Yearly Meeting #31 of Southern Appalachian Yearly Meeting and Association
Warren Wilson College, Swannanoa, North Carolina

June 8, 2001 - Sixth Day (Friday) 1 pm

1. 	Opening
After a period of silence, Clerk Penelope Wright read the following lines, which she modified from a hymn:
         
			Lord, speak to me, that I may speak
			In living echoes of thy tone;
			As thou has sought, so let me seek
			The way to do thy work.
					 Worship in Song, #165

She welcomed Friends to the 31st annual session of Southern Appalachian Yearly Meeting and Association.

2.	Roll call
Assistant Clerk Sharon Annis read the roll of monthly meetings and worship groups. The following were represented at the beginning of this first session: Anneewakee, Asheville, Atlanta, Berea, Birmingham, Boone, Celo, Charleston, Chattanooga, Cleveland, Columbia, Cookeville, Foxfire, Greenville, Memphis, Nashville, New Moon, Royal, Swannanoa, West Knoxville. 

A list of Yearly Meeting attenders is attached as Appendix A. Separate attendance lists are not included for particular Yearly Meeting sessions.

State of the Meeting Reports are attached in Appendix B.

3.	Announcements
Administrative Assistant Mary Calhoun announced that copies of SAYMA's Guide to Our Faith and Our Practice and the handbook are available from the office for those with SAYMA positions of responsibility.

Margaret Cooley and Susan Carlyle made announcements regarding local arrangements and registration.

4.	Welcome of visitors from other yearly meetings
Friends welcomed Arthur Larrabee, our evening speaker, from Central Philadelphia Monthly Meeting, Philadelphia Yearly Meeting; and Nancy Clark, Homewood Friends Monthly Meeting, Baltimore Yearly Meeting.  

5. 	Representatives to and from wider Quaker organizations
The clerk welcomed visitors from wider Quaker organizations, SAYMA representatives to those organizations and others from SAYMA who serve in the organizations. She read traveling minutes and letters of introductions for some of the visitors.

American Friends Service Committee 
From SAYMA: Daryl Bergquist, Jonah McDonald, Sallie Prugh and Bill O'Connell

Friends Committee on National Legislation
From SAYMA: Sue May (for Joe Taylor), Charles Cliver (not present) and Nancy Lee-Riffe (Board)

Friends General Conference
Visitors: David Wood, Virginia Wood and Deborah Fisch.
From SAYMA: John Geary, Sharon Annis and Penelope Wright (ex officio)

Friends Committee on Outworld Relations
Phil Neal, coordinator

Friends Committee on Unity with Nature
Visitor: Mary Gilbert
SAYMA representatives: Kim Carlyle and Susan Carlyle

Friends for Lesbian and Gay Concerns
SAYMA representative: Angela Love (not present)

Friends World Committee for Consultation
From SAYMA: Kathy Burke, Rachel Weir and Bill Holland

Friends Peace Team
From SAYMA: Kathleen Hardie

Quaker House (Fayetteville, NC) 
From SAYMA: Harry Rogers

Right Sharing of World Resources
From SAYMA: Geeta McGahey (also on RSWR Board)

South East Region, American Friends Service Committee
Bert Skellie, interim director
From SAYMA: Daryl Bergquist, Jeremiah Gold-Hopton, Free Polazzo (executive committee)

YouthQuake
From SAYMA: Priscilla Ewen

6.	Epistles
The assistant clerk read an epistle from the Friends World Committee for Consultation London office and a request for assistance in finding a pastor from the Friends Meeting of Ballplay, Tellico Plains, Tennessee.

7.	Appointment of Epistle Committee
The clerk reported that in April, representatives agreed that this year's epistle would be translated into Spanish in order to reach more Friends. At that time, several people volunteered to help with the translation. Since then, the clerk has received a suggestion that the epistle also be translated into French. Friends agreed that if a volunteer is available it would be good also to have a French translation.

No volunteers stepped forward, so the appointment of an epistle committee was postponed.

8.	Nominating Committee preliminary report
Nominating Committee Clerk Lee Ann Swarm presented the following nominations for SAYMA positions:

Position	Person	From	To
Clerk	Sharon Annis	6/01	6/03
Treasurer	Kendall Ivie	6/99	6/02
Nominating Committee Clerk	Penelope Wright	6/01	6/03
Member, Nominating Committee	Jane Goldthwait	6/01	6/03
SAYF Steering Committee Co-Clerk	Margaret Farmer	6/99	6/02
SAYF Steering Committee Co-Clerk	Kathleen Mavournin	6/01	6/03
Member, SAYF Steering Committee	John Rennie	6/01	6/03
Member, SAYF Steering Committee	Bill O'Connell	6/01	6/03
AFSC Corporation Representative	Sallie Prugh	1/00	6/03
AFSC/SERO Executive Committee	Daryl Bergquist	6/00	6/02
FCNL Representative	Charles Cliver	6/98	6/04	
FGC Representative	Penelope Wright	6/01	6/04
Friends Peace Teams	Kathleen Hardie	6/99	6/03
	
Friends approved these appointments.

Lee Ann Swarm raised the issue of the continuance of the Southern Appalachian Young Friends (SAYF) Oversight Committee. Over the past year, the Oversight Committee has not had work to do. However, the SAYF Steering Committee may in the future need assistance to address concerns of the sort for which the Oversight Committee was formed. Perhaps an alternate system, in which a clearness committee could be appointed when needed, is in order. Discussion of laying down the SAYF Oversight Committee was postponed until SAYF Oversight Committee members could be present.

Two individuals have represented SAYMA to YouthQuake. The Nominating Committee is inclined to fill this position if and when a volunteer is led to be involved, but to leave open the possibility of not filling the position.

Lee Ann Swarm listed positions that are still open and asked Friends to consider who might be called to serve in these positions. The Nominating Committee's charge was to return the following day with the rest of the slate. 

Co-registrar Susan Carlyle described the responsibilities of the co-registrar, one of the open positions. She also suggested that a portion of the co-registrars' fees at Yearly Meeting be covered by SAYMA. After brief discussion, further consideration was postponed until the treasurer could be present to speak to the financial implications of this proposal.

9.	Friends Committee on Unity with Nature (FCUN)
Kim Carlyle, SAYMA representative to FCUN, presented a report, which is attached in Appendix C.

10.	American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) Sallie Prugh and Jonah McDonald, SAYMA representatives to the AFSC Corporation, reported on their involvement with AFSC. Their written report is attached in Appendix D. Sallie has been paying special attention to AFSC's work between conflicting groups in Columbia. Jonah has been particularly interested in AFSC's developing Africa Initiative and in AFSC's current peacemaking work involving clergy in Angola. AFSC has undertaken a visioning process that will address the relationship between AFSC and the Religious Society of Friends. Sallie encouraged Friends to give her input for an upcoming AFSC visioning session. 

11.	The Prayer of the Tortoise 
The clerk read the following:

			A little patience,
			O God,
			I am coming.
			One must take nature as she is!
			It was not I who made her!
			I do not mean to criticize
			this house on my back--
			it has its points--
			but you must admit, Lord, 
			it is heavy to carry!
			Still,
			Let us hope that this double enclosure, 
			my shell and my heart,
			will never be quite shut to You.
				    Prayers from the Ark
				    Carmen Bernos de Gasztold

12.	The Prayer of the Glowworm
Following a break, the clerk read the following: 

			Dear God,
			Would You take Your light
			A little farther away
			from me?
			I am a morsel
			of cinder
			and need Your night
			for my heart to dare
			to flicker out its feeble star:
			its hope, to give to other hearts,
			what can be stolen from all poverty
			a gleam of joy.
				    Prayers from the Ark
				    Carmen Bernos de Gasztold

13.	Announcement
Jessie Purvis made an announcement on behalf of Young Adult Friends.

14.	Presentation of proposed minute on population
On behalf of Celo Monthly Meeting and Cookeville Worship Group, Geeta McGahey presented revisions to a minute on population that was approved at last yearly meeting, as follows:

Celo Monthly Meeting and Cookeville Worship Group have collaborated on a draft of proposed revisions to the population minute approved at Yearly Meeting 2000.  We request approval of these revisions.

The draft minute (revisions bold):

In accordance with Friends testimonies of equality, simplicity, and harmony, we recognize the sacredness of all life, the interconnection of all living things, and the balance required to sustain an acceptable quality of life for all inhabitants of our planet. We are committed to providing all children with a safe, loving, nourishing, and habitable world in which to live.

In October 1999, world human population surpassed 6 billion, having doubled since 1960. At the present rate of growth, it is likely to double again within the new century. The effects of this rapid population growth exacerbated by excessive consumerism, threaten all of earth's creatures, placing insupportable demands on her finite resources, creating unmanageable problems of waste disposal, and intensifying environmental degradation.

While remaining sensitive to the needs and values of all cultures, we acknowledge our responsibility to become informed about world population growth and the concerns it raises. Through our leadings and sharings, we will seek knowledgeable, loving, and creative ways of working towards effective and realistic solutions.  These include providing education on and means of contraception for both sexes, encouragement of adoption as an alternative to having biological children, and open support of those who choose not to procreate.

Recognizing that the countries of North America and Europe have caused and continue to cause the most serious environmental degradation, it is essential that we who have more than we need strive toward a simpler, less wasteful life-style.

We offer this minute in a spirit of concern that while population control may be less of an issue in our countries, we understand why larger families are important to others.  We realize that for many countries without the safety network of social security and government aid programs, the large family is the primary care giver and protector of the poor. 

Special emphasis must be given to measures to reduce poverty, provide security for people as they age, and empower women. Literacy, equal social status, and the general education of women to broaden their life choices are measures that not only improve their lives but also help delay childbirth and limit family size.

We urge our government to renew contributions to the United Nations Fund for Population Activities, and we urge meetings to study further the problem of rapid population growth and to discern how we are to act on this concern as individuals and as meetings in our own communities, in our country, and in support of countries throughout the world.

We will work towards a more equitable sharing of the world's resources and towards systems that will aid those in need, with the assurance that this will reduce the need for large families.

Proposed changes: Asheville  paragraph 5 changing population "control" to population “stabilization”

Diana Lalani of Cookeville Worship Group presented a suggested sentence that would further modify the minute. With the inclusion of this sentence, the second-to-the-last paragraph would read:
 
We urge our government to renew contributions to the United Nations Fund for Population Activities. As individual meetings we will study further the problems of rapid population growth, offer clearness to prospective parents, and set aside several opportunities a year to explore our own consumerist excesses, share problems, leadings, and possible solutions.

These proposals were presented as background for discussion at the following business session.

15.	Lifting sanctions against Iraq
At Yearly Meeting 2000, Atlanta and Nashville Monthly Meetings each presented minutes regarding sanctions against Iraq for consideration by the Yearly Meeting. Monthly Meetings were asked to season the concern in preparation for a special interest group at Yearly Meeting 2001 that would draft a minute to be considered by the yearly meeting. 

The clerk reported that she had heard from Berea Monthly Meeting, which is supportive of a minute opposing sanctions. Michael Harless reported that Boone Monthly Meeting has considered the issue and determined that as a monthly meeting it could not support a minute but would not stand in the way of a yearly meeting minute. Ron McDonald reported that Memphis Monthly Meeting is engaged in considering whether to permit an organization to set up an encampment on its lawn demonstrating the effects of the sanctions on Iraqi citizens. 

Pam Beziat offered to convene a group to draft a minute for consideration at the next business session. Friends agreed that if this interest group does not succeed in drafting an acceptable minute, SAYMA will request that Nashville and Atlanta work together to develop a minute before fall representative meeting.

16.	Death penalty
Yearly Meeting 2000 approved a statement reaffirming Friends' traditional opposition to the death penalty and supporting a moratorium on the death penalty as an interim step. Friends were encouraged to generate follow-up minutes as they were led. The clerk asked if Monthly Meetings had action to report.

Several Monthly Meetings reported on their actions on the death penalty. Actions included demonstrations of various sorts as well as the passage and publication of minutes. All who spoke affirmed the minute approved last year. The clerk suggested that Friends submit minutes and a record of other activities around the death penalty to the recording clerk, so that the extent of SAYMA Friends' work against the death penalty can be documented in the minutes of this yearly meeting. Friends agreed that monthly meetings should submit their records to the recording clerk within four weeks.

The question arose of whether SAYMA has ever approved a full-fledged minute on the death penalty. Archivist Bettina Wolff agreed to research this question.

17. 	Communication and accountability within SAYMA
In the course of discussion about gathering records of monthly meeting action against the death penalty, Friends proposed various methods of collecting such information. Friends agreed that within the coming year the Advisory Committee should consider ways that communication and accountability within the yearly meeting might be improved.

18. 	Relationship between AFSC and SAYMA
Recording Clerk Carol Lamm read the minutes of the June 7, 2001 called meeting for the consideration of formulating a minute concerning SAYMA's relationship with the American Friends Service Committee. After the reading, Friends who were present at that meeting approved the minutes, which are attached in Appendix C.

Materials cited in the June 7 minutes were made available for Friends to review in preparation for Saturday's meeting for business session. In addition, Courtney Siceloff distributed a proposed minute that he had composed.

19.	Introduction of proposed minute on global climate change
Kim Carlyle explained that SAYMA's Ecological Concerns Network has been working over the course of the past year on a minute on global climate change. Their work has included presenting a draft to representative meeting and incorporating responses from monthly meetings. He presented the latest draft of the proposed minute to be considered at the following business session.

20.	Introduction of proposed minute seeking peace between Israel and Palestine
Dennis Gregg presented a minute from Crossville Monthly Meeting regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The minute grew out of continuing communications of a member of Crossville Meeting with friends in the Middle East. The clerk read the minute, to be considered at the following business session. The minute is as follows:

The Crossville Monthly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends has approved a minute calling on the U.S. Government to facilitate the peaceful resolution of the conflict between the Israeli and Palestinian governments.

The Meeting has received a report of a gathering held at the Friends Boys School in Ramallah, Palestine of about 100 United States citizens living in occupied Jerusalem, West Bank and Gaza Strip which deplored the failure of our government to condemn the use of lethal weaponry against Palestinian civilians. The Meeting calls on the U.S. Government to take the lead in providing international protection for Palestinian civilians, to support the demand for an immediate international inquiry into the root causes of the conflict, to suspend arms shipments to Israel which are in violation of the U.S. Arms Export Control Act, and to terminate the transfer of U.S. funds to Israel (currently in the amount of over 6 billion dollars per year) for as long as Israel remains in violation of UN resolutions and international law.

The Meeting believes that a peaceful solution can and must be found and calls upon our government at whatever level is needed to facilitate a termination of hostilities and the establishment of peace between Israel and Palestine.

21.	Southern Appalachian Friend
Kim Carlyle, as co-editor with Susan Carlyle of the Southern Appalachian Friend newsletter, asked that Friends send in news articles about Meetings or, if they just send minutes, at least highlight matters of importance that would be worth reporting in the newsletter. Letters to the editor, articles, illustrations and even corrections are welcome. The newsletter is printed on 100 per cent recycled, chlorine-free paper. Meetings should let the Carlyles know if they are not receiving the appropriate number of copies. The newsletter is published four times a year, approximately quarterly. The due date for submissions for the next issue is June 22.

22.	YouthQuake
Priscilla Ewen presented a report on her involvement with YouthQuake. Her report is attached in Appendix D.

23.	Personnel Committee
Assistant Clerk Sharon Annis reported that the Personnel Committee had hired Therese Hildebrand as the first administrative assistant for the SAYF program. The Personnel Committee's responsibility has been evolving as the staff grows. She encouraged Friends to support staff by responding to requests from the staff, such as requests for information.

24.	Friends Peace Teams
Kathleen Hardie reported on the work of the Friends Peace Teams. Structurally a subcommittee of Baltimore Yearly Meeting's Peace and Social Concerns Committee, the organization works primarily through three avenues. FPT helps Friends get involved in on-the-ground work, such as the African Great Lakes Peace Initiative. FPT helps Quakers connect with partner organizations such as Christian Peacemaker Teams, Peace Brigades International and Quaker Volunteer Witness and Training. FPT also promotes the concept of every Meeting as a center for peace. Now that she had become familiar with the organization, she would like to be able to report to FPT on SAYMA meetings' peace work. She asked Friends to keep people in FPT and on the ground internationally in their prayers. 

June 9, 2001 - Seventh Day (Saturday) 9:30 am

25.	Opening
After a period of silence, the clerk sang: 

Thank you for these Friends, Lord,
Thank you for these Friends,
These faithful, 
These faithful,
These faithful Friends.
 
Julia Ewen beautifully told the story of the lost coin, spoke of the importance of feminine images in the Bible, especially in Jesus' teachings, and affirmed the value of every person in the community.

The clerk read:
This is my commandment, 
That ye love one another, as I have loved you. 
Greater love hath no one than this, that one lay down one's life for one's friends.
Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.
Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what the lord doeth; but I have called you friends.
	John 15:12-15
 
She commented that this is what the Religious Society of Friends was at its inception. However time and culture have changed, we are the Religious Society of Friends. We are known by the witness of our faith.

26.	Announcements
Administrative Assistant Mary Calhoun asked representatives to pick up directory correction materials at the rise of meeting.

Copies of A Guide to Our Faith and Our Practice will be available on First Day for $2.00 per copy, cash and carry.
 
Bill Reynolds announced that free sample copies of Friends Journal are available here at Yearly Meeting.

Dennis Gregg shared the joyful news that his daughter Elizabeth will be one of three Friends Committee on National Legislation interns this coming year. He also invited Friends to talk with him about a new school in Crossville which he has been involved in founding.

Kathy Johnson announced a meeting of the Ecological Concerns Network to continue its discussion of the greening of SAYMA.

Sharon Annis announced a meeting regarding religious education and the possibility of establishing a SAYMA religious education committee.

Susan Carlyle made announcements regarding check-out and recognized volunteers who assisted the co-registrars.
Margaret Cooley announced mealtime meetings of the Friends Committee on Unity with Nature, Right Sharing of World Resources and Friends Committee on National Legislation. She also announced arrangements for an afternoon hike and intergenerational games.

Kit Potter announced a meeting of the Ministry and Nurture Committee.

27.	Epistle Committee
The clerk read the following passage:

When work does not turn out as was expected or intended, do not let it depress you. If you are working from a right motive, and doing your best under the guidance of a loving Father in heaven, your work cannot be and is not a failure.
	Joseph John Armistead, 1913
	Quaker Faith and Practice: The Book of Christian Discipline of the Yearly Meeting
	of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) in Britain, 20.04

The clerk then asked for volunteers for the Epistle Committee. Hibbard Thatcher, Diana Lalani and Mary Litch responded to the call and will serve as the Epistle Committee.

28.	Southern Appalachian Young Friends Steering Committee
Margaret Farmer, co-clerk of the SAYF Steering Committee, reported that SAYF has had seven weekend retreats and two combined weekend meetings of the Steering, Nurturing and Oversight Committees and is currently holding a SAYF session at Yearly Meeting. It has been a good year. She is grateful for yesterday's appointment of Kathleen Mavournin as co-clerk of the steering committee; the hiring of an administrative assistant; the new members of the steering committee; and the work of the personnel committee in hiring the administrative assistant. She expressed thanks to Tim Lamm for maintaining the SAYF database, and to Kendall Ivie for putting SAYF retreat registration forms on the web site where late-planning teens can find them.

Friends minuted their appreciation of Margaret Farmer's hard work over the years.

29.	Visitors
Daryl Bergquist introduced two staff members of the American Friends Service Committee South East Region staff: Benita Thompson, director of the Help Increase the Peace program, and Kara Vona, associate director of the HIP program. They were present at Yearly Meeting to present two HIP workshops.

30. 	Appointment of Faith and Practice Revision Committee
The clerk read the following sentence from SAYMA's A Guide to Our Faith and Our Practice:

In the year 2000 and each decade thereafter, Yearly Meeting shall consider whether it will appoint a revision committee to review the entire Guide.

Yearly Meeting 2000 appointed an examining committee to discern whether revisions are needed. Dick Houghton presented the report of that Examining Committee:

The following members of the Examining Committee met at the Nashville Friends Meeting House, 21 October 2000: Free Polazzo (convener), Penelope Wright, Janet Minshall, Dennis Gregg, and Richard Houghton; Kathleen Hardie and Steve Meredith were absent.

Free was asked to clerk the committee. He accepted.

The charge of the committee was to consider whether the Yearly Meeting should appoint a revision committee to review the entire Guide. 

After three hours of meeting there was agreement that we should recommend the appointment of a Revision Committee to focus primarily on updating and clarifying the organization of our Guide to Our Faith and Our Practice.

The attached pages [note: not included in the Yearly Meeting 2001 minutes] are the committee's offerings of 18 queries and suggestions to the Revision Committee when it begins its deliberations.

The clerk read the following portion from the Guide:

This [revision] committee, through prayerful consideration, shall weigh whether continuing corporate revelation requires any change. Examining and revision committees shall consist of five or more members, at least two of whom shall have served on a previous examining committee. The committees shall continue to serve until Yearly Meeting has approved their discontinuance.

In response to a request for a summary of the content of the changes to be considered, Examining Committee members explained that first of all, the Guide needs to be reprinted in a somewhat reorganized format simply to incorporate changes that the Yearly Meeting has made over the years. In addition, monthly meetings and individuals have raised concerns. A committee would consider the suggestions that have been made. Also, a number of committees have been formed but are not reflected in the Guide. 

Friends approved the appointment of a Revision Committee. Geeta McGahey, Nancy Whitt, Free Polazzo, Larry Ingle, Penelope Wright and Missy Ivie volunteered to serve on the committee. Other Friends are welcome to join them. Free Polazzo agreed to convene the committee. The committee will determine how to function, including how much of the work can be done using the Internet. 

31.	 Right Sharing of World Resources
Geeta McGahey presented highlights of a report on the Right Sharing of World Resources program, attached in Appendix D. She described her personal excitement as people she has worked with in India went through the grant process and received funding for their work. RSWR staff has grown both administratively and programmatically. A part-time education staff person will develop materials meetings can use.

32. 	Anti-racism workshop
Assistant Clerk Sharon Annis shared information on a fall anti-racism workshop at Pendle Hill. She then read some excerpts from monthly meeting State of the Meeting reports that she felt reflected common themes.

The clerk read a selection from the Atlanta State of the Meeting report on their program entitled Our Role As Individuals In America's Racial History (ORAIIARH). She asked whether someone from SAYMA might be led to attend the Pendle Hill anti-racism workshop. Sallie Prugh reported that Gita Larson of Columbia Monthly Meeting, who has been active in anti-racism work, responded enthusiastically to the suggestion that she might attend. Geeta McGahey suggested Colin Sugioka of Celo Monthly Meeting, who carries a concern for anti-racism work and is geographically isolated from others doing this work. Evan Richardson suggested Joan MacKenzie of Asheville Monthly Meeting as another possible participant. At Yearly Meeting 2000, Joan MacKenzie was inspired by the Atlanta ORAIIARH project and hopes to begin a similar program in Asheville Monthly Meeting as part of her commitment to anti-racism work. 

Friends approved offering to send Gita Larson, Colin Sugioka and Joan MacKenzie to the Pendle Hill anti-racism workshop, with SAYMA paying half of the cost and suggesting that their respective monthly meetings pay the other half. The clerk requested the addresses of these Friends.

33.	Treasurer's report
Treasurer Kendall Ivie presented the following report:

SAYMA currently has $27,838 in available funds.  SAYMA will end the fiscal year 2001 with approximately $25,000 in available funds plus about $5,800 in dedicated funds. See the Account Balances Report for details.

The 2001 SAYMA Yearly Meeting is expected to have income of $23,500 and expenses of $23,700 creating a loss for the Yearly Meeting of $200.

For the fiscal 2001 year to date SAYMA has income of $62,312 and expenses of $50,209 leaving a net increase of $12,103.  Details of income and expense to date are included in the Fiscal Year 2002 Proposed Budget.

There are several reasons for the large surplus:
1)	Delay in hiring SAYF Administrative Assistant
2)	Budgeted benefits for paid staff not come to fruition
3)	SAYF expended about $4000 less than budgeted

The Treasurer requests that reimbursement requests be submitted in a timely manner.

The financial report, which includes current year-to-date income and expenses, account balances, and the proposed budget for the coming year, is attached in Appendix C.

Friends accepted the treasurer's report for the current fiscal year.

34.	Budget for July 2001-June 2002
A Friend asked the rationale for proposing a $200 contribution to Right Sharing of World Resources while other wider Quaker organizations receive $800. Treasurer Kendall Ivie explained that as far as he could recall, the $200 amount was set when RSWR became independent of Friends World Committee for Consultation, and the amount has not changed since then. Dennis Gregg, a former finance committee member and treasurer, provided the historical information that SAYMA used to contribute an amount equal to its interest income to RSWR. 

Friends discussed the pros and cons of reducing the assessment from $55 to $50, as the treasurer had suggested might be possible. Some felt that a reduction would be helpful to monthly meetings. Others suggested that this is an opportunity to increase contributions to wider Quaker organizations, including raising RSWR to $800, or for increasing scholarship assistance for attending Yearly Meeting. The fact that the finance committee has not functioned this year was a concern. It was suggested that before the Yearly Meeting considers a reduction in the assessment, the finance committee should carefully review anticipated expenses for coming years, since decisions made previously may have financial implications that have not yet been fully reflected in spending.

Approval of the budget was deferred until the following business session to allow Friends to reflect further on the issues raised.
  
35.	Proposed minute on population
Friends considered the proposed minute on population presented during the previous business session. (See #14.) A concern was raised about the reference to the countries of North America and Europe causing environmental degradation without acknowledging the role of other countries such as Japan, Australia and New Zealand. It was proposed to change the relevant sentence to read:

Recognizing that the more prosperous countries have caused and continue to cause the most serious environmental degradation, it is essential that we who have more than we need strive toward a simpler, less wasteful life-style.

Several Friends expressed concern about the proposed revision from the Cookeville Worship Group because it committed monthly meetings to specific actions that the meetings have not agreed to. It was suggested that it would be more appropriate for SAYMA to encourage monthly meetings to take the actions. A concern was also expressed that in the idea of "offering clearness to prospective parents" there be no hint of pressure to limit family size to a specific number of children.

Friends asked that the population minute be seasoned further. Bob McGahey volunteered to convene this process.

36. 	Relationship between SAYMA and AFSC
The clerk reviewed the state of SAYMA's consideration of its relationship to the American Friends Service Committee. Three monthly meetings have brought forward minutes on the subject. A called meeting on Thursday to consider formulating a minute to propose to Yearly Meeting did not result in such a minute, although a minute proposed by an individual at the conclusion is included in the minutes of that meeting. Yesterday a second individual distributed a proposed minute. Subsequently another proposed minute has been developed by three individuals. The clerk advised that because these latest minutes had not been seasoned by monthly meetings, it would not be in right order to consider them at this yearly meeting. She asked Friends whether they wished to hear the latest minute, and Friends requested that she read it. This proposed minute was written by Bert Skellie and Courtney Siceloff of Atlanta Monthly Meeting and Becky Ingle of Chattanooga Monthly Meeting:
 
We treasure the important contributions of the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) to bringing our testimonies into the world. As Friends, we seek to live up to the standards of Quaker testimonies and practices.

We commit ourselves to ensuring that our Quaker service organization, the AFSC, continues its long history of bearing witness to Quaker values. We will work to help AFSC maintain both internal operating processes and programs which are based on Spirit-led Quaker principles.

Larry Ingle spoke to the issue of right order, stating that in his understanding Friends gathered at Yearly Meeting can take action as they are led. Geeta McGahey spoke to the seasoning that had taken place over a period of years at both the monthly and yearly meeting levels on this issue, and her sense that adopting a minute such as the one proposed above would be an important step forward in healing and action.

Friends approved the proposed minute. It is reprinted in Appendix C.

Two Friends spoke of this minute serving not as an end but as the beginning of work that now needs to take place outside of yearly meeting sessions.

37.	Southern Appalachian Young Friends Oversight Committee
Jeremiah Gold-Hopton presented the following report from the SAYF Oversight Committee:

We considered laying down the SAYF Oversight Committee. However we have decided to recommend that, for the time being, the SAYF Oversight Committee should remain as a standing Yearly Meeting committee. The Oversight Committee may call appropriate ad hoc committees to convene for specific tasks.

Pat Boggs, Sara Rose, and John Potter will continue to serve. Jeremiah Gold-Hopton is rolling off.

We see the need to support the transition to having an administrative assistant. There is continuing need for ENERGETIC! FAPs who like teenagers and are grounded in Quaker faith and practice. We also see a need for support from local meetings for local resource people and local arrangements. 

We wish to applaud the work of the SAYF Steering Committee. It is our sense that they are doing THE most important in-reach and outreach for new and continuing Quakers that is being done in our Yearly Meeting today.
 
Friends approved the SAYF Oversight Committee report and the recommendations included in it.

38.	Evaluation 
Yearly Meeting Planning Committee Clerk Mary Ann Downey encouraged Friends to thank the members of the Yearly Meeting Planning Committee for their work and to fill out the evaluation forms provided. She also announced that copies of Arthur Larrabee's evening presentation are available.  

39.	Site Selection Committee
Larry Ingle reported that the Site Selection Committee is still working to find a site west of the mountains for Yearly Meeting 2002. The committee will report to fall representative meeting. 

40.	Nominating Committee
Nominating Committee Clerk Lee Ann Swarm reported that the committee had made substantial progress since yesterday's report. She announced positions that were still unfilled.

41.	Closing
The clerk announced that, to her great regret, no more wider Quaker organization reports would be presented, due to the short amount of time remaining for business session. Written reports will be included in the minutes. 

The clerk asked Friends to join her in singing the song that rose out of the silence at the beginning of the meeting. 

June 10, 2001 - First Day (Sunday) 9:30 am

42.	Opening
After a period of silence, the clerk read the following message from Deborah Fisch:

I realize that it is unorthodox to send a written communication to you. When making airline reservations I learned that it is not easy to get from Des Moines, Iowa, to Warren Wilson College. It necessitates not one but two plane changes, and therefore limits the flights I can take to make those connections. To get home today at a reasonable price I had to leave your sessions early (at 5 this morning). By now I hope I am somewhere between Charlotte and Kansas City, holding all of you in my heart as you conclude your annual sessions. I am sorry to be missing your final sessions, for I always find them to be a particularly sweet time. But I know even as the miles take me farther from you, there is that of God you have shared with me these last few days that will always be a part of me.

I didn't want to leave without saying thank you for the gracious welcome and gentle care you have gifted me with these last few days. I treasure the opportunities I had to share with many of you over meals, after sessions, and while walking from building to building. I will particularly remember your desire to stay the course and be faithful to your business process, the joy with which you received your plenary presenters, and the love that you shared with each other.

I am blessed to have the joy of traveling among Friends such as you, listening to how the Spirit is working in our meetings and hearing news and greetings of Friends. I want you to know that I will be faithful in sharing the gifts of the Divine that you have so graciously shared with me. A long time ago I read a simple sentence that I can now share with others as my experience too. "I knew not that of God in me until entwined with that of God in thee."

I hope to see many of you in a few weeks at FGC Gathering. Until the time our paths may cross again may our journeys continue to be blessed by God's grace and love.

The clerk read the following message from Arthur Larrabee:

I am sorry that I am not here to say good-bye in person. This would have been my preference. This has been a most wonderful visit for me. Thank you for your welcome and your hospitality. I have felt appreciated and honored by you collectively and individually and I shall treasure the memory of my sojourn among you. 

I pray for God's blessings on the life and work of this Yearly Meeting.

Please come to visit in Philadelphia, and when you do, ask for me.

The clerk then recalled the passage from George Fox that Arthur Larrabee brought to us, with emphasis on the importance of the first part:

Be patterns, be examples in all countries, places, islands, nations, wherever you come, that your carriage and life may preach among all sorts of people, and to them; then you will come to walk cheerfully over the world, answering that of God in every one.	
		George Fox, 1656

43.	Proposed minute on Iraq
Pam Beziat presented the following proposed minute on Iraq. The minute was prepared by six Friends who met following the previous day's business session. They used input from Celo and Memphis Monthly Meetings as well as the minutes from Nashville and Atlanta Monthly Meetings brought to Yearly Meeting 2000.

Moved by our belief that every human life is sacred, Southern Appalachian Yearly Meeting and Association (SAYMA) of the Religious Society of Friends calls on elected officials to support the end of economic sanctions imposed by the United Nations on Iraq. Sanctions against Iraq have caused devastating effects on the life, health, and social structure of civilians. These sanctions constitute a violation of the fundamental principles of international law, the peacemaking principles and intent of the United Nations Charter, and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. The effects of the sanctions continue to be documented by organizations such as UNICEF and by the former U.N. Humanitarian Coordinator in Iraq, Denis Halliday. 

The governments of the United States and Iraq share responsibility for the political deadlock that has caused these deadly conditions to continue for ten years. We, as citizens of the United States, bear a grave responsibility for the actions of our government. It is urgent that an alternative solution be found that will end the United Nation's economic embargo. Broad economic sanctions against Iraq have shown themselves to be both immoral and ineffective and should be stopped.

A concern was raised that the minute does not explain what the alternative policies might be. Others suggested that the implication is clear enough that dialogue would be a next step, dialogue that will only be possible if restrictions on travel and other communication are lifted. 

Friends approved the minute and directed that the clerk send the minute to elected representatives within SAYMA's geographical boundaries. The clerk asked for suggestions of other officials, news media or other organizations to which the minute might be sent. The minute is reprinted in Appendix C.

44.	Nominating Committee
Nominating Committee Clerk Lee Ann Swarm presented the following nominations for SAYMA positions:

Position	Person	From	To
Assistant Clerk	John Geary	6/01	6/03
Member, Nominating Committee	Perry Treadwell	6/01	6/03
Member, Nominating Committee	Jess Purvis	6/01	6/03
Member, Personnel Committee	Judy Prince	6/01	6/03
Member, Personnel Committee	Lee Ann Swarm	6/01	6/03
Clerk, Finance Committee	Chris Berg	6/01	6/03
Member, Finance Committee	Peter Reilly	6/01	6/03
Member, Finance Committee	Dick Houghton	6/01	6/03
Co-Clerk, Ecological Concerns Network	Kim Carlyle	6-00	6/01
Co-Clerk, Ecological Concerns Network	Kathy Johnson	6/01	6/03
Co-Registrar	Carol Gray	6/01	6/03
AFSC SERO Executive Committee	Daryl Bergquist	6/00	6/02
Member, SAYF Oversight Committee	Pat Boggs	6/99	6/02
AFSC Corporation Alternate	Colin Sugioka	6/01	6/03
AFSC Corporation Alternate	Priscilla Ewen	6/01	6/03
FWCC Representative	Lauren Mitchell	6/02	6/04
Co-Clerk, YM Planning Committee	Bill Holland	6/01	6/02
	and Ex-Officio Finance Committee Member

Friends approved these appointments.

The Nominating Committee recommends that the Ministry and Nurture Co-Clerk be appointed by the committee. Friends approved.

William Penn House has requested a representative from SAYMA for its national consultative committee, and that SAYMA hear regular reports from William Penn House. The Nominating Committee recommends that Nancy Lee-Riffe fill this position, as she has done informally for the past two years. Next year it may be possible to appoint one of the SAYMA FCNL representatives to this position, since the national consultative committee meets immediately preceding meetings of the FCNL Board. Friends approved the appointment of Nancy Lee-Riffe to this position for one year, with the understanding that SAYMA's commitment to filling this position will be reviewed at next Yearly Meeting.

45.	Global climate change
Assistant Clerk Sharon Annis re-read the proposed minute presented the previous day:

SAYMA Friends recognize that unprecedented rate of change in our global climate is causing rising global temperature, diminishing polar ice, changing local weather patterns, and increasing frequency of severe storms. We also recognize that human activity, largely the combustion of fossil fuels, is a major cause of these changes.
Further, this global climate change is destabilizing many of our planet's ecosystems, reducing their production of foods, medicines, and other products for humans, and accelerating species extinction.
Human refugees from droughts, floods, and rising sea levels, and the human suffering caused by crop failures and the spread of infectious diseases from warmer climates are  stressing societies and governments, setting the stage for violence, oppression, and conflict. Our peace testimony leads us to find ways to remove these potential causes of war.
Friends' concerns for simplicity, right sharing of resources, and equality, and our recognition that the effects of global warming desecrate God's creation, lead us to issue an urgent call for Friends to make substantive changes in their lifestyles including:
•	reducing use of fossil fuels--for transportation; home heating, air-conditioning, and lighting; and recreation--through conservation, efficiency, and use of alternative energy sources (human, solar, and wind power).
•	reducing industrial combustion of fossil fuels through informed choices of products and services.
•	working for public policy that:
•	supports international agreements to reduce heat-trapping gases
•	discourages use of carbon-based fuels and encourages use of renewable sources of energy
•	develops, supports, and promotes both local and long distance public transportation systems.
We urge Friends Meetings and individuals to act on these urgent concerns. We call on Monthly Meetings & Worship Groups to report on such actions at the next Yearly Meeting. We ask Friends to consider how to develop social supports that enable us to move into spiritually informed daily efforts to change our lives and act on our concerns.
A question was raised regarding the mechanism by which monthly meetings will report on their actions. The Ecological Concerns Network agreed to undertake the collection and presentation of this information. Friends approved the minute, which is reprinted in Appendix C.
46.	Budget
Treasurer Kendall Ivie reported that two requests have been made for consideration by the finance committee: an increase for the Ecological Concerns Network from $200 to $600, and an increase from $200 to $800 in SAYMA's contribution to Right Sharing of World Resources.

It was suggested that if SAYMA has a surplus, an open invitation should be made to monthly meetings for suggestions on how to spend the surplus. The treasurer clarified that the proposed budget is not based on a reduced assessment, and it shows a net loss of $8400 that would bring down the surplus by $8400. Several Friends spoke of the need for an orderly consideration of a variety of budgetary issues by the finance committee before substantive changes are made.

The clerk and treasurer reviewed the appropriate time frame for suggestions for the coming year's budget. Requests should be made to the finance committee early in the calendar year so that the finance committee can prepare a proposed budget for presentation at spring representative meeting. However, since the finance committee did not function this past spring, Friends asked that the committee work over the summer in preparation for fall representative meeting. Monthly meetings and committees that have financial requests or suggestions should communicate with the finance committee. The finance committee can make recommendations to fall representative meeting, which has the authority to make adjustments to the budget.

A question about salary increases and benefits was raised. Sharon Annis, clerk of the personnel committee, explained that the committee is working on issues regarding staff hours and compensation. 

A question was raised about why amounts are not included for Junior Yearly Meeting line items. The treasurer explained that all the expenses for Yearly Meeting have been combined, and that the Yearly Meeting Planning Committee will determine how the money will be broken down.

Friends approved the budget, with Free Polazzo recorded as standing aside because of lack of input from standing committees. The approved budget is included in Appendix C.

47.	World Gathering of Young Adult Friends
Lauren Mitchell reported that at the most recent FWCC triennial, the idea arose of a third World Gathering of Young Adult Friends. The site is likely to be Ireland, sometime between 2004 and 2006. The planning group is looking for a coordinator or co-coordinators to pull off this event. She asked Friends for suggestions of individuals who might play this role, and for any other support Friends can offer.

48.	Assessment
A question was raised as to the status of the assessment. The clerk advised that at this point the assessment has not changed, and that the assessment is one aspect of the financial matters that the finance committee should consider before fall representative meeting. Friends approved asking the finance committee to bring forward a recommendation regarding the assessment.

49.	Registrar's report
Co-registrar Missy Ivie reported the following attendance statistics:

	Total in attendance	248
	Adults	185
	Junior Yearly Meeting participants (children)	18
	SAYF participants (teens)	45
	SAYF Friendly Adult Presences (adults in dorm)	11
	Young Adult Friends	5
Meetings and Worship Groups represented	33

A concern about the small number of children was raised, with the request that Friends consider why more families are not attending. Cost may be an issue, and if so, more scholarship assistance would be important. 

50.	Minute on Israeli and Palestinian conflict
The clerk asked whether Friends were ready to consider the minute presented Friday from Crossville Monthly Meeting seeking peace between Israel and Palestine.
After brief discussion, Friends approved asking monthly meetings to season the minute, and to forward their responses to Crossville Monthly Meeting. Friends expressed appreciation to Crossville for bringing this matter to our attention.  

Dennis Gregg expressed his dissatisfaction that representative meeting did not consider this minute after it was submitted last fall, on the grounds that no individual could be present. He stated that Friends take written words seriously, and he felt this minute could have been considered as written.

51.	Junior Yearly Meeting Epistle
Junior Yearly Meeting coordinator Georgi Schmitt presented the epistle below, as children joyfully displayed full-body silhouettes, action drawings with feelings, and a hand garland. They sang a song and closed by sharing their individual highlights: building boats, splat ball (baseball with oranges), kick the can with Phil (Neal), Quaker ball, juggling, candle making and calligraphy. Coordinator Georgi Schmitt thanked the Friendly adults who spent time with the children; many of these volunteers spent many hours with JYM.

Our theme was Friendship. The theme's connecting link to Yearly Meeting was the aspects of friendship that lead us to being whole. 

Every morning started with Meeting for Worship followed by the "Squeeze Game." On Day One we discussed the appropriate or not appropriate squeeze after group prayer. Some comments by the children: "Sometimes it stops my prayer," and "It lets us know when we're finished."

During the course of our time together we: juggled, played games with Susan Penn and Virginia and David Wood, sang, listened to stories, swam, drew action body figures, outlined our friends, made candles and boats and then sailed the boats on the pond. Some of us did calligraphy. We all played Splat Ball and most joined in Quaker Ball. 

Budding caring and friendships and discussions emerged as Nicholas took Irina's hand to help her stay with the group as they hiked to the farm. Children spoke of the death penalty: "I don't think the death penalty is right but I think it's better than dying in a cage." "We are friends because we stick together even when we're mad." Some of the highlights of the weekend were expressed by the children as part of the final session.

Spiritual balance, friendship and caring--all aspects of wholeness--all parts of Junior Yearly Meeting 2001.

Friends minuted their appreciation for Georgi Schmitt, who has brought the children her presence with song, storytelling and gentle manner for many years.

52.	Southern Appalachian Young Friends Epistle
Trina Farmer and Jessica Anderson presented the following epistle: 	

This year has been a time of solid love and commitment. We began our journey in August with a Nurturing and Steering Committee retreat. Together we focused on the query "How can we encourage positive interactions within our community?" 

Our next retreat, which was for all members of the SAYF group, was in September and was held in West Knoxville. We volunteered at a local homeless shelter and spend quiet time in outdoors worship sharing.

In October we gathered at Penn Center for our annual retreat of bonding with the islanders and helping them beautify their community areas. It was a weekend of enjoyable work followed by a potluck organized by the local people and a joint talent show.

In November we met in Asheville for a weekend of relaxation and self-expression. To achieve our goal, we bathed in natural hot springs and played games with the focus of self-expression. 

Chapel Hill hosted our next retreat in January. Over the weekend we participated in workshops on human rights and interrupting violence. 

Next the Nurturing and Steering Committees met in Columbia, South Carolina to discuss how the year was progressing and we planned our retreat schedule for the upcoming year.

In March we gathered in Asheville once again. This time we went to a shelter for battered women and children. There we cleared space for a garden and playground, painted a building and helped organize their thrift shop.

Our last retreat was in April at Hard Labor Creek State Park in Georgia. We enjoyed a weekend focused around conflict resolution. We had an afternoon of activities on the theme, then a heart circle and drum circle around a bonfire. 

Now, here we are at SAYMA Yearly Meeting. Throughout this weekend we have joined the wider SAYMA community for workshops and inspirational speakers. In addition we had our own workshops on yoga and an energy workshop with John Calvi. We held a graduation ceremony for our seven seniors and together shared an emotional night of reminiscing and farewells. 

Together we completed another successful year of spiritual growth and community. Thank you for supporting us in our efforts to grow with you all.

53.	SAYMA Epistle
Friends approved the following epistle, presented by Mary Litch on behalf of the Epistle Committee:

To Friends everywhere:

We greet you from the lovely campus of Warren Wilson College near the Smoky Mountains of North Carolina where we held the 31st session of the Southern Appalachian Yearly Meeting and Association (SAYMA). Our theme this year was "Teach Us to Be Whole: Gather Us, Heal Us, Lead Us," which was reflected in many of our Yearly Meeting activities. 

We opened Yearly Meeting on Sixth Month 7, 2001 with Meeting for Worship, followed by a special called meeting to explore the relationship between SAYMA and the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC). After heart-felt sharing and further deliberation in business sessions, we affirmed and renewed our commitment to our relationship with AFSC. 

Other highlights of our time together included: hearing the State of the Meeting reports from meetings and worship groups large and small; engaging in workshops, where we learned to nurture ourselves, our relationships, our communities and our planet; and listening to Arthur Larrabee share his views of the first steps toward wholeness. We celebrated in song and dance, we reveled in the joyous message Earthmama (a.k.a. "Joyce Johnson Rouse") and built community by including many intergenerational activities. We are heartened by the presence of so many young people, toddlers to teens, and especially glad for the teens in the Southern Appalachian Young Friends (SAYF) program, who this year shared more Yearly Meeting joys and efforts with us.

We have the sense of growing as a Yearly Meeting into greater awareness of needs, both within and without, and of our challenge and opportunity to change our structure, our Guide to Our Faith and Our Practice, and our managing of funds.

As we look towards meeting west of the mountains next year, we savor Earthmama's statement: "These individual threads bind us together to strengthen community."

54.	Young Adult Friends Epistle
Young Adult Friends made a dramatic presentation of their epistle which was warmly received by the rest of the meeting. The final highlight was the introduction of the seven SAYF graduates who have joined their number.

Note on YAF epistle: All underlined words have appropriately cheesy synergistic-type hand motions. Make up sufficient silliness accordingly.
Sign: Hold one hand up as if holding crystal ball over the head.
Long-range: Extend one arm out while keeping the other at rib-level.
Vision: Like "long-range," only at head level.
God: Hold both hands fingers upward, at head level, wiggling fingers.
Groove: Wiggle fingers on one hip.
Cows: Make Y-signs like horns.
Laboring: Hand on forehead--"Alas" gesture.

Our theme for this Yearly Meeting was "Where is everybody?" We had a vision of people, many people. But there were only five of us. Hi Jess! Hi Jonah! Hi Priscilla! Hi Lauren! Hi John! In addition to our small numbers, we also found ourselves laboring with exhaustion. Then we received a sign from God that to perk ourselves up, we should go to business meeting. Upon emerging from these meetings, we found new wholeness in our positions of service to the Yearly Meeting. Business meeting inspired us to hold more business meeting, of YAF-type business. And we received a  of a Long-Range Vision from God! We were led to ask that age-old question: "Who the heck are we?" We knew we had to be something more than aging SAYFers who happen to kidnap people of a similar age. As we develop this identity, we wish to grow large enough to plan activities for Yearly Meeting in advance, while still continuing our involvement in the SAYMA community. 

Then, we remembered that there were only five of us! So, we invented a short-term plan to be a vehicle to our Long-Range Vision from God! First, we obtained a "powerful" position on the Planning Committee which will enable us to advertise our Long-Range Vision from God better. To continue our evangelism, we will be writing an article for the Southern Appalachian Friend and hopefully creating some type of website to help facilitate our communication with Friends who were * cough * not here at this gathering. We again felt the press of exhaustion and off we went on a foot journey to groove with the cows. Seeing such intelligent beasts, we were inspired to deep philosophical conversations about education, meaning, and death. By Saturday night, we gathered a new group of converts--seven SAYF graduates. We celebrated our population growth and our Long-Range Vision from God with ice cream and donuts late into the night. In conclusion, we ask you to go tell it on the mountain and help spread our Long-Range Vision from God to all of those unknown and possibly derelict YAFs who can help us construct our Beloved Community.

55.	Farewell from the clerk
Outgoing clerk Penelope Wright read the following haiku:

	As the year concludes--
	wanderer's hat on my head,
	sandals on my feet.
				Basho

She then turned the meeting over to incoming clerk Sharon Annis.

56.	Date of Yearly Meeting 2002
The clerk asked what dates the Site Selection Committee has under consideration for next year. Larry Ingle responded that they have been discussing June 6-8 with Bryan College, the site under consideration; the committee does not know if other dates are available. 

A concern was raised that an early June date is problematic for high school students, especially graduating seniors who must choose between attending graduation or attending Yearly Meeting. Another Friend pointed out that proximity in time to the FGC Gathering can create difficulties for Friends who attend both. 

Friends requested that the Site Selection Committee consider the third weekend in June as the first preference.

A Friend requested that SAYMA make such decisions earlier so that Friends can schedule their wider Quaker organization responsibilities around SAYMA's dates.

57.	Representative Meetings
September representative meeting will be in Birmingham, September 8. Connie LaMonte announced a contra dance that evening that night in case Friends would like to work that into their plans.

December representative meeting will be either in Nashville or West Knoxville, depending on the location of Yearly Meeting 2002.
The clerk advised Friends that some committees may meet on Friday evenings before representative meeting.
 
58.	Approval of minutes
Friends approved these minutes throughout the course of the Yearly Meeting, subject to final editing by the clerk and recording clerk.

59.	Appreciation of outgoing clerk
Clerk Sharon Annis invited Friends to settle into silence and to speak out of the silence in appreciation of outgoing clerk Penelope Wright. She asked the recording clerk to note the messages so that they can be compiled in a minute by representative meeting. A rich time of sharing followed. 

(archive copy signed)					(archive copy signed)
							
Penelope Wright, Clerk	Carol Lamm, Recording Clerk

Yearly Meeting #31 of Southern Appalachian Yearly Meeting and Association
Warren Wilson College, Swannanoa, North Carolina

Appendices

	Appendix A: Yearly Meeting Attenders
	
	Appendix B: State of the Meeting Reports
		Asheville
		Atlanta
		Berea
		Birmingham
		Boone
		Brevard
		Celo
		Charleston
		Chattanooga
		Cleveland
		Columbia
		Crossville
		Foxfire
		Memphis
		Nashville
		New Moon Worship Group
		Northwest Georgia Worship Group
		Swannanoa
		West Knoxville
		
	Appendix C: General
			Minutes of Called Meeting for Consideration of Formulating a Minute Concerning SAYMA's Relationship with the American Friends Service Committee (#18)
Minute Regarding the Relationship between SAYMA and AFSC (#36)		
Minute Regarding Sanctions against Iraq (#43)
Minute Regarding Global Climate Change (#45)
Financial Statements and Budget (#33, #34 and #46)
Ecological Concerns Network Report
	
	Appendix D: Wider Quaker Organization Reports
			American Friends Service Committee
American Friends Service Committee -- South East Region
Friends Committee on National Legislation
Friends Committee on Outworld Relations
Friends Committee on Unity with Nature
Friends General Conference
Friends World Committee for Consultation
		Right Sharing of World Resources
		YouthQuake