YOUNG FRIENDS GENERAL MEETING (YFGM) Redland Friends Meeting House, 6th - 8th October 2000 Minutes Present: Co-clerks: Sarah Donaldson Co-convenors of Overseers: Michael Grimes Anne Pommier Carolyn Forrest Treasurer: Andy May Officer of Outreach: Nick Sturge Convenor of Officers: Chris Elliott Co-ordinator Linda Batten Convenor of Nominations Committee: Jane Cowling Monthly Meeting Representatives Brighouse: Robyn Kearns Bristol & Frenchay: Keith Holmes Marion Penn Cambridge & P'borough: Alia Ganaposki Colchester: Maud Grainger Natasha Gawlinski Hannah Leavett Hardshaw East: Aidan McCartney Hardshaw West: Harry Kingham Lancaster: Helen Close Leeds: Claire Middleton Guy Milner Leicester: Mary Muers Lewes: Sarah Elliott Hugh Williams Luton & Leighton: Rachael Veazey Northumbria: Tom Spence North of Scotland: John Fairweather North Somerset & Wilts: Tim Hudson Ali Ghanem North Wales: Anna Jones Norwich & Lynn: Richy Rushmer Nottingham: Paul Sladen Pontefract: Anne Pommier Reading: Simon Best Shropshire & Worcester: Dawn Fowler Sarah Donaldson Theresa Hudson Alice Drewery Matilda West Settle: Anna Watson South Wales: Ruth Wood Thaxted: Helen Evans West Devon: Paddy Uglow Wirral & Chester: Flip Bridges Charlotte Burrell, Paul Bailey, Jason Barton, Anna Benedikz, Lizzie Benedikz, Adam Boulter, Rowan Burrough, Richard Cairns, Ellie Colyer, Mike Eccles, Owen Evans, Bryony Evens, Richard Evens, Ben Fairweather, Hugo Finley, Daphne Fisher, John Fitzgerald, Manas Ghanem, Nicky Grimes, Ceri Hillas, Judi Hodgkin, Stan Jiun Yih, Barbara Johnson, Paul Levy, Clare Lockwood, Alice Lynch, Will Miles, Alice MorningStar, Naomi Morris, Jenny Moy, Anja Nuttin, Daisy O'Flynn, Ben Parker, Nick Perks, Jonti Ruell, Edd Sellman, Jenny Shellens, Simon Shepherd, Ella Speirs, Hester Speirs, Mike Stokes, Juliette Stoller, Jessica Thatcher, Katy Turquoise, Robin Vanner, Stephen Wolfenden, Tim Wooliscroft. TOTAL: 86 + 3 children 00/34 Opening Minute We welcome each other to our General Meeting in Bristol. We especially welcome Linda Batten, our new Young Friends Co-ordinator, and our visitors from overseas: John Fitzgerald and Barbara Johnson from Ireland and Manas Ghanem from Syria. 00/35 Jamboree Report The Jamboree Committee has reported on the Jamboree this summer, held in the Peak District on the theme of 'All you need is love'. It was a successful event although the numbers were disappointing. This, together with the lack of fund raising, means that it has made an estimated loss of £540 which has been covered by the surplus made on previous years' events. It has also been pointed out that the numbers attending Jamborees have steadily declined over the past few years. 00/36 Summer Events in 2001 A concern was brought to Officers which has led us to consider the possibility of holding a pilgrimage for Young Friends. Such a pilgrimage would be a structured, time-tabled opportunity to explore our spirituality and the roots of Quakerism. Northwest 1652 Committee also wrote to Officers offering to help Young Friends explore our roots by visiting 1652 country. Irish Young Friends have also expressed an interest. We are very excited by this idea and we plan to hold a pilgrimage in the next 18 months. We will not organise a Jamborette in 2001. A special interest group this afternoon will explore the issues in more detail.. We encourage anybody interested to attend this special interest group. We ask Nominations Committee to bring forward names for the Pilgrimage planning committee. The planning committee should bear in mind that there will be a residential Yearly Meeting in 2001. 00/37 Finance Report We have heard from Finance Committee that our finances are in a healthy position and that the committee are looking into ways to make the best use of our resources and how to invest them in the mean time. They are in the process of transferring the Employment Fund from the Co-operative Bank to the Triodos Bank as they have a better reputation for ethical banking. We agree to change the examiner for the General Fund Account and the Consolidated Accounts for 1999 from Mark Sanders to John Phillips of Central Edinburgh PM and we appoint the following examiners to the following accounts in 2000: General John Phillips Central Edinburgh PM Employment Ethel Livermore Streatham PM Appeal Alistair Cooke Leeds, Carlton Hill PM YQ Dave Moll Pardshaw PM Events Paul Gibson Littlehampton PM Pardshaw Rod Harper Hampstead PM 00/38 Report from the Officers, Overseers and Quintessential Summer Weekend We have heard a report from the Officers, Overseers and Quintessential Summer Weekend which covered business items, team building and social time. Moving the weekend from the winter to the summer was a very positive step because it helped bridge the gap between May and October General Meetings. 00/39 Quaker Values in Education 'Education: Our Spiritual Concern' is a group that have been working on issues surrounding Quakers involved in all aspects of learning and education. They have asked us for a response to their work, and we have had the chance to share our personal experiences of education and some of our thoughts on the complex issues involved. It is clear that we do feel that Quakers have something to offer in this area, although we have conflicting ideas on the best ways for us as a Society to contribute. We append the notes made in this meeting to the Minutes and send them to 'Education: Our Spiritual Concern' with our support. 00/40 Quaker Action on Alcohol and Drugs Helena Chambers, the development worker from Quaker Action on Alcohol and Drugs, has led us in a consideration of how we use alcohol. After a thought provoking introduction from Helena we spent time in small groups discussing issues around social drinking. It is important that we find our own way, and that we are honest with ourselves. We particularly appreciated the chance to think about why we do or do not drink, and about the relationship between alcohol and our spirituality. This has been a challenging exercise as alcohol can serve a number of purposes in our lives. We thank Helena for taking the time to be with us. 00/41 Meeting for Sufferings Report Alice MorningStar and Adam Boulter, our representatives to Meeting for Sufferings have told us a little about their role and how Meeting for Sufferings works. Some of the issues they are currently involved in are Membership, Sanctions on Iraq and Green Issues. We thank Alice and Adam for giving us a clearer idea of the way in which we fit in the Society of Friends as a whole, and how we can input into the decision making processes. We encourage any interested Young Friends to talk to Adam or Alice about these and other relevant issues. 00/42 Quintessential Update Quintessential have reminded us of their role in upholding the business method in our meetings. They have also informed us of changes in the process for bringing issues forward for the YFGM Agenda. Quintessential will now take a more active role in this procedure. We hope these changes will lead to even better prepared business items. 00/43 Nominations We agree to appoint the following people to the following posts and release from service the people mentioned below and thank them for all their work. Position Person appointed Period Released from service Convenor of Officers Carol Robinson 3 years Chris Elliott Overseers Ben Parker 2 years Michael Grimes Guy Milner Robin Vanner Hannah Leavitt Quintessential Alia Ganaposki 3 years Alice Lynch Alice MorningStar Anna Carter Richie Rushmer Mike Eccles Children & Young Peoples Maud Grainger 3 years Sarah Donaldson Committee Representative Representatives to Quaker Life Anna Watson 3 years Jenny Shellens Representative Council Nicky Grimes Nicky Grimes Representatives to Quaker Peace Clare Lockwood 3 years Clare Lockwood & Social Witness Rep. Council Ruth Todhunter Ruth Todhunter Nominations Committee Rowan Burrough 2 years Jane Cowling Pardshaw Treasurer Paul Sladen 3 years David Carter* Appeal Treasurer Jenny Shellens 3 years Anna Benedikz* Events Treasurer Marion Penn 1 1/2 years Daphne Fisher* Co-ordinator's Support Group Ella Speirs 1 year Ella Speirs Paul Levy Robyn Kearns Summer Event 2001 Committee Alice Drewery 1 ½ years NA Mike Stokes Nick Perks Jamboree 2000 Committees NA 1 year Adam Boulter Rachel Bryers Rowan Burrough Will Miles * Term finishes in February 2001 on completion of Accounts 00/44 Management Group Report Management Group has reported on its recent activities. After a visit from the Inland Revenue we have now paid the proportion of our last Administrator Edd Sellman's taxes which go toward military expenditure. We consider this matter now closed. Management Group is setting up a small group to consider how to use information technology appropriately for communication and business. We welcome Linda Batten to her new post and hope Young Friends will take advantage of her availability for outreach work. 00/45 Appeal Update Since we have no current appeal, we note that donations will continue to go towards the charities supported by SASSA (Supporting Adult Survivors of Sexual Abuse) as minuted in Lancaster (Minute 00/18). We encourage Young Friends to bring forward concerns for a new appeal. 00/46 Disability Special Interest Group A special interest group session was held on Disability and Quakers' response to it. Although there has been some progress, those present shared experiences of resistance within the Society to attempts to improve access and expressed frustration at that resistance. 00/47 Change of Signatories We authorise the following people as signatories to the following accounts. Appeal Account: Jenny Shellens (Appeal Treasurer), Sarah Donaldson and Anne Pommier (Co-clerks) Events Account: Marion Penn (Events Treasurer), Mike Stokes and Nick Perks (Events Committee) Pardshaw Account: Paul Sladen (Treasurer) 00/48 Young Quaker Magazine Report We agree to raise the basic subscription price of YQ to £10 per year from 1st January 2001. We look forward to hearing more about YQ's future plans at our February meeting 00/49 Volunteers We thank the following people for agreeing to undertake the following jobs at YFGM in Newcastle on 16- 18 February 2001: Off floor Accommodation: Tom Spence Janitors: Jenny Shellens and Maud Grainger Caterers: Jenny Moy and Simon Shepherd Pan Transport: Richard Evens and Tom Spence 00/50 Closing Minute This has been an eventful weekend with lots of energy in lots of directions and we have covered a range of issues both in and out of business sessions. We thank Jane Cowling for the dedication she has given to the role of convenor of Nominations Committee and for her courage and discernment. We much appreciate Michael Grimes for the energy, passion and hard work he has brought to the co-convening of Overseers, and we also thank Chris Elliott for his presence as convenor of Officers. Thanks to all the volunteers who have made this event possible especially our caterers Hannah Leavitt and Tim Hudson, and our janitors Paul Sladen, Simon Shepherd and Daisy O'Flynn. We ask for guidance as we work towards supporting each other, in business and as friends. Signed in and on behalf of Young Friends General Meeting Anne Pommier Sarah Donaldson Co-clerks Appendix to minute 00/39 Quaker schools condone private education. This goes against Quaker values of equality. Pressure should be put on BYM to close Quaker schools Most of the state education system in our society is limiting. Any alternatives have to be private because state funding doesn't exist. Quaker schools are simply not radical enough. We need as many radical educational alternatives as possible BYM should put forward suggestions on how students' individual spirituality can be nurtured in state schools. Current laws on corporate religious services cause many difficulties in schools. Quakers should look not just at values but at methods - how to nurture spirituality. This is an educated Society (RSofF). That is true education, not simply knowledge taught in schools. Quakers have historically been radical about education. We should all strive to make free and equal access to knowledge a reality everywhere Quakers provide exceptionally good outside school education, especially for young people (through CYPC and QYT). There are types of education where the sole aim isn't grades - this isn't always clear, and it is important to remember it.