Purpose

The primary purpose of this committee is to facilitate communication and networking among monthly meetings, worship groups, and other Friends regarding peace and service concerns. As opportunities arise, the Committee will help coordinate actions among meetings. The Committee may be asked by IMYM business meeting to sift and season concerns relevant to peace and service opportunities that may arise in sessions or in Representatives Committee, and report back. The Committee does not oversee any peace and service projects but only encourages and supports local Friends in their leadings and projects.

Membership

Members represent a variety of concerns and are geographically diverse. Three-year terms for members are best when overlapping, with none serving more than two consecutive terms. The Committee is constituted as follows:

Clerk of Peace and Social Concerns Committee (appointed by Nominating Committee and approved at IMYM business sessions.)
Four members or more nominated and approved by IMYM, with the assistance of regional meetings.
Co-opted members: The Committee may ask individuals with particular expertise to advise the Committee on actions and proposals. These Friends may serve on special task groups, ad hoc sub-committees, and as regular members of the Committee.

Responsibilities

To be in touch with peace and social concerns committees of monthly meetings and worship groups.
To help coordinate actions among these groups, encouraging a regular relationship with each one.
To sift and season concerns relevant to peace and service and make recommendations to Representatives Committee. Representatives Committee may bring recommendations to annual sessions of IMYM for its consideration.
To provide information to monthly meetings and worship groups about peace and social service actions from IMYM.
To facilitate networking and sharing of resources among the meetings.

To make proposals to the Coordinator of Interest Groups and Seminars for interest groups or seminars at annual gathering of the YM.
To attend regional meetings as needed and possibly to discover what pressing peace and social concerns issues are coming forth among Friends.
To meet regularly via conference call or electronic means throughout the year, expecting to send its clerk to the winter Representatives Committee meeting.
To meet at the annual gathering of IMYM.

Financial Arrangements

Upon request, the Yearly Meeting Treasurer will reimburse the approved expense for travel to the winter Representatives Committee meeting for the Clerk of the Peace and Social Concerns Committee. Travel expenses of regional representative members to the winter meeting, if needed, may be requested by the Committee. Incidental operating expenditures for clerical supplies, communications, etc., may be submitted to the Treasurer for reimbursement. The Treasurer must be consulted before incurring any expenses outside the budget approved for the use of the Peace and Social Concerns Committee.

Clerk’s Duties

Ageneral description of clerking duties and responsibilities, and over-all work and attitudes, begins on page 57 of IMYM’s Faith and Practice. There are other useful guides to the work of the clerks of meetings and committees. In addition, the following expectations pertain to the Peace and Social Concerns Committee Clerk.

To convene and to preside at Peace and Social Concerns Committee meetings and maintain communication and follow-up work as requested by the Committee.
The Clerk is a member of the Program Working Group of the Arrangements Committee. The Clerk will provide information to that committee as they choose the speakers and theme of the Annual Gathering.
The Clerk serves as a member of the Representatives Committee and reports on the work of the Peace and Social Concerns Committee to that body.
To attend the annual gathering and work with the Coordinator of Interest Groups and Seminars to coordinate any meetings, seminars or interest groups scheduled by the Peace and Social Concerns Committee.
The Clerk serves a 3-year term beginning at the rise of the annual session.
Review your position description after you have finished your term and send any changes or additions you feel are needed to the Clerk of Procedures Committee. If you find issues before that send them earlier.