Last updated: 05/17/2008

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Metro NY Minute -- April  2006

  
 
Upcoming Workshops and Meetings 
 
Visit the District's Calendar and Events page for these and other events:
 
bullet Junior High Con: Sponsored by and held at the Unitarian Church in  Westport (CT), April 8-9. For information, contact Peter Green. 
bullet Young Religious UU (YRUU) Bridging Planning Con: Sponsored by and held at the Unitarian Society of Ridgewood (NJ), April 21-22. For information, contact Genna Ayres. 
bullet District 2006 Annual Meeting: April 28-29, at the Marriott Hotel, Stamford CT. Registration is now open.  . 
bullet Anti-Racism Training for Youth and Advisors: Sponsored by the District, May 12-14, at Central Unitarian Church, Paramus NJ. For information, contact Genna Ayres.
bullet Young Religious UU (YRUU) Con: Sponsored by and held at the UU Fellowship at Stony Brook, Stony Brook NY, June 9-11. For information, contact Genna Ayres.
bullet Religious Educators Retreat: June 11-14 at Grove Hall, Ocean Grove NJ. For information, contact Louan Minzner. 
bullet UU University: A Gathering of Leaders Before General Assembly,: Sponsored by the UUA, June 20-21, St Louis MO. Click here Acrobat Reader Required for flyer.
bullet UUA General Assembly: June 21- 25, St Louis MO. Registration is now open.
bullet Religious Education Week: Sponsored by the Southeast Chapter of the Liberal Religious Educators Association, July 2-7, at the Mountain Retreat & Learning Centers, Highlands NC.
bullet Ferry Beach Religious Education Week: July 8-14, at Ferry Beach, Saco ME.  
bullet Star Island Religious Education Week: July 15-22, at Star Island off the coast at Rye NH.
bullet UU Mid-Atlantic Community Family Camp: July 16-22, at DeSales University, Central Valley PA.
bullet Eagles Leadership School: Sponsored by the St. Lawrence and Ohio-Meadville districts, July 23-29, Geneva NY. For information, contact Lynn Sohn. 
bullet Unilead Lay Leadership School: July 30-Augusts 5, at the Kirkridge Retreat and Conference Center, Bangor PA. For information, contact Laura Shemick.  
bullet New Director of Religious Education Workshop: Sponsored by the District, August 1-2, at Murray Grove Retreat and Conference Center, Lanoka Harbor NJ. For information, contact Andrea Lerner. 
bullet UU Identity Renaissance Module: Sponsored by the District, August 2-4, at Murray Grove Retreat and Conference Center, Lanoka Harbor NJ. For information, contact Andrea Lerner.  
bullet Elementary OWL Training: Sponsored by the District, August 4-6, at Murray Grove Retreat and Conference Center, Lanoka Harbor NJ. For information, contact Andrea Lerner. 
bullet Junior/Senior OWL Training: Sponsored by the District, August 4-6, at Murray Grove Retreat and Conference Center, Lanoka Harbor NJ. For information, contact Andrea Lerner.
 
Did You Know . . . ?
 
. . . There's still time to register for the District 2006 Annual Meeting! See the sidebar for details. Online registration ends April 21; mailed registration must be postmarked by April 18.

. . . The District Nominating Committee Acrobat Reader Required presents its slate of 2006 nominees for members of the District Board and the Nominating Committee; voting takes place at the District 2006 Annual Meeting.

. . . Scholarships from the District are available to attend UU University, a gathering of UU leaders June 21-22 in St. Louis just prior to the 2006 General Assembly. Congregation presidents, membership committee chairs, and finance leaders are eligible for the scholarships. Contact Andrea Lerner for more information.

. . . The UUA Board of Trustees will consider offering a health insurance plan Acrobat Reader Required for congregation, District, and UUA employees working more than 1,000 hours per year, to take effective January 1, 2007. The Board's consideration will take place at its April 23 meeting.

. . . The District Board is pleased to announce its appointment of Carl Haag to the board of the St. Lawrence Foundation for Theological Education. The Foundation makes grants from the assets of the former St. Lawrence Theological School to support theological education at Meadville, Starr King, and other schools. The District Board appoints one Foundation board member for a four-year term. The remaining board members are appointed by the NY State Convention of Universalists and the St. Lawrence District. Carl, a member of the UU Congregation of Princeton (NJ) and a past president of the Metro NY District, succeeds June Gillespie in this position.

. . . The Fall 2005 Chalice Lighters Call has raised more than $25,600, helping the Fourth Unitarian Society of Westchester (Mohegan Lake NY) to engage its minister, the Rev. Dawn Sangrey, for half-time service. The Spring 2006 Call Acrobat Reader Required is now underway and will benefit the UU Congregation of Central Nassau (Garden City NY) in efforts to make the congregation's building handicapped accessible. An update from Bill and Rickey Slezak, Acrobat Reader Required District Chalice Lighters Coordinators.

. . . UUA Moderator Gini Courter invites feedback on possible discussion topics at a 2006 General Assembly plenary session. Visit the linked site to download the list of topics and participate in the selection process by completing a survey.

. . . A new organization of white people against racism seeks input on its organization's name. The Steering Committee of the new organization, an offshoot of Diverse and Revolutionary UU Multicultural Ministries, invites people to complete a survey to help choose an appropriate organizational name. Click here to complete the survey.

  

2006 Annual Meeting Highlights

** April 28-29, 2006, at the Marriott Hotel in Stamford CT. Registration begins February 15 at uumetrony.org/am06.

**  Radical Hospitality: Welcome All Into Our House is this year's theme and focus.

 
**  The Rev. Rosemary Bray McNatt, minister at the Fourth Universalist Society (Manhattan), will deliver the keynote address Saturday morning.
 
**  Nick Page, UU composer, author, and song-leader, will create a joyful musical experience Friday night.
 
**  Programming for children -- an annual meeting first!
 
**  The Metro NY District Choir open to all willing voices.
 
Is Your Congregation Radically Hospitable?

Drive-Time Essays offer inspiration and guidance. This month, listen to or read Becoming a Welcoming Congregation by the Rev. Keith Kron 4:29. [Click the title to read, the time to listen to, or here for listening instructions.]

More Good Stuff to Check Out!

RE-Sources for religious education leaders

Job opportunities around the District

SmallTalk Acrobat Reader Required for small congregations

Action Alerts from the UUA Washington Office for Advocacy

InterConnections for lay leaders

UUA Monthly Mailing to all congregations

UUWorld.org, UUA's online magazine

UUA News Clips for newsletter editors
 
. . . Through the JUUST Change Anti-Oppression Consultancy, the UUA is drawing on insights and experiences from work with linked oppressions and reaching out to support justice work, help identify next steps, build on existing strengths, and encourage expansion of capacity to engage in the work of justice -- including work on racism -- rooted in our UU identity, theology, and values. The JUUST Change Consultancy is now taking applications for the year ending June 2007. Click here Acrobat Reader Required for the current flyer, or visit the JUUST Change Consultancy web pages at visit the JUUST Change Consultancy web pages for more information and to download an application. The next deadline is May 15, 2006. 
 
. . . Ways to the Spirit '06 is a weekend spiritual retreat at Murray Grove Retreat and Conference Center, Lanoka Harbor NJ, on July 28-30 led by the Rev. Craig Hirshberg and the Rev. Charles Stephens. All are welcome. For more information contact Craig Hirshberg (908- 832-0219).
 
. . . The UU Society of South Suffolk (Bay Shore NY) will host an adopt-a-minefield "Night of a Thousand Dinners" on April 22. This is the third year the Society has hosted such a dinner for the local interfaith community to benefit organizations involved in global demining work and survivor assistance.
 
. . . The UU Church at Washington Crossing Acrobat Reader Required (Titusville NJ) is sponsoring a workshop on non-violent communication on April 22 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The fee is $15. Contact the Church at 609-737-0515 to make a reservation. Click here Acrobat Reader Required for a flyer.
 
. . . Junior High Our Whole Lives (OWL) Acrobat Reader Required will be offered at the Fourth Universalist Society (Manhattan) on Sundays, September 10 - February 11, from 2-4 p.m. in a joint effort with the First Unitarian Society of Rockland County (Pomona NY). Other congregations are invited to participate. For more information or to register, contact Laura Beth Brown, DRE, Fourth Universalist Society (Manhattan), at 212-595-1658 x.52.
 
Milestones and Transitions
 
The Rev. Catherine Torpey was ordained by the South Nassau UU Congregation (Freeport NY) on March 19.
 
Megan Kelly will be ordained by the Central Unitarian Church (Paramus NJ) on April 30 at 4:30 p.m. For more information, call 201-262-6300.
 
The Rev. Susan Veronica Rak will be installed by the Unitarian Society, a UU Congregation (East Brunswick NJ) on May 7 at 4:30. For more information, call 732-448-0660.
 
The First Unitarian Society of Rockland County (Pomona NY) celebrates it's 50th anniversary with a gala celebration on April 8.
 
The Dedication Ceremony for the UU Congregation of the South Fork (Bridgehampton NY) will be held at the new meeting house in Bridgehampton on May 21 at 4:00 p.m. Those interested can get directions and information at http://www.uucsf.org/.
 

Guided by our living faith, the Unitarian Universalist District of Metropolitan New York exists to be a source of connection and transformation for our congregations and our larger world.