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Standing Committee on Peace and Concerns
The Two PYM Representatives to the
United Nations Office of Public Information
Summary
Since 1992 Philadelphia Yearly Meeting has been recognized as a Non- Governmental Organization by the United Nations Public Information Office in order to facilitate the gathering of information about the work of the United Nations and its distribution to our members. Philadelphia Yearly Meeting, likewise, is interested in bringing the Testimonies and concerns of Friends to the attention of the United Nations and of the resource groups and informal caucuses formed by the representatives from various Non-Governmental Organizations.
The Main Representative and Alternate for Philadelphia Yearly Meeting as a Non-Governmental Organization shall be appointed by Interim Meeting with oversight delegated to the Peace and Concerns Standing Committee.
A Support Group shall be appointed and overseen by the Peace and Concerns Standing Committee. This Support Group shall assist the Representatives in communicating with Yearly Meeting working and project groups, with individual Friends, and with Monthly and Quarterly Meetings.
The Main Representative and Alternate, in consultation with the Support Group, shall select issues related to Friends Testimonies on which to specialize.
Background
Members of the Religious Society of Friends can readily support the basic purpose of the United Nations as expressed in its Charter: "We the Peoples of the United Nations [are] determined to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war..., to reaffirm faith ...in the dignity and worth of the human person, and ... to promote social progress...And for these ends [we will] practice tolerance and live together in peace with one another as good neighbours...." Friends also relate to the United Nations through the Quaker United Nations Office (QUNO), which is operated by the American Friends Service Committee in New York and by Britain Yearly Meeting in Geneva. Its credentials, however, have been secured through the Friends World Committee since this, unlike the AFSC, is a membership organization. These credentials are from the United Nations Economic and Social Council as well as the United Nations Public Information Office.
We are mindful of the past work of many Friends who facilitated the connections between the United Nations and Friends everywhere. For instance, Clarence Pickett, Executive Secretary of the American Friends Service Committee during and immediately after World War II, worked to establish and then preserve the United Nations as an instrument of international cooperation. Robert Muller devoted his adult life to the cause of world peace, working through the United Nations where he became the Assistant Secretary-General. Within our Yearly Meeting, Edward Ramberg served with quiet devotion on the United Nations Committee and the Peace Committee, and prepared a monthly newsletter about Friends' work on UN issues. For over forty years, Gerda Hargrave was our contact for United Nations activities. She is remembered for the bus trips she organized to UN Headquarters in New York and for distributing UNICEF materials.
The Spirit's Guidance for this Work
Peace and Concerns Standing Committee shall conduct a search for Friends interested in service to the Yearly Meeting as representatives to the United Nations Office of Public Information. Each Friend who seeks service as Main Representative or Alternate shall be informed of the requirements, and those Friends who continue to feel led to this work shall meet for clearness with the Peace and Concerns Standing Committee for assistance in discerning the Friend's spiritual leading to this responsibility.
Those appointed by Interim Meeting to serve as its Main Representative and Alternate shall be guided by the statements established in Faith and Practice of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting, 1997, and shall function with the oversight of the Peace and Concerns Standing Committee, and with the help of the Support Group appointed for this purpose.
The issues selected for specialization by the Main Representative and Alternate shall be consistent with Friends Testimonies, and with the Queries and recorded Minutes of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting. The selection of these issues may be confirmed by Interim Meeting.
Appointment of Main representative and Alternate
- The Main Representative and Alternate for Philadelphia Yearly Meeting as a Non-Governmental Organization shall be appointed for terms of up to three years, renewable once, but at such intervals that in no year shall both be newly appointed. To facilitate this process, the first appointment of the Main Representative shall be for two years.
- The Peace and Concerns Standing Committee shall notify the Philadelphia Yearly Meeting Nominating Committee when an appointment is needed. Appointees are to be members of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting. The Standing Committee, after the search and discernment process, shall make recommendations to Nominating Committee which shall bring names forward at the next Interim Meeting or Yearly Meeting in session.
- The Representatives shall work with the Support Group to determine an appropriate distribution of responsibilities and activities.
- Priorities for action shall be approved by the Peace and Concerns Standing Committee with the help of the Support Group, and may also be confirmed by Interim Meeting, in accordance with interests expressed by our Monthly, Quarterly and Yearly Meetings.
- Representatives shall have:
- Interest in and familiarity with Friends Testimonies;
Writing and speaking skills;
Availability to attend appropriate United Nations and related meetings.
Services Provided to Representatives
- The same services and support available to Philadelphia Yearly Meeting representatives to other organizations (for instance, The National Council of Churches) shall be provided to its United Nations Non-Governmental Organization Representatives. This includes expenses (within available funds) such as travel to New York as well as occasional hotel costs, travel to monthly and quarterly meetings, clerical expenses, email and web access.
- The Peace and Concerns Committee shall appoint a Support Group to assist and guide the Representatives.
Duties and Opportunities of Representatives
- Preparation: Representatives shall consult with their predecessors and other experienced persons to gain from their knowledge. They shall be expected to attend NGO orientation sessions as well as some briefing sessions.
- Communication: Representatives and their Support Group shall take responsibility for gathering information about UN services and current political developments or opportunities related to Friends Testimonies. Such information may be sent to Monthly and Quarterly Meetings, Yearly Meeting working and service groups, libraries at local Friends schools and colleges, internet sites, and/or newsletters of local Friends organizations.
- Service to the Public Information Office: In compliance with our obligations as a Non-Governmental Organization, Representatives shall send selected publications on current Yearly Meeting projects relating to the UN to the United Nations Public Information Office.
- Involvement: Representatives and their Support Group shall publicize opportunities for Friends to become involved with UN matters as well as schedule bus trips for interested friends. Meaningful background information shall be provided to Friends who attend special UN events. Representatives should become familiar with the global interests of Monthly and Quarterly Meetings in order to offer them assistance.
- Policy Development: Representatives may join caucuses/coalitions of NGO's relating to areas of concern to Friends. (For example, a coalition of representatives from faith communities involved in disarmament and sustainable development would caucus together.) They may participate in developing policy recommendations, taking care to remember their responsibilities as appointed Representatives of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting.
- Initiatives: Representatives shall inform working and project groups within the Yearly Meeting of new concepts arising in NGO circles. Likewise, Representatives should be prepared to provide leadership in introducing new concerns to the NGO community. Such initiatives could introduce new interpretations and/or applications of Friends Testimonies to our Yearly Meeting.
- Philadelphia Yearly Meeting Representatives may confer with staff from the Quaker United Nations Office to enhance communication between the two Friends' organizations.
Priorities for Representatives
- Representatives, in consultation with the Support Group, shall select a manageable set of issues for primary attention and effort.
- The selection of priority concerns and participation in caucuses/coalitions shall reflect the particular requests of Interim Meeting and the interests of Monthly and Quarterly Meetings, but should also take into account the experience and leadings of those who agree to serve as Representatives.
- The Alternate shall cooperate with and supplement the work of the Main Representative but may also have a different set of priority issues.
- The selected priorities shall be submitted to the Peace and Concerns Standing Committee for approval and then reported to Interim Meeting for confirmation.
Reporting
- The Representatives shall report to the Peace and Concerns Standing Committee on their activities at least twice a year or at the request of the Clerk of the Committee.
- The Representatives shall report to Interim Meeting at least once a year in February and at other times at their own request or that of the Clerk either of the Standing Committee or of Interim Meeting.
The Support Group
- Appointments. The members of the Support Group shall be appointed by the Peace and Concerns Standing Committee. Terms shall be for one year, renewable.
- Duties. The Support Group shall have the following duties:
- To provide the Representatives with support, guidance, and oversight.
- To help the Representatives both discern which issues to select for priority attention and also maintain their focus.
- To report regularly to the Peace and Concerns Standing Committee.
Approved: July 22, 1999, by Peace & Concerns Standing Committee
Approved: September 23, 1999 by Interim Meeting
Last modified: Wednesday, February 18, 2004 at 08:18 AM