Young Friends

During the week of Annual Session, YF’s gather from Tuesday to Sunday in dorm style housing on the campus of Frostburg State University. The daily routine is much fuller than at a regular conference, and YF’s are welcomed into the larger Yearly Meeting community for several all-age events. This year the schedule will allow YF’s to join some YM workshops, and YF’s are invited to all evening lectures. (Workshops and “lectures” are described in this issue of the Interchange. Check them out.) In addition to the many community events, the YF’s will participate in a series of workshops that are exclusive for the YF community. If you’ve have never attended Annual Session before, some of the information in the Interchange may seem confusing. If you have questions, contact the Yearly Meeting Office, the Co- Clerk of Youth Programs, Ted Heck, or Young Friends BYM Co-planners, Avery Rain, or Alex Hayden. Read through all of the information in this Interchange to learn more…

EVERYONE must pre-register. (Complete forms found a little later in this section and mail to BYM office.) If you realize that you can make it after the June 25 deadline, PLEASE CALL the Yearly Meeting Office. YFs are welcome to register for just a day, or for a few days.

PLEASE NOTE THAT to be on campus at all, YOU MUST REGISTER. Please check the registration hours listed earlier in this Interchange. Please look for Ted Heck or Tom Horne if you show up on campus and are not registered.

Financial assistance

First apply to your Monthly Meeting Clerk for assistance. The Yearly Meeting will match your Monthly Meeting contribution and will ask to you to make a contribution to the Scholarship Fund. Please, call or email the Yearly Meeting Office with requests for financial assistance before June 25, 2007.

Opening & Exec Retreat

YF’s who are outgoing and incoming Executive Committee members should arrive Monday evening (July 30) to prepare for the week. During this preparation time the group will receive direction on how best to assist the YM planners throughout the week during daily meetings, with food planning, and in organizing activities. YFs who are not executive committee members, but arrive before the dorm is open (Tuesday, July 31) need to remain with a parent or guardian until dorms officially open for YF's. WORSHOPS: YFs will participate in three workshops from three different workshop leaders. This year our theme for workshops will explore Nurturing the Seeds of Hope. Information on the workshops will be made available in a summer mailing.

See the YF Schedule of Events and information about the Produce Department.

Letter of Understanding (For Young Friends Only)
Among Parents, Guardians, or Sponsors, Young Friends, and Baltimore Yearly Meeting

Those Friends under age 18 who will be living in the Young Friends dorm at Baltimore Yearly Meeting Annual Session must have a parent, guardian, or sponsor on campus. Young Friends whose parents or guardians will not be attending Annual Session need to find a sponsor; and a parent or guardian, the sponsor, and the Young Friend need to read and sign this letter and fill out the information requested. A sponsor should be over age 35 and must be over age 25. In case of a medical or other emergency, the sponsor needs to be able to accompany the Young Friend to off-campus facilities if necessary. For this reason, people serving as Friendly Adult Presences at Annual Session may not be sponsors for Young Friends.

In addition to the Young Friends gathering expectations, which will be read several times at Annual Session and are available in the Young Friends Handbook, all Annual Session Attenders should read the following Gathering Expectations carefully. Please indicate that you have read these expectations by signing the Letter of Understanding below.

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.

Parents/guardians and/or sponsors must:

• Notify the Young Friend if she or he expects to be off campus at any time.
• Accompany the Young Friend for any medical attention required.
• Meet with the Executive Committee, in the event that the Young Friend displays inappropriate behavior.
• Make travel arrangements, in the event that the Young Friend must leave Yearly Meeting.
• Find another sponsor and secure a signature on the “Letter of Understanding” by this person, in the event that the parent or original sponsor must leave Yearly Meeting unexpectedly, and notify a Baltimore Yearly Meeting staff person or a Friendly Adult Presence.