Minutes of Europe and Middle East Young Friends Annual Meeting 1999 held at Quaker House Brussels, from October 15 to 17
Present: Becky Calcraft (Clerk), Anna Sharman, John Myers, Aidan McCartney, Mike Eccles, Chris McCartney, Jude Kirton-Darling, Heather Rowlands, Greta Hopkins (Recording Clerk), Anton Evdokimov, Anne Jakel, Friederike Biermann, Sophie Buxton, Ulrike Fillbrandy, Ina Springer, Jan Caspers, Birgit Felleisen, Anja Nuttin, Carmen Holdsworth, Anne Biermann, Dave Bekkering.
We welcome Annual Meeting to Quaker House, Brussels. We especially welcome Heather Rowlands our new EMEYF Secretary, and warmly thank David Gee for all his excellent work as Secretary. We received greetings from the following who are unable to be with us this weekend: David Gee, Emily Miles, Lotte Biermann, Anke Caspers, Eva Ronhaar, Philip Weir, John Crowther, Klaus Huber, Robin Kendon, Tessa Fairweather and Petra Mauersberger.
We reminded ourselves of what EMEYF does by listening to EMEYF's current entry in the FWCC handbook.
We are reminded of the importance of using clear and simple language. We will do our best to translate for those who need it.
We were reminded of the principle of the Quaker business method. We recognise the importance of silent as well as spoken contributions.
A number of documents are available for reading over the weekend: EMEYF Annual Report 1998; Among Friends; Around Europe; Willy and Penn; World Student Christian Federation newsletter.
Annual Meeting appoints Anna Sharman, Aidan McCartney, Anne Biermann and Jan Caspers to Nominations Committee this weekend.
Anja Nuttin read the Spring Gathering 1999 report and epistle to us. The gathering was held in Russia on the theme of ``caring for ourselves and others''. We thank the planning group for their hard work and for their report.
Ulrike Filbrandt told us about the forthcoming German Young Friends' New Year Gathering which will be held from December 28 1999 to January 2 2000 in Bad Pyrmont, Germany.
Aidan McCartney reported that the Ireland Yearly Meeting Youth Committee are also meeting this weekend. Irish Young Friends are compiling a new outreach leaflet. Recently, a group of Irish Young Friends' went to meet Young Friends in North West Yearly Meeting in the US for 2 weeks. The visit included a conference on the role of Jesus Christ in 21st century Quakerism. They also recently held the third over 18's gathering. Irish Young Friends' New Year Gathering will be held in Sweden from December 28, 1999 to January 6, 2000.
Anton Evodkimov reported on the Russian Young Friends' Summer Gathering which was held on the theme of ``nature''. Russian Young Friends appreciated EMEYF Spring Gathering being held in Russia. There are a few Young Friends in Moscow but most Russian Young Friends live in Novgorod. Young Friends in Novgorod are hoping to open a Young Friends House, with the assistance of Friends House Moscow. The next Summer Gathering will be on the theme of the next millennium.
Although there are at least 5 Young Friends in Belgium, there are no organised activities. Several Young Friends living in Belgium have been active in Young Friends' activities in Britain.
John Myers explained the basic structure of Young Friends in Britain. In February, Young Friends General Meeting decided to do more outreach and inreach. There was a session on Quaker testimonies. European Quaker Programme Assistants were invited to YFGM in May. British Friends held an enquirers gathering last October in parallel with YFGM which was very successful. British Young Friends also hold social gathering known as Jamborees or Jamborettes. Anna Sharman told us about Pardshaw Young Friends Centre in the Lake District. She also informed us about the Young Friends' Appeal. This year the appeal is provided support for and raised awareness about adult survivors of child abuse.
Anja Nuttin told us that there are several keen Young Friends in Norway.
Jan Caspers reminded us of Young Friends in Denmark. Although there are no organised activities there , some attend events with German Young Friends.
EMEYF expressed its desire to promote contact with Young Friends in areas such as Scandinavia and Central and Eastern Europe. Young Friends are encouraged to attend any activities they hear of in there ares. We discussed the possibility of sending EMEYF representatives to such events, bearing in mind our financial and human resource limitations. EMEYF asks the Clerk to contact the Section Travelling Friends, to them to speak to Young Friends that they meeting on their travels about EMEYF. We also encourage individual Yearly Meetings to send representatives to meeting Friends in countries where there are few or isolated Young Friends. We hope to discuss outreach in more details in our workshop this afternoon
Aidan McCartney reported that EMEYF Spring Gathering g2000 will be held in the Lucan Centre, near Dublin, Ireland from April 18 to 24, 2000. The planning group will meet in in Manchester from November 5 to 7, 1999.
We would like Spring Gathering to be held in Sweden. We recognise that there are no Young Friends in Sweden are currently active in EMEYF bit we hope that this would help strengthen our links with the region. We undertake to contact Swedish Young Friends this weekend to discuss this possibility.
Becky Calcraft gave us the background on EMEYF's involvement with the Dina Van Dalfsen Legacy, Annual Meeting 1999 expressed enthusiasm in a gathering with both a spiritual and a practical exploration of the Peace Testimony. We hope this could include Alternative Violence Project (AVP) training and discussions of racism. We ask Nominations Committee to come up with 3 names for planning to organise a gathering in Summer 2000. We ask the planning group to consider language issues carefully.
Anne Biermann has brought us up to date with our finances. in 1998 and 1999 up to now we have spent approximately the same as our income but our financial situation is still not secure. We note that is was not possible to raise money for the representative to Kenyan Gathering in 1997. Fundraising for any future events must be done before the event takes place.
We note that the 1998 Irish Account (Treasurer's Account) has not been examined and that all records except the final accounts are missing. The accounts can therefore not be examined. We ask all present and future Treasurers to keep records of all transactions safely.
We approve the budget for 2000 and encourage active and regular Fundraising. We thank the Treasurers for their work.
Anja Nuttin presented to us her report on QCEA Council. She informed us of the review process that QCEA is currently engaged in. We discussed how EMEYF could contribute to this process, and how we can give Anja guidance in her role as QCEA representative. We encourage Friends to talk to Anja, and we will come back to this issue later this weekend.
Becky Calcraft reported that the publication of our newsletter, Willy and Penn, on a twice yearly basis is going well. We thank Emily Miles and Klaus Huber for their continued editorship. We are encouraged to offer contributions for the next edition by November 15, 1999, which Emily will be editing. We encourage people to translate or seek translation for their articles. We note Costya Kuzmin's request for translations into Russian, and thank him for his offer of help.
The Elders have made an effort to attend EMEYF gatherings throughout Europe. They remind EMEYF that they are will be to be approached in their role as Elders. Elders can also offer informal pastoral support for Programme Assistants. We thank Jan Caspers and Friederike Biermann for their continued efforts.
Anne Biermann and Becky Calcraft have offered to draft a fundraising booklet for EMEYF, in include the annual report, a brief report from the Clerk and Gathering Contact Person and the annual accounts. This booklet will be sent to all current andpotentiall donors to offer a fuller picture of EMEYF's activities.
Birgit Felleisen reported back to Annual Meeting on this afternoon's workshop, where we considered the publication of a new outreach leaflet. We have compiled a list of what we wish to include in such a leaflet, and we ask our Secretary Heather Rowlands, to draft the text in English and to liaise with Anton Evdovimov and Kolya Fomin regarding layout and illustrations. The draft will then be presented to Communcations Committee in Spring 2000 and, when approved, the text will be translated into 4 other languages. We hope that the leaflet will be used not only by the Secretary in Brussels but can also be distributed by individual Young Friends and sent to Yearly Meeting Clerks. Once completed, we shall include a copy of the leaflet in ``Willy and Penn''.
Birgit Felleisen reported on ideas for EMEYF outreach, which were discussed at this afternoon's workshop. Becky Calcraft will write an article for Willy and Penn based on this list. We ask the coming Clerk to approach the EMES Secretary and the Travelling Friends.
Further to minute AM 99/16, Anja Nuttin assures she feels clearer about her role as QCEA Representative. We entrust Anja to speak on our behalf at QCEA Council, and we hope she will keep us informed about the issues. We reaffirm our support and appreciation of Programme Assistants. We encourage Programme Assistants and the EMEYF Representative to QCEA to seek clarification about the decision-making structures of QCEA.
Annual Meeting makes the following appointments:
We thank Nominations Committee for their work.
Birgit Felleisen has offered extra assistance with fundraising upon request.
We ask the Treasurer and Charitable Treasurer to nominate people living locally to examine the EMEYF accounts and for the nominations to be approved by Communcations Committee.
Annual Meeting 2000 will be held at Quaker House, Brussels from October 13-15.
EMEYF is grateful for the hospitality of those at Quaker House, and we thank QCEA for letting us use their premises. We especially thank Heather Rowlands for all her hard work, and Jude Kirton-Darling and Chris McCartney for all their delicious cooking. EMEYF thanks Becky Calcraft for all the time she has give to EMEYF and welcomes our new Clerk Aidan McCartney.
Signed in and on behalf of EMEYF
Becky Calcraft (Clerk)
Greta Hopkins (Recording Clerk)