2024 Annual Meeting – Ashland, Ohio – Lake Erie Yearly Meeting

Registration Now Open!

LEYM 2024: Friends Together - Outpourings of the Spirit Quakers affiliated with Lake Erie Yearly Meeting gather annually for fellowship, worship, business and to see how the spirit moves among us. From June 13-16, 2024 LEYM Friends will be meeting at Ashland University. See the Spring issue of the LEYM Bulletin for event details, workshop descriptions and registration information.

All Are Welcome

Quakers believe that there is that of God in every person. In this spirit, we welcome all people regardless of age, race, differing abilities, gender identity, and sexual orientation.

30+ Sessions

There's something for everyone at this year's annual sessions, including worship opportunities, workshops, bible study, a keynote plenary, and the celebration of George Fox's 400th Birthday.

Timely Workshops

A dozen workshops will be offered, spread across three sessions. Join our gifted presenters for explorations of topics that speak to our current condition.

Friday Plenary with Paulette Meier

Join us for the plenary by Friend Paulette Meier (with assistance from Joann Neuroth) on "Opening to and Pouring Out the Spirit through Contemplative Communal Chant."

Annual Session Offerings June 13-16 (see tabs below)

Powerful Workshops
Plenaries & Social Time
Worship & Bible Study
Business Sessions

We are hosting multiple workshops this year, including one by our keynote speaker Paulette Meier.
Workshops on Offer
- Chant Composing and Singing
- Idle & Blessed: Mary Oliver and Walt Whitman in Conversation
- Quaker Spirituality and Compassionate Communication
- Being a Quaker AND Being an Activist: Challenges and Opportunities
- Trusting the Eternal Divine Source as the Living Root of Quakerism
- Here Today: Developing a Curriculum and Camp Celebrating Endangered Species
- Answering the Call to be Apartheid-free
- Outward Manifestations of the Outpouring of the Spirit: Distribution of resources – Effects of our money system
- Bearing Witness to the Voice of Truth
- The Four Roles of Social Change
- Right Relationship
- Free The Fire...(The Peoples Promethean Fire)
We'll gather for our shared opening session Thursday night. On Friday evening, Paulette Meier with Joann Neuroth will provide our plenary keynote on the theme "Opening To and Pouring Out the Spirit through Contemplative Communal Chant." On Saturday evening we'll celebrate the 400th Birthday of George Fox.
Large Group Gatherings
- Opening Welcome - Thursday Evening
- Ashland Center for Nonviolence Open House - Friday Morning
- Plenary with Paulette Meier - Friday Evening
- Saturday Evening Birthday Celebration
- Night Owl Movie Watching Friday and Saturday Evening
We’ll have morning and evening silent worship opportunities, Bible study sessions, and worship-sharing small group sessions on the theme. Our Sunday Meeting for Worship will provide a spirit-filled closing for the gathering.
FRIDAY and SATURDAY
- Early Worship: 6:45 - 7:30 am
- Worship Sharing: 8:30 - 9:15 am
- Bible Study: 9:30 - 10:15 am
- Evening Collection: 9:00 - 9:15 pm
Friends will gather to conduct the business of the Yearly Meeting across multiple sessions. We plan to provide Zoom access to Friends who want to attend from a distance.
Friday
- MFW w Attention to Business 10:30 am - 12:00 pm
- MFW w Attention to Business 1:15 pm - 3:15 pm
Saturday
- MFW w Attention to Business 1:15 pm - 3:15 pm
Sunday
- MFW w Attention to Business 8:45 - 10:30 am

Friends Together

An Infinite Ocean of Light and Love

"I saw, also, that there was an ocean of darkness and death; but an infinite ocean of light and love, which flowed over the ocean of darkness. In that also I saw the infinite love of God, and I had great openings." — Journal of George Fox

12 Great Workshops to Choose From Engaging workshops, with something for everyone. See full descriptions here.

Join us on the Ashland University Campus

2024 Annual Meeting – Ashland, Ohio

Friends Together: Outpourings of the Spirit is our 2024 Theme. Our plenary presenter will be singer/songwriter Paulette Meier who is known for her collections of Quaker chants and her children’s peacemaking music. Our theme was inspired by the energy, creativity and life revealed last year as we gathered for the first time since the COVID-19 shutdowns. This year we expect even more wonderful outpourings of the Spirit as we join in large and small groupings, sharing meaningful workshops, Bible Study, worship sharing, singing, meals and fun social time. We’re especially excited about the Saturday night 400th Birthday Celebration for Friend George Fox who was born way back in 1624.

Annual Sessions Calendar of Events

A PDF providing a one-page view of the schedule is available to print or save.

Answers to Frequently Asked Questions

What is LEYM? +

Lake Erie Yearly Meeting (LEYM) began in 1939 as an association of Friends (aka Quaker) meetings in Ohio, Michigan, Western Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. It is currently made up of 20 local congregations, called monthly meetings. There are also a number of informal worship groups within LEYM. It is affiliated with Friends General Conference (FGC), a Quaker service organization for unprogrammed Friends in the U.S. LEYM publishes a regular newsletter known as the LEYM Bulletin.

Who put together this program? +

This year's annual sessions were planned by the Adult & Family Program Committee comprised of Clemence Mershon (clerk), Greg Mott, Bill Warters, Ellerie Brownfain, Valerie Groszmann and Sally Weaver Sommer. Technical and website design support was provided by Bill Warters, LEYM's Digital Communications Facilitator.

Who's managing local site arrangements? +

LEYM's Arrangements and Site Committee (Sally Weaver Sommer, Clerk; Jon Sommer, Mike Hinshaw, Carolyn LeJuste, Janet Dando and Bill Warters) is coordinating with Ashland University's Director of Catering and Conferences Erika Chuburko. If you need to mail packages in advance, you can do so using this information: Lake Erie Yearly Meeting c/o Erika Chuburko Director of Catering and Conferences, Auxiliary Services 638 Jefferson Street Ashland, Ohio 44805 echuburk@ashland.edu 419-289-5186

What are the Forms of Payment I can use? +

Traditionally, LEYM has relied on checks being mailed to the registrar alongside a completed registration form, as well as checks written at the time of arrival and onsite check-in. Cash can also be used at check-in. This year, we've added the ability for Friends to pay online via credit card using our new online registration system.

What kind of online opportunities are there? +

We'll be meeting in-person at Ashland University in Ashland, OH. We will be offering limited online opportunities to join in specific events (Plenary, Business Sessions) via Zoom. You can request Zoom access here.

What are the Guidelines regarding COVID safety? +

Participants are reminded that attendees have different levels of vulnerability and the well-being of all members is paramount. Therefore, all participants at Annual Meeting are asked to follow these guidelines:

Attenders are encouraged to take a home test within five days prior to arrival at Ashland. Regardless of the results, if members feel ill during the week leading up to the Annual Meeting, please stay home.
Masks are welcomed and encouraged, but not required, when in close proximity where social distancing is not an option.
Please carry a mask with you at all times in the event it will be necessary.
Be mindful of physical distancing and personal space. Room seating arrangements may be adjusted to accommodate each others’ safety.
Masks and hand sanitizer will be available for adults and children.
COVID safety measures may be modified, pending pandemic trends in the City of Ashland and/or via Ashland University policies for visitors.

Where can I get more info on the Business Sessions? +

The agenda (when finalized) and various documents that will be discussed during the annual meeting Business Sessions can be found at the 2024 Annual Business Sessions page. We anticipate being able to offer Zoom access for remote participants. Check the Business Sessions page for access information when it comes available.

Where can I get more information? +

You can reach out to the Lake Erie Yearly Meeting worker at leymworker@gmail.com. Information for contacting LEYM Committee clerks is available on the LEYM website here: https://leym.org/contact-information/

What should I do if I'm feeling uncomfortable about someone's behavior? +

Harassment Discernment Committee - If a Friend feels she or he has been poorly or unfairly treated during our YM sessions because of gender, race, age, sexual orientation, ethnicity, disability, or any other factor, he or she can reach out to this committee. Friends who witness harassment are also encouraged to reach out. Of course, if it is safe to do so, Friends are encouraged to seek direct, positive solutions first. The complete LEYM harassment discernment policy with contact information is available at leym.org.

What is Worship-sharing? +

Worship sharing sessions focus on a particular question and help us to explore our own experience and share with each other more deeply than we would in normal conversation. A topic or query is raised and then Friends "speak out of the silence" as moved. In most cases, a person won't speak twice until everyone has had a chance to speak once. Typically, a brief period of silence is held between individual sharings. A designated facilitator will introduce the topic and coordinate the sharing process.

LEYM 2024