Young Adult Friends

YAFs at 2016 Annual Session – Walker Creek Ranch Science Museum

Young Adult Friends (YAFs) are an affinity group typically ages 18-35ish (and older). We organize events throughout the year as well as some YAF activities within the PYM annual session. We are not a ‘committee,’ but we have co-clerks and committees as a group, and many of us are active in the larger PYM.

Stay in Touch!

Clerks – 2016-2017:
Rebekah Percy (La Jolla) and JT Dorr-Bremme (Orange Grove)
pacym.yafclerks@gmail.com

Email listserve: If you want to be part of our listserve, ask the YAF Clerks to add you by emailing them at pacym.yafclerks@gmail.com.

Facebook Groups:
PYM Young Adult Friends – private group for YAFs throughout PYM
Young Adult Friends (Quakers) – worldwide public group

Events

YAF Alternatives to Violence Project Basic Workshop — March 2015
  • Calendar and general information for youth
  • July 12-14, 2017: YAF Retreat pre-annual session (aka YAFs’ Family & Elders Retreat): At Redwood Forest Friends Meetinghouse in Santa Rosa, CA, about 30 miles from Walker Creek Ranch. REGISTER HERE FOR RETREAT ASAP
  • July 14-19, 2017: PYM Annual Session at Walker Creek Ranch REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN!! 5% late registration fee after June 12th.
    • Need financial assistance for travel or registration for Annual Session? Ask your Meeting! Ask the YAF co-clerks! Ask PYM! This year, YAFs who need attendance assistance should apply through the regular financial assistance form for Annual Session (deadline has passed). For travel assistance, ask the YAF Clerks.
    • Be a “Friendly Responsible Adult Presence (FRAP)” for Junior Yearly Meeting or a Teacher for Children’s Program: to apply, see the Adult Allies to Youth / Youth Workers page. Registration fees for Annual Session are waived for FRAPs and Teachers. Applications due May 20th. (After the deadline: feel free to ask the program’s clerk if they are still seeking applications.)
    • 2017 schedule for Annual Session: YAFs don’t have our own schedule, rather we have some informal affinity group time and otherwise participate in the greater PYM activities, such as worship sharing, worship, PYM business plenaries, committee work, and general community fun. There is a mixed-gender YAF dorm option. Many of us volunteer in the children’s and teen programs (and get our registration fees paid by volunteering!). See PYM Schedule.
    • YAF Clerks’ Report to Annual Session 2017
Past Fun Events (Archive)
 Annual Session YAF Archives:
  • 2015 YAF Schedule mostly overlapped with the general adult schedule, had some YAF affinity group time in the evenings, and also included some activities with the JYM (teen) and children’s programs.
  • 2014

Important Reading

YAF Documents

 

More about PYM Young Adult Friends

“Young [Adult] Friends experience Yearly Meeting as a unique opportunity to come together in fellowship and worship, giving one another emotional and spiritual support. Though many Young [Adult] Friends participate in other Quaker activities, Yearly Meeting is an important experience for Friends in transition from youth into adulthood. The weeklong gathering gives them time to build community both socially and spiritually.

“Young [Adult] Friends hold their own Business Meetings to seek the leadings of the Light, build leadership, and encourage awareness of Quaker practice. They strive to be involved in the greater PYM community, including the Junior Yearly Meeting and children’s program. Young [Adult] Friends learn and grow from the patterns of their traditions and examples of their elders and peers.”
(From PYM Faith & Practice, p. 171)