Metro NY Minute -- April 2010
 
Each month (once in July/August), you'll receive the current issue of this e-newsletter from the UU District of Metro NY. Click on underlined links for further information about many of the items included. Some of the links require Adobe Acrobat Reader, free software available by clicking the icon .
 
News from the District   
 
Worth Repeating!
 
Presentation of the 2010 District Awards will be a highlight of the 2010 District Annual Meeting. You are invited to submit a nomination for one or more of four awards. The nomination deadline is March 15.
 
Junior high youth from all over the District will gather on April 17-18 at the Morristown (NJ) Unitarian Fellowship for the spring Junior Youth Con. The con is led by senior high youth, and adults attend as advisors. For a flyer, click here . For a letter to directors of and teachers of religious education, click here . To register, click here.  
 
More Good Stuff to Check Out!
 
Worship Service Providers available to District congregations
 
RE-Sources for religious education leaders
 
Job opportunities around the District
 
InterConnections for lay leaders
 
 
Congregational Bulletin, UUA monthly email
 
uuworld.org, the UUA online magazine
 
 
Small Talk newsletter for UU congregations
 
Registration is now open for the 2010 District Annual Meeting! Held April 30-May 1 at the Hyatt Morristown (NJ), the Annual Meeting will feature the Rev. Burton Carley as keynote speaker on Saturday and Olympia's Daughters as special guests on Friday evening. Rev. Carley is Senior Minister at the First Unitarian Church of Memphis, a former member of the UUA Board of Trustees, and the 2005 Berry Street Essayist. Olympia's Daughters is an outstanding women's a cappella ensemble.
 
Young adults gathered at the Frost Valley YMCA in Claryville NY for the Sixth Annual Winter Retreat of the District young adult community February 12-15. Pictured are Linnea Huston and Dave Menendez. Hiking, snow tubing, arts and crafts, and time for personal reflection were all part of the weekend. Facebook users can view more pictures.
 
The Spring 2009 Chalice Lighters Call  -- extended through the Fall 2010 Call -- has collected nearly $18,000 for the UU Legislative Ministry of New Jersey. The funds will be used to hire part-time staff. Read more  from Bill Slezak, District Chalice Lighters Coordinator.
 
The Margaret Fuller Bicentennial Committee (MFBC) is organizing "Follow the Footsteps of Margaret Fuller," a jam-packed, one-of-a-kind, 11-day guided tour of Rome, Rieti, and Florence October 17-27. The tour is sponsored by the District Women and Religion Committee. Early bird discounts are now available for the tour. Read more . 
 
Rev. Rosemary Bray McNatt, District UUA Trustee, says We Must Change in an article in the spring 2010 issue of UUWorld magazine. "We must admit that Unitarian Universalism has a specific, sometimes alienating culture, and we must change it." Read more.
 
News from the UUA
 
Registration and housing reservations are now open for General Assembly. Early bird registration ends April 30, and the more economical housing choices go quickly, so don't delay! This year's Opening Celebration and Banner Parade will feature UU singer-songwriter Peter Mayer. The Ware Lecturer is Winona LaDuke, renowned Native American activist working on issues of sustainable development. Rev. Galen Guengenrich, minister at the Unitarian Church of All Souls (Manhattan), will follow up last year's popular UU University track, Theology for a Secular Age, with a new eight-part workshop series, The Necessity of Virtue. Over 300 workshops, lectures, and worship opportunities are planned.
 
Do you have a short video to share at General Assembly? The General Assembly Video Project invites you to submit your video by May 14. The best submissions will be chosen for viewing at the Plenary Sessions. Videos under 120 seconds will be considered. Possible topics include, among others: invitation or message out Unitarian Universalism or a specific congregation, personal testimonial, spiritual or theological message, lay leadership development, stewardship, social justice, anti-racism or multi-culturalism, religious education, children's, youth's, or young adult's faith expression. Be creative and share your talent! For more information, click here . To submit a video, click here.
 
UUA President Rev. Peter Morales announced major UUA organization and staffing changes will take effect over several months and will be completed by July: A new staff group, Multicultural Growth and Advocacy, will combine the work of two previous staff groups, Identity-Based Ministries and Advocacy and Witness. A second new staff group, Professional Ministry, will combine two other previous staff groups, Ministry and Professional Leadership and Lifespan Faith Development. As part of the organizational change, 13 staff positions will be eliminated. Read more.
 
The UUA Board of Trustees voted February 4 in a teleconference meeting to pursue significant changes in governance, including reducing the size of the board and formalizing a system of regions to supplement the existing 19 districts. In a unanimously passed motion, the board agreed to work with "congregational delegates at General Assemblies in 2011 and 2012 to amend the UUA bylaws to significantly reduce the size of the UUA Board" and to invite the "President of the UUA, district board members, and district presidents to continue our substantive discussion of the shift toward regionalization, during General Assembly 2010." Read the minutes . The teleconference was a follow up to the Board's January 13-17 meeting. 
 
UUA President Rev. Peter Morales was among those condemning the proposed Ugandan Anti-Homosexuality Act 2009 in a statement issued February 12. Ugandan UUs held a conference on February 14 to build solidarity among Ugandan gays and lesbians and to help them strategize ways of fighting the legislation. If passed, the bill would prohibit "any form of sexual relations between persons of the same sex" and inflict punishment ranging from life imprisonment to execution. Read more.
 
The third annual Association Sunday campaign has collected $325,959 from 553 UU congregations to support diversity initiatives, as of March 1. The total collected will grow as some congregations continue to hold events into the spring. The current total is down from last year's contributions -- $409,000 -- but "Considering the economy overall, I'm pleased with how it's turning out," said Catherine Lynch, UU Director of Campaigning. Read more. As reported previously in the Metro NY Minute, the UU Fellowship of Huntington (NY) made the largest contribution: $11,875.78. Association Sunday 2010 is October 3. To sign up, click here.
 
The Standing on the Side of Love campaign is organizing a contingency to participate in the March for America on March 21 in Washington DC in support of immigration reform. To register, click here. You'll receive information on logistics and updates. Use the tools in the UUA Immigration Toolkit to educate and mobilize your congregation.
 
Planning a youth group trip to Boston? Book a tour of the UUA and meet with the Youth and Young Adult Ministries (YaYA) staff! To arrange a tour, call 6-17-948-4652 or email info@uua.org. To meet with YaYA staff, call 617-948-4350 or email youth@uua.org.
 
Tom Howard, District Annual Program Fund Representative, is introduced in the current issue of the Annual Program Fund Quarterly . Tom replaces Jim Sanders, who is now Acting Chair of the Annual Program Fund Committee. 
 
News from Congregations
 
Milestones and Transitions
 
The Rev. Tracy Sprowls-Jenks will be installed as Minister by the First Unitarian Society of Plainfield on April 18 at 5:00pm.
 
Julia Hamilton will be ordained by the Fourth Universalist Society (Manhattan) and the Unitarian Church in Summit (NJ) at the Fourth Universalist Society on April 25 at 4:00pm.
The Unitarian Church  of Staten Island (NY) focused February 14 on the experience of church member Marjorie Ramos (pictured right) and her partner Margaret Cantrell (pictured left) as they prepare for their March wedding. Timed with the Standing on the Side of Love campaign to re-imagine Valentine's Day as National Standing on the Side of Love Day, Marjorie spoke on the issue of equality in marriage rights. "My love for [Margaret] is of equal value and meaning to the love heterosexual couples share," said Marjorie. View more pictures. 
 
The UU Ocean County Congregation (Toms River NJ) is holding a series of special events to promote equality and honor women's efforts in recognition of March as National Women's History Month. Read more. Also in recognition of National Women's History Month, the First Unitarian Society of Plainfield (NJ) will stage a one-act play on March 19, Lorena and Hickok and Eleanor Roosevelt: A Love Story. Read more.
 
The UU Congregation at Rock Tavern (NY) nears completion of its new facilities replacing those lost in a devastating fire in September 2006. The congregation will hold its first service in their new home once the final interior work is finished and the congregation receives its Certificate of Occupancy, likely in early spring. At a cost of more than $1 million, the new facilities include a sanctuary, fellowship hall, kitchen, three classrooms,  and basement. Read an article in the Times Herald Record. The new facility features many environmentally friend features, including a roofline that is solar panel ready, and the congregation has voted to pursue Green Sanctuary status from the UUA.  Read more .
 
The UU Congregation of Monmouth County (Lincroft NJ) welcomes Yvonne Stern to its staff in the newly created position of Membership Coordinator. Working with the Membership Committee, Yvonne will manage the membership process from visitor to member to engaged congregant to leader. Yvonne will coordinate volunteers and also direct communications within the congregation.
 
The UU Congregation of Danbury (CT) Senior Youth Group have invited youth and adults to join an open forum discussion, the Fishbowl Effect, on March 13 from 1:00-4:00pm and be part of a student film project exploring individual beliefs. The fruits of this forum will be part of the senior high youth-led service on March 28. For more information, email fishbowleffect@gmail.com.
 
The UU Society in Stamford (CT) donated 45 pounds of food to the local food bank in February and also enjoyed a successful hike in New Canaan's Waveny Park.
 
The Fourth Unitarian Society of Westchester (Mohegan Lake NY) Coming of Age group asked for and received permission to re-do their meeting room. Repainting, a new light fixture, and replacing chairs with beanbag seats are planned. 
 
Other Noteworthy Items
 
UUs for Jewish Awareness (UUJA) is seeking entries for the third annual Jerry Davidoff Sermon Award, named in honor of the late Jerry Davidoff, an early member of the UUJA instrumental in helping lift up the Jewish presence in Unitarian Universalism. Entries must be submitted via email in Word or RTF format by April 15 to Arthur Thexton. A prize of $500 will be awarded for a sermon preached in 2009 that best illustrates the contributions of Jewish theology, thought, or culture to the liberal faith tradition of Unitarian Universalism.
 
The St. Lawrence District is sponsoring a UU Leadership Team Institute retreat July 25-28 at Notre Dame Retreat House in Canandaigua Lake NY for congregational leaders in the four districts comprising the CenEast Regional Group -- Metro NY District, Ohio-Meadville District, Joseph Priestly District, and St. Lawrence District. Estimated cost is $300. For a flyer, click here . For more information, contact Jan Gartner.
 
The UU Women's Federation offers a variety of grants, each with a March 15 application deadline: Equity and Justice Grants fund social justice projects that create positive change in the lives of women and girls. Margaret Fuller Grants fund accessible projects focusing on UU religious feminisms. Marjorie Bowens-Wheatley Grants award funds for general support to aspirants/candidates for the UU ministry who identify as women of color, Latina, or Hispanic.
 
Universalist Convocation 2010 will be held May 14-16 at the First Universalist Society of Rochester (NY), featuring keynote speaker the Rev. Mark Morrison-Reed. Universalist Convocations is an Independent Affiliate Organization of the UUA.
 
Murray Grove Retreat and Conference Center kicks off Grove Gatherings -- musical and artistic coffee houses to be held every second Wednesday of the month -- on March 10 with singer-songwriter Valerie Vaughn. A potluck dinner begins at 6:00pm with the entertainment at 7:00pm. RSVP 609-693-5558 or murraygrove@murraygrove.org. Murray Grove also continues hosting its monthly Rainbow Circle to welcome and support GLBTQQI (gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning) people and their families. On March 28, UU Buddhist educator Alan Oliver will present "Navigating to Nirvana: What Buddha Has to Say to the GLBT Communities." Program at 5:00 pm, potluck at 6:00 pm. RSVP 609-693-5558 or murraygrove@murraygrove.org.
 
Ferry Beach, a summer camp in Saco ME founded by Universalist missionary Quillen Hamilton Shinn in 1901, invites you to attend Work and Play Week, June 20-26. In exchange for working on Ferry Beach projects each morning, participants pay for meals only. In the afternoon, a variety of programs are planned, including those just for children.
 
Wireless microphones that operate in the 700 MHz band (698-806 MHz) cannot be used after June 12, according to the Federal Communications Commission, which auctioned off the rights to that band to Verizon, AT&T and others. After June 12, users are subject to fines. For a list of the affected devices, click here. For more information, call the FCC's Consumer Center at 888-225-5322.
 
Upcoming Meetings and Workshops
 
Visit the District Calendar and the District Events page for these and other events:
 
Youth Leadership Development Con: March 19-21, UU Fellowship of Northern Westchester (Mount Kisco NY). For a flyer, click here . To register, click here. For more information, contact Katie Parker.
 
Building Healthy Congregations: April 10, First Unitarian Society of Rockland County (Pomona NY). For more information, contact Doug Zelinski.
 
Long Island Leadership Institute Final Session: April 17, UU Congregation at Shelter Rock (Manhasset NY). For more information, contact Doug Zelinski.
 
Junior Youth Con: April 17-18, Morristown (NJ) Unitarian Fellowship. For a flyer, click here . For a letter to DREs, click here . To register, click here. For more information, contact Peter Green.
 
2010 District Annual Meeting: April 30-May 1, Hyatt Morristown (NJ). For more information, contact Laurie Golson.
 
Building Healthy Congregations: May 8, UU Church of Staten Island (NY). For more information, contact Doug Zelinski.
 
11th Annual Anti-Racism Conclave: May 15, Community Church of New York UU (Manhattan). For more information, contact the Rev. Michael Tino.
 
Multicultural Renaissance Module: May 18-20, Murray Grove Retreat and Conference Center, Lanoka Harbor NJ. For a flyer, click here . To register, click here. For more information, contact Andrea Lerner.
 
Youth Social Con: June 11-13, Location TBA. For more information, contact Katie Parker.
 
Building Healthy Congregations: June 12, Fourth Unitarian Society of Westchester (Mohegan Lake NY). For more information, contact Doug Zelinski.
 
Liberal Religious Educators Association District Chapter Retreat: June 13-16. Location TBA. For more information, contact John Cavallero.