I'm serving on the Workshops Committee for the 2024 FGC Gathering, and I'm hoping some of you Richmond Friends might be willing to consider offering a workshop. We are a Meeting overflowing with members and attenders who have wonderful gifts that the wider Friends community would be grateful to receive. As someone who has personally benefitted from these gifts, I don't say this lightly.
The 2024 Gathering is June 30-July 6 at Haverford College. FGC is planning to alternate in-person and online Gatherings, so this will be entirely in person, with 2025's being entirely online.
Each workshop is allocated a 50% work grant, meaning half of fees (registration, meals, and basic room) are covered for one leader. There are also scholarships available, and FGC is eager to make sure that all workshop leaders can attend.
One caveat in all this: I don't get to decide which workshops go on the program. Everyone on the committee reads every proposal, and then the committee as a whole decides on the slate of workshops to be offered. It depends not only on the merits of each proposal, but also on the balance of topics on the program.
I really hope Friends will consider this, and I'd be glad to talk about it and/or brainstorm topics if you'd like.
What is the Gathering of Friends? Around 1000 Quakers on a college campus! A week of deepening relationships. A week of renewed spirituality. A week of play. A week of focused exploration. Some call it Quaker Summer Camp for all ages. Some say it’s like a family reunion.
Richmond Friends Meeting can help with expenses, especially for first time attenders. Adult Spiritual Education has funds and encourages people to attend.
The Gathering warmly invites all Friends to come. Seasoned Friends. Brand new Friends. Not quite yet Friends. Young Friends. Older Friends. Friends coming with family. Friends coming with children and youth. Friends coming alone.
If you’ve been to the Gathering before, plan to come. Plan toencourage Friends in your community to join you.
If you have never been to the Gathering before, know that you are especially welcome. Come give it a try!
Registration is now open for YAY!, the in-person event for Young Adults and Youth, which meets July 6-10 at Radford University. Here is a link to the registration page.
There has been a major change in the plans for the Gathering in July.
The week's programs are now being offered only via Zoom, not in person. There will be some in person programming at Radford for young adults and youth but that schedule has not yet been announced.
I will continue to post dates for registering for all the upcoming dates.
The annual Quaker weeklong retreat, The Gathering, will finally happen in person at Radford College. This Friends General Conference (FGC) event will take place July 3 - 9.
Plans for the workshops and other events are coming together. More information will be available soon. In the meantime, save the first week in July for this family friendly event.
A COVID working group under the care of FGC’s Executive Committee is working to create a COVID Health and Safety policy all FGC events.
