Yearly Meeting Gathering 2025
The 2025 SEYM Gathering & Annual Sessions
April 16 – 20, 2025
Dayspring Camp & Conference Center 8411 25th Street East, Parrish, FL 34219
Seeking the Wellspring of Audacious Hope
strength & courage for uncertain times
As we face an uncertain future, we need real hope — an antidote to falling into false optimism or being diminished by despair. Audacious Hope is to feel called and emboldened — by Spirit, by love for our fellow human beings and the earth, by love for justice and mercy — to be faithful to the vision of Beloved Community, and take courageous action in defiance of the injustice, inequality, and destruction going on around us. We need to see, clear-eyed, not only the harsh realities, but also to see Spirit at work within us and through others; to come together for mutual care, support and collaboration; and to share practical tools and resources to equip us for the road ahead.
Join Friends from around our region and beyond as we take this journey together, travelling deeper with Spirit. There will be time for worship, worship sharing, workshops, and working together — as well as time for joy, laughter and fellowship.
See the 2024 Gathering Photo Gallery.
Virtual attendees: We are fixing the audio system for this year’s Gathering! Some sessions will be offered online for Friends who attend virtually; check the schedule below.
Yearly Business Meeting will be held in six plenary sessions Wednesday through Sunday.
Our Speaker
Registration
Program
Youth Program
All the Details
The Walton Lecture & Retreats
will be presented by
Daquanna Harrison
Stemming from our theme of Seeking the Wellspring of Audacious Hope: strength and courage for uncertain times, Daquanna will bring forth two retreats that will help us find our internal wellspring of strength, and then inspire each of us to find the courage to “fill the space that is ours to fill” just as water does. Her lecture Simple, Brave, and Outlandish: What Challenge Can Your Meeting Meet? will be a call to action allowing meeting members to join in worship to consider how their meetings can be a source of audacious hope for their communities in these uncertain times.
Retreat #1: Tapping Into Your Wellspring
Come ready to drop deeply into your personal wellspring of emotions and connect to your inner light. Using a variety of worship tools and techniques, we will seek our own prophetic voice to strengthen our lights and to guide us closer to what is ours to illuminate. Note: This workshop will include some writing, please bring your favorite notebook, journal, or electronic device, and writing tools. This workshop will include gentle movements with accommodations where needed.
Retreat #2: What Space Is Yours To Fill?
The world, our nations, our communities, our meetings, our families and loved ones, and each of us need each of us to do what we are meant to do — if it is what you need to do in this moment, for the next 2 years, or your life’s work — we need it! In this workshop, we will consider what space is yours to fill, and what courage do you already possess that will help you to fill that space. Note: You are invited to consider your comfort during this session, sitting on the floor, a warm cup of tea, cozy socks or other comforts are welcome. This workshop will include some writing, please bring your favorite notebook, journal, or electronic device, and writing tools. This workshop will include gentle movements with accommodations where needed.
The Lecture: Simple, Brave, & Outlandish: What Challenge Can Your Meeting Meet?
In her closing lecture, Daquanna will have us consider ourselves and our time at the gathering as wellsprings for our Meetings. We will engage in meeting-centric groups discussing queries designed to help Meetings find simple, brave, and outlandish ways they can answer the calling for modern Quakers to uplift our Quaker Ancestors’ call to be radical in our love of others and to be “Angelic Troublemakers” as Bayard Rustin asked of us.
Note: This lecture will ask us to be in discussion groups with others from our Monthly Meetings. If you know you have people from your Meeting online and are able to bring a device to connect to them please do so to support this workshop. Those without others from their Meeting will be in smaller mixed support groups allowing for all to ideate in a group setting on what to take back to their Meetings.
Daquanna Harrison is a social justice leader, creating protest movements, working with those most affected and the most likely to make change. She is an accomplished educator, and the owner of Elevation Educational Consulting Group, which provides trainings and leadership development to adult educators, government entities, and non-profits, and researches topics such as workforce development, DEI, and adult learning.
Within Quaker spaces, she was recently interviewed on QuakerSpeak, and has been the plenary speaker for the Friends General Conference and Baltimore Yearly Meeting. She presents multiple workshops at Quaker annual sessions, monthly meetings, and gatherings, including, “How will Quakers change the world, again?”, “Quakers and Mini-reparations” and others that challenge present day Quakers to lean into lessons of radical change and equity that our Quaker Ancestors left us, while listening deeply to how we can each do better than they did.
Read the full bio
Daquanna Harrison is a social justice leader creating protest movements with the most affected and the most likely to make change. Her justice work has spotlighted ‘stop & frisk’, ‘jump outs’, systemic violence against marginalized groups, and violence towards abortion clinics and led to the policy now used for decriminalizing marijuana across the nation, reducing mass incarceration. Her belief in systemic change has led her to be an expert panelist and judge for Head Start grants, the W.K. Kellogg Foundation’s Racial Equity 2030 competition ($90 million), Lever of Change’s Yield Giving Fund ($250 million) and a former advisory board member for the National Black Child Development Institute’s DC TEACH scholarship, for post-secondary education for early childhood teachers.
Most recently, within Quaker spaces, she was highlighted in the QuakerSpeak series and she’s been the plenary speaker for the Friends General Conference and Baltimore Yearly Meeting. She presents multiple workshops at Quaker annual sessions, monthly meetings, and gatherings including, “How will Quakers change the world, again?”, “Quakers and Mini-reparations” and others that challenge present day Quakers to lean into lessons of radical change and equity that our Quaker Ancestors left us, while listening deeply to how we can each do better than they did.
This Geechee Gal from the Gullah Island of Wadmalaw Island, SC is an alumna of Howard, American, and Duke Universities, the Institute for Educational Leadership and the University of Baltimore’s MD Equity and Inclusion Leadership Program. She is raising a young artist/anime enthusiast in Prince George’s County MD where she was recognized as 40 Under 40 for Excellence in Education, and where she worships at Adelphi Friends Meeting, participating in their reparations work as well as nominating committee. Daquanna Harrison is also the owner of Elevation Educational Consulting Group (www.ElevationEd.com), which provides trainings and leadership development to adult educators, government entities, and non-profits and researchs topics such as workforce development, DEI, and adult learning.
Registration
Registration will be open Febuary 7th – March 30th, 2025.
Virtual Registration will be open February 7th – April 16th, 2025.
Registration is on a pay-as-led basis. This is a way of acknowledging that wealth is not distributed evenly among us Quakers, and that we do not wish to exclude anyone from the Gathering based on their ability to pay.
Making this system work depends on those of us with the means paying our full cost, and adding a donation to help others attend. Meetings and Worship Groups can help by offering scholarships.
Scholarships: Check to see if your Meeting or Worship Group offers scholarships. See Scholarship information here.
For questions or changes to your registration, please email Phil Stone, Registrar or call/text him at (413)992-7991.
Payment Options: We encourage you to pay your total registration fees when you register online. You may also pay by check made payable to SEYM and mailed to: SEYM, P.O. Box 1062, St. Petersburg, Florida 33731-1062. You may also pay at check-in.
Registration will be open February 8th – March 30th.
Registration for Virtual attendance will open February 8th – April 15th.
Program & Schedule
Our schedule officially begins with check-in on Wednesday, April 16th, at 3 pm. Committees are being asked to meet virtually prior to the Gathering, though they may also meet again in person at the camp during interest group time if they wish.
Virtual Schedule. We are expanding our online programming this year to include worship sharing, business plenaries, and the Walton lecture. Virtual sessions are indicated in blue on the schedule. We have a new audio system for all you Friends online!
Yearly Business Meeting
Yearly Business Meeting will be held in 6 plenaries over 5 days. All sessions will by hybrid.
If you want to attend online, please register for Virtual attendance here>
For the Agenda, Reports, and Zoom login,
See the Documents In Advance.
For general questions, please email Susan Wade, SEYM Administrative Secretary, or call her at 407-739-4150.
If you have an agenda item please email Bill Carlie, YM Clerk or phone him at (407) 840-9862.
All Ages Activities
Our intergenerational activities this year include:
Thursday night: intergenerational games & dance
Friday night: All Ages Talent Show, campfire
Saturday afternoon: Workshop
Family canoeing
Intergenerational outdoor games every afternoon.
Workshops
We have an exciting lineup of workshops!
- How Are We Called to Care? Local Actions, Global Connections
- Othering
- Journeying from Fear & Anger Towards Fellowship & Love
- Extended Worship
- The Living Waters — The Wellspring of Hope
- History of Service in the AFSC’s South Region
- Becoming an Anti-Racist Yearly Meeting in Earnest
- Naming Your Gifts, Finding Your Ministry
- Advocacy in Tumultuous Times: Exploring Effective Advocacy, FCNL
- The Florida Political Climate, AFSC Florida
Worship Sharing
Worship Sharing is an opportunity for small groups to deepen their understanding of life in the Spirit and get to know each other on a deeper level, through listening to each others’ experiences and insights in a worship-grounded setting. In a covering of silent worship, Friends share their responses to a query that provides a focus for the group. We listen deeply to what is shared, without discussion. Worship Sharing may last an hour, or less, depending in part on the size of the group.
Worship Sharing Quotes & Queries>
Bookstore
Books from Quakerbooks of FGC and SEYM Publications will be available for browsing and purchase from our Bookstore located in the Bishop Haynes Meeting Room, adjacent to the Lounge.
John Heimburg and Caroline Kaufmann are our Bookstore Coordinators this year.
Youth Program
The theme for our 2024 Youth Program is
Hope for Youth in Uncertain Times
Youth have a great time being together! Youth Program leaders, volunteer staff, and parents work together to create a community where all young Friends feel included.
Activities include: High Ropes course (for ages 11+), Journaling, Writing to congresspersons, Games, Intergenerational Anti-Racism workshop, Arts and crafts, Family swim time and canoeing, Nature walks, Story Time, Intergenerational Talent show & Campfire (Thursday night), Community Dance (Friday night), Youth Meeting for Business, Epistle Writing, and an Easter Egg Hunt on Sunday.
All youth are expected to participate in the youth program during their stay.
Youth must attend with a parent, guardian, or a designated adult sponsor. Youth need to bring a parent/guardian signed Parental Consent Form> in order to participate. Please bring completed forms with you.
If you need your child excused from classes, you can give this excuse letter to their school. The Gathering is a religious holiday for Quakers in SEYM.
Parents/sponsors are responsible for signing youth in and out of all sessions. Afternoon activities are optional. Parent/sponsors are responsible for youth any time they are not signed in for a youth program session.
All the Details
Before you register: Please carefully read and consider the housing options and charges. Housing on site is limited; please consider whether you can share a room or commute from home or nearby hotel. Note: Total registration fees are on a pay-as-led basis.
Be courteous and safe! Please read the SEYM & Camp rules before you arrive.
Dayspring Lodging
Dayspring offers both semi-private and private accommodations in cabins, houses, and dorms. There are also rooms for families of 3 or more. Cabins and houses have common areas including living areas, kitchens, and porches. Kitchens provide small refrigerators and coffee makers; no cooking is permitted. Coffee, filters, creamers and sugar are provided, but you may bring your own.
Dorms are located next to the Lounge and Dining Room. They have bunk bed cubicles (we will only use bottom bunks), which allow some degree of privacy. There are separate he/they and she/they dorm areas, each with bunk rooms, bath, and shower rooms connected by a covered porch. YOU MUST BRING YOUR OWN BEDDING AND TOWELS. Beds are rather firm; bring a comfy topper if you need it.
Learn more about Lodging options here>
Meals are included in your lodging fees, beginning with dinner on your arrival day and ending with lunch on your departure day. You may add lunch for arrival day on the registration form. Note: Youth attending with families receive meals for free!
Lodging Fees:
- Couple/Family with Youth, sharing a room = $115/day/Adult, $67/day/Youth ages 4-18, Youth 3 or under are free. You may bring a travel crib.
- Private Room (includes linen & towels) = $155/day. The number of private rooms will be limited so we can house more people on site.
- Semi-Private (includes linen and towels) = $115/day/person.
- Dorms (bring your own linens & towels) = $85/day/person This is a real bargain, considering the rate includes meals ($48/day)!
Commuting
Friends may commute from home or a nearby hotel. The camp is about 30 minutes away from Sarasota and from St. Petersburg.
Friends staying at a hotel or commuting must also register to attend the Gathering, using the Commuter section in the site use option.
Commuter Charges: $30/day/adult, and $15/day/youth, which includes lunch on the days you attend. You can sign up for additional meals on the Registration Form.
Additional meals for Commuters:
- Breakfast $13
- Lunch $15 (included in your Commuter fee)
- Dinner $20
Hotels & Camping
Friends may commute from home or from a nearby hotel or campground. This may be a good option if you prefer more privacy, or if you have a roommate and would prefer a larger room to share, a desk, etc. Friends staying at off-site must also register with SEYM to attend the Gathering, using the Commuter section in the site use option.
Hotels:
SEYM has reserved a block of rooms for a deeply discounted rate at the Hampton Inn Ellenton, 5810 20th Court East, Ellenton, FL — just 7 minutes from Dayspring. Rooms have two queen beds. The discount rate is $144/night, which includes a hot breakfast and the usual amenities. The deadline to get the discount is March 24th.
There are two ways make your reservation:
Online:
-
- Go to the Southeastern Yearly Meeting Room Block page>
- Click on the blue “Book a Room” button.
- Below the gold banner at the top of the page, on the right hand side is a link to “Edit Stay;” Click on that link and enter your check in and check out date
- To the right of the dates, update the number of rooms and people in each room, and then click update
- It will take you to the room types and rates; click the room type
- This will take you to the page where you will enter information for the reservation including credit card.
By phone: Call the hotel at 941-721-4000 and ask for the Southeastern Yearly Meeting Room Block.
There are also budget-friendly hotels in Ellenton and also at the intersection of I-75 and State Road 64, just 12 minutes from Dayspring. (Note: The Super 8 in Ellenton is next to a truck stop.)
Camping:
Little Manatee River State Park easy commute from the Yearly Meeting location. Those who wish camp (tent or RV with electricity) will find it an economical alternative for under $40 per night for a family. Senior residents pay significantly less.
Friends staying at off-site must also register with SEYM to attend the Gathering, using the Commuter section in the site use option.
Commuter Charges: $30/day/adult, and $15/day/youth, which includes lunch on the days you attend. You can sign up for additional meals on the Registration Form.
Additional meals for Commuters:
- Breakfast $13
- Lunch $15 (included in your Commuter fee)
- Dinner $20
Meals
Meals are served buffet-style. Please take only what you need at your first pass through the line to ensure there’s enough for everybody. You can go back for seconds later.
Be prompt! Be in line outside the Dining Room when it opens. – we are allowed only one hour for meals.
For Dayspring Lodging, all meals are included in the costs of your room, starting with dinner on your arrival day and through lunch of your departure day. You may add lunch on your arrival day on the registration form. For Commuters, lunch is included for each day of attendance; you may add additional meals on your registration form.
Special Diets:
To request a special diet, you must fill out the ‘Special Diet’ section(s) on the SEYM registration form. The camp offers these special diets: vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, dairy free, and allergies.
Coffee:
Coffee & tea are available in the lounge 24/7, as well as in the Multi-Purpose Room and Classrooms A and B.
The kitchens in the cabins and houses have small refrigerators and coffee makers. No cooking is allowed. Coffee and filters are provided.
Food off campus: There are several restaurants near the camp. Please do not bring outside food back to the camp.
Camp Map
Program spaces we will be using:
- Dining is in Curry Hall
- Bishop Haynes Lounge: hang out anytime, coffee available 24/7
- Bishop Haynes Meeting Room: Registrar, Bookstore, SEYM Publications…and a piano.
- Outdoor Chapel: for early worship
- St. Thomas Chapel: for extended worship on Thursday
- Kline Hall: Adult program spaces — Multi-Purpose Room, and Classrooms A and B.
- Tripp Pavilion & Outdoor Pavilion: Youth Program
- Outdoor/Nature Trails: The Canopy Walk is available only as scheduled in the program. Other trails are the Point Trail and Stations of the Cross. And be sure to visit the Labyrinth!
- Pool is open only as scheduled. NO LIFEGUARD ON DUTY – USE AT YOUR OWN RISK. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Pool baths are in back of Kline Hall. You may be asked to sign a waiver to use the pool.
Location, Check in & Check out
Dayspring Conference Center
8411 25th Street East, Parrish, Florida 34219
Our group check-in time is 3 pm on Wednesday. We can’t give you your key before then, but you’re welcome to join us at the camp after 1 pm Wednesday.
Check in is at the Registrar’s table in the Lounge (see map); see the hours posted there.
If you will be arriving after dinner, please let the Registrar know ahead of time so you can make arrangements to get your key.
Check out time is 10 am. Please return your keys to the Registrar by 10am on the day of your departure. We will be charged a $25 fee for keys returned after 10am.
SEYM & Camp Rules
To be safe and considerate of other Friends and camp staff, please read these rules before you arrive, and go over them with your family.
Things to bring
- Masks (and COVID test kits, if you can)
- swimsuits and towels if you want to swim
- Water shoes if you’re going to canoe
- Toys for toddlers, children’s supplies (throw pillows, toys to share, soccer balls, etc.), and games for all ages.
- Musicians & Instruments needed for: the Faith & No Practice Band, Jammin’ on the Benches.
- A friend/Friend new to your Meeting. The SEYM Gathering is a great place to experience a welcome to the wider Quaker community and learn more.
- Documents-In-Advance (DIAs) for Annual Sessions. See Business Page>
- If you’re staying in the Dorms: bring your own linens and towels. A comfy mattress topper would be a bonus.
Questions? Contact Us
For more information, you may contact:
Gathering Co-Clerk: Vicki Carlie
email • (407) 388-4789
Gathering Co-Clerk: Liz Dykes
email
Registrar: Phil Stone
email Phil • (413) 992-7991
Adult Program: Brian Olson
email Brian
Youth Committee Clerk: Amanda Farrar
email Amanda
Bookstore Coordinator: John Heimburg
email John
SEYM Secretary Susan Wade
email Susan • (407) 739-4150
SEYM Youth & Young Adult Coordinator: Rachel Dellinger
email Rachel