Report of Annual Meeting 2010
More than 200 Quakers from around the country gathered in Washington, DC in early November to set priorities for the 112th Congress and appoint the next Executive Secretary of FCNL.
Climbing the Ladder of Engagement
Field Committee clerk Tom Ewell encourages everyone to climb the ladder of engagement.
The Field Committee challenged every Quaker meeting and church to increase their engagement with their elected officials in Washington. The step ladder at the center of the meeting hall illustrated the many way people lobby. Friends gathered by Yearly Meeting to plan how they might organize lobby visits in the next year.
Setting Legislative Priorities for the 112th Congress
Following consultation with 270 Quaker meetings and churches around the country, the Policy Committee led the discernment toward a final set of priorities for FCNL in the next two years. Through worship-sharing, workshops, and meetings for worship with attention to business, Friends came to unity on the focus of FCNL's work in the upcoming Congress.
Celebrating Our Two Decades of Lobbying with Joe
"The General Committee deeply appreciates the 20 years of visionary leadership by Joe Volk," reads the first line of the minute approved at Annual Meeting. In his plenary address, Joe thanked Friends for the opportunity he had to help build this organization but cautioned that we cannot be satisfied with where FCNL is today. "In a country of 300 million people, we cannot be satisfied with 60,000 community-based lobbyists and 10,000 donors." FCNL could double these numbers in the next three years.
Listen to Joe's talk.
Appointing the Next Executive Secretary
FCNL's General Committee appointed Diane Randall to become its fourth Executive Secretary since its beginning in 1943. She follows E. Raymond Wilson, Edward F. Snyder, and Joe Volk. Diane's first day in the office will be March 1, 2011. An active member of Hartford Monthly Meeting (CT), Diane will bring to FCNL the experience, skills, and talents necessary to lead the work of our community into the 21st century.
Listen to Diane's greeting to the Annual Meeting.
Snyder Award Presented to Sen. Maria Cantwell (WA)
From left: Hal Wright, Joe Volk, Amit Ronen from Sen. Cantwell's office, Dorsey Green, Ed Snyder
FCNL awarded the Edward F. Snyder Award for National Legislative Leadership to Sen. Maria Cantwell (WA) for addressing the most serious threat to life on our planet and a growing driver of violent conflict, and for her efforts to build peace and to restore a right relationship with the earth.
See a full list of the past recipients of the Snyder Award.
Interns Talk about Their Journey to FCNL
The FCNL program assistants addressed the Annual Meeting.
Deanna Boyd (bio) Intern Speech
Rachel Cash (bio) Intern Speech
Hannah Cole-Chu (bio) Intern Speech
Jessica Halperin (bio) Intern Speech
Nick Mann (bio) Intern Speech
Sandy Robson (bio) Intern Speech
Alex Stark (bio) Intern Speech
See what else the program assistants are up to on their blog, Of Peace and Politics.
Now Can We Cut Military Spending? Conversations with New Audiences
From left: Ruth Flower, Deb Fink, and Tom Ewell talk about openings to cut the military budget.
For the first time in decades, members of Congress are seriously considering cuts to the military budget. FCNL's Stephen Donahoe engaged Ruth Flower, Laura Peterson from Taxpayers for Common Sense, and FCNL constituents in a conversation about the Our Nation's Checkbook campaign.
Listen to "And Now Can We Cut Military Spending?"
Other Annual Meeting Events You Won't Want to Miss
- Listen in on a discussion with FCNL's David Culp and Jim Cason on what the results of the 2010 mid-term elections mean for FCNL.
- Find out about the nearly 100 people who lobbied for the New START Treaty during the November 15 lobby day.
