This is the annual weekend aimed at anyone who has a role related to managing a meeting house. Employers, employees, volunteers, caretakers, trustees – plus of course all those who are wearing more than one hat. Thirty participants made this a full weekend.
Quaker Life and Woodbrooke organise this weekend, and each time I attend I learn something new, as well as coming away energised. I highly recommend the course to my clients so was delighted that one attended and told me how inspiring and useful they found it.
During the weekend we had seminars on
- People Matters – Managing Our Relationships and Communication
- Nuts and Bolts 1 – Employment
- Nuts and Bolts 2 – Health & Safety – and more!
- Know your Gifts
- Engaging MH as community. What is the new Directory of Services?
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Panel of Experts and closing worship
There were also chances to have a one-on-one discussion with one of the seminar facilitators. These were snapped up – I’ve used that opportunity before, and it is always useful to be able to go into more detail about an issue or to discuss a specific problem.
Richard Summers as General Secretary of Quaker Life also reminded us that anyone with specific queries on wardenship or employment can contact him on wardenship@quaker.org.uk and he will attempt to help. More information is on the quaker.org.uk/wardenship page. If he doesn’t know the answer he will seek out the most appropriate person.
But of course the conversations over meals and breaks, discovering that someone else is sharing the same problems – or even come up with solutions that you hadn’t thought of are all an important part of the weekend. Creating connections and building networks, meeting people who you have spoken to on the Wardenship e-list and just being reassured that you aren’t alone in this labyrinth of needs, wants, requirements and legal necessities.
Planning has already started for next year’s event – do consider it you haven’t been already. It is well worth sending both an employer/manager and an employee/volunteer. Dates will be announced in Clerk’s mailings as well as on the e-list.