Quakers in YorkshireQuakers in YorkshireQuakers in YorkshireQuakers in Yorkshire

NewsletterNewsletterNewsletterNewsletterincluding

news, views and events from

Local and Area Meetings

in Yorkshire,

and

programme for QiY meeting

at Bootham School, York,

on Saturday 17 October 2015

EVERYONE WELCOMEEVERYONE WELCOMEEVERYONE WELCOMEEVERYONE WELCOME

QiY NEWSLETTER. Area and local meetings in Yorkshire are invited to send news of their interests and activities for inclusion in the QiY newsletter. The newsletter appears four times a year, to coincide with QiY's quarterly meetings, and information should reach the co-clerks (see contact details below) by the beginning of the preceding month.

Paper copies of the quarterly newsletter, including the programme for each meeting of Quakers in Yorkshire, are sent to all local meetings. Please let the co-clerks know if your meeting needs more or fewer copies.

The newsletter is also sent out electronically to AM and LM clerks. If any Friend would like to receive additional copies in this way, please inform co-clerks of QiY.

OFFICERS OF QUAKERS IN YORKSHIRECo-Clerks:Chris Love, chris234love@btinternet.com 01904 758344Barbara Parry, barbaraparry@waitrose.com 0113 2503867Treasurer: George R Race, georgerrace@tiscali.co.uk 01706 374092Clerk of Trustees: Barbara Windle, bwindle@waitrose.com 01904 481977

FUTURE MEETINGS OF QUAKERS IN YORKSHIRE Saturday 16 January 2016 at Oxford Place, Leeds. Reports onthe Under-19s Coordinating Group (including Junior Holidays and Holiday School), Easter Settlement and Outreach; presentations about Breckenbrough School, and Yorkshire and Humberside Circles of Support and Accountability.

Saturday 16 April 2016 at Huddersfield. A performance by Journeymen Theatre of Over the Top, about militarisation in schools, followed by questions and discussion.

Saturday 16 July 2016 at Ilkley. Provisionally, a presentation byYoung Friends General Meeting (to be confirmed).

Saturday 15 October 2016 at The Mount. Reports from The Mount and Bootham School and another topic to be decided.

* * * * * * * * * * * *NEW QiY WEBSITE update from the Working Group

Are you happy for your contact details to appear on the website?The working group proposes to enter on the new website the names of some QiY committee post holders and representatives on outside bodies together with their contact details (e-mail and telephone numbers). If you are a post holder or representative and do not wish your details to be included, please let one of us know by 25th October 2015.

Would you like to be considered for one of the following posts?The new website will also need Friends who are willing to workon it. We propose three posts, each to serve for three years or up to six years (two triennia) which is the normal maximum period of service. These are: a Webmaster, who will have day-to-day responsibility for working on the website; a Website Quality Manager who will keep an eye on quality issues and a Website Editor with responsibility for the work of the website team.

Wordpress, the programme to which we are transferring, is verystraightforward: we have been able to have some practice. Moreover, Teresa Paskiewicz, from Rochdale, who is helping us, is willing to give anyone appointed the support and information they need to take this forward. If you want to see a QiY website continue, please consider whether you might be able to offer yourself for one of these posts and contact one of us, or Nominations Committee.

Chris Love (chris234love@btinternet.com)

Martin Schweiger (germbuster@phonecoop.coop)

John Batchelor (johnbatchelor@ntlworld.com)

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Update on Martin Schweiger On 28 September Liz Schweiger wrote: Martin had his aortic aneurysm repaired on Thursday 24th [in Amiens]. . . . He had various tests and then a heart scan and within 3 minutes was in theatre ! . . .The consultant is very pleased with the surgery. Martin will be in hospital at least 10 days. . . . The aneurysm was above the heart. . . . Best wishes and thanks for all the thoughts and prayers. On 3 October: Thank you for all your prayers and good wishes. Martin is still very weak but all drips, drains and oxygen off. Walked a few paces yesterday. We trust that he will be transferred to LGI next week. It takes time to arrange a medical escort. . . . We continue to hold Martin and Liz in the Light.

JUNIOR HOLIDAYS Wanted: helping hands and heartsAdvices and Queries 19: "Rejoice in the presence of children and young people in your meeting and recognise the gifts they bring. Remember that the meeting as a whole shares a responsibility for every child in its care." Can you offer a helping hand to Junior Holidays? Two events will run next year in June and August, and a variety of help is welcome: Staff for the events, drivers, cooks, admin help. Please contact Kate Marks (convenor of Under 19s Coordinating Group) to offer your support: kate.r.marks@googlemail.com

Feedback from Barmoor holiday 19-21 June 2015Alex: When we got there and had taken our suitcases up to our rooms, we played outside. In the garden there was a slide, swings and things to get you up to the slide. After, we had tea and went for a midnight walk which wasn't at midnight and it was still light. Then we got into our pyjamas and had supper and calmed down before we went to bed because everyone was very giddy. The next day we woke up and got dressed to get ready for breakfast. Then we got ready to go on a walk (it was supposed tobe four miles, but we all got wet) to a stream and we stopped there and everyone, including me, paddled in it. Then we went back and lots of people did crafty things and some people read books. Then we had a talent show and I did a Lego presentation and everyone liked it. I loved Barmoor and it was so fun!

Ruby: I enjoyed being the first person there, along with Alex and having first choice of the beds! I also loved the playground and playing 'paleontologists' with Alex.

The food was excellent. All the grown-ups were lovely and veryhelpful - like they let us both go into the quiet room when it got noisy. We were going to go on an 8 mile walk but everybody got very wet! So we went back to Barmoor and ate lunch and practised our talents and then we had a Talent Show which I loved.

I just heard that we don't have a week-long Quaker holiday in the summer anymore and I am so sad! Because Quaker holidays are very important for children's memories of childhood. Through going on them in the past years I have met wonderful people and have made some new friends. A Call to Action! To all Quaker grown-ups - for HELP! This is important! Please volunteer or they will have to stop!

SOCIAL WITNESS AMONG YORKSHIRE MEETINGS. Feedback from the July meeting of QiYAt our meeting on 18 July Friends exchanged inspiring information about the different kinds of social witness going on intheir meetings, and of course the range was vast. Looking at activities that impact on the wider society, from initiatives embraced by an entire meeting to those supported by individuals, they represented the following areas: Community relations (elderly people, interfaith, CAB, provision of food, advice, friendship and support where needed), criminal justice (training in schools, prison visiting and chaplaincy, public seminars), economic justice (lobbying, raising awareness), education and consciousness raising (Conflict resolution education, public lectures and seminars), end-of-life issues (seminars, research and workshops), equality (working with people with learning difficulties), homelessness (providing meals, befriending, overnight accommodation), spiritual nourishment (retreats and courses), outreach (presence at local events, public exhibitions, outdoor meetings for worship), peace (vigils and protests, public exhibitions, public lectures, ecumenical accompanying, mediation work, conflict resolution in schools), politics (working with and through MPs), poverty (foodbanks, Action Against Poverty, response to individuals in need, awareness-raising), refugees and asylum seekers (Cities of Sanctuary, funding of travel expenses, personal support, befriending, teaching English, activity groups) and sustainability (personal and public awareness-raising. Further details can be found as an attachment to the minutes of the July meeting, available on the QiY website.

One shining example of such social witness is the Doncaster Conversation Club, whose latest newsletter, featuring reports on the current refugee situation in Calais, Croatia and Germany, is available by email from Paulfitzp@aol.com. The newsletter also describes recent excursions organised by the Club to Glenthorne and to Gomde, a Buddhist centre at Lindholme Hall near Doncaster, as well as offering practical advice to refugees and asylum seekers.

FEEDBACK WANTEDThe role of Quakers in Yorkshire. The QiY Arrangements Committee has raised questions about the current role of Quakers in Yorkshire and is asking for volunteers to form a working party to find a focus for a review of the purpose of QiY. This review would form the basis for consideration at the October 2016 meeting. Anyone who is interested in being part of the working party is invited to contact the Co-Clerks as soon as possible.

Amplification equipment. The Co-Clerks of Quakers in Yorkshire are intending to buy some portable amplification equipment for use at QiY meetings, especially in venues where amplification is inadequate, but also to help when contributions are offered from the floor. Is there anyone with expertise in thisarea who could make recommendations about best-value makes and models?

The future of QuakerSpeak by Alistair Heron is being considered by Quakers in Yorkshire Trustees, who (since the laying down of Quaker Outreach in Yorkshire) have responsibility for the copyright. There have been four editions, and out of a print run of 1000 in 2008 about 80 copies remain unsold. There is an online edition accessible through the QiY website, but this is not seen as a replacement for the book, which was intended to be both cheap and easily carried for quick reference. Trustees have agreed to re-read Alistair's book(which is well loved, short and easy to read), and they invite Friends to join them in considering how to proceed. Is the bookstill relevant? Should it be reprinted? Does it need to be revised and updated? Please send any comments to Barbara Windle, Clerk to Trustees (bwindle@waitrose.com).

EVENTSPeace Talks at FriargateThursday 15 October. Security and the Dispossessed: how themilitary and corporations are shaping a climate-changed world.Steve Wright, Reader in Applied Global Ethics at Leeds Beckett University.

Thursday 29 October. Britain's War on Terror at Home and Abroad: making the world a safer place? Kat Craig, Legal Director of the Abuses in Counter-Terrorism team at Reprieve.

Thursday 12 November. Reimagining Security: an alternative approach to the UK's national strategy. Celia McKeon, Assistant Secretary, Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust.

All lectures take place from 7.30 to 9.30 pm at Friargate QuakerMeeting House, Friargate, York YO1 9RL. Further information: 01904-624055 or peacenetwork@yorkquakers.org.uk.

Inspiring Cinema at SheffieldA series of films and active sessions to create inspiring change.Wednesday 4 November. Spirit of '45 (Ken Loach): how a spirit of unity forged in the second world war carried on to create a fairer Britain.

Wednesday 18 November. Spirit of '15. An active session to create, make, lobby and inspire, following on from the film the previous fortnight.

Wednesday 3 February. Films and poetry for change: a selection of inspiring films arguing for a better world, along with poetry and readings.

Wednesday 17 February. Active follow-up session.

Wednesday 4 May. The Divide: a film documenting the impact of the divide between rich and poor, following the stories of those affected.

Wednesday 18 May. Active follow-up session.

All events take place at 7 pm at Sheffield Quaker Meeting House, St James St, Sheffield S1 2EW. See website: sheffieldequality.wordpress.com/ or Facebook: www.facebook.com/SheffieldEqualityGroup

Rawdon Amnesty Concert Series Autumn UpdateSunday 8 November. Friendly Fire: script-in-hand performancewith songs about a young volunteer in WWI.

Sunday 22 November. Piano recital by pianist Julian Cima.

Saturday 12 December. A Christmas Carol: A new version of Dickens’ immortal story written especially for choir and actors, with David Robertson as Dickens/Scrooge, and the ‘Straybirds’ choir from Harrogate under the direction of Neil Balfour.

All events at 7.30 pm at Rawdon Quaker Meeting House, Quakers Lane, Rawdon LS19 6HU. Free admission, donations for Amnesty International.

Sunday 29 November 1-3.30 pm. Amnesty greeting card campaign, also at Rawdon. All welcome to come and write cards (provided) and enjoy tea, coffee and cake.

Further information: Diane Exley 0113 2502051 or edianex@btinternet.com; Barbara Parry 0113 2503867 or barbaraparry@waitrose.com

Philosophy of Education Society of Great Britain at Leeds Trinity UniversityTuesday 20 October at 5.30 pm. From the beginning there wasnothing: what do we think we are restoring in restorative practice? Naziya O'Reilly considers how restorative practice may be understood in terms of the victim's reclaiming, healing and self-transformation. Leeds Trinity University, Brownberrie Lane, Horsforth, Leeds LS18, room AF35 (main building, first floor). Further information: Amanda Fulford a.fulford@leedstrinity.ac.uk

2015 Hook Lecture at Leeds Minster presented in associationwith Leeds Church Institute.Tuesday 10 November at 7.30 pm. Frances Young talks about the vocation of people with severe learning disabilities. Free admission but by ticket only. Reserve a place: 0113 3917928 or events@leedschurchinstitute.org

Voices & Choices WW1 exhibition at Hexham Abbey led by Hexham Quakers as part of the Hexham Festival of Remembrance 7-20 November 2015. Further information: www.voicesandchoiceshexham.co.uk

BOOTHAM AND THE MOUNT HEADS OF SCHOOLSJonathan Taylor (Head of Bootham) and Julie Lodrick (Head of The Mount) will both be leaving in the course of next year. We thank them for their productive years of service and wish them well, and we look forward to welcoming their successors, Adrienne Richmond, who will take over as Principal of The Mountfrom 1 January 2016, and Chris Jeffery, who will take over as Head of Bootham School from 1 September 2016.

SPEAKERS AT SATURDAY'S MEETING.Peter Coltman of Adel Meeting is Chair of the Board of the Hospitality Company, the trading arm of BYM, which is responsible for letting rooms along with catering and facilities at Friends House including, last November, the unveiling of the newly renovated Large Meeting House. The work that goes on behind the scenes is impressive and is firmly underpinned by values of fair trade and sustainability. The Hospitality Company isalso responsible for the current refurbishment of Swarthmoor Hall, the 17th-century cradle of Quakerism, which is open for visits, individual accommodation and conferences.

Simon Bond is a trustee of Swarthmore, a Quaker care home in Buckinghamshire, and he was Mid-Thames AM Treasurer for eleven years. He is currently Treasurer the British Committee of the Quaker Council for European Affairs (QCEA), which he joinedin 2009. The British Committee supports and promotes QCEA's work and is a charity in its own right. Simon is particularly interested in economic justice issues, including tax justice, and inethical investment. His presentation will focus on three main areas of concern with the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP): international arbitration, regulatory convergence between the US and EU, and the lack of transparency and trust over the negotiations. He will also give the positive arguments for aspects of TTIP and cover the European dimension. Lastly, he will describe the ratification process for the treaty and how Friends might actively engage over the issue.

PROGRAMME FOR SATURDAY 17 OCTOBER

10.00 Coffee or Tea on arrival

10.30 Meeting for Worship

11.00 Testimony

11.05 Welcome to Bootham School

11.10 Reports from the Clerks: Chris Petrie (Bootham)and Tim Phillips (The Mount)

11.30 Reports from the Bursars: Andy Woodland andGraeme Oliver

11.55 Reports from the Heads: Jonathan Taylor andJulie Lodrick

12.15 Presentations from students

12.45 Nominations and Website

12.55 Representatives and Notices

13.00 Lunch (bring your own, drinks provided)

14.00 Testimony

14.05 The Hospitality Company (Peter Coltman)

14.30 Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership(Simon Bond)

16.00 Tea and a possible tour of Bootham School'snew arts block for those who are interested

There will be a Quaker book stall for you to browse and buy.

We thank Bootham School for their hospitality and all the arrangements for the day.

Name Badges: There will be sticky labels for you to write your name on, but if you already have a name badge, please bring it,and remember to wear it.

Representatives: If you are representing a meeting, please remember to sign or tick the list of representatives.

Children and young people are welcome to attend in the company of their parents or guardians, but Friends are unable to provide activities or child-care at this meeting.

DIRECTIONS TO BOOTHAM SCHOOL, York YO30 7BU (tel. 01904 623261).

By car For the safety of students, parking on the site is not allowed before 11.30; therefore car drivers should use the York Park and Ride (see map above; buses every 15 minutes, taking10-20 minutes to reach city centre) or park in one of the nearbypublic car parks: Union Terrace, Bootham Row or Marygate.

Friends who would have trouble with a short walk can be dropped off, as follows: Approach Bootham from the north on the A19 via the outer ring road following signs for the City Centre. Turn left on to the inner ring road (Gillygate) and take the first road on the left (Portland Street), which leads into the main school grounds.

Disabled drivers can pre-book a disabled/visitor space, subject to availability, by phoning Reception on 01904 623261.

By train Arrive at York station, from where it will take approximately 10 minutes by taxi or 15 on foot. For buses, please enquire at the Bus and Visitor Information Point in the Travel Centre at the station.

BOOTHAM SCHOOL'S NEW ARTS BLOCK