Circle of Young Friends Epistle

We arrived in full regalia on the evening of Sunday, July 19, to Summer Sessions at Silver Bay. We gathered after dinner for a welcoming session where we rekindled our friendships and shared news of our lives. Announcements and business followed, wrapping up a marvelous first night.

On Monday, the Young Adult Concerns Committee (YACC) held a meeting that was well attended by the wider Circle of Young Friends (CYF) community. We had a good time planning for the Fun(d) Fair and Community Game Night, and built enthusiasm for our upcoming camping conference at Powell House (side note: invite all unofficially). Later that evening we had a hugely successful game night which we felt deepened our connections to the wider community and our child-like spirits.

Despite the pouring rain, Tuesday’s first ever CYF beach day went swimmingly. Fortunately, the sun came out in time for the Fun(d) Fair the following day, which we are pleased to announced raised $943.50, which will be split equally between Powell House and the Sharing Fund. We especially enjoyed collecting your money, watching everyone have fun and relax in the sun, and rubbing Franklin’s lucky dent.

We gathered in the pavilion to participate in the CYF-sponsored drug discussion that evening. People shared their experiences and their feelings around the use of drugs in Quaker community. It was highly conclusive that we should continue this discourse in the following years.

Thursday, YACC met again and conducted the last smidgeons of business, with particular concern to difficulties of successful communication in the Yearly Meeting, especially between age groups. At Café Night, the CYF group marveled at the talent of our festive Yearly Meeting. Some Friends went to get ice cream directly and others joined in a rousing game of dodgeball.

CYF had another planned activity at ten o’clock in the evening. We began with a seat game and then broke into a caring and thrilling session of original play. Friends then massaged each other’s sore and sweaty muscles. In addition, we plugged our upcoming camping weekend at Powell House (August 14–16). In the moving last moments of our group’s time that night, everyone agreed that we should do it again next year.

We wrapped up our program with a frozen dessert affair and an evening community fishbowl. It was a soothing and spirit-filled week, and we look forward to welcoming more and more people to our community and sponsored activities.

YACC’s Statement:

After more thought and consideration, the Young Adult Concerns Committee has concluded that this epistle is not the proper forum to bring forward our concerns in relation to the cake auction.