NFF Workers' Gathering September 2012

The Workers' Gathering and Meeting for Business took place at Gloucester on 22nd September.  The intended venue-  Gloucester Meeting House -  was not available as it had fallen victim to a fire. However,  Ursula Windsor stepped in and provided wonderful hospitality.

There were several items of business.  After news of Friends,  we discussed Tomasz Kowalski,  who is building a Quaker group in Poland.  He was in England recently and raised the matter of translating some early writings into Polish. There are difficulties inherent in such an exercise,  not least the difference in meaning of some 17th Century texts.  We have obtained a copy of Henry Kobylski's Polish translation of some New Foundation papers.  This will be supplied to Friends in Poland,  and we will help and support them in any way we can.

Tomasz is organising a two day conference in Poland on the role played by Quakers in prison reform. This will be followed by a National Quaker Day.  Friends from other countries will be welcome.

Sarah Eilbeck has done a wonderful job organising the Woodbrooke Gathering.  She now feels that it is time to stand down,  at least on alternate years. It has been decided that we will not go to Woodbrooke during 2013.  Instead, there will be a one day conference at Friends' House London during April,  and possibly another in the North or Midlands during September. Sarah will relinquish her role in editing and distributing New Foundation Papers,  and Mike Wakefield will cease to edit the newsletter at the end of this year.

Barry Williamson's Booklet "Firbank Fell -  Shape of a New Community" has been published,  thanks to the support of Michael Langford.  It arises from a talk which Barry gave to this year's Woodbrooke Gathering.  We need to see it being introduced into Meeting Houses,  if possible with spoken introduction.  This may encourage more people to take an interest in New Foundation,  its publications and its work.

We heard that Woodbrooke is being supplied with our literature thanks to the effort and diligence of Stuart Masters.  Allistair Lomax will supply booklets to Friends' House London on a for sale basis,  but the initial supply will be free.

The support of all Friends is welcome,  especially in making our literature known and available.

Our next Workers' Gathering will take place,  God willing,  on 24th November.