Fall Interim Business Meeting 2026

At Fall Interim Business Meeting, held on Saturday, October 3rd at the Gainesville meetinghouse, Friends took some first steps to address revitalizing our meetings and making SEYM financially sustainable. We heard several reports, and news from Meetings who are experiencing new life. About 30 Friends were in attendance, in person and online. Gainesville Friends provided delicious food and warm hospitality; it was the first time many of us had been to the Gainesville meetinghouse!

Highlights of the Business Meeting included:

We accepted Charleston Meeting’s disaffiliation with SEYM. They are now affiliated with Palmetto Friends Gathering, which is much closer.

The Treasurer and the Finance Committee expressed their concern for the long-term financial sustainability of SEYM, after the 2025/2026 Fiscal Year End report showed a net loss of $44,676. Contributions from Meetings and Worship Groups had fallen to 58% of the budgeted request. While some programs showed deficits, others showed a surplus. 

Friends also raised a concern for revitalizing our Meetings. There will be a threshing session at our 2027 Annual Gathering to address these related concerns.

The Worship and Ministry Committee reported that John Skinner, co-clerk of Friends for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Concerns (FLGBTQC) will be our 2027 Michener Lecture speaker.

We approved a minute recommending that SEYM and its constituent Meetings and Worship Groups adopt protocols to address any racial wounding experienced in our meeting communities. It is suggested that Friends see the FGC guidelines for addressing racial wounding,

Field Secretary for Earthcare Beverly Ward presented a long report in the Documents In Advance. She continues to work with Friends on SEYM Community Preparedness, and offers several workshops. She will be following up on the Permaculture workshop, bringing Friends together to share ideas. Several Meetings are interested in xeriscaping. Also, Friends are exploring ways to “enliven earthcare in our Meetings.” Beverly continues working with several Quaker organizations.

The Peace and Social Concerns Committee report included news that many Friends are working on election issues; AFSC has a Quaker Action for Migrant Justice Network; and the Farmworker Ministry, Mision Peniel, still needs bike lights to give to migrants so they can travel without being stopped by law enforcement officers and handed over to ICE. They ask that we order these lights from their Amazon gift registry.

Gainesville Meetinghouse

Meeting and Worship Group Forum

St. Petersburg Meeting has new attenders, and are working on improving their grounds, with ‘Florida Friendly’ plantings. Friends participated in two Pride parades in June.

Fort Myers Meeting has a new meetinghouse, on the same property as the Chckee Hut where they had been meeting for several years. They have more young adults attending. Friends continue their witness in Immokalee, buying and distributing food and water at a migrant center that serves about 400 families, mostly Haitians and farm workers.

Miami Friends have one new member, and continue to have music before meeting.

Deland Meeting is growing — they now have 25 – 35 in attendance on Sundays. They will celebrate World Quaker Day with a potluck in a local park — they have invited the homeless who live in the park, as well as local organizations. Members assemble and carry bags of food and supplies in their cars to hand out to any homeless people they meet. They take food to a migrant center on a weekly basis.

Palm Beach Meeting has grown! A year and a half ago, they were down to two people on Sunday, and now they regularly have 12 – 15 folks in attendance. Their challenge is to teach Quakerism to this group of newcomers. They have a potluck every Sunday, which is a great fellowship opportunity. Their meetinghouse is used by various community groups almost every day.

Tallahassee Meeting is still recovering from the tornadoes that ripped up several trees and caused property damage. They are currently renovating outbuildings and the playground. They continue growing vegetables for those in need of fresh produce, and support other community gardens. They have some new attenders, including a family with two children. Friends are active in various capital justice groups.

Gainesville Meeting is thriving, and has families with children. They have a potluck every week, and a workday once a month. They are looking for ways to have the meetinghouse used more fully by community groups. Friends do some corner witnessing, and \participate in handing out food once a month, and read to kids in the underserved community. “It’s an exciting community right now!”