Today marked the first day of NPYM’s Annual Session in Corvallis, Oregon on Oregon State University’s campus. Friends were blessed with cool evening breezes and a yellow full moon, which the Junior and Young Friends used to their advantage during a wide-ranging game of Capture the Flag. (see photos in the Flickr photostream)
Before dinner, some Friends gathered to consider business at Steering Committee as others trickled in, found registration and found Friends. During the evening plenary sessions, visiting Friends from Northwest Yearly Meeting, Friends Peace Teams African Great Lakes Initiative (AGLI), Friends General Conference, and many other places. NPYM’s new Ministry and Oversight Committee was also introduced, and Friends learned they would be able to find these weighty Friends by their garb. Clerk John Allcott said, “by their ties ye shall know them.” (See photos.)
Friends had their first opportunity to consider the NPYM budget and the changes to NPYM structure proposed by the ad-hoc Structure and Implementation Committee (SIC.) Friends noted that the new structure would come with more responsibility, expressed excitement for supporting the spiritual life and sense of community among children, and raised concerns about costs associated with adding another day to Annual Session. The conversation will continue in interest groups and informal discussions over the next day and a half.