediately upon hire).
• Be able to prepare and submit applications for planning and building permits and to respond effectively to mandates and requirements from government agencies regarding the facilities at Quaker Center, induding insurance compliance, claims, state water board reporting, etc.
• Be able to design and draw plans for new facilities, in cooperation with builders, architects and government agencies.
• Be able to select qualified contractors using objective and explainable criteria, and supervise their work.
• Be in good physical condition.
• Able to perform the physical motions necessary to operate a variety of mechanical equipment.
• Able to climb tall ladders.
• Able to lift up to 90 pounds.
• Have a valid driver’s license.

Since this is a service position in a Friends organization it is desirable for the maintenance staff to be familiar with and sympathetic to Friends values, beliefs and practices. Moreover, since the maintenance staff represents Quaker Center to the outside community it is also necessary for him/her to demonstrate commitment to Friends’ testimonies of simple living, non-violence, equality, community and responsible stewardship of the environment.. Membership in the Religious Society of Friends is not required.

Compensation

• Semi-monthly pay dates based on an hourly wage determined by skills and experience
• Housing at 1000 Hubbard Gulch Road, Ben Lomond, CA 95005 and utilities, including telephone and internet.

Term: Three-year commitment, renewable by mutual agreement, with a six-month probationary period.

Nondiscrimination Policy: Applicants will be considered without reference to age, gender, sexual orientation, race or religion.

MADE IN GOD’S GREEN IMAGE

SISTER CONFIANZA & FRANK GRANSHAW

May 5 to June 2, 2022 Thursdays at 10 a.m.

ONLINE

“God created the human being ‘in his image.’ Therefore the type of dominion that humans are called to exercise over creation will be the same as that which God exercises over all that is created, a dominion based on care, respect, and love..”
-Argentinian Methodist Church 

“Creatures… (are) sanctified by the Word which was in the beginning, by which all things are upheld; wherein is unity with all Creation.”
-George Fox

“There is hope for a tree, if it is cut down, that it will sprout again, and its new shoots will not fail.”
Job 14:7 (NIV) 

The Creation stories in the Bible describe a God who creates, tends, and joys in the natural world. Genesis 1:26 says that humans are made in God’s image. What does that mean to us as Quakers and fellow human beings? How do we live it out? This program will explore relevant Bible passages, celebrate nature, and learn some of the science of climate change. Participants will have the opportunity to share thoughts and experiences around environmental issues and take steps toward climate mitigation and resilience. We will hear about creative solutions from around the world, including rural Honduras where Sister Confianza lives, and the COP26 summit in Glasgow where Frank was a Quaker Earthcare Witness observer.

There will be some music, as well!

THE PROGRAM LEADERS:

Sister Confianza del Señor is a professed nun at Amigas del Señor Methodist-Quaker Monastery in rural Honduras. Care of Creation is a core value of the Monastery since its founding in 2006; the Sisters raise pineapples, chickens, and other foods sustainably. They are also involved in planting trees in their deforested neighborhood. Sister Confianza has been published in Western Friend magazine and The Upper Room devotional, and co-authored Giving Up Something Good for Something Better with Sister Alegría del Señor. She currently leads a weekly Bible study on Zoom.

Frank Granshaw is a “retired” community college geoscience instructor, a glacial geologist by training, an insufferably proud grandpa, a bit of a sustainable technology nerd, and a Quaker from Portland Oregon.  In regards to the latter, Frank and his wife, Annette, have on several occasions been observers to UN climate conferences with the Quaker Earthcare Witness delegation, and he is a member of the advisory board to the Creation Justice Program of Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon.  Frank also teaches climate science for non-science majors at Portland State University and a regular participant in legislative advocacy teams through EMO, Union of Concerned Scientists, and the American Geophysical Union.

2022 Program Calendar

A new year, and a new kind of calendar, with both in-person events and online weekly series. Our in-person activities will make use of various measures to help keep one another safe. We hope that our online programs will continue to bring Quaker Center to a wider circle.  More events will be scheduled for 2022; visit www.quakercenter.org and get on our mailing list. All times Pacific.
January 18 to February 8, Tuesdays at 11:00 a.m.	The Heart of the Quaker Way – a weekly online series of four 90-minute sessions This course will look at the essential elements of the Quaker way, outlining the ideals of Quaker community life as well as its challenges. We’ll have plenty of time for questions and discussion. Equally suitable for newcomers or those with many years of experience.	Ben Pink Dandelion
January 28-30     February 4 to 25, Fridays (time TBA)	Being Truly Seen and Heard – A Couples Enrichment Weekend (in person) Nurture and deepen your relationship through communication exercises, couples dialogue, worship and laughter. Practice addressing conflict in ways consistent with Quaker values. Make good relationships even better.   Spiritual Deepening Approaches – a weekly online series of four 75-minute  sessions Come learn & play at this spiritual development & creativity workshop! This is an opportunity to build compassion and understanding of yourself and others using wisdom from the Enneagram and creative expression through Soul Collage. An Enneagram self assessment will be made available for participants in advance of the workshop; there will be time for sharing and deep listening in a safe and affirming environment.	Kathy and Jeff Richman     Jeanne Haskel and Susan Wilson
February 25-27	Gratitude, Pain, and Transformation: Grieving and Dreaming (in person) Towards Right Relationship with the Living World. A weekend of spiritual deepening and discernment toward right action on behalf of our Living World. Using Joanna Macy’s The Work That Reconnects, as experienced through a Quaker lens, we will support one another with worship, experiential and contemplative practices, evocative queries, journaling, collage, discussion, and deep listening, creating ways to support our faithfulness once we’re home.	Mary Ann Percy and Maia Wolff
March 3 to April 7, Thursdays at 6:30 p.m.	Clerking with Joy and Confidence – a weekly online series of six 90-minute sessions A Spiritual Practice in Worship, Service and Leadership. New to Friends, or want a touch-up? All are welcome to this clerking workshop. Each Thursday, Barbara will facilitate and bring in guest presenters on the basics of clerking, seeking Unity, dealing with challenges, and modern-day clerkships in our evolving Meetings.	Barbara Babin and Friends
April 22-24         May 3 to 31, Thursdays at 10:00 a.m.	Deep Listening, the Heart of our Practice (in person) What could it mean, what could it bring to ourselves, our Meetings, our relationships, to listen so deeply that we might move past our conflicts and come together in Spirit, in Wholeness, in Relationship? In this experiential workshop we will learn about and practice deep listening, build trust and have some fun along the way.   Made in God’s Green Image – a weekly online series of five 90-minute sessions Creation stories in the Bible describe a God who creates, tends, and takes joy in the natural world. Genesis 1:26 says that humans are made in God’s image. How do we live that out as Quakers? We’ll explore relevant Bible passages, celebrate nature, and learn some of the science of climate change. We’ll have the opportunity to share thoughts and experiences around environmental issues and take steps toward climate mitigation and resilience. We’ll hear creative solutions from around the world, including rural Honduras where Sister Confianza lives, and Frank’s experience as a COP-26 observer for Quaker Earthcare Witness.	Tom Rothschild         Sister Confianza and Frank Granshaw
June 18-25	Quaker Service & Art Camp (in person) Kids’ Camp returns at last. Rising fifth to ninth graders will learn about Quaker faith and practice, share time in nature, and build community through art and service, campfires, singing, games, hiking, and more. Let your light shine at Quaker Center camp!	Quaker Center and camp staff
August 2-7	Family Work Camp (in person) Come one, come all, and spend time in the redwoods working with friends on a wide range of service projects (all ages welcome, no experience required). When we’re not working, we’ll be having fun, sharing meals, singing, swimming, playing, hiking, worshiping, and relaxing.	Jesse Keesaw and Quaker Center staff
Every Wednesday 10:00 a.m.	Wednesday Worship Sharing on Zoom Join Co-Director Bob Fisher and Friends from around the world as we respond to queries based on short readings. Queries and links on our website. A wonderful mid-week hour.	Bob Fisher

Practices for Supporting Faithfulness Retreat

October 25-29, 2021

 Pacific Time                           Eastern Time                     Hawaii

Monday afternoon:                  

1:00-2:30 p.m.           4:00 – 5:30 pm                   10:00 – 11:30 am

Monday evening                      

5:00-6:30 p.m.         8:00 – 9:30 pm                     2:00 – 3:30 pm

Tues/Wed/Thurs/Fri morn:    

10:00-11:30 am         1:00 – 2:30 pm                7:00 – 8:30 a.m.

Tues/Wed/Thurs/Fri afternoon:

1:00-2:30 pm         4:00 – 5:30 pm                10:00 – 11:30 am

Wed evening:                              

5:00-6:30 p.m.       8:00 – 9:30 pm               2:00 – 3:30 pm

Monday Afternoon

            Introduction, Giving Over, Going Deeper, and Our Heart’s Longing

Monday Evening

            Faithfulness, Evoking Questions, and Awareness of the Divine in Our Lives

Tuesday Morning

            Faithfulness Groups and Discernment Trios (Evoking Question Practice)

Tuesday Afternoon

            Faithfulness Group session #1 and Debrief

Wednesday Morning

            The Refiner’s Fire and The Divine Companion With (and In) Us      

Wednesday Afternoon

            Faithfulness Group session #2 and Debrief

Wednesday Evening

            The Movement of the Spirit Among Us

Thursday Morning

            Holy Accompaniment and Faithfulness Group session #3

Thursday Afternoon

            Faithfulness Group session #4 and Tender Heart

Friday Morning

            Mutual Support and Holding One Another in the Light

Friday Afternoon

            Concluding Words, Worship Sharing, and Meeting for Worship

WORKING SCHEDULE

(ALL TIMES ARE PACIFIC TIME)

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24        
5 – 6:30 p.m.
RULES OF WRITING: Made To Be Broken?              
Welcome/Introduction/ Panel/ Q&A                              

THURSDAY        

9 – 10:30 a.m.
GENRE session:
(three groups: FICTION; NON-FICTION & POETRY)

11:30 – 12:45 p.m.
CROSS – GENRE session: (whole group) 
Nancy:   “What can poetry & poetic language do for every writer?”

2 – 4:00 p.m.                                
SOLO WRITING

FRIDAY      

9 – 10:30 a.m.
GENRE session:
(three groups: FICTION; NON-FICTION & POETRY)       

11:30 – 12:45 p.m.
CROSS – GENRE session:  (whole group) 
Dwight:  “Vision, Character/ Theme Development”

2 – 4:00 p.m.                                
SOLO WRITING

7 – 9:00 p.m. ? (optional)
*EVENING READING: Multi-Genre Jam*

SATURDAY

9 – 10:30 a.m.
GENRE session:
(three groups: FICTION; NON-FICTION & POETRY)

11:30 – 12:45 p.m.
CROSS – GENRE session: (whole group) 
Bob:  (working title) “The Naked Narrator”

2 – 4:00 p.m.                                
SOLO WRITING

SUNDAY                                      

9 – 10:30 a.m.
WORSHIP SHARING 

5-DAY RETREAT FEES

Fees are on a sliding scale: Comprehensive rate, Standard Rate and Reduced Rate. Scholarships are also available; no one will be turned away for inability to pay our fees. We appreciate your careful consideration regarding your contribution.

Amount 

$100.00 Reduced rate; covers our expenses and sometimes a bit more.

$150.00 Covers our direct costs, including honorarium for presenter and elder

$200.00 Comprehensive rate: including staff time, long-term maintenance of the facilities.

Monthly Meeting Yearly Pass (Check with your Monthly Meeting for availability)

Individual Yearly Pass (Contact Quaker Center if you would like to learn more about this)

Other

I am requesting a scholarship, please contact me.

Click here to register
for Promptings of the Spirit!

November 18-20, 2019

with Ben Pink Dandelion

Register here.

View program flyer.

“… the kingdom of heaven did gather us and catch us all, as in a net; and his heavenly power at one time drew many
hundreds to land [from the sea of the world’s nations], that we came to know a place to stand in, and in what to wait in, …”

Edward Burrough, 1634-1663

How do we make our Meetings vibrant and Spirit-led when we are all so busy, and beset by the worries of the world? How do we realize our gifts in a secular world? Quakerism is facing many challenges, not least the increasing secularisation of wider society, individualism and the growing disinclination to join organisations, and our own internal hesitations about how to present the Quaker tradition to newcomers and enquirers. The world seems to be heading away from our values and the demands of daily life combined with Quaker commitments can feel overwhelming. This course will try and put our collective spiritual quest in perspective and offer some suggestions for lightening our load and nurturing the spiritual life within our Quaker communities.

Both courses will be centered around talks but with some small group sharing. Worship will frame our time together. No prior knowledge or experience is required and participants need only to bring their curiosity.

About the Workshop Facilitator

Ben Pink Dandelion is a member of Pendle Hill Area Meeting, part of Britain Yearly Meeting. He has worked at Woodbrooke Quaker Study Centre since 1992 and currently directs their postgraduate program. He has written and edited a number of devotional and academic books on the Quaker way and the history, theology and sociology of Quakerism. He gave the 2014 Swarthmore Lecture Open for Transformation: being Quaker and also wrote the
companion volumes celebrating the Quaker Way and Living the Quaker Way. This is his first visit to Ben Lomond.

with Margaret Sorrel and Dinah Bachrach

October 27-29, 2017

Registration closed
Program flyer

“We need to understand the worship that is more in our everyday life that is manifested more by efforts of love and of devotion to truth and righteousness. We need to consecrate ourselves more to God and to humanity and less to forms and ceremonies and to ritual faith. It is time that Christians were judged more by their likeness to Christ than their notions of Christ.
~ Lucretia Mott, 1849

Please join us to explore the theology, spirituality, and activism of two Quaker human rights radicals, nearly
contemporaneous in their long lives, and consider their contributions both to America and to Quakers. We
will examine the lives of Quaker Abolitionists such as Coffin and Mott, and the theological ideas that
inspired them (and that they in turn used to inspire others).

As we look at the history in which these Quaker mentors were ensconced, we will consider their relevance
to our present situation in the latter part of the second decade of the twenty-first century. Discussions
about mid-19th century history and theology, relevant to the life and witness of Mott and Coffin, will be
encouraged. In addition to spending time in large group discussions, we’ll also break into smaller groups
for discussion and integration.

Stephen Angell and Carole Spencer wrote articles relevant to this workshop that we hope you’ll read before
you come. You can access them (and a number of other articles on Quakers) with this link:
https://christianhistoryinstitute.org/magazine/issue/quakers/

About the program leader

Stephen W. Angell is the Leatherock Professor of Quaker Studies at the Earlham School of Religion. He is also the author and editor of many books and articles on Quaker studies and African-American religious history, including Black Fire: African American Quakers on Spirituality and Human Rights (with Hal Weaver and Paul Kriese; Quaker Press of FGC) and the Oxford Handbook of Quaker Studies (with Ben Pink Dandelion; Oxford University Press). Making his home in Richmond, Indiana, he lives in the same county (Wayne) that was home to Levi Coffin during many years of abolitionist activism. Lucretia Mott is a weighty presence in many courses that he teaches, including “Quakers and the Bible.” And he loves to sing the Lucretia Mott song!