District Assembly 2012

Change is Still the Theme in St. Lawrence

After an interim period that saw an emphasis on Healthy Congregations training, plans for Commissioned Lay Leaders, and increased work with other districts in our region, more change is on the way, St. Lawrence District President Dave Munro told delegates to the 2012 annual meeting.

A soon-to-be-selected Congregational Development Consultant (formerly called the District Executive) will lead that change, working with a largely new part-time staff. Staff openings offered the chance "to think regionally," Mr. Munro said. In addition to the Central East Regional Group staff members who offer services to SLD, he said, our new part-time Social Justice Coordinator and Youth Coordinator are also employed by other districts in the region, our Program Consultant will work part-time for another CERG district, and our new CDC will work 1/4-time for CERG.

Mr. Munro thanked Interim District Executive Connie Goodbread for her efforts in bringing new programs and ideas to the district to help its congregations prepare for further change. He cited her experience, her dedication to Unitarian Universalism, and "her love for all of us" as critical elements in the success of her time with our district.

One area that hasn't seen change is that of finances. Next year's budget anticipates a deficit of $5,000. While the district's $76,000 reserve fund will cover that deficit as it has those of recent years, Mr. Munro emphasized that the district was "living beyond its means." He and Ms.Goodbread both called on SLD Congregations to be generous and increase their fair-share giving to the UUA Annual Program Fund and to District dues. If all our congregations paid their full fair-share, we would have an additional $25,000 a year, Mr. Munro said, asking delegates to think about what could be done with those funds. District Board member Kathy McGowan followed up with an invitation to join the new Friends of the District to help fund projects that might not be possible without additional gifts.

UUA Trustee David Friedman announced another change: the UUA Board has agreed to sell the headquarters buildings on Beacon St. in Boston when it finds accessible space better suited to the needs of staff, volunteers and visitors. Mr. Friedman also mentioned that Syracuse May Memorial Associate Minister for Religious Education Jennifer Hamlin-Navias has been named to the Ministerial Fellowship Committee.

Delegates to the meeting elected Rev. Jean Wahlstrom of Syracuse May Memorial and Patricia Vick Pitcher of the UU Church of Barneveld to three-year terms on the SLD Board of Trustees, Shaughnessy Jones of May Memorial to the one-year Youth Trustee position, and Lauretta Young of Rochester First Universalist to a three-year term on the Nominating Committee.

The 2012-13 budget, with 3% salary increases for staff and an overall increase of about 10%, was approved at the meeting.

Rev. Lynn Ashley reported for the Growth Committee that the UU Church of Buffalo will receive the spring Chalice Lighter call for a half-time membership coordinator.

Recognized at the meeting were:

Congregations completing the three-year Small Contregation Growth Project: Auburn, Barneveld, Big Flats, Fredonia, Hamburg, Niagara Falls, and Watertown

Congregations Achieving Fair Share District and Annual Program Fund Status for Three Years: Albany, Amherst, Athens and Sheshequin, Auburn, Big Flats, Binghamton, Canandaigua, Canton, Chautauqua, East Aurora, Fredonia, Hamburg, Niagara Falls, Plattsburgh, Saranac Lake, Rochester Unitarian, Watertown

Unitarian Universalist Service Committee 2011 Honor Congregations
Vision of Justice Honor Society: Athens and Sheshequin
Creating Justice Banner Society (1): Albany, Central Square, East Aurora, Fredonia, Glens Falls
Creating Justice Banner Society (2): Hamburg, Oneonta, Saratoga Springs, Syracuse First Unitarian Universalist, Syracuse May Memorial
James Luther Adams Award: Fredonia, Oneonta, Rochester Unitarian, Syracuse May Memorial, Utica

Ministers Receiving Preliminary Fellowship: Rev. David Messner, Rev. Michelle Buhite

Retiring District Leaders
Board: Rev. Frances Manly, Gail Brill, Mary Lister
Committee Chairs: Rev. Sally Hamlin (Catalyst); Harsey Leonard (Social Justice Council); Karen West (Nominating/Leadership Development
) Consultants: Rev. Dick Gilbert, Social Justice Coordinator; Jeff Lamicella, Youth/Young Adult Coordinator; Ellen Asprooth, Reporter

- E. A.
Posted 5/12/2012

The Friday night program is at the First Universalist Church

• 6:00-7:30 pm - Registration
• 6:00-7:30 pm - Dinner , $15 per person
• 7:30-8:30 pm - Josephine Gould Discourse: From Grandmother's Closet to the Occupation of Wall Street by Rev. Lynn Ashley
• 8:45-9:45 pm - Coffeehouse - Please join the youth for the coffee house. Come share a poem, song, dance, etc., or simply enjoy the show.

The Saturday program is at the First Unitarian Church

• 8:00-9:00 am - Registration, coffee & tea
• 9:00-9:30 am - Opening Worship: Rev. Scott Tayler and Welcome & Introductions
• 9:39-10:30 am - Keynote Address: Transcendence – The Art of the Extraordinary by Connie Goodbread. What does the word transcendence mean to us as UUs? How do we uphold our shared transcendent values? Is there a center to our faith? What is our life saving message? What are the powers that we are afraid to admit push and pull us in time of stress? What are we called to be in the world? This keynote will be provocative, filled with faithful speech.
• 10:30-10:45 am - Break
• 10:45am- Noon - Morning Workshops A-C (see descriptions below)
• Noon-1:00 pm - Lunch
• 1:00-2:50 pm - Annual Meeting and Bridging Ceremony
• 2:50-3:00 pm - Break
• 3:00-4:15 pm - Afternoon Workshops D-E (see descriptions below)
• 4:30-5:30 pm - Worship Service by Rev. Kaaren Anderson: Laughing Our Way Back to Life.

Workshop Descriptions

Morning Workshops

A) What Is Gathered Here? Part I presented by Rev. Joan Van Becelaere, District Executive Ohio-Meadville District of the UUA. Gathered Here, a joint initiative of the UUA Board of Trustees and the UUA Administration, invites all UUs to discover their common aspirations and unleash the power of our faith. UUs across the continent will participate in structured interviews capturing those meaningful moments, times of growth and positive developments that are relevant to our larger faith. Our input will help to shape a collective vision for our faith and help professional and lay leaders shape the future of Unitarian Universalism.

B) Where 2 or 3 are Gathered co-presented by Michelle Buhite, Ohio Meadville District Intern for Youth, Young Adult & Campus Ministry and Karen LoBracco, Program Consultant for Lifespan Faith Development, and youth delegates from the Central East Regional Group Youth Summit. Whether it is 2 or 3 youth, congregations, or districts – when we gather together our creativity grows! Catch the energy of the first ever regional Youth Summit from the youth leaders and staff who were there, and participate in imagining the next wave of healthy, sustainable, growing youth ministry!

C) Channeling Success: How Communication Practices and Processes Can Move Your Congregation Forward presented by Mark Bernstein, Growth Development Consultant for the Central East Regional Group. The opportunity is great in our congregations for rumors, miscommunication, gossip and, of course, conflict. This session will examine the barriers to open communication processes and will explore ways in which lay and ministerial leaders can open up channels of communication and create transparent systems where information is shared and all are heard.

Afternoon Workshops

D) What Is Gathered Here? Part II presented by Rev. Joan Van Becelaere, District Executive Ohio-Meadville District of the UUA. This is a continuation of the morning workshop. Workshop A participants are strongly encouraged to attend Part II.

E) Vital Leaders for Vibrant Congregations presented by Rev. Renee Ruchotzke, Leadership Development Consultant for the Central East Regional Group. Vibrant congregations in today's world live out of a sense of core mission or purpose. Twenty-first leaders need to find ways to embed that mission into all parts of congregational life. This workshop will provide strategies to help your congregation focus its development of leaders and congregants toward embodying your core purpose

F) Beyond Cyberbullying presented by Zoë Harter-Saunders and other district youth
Cyberbullying: what is it? How is it impacting younger generations and your own? What can we do about it? Learn and discuss this new challenge for those wishing to live by UUs principles with the teens who know it best.

District Assembly Youth Caucus

High school age youth are invited to sleep at the First Universalist Church on Friday evening.

To be eligible:

• the District Assembly registration form must be completed
• the District Assembly registration fee must be paid
• the District Assembly Youth Caucus Registration Form must be competed and received in the District Office by April 20th.

Each youth attending DA without a parent or guardian must have an adult sponsor responsible for their support & supervision. One adult may sponsor up to seven youth. Sponsors must be at least 25 years old and registered for and in attendance at DA. Sponsors are expected to abide by the same district event rules as the youth they are sponsoring. Sponsors should also obtain a signed medical release form from the youth's parent or legal guardian. District youth event rules and sample consent forms can be found on the YAC website at http://sld-yruu.org/Forms.htm.

Questions about these policies can be directed to Jeff Lamicela, District Youth Coordinator, redlami@yahoo.com.
Posted 2/23/12