Important Forms and Documents

ACCYM 2023-2024 Executive Committee

CHAIR: Meredith Pearson, Conway FUMC – Central: pearsonameredith@gmail.com
VICE-CHAIR: Meredith Grafton,  West Memphis FUMC – SouthEast: graftonmeredith@gmail.com
SECRETARY: Emma Gayle Allison, West Memphis – SouthEast:  allison.emmagayle@gmail.com
CHAPLAIN: Walker Lampley, PHUMC – Central: walker.lampley@gmail.com
AT-LARGE EXECUTIVE – Quin Clark, PHUMC – Central:  quinclark06@gmail.com
YSF CHAIR: Lane Stout, Highland Valley UMC – Central: lanestout4321@gmail.com
MEDIA CHAIR: Emily Claire Harrison, St. James UMC – Central: emily.harrison359@icloud.com

Veritas 2024 registration is open
February 23-25, 2024 at the Fort Smith Convention Center

What is Veritas??

Veritas is the largest event of the ACCYM year. The event is hosted at the Ft. Smith Convention Center in Ft. Smith, AR. The event concentrates on offering an incredible worship experience with nationally renowned speakers, bands, and specialized artists. Between worship sessions, Veritas provides various opportunities to connect in community with others through our Ministry Mart, which is full of ministry opportunities for all, and our Saturday options. Saturday options such as mission opportunities, a prayer room, learning workshops, and other activities with your local church group and visiting vendors are offered after the lunch break. Saturday options are not required attendance. You may also use the afternoon to take your group to the many opportunities the Ft. Smith area offers.

In addition, devotionals are provided to each church to be discussed each night after the last activity ends as a way to reflect on the day’s experiences together.

What do I need to know about attending Veritas?

Veritas will be held at the Ft. Smith Convention Center Ft. Smith, AR the weekend of February 23-25, 2024.

Veritas is for students currently in 6th – 12th grade.

The registration cost includes all of the conference activities but does not include the cost of lodging, meals, or transportation. Each church is responsible for making arrangements for their group’s lodging and meals. (See below for lodging options.)

Earlybird registration is Nov. 13 –  Dec. 31st  the price is $75 and will include the event registration cost and an event t-shirt.

Regular registration will be Jan 1st -22nd the price will be $90 and will include a t-shirt.

Late registration will be Jan 23rd – Feb 12th the price will be $105 without a t-shirt.

In the case of extra event shirts, they would be available to purchase from the Youth Service Fund booth.

All Payments are due by February 16th. All payments made by check must be accompanied by a list of participants and the reference number for the transaction.

All checks made payable to ARUMC Mailed to:

ARUMC
Attn: Veritas
800 West Daisy Bates Dr.
Little Rock, AR 72202

Links for ACCYM Release Form:

Each and Every youth AND adult must be registered by their youth leader and a medical release/liability form uploaded by February 28th

Forms must be completed and uploaded before event by each church.

DO NOT MAIL ANY FORMS TO THE CONFERENCE OFFICE.

WE WILL NOT TAKE ANY CCYM RELEASE FORMS AT THE EVENT.

*Churches are now able to upload all forms as one file*

Registration Instructions:

*We ask that 1 Main Adult Leader register the entire group*

Main Adult Leaders:

Step 1: Go to https://na.eventscloud.com/veritas2024

Step 2: Select the category most appropriate for you. For those who are registering on behalf of another, please select their most appropriate category and complete the registration with their information.

For those who plan to register multiple people, you must first register yourself as an ‘Adult Leader.’ Towards the end of your registration, the system will ask you if you wish to register another. Please select ‘Yes’ and proceed with entering that person(s) information.

Step 3: If you are the Adult Leader, enter your email and fill in all the appropriate information

Step 4: Check box for t-shirt size

Step 5: Check Yes or No if you will be registering other individuals (if you are registering your whole group, then you will check ‘Yes’)

If registering other individuals towards the end of your registration the system will ask you if you wish to register another. Please select ‘Yes’ and proceed with entering that person(s) information and complete Steps 1-4 until all your participants are registered.

Where should I stay?

**Help us keep our costs down for future events! We have a financial obligation to the hotel to fill the rooms, so we highly encourage you to use our event hotel**

Wyndham Hotel Ft. Smith

700 Rogers Ave.

Ft. Smith, AR 72901

Room Rate: $125 up to 4 people – includes two breakfast buffets

You can add 2 more for $10/per person/day – this will be paid at time of check in

Rate is good until Jan. 23rd or until full

Wyndham Hotel Reservation Link: https://bit.ly/veritaswyndham24

Please be sure that your registration dates are Jan 23rd – 25th when using link.

To receive the discounted group rate, reservations must be secured no later than 01/23/24.

ALL ADULTS ATTENDING VERITAS MUST BE SAFE GATHERINGS CERTIFIED

As of June 2022, the Arkansas Annual Conference passed the ARUMC Safe Gatherings Policy that strives to create a protective environment in our churches for children, youth, and vulnerable adults (defined as protected persons) and the volunteers who work with them. With this adoption of this new policy, replacing the current ARUMC Safe Sanctuary Policy, comes the opportunity to use the Safe Gatherings online training and background checks system for all churches within the ARUMC Conference.

One of the provisions of this new policy is that all adults attending district or conference events intended for children or youth MUST be Safe Gatherings Certified.

This certification includes filling out a few forms and questionnaires online (takes approximately 30-45 minutes), completing a child maltreatment check which must be notarized and uploaded to your Safe Gatherings profile and completing online training and quiz (approximately 2 hours.)

NOTE: While everything can be completed in a day or two, it’s important to note that once you complete all the necessary components it will take anywhere from 3 to 14 days to receive an email stating that you are Safe Gatherings certified.

If you have technical support questions about your Safe Gatherings account or certification process contact Safe Gatherings directly at contact@safegatherings.com or 888-241-8258.

If you have questions about the ARUMC Safe Gatherings Policy please contact Michelle Moore at michelle.moore@arumc.org or 501-324-8048.

To get started, click on the button below that best describes you:

Youth Service Fund Grants

The funding cycle for YSF grants is now open!

Youth Service Fund (YSF) is a mission fund exclusively of United Methodist Youth. YSF is money raised by youth, spent by youth to benefit youth.

The grant application can be found at:
https://forms.gle/SPTnP8UvSW4GwepZ6

Image of grant application check-boxes

If you have a youth-related project that helps challenge youth to live as faithful disciples of Jesus Christ, we would love to hear from you! Previous grants have been given toward worship space remodels, mission trips, and more! 

All grant applications must be received by December 31, 2023, and grant winners will be formally announced at Veritas in February 2024. If you have any questions, feel free to click the link to check out the grant application, or contact Amy Shores at amy.shores@arumc.org.