Gay at 14
By: Zach Heinnemann
Bucks County Courier Times

A young teen shares his story of coming out - a decision that resulted in surprising support from some and nasty jeers from others. But most importantly, being open about his sexuality has allowed him to feel at peace with himself.  Read more

Lost list of nominations for YF Clerk

Hey everybody, we seemed to have misplaced the list of nominations for Young Friends Clerk and we can't quite remember who was nominated. So we need your help to remember. So send Alyssa a Facebook MESSAGE saying WHO YOU REMEMBER WAS NOMINATED or WHO YOU NOMINATED, preferably both of them. Please don't write on the wall seeing as we would like to keep this anonymous (and to avoid notification overload!) We really need to get working on the nomination process, so please respond soon, this will only take 2 minutes! If you are reading this in an E-mail you can reply to Cookiec@pym.org@pym.org and I will forward it along to Alyssa. You may also make new nominations.

Thanks,
Alyssa, Becca, Cookie, and Zan

Help for Haiti –
Donate Your Used Orthopedic Equipment
The University Orthopedic Institute at Hahnemann is organizing a collection of donated crutches, walkers, wheelchairs, braces, etc., for victims of the Haiti disaster.

Please leave your donations in the box located in the hospital lobby or drop them off at the orthopedic desk on the second floor of the Feinstein Building (216 N. Broad Street, fourth Floor Philadelphia, PA, 19102).  [Two blocks from Friends Center]

Please call Marianne Ward, operations director, Hahnemann Physician Practices, 215-762-4765, with any questions or for more information.

Summer Workcamps

Westtown Quaker Leadership Workcamps are an interesting and meaningful way to volunteer and travel with a purpose. Working and living together with other young people provides an excellent opportunity to make new friends, learn about new cultures, gain new skills and practical experience. Your enthusiasm, time, and energy can make a difference in areas where help is really needed.

This summer we are offering one weekend Environmental  program based at Westtown and one 8-day program in Mexico. Program information and application forms are available at Westtown Summer Workcamps.We hope to see you this summer!

From June 18 to June 20, 2008 the Environmental Leadership Summer Workcamp is an experiential leadership program focusing on the big question: Can we design sustainable communities for our future? Participants will live and work together on the beautiful campus of Westtown School and have the opportunity to explore the social, economic, spiritual and ecological issues and skills needed for developing sustainable life practices. .Applications are due May 1st. Scholarships are available. Get more information.

June 27-July 5 Mexico Summer Workcamp focuses on cloud forest conservation, sustainable development and cultural exchange in the mountains of Huatusco, Mexico. Participants live in a small ecovillage and experience hands-on projects related to environmental issues in this unique ecosystem. Locally grown food, and overnight with a Mexican family and an introduction to renewable energy sources among many other activities. A transforming experience. Limited scholarships available. Get more information.

1/14/2010 Philadelphian helps injured sister leave Haiti : Philadelphia Inquirer staff writer Peter Mucha reports:

Click the photo to see the Los Angeles Times Audio slideshow: Triage at the airport in Haiti showing sister and brother, Christa and Julian Brelesford awaiting evacuation. 1/13/2010

1/13/2010 A Channel 2 Anchorage, Alaska interview with Christa and Julian Brelesford's mother and father: Alaskan buried under building in Haiti quake survives, evacuated

The Food and Drug Administration Debates Tougher Cancer Warning On Tanning Beds

Just as millions head to tanning beds to prepare for spring break, the Food and Drug Administration will be debating how to toughen warnings that those sunlamps pose a cancer risk.

Yes, sunburns are particularly dangerous. But there's increasing scientific consensus that there's no such thing as a safe tan, either.

The World Health Organization's cancer division last summer listed tanning beds as definitive cancer-causers, right alongside the ultraviolet radiation that both they and the sun emit. They'd long been considered "probable" carcinogens, but what tipped the scales: An analysis of numerous studies that concluded the risk of melanoma jumps by 75 percent in people who used tanning beds in their teens and 20s[HuffPo]

Read more

The Woolman Semester is still accepting applications for Spring 2010 for high school juniors, seniors and gap year students. Spend 16 weeks in Northern California studying peace, social justice and environmental sustainability in a community and Quaker setting.  Get More information

Carl S. & Jenna L. went last year.

Links to other Young Friends Pages
Downingtown Young Friends
yqspace.uk Britain Yearly Meeting Young Friends
New England YM Young Friends
Southern Appalachian Young Friends (SAYMA)
Powell House New York YM conference and retreat center

As of December 29, 2009, $3909 dollars have been donated in Haley's memory. 
Sergei Thomas - Haley Yarmark Memorial Fund. 

Listen to Young friends talk about "What is important about gatherings like this one?"  Listen

Events that Support Witness of Faith to
Peace, Justice, an Earth Restored

Young Friends Medical Permission form 

Become a Fan of Young Friends on Facebook. 

Young Friends Working Group Meeting
Dates to be announced.
To discern New YF clerks
YF clerks begin their term as of May.

Would you like to be on the Young Friends E-mail network?
E-mail cookiec@pym.org and say you want on. You will receive announcements of Coffeehouses, Quarterly Meeting events, service opportunities, Young Friends Working Group meeting agendas and other neat stuff!  A reminder:  If you change your address to some newer cooler address we won't know it and you won't hear from us unless you tell us! 

There is also a Young Adult E-mail listserv for those over 18.

Philadelphia Young Adult Friends (PYAF) is a group of young adult Quakers (roughly 18-32) and Quaker sympathizers meet together and talk about their experiences and needs as young adults.

PYAF seeks to share life experiences and attitudes, and come together as an energetic, supportive community of seekers. They have a foundation in Quaker principles, ethics, and practices.

The group meets every other Thursday and Sunday evenings for a potluck meal, fellowship and Meeting for Worship. Different people take turns hosting the gathering. PYAF gatherings are generally in the Philadelphia, with occasional events in the suburbs.

Check out their Yahoo Group list serve at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/pyaf/

Email pyaf-subscribe@yahoogroups.com to join the listserv and learn where our next event is. Got Questions?

"Before You Enlist!" is a 15-minute film that provides "the real deal on joining the military" as told by veterans from Iraq to Vietnam, their family members and other young people who've dealt with recruiters. Produced by Telequest of Princeton NJ with support from the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC), Veterans For Peace, the Coalition for Peace Action, the Puffin Foundation and others, it is ready for viewing (and download) via

You can watch the video at BeforeYouEnlist.org... or at YouTube  This will require a high speed connection. It will take forever to load on a Dial up connection.