Report from IPC and CEC meeting in South Africa
by EMES Executive Secretary Michael Eccles
In late July, I attended the International Planning Committee (IPC) meeting and then the Central Executive Committee (CEC) of FWCC near Johannesburg in South Africa, at the venue where next year’s World Plenary Meeting (WPM) will be held. Both meetings were blended and I joined the first 2 days of the IPC online as I needed to be at home and then flew overnight to join them for the third day in person – I was surprised to discover that the meeting room was much bigger than it had looked on zoom!
It was great to be at the venue for the WPM – we had a site tour and started thinking about what activities could take place in the different rooms and it was fun imagining the place full of Quakers next year! The food is fantastic and it is a beautiful site – yes, the pool looks inviting but it is actually very cold. When I arrived, the South African winter was warmer than the British summer but by the time I left we were had heavy frosts in the morning and needed to wrap up warm.
On the Sunday between the two meetings we joined Johannesburg Quakers for meeting for worship and then went to the Apartheid museum, which is a moving, shocking and fascinating insight into South African history.
As well as approving the plans for the WPM, the CEC agreed draft strategic directions for the work of the World Office after the WPM and heard an update about the Global Fundraising Campaign – we are getting close to the global target, but not there yet!
Highlights for me included losing at giant chess against Adrian Glamorgan – Asia West Pacific Section Secretary – twice, seeing the Southern Cross and the amazing African sunsets.
If you’re interested in coming to the WPM, registrations will open in mid-August. Watch this space- https://fwcc.world/wpm/
