The Outreach Committee began its work in February 2008 and has tackled a number of issues in the months since. Our work, which took its foundation from the Philadelphia Yearly Meeting’s recommendations on outreach efforts, focuses not only on how to make the profile of the Downingtown Friends Meeting larger and more vibrant in both the general Quaker community and the greater world of Downingtown and Chester County, but also on how to increase the sense of welcoming, encouragement, and explanation for those “friends” who walk through the meetinghouse door for the first time.

To that end specifically, the committee developed and has printed a welcome brochure that we give to those guests who come to Meeting for the first time. Among other information, the pamphlet asks newcomers what interests they have, and directs them to send any questions to one of our committee members. We have found that the brochure helps keep the Meeting in newcomers’ minds, and that it also establishes a point of contact between the Outreach Committee and our guests.

The brochure, as well, contains information on how to find information about DFM through our new website. The website, of course, is among the Meeting’s most innovative outreach tools developed in the past several years. The Outreach Committee would like to thank all of those who have been involved in its development and expansion because we have learned that many of our guests first come to DFM though its pages.

The point of contact effort among committee members also extends to follow up information about our guests. We track the number of new guests who come each week, and whether or not they return – adding in as well what their interests are in the Society of Friends and a little of their personal situation, such as their family and where they reside. We believe that these efforts have led to a number of people gaining more of an understanding of Quakerism, and to solidify their desire to join our community. The recent “Quaker Orientation” classes that we held over six weeks in the spring, taking their cue from previous sessions held by the Worship and Ministry Committee, have contributed to the encouragement we give new attendees, as well.

In terms of working to raise our visibility in the community, the committee has worked on a number of fronts. We have developed a protocol available to other committees to publicize events at the Meeting – such as Brown Bag luncheons or special appearances, including the Nickel Mines presentation and the Eyes Wide Open display. We have also made contact with other denominations and peace churches in the area, including he Unitarian Universalist congregation in West Chester, and other Quaker meetings in the county to discuss with them the idea of outreach.

Our efforts have also resulted in the delivery of a letter to Philadelphia Yearly Meeting explaining our experiment with the visitor brochure that was featured in a recent publication of the PYM journal. The letter was also sent out to other Meetings in PYM and that there is a sense that our efforts have been greeted with excitement by many.

We're looking ahead to other projects in the coming months, including applying for a grant from Philadelphia Yearly Meeting, which has money available for outreach purposes. That effort may include discussions of new signage along Lancaster Avenue to heighten the public’s awareness of our presence.

There is work being completed to place racks in the Meetinghouse entranceways containing informational pamphlets and photo albums that can introduce members to one another and to our visitors, and to create a “visitor friendly” atmosphere in the entranceway and parking area, so as not to discourage attendance.

We also plan to oversee the display of the Quaker Way booth at the annual Friends Fall Festival to insure that this vehicle for bringing our community to the attention of others does not fall short. Discussion is progressing on whether to offer a class on Quakerism to those in the community who are not necessarily looking to join our Meeting but who would like to know more about us.

We thank the Meeting for allowing us to continue our work towards fulfilling the goals of our mission statement:

“Our mission is to expand the presence of Friends and Friends’ principles in the larger Community and to foster a vibrant, welcoming and spiritual Meeting community with appeal to a growing membership.”

Submitted May 31, 2009

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