Test Post
Test Post
Spiritual Books
Book Exchange Table
Join a Friendly 8s in September
Richmond Friends’ tradition of forming Friendly Eights in the fall will continue this September. Friendly Eights are groups of eight or so individuals who meet
from October to May (or longer!) each year to share a common interest or activity. The groups are a way for Friends to get to know other Friends in a social
setting, which helps strengthen our RFM community.
Typical themes or topics for groups have included book discussions, biking, movie viewing, poetry reading and eating out together. On-going groups include
bird-watching, knitting/stitchery, and quilting. Every year there is an Old Friends/New Friends group started by a long-time RFM member, which usually includes a potluck meal together monthly.
Sign-up sheets for all groups will be posted on the back-foyer bulletin board at the start of September. Anyone can form a new group or sign up for one of the on-going groups mentioned above. The sheets will be taken down at the end of the month, and the groups will begin to meet in October. Some groups remain open to new people
joining at any time during the year. (They are specified on their sign-up sheets.)
If you have questions, please check with Janet Thoroman (Care and Counsel member).
New Hearing Assistance System
The meeting room at Richmond Friends Meeting has a new hearing assistance system for use during meeting for worship. The system picks up vocal messages and sends amplified audio signals to individual listeners using one of three methods:
1. FM Receivers: A new FM system has replaced our old one. This system transmits audio to FM receivers. We currently have four FM receivers. You can use a receiver with either an ear speaker, headset, ear buds, or a “neck loop” (used with hearing aids with T-coils). In general, the FM receivers are the simplest way to use the system. Some experimentation may be required to choose the optimal speakers for your ears. If you have hearing aids, you can try using an FM receiver with an “over-the-ear” headset. We will not make earbuds available; you can bring your own (generic earbuds cost $5-15, custom-molded ones are more expensive).
2. Cellphones with Wi-Fi: The new system can send (“stream”) vocal messages to any device receiving Wi-Fi, typically a cell phone. Streaming audio to a cell phone allows you to connect to hearing aids using a Bluetooth connection. The cell phone needs to be set up with an app, connected to the audio server, and set to turn off cell phone reception.
3. Hearing aids with a T-coil: A hearing aid with T-coil can receive audio directly from the “loop” under the floor. This method uses the loop we have had for many years. Note: A hearing aid with a T-coil can also be used with an FM receiver and neck loop. Reception is likely to be better with an FM receiver/neck loop than with the floor loop.
Once we start using the Wi-Fi audio system, those present in meeting for worship are likely to be aware that Friends using hearing assistance are setting up and adjusting cell phones. In the past, cell phones have not been in use during worship. Phone service will be turned off on cell phones used for hearing assistance during worship.
With the adoption of the new system, the guidelines for Friends offering a vocal message during worship have not changed: stand if you are able to, and speak your message loudly and clearly to the facing bench or center of the room. The new system cannot compensate for messages offered in a very quiet voice. Also, the closer you are to a microphone, the better the amplification through the hearing assistance system will be.
Friends familiar with the hearing assistance system will be available at rise of meeting occasionally to provide help with setting up and using both the FM receivers and cell phones connected to Wi-Fi. Individual help will be available on request. For more information contact Denna Joy, Scott Morrison or Jim Thoroman. If you have special needs or concerns with regards to hearing assistance at Meeting, please contact Care and Counsel.