Baltimore Yearly Meeting Annual Session 2008

Monday, August 4 - Sunday, August 10

Frostburg State University

• From the Clerk
  
• Opening Retreat
  
• Junior Yearly Meeting
  
• Young Friends Program
  
  • Young Friends Schedule [PDF]
    
   
  
• Daily Events
  
• Evening Programs
  
• Workshop Descriptions
   
  
• Frostburg State University
• Housing
  
  
• Advance Reports
  • Committee Reports
  • Organization Reports
  • Budget Information
  
  
• Forms and Downloads
  • Schedule of Sessions [PDF]
    
  • Registration Form [PDF]
  • Charges [PDF]
    
  • Letter of Understanding
    
  • Medical Release Forms [PDF]
    

Since 1672, Baltimore Yearly Meeting Friends have come together every year to worship, to seek clarity, to support each other, and to act positively on the world around us. These opportunities are available to you at every turn at our Annual Session, from morning til night.

Although Friends’ silent way of worship can seem rather solitary, we have always desired to take on the joys and responsibilities of being together for our own growth and enjoyment, but also to strengthen our witness. For adults, our day begins with a refreshing worship sharing or Bible study time in small groups after breakfast. Next comes Meeting for Worship with Concern for Business, where we gather to tend to the administration of Friends’ affairs, while renewing and deepening our individual and corporate spiritual lives. Afternoon activities include a range of workshops and interest groups that offer many choices for learning and sharing Quaker approaches to important issues. You might also visit the Quaker book and crafts store, or attend a Quaker organizational presentation. Engaging evening speakers and recreational activities full of music and fun fill out an active schedule.

Childcare is available for infants and toddlers. For our young children there are morning classes full of exploration. Afternoon activities, from swimming to arts and crafts, ensure that children will be supervised and entertained. Other programs range from an all-age celebration to movies to outdoor games. Parents are responsible for taking children to class, picking them up before lunch, and ensuring that their children are enrolled in a program or are with the parent. Children may not be on campus unsupervised.

Children in rising sixth through rising eighth grades are part of the Junior Yearly Meeting (JYM) and have classes and activities of their own.

High school-aged teenagers (Young Friends) gather from Tuesday to Sunday in their own dorm. Young Friends (YF), Friendly Adult Presences, and the BYM Youth Secretary cooperate in a community based on caring, trust, and love. Young Friends hold their own Meetings for Business and workshops, and invite everyone to their nighttime Produce Department sessions and to the Saturday evening Coffee House. Young Friends should sign and submit the “Letter of Understanding” in the registration portion of this Interchange, if they will be on campus anytime during the week.

Are you thinking of trying us out for the first time? Each Monthly Meeting can offer three certificates for attendance at Annual Session for two free nights. If you have never attended Annual Session and would like to take advantage of this, please contact your Monthly Meeting Clerk or Ministry and Counsel Committee. Do not contact the BYM office, please.

After our week together, Friends will find they have a deeper relationship with Quaker values, a stronger skill set of Friends’ practices, and new ways of being a meaningful part of their Monthly Meeting community. Welcome to BYM Annual Session!

All Annual Session Attenders should read the Gathering Expectations carefully. Please indicate that you have read these expectations by signing the bottom of the front of the Registration Form. Please note that Young Friends need to read the Gathering Expectations as well and sign the Letter of Understanding.

At Baltimore Yearly Meeting, we are a community of Friends living in the discipline of the Spirit. Attenders of all ages are asked to observe a level of conduct appropriate to Friends’ principles; to take care that all of their personal behavior is bound by a respect for the sensitivities of all, including those of the host community; and to remember that our individual actions reflect on the Religious Society of Friends.

As a Religious Society, we profess a belief that God endows each human being with a measure of the Divine Spirit. [BYM Faith and Practice, 1988, page ii.] We cannot permit violent physical, verbal or other behavior that we find, through corporate discernment, violates that Divine Spirit. Those in our midst whose behavior disrupts program activities and/or threatens the physical and emotional safety and integrity of another will be asked to leave. (The full policy statement regarding registered sex offenders is available from the Yearly Meeting office.)

Parents and sponsors are expected to be actively responsible for their children at all times. Attenders are asked to help make a safe and supportive community for all children. If unable to function within the guidelines of the community, any attender may be asked to leave. Alcohol and illegal drugs are not permitted at Annual Session. Recognizing the addictive nature of tobacco, we strongly discourage its use.