Yearly Meeting 2023

This event is finished.

Yearly Meeting 2023 will be held at The Quaker Settlement Whanganui under the care of Whanganui Monthly Meeting, from 19 May to 22 May. The Preparation Day will begin on 18 May.

Whanganui Friends and the Settlement are working together to prepare for Yearly Meeting 2023. We are looking forward to having Friends come to our town and our place. Yearly Meeting will be both in-person or online. We are planning for full participation both ways. Please register soon, so we know how to plan for our guests.

Yearly Meeting itself starts immediately after dinner on Friday 19 May, and ends just before lunch on Monday 22 May. The Preparation day (optional) begins after lunch on Thursday 18 May.

Registration

To register, please fill in the online form.

The Settlement is a wonderful place, and it's a joy to hold YM there. However, some Friends prefer not to or are unable travel. Thus, the online option (mainly using Zoom) is available. This will enable full participation in sessions, with some opportunities for social catchup with others.

Please register by 4 May if you are attending in person and by the 11 May if you are attending online.

Preparation Day

Preparation Day gives us a day when we can choose to prepare ourselves for Yearly Meeting, separate ourselves from the demands of ordinary life, find some centring for ourselves. Some sharing with others for some of the time can enhance this.

Preparation Day starts at 2:00 pm on Thursday afternoon, runs during the afternoon and evening. It resumes on Friday morning. Activities being planned will help us tap into our creative selves, since creativity is a part of our spirituality. It is available to the people who attend in person, and we hope to provide opportunity for those who wish to participate via online means to experience their own Preparation Day.

Accommodation Options

Accommodation at the Settlement

• The sleeping-house. Dormitory-style $35 per night (B&B). Linen and towel can be supplied for a one-off cost of $5, otherwise BYO linen, sleeping bag, etc
• The Units. Twin-share (we'll try to give you your preference of room-mate). $50 per night per person (B&B).
• Bring your caravan/motor home. Powered site. $20 per night per person (B&B).
• Tent site. BYO everything, power available. $15 per night per person (B&B).
• Billet. This could be on-site, or elsewhere in Whanganui. $50 per night per person (B&B).

Accommodation away from The Settlement

• Mt St Joseph Retreat. About 1km from Settlement. Single room. $50 per night per person (B&B).
• Organise your own accommodation. With your friends, or commercially.

Note: "B&B" = “Bed and Breakfast”.

“Pay as Led”

We do recognise that times are hard for many people, and we don't want to impose a financial barrier to attendance at Yearly Meeting. The Settlement has adopted a “Pay as Led” policy. The online registration form will calculate the cost to Yearly Meeting and the Settlement for you to attend Yearly Meeting 2023. However you may pay more or less than that amount.. Paying more will help someone else to be able to attend. Pay less if that is how you are led. In any case, we ask that you pay at least enough to cover your meals costs (lunches $25 each, dinners $30 each). Note that if you are in hardship, you can approach your Monthly Meeting, who have funds to assist people to attend Yearly Meeting.

Catering is provided at the Settlement. The lovely Tess and Grant will cater. All meals are vegetarian. Vegan options are offered most meals. Other dietary needs can be noted, and provided for in many cases.

Programme

Proposed Programme outline for Yearly Meeting including the Preparation Day:

Any questions please contact Jan-Louise Hamblyn: janlou@xtra.co.nz;
further information will be added to this event page as it becomes available