Last updated: 05/17/2008

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Metro NY Minute -- May 2007

  
 
News from the UU District of Metro NY
 
A record-breaking 316 adults, youth, and children attended the 2007 District Annual Meeting April 27-28 at the Marriott Hotel in Stamford CT, highlighted by the Rev. Calvin Dame's keynote address Acrobat Reader Required, the Rev. Meg Barnhouse's inspiring musical program, 18 outstanding workshops, and the Saturday morning worship service led by the Rev. Charles Blustein Ortman Acrobat Reader Required with music by the Metro NY District Choir. Mark you calendars now for the 2008 District Annual Meeting: May 2-3, 2008!
Presenting the 2007 District Awards and Scholarships was a highlight of the weekends activities at the 2007 District Annual Meeting. Congratulations to all the winners!
bullet Mendon W. Smith Award: Central Unitarian Church (Paramus NJ)
bullet O. Eugene Pickett Award: UU Congregation of Central Nassau (Garden City NY)
bullet Winifred Latimer Normal Award: Katherine Watt, First Unitarian Society of Plainfield (NJ)
bullet Award for Excellence in Religious Education: John Cavallero, First Unitarian Society of Westchester (Hastings-on-Hudson NY)
bullet June Z. Gillespie Award: Lynda Bluestein, Unitarian Church in Westport (CT)
bullet Unsung Unitarian Universalist Award: Joe Schenk, UU Church at Washington Crossing (Titusville NJ)
Scholarships: Genna Ayres, Unitarian Society of Ridgewood (NJ), Rachel Davis, Central Unitarian Church (Paramus NJ), Devin Kharpertian, Unitarian Church of Montclair (NJ)
Delegates to the 2007 District Annual Meeting unanimously elected Jerry Muntz, Unitarian Church in Summit (NJ), to a second two-year term as District President. Delegates also unanimously elected four trustees to the District Board and five members to the District Nominating Committee. Elected to the Board were Ted Fetter, UU Congregation of Princeton (NJ); John Hawkins, First Unitarian Society of Plainfield (NJ); the Rev. Craig Hirshberg, UU Congregation of Somerset Hills (North Branch NJ); and the Rev. Tracy Sprowls Jenks, Unitarian Society of Ridgewood (NJ). Elected to the Nominating Committee were Lisa Bredbenner, UU Congregation of Monmouth County (Lincroft NJ), Chair; Kris Henrickson, Unitarian Society of Ridgewood (NJ); the Rev. Hope Johnson, Community Church of New York UU (Manhattan) and the UU Congregation of Central Nassau (Garden City NY); and Karen Wright, Unitarian Church in Westport (CT). Click here Acrobat Reader Required for additional information.
The Rev. Rosemary Bray McNatt, Fourth Universalist Society (Manhattan), was elected as the new District UUA Trustee, following a unanimous ballot cast by John Hawkins, District Secretary, at the 2007 District Annual Meeting. The Rev. McNatt will serve a four-year term beginning at the conclusion of the 2007 General Assembly in Portland OR June 20-24. Click here Acrobat Reader Required for information about the Rev. McNatt.		  
Register Now For . . .

General Assembly (GA) 2007 in Portland OR June 20-24! Early bird registration runs through April 30. Congregational presidents are especially invited and will be reimbursed for a portion of their registration fees. Read more Acrobat Reader Required.

UU University on June 19-20, just before General Assembly 2007 in Portland OR. Early bird registration runs through April 30. All current and future lay leaders are welcome and encouraged to attend UU University, dedicated to increasing leaders' abilities to serve congregations.

UU Leadership Team Institute, a collaborative initiative of the Murray Grove Association and the Joseph Priestly, Metro NY, Ohio-Meadville, and St. Lawrence districts. A six-day residential program July 28-August 3, the Institute is designed for congregational leaders wishing to strengthen their team and leadership skills in order to make a real impact in their congregations and communities. Click here  Acrobat Reader Required for a flyer.

More Good Stuff to Check Out!

Worship Service Providers available to District congregations

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
The Spring 2007 Chalice Lighters Call is underway for the First Unitarian Society of Plainfield Acrobat Reader Required (NJ) to help the Society implement a marketing campaign, a key component of their membership development plan. A total of $35,000 for the Fall 2006 Chalice Lighters Call Acrobat Reader Required has been collected to benefit the Gulf Coast UU Fellowship (Gulfport MS) and three other congregations in the area to help them recover from the ravages of hurricane Katrina. The Fall 2007 Chalice Lighters Call will help fund a training program with New Dollars/New Partners, part of Partners for Sacred Places, for up to 12 congregations that have older or historic buildings and are interested in raising funds to restore, improve, and better utilize their buildings. Congregations interested in the training and also in being involved in organizing and coordinating the program should contact Calvin Dame. The deadline for applying for the Spring 2008 Chalice Lighters Call has been extended until October 1, 2007. Click here for an application form.
The First Unitarian Society of Westchester (Hastings-on-Hudson NY) suffered major facilities damage as a result of the nor'easter storm on April 15. The estimate loss is not less than $100,000. The North Yonkers Community Church Society donated space for the Society's services, and the Community Unitarian Church at White Plains (NY) hosted the Society's monthly Common Ground Coffee House. Donations to the Society's Emergency Recovery Fund can be made to the First Unitarian Society of Westchester, 25 Old Jackson Ave, Hastings-on-Hudson NY 10706. Read more Acrobat Reader Required. 
To help offset the carbon footprint of the 2007 District Annual Meeting, 156 participants each contributed $1.00. The District has donated the $156 to Carbonfund.org, a non-profit organization promoting low-cost carbon reductions and supporting renewable energy, energy efficiency, and reforestation projects that reduce and offset carbon dioxide emissions. Click here Acrobat Reader Required to see the certificate of donation.
 Need help with a road sign for your congregation? As part of a fundraising effort, the First Universalist Church of Dexter (ME) will construct tailor-made signs for posting on highways directing visitors to your congregation. The signs feature a flaming chalice and a number of individualized options. Click here for more information.
 The UU Women's Federation (UUWF) seeks volunteers to fill a number of challenging and fulfilling positions. One of only three Associate Member Organizations of the UUA, the UUWF works to advance equity and just for women through education and advocacy. Click here Acrobat Reader Required for a volunteer application. Click here Acrobat Reader Required for a description of the available positions.
 The Gulf Coast Volunteer Program is now a joint program of the UUA and the UU Service Committee (UUSC). Founded through the efforts of the Unitarian Church of Baton Rouge (LA) as the Church's Hurricane Relief and Social Justice Project under the direction of the Rev. Marilee Baccich, the program met unprecedented response from UUs all over the country. Those seeking information about the Gulf Coast Volunteer Program should contact Peggy Powell, volunteer program associate at the UUSC at 617-301-4322 or email - . Read more Acrobat Reader Required.
In January 2007, a contingent from the Unitarian Church of All Souls (Manhattan) took part in the post-Katrina clean-up effort. View a video about their experiences at YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_VOJpkeo3XM.
 UU Mid-Atlantic Conference (UUMAC) is a summer camp for UUs, a multi-generational, intentional community meeting annually each summer at DeSales University for a week of fun, recreation, spiritual rejuvenation, and growth. You are welcome to join the UUMAC family! This year's camp is July 22-28, 2007. Click here for a brochure Acrobat Reader Required.
 Choirs from the UU Congregation of Central Nassau (Garden City NY) and the First Unitarian Congregational Society of Brooklyn (NY) will sing the national anthem before the start of the New York Liberty Game at Madison Square Garden on June 3 at 4:00 p.m. The two congregations are sponsoring the outing as a fundraiser for their joint partner congregation in New Orleans, as well as a way to support women athletes. Tickets are $15.00. For more information, contact Jocelyn Smith at 718-614-1409 or email - .
 Re-making a cherished tapestry lost in the fire that destroyed the facilities of the UU Congregation at Rock Tavern (NY), quilt-maker Peg Green of Reston VA donated the tapestry to the Congregation as her gift. Dr. Athena Drewes, life partner of the Congregation's minister, the Rev. Jim Bridges, presented the tapestry to the Congregation on April 8. Read more Acrobat Reader Required.
The Morristown (NJ) Unitarian Fellowship is growing! In 2005-06, the Fellowship added 34 new members, and this year, as of April 2007, 35 new members have signed the book. Membership has grown from 270 on Jan 1, 2005, to 329 today, a 22% increase.
 The UU Congregation of the Catskills (Kingston NY) hosted the viewing of The World's Fastest Indian on April 21 as part of "Movies with Spirit," a series of inter-faith dialogs centered on viewing movies with spiritual content. The Rev. Linda Anderson led a probing discussion following the movie. The event was a component of the Congregation's inter-faith outreach program. Read more Acrobat Reader Required.
The Senior High Youth Group of the UU Congregation of Danbury (CT) will present a service titled "Censored" on May 20. The service is planned and led by members of the youth group, and previous youth-led services have been very well received. Read more Acrobat Reader Required.
 
Milestones and Transitionss
 
Fred L Hammond will be ordained by the UU Congregation of Danbury (CT) on May 27 at 4:00 p.m. Clergy and religious education professionals are invited to process.
 
The Board of Trustees of the First Universalist Church of Southold (NY) is pleased to announce that, with the help from the UUA, the Church is able to change its contract with the Rev. Addae Watson to consulting minister status. This change means the Church will be able to hire the Rev. Watson as the Church's next settled minister in September 2007.
 
Upcoming Workshops and Meetings
 
Visit the District's Calendar and Events page for these and other events:
 
bullet Young Religious UU (YRUU) Con: June 1-3, sponsored by and held at the Unitarian Church of Montclair (NJ). For more information, contact Genna Ayres.
bullet UU University: June 19-20, sponsored by the UUA, in Portland OR just prior to General Assembly.
bullet General Assembly 2007: June 20-24, Portland OR.
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Religious Education Week on Star Island: July 14-21, Star Island NH.
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UU Mid-Atlantic Community (UUMAC): July 22-28, DeSales University, Center Valley PA. Click here Acrobat Reader Required for a registration brochure.
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UU Leadership Team Institute: July 28-August 3, Juniata College, Huntingdon PA. Click here for a poster Acrobat Reader Required.
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Junior/Senior Our Whole Lives (OWL) Training: August 10-12, Murray Grove Retreat and Conference Center, Lanoka Harbor NJ. For more information, contact Andrea Lerner.
 

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.