by WebPost | Mar 2, 2021 | Announcement
The Gathering, 2021
Friends, you may know that the annual week long gathering of Friends from the US, Canada and many other countries is scheduled to take place the week of June 27. Once again, the session will be virtual, allowing us to attend with from our homes. Check it out! And remember that Adult Spiritual Education has funds to help pay for conference expenses.
Below is a message sent to me from the Gathering Conference Coordinator.
Feel free to ask me questions.
Ada Hammer
[email protected]
"It was wonderful to gather with Friends from all over, many of whom would probably not have been able to participate at all if the Gathering was only in-person."
We received many expressions of appreciation like this one after the 2020 Virtual Gathering. Hosting FGC's annual summer event online in 2020 made it possible for many people from across the Quaker landscape to attend. We can't wait to see who will join us this summer!
I'm excited to share that Tara Houska will be our Friday EveningPlenary Speaker!Tara (Couchiching First Nation Anishinaabe) is a tribal attorney, founder of Giniw Collective, and is currently engaged in the movement to defund fossil fuel use.
Don't miss:• The complete Evening Programs line-up!• Help us select the topics for Community Connections, the Tuesday evening plenary, by participating in our survey.
Please join us for the 2021 FGC Gathering: Way Will Open,
June 27th - July 3rd.
In service,
Lori Sinitzky
Gathering Conference Coordinator
by WebPost | Feb 26, 2021 | Announcement
A new Friendly 8s group on the broad topic of Climate Change is being formed by Arthur Shurcliff, Joe Ball and Jim Thoroman. It will meet online using Zoom, once a week for about 8 weeks. The group will be limited to 8 to 10 people to optimize the experience as a small group meeting virtually. If more Friends are interested, one or more additional groups will be formed.
The first group will meet on weekday evenings, starting the second or third week in March. If you are interested in participating, send an email to Jim Thoroman at [email protected]. Please include the weekday evenings you are available to meet in your reply.
by WebPost | Feb 21, 2021 | Announcement
The Clearing Building & Grounds Committee invites Richmond Meeting members to join us for three days this spring, preparing the Clearing for the 2021 season and our annual RFM Spring Retreat (which will be mostly virtual, but we may have some portion at The Clearing). This is a great opportunity to spend some time getting to know folks in the Meeting and getting to know The Clearing. Please mark your calendars and join us if you're able! All levels of ability are welcome The dates are:
Each workday will start at 9:00 am and go to about 4:00 pm (give or take an hour), depending on what jobs we have to get done that day.
Some of the things we will be working on include clearing campsites and trails, replacing some signage around the property, sweeping out the Pavilion (floors, cabinets, cobwebs on the ceiling, etc.) and replacing the tablecloths on the Pavillion tables, and (with a little luck that it all comes together!) assembling some new picnic tables outside of the Lodge to replace the older ones that are falling apart.
Stuff you should consider bringing:
- A mask for when we have to be within 6 ft of each other or indoors
- Your lunch! And maybe some snacks and/or any beverage you want beyond the water that is available at The Clearing
- Clothes that you don't mind getting dirty, wear layers that you can put on or take off depending on the temperature.
- Sturdy shoes or boots
- A hat
- Work gloves
- Bug repellant
- Sunscreen
- Tools, if you have them, although the Clearing Buildings & Grounds Committee members will bring our extra tools to share. The following might be useful: rakes, clippers, loppers or shears for trimming vegetation, a hammer, and tools for digging up roots (very useful for preventing the vegetation from growing back in the campsites and trails as quickly).
Anyone with questions is welcome to call me, Ted Heck (Clerk of the Clearing Builds & Grounds Committee) with questions, at 804-726-1056.
by WebPost | Feb 1, 2021 | Announcement
In a couple of weeks, once I know who are the committee clerks, I will distribute an updated RFM Directory via the newslist. If you have any changes or additions, please submit them asap. Send to [email protected].
Thank you!Don Miller, Directory Editor
by WebPost | Jan 21, 2021 | Announcement, Archive, Baltimore Yearly Meeting, BYM Camps, COVID-19
BYM Camp Registration opened on January 15 at 7 pm! There are still slots at all of the camps and we encourage all 9-17 year-olds to attend one of our three residential camps or Teen Adventure. https://bymcamps.org/
This year the BYM Camping Program Committee has dramatically changed our fee structure this year in hopes of making camp more accessible to all who want to attend. As you probably saw in the 2020 Firecircle (https://t.e2ma.net/click/kaj8ki/06ak7t/kq3apkc) there is a new sliding scale fee structure for campers this year. CPC has long sought ways to provide the BYM camping experience to a wider range of kids regardless of their ability to afford the full cost of camp. The sliding scale gives each family the opportunity to choose a fee which fits their budget.Â
In years past RFM and other monthly meetings have sponsored campers from their monthly meeting by paying either full or part of the cost of camp. This has allowed campers from families with limited financial means to experience Quaker camp. With the new fee schedule, some campers will pay the full cost of camp, some will attend for less, and others may pay in excess of the full amount. But to make sure camp expenses are met with this sliding fee scale, the CPC is asking monthly meetings to consider making scholarship money used in the past to sponsor individual campers a contribution directly to the camping program. Individuals are also encouraged to donate if able, using a one time or monthly contribution to the camping program.Â
https://www.bym-rsf.org/giving/give-to-bym-camps.html
If you have questions, please call Anna Best or Brooke Davis who currently serve on CPC. Brian Massey, our new Camping Program Manager, would also be glad to talk with folks who have questions about the registration system, as well as how the sliding scale and work grants could help their children, grandchildren or other kids attend camp this summer.