Last Updated on 1 year by IMYM Tech Lead

Section of the Americas

Revised (04/26/18)

Purpose

The FWCC Delegate serves as liaison between IMYM and FWCC, indeed as liaison between IMYM and the wider Quaker world.  FWCC’s mission is to bring Friends of varying traditions and cultural experiences together in worship, communication, and consultation to express our common heritage and our Quaker message to the world.  The FWCC Delegate brings our voice to this communion.  FWCC is largely a volunteer organization, and the work of the FWCC is largely done by Delegates.  Therefore, the FWCC Delegate will participate in decision-making at FWCC Section Meetings and will likely be called to serve on FWCC committees.

Appointment

One Delegate is nominated by each Regional Meeting to the Yearly Meeting for appointment.  These nominations are submitted to the clerk of the Nominating Committee.

Terms

Three years, preferably serving two sequential terms for a total of six years.  This allows Delegates to engage effectively in the work of FWCC and to attend several Section meetings, which are now held biennially.  The three-year term is actually three and one third years – beginning in January and expiring in the spring of the fourth year.  The intention is that the Delegate’s term will overlap the next Delegate’s term, so that both the outgoing and incoming Delegate might attend the same FWCC Spring event, if one is scheduled.  (For example, a person beginning a term in January 2020 would be a Delegate throughout 2020, 2021 and 2022, ending their term in spring 2023).  Guidelines from FWCC encourage Delegates to serve six years and limit total term to nine years (i.e. three consecutive three year terms).

Delegates Committee

Delegates to FWCC are members of the Delegates Committee and should work with the Delegates Clerk and other members of the Committee to better get information from their organization to local and regional meetings.  Within this Committee FWCC Delegates should work together in committee fashion insofar as practical to coordinate efforts when representing the Yearly Meeting, arranging for travel, and reporting to the Yearly Meeting

Responsibilities include

1. Representing IMYM at meetings of the FWCC Section of the Americas and, if selected, at the FWCC World Plenaries or other conferences.
2. Recommending to the Finance Committee a budget for the members’ participation, including attendance at the FWCC Americas and World Meetings.
3. Nominating for IMYM approval committee members to represent IMYM at the FWCC World Plenaries and other FWCC conferences.
4. Reporting annually to IMYM by sending their combined report to the Clerk of the Delegates Committee who will prepare them for posting on imym.org
5. Interpreting to Regional, Monthly and Preparative Meetings and Worship Groups the activities, needs, and resources of FWCC Section of the Americas and to encourage contributions.
6. Forwarding any concerns to the Clerk of Delegates Committee who will take these to the Representatives Committee for consideration.

Financial arrangements

The Yearly Meeting pays the expenses of FWCC Representatives to attend the meetings of FWCC’s Section of the Americas.  The Yearly Meeting also funds separately the travel of delegates to the FWCC World Plenaries.  Incidental operating expenditures for clerical supplies, communications, etc., may be submitted to the Treasurer for reimbursement.  The Treasurer should be consulted before incurring expenses.

Notes and Concerns

In an attempt to keep travel outlay within budget, the Yearly Meeting in 2003 approved a Finance Committee recommendation that:

“representatives (FCNL, AFSC, and FWCC.) get together to decide how they will spend or allocate their budgeted (travel) monies… The treasurer is authorized to pay out only to the limit which has been budgeted.  At any point of financial need, it is suggested that Friends contact their monthly meetings, or have their monthly meeting contact other monthly meetings, for financial help.” (IMYM 03-09). 

This procedure appears not to be practiced at this time and this is being submitted to the finance committee for review.

In recent years, only a fraction of FWCC Representative travel outlay has been reimbursed by the Yearly Meeting, apparently with much of the cost having been absorbed by the representatives themselves.  To what degree representatives have coordinated their travel and its reimbursement is unknown, and to what degree representatives have limited their travel because of unreimbursed cost is unknown.

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Excerpted from the FWCC Representatives Handbook (“Delegate” Job Description):

Activities (of FWCC Delegates)

• Organize World Quaker Day activities at your home meeting, first Sunday in October
• Keep informed about FWCC programs and events, and intercultural /inter-branch Friends initiatives in general
• Promote the work of FWCC in home meeting communities: raise awareness of FWCC programs, encouraging attendance at FWCC events and funding for FWCC
• Help yearly meetings communicate information to FWCC, e.g. yearly statistical updates and changes in representative appointments
• Assist with coordinating FWCC gatherings and intervisitation in your local area
• Complete skills and interests survey, to be considered for service on FWCC committees
• Serve on a Section of International committee
• Participate in business sessions at the Section Meeting

Travel/work requirements

• Attend Section Meeting, (likely biennial)
• Attend regional gatherings and other events where feasible
• Participate in work of committees
• Communicate by phone and e-mail with Section staff and neighboring Representatives (via Regional Coordinator)