Committee on AFSC (Existing)

(Adapted from 1998 Guide.)

Purpose:  The Committee on AFSC supports the relationship between AFSC and the constituent bodies of the Yearly Meeting through such activities as informing monthly and regional meetings about AFSC programs and their financial needs, representing the Yearly Meeting to the AFSC Corporation, and assisting with oversight of the AFSC-IMYM Joint Service Projects.  The committee normally meets during the annual gathering. 

Membership:  Members are one or two AFSC liaisons from each Monthly Meeting, one representative from each Regional Meeting, and any people from the Monthly Meetings of IMYM who serve on the AFSC Corporation or area AFSC Regional Boards (Des Moines, Pasadena, San Francisco).  The four Regional Meeting representatives serve on the Committee for Oversight of the AFSC-IMYM Joint Service Projects and represent the Yearly Meeting to the AFSC Corporation, which in turn selects the AFSC Board of Directors.  Members representing the Regional Meetings are nominated to the Yearly Meeting for appointment;  nominations are submitted to the clerk of the Nominating Committee. 

Terms:  Three years for Regional Meeting representatives, beginning in October before the November meeting of the AFSC Corporation in Philadelphia and ending in October three years later.  Each Monthly Meeting determines its liaison term. 

Clerk:  The clerk is selected for a one-year term by the committee, normally during the annual gathering.

Regional Representative Members:  AFSC has allocated four representative positions on its Corporation to the Yearly Meeting, which in turn has identified those positions as representing the Regional Meetings.  The Regional Meetings nominate these representatives to the Yearly Meeting for appointment.  These representatives have the following responsibilities:

1.  Represent the Yearly Meeting at the Annual Meeting of the AFSC Corporation, normally held in Philadelphia each November.

2.  Assure that their 3‑year terms overlap.

3.  Report to the Committee on AFSC prior to the winter meeting of the Continuing Committee.

4.  Serve as members of the Committee on Oversight of AFSC-IMYM Joint Service Projects. 

Responsibilities of the Committee include:

1.  Report annually to the Yearly Meeting, and to the winter meeting of the Continuing Committee.

2.  Interpret to the Regional, Monthly and Preparative Meetings and Worship Groups, the projects, needs and resources of the AFSC.

3.  Recommend to the IMYM Finance Committee the budget requirements of the Yearly Meeting's representatives to the AFSC Corporation and for carrying out the duties it is assigned.

4.  Encourage contributions to the AFSC from Monthly Meetings, Worship Groups, and individuals in the Yearly Meeting.

5.  Provide workshops for orientation and education on the work of the AFSC in the IMYM area and particularly to assist and support the work of the Committee on Oversight of AFSC-IMYM Joint Service Projects.

6.  At the Regional Meeting level, to nominate for appointment by the Yearly Meeting the following:

a.  four representatives‑at‑large to serve on the AFSC-IMYM Joint Service Projects Oversight Committee; and

b.  to encourage  appointment of two Senior Young Friends, asked to serve annually.

7.  Support and coordinate activities of the Monthly Meeting liaison members whose functions are to:

a.  serve as a two‑way of channel of communication between the AFSC and Monthly Meetings, Preparative Meetings, and Worship Groups;

b.  interest Friends in their meetings and worship groups in AFSC projects;

c.  assist the Coordinator of AFSC-IMYM Joint Service Projects; and

d.  provide AFSC and other meetings and worship groups with information about local service and social action programs undertaken by their own Meetings or Worship Groups. 

Financial arrangements:  IMYM pays the expenses of regional representative members to attend the Annual Meeting of the AFSC Corporation, normally held in Philadelphia each Nobember.  Incidental operating expenditures for clerical supplies, communications, etc., may be submitted (normally by the committee clerk) to the Treasurer for reimbursement.  The Treasurer should be consulted before incurring unusual expenses.