Why Donate to Westtown Monthly Meeting?

Greetings from Chicagoan Tim Cronister, a member of Westtown Monthly Meeting since 1960.

As a Birthright Quaker who grew up as a faculty child at Westtown School and went on to Haverford College, Westtown Meeting and the values of Quakerism have had a profound influence on how I live my life. As a lifelong teacher who actually never taught at a Quaker school, I have always drawn strength from my roots to educate my students on the importance of giving back, social equity, and peaceful conflict resolution. Without the ability to draw courage and confidence from my Quaker upbringing and the stewardship of the Westtown Meeting, I would never have been able to meaningfully touch my students' lives as I hope I have. Although not living near Westtown for most of my adult life, I have tried to stay connected and committed to our Meeting. The addition of Zoom to attend Meeting has been transformative, allowing me to participate regularly and be on Meeting committees. Zoom has not only allowed me to reconnect more fully, but has also opened my eyes to the daily issues the Meeting navigates. I hope that the perspectives and experiences I share bring light to the Meeting.

I am deeply indebted to the Meeting and hope you feel your own connection to contribute and give back through its annual campaign.

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For 105 years, Westtown Monthly Meeting has provided a safe sense of place for members, attenders, students and visitors, a supportive and forgiving community, an opportunity to share joy and grief, a silent sanctuary for inner searching, and occasions to form lifelong relationships.

Images: (above) Youth: My family performing free children’s theater in Europe, summer 1973, (below) Adult: Volunteer tornado relief work with my students in Joplin, Missouri, 2011.