Blog

The AGM of the Canadian Friends Historical Association (CFHA) will be held once
again this year at Friends House, 60 Lowther Avenue, Toronto, Ontario M5R 1C7 on
Seventh Day, the 21 st of Ninth Month (Saturday, September21) 2019.

Registration will open at 9:00 AM in the Dining Room. The business meeting will commence at 9:30 AM.
All members are encouraged to attend. There is no charge to attend the business
meeting, but please register if you plan to attend so we have an idea about numbers.

The business meeting will be followed by lunch, rest and relaxation, and opportunities
for information sharing. Please note that considerable progress towards implementation
of a new website software platform has been made in the past year. The “Go Live”
initiation of the new platform will open up CFHA communications and activity to a whole new world of social media channels and opportunities. Members will also gain the
benefits of on-line membership renewal, electronic fund payment and access to a new
members-only section of the website. Please plan to attend the afternoon session to
learn about the exciting aspects of this transformation and new opportunities for your
interest in Canadian Quaker legacy and history to be communicated and shared.

The afternoon program will conclude with the keynote presentation by long tine
member and transcription coordinator Randy Saylor. Please see the details off his
presentation in this edition.

This year we will take a break from Friends House by going to a nearby establishment for delicious chef-prepared vegetarian or non-vegetarian meals. Please note that those wishing to participate in the pre-booked lunch and/or dinner plan are asked to forward a completed registration form with payment dinner plan no later than Ninth Month 12 2019.

What goes on at a CFHA Annual General Meeting? The morning business meeting satisfies the official requirement that CFHA provide financial and activity reports for the scrutiny, review and approval of the members. It is also the time when the proposed  slate of members willing to serve on the Executive committee in the coming year, and the draft budget, are reviewed and approved.

On the face of it, this may not sound very appealing or engaging. It is our experience, however, that the social aspect of meeting friends and fellow members in a convivial and meaningful exercise is an occasion many members look forward to, and register for early.

Food, fun, and friendly information sharing feature prominently in the day’s activities. Last year the AGM was held at Friends House in Toronto, and we will meet there again this year. The historic building with pleasant garden walk and paneled library and dining room proved very suitable to our needs last year.

The business session last year was conducted, as it typically is, “in the manner of Friends” meaning that decisions flow out of the shared discernment and resulting ‘sense’ of the meeting thus attained.

Food was a highlight of the day. Catering of the lunch and dinner meals was provided by the First Nations operated ‘Tea ‘N’ Bannock’ restaurant. AGM participants chose to enjoy either vegetarian or traditional bison, elk or trout dishes, accompanied by 3 Sisters soup, delicious wild rice and, we were told, “bannock presented by the world’s best bannock-maker”, Christina Nagoki.

Friendly information sharing took place throughout the day. Two occasions in particular deserve mention. First, the informal afternoon session held in the dining room included a helpful ‘Voice of the members’ round table discussion. This was followed by a very well-prepared presentation and demonstration on the latest internet search techniques of particular interest to researchers of Quaker family history and genealogy. This was provided and performed by members Heather Ioannou and Heather Somers, and was very much appreciated.

Second, the very detailed and well researched keynote presentation provided by Judy Pocock recounted the early 17^th century formative years of the Quakers. The presentation outlined the political and social context of this period, and traced the development and gradual adoption of Quaker concepts, Testimonies and practices. This led to a lively Question and Answer session following the presentation, and occasionally during it.

Another great day of activities, fun, food and friendly sharing is planned once again for AGM 2019. Please see the details elsewhere in this issue, and please plan  to register early and participate.