Officers

Clerk: Michelle Downey (Fayetteville MM)

Assistant Clerk: Deborah Shaw (Friendship MM)  

Recording Clerk: Mark Wutka (Friendship MM)

Treasurer: David French (Virginia Beach MM)

Standing Committees Comprised of Monthly Meeting Representatives

Interim Body: To ensure participation from all our meetings, each of our monthly meetings names up to five members to serve as representatives to Interim Body.  Interim Body meets at least twice annually, usually during Tenth Month and Fourth Month, to take up the business of the Yearly Meeting that arises between annual sessions.  The clerks of the Yearly Meeting serve ex officio as members of Interim Body.

Davidson: Anne Olsen, Kristin Olson-Kennedy, David Perry, Brandi Murko

Durham: Marguerite Dingman, Kent Wicker, David Haines, Jessica Barnhill

Fayetteville: Susan Lees, Melidy Poole, Michelle Downey

Friendship: Deborah Shaw, Carole Treadway, Lloyd Lee Wilson, Hanna Hobson

Rich Square: Edward Pearce, Patricia Deneen, Mark Moss

Virginia Beach: Nancy Craft, David French, Tom Bertrand, Elizabeth Waitekus

West Grove: open

Wilmington: Huey Marshall

Ex Officio: Michelle Downey (clerk), Deborah Shaw (assistant clerk), Mark Wutka (recording clerk)

Finance Committee: Composed of all monthly meetings’ treasurers or a representative chosen by that monthly meeting; Yearly Meeting treasurer is ex officio. Recommends a Yearly Meeting budget; oversees the investment of YM funds; supports and reviews the work of the treasurer; recommends financial policies and practices to the YM; meets as needed.  

Davidson: David Perry

Durham: Toby Berla   

Fayetteville: Susan Lees – convener 

Friendship: Stephen Holland

Rich Square: Bob Parker – tech support 

Virginia Beach: Tom Kennedy

West Grove: Charles Newlin

Wilmington: Thomas Dareneau 

YM Treasurer (ex officio): David French  

Nominating Committee: Composed of one appointee from each monthly meeting and one ex officio member from Travel Support Committee, discern appropriate nominations for presentation to The Yearly Meeting, for clerks, treasurer, standing committees, and special appointments. 

Davidson: Matthew Nelson

Durham: Marguerite Dingman

Fayetteville: Susan Lees – convener 

Friendship: Judy Reece

Rich Square: Edward Pearce (Zoom support)

Virginia Beach: Tom Bertrand

West Grove: Richard Miller  

Wilmington: Huey Marshall

Travel Support (ex officio): Mark Moss with Travel Support 

Newly-changed Positions within Yearly Meeting 

Records Committee: Laid down in July 2024

NCYM-C Archival Liaison: The NCYM-C Archival Liaison, in coordination with Guilford College’s Quaker Archies, monitors the updating of the yearly and monthly meeting records sent to the Quaker Archives at Guilford College and reminds monthly meetings of the importance of maintaining archives and the status of their records at the Quaker Archives. The monthly meeting Recording Clerk, or other representative, ensures that the monthly meeting records are sent to Quaker Archives on a timely regular basis. Records usually consist of monthly meeting business minutes, Minutes (statements) of record, and life recordings (obituaries) of late members or attenders of the monthly meeting.  

Darlene Stanley (Friendship MM) 

Web Page Committee: Laid down in July 2024

Online Administrators: The website and social media administrators will recommend and oversee content and functionality, review content for timeliness, promote use of the website and any social media presence (currently a Facebook Group), and monitor appropriate access. 

1-2 Administrators for website and 1-2 Administrators for Facebook Group. It is recommended to have one Point of Contact (POC) person (monthly meeting clerk or designee) per each Monthly Meeting to contact the Administrators as needed.   

Website Administrator: Gwen Gosney Erickson (Friendship MM)
Facebook Group Administrator: Mark Wutka (Friendship MM)   

Committees within Yearly Meeting

Discipline Revision Committee, Ad Hoc: To design and implement the process of revising the Faith & Practice book. 

Lloyd Lee Wilson (Friendship MM)

Andrew Wright (Durham MM)

Janis Ansell (Friendship MM)

Marguerite Dingman (Durham MM) 

Financial Review Committee: In Tenth Month the Nominating Committee, with the advice of the Finance Committee, presents 2-3 names to the Interim Body for their approval as the Financial Review Committee. This committee, with the assistance of the yearly meeting treasurer, annually reviews financial records of the yearly meeting. Financial Review Committee would plan to review records after the close of the Fiscal Year and present its findings at the Fourth Month Interim Body Meeting. 

Stephen Holland (Friendship MM) 

Tom Kennedy (Virginia Beach MM) 

Journal Editorial Committee: Plan, publish and distribute the occasional Journal of North Carolina Yearly Meeting of Friends (Conservative).  

Kent Wicker (Durham MM)

Janis Ansell (Friendship MM)

Lloyd Lee Wilson (Friendship MM) – convener   

Minutes and Directory Publication Committee: The Minutes and Directory Publication Committee oversees the publication of the yearly meeting minutes and/or directory information.  The committee formats and proofreads the material to be published and delivers and receives it from the printers.  The Recording Clerk serves as ex officio member of this committee.

Mark Moss (Rich Square MM) – convener 

Patricia Deneen (Rich Square MM)

Nancy Craft (Virginia Beach MM) for YM Directory 

Mark Wutka (Friendship MM) ex officio

Travel Support Committee: The Travel Support Committee facilitates adequate financial and other support for Friends serving the yearly meeting in positions requiring travel. In order to assess needs, the Travel Support Committee initiates contact with Friends serving or considering serving in such positions.     

Mark Moss (Rich Square MM) – convener  

Charles Newlin (West Grove MM) 

Pat Phelan Young (Virginia Beach MM)

Gwen Gosney Erickson (Friendship MM) 

Trustees of Trust Funds: Trustees hold funds in trust and use the funds to support those led to travel to or from the yearly meeting in response to a call to ministry. Trustees use their judgment and discernment to evaluate what level of financial support may be appropriate. 

David Perry (Davidson MM) co-convener

Carey Reece (Friendship MM) co-convenor

Yearly Meeting Committees for 2025 Annual Sessions

Book Committee: Set up tables to be used for donated books and for informational displays.  Assist organizations and Friends with the placement of displays either through signage or being present.  At the conclusion of YM, clear tables, remove from room and put away.       

Janis Ansell (Friendship MM) – convener 

Nancy Craft (Virginia Beach MM) 

Hospitality Committee: The Hospitality Committee plans accommodations and oversees registration for yearly meeting sessions, coordinating with the host facility, and provides assistance with any accommodation problems during yearly meeting sessions. In consultation with the host facility and the yearly meeting treasurer, budgets the costs of participants to yearly meeting sessions and presents these to Interim Body Meeting for approval.  

Deborah Shaw (Friendship MM), Convener

Amanda Crew (Fayetteville MM), Registrar

Hanna Hobson (Friendship MM), Advisor to Registrar

Jeffrey and Kerry Hobson (Friendship MM)  
Andrew Wright (Durham MM)

Yearly Meeting Planning Committee: Plan the yearly meeting program.  This involves worship and discernment regarding the theme, speakers/activities and schedule.  In this process the planning committee coordinates with the yearly meeting clerk and registrar as well as with Friends who request time to offer their gifts to the gathering in the form of interest groups, etc. The planning committee meets virtually at the convenience of the committee. 

Mary Linda McKinney (Friendship MM) – convener 

David Haines (Durham MM)

Carey Reece (Friendship MM) 

Youth Program Planning Committee: Plan and coordinate yearly meeting activities for babies through teen-agers. (Note: Volunteers are always appreciated to assist the children and teenagers as they are involved in the planned activities.)

Andrew Wright (Durham MM)

Goldie Walton (Wilmington MM)

Special Appointments

American Friends Service Committee: Up to three representatives to attend the annual board meeting in Fourth Month for a 3-year term. Terms run from Fourth Month through Third Month.

Laley Lippard (Virginia Beach MM) term ends 3/2026

Nathan “Nate” Crew (Fayetteville MM) term ends 3/2028 

Coordinator to work with other Conservative Yearly Meetings: Maintain contact with and visit other Conservative yearly meetings in Iowa and Ohio during Seventh and Eighth Month, and promote a presence and understanding of Conservative Friends. 

Nancy Craft (Virginia Beach MM)

Friends Committee on National Legislation: Six representatives with 3-year terms to attend annual board meeting, which is typically held in late fall or early winter in Washington, DC, area.

Claire Williams Bridgwater (Durham MM) term ends 12/31/2024, now ends 12/31/2027

Keith Williamson (Virginia Beach MM) term ends 12/31/2024, now ends 12/31/2027

Khamani "Gigi" Williamson (Virginia Beach MM) term ends 12/31/2025

Daniel Rhodes (Friendship MM) term ends 12/31/2025

Huey Marshall (Wilmington MM) term ends 12/31/2026

Tom Bertrand (Virginia Beach MM) term ends 12/31/2026

Friends Committee on North Carolina Legislation: 1-3 representatives to represent yearly meeting while attending FCNCL’s Annual Meeting, usually held in early October; serve on committees and take part in influencing legislation and good government practices as led. 

Carey Reece (Friendship MM) 

Amanda Crew (Fayetteville MM) 

Wayne Finegar (Fayetteville MM)

Friends World Committee for Consultation, Section of the Americas: Four representatives with 3-year terms to represent yearly meeting at annual meetings and serve on national and regional committees.  

Michael Misenheimer (Durham MM) term ends 12/31/2024

Gwynne Wells (Virginia Beach MM) term ends 12/31/2025

Sarah Miller (Friendship MM) term ends 12/31/2026

Nathaniel Corwin (Friendship MM) term begins post-2024 Annual Sessions, ends 12/31/2026

Sidney Lee Kitchens (Friendship MM) term begins 1-1-2025, ends 12-31-2027

Quaker Earthcare Witness: Quaker Earthcare Witness is a network of Friends in North America working to inspire Spirit-led action toward ecological sustainability.  The Yearly Meeting appoints not more than two representatives to serve on the Steering Committee which meets twice a year.  Members are also expected to serve on a subcommittee or working group.

Jennie Ratcliffe (Durham MM)

Quaker House of Fayetteville: Represent yearly meeting on the board, which meets monthly via zoom for about 90 minutes, currently on a Fourth Day. The Board also has an in-person meeting option annually on a Saturday. Board Members are expected to serve on a committee. 

Gwen Gosney Erickson (Friendship MM)