Introducing New England Yearly Meeting USFW

part of the United Society of Friends Women International

United Society of Friends Women is an organization which was started in the early 1900's primarily for support of missionary work. It is now an international organization which has constituent groups from all yearly meetings affiliated with Friends United Meeting. New England USFW is our local branch of USFWI.

The purposes of USFW are:

to enlist and unite all Friends women in Christian fellowship and service
to stimulate spiritual development among all women in our Yearly Meeting
to share in the mission of the church everywhere, to increase our concern for the needs of those around us
to cultivate Christian stewardship
to nurture education for mission among Friends, including youth and children
to work cooperatively with constituent monthly meetings and members at large
to unite and connect with USFWI (the international organization)

What USFW offers us:

a Triennial of USFWI. A time to be challenged by the spiritual journeys of women Friends from other parts of our world.
an opportunity to be a part of Christian mission and service work through giving financial and other material support.
year long reading courses of recommended books to both youth and adult readers
Blueprints. A program resource of monthly devotionals and program material for local women's groups
The Advocate. A bi-monthly publication of USFWI that keeps us informed about projects and women's ministry worldwide.
New England Friends Woman. Our own local newsletter issued three times a year to all who join New England USFW.

How New England USFW functions

We meet three times a year. Fall and spring meetings are held at different local meetings and usually consist of a program, lunch and a time of worship sharing or devotions, and a business meeting to plan our program at yearly meeting and share up to date information about projects we support throughout the year.

At yearly meeting sessions, we offer a program open to everyone, which often makes use of visiting women or women from our own yearly meeting who have been active in some form of ministry/service work. Sometimes this has been in the form of a luncheon meeting.

We also send out a newsletter three times a year keeping all members informed of our activities and opportunities.

How we are funded

Members of monthly meetings where there is a local USFW group pay $5 per member/ year or $2.50 per resident woman member of the meeting. Of these amounts $4 or $2 is sent to USFWI for their general budget.

Members at large from all other monthly meetings pay $8 per member/year, of which $4 goes to USFWI.

Appeals for selected projects are sent out with each issue of the New England Friends Women.

Subscriptions to The Advocate cost $10/year with optional donation to help pay overseas mailing costs.

How to become an at large member

Send a note and contribution to our treasurer.

Suggestions on how to form a local group:

Gather any four or more women together. Gather together women from several different meetings in an area, if there are not enough in one meeting
Ask someone active in USFW to meet with you or visit the active group in Durham Maine.
Go to a USFWI Triennial
Subscribe and read The Advocate to know about the projects
Get a Blueprints and do programs from it
Obtain a copy of the USFWI Handbook

For further information

For membership, New England Friends Women and Advocate subscriptions;

For information about upcoming meetings in New England;

For Youth and adult reading courses, Blueprints, USFWI Handbook, and Program calendars:

usfw@neym.org

USFW New England
PO Box 1401
Shirley, MA 01464