The 2011 BCD Annual Meeting will be held starting at 1:30. This year's meeting will include the election of the BCD's UUA Trustee along with all the usual business of adopting the budget, electing directors and officers. Delegate packets will be mailed to congregation offices in early April. UUs from district congregations can attend the Annual Meeting without any registration fee.

Preparation for Disasters

New England is fortunate that we are not in an earthquake zone. But we do have natural disasters here - hurricanes, high winds, flooding - and human-made - chemical spills, fires. Congregations need to have an Emergency Preparedness Plan developed to respond. District Executive, Bill Zelazny has developed a Emergency Preparedness Manual for congregations. Download the manual after April 1 from the BCD website, www.bcduua.org under Documents.

General Assembly: Celebrate, Worship, Learn, Network, Govern

Off-site delegate option available this year

General Assembly (GA) 2011 in Charlotte will mark the 50th anniversary of the merger of the American Unitarian Association and the Universalist Church of America. Thousands of Unitarian Universalists from across the country will remember, honor and celebrate the persons and events that brought into being the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) in May 1961. And during the four days of GA, Unitarian Universalists will join in worship, hear dynamic and interesting speakers, participate in workshops (over 100 are being offered) and take part in the Association governance process. This year delegates will be asked, among other actions, to vote on bylaw amendments that will change the size and composition of the UUA Board of Trustees. For GA information go to http://www.uua.org/ga/

General Assembly registration http://www.uua.org/ga/registration/index.shtml and housing reservations http://www.uua.org/ga/housing/index.shtml are open.

This year there is an Off-site Delegate option. Ifa congregational lay delegate, minister, or credentialed director of religious education cannot attend General Assembly in Charlotte they still can participate as a delegate under a new program just instituted by the GA office. Apply to be an off-site delegate today at http://www.uua.org/offsitega

UUA's 50^th Anniversary Year

2011 is the 50th anniversary of the formation of the Unitarian Universalist Association by the consolidation of the American Unitarian Association and the Universalist Church of America in May 1961. Congregations are invited to engage in a service or other activities to remember the persons and events that brought into being the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA), to reflect on our denomination's relevant achievements and struggles since then, and to chart new aspirations for the future we are determined to shape. For historical information and resources about our heritage and consolidation go to our heritage and history or our historical document.

Individuals are invited share and reflect at http://www.uua.org/aboutus/50th/172701.shtml memories, thoughts, and hopes regarding our Association and read others' memories and stories athttp://www.uua.org/aboutus/50th/173209.shtml.

News from the UUA and Larger UU World

· The Office of BGLT Concerns has a new name and new staff. The Office of BGLT Concerns is now known as LGBT Ministries. It also has two new staff members - Delfin Bautista, (dbautista@uua.org) LGBT Ministries Program Coordinator, and Alex Kapitan, akapitan@uua.org) Congregational Justice Administrator. Alex Kapitan is the point of contact for Multicultural Growth & Witness's (MG&W) congregational justice-making programs and resources, including the Welcoming Congregation. Delfin Bautista is now in charge of program and resource development, in collaboration with other UUA staff, as well as advocacy in the area of LGBT ministry

· 2011 Minns Conference. The Conference is on Friday, April 8, and Saturday, April 9, 2011, First Church in Boston (Unitarian Universalist), 66 Marlborough Street, Boston. This year's conference with the theme "Composing Our Unitarian Universalist Future: Where Are We Now? What's Possible? What's Next?" will feature a panel of UU clergy leaders -- Revs. Kenneth Beldon, Robert Hardies, Rosemary Bray McNatt , Larry Peers, Christine Robinson, Marilyn Sewall, Vanessa Southern -- who each have experiences and perspectives to offer to the larger questions that will help shape the future of our religion and our religious movement. For further details and registration information, visit http://www.minnslectures.org/2011_series.php.

· Green Sanctuary Program encourages the 10 -Tree project. The "10 Tree Challenge" is a simple project that so far as resulted in 40+ churches (and 50-100 other orgs.) planting over 3,000 trees. Through this project congregations obtain and plant up to 10 trees. Get more information on the latest Green Sanctuary blog at http://greensanctuary.blogs.uua.org/2011/03/03/up-for-adoption-the-10-tree-challenge/

MassBay/Clara Barton Spring Conference

BCDers are invited to attend the MBD/CBD Spring Conference, May 7, at the Sturbridge Host Hotel, Sturbridge, MA. Conference presenter Dan Hotchkiss, author of Governance and Ministry: Rethinking Board Leadership and senior consultant with the Alban Institute, will help participants look at roles and responsibilities for congregation leaders to promote effective delegation and a constructive system of accountability. For more information and to register go to http://cbd-mbd-uua.org/content/governance-and-ministry-spring-conference-2011-0

Position Opportunities

The First Unitarian Church of Providence is seeking a Membership Coordinator. The position is for 15 hours a week, $15 an hour, eleven months. Job description available upon request. Contact Rebecca Alberg. Rebeccaalberg@yahoo.com. Deadline for application is 25 March, 2011.

Summer Conferences and Programs

New England UUs have the opportunity to attend a wide variety of conferences, workshops and educational, spiritual and family vacation program over the summer at the three UU affiliated conference centers. Some people have made attending one or more of the programs offered at these conferences centers an annual event for years.

· Ferry Beach Camp and Conference Center, Saco ME

http://www.ferrybeach.org/

· Star Island Retreat and Conference Center, Rye, New Hampshire

http://starisland.org/

· UU Rowe Camp and Conference Center, Rowe MA

http://www.rowecenter.org/

Two UU Lobbying Advocacy Days

· Massachusetts. UU Mass Action Network, in association with the UU Urban Ministry, will present an informational program and lobby legislators on Wednesday, April 6. The lobbying day will start at 10:00 at the UUA Headquarters (25 Beacon St.). Coffee and registration at 9:30. Lunches available for $10. Confirmed speakers include: Senator Pat Jehlen, Rev. Lara Hoke, Andover and Petersham, Rev. Catherine Senghas, UU Urban Ministry, Rev. Fred Small, Cambridge. Following the program at the UUA offices participants will be able to go to the State House to lobby. this year theme and lobbying focus will be on protecting services for the most vulnerable. RSVP to Sue Kirby, Advocacy Day Coordinator at SueMassAction@gmail.com or (978) 910-0190. Additional information at http://www.uumassaction.org/

· Rhode Island - The RI Religious Coalition for Marriage Equality and several UU ministers are organizing a UU Lobbying Day on March 24, 3:00 - 4:00 at the State House. Meet in front of the Senate Chambers with Rev William Zelazny and RCME Chair, Rev Gene Dyszlewski to lobby Senators (and Representatives if the House has not passed the legislations) to pass the equal marriage bills.

Conference on Water Justice in April

"Water Justice: Our Well Being, Our Rights, Our Responsibilities," is the theme of a regional conference to be held on Saturday, April 16^th from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Unitarian Church of Barnstable, Barnstable, MA. The conference will introduce participants to the many issues related to water justice for residents of southeastern Massachusetts.

Water justice embodies the notion that everyone - and all living creatures - should have access to clean, safe water. At this conference, nationally recognized speakers will discuss current threats to the local and global water supply and provide practical tools for improving our quality of life, both at home and in our communities.

Registration details are available online at http://waterjustice2011.eventbrite.com The $15 registration fee includes lunch and refreshments, and youth activities and childcare will be available if requested by April 2^nd. Space is limited, however, so be sure to register early.

The conference is sponsored by the Cape & Islands Unitarian Universalist Social Justice Cluster, the Cape & Islands Unitarian Universalist Growth Council, and the Cape Cod and the Islands Group Sierra Club.

CALENDAR

Mar 17 BCD Board - BCD UUMA Chapter Roundtable 9:30a-12:00n*

First Congregational Parish in Kingston, MA

Mar19 Inland Cluster President's Gathering 9:30a-11:30a,

The Unitarian Church of Sharon

Mar 20 Installation - Rev Jay Libby 4:00

First Parish in Plymouth. Plymouth, MA

Mar 21 BCD Board meeting 6:30p-9:00p

Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Falmouth

Apr 3 Installation: Revs Mary Ganz & J D Benson

First Parish Brewster, Brewster, MA

Apr 16 Cape & Islands Water Justice Conference 9:00a - 4:30p*

Unitarian Church of Barnstable

Apr 18 BCD Board meeting 6:30p -9:00p

Channing Memorial Church, Newport

Apr 30 BCD 2011 Spring Conference & Annual Meeting 8:15a-.3:30p

Unitarian Church of Sharon

May 1 Installation - Rev. Jill Cowie 4:00 p

UU Society of Martha's Vineyard,Vineyard Haven, MA

May 16 BCD Board meeting 6:30p - 9:00p

Second Parish Hingham

Jun 22-26 General Assembly (GA),

Charlotte, North Carolina

*New or changed information since last month's calendar[WZ1]

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