2018 FGC Gathering A week of Quaker worship, workshops, and community for all ages - Friends General Conference
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2018 FGC Gathering
A week July 1
of Quaker to July 7, 2018
worship,
University
workshops,
of Toledo
and community
for all ages. Toledo, Ohio
Advance Program
2018 Gathering at a Glance
Pre-Gathering Events, June 29 to July 1 (see p. 12)
• Adult Young Friends Retreat
• Quakers and Business Conference:
Can Quaker Investment Heal an Unjust World?
• Retreat for People of Color and Their Families
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
July 1 July 2 July 3 July 4 July 5 July 6 July 7
7:00 to BREAKFAST
8:30 AM Meeting for Worship / Movement Opportunities / Bible Half Hour
Junior
8:30 to Gathering Worship
JUNIOR GATHERING
Noon and 8:45–12:00 9:00–10:00
High WEEK-LONG WORKSHOPS LUNCH
School 9:00–11:45 11:00–1:00
Staff
Orientation
11:30 AM LUNCH
to 1:30 PM Singing
REGISTRA- AFTERNOON ACTIVITES
1:30 to TION (Wednesday Rest and Refreshment 1:30–5:30)
5:30 PM 1:00–9:00 Gathering Store / Quaker Arts Center / Singing / Meetings for Worship
DINNER Naps / Field Trips / AFSC Events / Presentations
5:00–7:00 Spontaneous Events / Films
Junior
5:00 to Gathering DINNER
7:00 PM Open House 5:00–7:00
5:45
All-Gathering JUNIOR GATHERING
Worship and 6:45–9:00 (except Wednesday)
Welcome 7:00
7:00 to Middle School Robin Wall Quaker La’Ron William Baldemar
9:00 PM and Parents Kimmerer Truth Talks Williams Barber Velásquez
Orientation 7:00 7:00 7:00 7:00 7:00
8:45
High School
9:15 PM and Parents DANCING / FILMS
Orientation
8:45
Program Contents 12
12
Tips for First-Time Attenders
Accessibility at the Gathering
1 Welcome to the 2018 Gathering 12 Pre-Gathering Events
2–3 Evening Programs 13 When and How to Arrive
4–5 Gathering Opportunities 14–23 Workshops
6 Organized Groups 24–25 Housing, Dining, and Fees
7 Adult Young Friends (AYF) 26–27 Registration Information
8–9 High School Program 28 Financial Aid
10–11 Junior Gathering Program 29 Friends General Conference (FGC)
The FGC Gathering includes events organized
by FGC’s year-round programs. Look for
Register online at www.FGCgathering.org
beginning April 2. Financial aid is available (see p. 28).
Welcome to the “Take heed,
2018 Gathering dear Friends,
Dear Friends,
to the
We look forward to experiencing the Power of Truth
with you this summer in the midwestern port city of
Toledo.
promptings
Early Friends greeted one another by asking, “How does of love and
the truth prosper among you?” The Gathering offers a
time and place for us to seek and share examples of the
many ways truth prospers in our lives and communities.
truth in your
It is our hope that this week will be a joyful time for hearts. Trust
our beloved community, and that it will be a time of
challenge, insight and growth for each of us. them as the
May we return home with a deepened sense of our
own personal integrity and a renewed clarity of leadings of
purpose for inspired engagement in the world.
In love and truth,
God . . .”
— Britain Yearly
Meeting Faith
Claire and Paul Tinkerhess
Co-Clerks, 2018 Gathering
and Practice
Lake Erie Yearly Meeting
Questions to gathering@FGCquaker.org or 215-561-1700 option 2 1Evening Programs
All evening plenaries, including Wednesday’s intergenerational program,
will open with singing, as we gather to listen to the spirit-felt messages our
speakers are bringing to us. Plenaries will conclude by 8:45 PM to allow
parents to pick up children in the Junior Gathering, except for Sunday and
Wednesday night when children are attending the evening program with
their parents.
Monday July 2, 7 pm
Robin Wall Kimmerer
Justice for All: Reciprocity, Restoration and
Respect for All Beings
Dr. Robin Wall Kimmerer is a mother, plant ecologist, writer
and professor at the SUNY College of Environmental Science
and Forestry in Syracuse, New York. She serves as the
founding Director of the Center for Native Peoples and the
Environment at the school. The center’s mission is to create
programs which draw on the wisdom of both indigenous and
scientific knowledge for our shared goals of sustainability.
Tuesday July 3, 7 pm
Robin Wall Kimmerer
Quaker Truth Talks
Oskar Pierre Castro, Paula Palmer, and Andrew Tomlinson
Three activist Friends speak truth about Quaker history, reparations, colonization, and holding
a practice of patience in the face of seemingly intractable differences. These truths inform the
ways in which their spiritual lives drive their work and their work moves their spiritual lives.
Listening to these Friends will challenge us to consider our own history, our own spiritual
practice and our own truth.
Oskar Pierre Castro is an artist/analyst/non-violent activist/father and husband. He currently
serves as the Director of Community and Inclusion for Quaker Voluntary Service. Oskar’s
activism around decolonization focuses on the injustice and irony of Puerto Rico’s colonial
status under the flag of the United States.
Paula Palmer’s ministry, “Toward Right Relationship with Native Peoples,” is under the care
of Boulder Friends Meeting, Colorado. She created and facilitates experiential workshops that
demonstrate the historical and ongoing impacts of the Doctrine of Discovery.
Andrew Tomlinson is Quaker United Nations Representative and Director of the Quaker UN
Office (QUNO) in New York. Andrew will speak on the topic, “Love without borders: A call to
action for global peace, justice and inclusion.”
Oskar Pierre Castro Paula Palmer Andrew Tomlinson
2 Information, Advance Program with links, and online registration at www.FGCgathering.orgLa’Ron Williams
Wednesday July 4, 7 pm
La’Ron Williams
Culture of Struggle; Culture of Faith: Using Storytelling to Help the
Truth Survive in a Nation Riddled with Lies
Nationally acclaimed and award-winning storyteller La’Ron Williams shares stories that are
educational, musical, and highly participatory. Drawing inspiration from the lessons of struggle,
perseverance, and survival of Africans in the Western Hemisphere, Williams’ tales are noted for
their ability to offer hope, and to provide alternatives to despair. He always sings, he always plays
some kind of music, and he always has a good time. We believe you and your children will too.
Thursday July 5, 7 pm
William J. Barber
America Must Have a Moral Revival
Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II, pastor of Greenleaf Christian
Church Disciples of Christ, Greensboro, NC, is president of
Repairers of the Breach, national co-chair of the 2018 Poor
People’s Campaign, and leads an alliance of more than 200
progressive organizations best known as “Moral Monday,”
a multi-racial, multi-faith movement fighting for voting
rights, public education, universal healthcare, environmental
William Barber
protection, and the rights of women, labor, immigrants and
members of the LGBTQ community.
Friday July 6, 7 pm
Baldemar Velásquez
Securing Bargaining Rights of the Poor:
A Call to Action
A MacArthur Fellow with numerous academic and honorary
degrees, Baldemar Velásquez was raised by farm-working
parents who instilled in him a passion for social justice. At
the age of twenty and deeply influenced by the ideas of César
Chávez, Gandhi, and Martin Luther King, Jr., he co-founded
the Farm Labor Organizing Committee, which he still leads.
Baldemar Velásquez
Questions to gathering@FGCquaker.org or 215-561-1700 option 2 3Gathering Opportunities Take advantage of these opportunities, or create a new one! You can request meeting space at the Information Desk during the Gathering. Worship In the swirl of the FGC Gathering, how do we set aside times to be open to the inward source of power and truth? The week will open Sunday and close Saturday with worship together. There will be times to celebrate, mourn, sing, center and pray. Each day the Silent Center will be available for quiet activity such as reading, meditation, sewing, drawing, or coloring. There will be daily queries to invite openings and informal worship sharing. We welcome everyone at any of the many center- or group-organized worship opportunities listed in the worship handout. Bible Half Hour Dwight L. Wilson, a member of Ann Arbor Friends Meeting in Michigan, will guide the Bible Half Hour (Monday–Friday 8:00 AM) in accord with our theme, The Power of Truth. Our text will be The Book of James. What does it mean to listen? How do we live in the world without being tainted by it? How do we listen for a warning call that we might have strayed? Each morning Dwight will lead us in making connections to personal stories, and opening ourselves to unexpected promptings. Art, Music, Dance, Dwight L. Wilson and Other Movement Afternoons, late evenings, and the Wednesday Evening Plenary offer a variety of experiences in the creative arts and spiritually oriented movement practices, including: • Pre-plenary music • Noon sings, hymns, Broadway tunes, and shape note singing • Folk and contra dancing • Impromptu music making • The Quaker Arts Center for visual and performing arts • Meeting for worship with attention to the arts • Yoga, Qigong, and Psychocalisthenics Leadership Needed: Volunteer when registering if you wish to lead, accompany, or organize music or movement activities, or if you wish to help with the Arts Center and events. Volunteering The Gathering’s success depends on the volunteer efforts of many, including: Lend-A-Hand: All attenders are encouraged to sign up at the Gathering for at least two hours of service, such as carrying cafeteria trays or luggage, ushering, or driving golf carts. The Healing Center: This center provides a space for Friends to explore, practice, and experience healing modalities from many traditions. Volunteer for the Center when registering. Workgrants: Some volunteer positions receive a partial fee waiver (see p. 28). photograph by Mike Goren 4 Information, Advance Program with links, and online registration at www.FGCgathering.org
Call for Artists Receive Gathering
The Quaker Arts Center, Email Updates
organized by the Fellowship of
Quakers in the Arts, includes a
Sign up today at
gallery, performances, and other www.FGCgathering.org
activities. Intent to Show forms Receive monthly email updates,
are available online and due by including a reminder when
June 10. registration opens.
Quaker Exhibits and Presentations
Quaker-related organizations, communities, and schools may offer an exhibit or afternoon
presentation, if arranged in advance. Complete online reservation forms by May 31.
Toledo, Ohio, and Field Trips
Toledo and the surrounding area provide multiple venues for discovery. Off-campus experiences
will provide opportunities to perceive the Power of Truth as you travel the waterways of the
Maumee River and Lake Erie; explore African American history and current reality in Detroit;
explore life as lived by Native Americans and white pioneers in the Northwest Territories; enjoy
the natural environment in the extensive Metropark system; ride along the six-mile University/
Parks trail; tour an automotive plant designed for efficiency and sustainability; and more!
Once you are at the Gathering, sign up for pre-planned off-campus trips offered Monday,
Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday afternoons. Costs vary. You can also design your own trip with
information provided at the Local Arrangements table. See the Gathering website for more
details and information on field trips and other exciting things to do in the region.
QuakerBooks
Open daily from NOON to 9 PM , the QuakerBooks Store is an oasis of fascinating books, CDs,
gifts, and curricula relevant to Quakers and our concerns. QuakerBooks also offers workshop
materials, Gathering logo merchandise, and beautiful handmade crafts brought by Gathering
attenders. QuakerBooks offers author/book discussion events each afternoon.
Consignments: Sale of consigned merchandise at the Gathering is restricted to the
QuakerBooks site. Consignment of handmade crafts, books, etc. must be arranged by May 31
(see forms and information online). Questions? Contact Nancy Haines (e-mail preferred) at
nlhaines@gmail.com (774-278-1226).
photograph by
Marta Rusek
Questions to gathering@FGCquaker.org or 215-561-1700 option 2 5Organized Groups
Organized groups allow Friends with similar interests to attend one event or many
during the week. Here are some of the groups that host events daily.
Friends for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual,
Transgender, and Queer Concerns (FLGBTQC)
FLGBTQC meets at the Gathering for daily worship (with
childcare provided), business, and fellowship. FLGBTQC
welcomes Friends of all sexual orientations and gender
identities in its housing cluster and at all activities.
Nontheist Friends
Nontheist Friends host daily events exploring the range of
nontheist beliefs among Quakers and welcome conversations
with theists as well.
People of Color Center
The center provides opportunities to people of all races for
learning and fellowship around issues of race, including a
meeting for worship for racial healing.
Quaker Arts Center
The center organizes displays and performances, and invites
Friends to explore and discuss the creative process.
Quaker Earthcare Witness (QEW)
Every afternoon QEW hosts speakers, discussions, videos,
and exhibits about creating an environmentally sustainable
future. QEW also hosts early morning outdoor worship.
Twelve Step Center
The center hosts a daily open Twelve Step meeting. Other
meetings are scheduled midweek upon request.
See the Gathering website or contact FGC with ideas and
questions, or to learn how to organize a new group. photograph by John Margerum
Acting in Faith with AFSC
Discover Join AFSC staff and friends for a week of workshops and afternoon events to
explore the spiritual grounding for action, the nuts and bolts of organizing, and
the power tangible ways you can work for social change in your community. Get engaged on
speaking truth to power and work for peace with justice on inter-related issues.
of truth Workshops led by AFSC Staff
Week-long morning workshops at the Gathering include three led by AFSC
with . . . staff and partners:
• Interrupting racism through movement and story
(Lucy Duncan and Noah White)
• Healing Justice: Restorative justice both personal and systemic
(Laura Magnani and Fatimeh Khan)
• Sanctuary Everywhere (Lori Khamala)
Afternoon events will include:
• Interrupting white fragility for racial justice
• Quaker social change ministry: Embrace Spirit-led activism
while accompanying those impacted by injustice
• Bystander Intervention training: Interrupt instances of harassment
AFSC and violence wherever you are
• No way to treat a child: Support the movement to end the abuse
of Palestinian children
For more information, go to www.afsc.org/fgc.
6 Information, Advance Program with links, and online registration at www.FGCgathering.orgAdult Young Friends
(AYF)
The Adult Young Friends (AYF) program is a self-led
intentional housing cluster of Friends in the 18–35 age range
who come together at the Gathering to support, inspire, and
challenge each other in our life journeys.
Participants in AYF are involved in every aspect of the
Gathering as a whole, and AYF also hosts a number of events
throughout the week. We strengthen our community through
worship, support focused AYF interest groups, practice
meeting for business, and share in fellowship and celebration.
We encourage all registered young adults to participate in the
programming whether or not you choose to live in the AYF
housing cluster.
For more information about AYF programming
and housing, contact coordinators Keira Wilson,
keira.leigh.wilson@gmail.com, 609-216-0985, or
Chris Judkins-Fisher, peaceableplatypus@gmail.com,
608-239-3472, or visit the Gathering website. Financial Aid
is available, including travel grants for some young adults
(see p. 28). Further information regarding AYF policies and
families with children can be found at the Gathering website.
AYF Pre-Gathering Retreat
Join us for the AYF Pre-Gathering Retreat on Saturday, June
30. This retreat will be a day of reflection and skill-building
around race and white supremacy. We’ll discuss how this
affects our lives and communities and what action we can
take. Cost will include early housing and meal fees (see p. 25)
plus a modest retreat fee. See the Gathering website for more
information. Open to young adults also registering for at least
photograph by Mike Goren
half of the Gathering.
photograph by Mike Goren
Questions to gathering@FGCquaker.org or 215-561-1700 option 2 7High School “I felt filled
Join a group of high-school aged Quakers from
all over North America for a week of spiritual with love
exploration and fun. As a subset of the Gathering
theme “The Power of Truth”, the High School program
will be centered around the theme of Community.
and
High School Program
gratitude
The foundation of the week is your workshop, which meets
every morning. There are a variety of workshops to choose
for my
community.”
from. Select one that satisfies your needs for worship, self-
reflection, discussion, activity, and relationship building (see
list of workshops, pp. 14-23). You will also meet daily with a
small support group to play games, worship, and recharge.
Evening activities include Meeting for Business, High School
and Gathering dances, interest groups, and other activities.
During the week there is also an afternoon field trip to a local
park with a picnic lunch.
The High School Dorm
All participants stay in the same dorm, along with a terrific
staff. High School participants who arrive prior to July 1 will
need to sleep on the floor of their parent/sponsor’s room until
the High School dorm opens Sunday afternoon.
photograph by Mike Goren
8 Information, Advance Program with links, and online registration at www.FGCgathering.orgPhoto Policy
We believe that using
photos of Friends of all
ages in our print and web
publications fosters a
greater sense of
community. We use
photos to enhance the
quality of our print
materials, newsletters,
and the fgcquaker.org
website, social media,
publicity, and fundraising.
We also use photos to
further efforts in
education, assist with
Quaker outreach, and to
connect Quakers across
photograph by Piper Lewis North America. As an
FGC event participant
Who Participates? you have a right to opt
The High School Program is open to young people who have out of inclusion in
completed ninth grade, have not yet turned 19 as of June 30, photographs/media. To
2018 and have not yet completed their first year of college. Opt-Out a completed
All attenders in this age range must participate in the High
“Media Images Opt-Out
School Program with the exception of eighteen year-olds who
may choose whether or not to participate. Non-Quaker teens Release” form must be
are welcome in our community; however, we invite them to sent to FGC with a
seek clearness from a local meeting before registering. reference image of the
Participants must attend the full week of Gathering and all person opting out.
required activities.
Otherwise, participation
More Information in FGC activities implies
permission for the use of
The complete program guidelines will be mailed in advance
of the Gathering, as will the all-Gathering expectations. More
images taken at those
information about the High School Program and the program events.
guidelines are on the Gathering website. Contact High School
Coordinators Ben Hustis (ben.hustis@gmail.com) or Kendra
For the full policy/
Graham (graham.kendra@hotmail.com) with questions or release forms:
concerns. www.fgcquaker.org/
photo-policy
Questions to gathering@FGCquaker.org or 215-561-1700 option 2 9Junior Gathering “Junior
(Children’s Program)
Do you have young children? Are you raising young
Gathering
children you hope to nurture in Quaker spirit and prac-
tice? Junior Gathering is the place for your children. Staff has
What is Junior Gathering? been great.
• Home base for newborns to rising ninth graders
(for High School program, see page 8).
• Where young people learn, play, and thrive
Our
at the Gathering.
• A time for games, songs, and stories.
children
• A place to make friends and experience Quakerism
with Friends from across the continent. are happy;
• Full of fun and educational Quaker-based activities
led by a diverse, caring, and skilled staff. sad to leave;
Junior Gathering offers:
• Morning program (8:45–NOON), while adults attend
weeklong workshops
excited for
• Evening program (6:45-9:00 PM), while adults attend
plenary sessions
next year!”
Participants are placed in age-appropriate groups for the
entire week of the Gathering. Infants and toddlers will have — from a
at least one adult staff for every two children. Groups for older
children will have one adult staff for every 4 to 5 youngsters. 2017 parent
Junior Gathering staff strive to keep our Junior Gathering
community engaging, nurturing, inclusive and welcoming of
all children and families.
If you want to learn more or have questions, please contact:
Junior Gathering Coordinator Patsy Martin or the co-clerks
Galen Fick and Laura Pickering Ford at JG@fgcquaker.org.
Junior Gathering Orientations are the key to understanding
the week at the Gathering.
Orientation times:
• Sunday at 5:45 PM : Open House for infants to rising 6th
graders and their guardians.
• Sunday at 8:45 PM : Mandatory Orientation Meeting
for all rising 7th to 9th graders with at least one parent
or sponsor.
10 Information, Advance Program with links, and online registration at www.FGCgathering.orgRegistration May 31 is the deadline to register children for Junior Gathering. Because of our strong emphasis on building community, we expect that all children will attend program time every morning. Parental/Guardian Release Form: Download and print copies of this form. Send a completed, signed form for each child to the FGC office immediately after registering. All children must have this release form before they can be enrolled in Junior Gathering. Family Time Supervision of children during Gathering: Parents or sponsors are responsible for supervision and activities of their children at all times except during Junior Gathering Program time. Plan to spend all meal times, afternoon free times, and evenings after 9:00 PM together as a family. The Family Place is . . . • Open Monday-Friday 1:30–4:30 PM for children with their adults. • Stocked with toys, books, art supplies, games, costumes, and the Junior Gathering Lending Library. • A place for adults to get together while their children play. • The place to sign-up for cooperative childcare during non-program times. Join Our Volunteer Staff! • Apply early online to secure your place on our fabulous staff. • Workgrants for volunteers can help reduce Gathering fees. • Junior Gathering Program and staff are inclusive and LGBTQ friendly. Preparing for Gathering Before you come, please take advantage of these resources to help prepare your children for a great week. • Browse the Junior Gathering pages and FAQs on the Gathering website. • Discuss the mid-June welcome letter with your child. Questions to gathering@FGCquaker.org or 215-561-1700 option 2 11
Tips for First-Time Attenders
Are you wondering about how to find your way in the midst of more than 1,000 Quakers?
Recent newcomers recommend:
• Choose on-campus housing and ask to be roomed near people you know. You can add their
name/s to a completed registration form until May 31.
• Stay for the full week of Gathering.
• Don’t take on a workgrant position. If you need financial assistance, ask for a scholarship.
• Arrive a few hours early to have time to settle in.
• Take care of yourself. Stop for a bit of quiet each day. Make mindful choices about which
events to attend and when to do nothing. Get enough sleep.
Accessibility at the Gathering
The contained University of Toledo campus has three main areas we will utilize with varied
terrain. The area between the Field House classroom building and Student Union is level with
mild sloping. The dorms are at the top of a hill and the Recreation Center is at the third point of a
triangle. The classroom building, Rec Center, Student Union and dorms are accessible and have
elevators. There are some accessible dorm rooms. There are no refrigerators on campus. Please call
the office in advance, if you require refrigerator access for medical needs. The Gathering is ready
to provide assistance with mobility needs, hearing needs, special diets (see p. 24), and more. For
example, golf cart shuttles are available for Friends with mobility limitations. When registering,
please check all accessibility needs that apply, adding appropriate details. You may also contact
the Access Needs Coordinator, Peg Bernstein, 206-734-1914, pegbernstein@gmail.com.
Pre-Gathering Events
Costs for each event include early housing and meals fees (see p. 25) plus a modest retreat fee.
Look online for more information and final costs.
Adult Young Friends Retreat
The AYF Retreat will be a day of reflection and skill-building around race and white supremacy.
We’ll discuss how this affects our lives and communities and what actions we can take. (Saturday)
Retreat for People of Color and Their Families
An opportunity for People of Color and multiracial families to come together to share their
Quaker experience and create a supportive community in preparation for and throughout the
Gathering. (Friday–Sunday)
Quakers & Business Conference: Can Quaker Investment Heal an Unjust World?
Hear Quaker stories of investment in and by their businesses to address inequality. Learn about
your sources of capital — human, financial, social and spiritual — and how to invest to heal the
world. (Friday-Sunday)
photograph by Mike Goren
12 Information, Advance Program with links, and online registration at www.FGCgathering.orgphotograph by Mike Goren When and How to Arrive Travel to the University of Toledo Drive or Carpool: The University of Toledo (UT) main campus is located in Toledo, Ohio, about sixty miles south of Detroit, Michigan. Indicate your interest in carpooling when you register, and FGC will tell you how to contact other carpoolers. Fly to Detroit (DTW) or Toledo (TOL): Black & White Transportation will provide round- trip transportation from the Detroit Metropolitan Airport and the Toledo Express Airport to the University of Toledo for a flat rate. Reserve through an online portal just for Gathering attenders. See the FGC website for details and link. Friends without computer access can make reservations with Vicki over the phone: 419-536-3722, ext 5. Be sure to mention that you are with Friends General Conference. The deadline for shuttle reservations with Black & White is June 17. Black & White can accommodate most wheelchairs and scooters, which you note when making your reservation. See the FGC website for additional details. Train and Bus: Amtrak and Greyhound stop at the downtown Toledo train station located at Martin Luther King Jr. Plaza, about 4 miles from campus. Amtrak offers a 10% discount to the Toledo (TOL) station. See FGC website for details. Black & White Transportation will offer shuttle service from the Toledo station to the UT campus (see above). Megabus stops at the Scott Park UT campus, about 2 miles from the main UT campus. TARTA, Toledo’s bus system, has several routes that stop on the UT campus. When to Arrive The first Gathering event is supper on Sunday, July 1. Before you finalize your travel plans consider reasons to arrive Saturday. • Visit the Great Lakes region. • Attend the mandatory training for Junior Gathering staff (starts Sunday 8:30 AM) OR the mandatory training for High School staff (starts 8 AM Saturday morning). • Attend a Pre-Gathering event. Questions to gathering@FGCquaker.org or 215-561-1700 option 2 13
Workshops “The sense
Workshops offer Gathering adults and high school
participants the opportunity to be immersed in a of worship
topic with other interested Friends. Friends stay in
the same workshop throughout the week, forming a
small community within the Gathering.
was unex-
Registrants attend one workshop: That workshop meets
from 9:00 to 11:45 AM every weekday. Most workshops
pectedly
include daily worship or worship sharing.
Detailed descriptions online: Brief descriptions of workshops
profound.”
appear below. These and longer descriptions are available
online. Workshops marked with * indicate anti-racism experi-
ence levels. Please see the website or call the office for details.
Equal access during Early Registration, April 2–11: Friends
registering April 11 are as likely to get into a popular work-
shop as are those registering April 2.
Part-time participants and Half-Gathering attenders: Most
workshops are open only to full-time registrants. PT (part-
time) indicates that a Friend may register for as little as one
day. HG1 or HG2 indicates that a workshop is open to Friends
registered for the first or second half of Gathering, respectively.
Support Gathering
Scholarships
FGC expects to award more than $50,000 of
Gathering scholarships this year. A contribution
added to your Gathering registration helps FGC
maintain this substantial scholarship budget.
Open to All
adults and high school
1 A Virtuous Instinct for Truth
Robert Pennock
Friends’ emphasis on knowing “by experiment” developed
hand in hand with the Scientific Revolution. Through the lives
of Quaker scientists from Dalton to Eddington, we’ll compare
Quaker testimonies with scientific virtues. To speak truth to
power when “alternative facts” deny climate change and other
scientific findings, we need both. HG1
Worship/worship sharing 20%; Lecture 20%; Discussion 50%; Experiential activities 10%
2 Activists Addressing Trauma
and Building Resilience
Bette Rainbow Hoover
We will de-construct trauma to understand its effects on us
and our work for social change. Using movement, play and
popular education activities, participants learn ways to build
the resiliency needed for life-long activism. From that place
of wholeness and compassion, we work passionately for peace
with justice for all. HG1, HG2, PT
Worship/worship sharing 30%; Lecture 0%; Discussion 20%; Experiential activities 50%
14 Information, Advance Program with links, and online registration at www.FGCgathering.org3 Biking in the Light
Chris Hollingshead
We will seek God and a sense of each other as we explore
northwestern Ohio on our bicycles. We will ride at least 10
miles a day. HG1, HG2, PT BEYOND
Worship/worship sharing 15%; Lecture 0%; Discussion 5%; Experiential activities 80%
THE
4 Building a Culture of Multiage Inclusion
Emily Provance
Many Friends yearn for vibrant, intergenerational meetings,
GATHERING
but it’s often difficult to see how our Quaker culture can get
in the way. We’ll examine ten cultural barriers to multiage Build more
inclusion and how we can flip them. Come prepared to talk, inclusive
play, move, write, and draw our way through this work!
HG1, HG2 Quaker
Worship/worship sharing 5%; Lecture 10%; Discussion 40%; Experiential activities 45%
communities
5 Challenging Ethnic and
Racial Divisions*
Vanessa Julye and Janice Domanik
An advanced workshop for Friends actively engaged in
racial justice work. We will share successful approaches
to addressing White Supremacy and colonialism that will
enhance our techniques for challenging racial and ethnic
divisions. Participants must write a statement about their
work and facilitate an exercise with the group.
Worship/worship sharing 20%; Lecture 10%; Discussion 20%; Experiential activities 50%
6 Clerking with Joy and Confidence
Arthur M. Larrabee
This workshop will focus on all aspects, both theoretical and
How do you challenge
a culture built on
practical, of being a presiding clerk of a Friends meeting or
white supremacy and
committee. There will be handouts and opportunities for
experience sharing. All work will be done in a whole group domination when
setting. There will be a $10 materials charge. you’re a Quaker?
Worship/worship sharing 20%; Lecture 10%; Discussion 50%; Experiential activities 20% In addition to
7 Daily Extended Meeting for Worship
Jorge Arauz
We gather in worship, each in his or her own way, opening
creating fellowship
opportunities for
Friends of Color and
ourselves to the divine flow, entrusting our souls to God’s
infinite love and care. HG1, HG2, PT their families, FGC’s
Worship/worship sharing 100%; Lecture 0%; Discussion 0%; Experiential activities 0% Ministry on Racism
8
program is dedicated
Deep-See Journey: Exploring Our
Spiritual Wellspring to helping Friends
Gretchen Morse and Pat Grauer understand the roots
Enhance your life with practices that access the deepest levels of white supremacy —
of light and resonance: listening in tongues, daily examen,
and dismantle it in favor
journaling, twilight meeting, spiritual storytelling, centering
prayer, life as prayer, gathered meeting, and symphonic of a community that
listening. We use sharing and the arts to dive joyfully and emphasizes equality
deeply together. HG1, HG2, PT and inclusivity.
Worship/worship sharing 25%; Lecture 15%; Discussion 30%; Experiential activities 30%
Get involved at
FGCquaker.org/
challengeracism
Questions to gathering@FGCquaker.org or 215-561-1700 option 2 15Read detailed workshop descriptions online at
www.FGCgathering.org “I have a
deeper
9 Discernment: Receiving, Testing,
and Implementing
Jerry Knutson
understand-
ing of what
In this workshop participants will discern a concern, decision,
relationship, etc. We’ll support one another in discernment
using clearness committees and worship sharing, and
practice a simple Tai Chi daily. Before Gathering, participants
are expected to read Pendle Hill Pamphlet #443 (by Jerry
worship is
for Friends
Knutson) as well as PHP #446 and/or #305.
Worship/worship sharing 55%; Lecture 10%; Discussion 5%; Experiential activities 30%
10
Ann Ritter
Find Embodied Truth and Wisdom:
Kundalini Yoga and my
Kundalini Yoga meets you where and as you are, asking only
that you open to its richness. We include moving/held body
role in the
spiritual
and hand positions, and breathing, all to music. The practice
attunes the body, quiets the mind, and opens the way for
worship and true communion of spirit with Spirit. HG1, HG2, PT
Worship/worship sharing 25%; Lecture 10%; Discussion 15%; Experiential activities 50%
community.”
11
Sue Regen
Forgiveness as a Spiritual Practice
Anger, fear, grief, and pain hinder us from feeling connected
with the Spirit and our own healing energies. Practicing
forgiveness opens us to the Power of Truth and its healing.
This workshop focuses on tools and techniques for doing
forgiveness work, not on therapy.
Worship/worship sharing 20%; Lecture 10%; Discussion 25%; Experiential activities 45%
12 Healing Justice: Restorative Justice
Both Personal and Systemic
Laura Magnani and Fatimeh Khan
In this workshop we will focus on Restorative Justice
practices, exploring how to apply them consciously on a
personal level and more broadly as options for healing
communities. We seek to better disentangle race and
involvement in the criminal justice system, exploring how
Truth and Reconciliation can diminish future problems.
Worship/worship sharing 20%; Lecture 20%; Discussion 30%; Experiential activities 30%
13 Indigenous and Quakers as Allies
Emily Boardman, Buffy Curtis and Liseli Haines
In this workshop we, Indigenous and Non-Indigenous
together, will remember the place we call home. With the
wisdom and personal connection of Indigenous Knowing,
“Active Hope” and the “Good Mind,” we will look to find new
ways forward in a community of respect, honesty, caring and
inspiration. HG1
Worship/worship sharing 25%; Lecture 20%; Discussion 25%; Experiential activities 30%
16 Information, Advance Program with links, and online registration at www.FGCgathering.org14 Interrupting Racism Through
Movement and Story*
Lucy Duncan and Noah White
We will explore how racism and white supremacy operate
in our stories, bodies and communities and explore ways to BEYOND
interrupt and shift the normative stories and movements that
keep racism moving. This is an intermediate level workshop
THE
for white people and people of color (including affinity groups). GATHERING
Worship/worship sharing 15%; Lecture 10%; Discussion 25%; Experiential activities 50%
15 Life Lessons From a Bad Quaker:
For Those Bad at Being Good
J. Brent Bill
Discover
uncharted
A light-hearted, but serious, workshop for anyone who is bad
at being good. In this workshop, attendees will participate spiritual
in a joyful, interactive exploration of the testimonies. With territory
whimsy, humor, and wisdom, we’ll explore how to live a life
that is simple yet satisfying, peaceful yet strong. HG1, HG2
Worship/worship sharing 10%; Lecture 20%; Discussion 35%; Experiential activities 35%
16 “Make Big Shadows I Can Move In”
LVM Shelton
The greater my Light, the greater the shadow it casts. I believe
that faithful and loving action in the world requires clear
sight and openness to personal integrity. We will explore
individual and group practices inviting Spirit-led exploration
and transformation. As wholeness and unity grow, so does
personal effectiveness.
Worship/worship sharing 35%; Lecture 10%; Discussion 20%; Experiential activities 35%
17
Whether you are new
Making as a Spiritual Practice
Sam Milford to Quaker faith and
Making is a spiritual process. For millennia, people have practice or want to
made dolls for play, decoration, or as talismans. You will venture off the beaten
make dolls from cloth and found objects and decorate them
path in your faith, the
using basic sewing, embroidery, and other techniques while
listening and connecting to the Spirit. No sewing skills Spiritual Deepening
needed. Beginners welcome. HG1, HG2, PT program at FGC helps
Worship/worship sharing 15%; Lecture 5%; Discussion 5%; Experiential activities 75%
to deepen the life,
18 Nonviolence as Truth Force
Jim Fussell
Quakers frequently participate in vigils and protests — how
worship, and witness
of Quaker meetings
and individual Friends.
often do we engage in well-prepared, proactive nonviolent
action campaigns? This workshop will guide Friends Participate in a small
in careful consideration of how individuals and groups group with others
can spiritually and organizationally prepare for effective in your meeting or
nonviolent action using the principles and methodology of
experience spiritual
Kingian Nonviolence. HG1
Worship/worship sharing 20%; Lecture 20%; Discussion 20%; Experiential activities 40% growth as part of a
19
community online with
Opening to the Heart of Worship
Christopher Sammond a Spiritual Deepening
Spirit-filled worship is a gift. We can’t make it happen, yet eRetreat!
there are things we can do to ready ourselves to receive this
gift, and to open to it. This workshop will focus on practices To view the complete
which can make us more ready to receive the blessed gift of eRetreat schedule
powerful, transformative worship. for 2018, visit
Worship/worship sharing 35%; Lecture 5%; Discussion 20%; Experiential activities 40%
FGCquaker.org/
spiritualdeepening
Questions to gathering@FGCquaker.org or 215-561-1700 option 2 17Read detailed workshop descriptions online at
www.FGCgathering.org “The chants
are still
20 Power of Enough
Jacqueline Stillwell
What is essential? How much is enough? Is my use of time,
singing in
my head
energy and “things” in right balance to free me to do God’s
work, and contribute to right order in our world? We’ll
consider queries, play, sing, and reflect on implications of our
personal choices and their ripple effects. HG1
Worship/worship sharing 30%; Lecture 5%; Discussion 35%; Experiential activities 30%
nourishing
21 Primitive Quakerism Revived
Paul Buckley
me.”
Early Friends felt called to model a new relationship with
God, each other, and all of creation. Today’s religious, civil
and social structures still support an order contrary to the
principles that animated early Quakerism. This workshop will
explore those principles and consider what they require of us
today. HG1, HG2
Worship/worship sharing 40%; Lecture 25%; Discussion 25%; Experiential activities 10%
22 Roots of Conflict and the Power of Truth
Bill Warters
Explore root causes of conflict and how skilled peacemakers
(including key Quakers) approach resolving it. We’ll look
at models for understanding conflict’s roots and at how to
make a positive difference when things get hot. Peacemaking
Friends Curle, Richardson, Prutzman, Kreidler, Boulding,
Beer, Lakey and others will be featured!
Worship/worship sharing 5%; Lecture 30%; Discussion 20%; Experiential activities 45%
23 Sanctuary Everywhere
Lori Fernald Khamala
This interactive workshop by AFSC will explore tools to increase
safety for targeted communities, including Black, Muslim,
and undocumented communities. We will practice bystander
intervention, learn what it means to become a Sanctuary
congregation, and explore alternatives to policing. HG1, HG2, PT
Worship/worship sharing 15%; Lecture 0%; Discussion 40%; Experiential activities 45%
24 Scripture as Context, Story, and Spirit
Andrew Wright
The apostle Paul’s quotes often resonate for Friends despite
the dissonance we feel toward the Paul described by
Christian tradition. In this workshop, we will re-consider
Paul’s Letter to the Romans in its context, listen for the story
world it constructs, and explore together its spirituality of
faithfulness.
Worship/worship sharing 30%; Lecture 30%; Discussion 30%; Experiential activities 10%
Chemical and Fragrance Sensitivities
The Gathering includes people with asthma and chemical sensitivities that
are triggered by fragrances. Help these Friends stay healthy by bringing and
using fragrance-free toiletries—suggestions are available on the Gathering
website—or buy them at the Gathering from QuakerBooks.
18 Information, Advance Program with links, and online registration at www.FGCgathering.org25 Seeking Truth About the
Human-Earth Relationship
Geoff Garver and Gray Cox
Since 2003, Quaker Institute for the Future (QIF) has
led Friends in research on challenges in human-Earth BEYOND
relationships such as climate change. QIF provides space for
Friends with diverse experience and knowledge to seek Truth
THE
about these questions in a Spirit-led way. We will learn from GATHERING
QIF’s experience.
Worship/worship sharing 25%; Lecture 20%; Discussion 30%; Experiential activities 25%
26 Singing from the Sacred Harp
Paul Landskroener and Carol Crawford
The Sacred Harp is a vigorous, four-part, a capella hymn
Support the
spiritual
singing tradition that many Friends find to strengthen lives
their experience as Quakers. New singers will learn and of children
experienced singers will grow in their appreciation of the
Sacred Harp. We will emphasize connecting the Sacred Harp
to Quaker practice. HG1, HG2, PT
Worship/worship sharing 5%; Lecture 10%; Discussion 5%; Experiential activities 80%
27
Ruth Fitz
Soulful Singing
Strong and shy singers are welcome to join this circle of
f/Friends singing rounds, spirituals, sacred chants, peace,
fun and world songs in the oral tradition. Singing together
will energize our bodies and nurture our souls, with music
that affirms our diversity, reflects our beauty, and celebrates
our unity. HG1, HG2, PT Explore stories of
Worship/worship sharing 15%; Lecture 5%; Discussion 5%; Experiential activities 75% Quaker faith, practice,
28 Speaking My Truth, Caring about Yours:
Compassionate Communication in Conflict
Claire Bates and Thea Torek
and witness through
Faith & Play™, a
Montessori-inspired
This workshop teaches a philosophy and skill set to generate
and support compassionate, productive, healing discussion religious education
on contentious issues (as encountered in personal, social, resource. Created by
organizational, and political contexts). Participants will have Quakers and based
opportunities to practice and reflect upon these skills for
on the Godly Play®
stimulating compassionate dialogue. Based on Rosenberg’s
Nonviolent Communication method. HG1 method, Faith & Play™
Worship/worship sharing 5%; Lecture 30%; Discussion 30%; Experiential activities 35% offers published
29
stories and storytelling
Speaking Truth to Climate Change
Lynn Fitz-Hugh materials (available
Climate change is now a fundamental crisis of our time through QuakerBooks)
interlocked with other critical social justice issues. How do and also organizes
Quakers and people of faith respond to this? We will do grief
work (Joanna Macy style), discernment, and strategy building workshops and
work. You will leave with a spiritually grounded path forward. trainings throughout
Worship/worship sharing 40%; Lecture 10%; Discussion 25%; Experiential activities 25% the year.
30 Theatre of the Empowered
Beth Popelka
Augusto Boal says “Theatre can help us build our future,
Introduce your
child to
rather than just waiting for it.” This week you’ll engage in Faith & Play™ at
guided group collaboration and interactive creative exercises FGCquaker.org/
designed to bring you deeper into your body, voice and faith-and-play
wisdom while cultivating your connection to Spirit and
community.
Worship/worship sharing 15%; Lecture 15%; Discussion 20%; Experiential activities 50%
Questions to gathering@FGCquaker.org or 215-561-1700 option 2 19Read detailed workshop descriptions online at
www.FGCgathering.org “I love the
ability to
31 “What canst Thou Sing?”
Demi Miller
An opportunity for talented songwriter/performers in our
weave
‘my heart’
midst to share, critique, showcase, publish their works in
the supportive company of their peers. Additionally, I/we
will look for opportunities to share songs with the rest of the
Gathering community. Worshipful woodshedding; practical
publishing; joyous jamming; getting the gig; courageous
into my
life.”
concertizing. HG1, HG2, PT
Worship/worship sharing 15%; Lecture 5%; Discussion 20%; Experiential activities 60%
32 White on White: Color-Brave
Conversations*
Marijke van Roojen, Polly Attwood, and Chuck Esser
A highly-interactive beginning/intermediate level workshop
for people of European American descent interested in
understanding the forces of racism in our lives. We will
explore the impact of racism through presentations, films and
discussion, and consider our own racial justice response, and
our part in co-creating the beloved community.
Worship/worship sharing 15%; Lecture 15%; Discussion 45%; Experiential activities 25%
33 Yoga and Movement for Worship
Cindy and Jim Herr
Come for a workshop of worship through movement. We
will practice yoga, qigong and other body prayers. Daily
practices include sun salutations, standing, seated and lying-
down postures. Movement will be tied to poetry, music, and
contemplative practices. Our intention is to open ourselves to
Spirit and our Blessed Community.
Worship/worship sharing 35%; Lecture 5%; Discussion 20%; Experiential activities 40%
20 Information, Advance Program with links, and online registration at www.FGCgathering.org34 Zen and Quakerism
Victor Thuronyi
This workshop explores Zen’s approach to truth and
compatibility with Quakerism. Zen is about living the truth.
Instead of defining truth, Zen favors a negative approach: BEYOND
dropping false ideas. We will read a number of Zen and
Quaker authors, and sit daily for two 30-minute periods. Open
THE
to experienced meditators. GATHERING
Worship/worship sharing 40%; Lecture 13%; Discussion 40%; Experiential activities 7%
Intergenerational Enhance
50% high school and young adults, 50% older your
35 Inter-generational Spirit-grounded activism
Lina Blount and Francisco Burgos
This workshop on faith and nonviolent direct action will
spiritual
home
be highly experiential, and will integrate intergenerational
stories of action and spiritual grounding into each day, while
participants learn the basics of nonviolent direct action
campaigning and some of the theory of liberation theology
and other spirit-grounded activism traditions. HG1, HG2
Worship/worship sharing 20%; Lecture 10%; Discussion 30%; Experiential activities 40%
36 Revolutionary Roots of Quakerism
Peter Blood-Patterson and Adria Gulizia
Quakers broke into the world in an era of great turmoil
with radically new beliefs about God, worship, gender,
class, and ways of living together and in the world. We will
walk together with these Friends and explore how their
extraordinary experiences can inform our shared journey as
Friends today. HG1
Worship/worship sharing 30%; Lecture 15%; Discussion 40%; Experiential activities 15%
37 Zentangle® and Art Journaling: Sharing
Story and Truth in Images and Words
Sadelle Wiltshire
Share your deepest truths using meditative and
contemplative art as a form of expression. Use easy-to-learn
For over sixty years,
contemplative mark making and visual journaling practices,
(including the Zentangle® method of drawing abstract the Friends Meeting
patterned images). Explore new ways to center down. Trust House Fund (FMHF)
that we ALL are capable of making beauty and stories. has helped meetings
Worship/worship sharing 20%; Lecture 10%; Discussion 10%; Experiential activities 60%
renovate, build, and
High School and Young Adults Only purchase meeting
houses through loans
38 Active Spirit
MaryHelen Lewis and Jessica Klaassen-Wright
Experience body balancing, spinning poi, slack-lining,
and grants. Meetings
can also take advantage
archery, and possibly high ropes or hiking, with Quakers. of grants to conduct
Challenging physical activities clear mental distractions, green audits or install
promote present-centeredness, and harness physical energy
energy-efficient
towards spiritual experience. Come be vibrant in body and
spirit! Activity fee: $10 CASH. (Financial aid available). improvements.
Please read online detail before selecting!
Finance upgrades
Worship/worship sharing 10%; Lecture 0%; Discussion 15%; Experiential activities 75%
for your
meeting house at
FGCquaker.org/fmhf
Questions to gathering@FGCquaker.org or 215-561-1700 option 2 21Read detailed workshop descriptions online at
www.FGCgathering.org “I have a
renewed
High School Only
spirit of
39 Ministry with Children
Patsy Arnold Martin
High School Program participants join experienced Junior hopefulness,
Gathering leaders to create a fun, safe, and Spirit-filled
Junior Gathering environment for our youngest Gathering
participants. Learn to lead, and use your talents to give back
more
courage to
to our community! Early arrival by 8:30 AM Sunday morning
is mandatory. Application with references required.
Worship/worship sharing 5%; Lecture 0%; Discussion 5%; Experiential activities 90%
Young Adults Only
speak the
truth, and
40 Money Dilemmas and Quaker Values
Pamela Haines and JT Dorr-Bremme
Participants will consider how to manage money in an
economy stacked against them, while maintaining Quaker
concrete
action steps
values. The goal is to create a supportive context for wrestling
with money dilemmas, on both personal and global/systemic
levels, and finding ways to move forward with greater clarity,
integrity, creativity and courage.
Worship/worship sharing 30%; Lecture 10%; Discussion 30%; Experiential activities 30%
for future
Adults Only nonviolent
age 18+, high school with permission
direct
41 Abandon All Weariness
John Calvi
When was the last time you were free of worry, really laughed, actions.”
and your entire body relaxed? This workshop is for seekers
and the weary to rest. We’ll learn simple forms of energy work,
clothes-on massage, or meditation each morning, working in
pairs. All abilities welcome. Oodles of grace.
Worship/worship sharing 10%; Lecture 15%; Discussion 15%; Experiential activities 60%
42 Photography as a Contemplative Practice
Peter West Nutting
Discover how digital photography can help you see the world
around you more clearly and experience it more deeply.
Explore a variety of practices that will open new ways of
seeing and being present, grow your Quaker faith, and
connect you more closely with yourself, your environment,
and your community.
Worship/worship sharing 25%; Lecture 10%; Discussion 25%; Experiential activities 40%
43 Playing and Praying with the Psalms
Gail Thomas
In these beloved poems and praise songs, we find a range of
human emotions mirroring our own humanity. Let us play,
pray and invite Spirit to open our hearts and strengthen our
purpose through the Psalms. How can we sing our song in our
own strange land? HG1, HG2, PT
Worship/worship sharing 30%; Lecture 10%; Discussion 10%; Experiential activities 50%
22 Information, Advance Program with links, and online registration at www.FGCgathering.org44 Quakers and Mental Illness
David Anick and Claire Cohen
Facilitated by two Quaker psychiatrists, participants
will explore and discuss various points of contact
between Quakerism and what is called mental illness. BEYOND
Topics will include our leadings to make treatment more
compassionate, dealing with troubled members/attenders,
THE
how to support Friends/family undergoing extreme states, GATHERING
and distinguishing an intense religious experience from
“psychosis.”
Worship/worship sharing 30%; Lecture 15%; Discussion 40%; Experiential activities 15%
Your talents
45 Tai Chi, Lao Tsu, and Quaker Worship
John Smallwood
This is principally a movement workshop. We will discover
are needed
at FGC
the experiences of body awareness, movement, internal
energy (chi), and meditative practice. Participants will be
taught a simplified tai chi form called Tai Chi Chih. We’ll also
explore selections of the Taoist contemplative classic, the Tao
Te Ching.
Worship/worship sharing 10%; Lecture 10%; Discussion 10%; Experiential activities 70%
46 Writing out of the Presence
Ellen Michaud
This writing workshop will encourage you to look back over
your spiritual journey and explore its struggles, questions,
and experiences. The part of you that is always listening to
the whispers of God will open more fully, listen more deeply, It is the service of
and guide you into sharing that journey in narrative form. individuals like you
Worship/worship sharing 20%; Lecture 5%; Discussion 35%; Experiential activities 40%
that make it possible
47 Couple Enrichment
Dave and Pamela Minden
Friends’ Couple Enrichment skills enable couples in
for FGC to strengthen
communities of
faith and practice
committed relationships to deepen their intimacy, spiritual
connection, communication, love, and humor. Exploring across the United
vulnerability and connection within a supportive community States and Canada.
enables couples to develop the courage to enter into a deeper Consider dedicating
level of intimacy. Advanced communication skills build on
your time and
Friends’ testimonies and practices.
Worship/worship sharing 20%; Lecture 15%; Discussion 20%; Experiential activities 45% talents as a volunteer
for FGC-affiliated
New this year — working groups
A Workshop Sampler and committees,
including the Central
48 Power of Truth:
Thought and Action
Each day will have a different presenter and focus, yet all will
Committee, FGC’s
governing body.
provide a window into ways in which Friends experience and
View and share
express the Power of Truth. HG1, HG2, PT
current service
Monday The Peace Testimony, Conscientious
Objection, and Moral Injury — Kindra Bradley opportunities with
Tuesday Seeking Truth: Experiment with Light your meeting via
— JoAnn Seaver FGCquaker.org/
Wednesday Gandhi’s Search for Truth — Mike Heller servefriends
Thursday Publishers of Truth: John Woolman and HD
Thoreau — Bob Fisher
Friday Website Design and Social Media for Quaker
Organizations — Sarah Juliusson
Questions to gathering@FGCquaker.org or 215-561-1700 option 2 23Housing, Dining, and Fees Dorms On-campus housing is available only for full-time and half-time Gathering attenders (see “Half- Gathering Option,” p. 26). No housing is available prior to June 30 (except for those registered for a Pre-Gathering event or pre-approved volunteers), or after Saturday noon, July 7. All adult dorms are air conditioned double rooms organized into suites with semi-private bathrooms. (There are NO kitchens in the suites.) There are a limited number of single rooms. The High School Dorm, also AC, has traditional double rooms with shared bathrooms on the hall. Refrigerators are currently not available in the dorms. Friends with medical needs for refrigerators will need to contact the Gathering office. See the Gathering website for more dorm details. • Free wireless internet service is provided on campus, including in dorm rooms. • Limited number of ADA/accessible rooms are available. • No animals are allowed except for service animals. Family Housing: All High Schoolers are housed in the High School dorm. Most families with children choose the General Housing Cluster. Families are then grouped together based on their children’s ages. One child 11 years or younger may sleep on the floor of a double room once both beds are paid for. Children sleeping on the floor must bring their own bedroll, pillow, and towel. Housing Clusters: Some people choose to be housed in special clusters: Friends for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Concerns (FLGBTQC), Singles (for Friends attend- ing without partners, generally over 35 years), Adult Young Friends (AYF), Friends of Color, Contemplative, and Fragrance-Free. A new cluster for Night Owls will be available this year for those who prefer to be up late at night. Gender-neutral, trans-inclusive housing blocks are avail- able within the FLGBTQC and AYF housing clusters. Friends with concerns about the avail- ability of Gathering facilities appropriate to their gender identity and expression are invited to contact the Gender Diversity Liaison, fgcgenderdiversityliaison@gmail.com. Camping and Hotels Camping: There are two camping options: (1) sleeping in cars and small RVs in a campus parking lot, or (2) tent camping on campus (dorm toilet and showers nearby for both). Additional urban camping security is under discussion with the University. Hotels: There are hotels available in Toledo. We have reserved a few rooms in one hotel — see the Gathering website for details. Early Arrivals Friends arriving before July 1 pay Early Arrival room fees (see fee schedule), which are waived for some volunteers. Meal plans start with supper on Sunday, July 1. Early meals are available for purchase in the cafeteria, at campus retail establishments, and in town. Meal Plans Choose from one of the meal plans described on the facing page. Every on-site registrant (including FGC tent/RV campers) must choose a meal plan. Children two years and younger eat for free. Cash meal purchases: At least one retail eatery will be open for all meals. Cash purchases are allowed in the dining room at a price higher than pre-purchased meals. Special Diets: Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free dishes will be available at all meals. Friends with other dietary needs may be accommodated if they provide specific information about their requirements when they register. Family Discount A family consisting of one or two adult spouses or domestic partners with dependents (includ- ing students under 24) is eligible for a 15% discount on program fees. There is no program fee for a third, fourth, or fifth dependent. 24 Information, Advance Program with links, and online registration at www.FGCgathering.org
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