For Everyone

Photo by Rich Regen

Note to All Committed Couples

FGC warmly welcomes all committed couples to the Gathering. PLEASE NOTE: If you and your partner are not in a heterosexual marriage, you should know that Virginia has a constitutional amendment that specifically prohibits same-sex marriage and any contract that tries to replicate the rights of marriage. Read more about FGC's communication with the local hospital, and who needs to carry Durable Medical Power of Attorneys, and adoption (or child custody) papers. FGC does have a relationship with a Virginia lawyer, just in case. When the Gathering was in Blacksburg in 2005, we did not need to use these services, and we hope this will be true this year as well.

Access Resources

Friends General Conference is committed to making sure every personwho wishes to attend the Gathering is able to come and enjoy all of theweek’s offerings to the fullest extent possible. When registering,please check all “Accessibility Needs” that apply, adding extra detailsonline or by mail. You may also contact the Access Needs Coordinator,Sally Campbell, camp...@earthlink.net.

Limiting Fragrances: Why It Matters

Fragrances are omnipresent in our society: in perfumes, toiletries,laundry products, cleaning products, etc. Some Friends are allergic tomany perfumes and natural fragrances, others react to the chemicalsinvolved. Many people with asthma or chemical sensitivities can have aserious, even incapacitating, reaction to even a small exposure.

We can’t eliminate all fragrances at the Gathering this year, butwhen all of us work to minimize exposures, the Gathering becomes asafer space for these Friends and all of us. So PLEASE bring onlyfragrance-free toiletries.

If you have allergies or chemical sensitivities, read more.

To see a list of fragrance free products, click here.

Race at the Gathering

The Gathering seeks to be a welcoming place for all who attend.Workshops on confronting racism, the Meeting for Worship for RacialHealing, and special programs and opportunities for learning andfellowship at the Friends of Color Center provide occasions for us tobe present to Spirit around issues of race. And yet, we know there isstill more work to do around issues of race and ethnicity at theGathering. We encourage all Friends to carry this concern with them.

Trans Friends

FGC, the Adult Young Friends program and FLGBTQC are working tosupport the gender identity of individuals throughout the genderspectrum. To create a safe and welcoming housing environment, therewill be gender-neutral, trans-inclusive housing blocks in a fewdorms—see housing preferences. The Gender designation (Male/Female/!!!) during online registration is used for roommate and bathroomassignments—choose !!! if the M/F labels don’t adequately describeyour gender identity or related housing needs. Contact Karen Lightner,FLGBTQC, ligh...@aol.com for more information.

Friends Helping Friends

The Lend-a-Hand program encourages all Gathering attenders tovolunteer at least two hours of service during the week. Come to theLend-a-Hand table to sign up. Opportunities for service include:

Assisting with luggage
Ushering at evening plenaries
Carrying cafeteria trays
Driving golf cart shuttles

The Healing Center provides a space for Spirit-led Friends toexplore, practice and experience healing modalities from manytraditions. Volunteer for the Center on the registration form.

Affinity Groups

Affinity groups offer a unique opportunity for Friends with similarinterests to have their own program in the afternoon and late evening.Many groups will have organizational meetings on Sunday. See the contact us page to receive more information.

Friends of Color Center
Friends for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Concerns (FLGBTQC)
Jewish Friends Group
Men’s Center
Nontheist Friends
Quaker Earthcare Witness
Quaker Universalist Fellowship
Singles Center
Twelve Step Center

Junior Gathering

Junior Gathering is a vital part of the Gathering, nurturing youngFriends, from newborns to 8th graders. We have planned aspiritually-based week of fun, learning and community. Each group meetsin its own space, morning and evening. The groups are coordinated byFriends experienced with children, assisted by other Gatheringattenders bringing a variety of gifts.Learn more about the Junior Gathering here.

High School Program

The high school program is open to young people who have completedninth grade, have not yet turned 19 as of July 1, 2009, and have notyet completed their first year of college. Non-Quaker teens are welcomein our community. However, we invite them to seek clearness from alocal meeting before registering. Learn more about the High School Program here.

Adult Young Friends (AYF)

So you’re a young adult Quaker and you think to yourself: “Golly geewillikers, I’d really like to hang out with a bunch of awesome youngQuakers.”Well, in that case, we have just what you are looking for.

Adult Young Friends is a self-led intentional community, within thelarger Gathering, for Friends ages 18–35ish. We gather together tosupport, inspire and challenge each other in our spiritual lives. Westrengthen our community through worship, meeting for business,fellowship and celebration. We play games, hold support groups, sing,host a talent show, have our own dorm and go on an out-trip. Weencourage all adult young Friends to participate in our program,whether or not they choose to live in the AYF dorm.

If you would like to be part of our program and receive furtheradvance information, please check the AYF box when registering.

For more information contact AYF Coordinators: Lindsey Aldridge,lindsey@aldridge.com, and Elizabeth Piersol Schmidt,elizabethpiersolschmidt@gmail.com.

Open to the Public

Not registered for the Gathering, but want to stop by? You are welcome at:

Gathering Store - books, crafts, cds and more(in Squires)
Lemonade Visual Arts Gallery (likely in Squires)
Quaker Exhibits (in Squires)
These evening programs (in Squires)

Ben Pink Dandelion, Sunday June 28, 7 PM
Shane Claiborne, Monday June 29, 7 PM
Hollister Knowlton, Thursday July 2, 7 PM
Nikki Giovanni, Friday July 3, 7 PM

All other events and programs are limited to Gathering registrants. You are welcome to register for as little as a day.