Metro NY Minute -- January 2005

Metro NY Minute -- January 2005

Upcoming Workshops, Lectures, and Meetings

Visit the District's Calendar and Events page for these and other events:

Guatemala Activism: Sponsored by the Community Church of NY UU, January 8, 7:00 p.m. Charlie Clemens, Executive Director of the UU Service Committee, and activist Dominga Sic will speak.

YRUU Spirituality Development Con: Sponsored by the Central Unitarian Church, January 14-16, at the Central Unitarian Church in Paramus (NJ). For information, contact Anna Henschel.

RE Philosophy Renaissance Module: Sponsored by the Metro NY District, January 21-22, at the Fourth Universalist Society in Manhattan. For information, contact Andrea Lerner.

UU Women's Association Annual Meeting: Food, Hope, and Social Change: Sponsored by the UUWA and the Metro NY District Women and Religion Committee, January 29, at the Community Church of New York UU in Manhattan, featuring Anna Blythe Lappe.

LREDA Professional Day: Sponsored by the Metro NY District Chapter of LREDA, February 3, at the Community Unitarian Church UU in Manhattan. For information, contact Britt Cryer.

YRUU Con: Sponsored by the Unitarian Church in Summit, February 4-6, at the Unitarian Church in Summit( NJ). For information, contact Anna Henschel.

Anti-Racism and Diversity Conclave: Growing an Anti-Racist UU Identity: Sponsored by the Metro NY District Anti-Racism and Diversity Committee, February 12, at the Unitarian Church of All Souls in Manhattan.

6th National Conference for Large Congregations: Congregations in Good Company: Sponsored by the UUA, February 17-20, in Boston MA.

Meadville Lombard Winter Institute: Sponsored by the Institute with support from the UUA, February 17-20, in Madison WI.

Involve (Learning Differences) Training: Sponsored by the Metro NY District with funding from the Veatch Program and LREDA 21st Century Fund, February 23-25, at the Xavier Center in Convent Station NJ

Resistance and Rebirth: Urban Justice Ministries: Sponsored by the Urban Disciples and the UUA, March 5, at the First UU Church of Essex County in Orange NJ. For information, contact the Rev. Tony Johnson.

President's Roundtable: Sponsored by the Metro NY District, March 12, at the Community Church of New York UU in Manhattan, featuring UUA Moderator Gini Courter. For information, contact Lynda Bluestein.

YRUU Social Action Con: Sponsored by the UU Congregation of Central Nassau, March 18-20, at the UU Congregation of Central Nassau in Garden City NY. For information, contact Anna Henschel.

Postponed - Growth Conclave: sponsored by the Metro NY District Growth & Extension Committee and originally scheduled for March 19 has been postponed until the fall due to scheduling difficulties.

Junior High Con: Sponsored by the UU Congregation of Monmouth County, April 2-3, at the UU Congregation of Monmouth County in Lincroft NJ. For information, contact Peter Green.

UU UNO Annual Intergenerational Seminar: HIV/AIDS -- Defusing a Biological Time Bomb: April 13-16, in New York City. - Application Form - Informational Flyer - Youth Flyer

YRUU/YA Bridging Con: April 8-10 (sponsor and location to be announced). For information, contact Anna Henschel.

2005 District Annual Meeting: Sponsored by the Metro NY District, April 29-30, at the Marriott Hotel in Stamford CT, featuring Tom Stites, Editor and Publisher of UU World magazine.

Junior High Advisor Workshop: Sponsored by the Metro NY District, May 14, at the Community Church of New York UU in Manhattan. For information, contact Vera Knapp.

Smaller Congregations Workshop: Sponsored by the Metro NY District, May 21, at the Community Church of New York UU in Manhattan. For information, contact Andrea Lerner.

Did You Know . . . ?

. . . The UUA responds to the tsunami disaster and joins with the UU Service Committee to provide disaster relief. As of Jan. 3, more than $250,000 in aid has been received by the UUSC. Make a donation online.

. . . The Fall 2004 Chalice Lighters Call for the Fourth Universalist Society (Manhattan) has made tremendous progress: more than $22,559 pledged so far from 27 congregations! Read more.

. . . Achieving Change Together is the theme for the 2005 District Annual Meeting, April 29-30, at the Marriott Hotel in Stamford CT. Highlights of the event include keynote speaker Tom Stites and the first-ever all-congregation choir. Read more!

. . . A newly created PR committee for the Morristown (NJ) Unitarian Fellowship is hard at work toward the goal of making sure the Greater Morris County area knows more about the Fellowship.

. . . UU Mid-Atlantic Community (UUMAC) for 2005 is set for July 17-23. Highlights of the week-long multi-generational camp include the Rev. Katherine Jesch, musician Jim Scott, and the Rev. Carol Haag, Minister of Religious Education Emerita at the Unitarian Church in Summit (NJ), as Minister of the Week.

. . . Contributing articles to the Jan/Feb 05 issue of the UU World magazine are Guy Quinlan, member of the Unitarian Church of All Souls (Manhattan) and past president of the District; the Rev. Galen Guengerich, minister of the Unitarian Church of All Souls (Manhattan); and the Rev. Frank Hall, minister of the Unitarian Church in Westport.

. . . Correction...The IRS has released new mileage rates for business and charitable use of automobiles. Beginning January 1, 2005, the charitable rate is unchanged at 14 cents/mile; the business rate is raised to 40.5 cents/mile. [We previously and inaccurately reported the 2005 business rate as 37.5 cents/mile.]

More Good Stuff to Check Out!

From District President Lynda Bluestein: "Leadership as Spiritual Practice"

RE-Sources for religious education leaders

Job opportunities around the District

SmallTalk for small congregations

UUA Monthly Mailing to all congregations

UUA Bi-Monthly News Clips for congregation newsletter

It Bears Repeating!

The time is now! to nominate worthy UU individuals and congregations for the 2005 District Awards -- including the newly established Award for Excellence in Religious Education -- or deserving students for the 2005 District Scholarships. The nomination deadline is March 1, 2005.

UUA online membership certification is open and ready for business! The deadline for certifying congregation membership numbers is February 1, 2005. Those congregations completing the certification are entitled to delegates at General Assembly

Transitions and Milestones

Carolyn Freud has been named permanent Director of Religious Education at the Unitarian Fellowship of Huntington (NY) where she has been serving in that role in an acting capacity. Her congregation will celebrate their covenant with her on February 20, 2005.

Charlie King, member of the First Unitarian Congregational Society in Brooklyn (NY), has been nominated for a four-year term on the UUA Board of Trustees.

Janice Marie Johnson, member of the Community Church in New York UU (Manhattan), has been nominated for an eight-year term on the UUA Ministerial Fellowship Board of Review.