Last Updated on 1 year by IMYM Tech Lead

Celebrating the Divine in All of Us

Approved Minutes of the 2022 IMYM Gathering

Other Gathering Resources

• Open and download the Program Schedule  , Interest Group Descriptions , and Interest Group Materials.
• Click for Documents in Advance (Business Meeting Agenda, Committee Reports, State of the Meeting Reports, Memorial Minutes, etc..)

Gathering Overview

As we prepare for our first-ever experiment with hybrid sessions for Intermountain Yearly Meeting, we want to share some of the hopes our planning has generated:

1. We hope as many Friends will gather as can do so safely at Fort Lewis College.
2. We hope those who don’t travel to Durango will still find spiritual nourishment through our virtual and hybrid offerings.
3. We hope that meeting in person will revitalize the IMYM Senior Young Friends community – the place where many first experience their autonomy as Quakers.
4. We hope to reconnect the children and Junior Young Friends with programs and activities that show the Yearly Meeting’s affectionate care for their growth.
5. We hope adult Friends – whether on campus or online – will find engaging and educational interest groups on offer.
6. We hope that our keynote presentation may serve to advance the concern heard last year for the renewal of our equitable and respectful relations with Indigenous communities in the places where we all live

The Gathering will be Accessible
Friends who may have stayed away from the IMYM Annual Gathering because of the accessibility challenges posed by the Ghost Ranch venue will find Fort Lewis College a truly accessible venue. Just as important, IMYM is committed to “seek to create an inclusive environment that encourages full participation of all in the life of our Yearly Meeting. We seek guidance and recommendations from those who have experience with various accessibility needs and experience with creating universally accessible built environments and programs (MINUTE 20190614(b)).” Join us in Durango to enjoy the mountains, participate in our programs and activities and help us seek the guidance of Spirit to make IMYM a truly inclusive, welcoming experience for all.

COVID-19 Safety Measures Recommendations

We have all lived through a period of time with serious and strict pandemic protocols. We believe that we are all able to make good choices regarding indoor masking and social distancing that will protect each of us, our children, families, and friends, as well as all members of our IMYM family/community.  Since case rates are rising again around the country, we are recommending that everyone coming to Durango:

• Take a COVID test before arriving in Durango, and at any time that you feel ill. To the extent possible, limit interactions with others while traveling
• Bring rapid tests with you; some may be available online at covidtests.gov (order early, order often)
• If you feel sick at the gathering, isolate from others and take a rapid test; if you test positive, please isolate to protect others (until you have a negative rapid test)
• Use a quality, well-fitting mask whenever you are indoors, except when eating (there will be outdoor seating outside the cafeteria).
• Most authorities recommend use of the N95, KN95, or KF94 masks, which provide the best protection against COVID transmission
• Please remember to wash your hands and/or use sanitizers
• Stay safe, stay healthy, and have fun!

Keynote Presentation By Ernest House, Jr.

Using slides and shared stories, our presenter will guide us through the history of relations with Indigenous peoples and help us see how to come out better.

Ernest House, Jr. is an enrolled member of the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe in Towaoc, Colorado, and held the position of Executive Director from 2005-2010. Ernest currently serves on the Fort Lewis College Board of Trustees and as advisor to both the Mesa Verde Foundation and the Global Livingston Institute. As son of the late Ernest House, Sr. (a longtime tribal leader for the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe) and great-grandson of Chief Jack House (the last hereditary chief of the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe) he inherits a rich tradition.  Ernest currently serves as Senior Policy Director for the Keystone Policy Center, working on tribal consultation, energy, healthcare, and education. As Executive Director of the Colorado Commission of Indian Affairs (CCIA) for over 11 years, he fostered communication between the Southern Ute Tribe, the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, and other American Indian organizations, state agencies and affiliated groups. In that position, Ernest worked closely with Gov. Hickenlooper, Lt. Gov. Donna Lynne, and CCIA members to maintain a government-to-government relationship between State and Tribal governments. Ernest represented the State of Colorado and the CCIA at various federal and state public policy meetings and provided legislative and government related information to community stakeholders.