Junior Young Friends - The Committee

The Committee

The weekends are planned and executed by "The Committee", comprising several of the more senior members of the group, which is a self-appointing oligarchy. There are rumours surrounding "The Committee's" origins, with some reports suggesting it was formerly part of the USSR. However, it is known that the body contains one Daily Mail reader, and as such, claims of a Communist past seem unlikely. The identity of Committee members is a closely guarded secret. They have been subject to several attempts to overthrow their rule from the revolutionary group known only as the ACC (Anti-Committee Committee). In response "The Committee" meets in undesignated locations to plan JYF gatherings, and during a JYF weekend frequently exiles itself to a sealed command room, from where it can oversee events in relative safety from rebel insurgents. Unfortunately in recent JYF's, the ACC have been losing the support of rogue JYFers, who choose to fight the establishment solo in games such as 'wink ministry'. Several of the core ACC members have also recently defected to the Committee, and have thus been subject to more than usual revoloutionary attacks (of a suitably quakerly nature).

Appointment of new members to "The Committee" is a highly secretive process, with much politicking and intrigue. During the decision making process toast is burnt, signalling the end of a round of unsuccessful deliberations. When a decision has been reached (there is some uncertainty over whether the correct Quaker decision making method is used) the toast to be burnt is soaked in milk, then set alight, producing distinct lactoast fumes, at which the assembled attenders at the JYF gathering break out in seemingly spontaneous, though actually well choreographed applause. The new Committee member is then announced to the gathering, at which the ACC traditionally attempts to assassinate (or for reasons of pacifism, degrade, deride or kidnap) the newly appointed member, usually with limited success.