2018 Annual Sessions

Adult Children All

Wednesday

Time	Event
12:30-1:45 pm	Registration Desk Open
2:00-3:30	Opening Session: Worship & Business Meeting
3:30-6:00	Free time/committee meetings
3:45-6:00	Registration Desk Open
5:30-6:00	Singing on front porch
6:00-7:00	Dinner (volunteers eat 30 min. early)
6:30-7:30	Registration Desk Open
7:15-9:00	Hayrack Ride and games for children; Babysitting for children too young for the program
7:30-8:45	Witness on Social Justice Panel Discussion
8:45-9:15	Registration Desk Open
9:00	New Attenders Meeting (Reg. desk)
9:00-9:45	Snacks (dining room)

Thursday, Friday, Saturday Morning and Afternoon

Time	Event
6:30-7:00 am	Early Meeting for Worship (outside, eastside of mtghse)
6:45-7:45	Breakfast (volunteers eat 30 min. early)
7:30	New Attenders Meeting on Saturday (Reg. desk)
7:45-8:45	Childcare & Babysitting in Play Area
8:00-9:00	Meeting for Worship (Memorials are read on Sat.)
8:45-noon	Children’s Morning Program (parents should check-in children at the check-in table) Babysitting for children too young for children’s program
9:00-noon	Meeting for Business
12:00-1:00 pm	Lunch (volunteers eat 30 min. early)
12:30-1:30	Registration Desk Open
1:15-4:00	Recreation Activities for children; Babysitting & Childcare in the Play Area Thur TBA: All afternoon bicycle ride on the Hennepin Canal bike trail Thur 2:30-4:30: swimming Fri & Sat 1:15-2:15: Craft tent open Fri & Sat 2:30-3:45: All-ages Workshops Sat: Babysitting and Childcare until 4:30 pm
1:30-2:15	Worship Sharing groups
2:30-3:45	Workshops (All-Ages Workshops on Thursday, Friday and Saturday)

Thursday Afternoon and Evening

Time	Event
3:45-6:00 pm	Free time/committee meetings
4:15-5:45	Registration Desk open
5:30-6:00	Singing on the front porch
6:00-7:00	Dinner (volunteers eat 30 min. early)
7:15-9:00	Children’s Program: Middle Schoolers will join the adult presentation. Younger children will have a mandala art project. Babysitting for children too young for children’s program
7:30-8:45	Presentation by Betsey Wills
8:45-9:15	Registration Desk Open
9:00-9:45	Snacks

Friday Afternoon and Evening

Time	Event
3:45 - 6:00 pm	Free time/committee meetings
4:15 - 5:45	Registration Desk open
5:30 - 6:00	Singing on front porch
6:00 - 7:00	Dinner (volunteers eat 30 min. early)
6:30 - 7:30	Registration Desk open
7:30-10:00	Dancing on front lawn, no childcare or babysitting
8:45 - 9:15	Registration Desk open
9:00 - 9:45	Snack served outside during dancing

Saturday Afternoon and Evening

Time	Event
3:45 pm	Help Think about Next Year's Annual Sessions (Babysitting & Childcare until 4:30 pm
4:30-5:30	Variety Show
4:30-5:45	Registration Desk open
5:30-6:00	Singing on front porch
6:00-7:00	Dinner (volunteers eat 30 min. early)
6:45-8:00	Campfire and S'mores for 5th grade and lower (south fire ring)
7:15-9:00	Campfire; Middle and High Schoolers at the north campfire area Babysitting for children too young for campfire.
7:30-8:45	AFSC Presentation
8:45-9:15	Registration desk open
9:00-9:45	Snacks (dining room)
10:00-11:00	Blues History and Music Program with Bonni McKeown and Larry Taylor

Sunday

Time	Event
6:30-7:30 am	Early Meeting for Worship (outside, eastside of mtghse)
7:30-8:30	Breakfast (volunteers eat 30 min. early)
8:15-8:45	Registration Desk open
8:45-9:45	Reading of Epistles (children gather in front of the meetinghouse at 8:50)
8:45-12:10	Babysitting for children too young for other programs
10:00-12:15	Middle Schoolers will attend Plummer Lecture and Meeting for Worship 5th grade and lower will have their own program and will join others in worship at 12:05
10:00-11:00	Plummer Lecture by Bonnie McKeown (Middle Schoolers will attend)
11:15-12:15 pm	Meeting for Worship (Middle Schoolers will attend)
12:30-1:30	Lunch (volunteers eat 30 min. early)
1:30	Cleanup and Farewells

Groups for worship sharing will gather 1:30-2:15 p.m. on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Queries that will be used during those groups will be posted when they become available. Signing up for a worship group can be done at the check-in/registration area.

Workshops will be held 2:30-3:45 p.m. on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. A full and updated list of workshops will be available in the check-in/registration area. "All-ages" workshops are designed for children, youth, and adults. “Continuing” workshops will not repeat from the previous day, while “repeat” workshops will start afresh. Sign up to attend workshops at Annual Sessions.

Witness and Renewal through the Lens of the Poor People’s Campaign

Jason Shenk. A conversation and sharing of the experience of the Poor People’s Campaign in relation to witness and renewal. Thursday.

Martin Luther King’s Witness and Renewal

Steven Sechrest and Monica Tetzlaff, Have you ever lived in poverty or wondered about the injustice of poverty and other forms of oppression? What did Martin Luther King have to say about Jesus and “the disinherited?” Steven and Monica will give background information on how King came to embrace a living witness for social justice and how he renewed himself with the teachings of Howard Thurman, a black theologian, who also worked with Quakers. Participants will read aloud from King and Thurman quotations and reflect and discuss how these apply to our lives. Thursday.

Bicycling ride on the Hennepin Canal Bike Trail

David Wixom. An all afternoon bicycling ride on the Hennepin Canal Bike Trail, under the care of ILYM Environmental Concerns Committee. It is a paved trail. Riders will bring their own bikes in good working order. Starting and finishing points are at the same place. It will be an outing in nature thus strengthen ties to the environment and desire to restore it, additionally, it is to be worship-sharing-like thus strengthening as a religious society. All=ages. Thursday, whole afternoon; Friday, if weather bad on Thursday.

Considering Our Principles by Interacting with and Understanding Other Branches of Quakers

David Shiner and Nancy Wallace. Unprogrammed worship in the manner of ILYM Friends is an important approach to Quakerism, but it is not the only one. In fact, most Quakers in the USA and around the world have a very different method of worship. Come to learn about the various approaches and about what the Friends World Committee for Consultation (FWCC) does to bring all types of Quakers together in Friendship. Thursday and Friday, repeats.

Sing Your Own Blues Tune

Bonnie McKeown. Interactive, all-ages workshop on expressing your feelings by writing your own three-line blues verse based on witnessing events in your daily life. Share your verse with the group. The workshop will explore where the blues came from, how it relates to poverty, Jim Crow and New Jim Crow, and blues as the root of all American popular music. All-ages. Thursday and Friday, repeat.

Witness and Renewal through Wholistic Relationships; Romantic, and Platonic, Robyn Sullivan

Michael Pine, Joy Duncan, Bobbi Trist. ILYM Children's Religious Education Committee is launching a new program for 7th through 12th grade Young Friends in ILYM. Our Whole Lives (OWL) is a comprehensive, lifespan sexuality education program with a holistic approach to sex, sexuality, gender, and relationships. Before it is offered to ILYM youth the CRE Committee wants to fully inform the adults, caregivers, and parents of ILYM about this program. Friday and Saturday, repeat.

Solar for Friends

Cindy Shepherd, Jason Hawkswork, Rick Grawey. Learn about recent initiatives, Solar for All and FEJA. Other churches are implementing solar energy because it is part of a witness for the environment and social justice. And, at long last, it is affordable. Friday and Saturday, repeat.

Followings and Ministry

Judy Wolicki and Dan Stevens. An exploration of leadings, followings, and personal ministry as paths to holiness and social change. Many different understandings will be explored. Friday and Saturday.

Sanctuary

Rick Grawey. Friends have had a long history of sanctuary for others who are in danger. Retired judge Rick Grawey will provide information on all aspects of sanctuary for today. Saturday.

Yoga and Meditation

Quinndalyn Laird. Quinndalyn will lead a gentle and restorative yoga practice and guided meditation. The workshop will last approximately 1 hour. All levels are welcome to join. Some yoga mats will be available for use, please bring your own if you have one. Saturday.

Children's Sessions

Annual Sessions is a gathering of Friends that is supportive of families with children. Children’s Sessions provide the opportunity for children to experience various aspects of Quaker faith and life. There is no registration fee for children and youth age 18 and under. A Children's Sessions registration form should be filled out for each child.

Wee Friends through Middle School

Morning Program: Small age-appropriate groups with two teachers, designed to be meaningful while giving children a chance to connect with other Friends of their age. During this time parents can attend Meeting for Business. Children will join the adults for the last 10 minutes of closing worship of the Business Meeting.

Afternoon Activities: A variety of activities on different days include a craft tent, recreation on the lawn, and all-ages workshops. During this time parents can participate in workshops and worship sharing.

Evening Programs: Programs include hayrack ride and games, a story-telling program, and campfire with s’mores and songs. During this time parents can attend the evening plenary programs. Thursday evening older children will be joining the adult program. Younger children (5th grade and under) will have their own program. Friday evening is all-ages folk dancing on the lawn.

Sunday Morning Programming

Middle Schoolers will be attending the Plummer Lecture and Sunday Meeting for Worship. 5th grade and under will have a separate program and then will be joining everyone else towards the end of worship.

Babysitting & Childcare

Babysitting & Childcare will be available for children too young to attend Children’s Sessions programs. Additionally, babysitting and supervised play area time will be available during morning Meeting for Worship (8:00-9:00 am) and worship sharing and workshop time (1:15-4:00 pm). Please consult the schedule at the registration table for a full listing of times.

High School Program

The Youth Oversight Committee and High School Friends (entering grade 9 through 2016 high school graduates) plan the program. Consult the Youth Coordinator for program specifics.

Adult Young Friends

The Adult Young Friends of ILYM are a group of 18 to 35-year-old Friends led to maintain a sense of community. While a subgroup of adult Friends, AYFs participate as active adult members of ILYM. They welcome new members with open arms.

ILYM Annual Sessions is a gathering of approximately 200 people at the beautiful Illinois Yearly Meeting campus which is surrounded, to the horizon, by corn and soybean fields. On the south side of “Quaker Lane” is the meetinghouse, parking areas, several large tents, a farmhouse, and several outbuildings. The tents are used for the children’s programs, workshops, and outdoor dining. On the north side of the road is a campground which includes a parking area, a shower house, space for tents, 6 small cabins, and buildings used for High School and Middle School Friends.

Annual Sessions is primarily planned and managed by volunteers, so we ask everyone to pitch in. All Friends over age 10 are asked to sign up for at least two volunteer jobs during Annual Sessions, which might include helping during a meal, cleaning a bathroom, or helping with childcare or the children’s programs. Volunteer sign-up sheets are located near the check-in/registration table.

Please do not bring pets. Do not smoke in the buildings or on the grounds (including campground). Keep noisy activities away from Friends who need quiet. Respect the surrounding farm crops and property.

DIRECTIONS:

The meetinghouse address is: 14365 N. 350th Ave., McNabb, IL 61335.

• From Champaign-Urbana: Take I-74 west to Bloomington-Normal, then I-39 north to Rt. 18 west. Near Magnolia, take Rt. 89 north. After Edgewood Park Golf Club on the left, turn right at the “Friends Meetinghouse” sign (Co. Rd. 350N). After about ½ mile, the meetinghouse is the large white building on your right.
• From St. Louis: Take I-55 north to Bloomington/Normal, then I-39 north. From here, same as from Champaign-Urbana.
• From Chicago: Take I-80 west past Ottawa, then I-39 south to Rt. 71 west, then Rt. 89 south. Go past McNabb about one and a half miles, and look for the “Friends Meetinghouse” sign at the first cross-street (Co. Rd. 350N) and turn left. After about ½ mile, the meetinghouse is the large white building on your right.
• By Amtrak: Transportation between the Princeton, IL, station and the ILYM campus can be arranged via the registration form.

PARKING:

There is parking for campers on the north side of the road at the front of the camping area. Vehicles should not be driven into the camping area. There is parking on the south side of the road for non-campers between the meetinghouse and Clear Creek House. This includes a marked parking area for Friends with disabilities.

PHONE:

The meetinghouse & Clear Creek House number is 815-882-2214. Outgoing calls must be calling card or collect only.

EMERGENCIES:

Dial 911 for emergencies. St. Margaret’s Hospital is in Spring Valley: emergency number is 815-664-1464. Spring Valley is north on Rt. 89. There are several medical clinics in the area. Information will be available in handouts at the registration desk.

ACCESSIBILITY:

The meetinghouse has a ramped entrance and wheelchair accessible restrooms. The shower house in the camping area is also accessible, but you must go through a grassy area to get to it. The dining room is in the basement and is not wheelchair accessible, but meals can be served in the dining tent. First floor of Clear Creek House is wheelchair accessible.

FEES:

The fee structure is a simple per day (24-hour period, afternoon to afternoon) per adult fee that reflects the actual cost of running Annuals Sessions. We do not charge for children 18 and under. The fee is $40.00 per day per adult for a total of 4 possible days. There are no half days.

FEE REDUCTIONS:

No one should hesitate to attend ILYM for financial reasons. Most monthly meetings have funding for financial assistance for individuals and families to attend Annual Sessions. Should you need financial assistance to attend, first please request assistance from your monthly meeting. Should you still need additional assistance, in the registration comments area indicate that you have asked your monthly meeting, the amount that your monthly meeting will be assisting you, and the amount you additionally need to attend.

WHAT TO BRING:

Musical instruments, recreational equipment, clothes for active wear, bathing suit (for those going swimming), towel, sun-screen, mosquito repellent, flash light, rain gear, and linens (if staying in cabins or Clear Creek House). Showers are available for bathing. Coin-op laundry is available in Spring Valley.

VARIETY SHOW

The variety show is on Saturday afternoon. This is a supportive group that is easily entertained.

NEW ATTENDERS MEETINGS:

New attenders meetings help orient Friends new to ILYM Annual Sessions and take place on Wednesday at the end of the evening program and on Saturday at breakfast time. Please gather at the registration table. If you need help or information at any other time, the registration table will be glad to assist.

TECHNOLOGY:

There are no duplicating facilities. Please bring what you will need. There is wireless internet available. The password will be displayed near the registration table.

TIPS FOR FAMILIES WITH YOUNG CHILDREN:

You can bring your smaller children to the dining room 5 minutes before scheduled mealtimes to eat or you may go to the head of the line. It is hard for small children to wait in line when they are hungry. We suggest that you bring drinks and non-perishable snacks for times your children may be hungry or thirsty and perhaps breakfast food if your children find it hard to get up in time for breakfast in the dining room.

REDUCE DIRTY DISHES:

Bring your own coffee cup or drink bottle.

Come early and find out what fun it can be to work towards a common cause with a great bunch of people and be a part of transforming 12 acres of land into a most useful site for hundreds of people.

Join others in cleaning, organizing, and getting the campus ready. Meals are provide and start with Saturday lunch and end with Wednesday lunch. Cooking for site prep will be done by Heather Evert. Free housing is available as well for those doing site prep. You have a choice of bringing your own tent, staying in the cabins, or bedding down in Clear Creek House. If you will be attending site prep, please send a message through the contact form. Please include your lodging preferences, what meals you will be eating, and if you have any special dietary needs.

Camping:

There is a campground on the north side of the road that has a showerhouse. There is additional "primitive" camping south of Clear Creek House. The primitive camping area has one port-a-potty and campers will need to use the showerhouse in the other campground for all other needs. Children should not camp in the primitive camping area because of safety hazards in area outbuildings. If you want to camp and need electricity, please let the registrar know. Cords should not be run from buildings to tents.

Cabins:

There are 6 cabins with room for 8 people each in bunkbeds. Cabins have no electricity. They may be filled to capacity depending on demand. Individuals with specific needs (e.g., mobility issues, small children, cannot camp, other special reasons) will be given preference for cabins. If you have a special reason for needing a cabin, include it on the registration form. Linens, blankets, and pillows should be brought.

Clear Creek House:

There are 6 rooms in the Clear Creek House for up to 15 people. Rooms may be shared. Individuals with specific needs (e.g., health and mobility issues) will be given preference. If you have a special reason for needing to stay in Clear Creek House, include it on the registration form. Linens should be brought.

High School Bunkhouse:

There is also a large bunkhouse which can hold up to 40 high school Friends and chaperones.

Motels:

Off-Site Housing Information as of March 15. You may be able to find better rates and additional places. Rates listed are for 2 persons for one night. Prices are subject to change and do not include tax. Some people have success calling them when a web booking indicated they are fully booked.

City	Name	Address	Phone	Rate
LaSalle	Daniel's Motel	1921 St. Vincent's Ave	815-233-3829	$55
Oglesby	Days Inn	120 N. Lewis Ave.	815-883-9600	$125
Oglesby	Best Western	900 Holiday Ave.	815-833-3535	$90
Peru	Super 8	1851 May Rd.	815-223-1848	$70
Peru	Fairfield Inn	4385 Venture Dr.	815-233-7458	$145
Peru	La Quinta	4389 Venture Dr.	815-244-9000	$110
Wenona	America's Best Value	5 Cavalry Dr.	815-853-4371	$70

Stay informed about what is happening in ILYM.

To get updates and further details on Annual Sessions programming Subscribe to the twice-a-month e-newsletter. Use the contact form to request to be added on to the distribution list. Please include your name and meeting along with your e-mail address.