After breakfast and various early morning activities, Friends gathered for the third plenary session of Annual Session 2009. The day’s business focused on reports from many of NPYM’s standing committees, many of them new additions resulting from the NPYM restructuring efforts.

Following the reading back of minutes from the previous session, the clerks of the ad-hoc Youth Focus Development Committee (YFDC) and the Youth Committee reported on their efforts. After an extensive survey of Friends of all ages in NPYM, the YFDC was able to determine the need to:
-strengthen outreach to inform families everywhere in the yearly meeting of opportunities for fellowship
-strengthen youth education about Quaker process and spirituality
-and increase opportunities for fellowship throughout the yearly meeting.

They also identified four goals for the Youth Committee: improved outreach, access to First Day school curricula, more service opportunities for youth, and connecting more isolated youth to the Yearly Meeting. Due to the economy, the recommendations from the YFDC for this year did not include a request for a fully-funded youth coordinator position. However, the meeting did approve the expenditure by the Youth Committee of up to $1,000 in the coming year to support their work. This may include developing a contact database of youth, planning of an event for youth, or any other need they identify.

The meeting approved the laying down of the Youth Focus Development Committee.

The Youth Committee reported they are up and running, and offered an interest group for youth educators, and have identified the tasks outlined by the YFDC which can be completed by volunteers, and which will require paid staff support. (Please refer to the minutes on npym.org for greater detail.)

Friends also heard a brief report from Western Friend, as well as moving personal reports from Friends in NPYM who have traveled in Africa on behalf of Friends Peace Teams. One Friend shared a quote she heard during her time there last year: “In Africa, there are three causes of trauma: war, being a woman, and being a child.

For the State of Society report this year, Ministry and Oversight synthesized the reports from all of the monthly meetings into a series of reflections grouped under themes such as “We are worried about…” and “Our FLGBTQ Friends….”

After worship sharing considered queries related to communities dealing with hard times, Friends gathered for lunch, followed by a blessed and rare period of free time.

Friday’s afternoon plenary session began with further discussion of the budget. Friends approved the budget. A concern was raised about providing fair financial support to each of the Quaker organizations to which we belong. It also featured a report from Ministry & Oversight, which has finished their first year as a year-round standing committee. They began this year’s Annual Session with a day-long retreat at Missoula Friends Meeting. Among their activities have been an effort to assemble an email list of Ministry and Oversight contacts in each monthly meeting, and working with the Youth Committee to consider the topic of youth membership.

Peace and Social Concerns also reported. They have established contacts within 45 of the 49 meetings and worship groups in the Yearly Meeting. In the course of their work, they also held many fruitful discussions with Friends about the concerns their communities are addressing. They also reported on Friends’ responses to the Minute on Global Climate Change approved last year, and that they are beginning to assist the yearly meeting in seasoning a minute on the conflict in Palestine.

The evening brought exciting changes to Community Night. The first half featured skits and group acts, while individual Friends were invited to share their talents during an open mic format during the second half. Missoula Friends Meeting poked fun at Max Baucus, to the amusement of the crowd, and the Junior Friends brought the house down with their skit titled “Worship Sharing for the Perspective of Junior Friends.” The Awesome Aunties sang songs both moving and hilarious (and sported some of the finest costumes.) The early Elementary children shared their artistic alien creations. Best of all, University Friends performed a hilarious skit about the things that interrupt Meeting for Worship. Talented Friends shared songs and poetry and more!

Saturday morning began with the historic final report from NPYM’s Steering Committee, at the end of which Friends approved the laying down of Steering Committee, with gratitude. A Friend then asked everyone in the room who had ever served on Steering Committee to stand; at least a third of the room was on their feet.
This was followed by the first report from Coordinating Committee. Clerk Elee Hadley highlighted the many ways in which Coordinating Committee differs from Steering Commitee. Though they are still discerning their way forward, they are making progress. Many Friends were excited to hear online registration for Annual Session is in the works for next year. Coordinating Committee is currently seeking Friends to serve on committees considering affiliation with three Quaker organizations: Quaker Earthcare Witness, Friends of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgendered and Queer Concerns, and Friends General Conference. Coordinating Committee met in Seattle in April, on Wednesday of Annual Session, and will meet again in November in Portland.

Friends heard a revised Minute on Torture, and after some deliberation and minor changes, approved the minute.

After worship groups and lunch, Friends again chose from nearly a dozen Interest Group options. A moving Meeting of Memorials followed; Friends present were struck by the incredible tapestry of lives running through our Quaker community, from those who lived long lives and those who did great work in their briefer time.

After dinner, Friends were free to attend the finale of the International Choral Festival on campus. Junior and Young Friends held their annual dance, attended by a number of brave older Friends. A “feast of love” in which Friends were required to ask someone else to feed them from the bountiful array of fruits, candies and snacks. Wisely enough, they laid tarps on the floor before embarking on the adventure. Many Friends donned togas for both the dance and the love feast.