New York Yearly Meeting
2009 Summer Sessions

Silver Bay, N.Y.
July 19–25, 2009

Equality: Living into the Testimony

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Featured Speakers

Donna L. McDaniel and Vanessa Julye

Donna L. McDaniel (left) & Vanessa Julye

Photo by John Meyer

Donna L. McDaniel is coauthor of Fit for Freedom, Not for Friendship: Quakers, African Americans and the Myth of Racial Justice (Quaker Press of FGC), the first comprehensive historical treatment of American Quakers and racial justice from the colonial period to the present. Donna has a B.A. in History from Tufts University and a M.Ed. from Boston University.

After a number of years teaching, she became a daily newspaper reporter and then freelance editor and writer. A member of Framingham (Mass.) Friends Meeting, she has focused much of her work on racial justice and equality, serving as a member of Framingham and New England Yearly Meeting committees working against racism.

Donna has traveled widely as a member of Sharing a New Song (SANS), a Boston-area chorus that shares music to bring diverse peoples together; she also sings with the Boston Community Choir, a racially mixed Gospel group that performs all over greater Boston.

Vanessa Julye of Central Philadelphia Monthly Meeting travels both nationally and internationally inviting Friends meetings, communities, schools, and colleges to explore the topic of racism, and assists them with developing processes to heal from the wounds that racism has caused. She shares her experience as a Friend of Color as a means of raising our level of awareness of some of our racist attitudes and practices. Vanessa's ministry empowers Friends to collectively translate new consciousness into new actions that will ultimately remove the barriers that exist both historically and presently, between people. Her ministry and membership in the Religious Society of Friends were the focus of an article in the December 2000 issue of Essence magazine (a popular magazine for African American women). Vanessa was the keynote speaker at New York Yearly Meeting in 2005.

Central Philadelphia provides a strong base for her ministry. She is a Released Friend traveling in the ministry of raising awareness of racial issues among Friends, both historical and contemporary. Vanessa’s ministry involves a combination of visiting, writing, speaking, and traveling to provide witness and education. She also provides leadership on a number of committees and concern groups in the wider Quaker community that have grown out of her ministry. Vanessa responds to requests for visits from Friends' schools, organizations, yearly, quarterly and monthly meetings. She encourages Friends “to be open to growth and change in relation to racism.” She is an engaging and effective speaker and workshop leader.

Currently she works four days a week as the coordinator for Friends General Conference’s Committee for Ministry on Racism. Vanessa is married to Barry Scott, the current clerk of Central Philadelphia Monthly Meeting. They have three adult children, two daughters (Ellen and Maggie) and one son (Kai). She enjoys photography, quilting, needlepoint, going to the theater, movies, dancing, and reading.

Books by Vanessa Julye, published by Friends General Conference, include The Seed Cracked Open: Growing Beyond Racism (2006) and, just released, Fit for Freedom, Not for Friendship: Quakers, African Americans, and the Myth of Racial Justice (2009). (Related Web site at www.fgcquaker.org/fit-for-freedom.)

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	Bible Study at Silver Bay This year, our leaders for Bible study will be pastoral ministers from our own Yearly Meeting. In each of our presentations Ruth Ann Bradley, Regina Baird Haag, Ruth Kinsey, and Janice Ninan will focus on the theme Equality: Living into the Testimony.
From Left, Ruth Ann Bradley, Regina Baird Haag, Ruth Kinsey, Janice Ninan

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Participant Expectations

As we come together to build a spiritual community during Summer Sessions, we join together in agreeing to a set of expectations to ensure a safe and pleasant experience for all. The following Participant Expectations will apply to all NYYM registrants for Summer Sessions boarding at Silver Bay, N.Y., as well as all day guests. Our attendance at NYYM Summer Sessions indicates our acceptance of these expectations.

Participant Expectations:

• To live in community we treat each other with respect in an inclusive, kind way.
• Participants must wear badges at all times on campus. All participants, 18 years or older must register yourself and any dependents with New York Yearly Meeting. You will be responsible for infractions by someone else wearing your badge.
• Smoking is not allowed in any buildings or structures on the Silver Bay campus. Smoking is allowed only in areas designated by Silver Bay as smoking areas.
• The use, possession, or being under the influence of alcohol, illegal drugs or dangerous substances is not allowed on campus.
• Explosives and firearms are not permitted on campus.
• Parent(s), guardians or sponsors for a child under 18 years old must assume responsibility for the safety and well-being of that person at all times, including agreeing to a specific bedtime and daily check-in times.
• All participants under 18 years old must:
  • Sleep in a room with or near the parent(s), guardian or sponsor.
  • Register with Junior Yearly Meeting in the company of the parent, legal guardian, or sponsor.
  • Have a valid medical consent form signed by a parent or guardian or sponsor
  • Attend the activities each day of the JYM group to which assigned.
• Quiet time on all areas of the Silver Bay campus begin at 11:00 P.M. Participants entering 7th Grade and younger must be accompanied by an adult after 10:00 P.M. Participants entering 8th through 10th Grades must be accompanied by an adult after 11:00 P.M.
• You may only use those sleeping rooms which have been reserved for your use. Any changes after check-in MUST be cleared with Silver Bay.
  • Linens or furnishings are to remain in the room at all times. The condition of your room, including walls and furnishings, is to be left as it was when you arrived.
  • Silver Bay has the right to charge an additional fee for extra cleaning of, or repairing damages to, any of the facilities.
• Using cars as sleeping accommodations is prohibited, as is using sleeping bags or otherwise camping on the grounds or in the public facilities.
• Swimming is allowed only at stated times and places. NYYM Beach and Waterfront Safety Guidelines are included as a part of these “Participant Expectations.”
• Shoes must be worn where food is being served.
• All cars must be parked in designated areas.

Please be advised that:

• Check in is at 4 P.M. Check out is at 11 A.M.
• There are no refunds for early departures. This includes guests required to leave campus as a result of a decision by a Behavioral Clearness Committee.
• Nature Center: Children are allowed in the Nature Center only when escorted by an adult.

Process:

• Participant Expectations will be published in Spark as well as in the first copy of the Minute. A copy of Participant Expectations, Beach and Waterfront Safety Guidelines and an explanation of the Behavioral Clearness Committee will be available at the NYYM office and posted at appropriate locations.
• Complaints or reports of behavior not meeting Participant Expectations may be lodged by anyone to the clerk of Sessions, any NYYM Officer or to NYYM staff. Such complaints will be forwarded to a current member of the Behavioral Clearness Committee, or the complainant will be referred to such person.
• Any individual who does not follow Participant Expectations, including Beach and Waterfront Safety Guidelines, will meet with a Behavioral Clearness Committee to be convened and assembled by the Clerk of Sessions. Further information on the Behavioral Clearness Committee is available at the NYYM desk.

 

NYYM Beach and Waterfront Safety Guidelines

• NYYM guests renting SBA watercraft should stay within binocular range of SBA personnel at the boathouse, including not going behind any islands.
• NYYM guests shall only dock rental watercraft at SBA docks unless specific arrangements are made in advance with SBA personnel.
• Any NYYM guest renting a watercraft, in addition to SBA rules, must remain in the *Safe Bay Area unless there is a person in the craft who is minimum age 18.
• Any NYYM guest who uses his/her own watercraft must obtain parental or guardian permission to take any NYYM guest under the age of 18 onto his/her watercraft, and is requested during such excursions to abide by the above rules.

 

Silver Bay Association rules also apply, and include the following:

Rules for Boat Rentals:

Sailboats (Sunfish, Lasers)

• Everyone must pass lifetime screening test – twice around three sailing buoys, capsize and right boat (record name and date into sailing records)
• Screening Tests—Daily 9:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M.
• Solo—Minimum age 12

Canoes

• Two per canoe (solo must prove proficiency)
• Age 10–15 must stay in Safe Bay Area

Kayaks

• Tandem—Age 10–15 must stay in Safe Bay Area
• Solo—Minimum age 10
• Age 10–12 may paddle next to one over 15 or must stay in Safe Bay Area

Rowboats

• Age 8–12 rowers must stay in Safe Bay Area

*Safe Bay Area is defined as the line from tip of Slim Point to the employee area raft.

 

Beach Rules:

The following rules are posted on Bay and Slim Point guard stands and must be enforced:

1. No “horseplay” on the docks, or in the water.
2. No running on the dock (as posted at ERC).
3. No diving from the sides of the ERC dock. Area marked “NO Diving.”
4. No flotation devices allowed in bathing area.
5. No balls or Frisbees in the bathing area.
6. No running dives into the water.
7. No diving from the dock or raft into water less than 8 feet.
8. Patrons are not allowed to use whistles near the beach area.
9. Children under 7 must be accompanied by an adult when in the water.
10. Boating, water-skiing, or surfboarding prohibited in the swimming area
11. No motorized vehicles permitted on the beach.
12. No clay digging on beach or in the water.
13. Masks and snorkels must be approved by lifeguard prior to use.

NYYM Agreements

1. All attenders are expected to observe safety precautions such as: maintaining contact between children and parent(s), guardians, or sponsors at regular intervals.
2. Attenders under 18 years old are expected to:
   • register with Junior Yearly Meeting in the company of the parent, legal guardian, or sponsor
   • cluster with (sleep in a room near) the parent(s), guardian, or sponsor
   • have a valid medical consent form signed by a parent or guardian (medical forms will be mailed to JYM registrants)
   • attend the activities of the JYM group to which assigned.
3. If parent(s), guardian, or sponsor for a child under 18 years old, assume responsibility for the safety and well-being of that person.
4. If responsible for a child or to an adult, agree and commit to a specific bedtime and daily check-ins.
5. If 18 years or older, register yourself and dependents with Yearly Meeting.

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Helpful People for Yearly Meeting Sessions

• Display coordinator: Debra Henning
• Financial assistance: Benjamin Frisch
• Food service coordinator: Martha Gurvich
• General scheduling: John Cooley
• Golf carts: Lucinda Antrim & Carol Rice
• Interest group coordinator: Elaine Learnard
• Junior Yearly Meeting: Peter Close, Roseann Press, Susan Stillman
• Off-campus: Vonn New
• Silver Bay & AV arrangements: Martha Gurvich
• Special needs: Sarah Miller

All registration questions: Helen Garay Toppins, office [at] nyym.org; 212-673-5750;

NYYM 15 Rutherford Pl., New York NY 10003.

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Financial Assistance Available for Silver Bay

June 26 is the deadline for financial assistance. To help make Silver Bay more affordable to Friends in need, the Advancement Committee provides modest scholarships.

To apply for an Advancement scholarship, first, ask your monthly meeting and quarterly/regional meeting for support. Second, fill out the Financial Assistance section of your registration form stating the amount you expect to receive from your meeting. Then write in the amount you need from the Advancement Committee. Advancement provides adults and children up to one-third the cost of the lowest-priced housing. If you have a physical condition that limits your mobility and your access to the lower-priced housing units, please give us that information on your registration form. We may be able to adjust your scholarship.

Scholarship applications, which are part of your registration form, are due in the Yearly Meeting office June 26. If you are a first timer, please be sure to check that box on the registration form. A confirmation slip will be e-mailed (or mailed) to you by July 10 indicating the level of aid you will receive. If you have questions please contact the NYYM office at office [at] nyym.org or call 212-673-5750.

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Disability Concerns at Silver Bay

Friends who indicate special needs on their registration will receive a form from Sarah Miller, the NYYM special-needs coordinator at Silver Bay. The form requests specific information on your disability, which will be kept confidential. This information will help the special-needs coordinator be better prepared to meet Friends' needs.

There will also be opportunities for Friends to be special-needs volunteers. A checkbox for volunteers is on the registration form.

Housing
There are five mobility-accessible sleeping rooms, with bathrooms, in the Inn that are reserved for those using wheelchairs (and their roommates). One-tenth of the rooms in the Inn will be reserved for people who, for any reason, find it physically difficult to room elsewhere. These rooms will be held ONLY UNTIL JULY 1, and then will be released for general availability.

If you have a disability or illness that makes it hard for you to climb hills or steps, please make sure that you sign up early, and request one of the reserved rooms. Financial assistance is available from the Advancement Committee.

Friends who are unable to transfer themselves to and from wheelchair/bed, etc., and require special assistance with dressing, bathing, or other personal needs must arrange this assistance on their own and must have the person assisting stay in their room. The caregiver must be in attendance for the length of the stay of the person they are helping. Silver Bay will offer a special reduced rate for the person assisting.

Worship and Meetings
The people who set up the worship sharing groups need to know if you have hearing or physical problems so that note takers can be provided, or accessible locations allocated. Please indicate on your registration form if you require such assistance.

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Golf Cart

Have you ever wanted to drive a golf cart? If you’re over 21, a licensed driver, and a member of NYYM, here’s your chance. The Sessions Committee will rent a golf cart to help folks with mobility difficulties get to meetings and worship groups. To volunteer contact Carol Rice at crdk [at] highlands.com.

12-Step Meetings

This year meetings will be 6:30–8:00 P.M. Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, and 10:00–11:00 P.M. Tuesday and Thursday.

Nurture Coordinating Committee has oversight of this but needs to hear from people who would be willing to take responsibility for one or more of these meetings. To volunteer, please contact Boyce Benge. His contact information is in the Yearbook.

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Food Service at Silver Bay

Meals begin with dinner on Sunday evening and conclude with lunch on Saturday. If you plan to arrive at Silver Bay early enough to have lunch on Sunday, you must make arrangements with Silver Bay YMCA in advance to purchase this meal, which is not part of the conference package.

Silver Bay will provide standard and vegetarian menu choices for each meal. Vegetarian meals will include eggs, milk, and cheese but no meat or fish. Silver Bay cannot accommodate "specialty" diets. A full salad bar will be provided at both lunch and dinner. If you are a vegetarian, please indicate this on your registration form, so that Silver Bay can be prepared.

For those who have other special dietary needs, it is recommended that you bring your own food. Silver Bay will provide refrigeration. A refrigerator will be made available for baby food, etc. Cooking facilities for those with special dietary needs (though not for campers) will be available in Paine Hall—1st floor off rotunda.

The Silver Bay cooks will not add salt to either the regular food or the vegetarian food. Salt shakers will be available on the tables.

The dining hall will open at 5:00 P.M. each day for dinner. This is to help ease the way for families with small children, and Friends who are physically challenged, along with their helpers, in the hope these Friends will have the time and space to get their meals and settle in before the larger group steps into the line. In light of this, we ask that you please allow these Friends the courtesy of going to the front of the line at all meal times and remind them to feel comfortable stepping up. We also encourage all of the community to lend a hand to anyone who might seem overwhelmed and in need of help carrying plates/bowls, etc., getting drinks or navigating the busy dining hall. Mealtimes can be stressful for the youngest among us, our physically challenged friends, and their families and helpers. Your kindnesses will be deeply appreciated.

The food service coordinator is Martha Gurvich.

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Everyone Must Register

There are two registration options. You may go to the registration form links, above, fill out a registration form, pay via PayPal, and then save the registration form and e-mail it to office [at] nyym.org. If paying by PayPal, please add $3.00 to your total bill. Or you may fill out the registration form and send it in with your registration check via postal mail.

DO NOT INCLUDE any of your Silver Bay charges as part of the NYYM registration fees. Everyone attending NYYM session must be registered.

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Staying on Campus

Room Reservations

NYYM will send your reservation forms to Silver Bay YMCA, which will acknowledge your room reservation and request a nonrefundable room deposit of 25% per person, to be applied to your final bill. Do not send room deposits to the NYYM office. The balance of the Silver Bay charges must be paid at the SB desk before you leave. Silver Bay cannot guarantee housing or food for those who don’t preregister.

Preference for rooms is given to those who stay for the entire week. Rooms are assigned in the order in which requests are received. It is advisable to register early. All rooms have double occupancy. Beds for children may be added to some of the larger rooms. If you require a single room you may want to consider off campus accommodations.

If no rooms are available at your price, you may be assigned to a room at a higher price. You will receive prior notice if this is necessary. A few double beds are available in the Inn, Bayview, and Trinity. If you would like one, please indicate that on your registration form. Room reservations will not be held after 6:00 P.M. on the day of your expected arrival unless the room is completely prepaid or you call Silver Bay to notify them of your late arrival. If you need to cancel, call Silver Bay (518-543-8833, ext. 350), so your room can be reassigned.

Silver Bay room check-in begins at 4:00 P.M. on Sunday, July 19. Checkout time is 11:00 A.M. daily. Luggage can be left in designated areas after checking out. Those not out of their rooms by 11:00 A.M. will be charged for an extra day. No refunds are issued for early departures, unless arrangements are made prior to check-in.

All rates are per person and include a 5% gratuity.

Suites in Bayview and the Inn have a surcharge of $25 per day, in addition to all other charges, if occupied by fewer than three persons.

The half-conference rate is for those attending from Sunday, July 19, to Wednesday, July 22, or Wednesday, July 22, to Saturday, July 25. The extra day rates are for those who wish to arrive on Saturday, July 18. Silver Bay does not guarantee that you will be assigned to the same room on the extra day.

Clustering (staying in rooms that are close together) is required of all parents/guardians/sponsors and the children they are supervising. Send in your registrations together.

No one should go to Silver Bay without an advance registration with New York Yearly Meeting and assurance from Silver Bay that there is room for you.

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Staying Off-Campus

There is no camping space available on-site at Silver Bay. Reservations for camping at Rogers Rock Campgroup (Dept. of Environmental Conservation) may be made at www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/24493.html or 518-585-6746.

Early reservations for campsites and motels are advised. You may wish to notify management that you are attending the YM at SilverBay so that you can be near other Friends.

 

All off-campus and day registrants must pay a FEE TO SILVER BAY UPON FIRST ARRIVAL. (See table.)

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Off-Campus and Day Registrants

Friends camping, commuting, or taking rooms off campus are asked to give their addresses for the week on the registration form. Otherwise, please supply this information when registering at Silver Bay. Badges are required for all attenders. Replacement charge for lost badges is $2.00.

People staying on campus pay for the use of facilities through their lodging costs; those living off campus and daily commuters pay for the use of the facilities through a day use fee, paid when checking in at Silver Bay YMCA.

Day use fees for use of facilities for off campus and day guests are as follows:

Individual	$26 per adult	$14 per youth 6–17	for one day*
Individual	$146 per adult	$74 per youth 6–17	for the week*
Family $324 for the week* (Family is defined as members who share a household and live together as a family unit.)
Children 5 and under pay no day use fee when accompanied by a paying adult guest.
*Please add $2/person for name badge.

For Friends camping at local campgrounds Silver Bay YMCA offers a reduced family rate of $235 for the week plus $2.00 per person for a name badge. To obtain this rate you will need to present a paid-in-full receipt from the campground when checking in at the Silver Bay Inn. Please give the campground address on your registration form.

Meal tickets for the Silver Bay dining room can be purchased at the Inn front desk in advance of desired meals. The cost per meal is:

A special rate may be obtained if meals are bought as a “package,” though this can be done only on July 19, upon arrival. These package rates are:

Children 5 and under eat for no charge when accompanied by a paying adult.

If you intend to buy meal tickets when you arrive at Silver Bay, please indicate this on your registration form.

A name badge must be worn and a meal ticket purchased by anyone staying off campus who wants to eat in the dining room.

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Driving Directions

Silver Bay is on the west side of Lake George about 90 miles north of Albany. Leave the Northway (Highway I-87) at exit 22, 23 or 24.

At exit 22: Take a left onto Rt. 9. Go thru village of Lake George. At the north end of village take a right onto Rt. 9N. Go through Bolton Landing, then go approximately 13 miles. At Silver Bay Road, go 1/2 mile to the Inn.

At exit 23: Take a right off exit onto Bolton Road all the way to the end of road. Turn left onto Rt. 9N, through Bolton Landing and 13 miles towards Hague. At Silver Bay Road, go

1/2 mile to the Inn.

At exit 24: Take a right off exit. Go 4 miles east to Rt. 9N, then left (north) on 9N for 13 miles. At the Silver Bay Road, go 1/2 mile to the Inn.

Pulling a trailer take exit 25 and go toward Hague through Brant Lake. Turn south on 9N in Hague Village. There are steep hills when using exits 22, 23 and 24 and going north on 9N.

Driving time is 1 1/2 to 2 hours from Albany; 4–5 hours from New York City; 6–7 hours from Buffalo. Those needing more explicit or alternate directions may contact Silver Bay.

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Nearby Motels

Silver Bay vicinity
(address: Hague, NY 12836):

Northern Lake George Resort 518-543-6528
Trout House Resort 518-543-6088
Hague Motel 518-543-6631
Ruah Bed & Breakfast 518-543-8816
The Locust Inn 518-543-6934

Ticonderoga vicinity (14 mi. north) (address: Ticonderoga, NY 12883):

Lord Howe Valley Motel 518-585-7454
Green Acres Motel 518-668-2240
Latchstring Motel 518-585-2875
Circle Court Motel 518-585-7660
Belfred Court Motel 518-585-7000
Super 8 Motel 518-585-2617

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Public Transportation

By train: Take Amtrak's Adirondack to Ticonderoga (800-523-8720 or 800-872-7245).
Bus service: Adirondack Trailways (800-225-6815) from New York or Albany to Lake George Village. See below for transportation from Lake George Village to Silver Bay.

PLEASE NOTE: Silver Bay does not provide shuttle service to and from Silver Bay. Below is a listing of vendors who can provide this service.

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Transportation Information

From: Nearby Locations (cost per car)

From: Albany Airport or Albany Bus Terminal

Ask for SilverBay rates. If you are traveling with others the rate can be divided by the number of passengers being transported.

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On Your Way to Silver Bay

Adirondack Meeting, about an hour from Silver Bay, extends an invitation to Friends to visit meeting for worship on Sunday, July 19. This is a wonderful way to extend your knowledge of NYYM Friends and add a worshipful break to your journey.

Adirondack Friends Meeting offers programmed meeting for worship at 10:30 A.M. After worship there will be a time of refreshments and sharing.

The meeting is at 27 Saratoga Ave., South Glens Falls NY 12803. For information or directions, call Regina Haag, 518-793-3755.

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Junior Yearly Meeting

JYM Frequently Asked Questions

Welcome young Friends and parents/guardians to Junior Yearly Meeting (JYM). Here are some basic things for everyone to remember:

When you arrive at Silver Bay YMCA you must check in with Silver Bay and get room assignments, then proceed to the JYM Office in the Falcon’s Nest on the top floor of the boathouse to register with JYM. Please bring your child’s relevant medical history and a record of any allergies.

Where does my child go? Each JYM group is based on the grade the young Friend will be entering in the fall, from K–12. Each group meets in the same space every day. These spaces will be posted at JYM Registration. For the 0–5 years age group, Silver Bay offers childcare, which is supplemented by a JYM volunteer. Parents/guardians/sponsors of children age 8 and under are expected to drop off and pick up their children (promptly at noon each day), or have given the group leaders the name of a designated adult to do this for them.

When does JYM meet? The JYM program meets Monday through Friday from 8:45 A.M. to 12:00 noon. Parents who are picking up young children from grades K–3 are reminded to please do so at noon, so that our wonderful volunteers have time to clean up and go to lunch.

Afternoon and evening childcare. JYM provides cooperative childcare for children up through the age of 10, with JYM volunteers and JYM parents, every day during committee meeting times and evening session times. These times will be posted at JYM Registration and in the Weekly Program. NOTE: All evening childcare ends at 9:00 P.M. All of the PM childcare sessions rely on volunteer help. You can sign up to help, during JYM registration or at any time with the JYM PM childcare volunteers. We thank you in advance for helping to provide care for all of the children in our community.

How do I know where my child is during the day? During official JYM sessions they should be with their JYM groups. Any child not attending their age-appropriate JYM group must be accompanied by a parent, guardian, or parentally designated adult companion during JYM session times. Parents/guardians/sponsors are responsible for JYMers during non-JYM hours. We suggest that you have a regular check-in time and location for the young Friend(s) and the parent/guardian/sponsor to connect each day.

Which group will my child be assigned to? The JYM groups are organized by standard public school grades in an effort to build on the strengths and needs of our children. Experience has shown us that children placed in groups with attenders years older or younger than they are do not work well for community building. Although it is tempting to ask that siblings who are assigned to different groups be placed together, we have found that this is usually a hindrance to both the children and the JYM group. Please make sure that your child gets enough rest every night to be able to participate effectively in his/her JYM group each morning.

Can the JYM volunteers provide for my child with special needs? If your child wishes to attend JYM and needs a very high level of individual attention because of a physical or developmental handicap, please plan to participate with them in the program. The JYM program does not have enough volunteer staff with special training to provide for all special need situations. Please contact the JYM coordinators if you have questions about your child’s participation.

Can my child go to Silver Bay without me? If your child is under 18, he/she may attend Silver Bay with a sponsor. The sponsor should be designated by the parent or legal guardian, and must be at least 10 years older than the young Friend they are sponsoring. The sponsor and the child should know each other reasonably well. When you register your child to attend Yearly Meeting you will need to indicate who their sponsor is, send your child’s registration in with that person’s, and indicate that they will be clustering (rooming near each other). You will need to send a completed medical information form with your child, to be turned in at JYM registration.

What is clustering? People in a “cluster” are assigned rooms in the same building, on the same floor, in close proximity to one another. Clustering allows children and their parents, guardians, or sponsors to check in with one another and communicate responsibly.

You must request clustering when you register to attend Summer Sessions at Silver Bay.

What do I need to bring? If you register early, JYM volunteers working with your group will send you a letter explaining what you will be doing in your group and listing certain things they think you may want to bring with you. We suggest that everybody bring along a beach towel or blanket, bathing suit, sunscreen and rain gear. Please bring a can of juice and a healthy snack for our JYM groups to share during snack time.

Who do I talk to if I have any questions? The JYM coordinators, Susan Stillman and Amy White, are available to answer questions about JYM during our week at Silver Bay Monday through Friday, from 8:30 to 12:00 noon in the JYM office in the Falcon’s Nest of the Boathouse. You can also go to the clerk of the JYM committee, Peter Close, and to the JYM/MCCC support committee, or the NYYM conference office in the Inn. If you cannot find us and want to leave a note, there is a message board in the Inn for that purpose.

**NEW FOR 2009**

This year, Friends in grades 10, as well as 11 and 12 will be attending the “adult” worship-sharing groups from 9–10 A.M. every morning. Afterward, they will convene with their own group, as usual, for the rest of the morning. Please be sure that these Friends select their choice of worship-sharing group on the JYM registration form.

How to Register for JYM

Carefully fill out the JYM registration form. Be sure to

• Fill out one registration form per person

• Indicate the age and grade each child will enter in the fall on their registration form

• Request that children be assigned to a room close to their parent(s), guardian, or sponsor (this is called clustering and is mandatory for all attenders under the age of 18)

• Send in the registrations of all people in a cluster together. Silver Bay staff is not able to reshuffle for clustering accommodations due to the large size of our conference. Any youth registrations sent separately from those of their responsible adults will be returned.

The NYYM office sends copies of JYM registrations (for all youth from infants through high school) to the JYM registrar, as well as to the Silver Bay registrar. For JYM and Silver Bay to have activities ready and staffed, early registration is critical! If you have any questions about registration please call Helen Garay Toppins at the NYYM office, 212-673-5750.

Please feel free to contact the JYM coordinators or clerk with any questions regarding JYM. We look forward to seeing you at Silver Bay!

Roseann Press , JYM coordinator, rpress [at] comcast.net, 203-798-9816. Susan Stillman, sustillman [at] gmail.com, 973-783-0118. Peter Close, JYM clerk, woolmanj [at] aol.com, 203-661-2532.

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Calling for JYM Volunteers

JYM volunteers will work for JYM sessions at Silver Bay, July 19–25, 2009, with the youth of NYYM (grades K–12) at Summer Sessions. They plan and carry out a program, prepared at the JYM Planning Weekend, June 12–14, at Powell House (mandatory). The JYM program runs from 9:00 to Noon on Monday through Friday, during Summer Sessions at Silver Bay. JYM volunteers also provide afternoon and evening childcare (referred to as “PM Childcare”), for children up through age 10, during Committee and Session times on Monday through Friday. The commitment includes attending the JYM planning weekend in June, attending a 7:00 A.M. meeting each day at Silver Bay, and the morning JYM program each day (or PM Childcare). Financial assistance will be discussed at the JYM planning weekend. If interested, contact Roseann Press, coordinator, rpress [at] comcast.net or Susan Stillman, coordinator, sustillman [at] gmail.com ASAP.

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Fun(d) Fair

Lucas Braun, Jillian Smith, and Beth Vardy
Young Adult Concerns Committee

Come one, come all to the Fun(d) Fair at Annual Sessions at Silver Bay. Fun(d) Fair is an afternoon of intergenerational fun, food and family. You can give or get piggy back rides, have your feet washed, play chess, cut hair, buy wondrous things, and more, limited only by your imagination. What do you want to offer?

The Fun(d) Fair is organized and run by the Circle of Young Friends. All proceeds go to benefit Powell House and the Sharing Fund. If you are interested in donating your time, energy, or skill, contact Alexander Haines-Stephan at alexhs [at] juno.com.

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Tagless Tag Sale again at NYYM

Sale raises needed funds for Friends work. Four years ago our White Elephant table at Silver Bay raised about $300. Last summer we raised over $1,300 to be divided between the NYYM Sharing Fund and Powell House.

Take items for the sale. If you plan to attend the NYYM Summer Sessions gathered at Silver Bay this July, please think about what you could take with you for the Tagless Tag Sale to be held on Wednesday afternoon. Treasures that you are ready to pass on sell well as do small electronics, household items and things for children.

Send things with others. Friends who won't be traveling to Silver Bay for the week can send items along with those of us who will be going.

Look for a note in the first Minute about where to put items for the Tag Sale.

Volunteers needed for posting signs, setting up, selling and packing up the sale. And a new task is ours this year. We need to see that the left over goods are taken to the church in Ticonderoga where they can again be offered for sale. Please contact Cynthia Cornelius, b.podiatry [at] hotmail.com with offers to volunteer with any aspect of this growing project.

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Interest Groups

This year interest groups will be held 7:45–9:00 P.M. Wednesday. A list of interest groups (and how to register for them) will be posted here when available.

Healing Work at Silver Bay

Buffy Curtis and Healing Center Support Committee

With the support of NYYM Friends, Ministry Coordinating Committee, and Sessions Committee healing work is back by popular demand. We are calling for Friends who work in the healing arts or are interested in helping with healing work. Sproul Pavilion will have regularly scheduled hours for healing work again this year at Summer Sessions. The Healing Center is under the care of the Committee on Worship at Yearly Meeting Sessions and includes Buffy Curtis, Kathy Slattery, and Ron Peterson as coordinators.

We are looking for volunteers who would offer their skills in the healing arts or support the work by greeting and scheduling. Skills can include energy work (Healing Touch, Reiki, Therapeutic Touch, etc.), massage, Rolfing, craniosacral, spiritual counseling/direction, or other areas of healing work. Friends should have training with qualifications or experience to practice. Friends who are called to the work are welcome to “buddy” with other practitioners as possible. We will need people to meet and greet and help match those desiring work with the practitioners available. Those wishing to hold the space in prayer are welcome indeed. It is yet another extension of worship after all.

Please contact Buffy Curtis, buffy [at] powellhouse.org; 518-794-8811 x 10 or 508-566-6639 (cell) to offer your assistance, make suggestions, or let us know what else you need. There will also be a place on the registration form to indicate your wish to volunteer. We plan to talk and meet with volunteers at the beginning of Silver Bay sessions to organize and clarify details.

We look forward to hearing from lots of you by July 14, and look for us at the Healing Center.

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Meeting for Listening for
Racial Healing and Reconciliation

Monday, July 20, 2009
7:45–9:00 P.M.—Auditorium

This worship-sharing session, facilitated by Julia Giordano, clerk of the Ministry Coordinating Committee, seeks to create a space nurtured by the presence of the Holy Spirit where Friends can prayerfully respond to the following query:

How has God been moving in your life regarding racism?

We will create a safe space for the healing work that still needs to be done, where Friends can openly and tenderly share their thoughts, concerns, and experiences around race. Participants are asked to share from their own personal experiences rather than respond to what others have said. The Task Group on Racism will be sensitive to the needs of all Friends so that they may speak in the presence of the Holy Spirit without fear, guilt, or defensiveness. Members of the Ministry Coordinating Committee will be present, holding the session in prayer.

ALERT to Guests Needing a Roommate

Silver Bay YMCA will make every effort to find a roommate but cannot guarantee to find one. Guests will be less likely to incur a single-room rate if they make their own contact for rooming together. Silver Bay will inform registrants one week prior to arrival if they are unable to find a roommate. All guests are responsible to make full payment for the period for which they register regardless of their actual length of stay; thus a remaining roommate would not be financially responsible for the early, unplanned departure of another roommate (since there is no refund for early departure). A guest who has no roommate registered will be charged for the single rate. To be sure there are no misunderstandings it is best for roommates to check in together at Silver Bay when they arrive.

 

2009 Silver Bay Room Descriptions and Rates (PDF* document, opens in new window)

Yearly Meeting Schedule at a Glance (PDF* document, opens in new window)

*NOTE: Reading or printing PDF documents requires Adobe Reader, which can be downloaded here.

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