Young Adult Friends at Quakercamp

YAFs_lunch_07_W.jpgYoung Adult Friends played a central role in the first Quakercamp held in Barnesville in June 2007.  Since the World Gathering of Young Friends held in Lancaster, England, in 2005, YAFs from many different yearly meetings in North America have been exploring ways to create new shared opportunities for experiencing God's work among them and to connect with YAFs from other branches of Friends. 

Remembering and learning from YFNA.  A YAF movement that originally included Friends from all branches of North American Quakerism existed during the 1950's into the 1980's.  This was called Young Friends of North America.  Large gatherings took place with up to 250 YAFs in attendance.  These gatherings had a powerful impact on those who took part, in many case deeply impacting their journey with God through out their lives. 

Pam_lookingat_ruth.jpgYAFs today were interested in learning from the successes and mistakes of YFNA earlier.  When these YAFs learned that a YFNA reunion would be part of the first Quakercamp last summer, they expressed interest in making 2007 gathering both a remembering of YFNA and an opportunity for envisioning a new Young Adult Friends movement.

Andrew Esser-Haines, Emily Stewart and Rebecca Haines Rosenberg were active members of the 2007 Quakercamp planning committee.  YAFs attending the gathering were housed on 2 floors of the boy's dorm at Olney. 

YAF_on_lawn_w.JPGYAF activities during Quakercamp.  YAFs gathered many times during the week to continue their own process of prayerfully envisioning and planning for building a new YAF movement in North America. The results of these deliberations can be read in the YAF Epistle written at Quakercamp.  This included carrying forward plans for a cross-branch gathering of YAFs being held in Richmond IN in May 2008 and steps towards creating a cross-branch planning for a larger national Quaker gathering later on, perhaps in summer 2009.

betsy_andrew_gazebo.jpgFuture YAF activities.  For more information the Memorial Day weekend gathering, go to YAF Richmond Gathering.  The planning group for this gathering includes YAFs from all 4 major branches of Friends.  A pdf file of the flyer for this gathering is also available from this link: printable Richmond flyer.  Please consider posting this at your meeting!

Micah Bales, a member of Great Plains YM (FUM) and a student at Earlham School of Religion is contact person for YAFs interested in Quakercamp 2008.  You can email Micah Bales if you have questions about this summer's gathering.

20th Anniversary (yes - Rise Up Singing is 20 years old!) Singalong Concerts & Workshops

June 22-28, Barnesville OH Quakercamp at Stillwater.

June 28-July 5 FGC Gathering, Johnstown PA. Annie will lead a singing workshop for women, noon sings & a closing sing on Friday.

Aug. 10, Berkeley CA Evening concert at the Berkeley Friends Meeting at 1600 Sacramento St.. For more iinformation, contact Bryan Uhlenbrock.
Aug. 15, Ben Lomond CA Afternoon workshop on songleading at Quaker Center.
Aug. 15-17, Ben Lomond CA Group singing weekend workshop at Quaker Center.
Sun., Aug. 17th, Santa Cruz CA Sing-along concert at Santa Cruz Friends Meetinghouse at 225 Rooney St. For details contact Gretta & Jacob Stone, (831) 336-8333 or go to the Meeting website for directions.

Swing performances Annie is doing with the

O-Tones

Girl From Mars

We urge you to check out the new website

nobelprize4pete

promoting efforts to secure a Nobel Peace Prize for legendary folk singer & environmental & peace activist, Pete Seeger. A new edition of Seeger's autobiography (which Peter edited) is coming out this spring.

There are some great quotes from Pete on the power of group singing in the recent New York Times article on community sings around the country, many of which use Rise Up Singing.

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