Metro NY Minute -- June 2005

Metro NY Minute -- June 2005

Upcoming Workshops, Lectures, and Meetings

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

General Assembly: Sponsored by the UUA, June 23-27, in Fort Worth TX. The printed program is now available online. Registration reimbursement from the UUA is available to all congregational presidents serving as delegates.

YRUU Summer Con: Sponsored by the Unitarian Church in Westport, July 8-10, at the Unitarian Church in Westport (CT). For information, contact Genna Ayers.

Ways to the Spirit: Sponsored by the Rev. Craig Hirshberg and the Rev. Charles Stephens, July 8-10, at Murray Grove, Lanoka Harbor NJ.

RE Week at The Mountain: Sponsored by the Southeast Chapter of LREDA, July 10-15, at The Mountain in Highlands NC.

Ferry Beach RE Week: July 16-22, Saco ME.

Star Island RE Week: July 16-23, New Hampshire.

Unilead Lay Leadership School: July 17-23, Kirkridge Retreat and Conference Center, Bangor PA.

UU Mid-Atlantic Community (UUMAC) 2005: July 17-23, De Sales University, Center Valley PA

Training Teachers Renaissance Module: Sponsored by the District, July 25-27, at Murray Grove, Lanoka Harbor NJ. To register, visit the RE-Sources page at the District website.

The Mountain School for Congregational Leadership: July 25-31, at The Mountain in Highlands NC.

Junior/Senior OWL Training: Sponsored by the District, August 5-7, at Murray Grove, Lanoka Harbor NJ. To register, visit the RE-Sources page at the District website.

New DRE Workshop: Sponsored by the District, August 9-10, at Murray Grove, Lanoka Harbor NJ. To register, visit the RE-Sources page at the District website.

Administration Renaissance Module: Sponsored by the District, August 10-12, at Murray Grove, Lanoka Harbor NJ. To register, visit the RE-Sources page at the District website.

Sophia Fahs Camp: Sponsored by the Long Island Area Council, August 14-19, on Shelter Island.

Junior High Retreat: Sponsored by the District Junior High Steering Committee, September 17-18, Harriman State Park, Bear Mountain, New York. For a registration form, click here. For information, contact Eric Hallander or Peter Green.

Homecoming 2005: Sponsored by Murray Grove Retreat and Conference Center, September 24, at Murray Grove, Lanoka Harbor NJ.

President's Roundtable: Sponsored by the District, October 1, at the Community Church of New York UU, Manhattan. For information, contact Jerry Muntz.

Junior High Advisor Workshop: Sponsored by the District Junior High Steering Committee, October 8, location to be announced. For information, contact Vera Knapp.

New York State Convention of Universalists Annual Meeting: October 21-22, at the UU Church of Buffalo (NY); Keynote Speaker will be the Rev. Rosemary Bray McNatt, Minister at the Fourth Universalist Society (Manhattan).

LREDA Fall Conference: October 21-24, at the Doubletree Hotel, Philadelphia PA.

Did You Know . . . ?

. . . Each congregation in our District voluntarily remains a member of our national UUA. Why is this so? Read the thoughtful answer by Jim Sanders, District Representative to the Annual Program Fund.

. . . The Spring 2005 Chalice Lighters Call for the UU Church of Flushing (NY) is nearly completed. Just over $23,000 has been contributed from 31 of the District's 52 congregations. For 2005-06, the Fourth Unitarian Society of Westchester County (Mohegan Lake NY) and the UU Congregation of Central Nassau (Garden City NY) have been chosen for Chalice Lighters Calls. Congratulations!

More Good Stuff to Check Out!

RE-Sources for religious education leaders

Job opportunities around the District

SmallTalk for or small congregations

UUA Monthly Mailing to all congregations

. . . The District's Anti-Racism & Diversity Library has found a new home at the UU Church at Washington Crossing (Titusville NJ). Together with UUCWC's Journey Toward Wholeness library, more than 60 books and 33 videos related to racism, sexism, classism, and homophobia are available for loan. The ARDC library website has also been expanded to include a listing of comprehensive reviews, available by email, written by UUCWC Trustee Paul Tuerff.

. . . Unilead can help if you're at your wits ends looking for new lay leaders, or you're a new lay leading seeking guidance on how to do all this stuff! Unilead is our District's lay leadership school, July 17-23, 2005.

. . . General Assembly is June 23-27, and it's still not too late to register! Read about three District-sponsored events and a more thorough summary of what's in store at GA, from UUA's Director of Electronic Communication, Deb Weiner. The UU Women & Religion, the UU Service Committee, and the Washington Office for Advocacy are sponsoring other events you'll want to read about, too. Or visit the General Assembly website.

. . . At its semi-annual congregational meeting on May 22, the UU Congregation at Rock Tavern voted to sign onto a friend of court brief prepared by Fried, Fried, Harris, Shriver & Jacobsen LLP seeking the right of civil marriage of same sex couples in New York State. To sign onto the brief, individual clergy or New York congregations are invited to contact Ted Jacobs.

. . . The UU Fellowship of the Poconos (Stroudsburg PA), after a year's study of BGLT issues and concerns, voted unanimously (32-0) at its congregational meeting on May 15 to apply to the UUA for Welcoming Congregation status. The congregation is joyful and proud of obtaining such a unanimous vote.

. . . The Unitarian Church of Staten Island (NY) has been granted status as a Welcoming Congregation by the UUA, and the congregation's Welcoming Congregation Committee is continuing its efforts both for the congregation and in the community. Of the District's 52 congregations, more than half (27) are now official Welcoming Congregations.

. . . The South Nassau UU Congregation (Freeport NY) is pleased to announce the first ever Coming of Age Service for Special Needs students held June 5; the service honored four participants from two Long Island Congregations. Contact Susan Nykolak for more additional information.

. . . Greg Salwitz, eagle scout candidate from the Unitarian Society (East Brunswick NJ), with help from fellow scouts and parents, constructed a 25-step staircase on the congregation's grounds.

Milestones and Transitions

The UU Congregation of the South Fork will dedicate its new facility on September 25 at 4:00 p.m. (not on June 12 as originally announced). All are welcome to attend this joyous occasion.

The Rev. Susan Rak was called as a settled minister by the Unitarian Society, a UU Congregation (East Brunswick NJ) on May 8. Rev. Rak begins her service in September.

In Memoriam

Sally Miller, member of the UU Fellowship of Huntington (NY) since 1956 and longtime AIDS activist, died May 21. A celebration of her life will be held at the Fellowship June 19 at 2:00 p.m.

Catherine Torpey was called as a settled minister by the South Nassau UU Congregation (Freeport NY) on May 15. She begins her service in September.

The Rev. Alison Miller was called as a settled minister by the Morristown (NJ) Unitarian Fellowship on May 15. Rev. Miller is the fourth settled minister in the congregation's 50-year history.

Sue Fertig is celebrating her 10th anniversary this month as Director of Religious Education at the First Unitarian Society of Plainfield (NJ).

Barbara Kubey is now Director of Religious Education for the Unitarian Society, a UU Congregation (East Brunswick NJ).

Jill Marie Bowden, member of the UU Congregation at Rock Tavern (NY), graduated from Union Theological Seminary with an M.Div. She received the Maxwell Fellowship, awarded to the graduate who shows the most promise of excellence for future service.

Lynda Bluestein, past president of the District, joins the Board of Directors of the Church of the Larger Fellowship in June. Lynda is also a candidate for election to the General Assembly Planning Committee.

Shrutika and Amrita Sankar, daughters of Sudha and Ravi Sankra who are members of the Unitarian Church in Westport (CT), were recognized for their work in helping victims of the tsunami disaster at the Annual Ambassador's Luncheon for the U Thant Institute on June 5. Shrutika and Amrita raised more than $21,500.