The year 2000 annual meeting will be held at Twin Rocks Camp in Oregon April 27 to 30, meeting in Pacific Woods Lodge.

Midyear Meeting: The 1999 midyear meeting will be on October 2, 1999 in the Philadelphia area. Midyear meetings are primarily concerned with planning the next annual meeting along with urgent housekeeping details.

Topics for 2001: To encourage the attendance of representatives from organizations which plan their budgets well in advance, we would like to ask that the annual meeting in 2001 should consider in depth the whole question of book reviews and their place in our ministry. This meeting will probably be on the East Coast of the USA.

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Web Site: There was a lively discussion of QUIP's brand new presence on the World Wide Web, with numerous suggestions for the improvement of the site, whose presence is greatly appreciated, and which is already generating orders for our members. Information about new titles published may be sent to the Promotions Clerk at any time, and will be added within a three month period. A page for Quaker Periodicals is in the process of being added, and a new addition of the QUIP Writers Guide is in preparation and will be added to the web site when it is ready.

Book Orders: QUIP does not offer on-line ordering from its database, but some of our distributors do, and the others are encouraged to work toward it. The Promotions Clerk can be asked for assistance, probably by arranging contact with those who have already done it.

QUIP 's First Publication: George Fox's Book of Miracles has been scanned and new introductions written; copyright is in the process of being negotiated.

Quaker Periodicals: Friends discussed how QUIP could be more helpful to periodicals. A page on the Web site similar to the 'New Titles" page was suggested, and will be created. Periodicals need to be sure of receiving review copies of books, while publishers need to be sure that the Quaker periodicals will review their books. We hope to provide an educational session on this topic at the 2001 annual meeting.

Surplus Stock Donations: Members have expressed interest in donating surplus stock to Friends in Africa and Latin America. Two organizations that distribute surplus publisher's stocks are Book Aid International and SABRE Foundation Inc. (addresses below) It would be necessary for the eventual recipients to make application to the distributing foundation. QUIP may be able to help with this and possibly with costs.

A panel presented their thoughts on the relationships between Quaker publishers and authors.

Tacey Sowle Fund: The fund will provide up to $1000 towards the publication of Jack Willcutts' Why Friends are Friends, in Spanish. The fund, financed by 20% of QUIP dues, is intended to help in the ministry of Quaker publication wherever there is extreme poverty and lack of resources, especially in non-industrial countries.

Gaps in the Market: A discussion of this topic led to some ideas about how we identify and fill the gaps, to be found in the minutes distributed to members with the newsletter.

Charney Manor

Comments from those attending

The 1999 annual meeting of Quakers Uniting in Publishing, held at Charney Manor April 22nd - 25th, was spiritually and professionally refreshing. I found QUIP to be a remarkable model of Quaker process and collegial fellowship. From discussions of how to distribute the fund set aside to support publishing endeavors to colloquia on nurturing authors and discerning the gaps in the market, the atmosphere was spirit-centered. Many cooperative ventures were initiated including co-publishing projects and a possible QUIP pamphlet detailing guidelines for providing a successful book table. We reviewed the impressive homepage and database, making suggestions for improvements and additions. The budget discussion was particularly light-hearted. Two members identified the group as an intentional community of folks concerned with the ministry of the word. This seems to me an apt description. It was by far the best professional meeting I have attended. The lovely setting and fine food added considerably to the convivial environment.

I left the QUIP annual meeting with a new co-publishing agreement, a co-operative promotion with a trade publisher, and leads on two potential manuscripts for Friends United Press. A wonderful opportunity for business and fellowship permeated by a deep sense of worship.

An opportunity to have my ministry heard by a loving and doing community where I feel the spirit of the ministry will fall on fertile ground.

As an author attending a QUIP conference for the first time I was delighted to have the opportunity to hear so many publishers, editors, and other book-trade professionals speaking of their interests and concerns. This was very helpful to me. I was also grateful to be able to talk to them informally about my work. I would recommend this to any writer or would-be author of articles, pamphlets, or books.

Sharing both information and laughter, renewing friendships and making new ones. Ideas, inspiration, and a renewable hope to continue with QUIP, publishing, finding authors, topics, funds, and a leading. Thank you.

The QUIP meeting tells me that Quaker publishing is in good hands. The level of competence and good sense is impressive!

Coming to QUIP has been a most profound experience as God's presence was so real to me. It was wonderful to feel the deep fellowship and loving support of members of the group as we worked together with the Holy Spirit to discern a way forward. The opportunity to "visit" with Friends on our walk on Saturday afternoon gave the meeting an added dimension for which I am well pleased.

The QUIP meeting at Charney Manor, Oxfordshire managed to be both leisurely and rigorous, full of fellowship and fun. There was a good balance between meeting new people, renewing acquaintances and deepening friendships. There was a lot of business, camaraderie and the food was excellent. The most novel idea that came from the meetings for me was to think about FGConnections as a Quaker publication and have QUIP publicize it as such.

The worship during QUIP is not only deep and gathered, but well timed. It comes at the end of each day and thus allows us to taste a small part of the fruits of our spiritual labor rather than only the seeds.

This page last changed on June 9, 1999