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JYM Epistle, Senior High
(silence)
We are looking to explore our relationship with Friends and in doing so we see the changes in ourselves
and in others. While exploration continues through our activities, we are not only looking around our world,
but also looking forward. We've learned much from our new friendships which we appreciated included
Friends of all ages.
Both young and old members of Yearly Meeting have given us responsibilities. With the children we
challenge ourselves to be leaders, and with the older members we are challenged to lead
The youngest Friends allow us to remember that we are still young, while our elders present us with the
opportunity to grow old. We have enjoyed volunteering for the P.M. childcare and discovered their acceptance
and affections for us as we are as well as our love for them.
The older Friends are very open to sharing their life experiences and wisdom with us and we found we are
able to listen - not only by obligation, but because we enjoyed it.
We are very fortunate to have Jerry, Ciaran, Kira, Ty, and Richard, our directors and friends, to support us.
We understand that they stand up for us in the face of pressure. We understand that they are young at heart
and find working with us a source of enjoyment, renewal, and fulfillment. We feel needed because of it.
Thank you.
Our worship sharing groups allow us to consider our lives. Being with others as we think about our
concerns gives us a sense of family.
We are grateful to our guest speakers Jessi Haynes, Chris and Mike Clark, Sharon Hoover, Bill Galvin, and
Darren Bonaparte for inspiration and for giving us stories we sympathize with.
While we are extremely appreciative of everyone here, we also feel disappointed by the lack of trust
between the generations here at Yearly Meeting. Communication has faded. We feel that you are teaching
us, but we also have an obligation to teach each other. We need others to be open to the things we have to
say. We are enclosing in a minute our concerns and suggested solutions for this issue, and we would
encourage everyone to read it once it is published in order to fully build our community.
Thank you.
JYM Senior High Minute
We, the senior high youth, feel disappointed to be having a conversation about the lack of trust between
the generations attending Yearly Meeting. Communication has faded. We feel that you are teaching us, but
we also have an obligation to teach each other. We need others to be open to the things we have to say.
First, we feel that the rumors about drugs and alcohol at Silver Bay are blown way out of proportion. They
were isolated instances and deserve to be treated as such.
Secondly, we realize that arbitrary rules - such as the universal curfew - are intended to function as a safety
net so that you feel that your children can be safe at Silver bay. This security cannot truly exist in rules, but
exists already within us. The youth have ways of looking out for each other. When difficult situations arise,
there is always someone that makes sure that people stay safe, stopping problems as necessity presents itself.
Additionally, we do have real fun: we sing, we build campfires and friendships, and when no one can
remember any more songs, we sing the same ones over again because we can. Late nights are an important
backbone in the relationships of young people; some of our best conversations have taken place way after
1:00 A.M. We all know our bodies and none of us want to be tired. We go to sleep when we need to. There
is no blanket curfew that will work for everyone. We have built an amazing community in which we watch
out for and trust each other. We want you to be a part of this community.
Third, we notice that in order to attend junior Yearly Meeting, we are required to sign an agreement to
which we neither have an alternative to or have a say in. We also notice that such agreements are prepared
in an indirect way - at Powell House, with few representing the youth. Issues concerning Silver Bay are
better addressed at Silver Bay where all the youth will be able to be present.
It is clear to us that feelings concerning these issues are not in consensus with the entire Yearly Meeting.
Over the past few years, we have felt neglected due to lack of communication. Silver Bay is a beautiful
place; love is natural here. We need to show each other this love so that others may see it and speak in one
voice.
We can suggest, for the beginning, that we become better informed of meetings that affect JYM, and that
we are made to feel welcome at them. We would like to go to those meetings, become involved in decisions,
and show that we care about what happens to us. We feel that we are not known fully. We invite you to our
meetings and worship sharing in order to help build our trust and community.
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