BYM Annual Sessions 2026
July 27 - August 2, 2026
Hood College, Frederick, MD
Living in Harmony with the Earth and Each Other
Annual Session Speakers
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Nadine Hoover
Nadine will lead our Pre-Sessions Retreat, taking place Monday, July 27th and Tuesday, July 28th.
Nadine Hoover of Niagara River Meeting in New York, is a life-long Quaker, AVP facilitator since 1978, and conscientious objector to war. She is active with Friends Peace Teams and a founder of the Asia West Pacific Regional Team. Nadine authored Walking in the World as a Friend: Essential Quaker Practices with QREC and Creating Cultures of Peace: a movement of love and conscience, and edited The Power of Goodness: Art and Stories for a Culture of Peace and Justice (2nd Edition). She is a graduate of George School and Friends World College, former Secretary of SEYM, and former FGC Bookstore Manager.
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Evan Welkin
Evan will deliver our Opening Plenary on Tuesday, July 28th at 7:30pm.
Evan Welkin is a member of Olympia (Wash.) Meeting of North Pacific Yearly Meeting. While living in Italy, he joined the staff of the Friends World Committee for Consultation, Europe and Middle East Section (EMES) and the FWCC World Office facilitating the Global Quaker Sustainability Network. In July 2024, he was appointed executive secretary of the FWCC Section of the Americas.
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Valerie Brown
Valerie Brown is an author, Buddhist-Quaker Dharma teacher, facilitator, and executive coach specializing in leadership development and mindfulness practices with a focus on diversity, social equity, and inclusion. A former lawyer and lobbyist, Valerie transformed her high-pressure, twenty-year career into serving leaders and nonprofits to create trustworthy, authentic, and compassionate workspaces. Valerie is the author of several books, including Hope Leans Forward (2022) and Healing Our Way Home: Black Buddhist Teaching on Ancestors, Joy, and Liberation (2024).
Annual Session Resources
For questions about Annual Session, please contact the Annual Session Program Committee at program@bym-rsf.org. For help with registration, please contact Lucy Azenga at LucyAzenga@bym-rsf.org
Latest Annual Session News
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The BYM Peace & Social Concerns Committee will be bringing three Minutes to Annual Session Meeting for Worship for the Conduct of Business. Learning & discernment is happening NOW!
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Bookstore Seeks Vendors & AuthorsThe Annual Session used bookstore seeks:
- Gently use books of all kinds
- Gently used Quaker t-shirts and tote bags
- Vendors to consign their arts and craft
- BYM authors for a special book signing events at the bookstore!
Used books and items can be dropped off or mailed to the BYM office. To sign-up as a vendor or BYM author, please email bookstores@bym-rsf.org. -
Young Adult DaysWe know it can be hard for earlier-career professionals and young families to get to BYM Annual Session during the workweek. On Friday and Saturday of Sessions this year, we'll have dedicated spaces and programming to welcome younger adult Quakers. Saturday "up and back" carpools are being organized from DC and Baltimore.
Business Documents for Consideration
Email Advance Reports for Business Consideration to YMclerk@bym-rsf.org and GenSec@bym-rsf.org.
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Advance report postal mailed to all BYM Meting on June 4, 2026
Annual Reports of BYM Committees & Working Groups
Email reports to Admin@bym-rsf.org.
