Summary Report of My Outburst at the Lake Worth Quaker Business Meeting on Sept 10, 2023

I’ve had many revelations since this apparent “bad” event took place. The goal of this writing is not those revelations but to accurately report what occurred on that day.

The Palm Beach Quaker meeting meets at 823 N A St, Lake Worth, FL USA.

After morning worship and lunch, there was a decision to hold the business meeting even though some key people were absent. The first item of business was to ratify the minutes from the previous month. The Clerk (John Palozzi) said “do all agree to this summary report of last month’s minutes”? 

It was at this point that I said: 

“I am not in agreement with the statement that COVID rates are rising in Florida. Before I could agree with such a statement, I would need to confirm at least the following:

1. the existence of the Corona Virus

2. The infectiousness of the Corona Virus

3. Evidence that there is a working test for the Corona Virus

It was at this point that Atlanta Chuck said “Oh jesus”

Then the Clerk said: “This is not the time or place to debate the reality of COVID.

To this i said: “but you called for agreement on last month’s minutes and I do not agree with a statement in those minutes. I do not wish for it to look like all of us have engaged in uncritical thinking and accepted that statement without examining it’s accuracy… by the way, Atlanta Chuck: “why did you say ‘oh jesus’ after I spoke?”

To this Atlanta Chuck said: “Quit making trouble”

I replied: “I’m not making trouble. I’m serious about the truth and it greatly concerns me that everyone here is accepting this statement into the record without any examination or commenting that the statement is closer to belief than fact until scrutinized.

The clerk then said; “terrence, I’m going to have to ask you to leave”

I replied: “And I’m going to have to ask you to suck my dick”

The clerk said; “Ok, I’m calling 911 to have the police remove you”

I replied: “What kind of coward are you to rely on the police? Why cant you just talk to me?” As I said this, i moved directly opposite him and looked him in the eyes.

The clerk put away his phone. I sat down.

Margie Brittenham interceded and stated that there are in fact Quaker processes for assessing the accuracy of statements but this part of the business meeting was not designed to address it. 

The clerk stood up and spoke in a loud tone towards me. I said: “have a seat’. He continued to speak loudly and move towards me. I said: “lower your voice” The clerk continue to speak loudly and move towards me, saying “I’m giving you a taste of your own medicine.” Eventually he did go sit down at which point I went on a maniacal rant about how everyone in the business meeting was a hypnotized zombie that was suffering from mind control. 

Eventually I left, calling the Clerk a coward and the last thing I said was ‘oh by the way, I thought the master power was silence” and exited the building.

Sunday evening:

Sunday evening I wrote

John (the clerk), i realize that you may or may not have bigger fish to fry than what i am asking about in this email. But my question to you for right now is:

One week ago on Sunday at around 10:25am I went over and disconnected the audio from the zoom webinar because there was a lot of chatter on the Zoom call and i felt it was disturbing the people in the room.

Do you feel that this behavior was acceptable and do you approve of it being done again? If not what alternative course of action do you recommend?

- T

John wrote back:

Terrence,

Personally I regret not being in the room at that time to monitor the Zoom -- I stretch myself too thin.

I would have muted them or said something, I'm sure.

I do not like for there to be chatter and noises before Worship begins.

As for if it was appropriate for you to disconnect the audio, technically, no, but I understand why you did and I'm not upset about it.

As for it being done again -- I hope that situation will not repeat itself.

I'm a little surprised you even asked -- I doubted whether you would return to Meeting after today -- after all, why would you want to associate with a bunch of ignorant, arrogant losers (and all the other things you called us as you were going down the stairs) like us who threatened to call the cops on you???

I was going to email you to ask for you to make an appointment with me to come pick up your things you left on the counter.

Let me be very clear: you are not welcome to attend Meeting for Business if you cannot conduct yourself accordingly. 

You continue to interrupt the meeting, month after month, with one "concern" or another that you find not to your liking.

IT IS ONE THING TO VOICE YOUR OPINION, IT IS ANOTHER THING TO INSIST THE MEETING AGREE WITH YOU.

This was the second time we were forced to close meeting early because of your ranting about COVID.

There will not be a third.

JOHN

Monday  morning

The next morning, the following email exchange took place. 

John

I left a large plastic vase there that I was hoping you could fill with additional plant cuttings before next sunday.

The two small glass jars could also have a small cutting each in my opinion.

Thanks

Terrence

John replied:

Terrence,

Did you not read my reply yesterday from your email asking about turning off the sound on Zoom?

Now you're asking for more cuttings and implying you will attend next Sunday?

You can come during the week to pick up your book and vase and cuttings, just let me know what day you plan to come. I will have them in a box on the bench outside waiting for you.

I suggest you find some like-minded polyamorous, flat-earthers, COVID-deniers to hang out with.

To come and sleep for an hour in the recliner on Sundays does not a Quaker make you. You exhibit no knowledge of living the Testimonies, Quaker process, or respect for Meeting.

After the way you disrespected the people, the place, and the process yesterday with your passive-aggressive behavior, your swearing and name calling in the Worship Room, and your disruption of Meeting for Business, you are no longer welcome to attend Meeting.

You have behaved disruptively in the past, but we have given you more chances. Yesterday was your last straw -- the one that broke the camel's back.

Let me know when you want to pick up your things BEFORE Sunday or let me know if I should just discard them.

John Palozzi, Clerk

Conclusion and Notes

On Sunday evening, the Clerk wrote “you are not welcome to attend Meeting for Business if you cannot conduct yourself accordingly. On Monday morning he wrote “ you are no longer welcome to attend Meeting.” 

I am inviting the Clerk as editor of this document to make some clarifications about the entire document, but especially about the Sunday evening and Monday morning comments we see above. The clarifications requested are:

1. On Sunday, the statement was placing conditions on attending the Business meeting. But on Monday the statement was: “you cannot attend business meeting or worship”. This raises several questions:

1. The Monday morning reply starts off saying “Did you not read my reply yesterday from your email asking about turning off the sound on Zoom? “ and one wonders why a previous reply stating certain conditions for participation would equate to not being allowed to participate at all.

2. What changed between Sunday evening and Monday morning for the Clerk to change a warning about behavior in business meeting into a permanent ban from all activities on Monday?

Clarification by Clerk:

My mistake.

I meant to to say "Meeting" in the first email -- not just Meeting for Business.

Please do not press the issue.

You outlived your welcome at our Meeting.

John Palozzi, Clerk

Request to understand the Clerk’s communication:

About 1 month after the clerk wrote the above on Sept 13, 2023, I was curious about a few things in his email to me. Here is what I want to write:

Regarding your comment “Please do not press the issue.” 

1. Why do you not want to discuss the issue further?

2. What happens if I continue to request information about this ban?

Regarding “You outlived your welcome at our Meeting.”

1. Who determined that I outlived my welcome?

2. How was it determined that I outlived my welcome?

3. Hopefully it was not just you making a unilateral decision, given that you said *our* meeting not *my* meeting.

Now, a few general questions about Palm Beach Quakers:

1. How often are the nominations for new officers? When is the next election of officers?

2. Is this considered a permanent or temporary ban? 

3. Who owns the property at 823 N A Street? What is your relation to these parties?

Now a few general questions to you:

1. Why did you withhold your judgements about how I attended meeting for so long? I attended meeting and feel asleep during the silence for months and you had nothing to say about it.

2. Do you believe in casting permanent personality judgements?

END OF DOCUMENT