June 23, 2002

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To Friends Everywhere:

We greet you from the lovely campus of Warren Wilson College near the Smoky Mountains of North Carolina where we held the 32nd session of the Southern Appalachian Yearly Meeting and Association (SAYMA) .Our theme this year was "Turning, We Come Round Right," which was reflected in many of our yearly meeting activities.

Yearly meeting was opened on Sixth Month 20, 2002, with song and intergenerational games. Following that, each meeting and worship group gave a brief review of its annual state of the meeting report

On the next evening we gathered to hear five Friends share their experience of turning and the insights gained in coming round right. Friends were encouraged to pursue their personal spiritual turnings then and throughout the weekend. Both the stories of these Friends and the workshops presented called us to a stronger witness in the face of troubling world events. Worship sharing queries led us inward to examine our own leadings and turnings.

Meeting for Worship for Business labored with and approved a minute on Israel and Palestine. It is hoped that the minute will support those working diligently for peace as well as influence a change in foreign policy. Friends can return to their monthly meetings continuing to explore application of the Quaker Peace Testimony in the Middle East. One Friend has volunteered to create a cover letter for this minute and a list of recipients which will facilitate the dissemination of the leading of our yearly meeting.

We heard reports from many committees and individuals as we considered wise use of our finances and the work of wider Quaker organizations. Results of an ecological survey indicated several areas in which SAYMA Friends can improve. However, it seems we already excel in energy conservation by doing very little yard and garden work.

The yearly meeting was moved by a report from Debra Johnson of her trip to Iraq under the guidance of the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) .This Friend reported that great needs exist in the areas of education, health, and water purification. Friend Johnson pointed out the sharing of the part of the residents of the region regarding long-term devastating effects of the depleted uranium contained in weapons used by the Allies around Basra in Southern Iraq during the Gulf War. She urged Friends to support the lifting of sanctions, to join the Campaign of Conscience and to begin a dialogue to bring the Iraqi people out of their sense of isolation.

Two Friends, Joan MacKenzie and Gita Larsen, reported on the conference at Pendle Hill entitled, "Quakers and Racial Justice." It is hoped that will share their experience and what they learned with monthly meetings as Friends grow in sensitivity to practices that can be received as racist or exclusionary.

Once again our teens in Southern Appalachian Young Friends (SAYF) joined adults in workshops, meals, a talent show and other social activities. We were delighted to have several Young Adult Friends in our midst. Our Junior Yearly Meeting children swam, played and enjoyed the turning of the season with the warm showers and sunny weather this summer solstice weekend. The yearly meeting will be forming a

committee to nurture and plan for the full experience of our younger Friends.

A new committee on Peace and Social Concerns was approved as a clearinghouse to foster better cooperation and communication to support and season efforts of yearly meeting committees, monthly meetings and worship groups. A minute on the death penalty will be an agenda for this newly formed committee when its members convene. Friends finalized a minute on population sustainability. We also approved a minute supporting HR 1186 which allows for a Peace Tax Fund to be chosen instead of support of the military budget. Friends are reminded that peace on earth is also peace with earth.

Friends of SAYMA are grateful for the many examples of turning round right we can look to in the past and present. We seek the opportunity to continue in this tradition to turn round right as the Spirit leads us.