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| | Florida District Connections
December 3, 2011 |
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PLEASE SHARE THIS EMAIL
WITH OTHER MEMBERS OF YOUR CONGREGATION! |
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 | Notes & Comments From Our District Executive
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The up-coming weeks and new year will be a busy time for our Florida congregations. In addition to the ceremonies of winter holidays, travel, and guests, there's the emotional challenges of keeping a generous heart in lean times, retaining faith in "peace on earth" when that seems unlikely, when civility has fallen as a shared value and winning at all costs has risen. As one year ends, what will arise in the next?
Faith is always about keeping hope alive, being able to see over the horizon of what is before us. Indeed, it is often about being more optimistic than the facts seem to warrant and committing anew to build the world we dream about. So, as we enter this winter season, I urge you, be of good cheer. There is still ministry for us; we are needed.
Across the land, Unitarian Universalists are preparing to engage issues of "otherness" and diversity as we have never done before. Next June's "Justice General Assembly" in Phoenix will focus on the issues of human dignity, economic oppression, and xenophobia. Correspondingly, our March 23-25 District Assembly in Jacksonville is similarly attuned to these issues as we talk about Crossing Boundaries. More details will be forthcoming in January.
For now, I issue a challenge to the Florida District congregations:
- Let's commit to having 5% of our District membership in Phoenix (roughly 250 adults).
- Let's have a like percentage of our youth at GA and DA!
- Let's have 50% of our congregations represented at GA and 75% at DA!
- Let's raise $5,000 in financial assistance for those -- especially our youth -- who want to attend GA but have difficulty affording the cost. After January 1st, look for a flyer announcing a call for individual and congregational sponsors to provide financial aid (money or air-miles or hotel-points) to attend GA.
Then a favor: Would you send me a note about what your congregation is doing in the way of engaging issues of immigration justice and how are you preparing for this year's GA. How are you building the world of love and justice?
Many thanks!!! May your winter celebration renew your soul and enliven your commitment.
Rev. Kenn |
 | Notes from Our Lifespan Program Consultant |
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 The Holidays can be a confusing time for many people.
For our youngest members, the overwhelming commercialism and complex eclectic mix of mythologies may be just plain "too much." The emphasis in our culture on materialism (even in a time of economic challenges) seems to herald the season on Black Friday (think what must pass through a four-year-old's mind seeing frantic crowds rushing for perceived bargains!) and continue with weekly sales reports in the news. We may forget that what adults get from the news is not what children hear.
-- I need to add a personal note. In the earliest days of the Korean Conflict, when I was first becoming aware of television news . . . back when John Cameron Swazey took all of 15 minutes to tell us everything we needed to know . . . since almost all of the news was of Korea, I thought that when the "war" was over, news programs would also be over! Remember, the perceptions of our children are not the fine-tuned (or conditioned) responses of us adults. --
But, it is not just our youngest who can be confused with the season. Many new parents find that are confronted in ways unforeseen by the demands of the season. Conflicting family traditions and expectations often coupled with competing desires for connections yet a new separate identity can make it a time of intense tensions. Many people remember back with mixed emotions to those early family years, remembering warm moments but also remember arguments and fights about how to do the holidays "right."
Among us are also those for whom the holidays are the emptiest time of the year. The high moments of the season all seem in the past, and now isolation, aloneness, or estranged relations means a time of alienation, loneliness, or regrets. Placed against a backdrop of implied gaiety and people can feel out-of-step or misunderstood.
The list of confusing emotions grows long and deep, accentuated by the cultural motifs of the season.
Into this time of confusion, our religious communities can offer some positive responses: understanding, connection, and respite.
To be communities which acknowledge the diversity of responses to the season, in age appropriate ways, is to offer understanding. The greatest source of feelings of loneliness and depression is a sense of not being understood . . . of standing tragically alone. A little understanding goes a long way!
Being a place in which the ordinary of life continues among all the hoopla provides connection for people. Especially this year when two of the holidays fall on days traditionally used for our times of gathering, those times of community provide essential connections for those who feel adrift. Maybe the best gift that those who have lives rich with connections can give is being there on those days for the others who know holidays only as empty days.
Also, amidst all the chaos of commercialism, our communities can be places of respite, in which we do not demand so much as offer, do not require so much as relieve, do not expect so much as welcomed. Being a place of calm amidst all the tumult may be our greatest gift of all.
May we all reach January whole and appreciative, and looking back at December be able to say "If it weren't for my Unitarian Universalist congregation, I don't know how I would have survived all of that!" That is the gift of community which is ours to give.
Rev. Randy |
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Trustee News | | | |
UUA TRUSTEE TIDBITS
Joan Lund, December 2011
jlund@uua.org or 813-931-9727
In October the UUA Board of Trustees (BOT) met in Boston, one of four meetings per year, to conduct the business of our UUA, which includes Justice GA 2012. I am committed to writing my monthly column on the justice issues of oppression in which we will be involved next June. In the October report written following the BOT meeting I devoted a major portion to the plans for GA and will use much of that information in this column. The report can be found at the District website and was sent out electronically in the District E-news. As readers of Trustee Tidbits know it is my goal to have more Florida UUs, percentage-wise, in attendance at GA 2012 than any of the other districts.
During the BOT meeting in Charlotte prior to the start of GA, the Board passed Policy 3.10 on GA Relations. This policy called for the BOT to convene a task force to facilitate regular communication and issue resolution among the BOT, Administration, General Assembly Planning Committee (GAPC, and the GA 2012 Accountability Group. To that goal a GA 2012 Design Meeting was held in September, 2011 which included the Arizona Immigration Ministry (AZIM). The expected outcomes from the Design Meeting were: to determine a common definition of "justice" in the context of the work that will occur at GA 2012 in Phoenix, determine the desired outcomes for GA 2012, and establish criteria and a timetable for GA 1012 programming, public witness, worship, and plenary.
Plenary time will be decreased by 40% and not all will be unopposed time. It will be important for GA attendees to gather together in one body at least once daily to foster community and communication. Worship will be offered multiple times daily, and be infused into all that is done at GA. Saturday will be designated a National Day of Witness and Service and may include voter registration and a citizenship fair. Congregations will be encouraged to imagine how they might participate in this event in their own communities, involving congregants who are not able to attend GA.
The GAPC meeting included the participation of Moderator Gini Courter who was asked how the BOT might assist if there is a gap in funding for AZIM/GA for local partner scholarships, partner exhibitors, etc. These issues will be handled by the Administration and BOT. Gini also indicated the BOT will be responsible for the business agenda and plenary time. The AZIM requested the BOT consider a resolution calling on President Obama to adopt the UN Declaration of Rights of Indigenous People. The BOT has checked protocol of a resolution related to the Doctrine of Discovery on the agenda for GA. Congregation must be informed about this before coming to Phoenix; resolution will need to be published in the tentative GA agenda along with related mini-assembly.
Hopefully at times the columns I write engender questions/concerns. It is well known that I appreciate hearing from Florida UUs, regarding the work of the BOT. The holiday time of year reminds me to pause and give thanks for the many blessings I am afforded throughout the year. Among them are my numerous UU acquaintances and friends. Thank you for your love and support. May each of you enjoy a peaceful and blessed holiday season. |
| Tipping the Balance Toward Better Practice |
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 Maintaining the integrity of your congregation's accounts is essential to good ministry. Our UUA offers this post from the Congregational Stewardship Blog on practical considerations: Three Options for Auditing the Finance of your Congregation (posted on November 17th, 2011 by Wayne Clark)
From time to time, I get asked about ways to audit the finances of a congregation. Here's a brief overview of three possibilities. It has been adapted from an original uumoney post [UUA email list] by Don Mohr from the UU Congregation of Columbia, SC. Refer to the article, Three Options for Auditing the Finances, to read more.
Compilation
The goal of a compilation is to take information that is on the general ledger and accumulate it into financial statements in the same format that would come out of a review or audit. The key sentence of a compilation report from the accountant reads, "We have not audited or reviewed the accompanying financial statements and, accordingly, do not express an opinion or any other form of assurance on them."
Review
The goal of a review is to provide limited assurance that financial statements do not have any known errors or departures from the accounting rules found in GAAP. The key sentence in a review report reads, "Based on our review, we are not aware of any material modifications that should be made to the accompanying financial statements in order for them to be in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles."
Audit
The goal of an audit is to provide reasonable, but not absolute, assurance that financial statements are fairly presented in accordance with GAAP. The key sentence in an audit report reads, "In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of [organization name] as of June 30, [year], and the changes in its net assets and its cash flows for the year then ended in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles." |
| UPDATE - Southeast Unitarian Universalist Leadership Experience |
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Nominations open now
Southern Unitarian Universalist Leadership Experience
February 19 - 24, 2012
Nominations close December 15th
Holiday Inn Resort Orlando -The Castle Hotel
Orlando, Florida
www.thecastleorlando.com
Dear Congregational Leader,
I have heard from several congregations asking how strict the rule is that congregations may only nominate teams of two or more. We have strictly followed the rule but the Leadership Experience planning group has decided to experiment with a new way in which teams of participants can be formed.
Being sensitive to the call to strengthen the community between congregations we would like to experiment with letting groups of congregations form a team to send to SUULE.
We welcome your congregation's participation in the experiment to work with one or several other congregations to send teams of two or three participants to SUULE. Participation in the experiment will be predicated on your congregation's commitment to
1. Help your participant prepare for SUULE. Your participant will have some assignments to complete prior to attending and we ask that you commit to helping when requested.
2. Support, learn from, and share the lessons from your participants when they return from SUULE. Specifically that your board makes a plan to share the information your participant bring back from SUULE with your congregation's leadership. We expect that the participants will work together to prepare the sharing of information. The optimum condition would be if the cooperating congregations could share in this training.
3. That your SUULE participant and that at least one senior person from your leadership team participate in a teleconference about this time next year to discuss your experience with this arrangement.
We ask that team members agree to
1. Become acquainted with each other before coming to SUULE.
a. Team members share their personal Unitarian Universalism histories.
b. The team members share the histories of their congregations
c. They share their greatest experience within their congregation
d. They share what they feel are the biggest challenge for their congregation and what their dream is for their congregation.
2. Team members agree to take part in the three quarterly post SUULE teleconferences.
This is an experiment and will be available on a limited basis so please let me know if you would like to participate and go on-line at http://fd8.formdesk.com/swuuc1/SUULE12nominate to register your nominee.
Sincerely,
Peter Kandis
SUULE Dean
803-422-3116 or PKandis@gmail.com
To learn more about SUULE please visit our website at
http://uusouthland.org/leadershipexperiences/suule.html
To submit nominations please fill out the form found here:
http://fd8.formdesk.com/swuuc1/SUULE12nominate
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| Florida District Packet & UUA Congregational Bulletin |
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The December 2011 district monthly packet has been posted to the district website and may be viewed at the following link:
http://www.floridadistrict.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/FLD-December-2011-Packet.pdf (3MB, 20 pages)
New/updated items are noted in bold text. Please share the information contained in the monthly packet with individuals in your congregation. This edition of the district packet contains the following items:
- District Calendar, page 1
- Growing the Smaller Congregation Workshop flyer, page 2
- Right Relations Workshop flyer, page 3
- Time, Treasure & Talent: A Stewardship Primer Workshop flyer, page 4
- Southern Region UU Leadership Experience information, pages 5-6
- District Awards Information & Nomination form, pages 7-8
- UUSC Choose Compassionate Consumption flyer, page 9
- emma's revolution concert flyer, page 10
- Move to Amend flyer, page 11
- West Central Cluster Holiday Service flyer, page 12
- SWIM 2011 flyer, page 13
- 6th Annual Florida UU Choral Festival flyer, page 14
- Florida UU Women's Retreat flyer & registration, pages 15-16
- UUF Vero Beach Emerson Center Humanities Series Flyer, page 17
- Mountain Camp 2012 flyer, page 18
- General Assembly 2012, pages 19-20
Looking for a single event flyer? District event flyers are linked to the "Events Calendar" page on the District website (see http://www.floridadistrict.org/?page_id=1419). Simply click the event listed on the calendar and the flyer will open. UUA, Congregation, Cluster, and Affiliated Organization event listings are linked to those entities websites whenever possible.
The complete packet is also linked to the website events calendar (go to the calendar link at www.floridadistrict.org and click the "entire monthly packet" notation above the calendar). Please note this is a large document/multi-page download and may take a few minutes to open if you are working with a dial-up or slower broadband connection and/or older computer.
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 The UUA Monthly Bulletin for Congregations is a collection of announcements and updates from the staff groups and committees of the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) of Congregations, and from the Church of the Larger Fellowship (CLF).
Follow this link to view the December 2011 UUA Congregational Bulletin:
http://www.uua.org/communications/bulletin/190321.shtml |
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Save the Date for these Florida District Events |
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December 10
Growing the Smaller Congregation Workshop
Led by District Executive Kenn Hurto, Hosted by UU Congregation of Lake County/Eustis
Online Registration (closes 12/5)
January 13-14
Sustaining Stewardship in our Congregations from a Multi-Cultural Lens Workshop
Featuring Paula Cole Jones, UUA JUUST Change Consultant, Hosted by UU Congregation of Miami
flyer and registration details available after 12/10, see www.floridadistrict.org
January 28
Right Relations Workshop
Featuring FLD Healthy Congregation Consultant Kelly Belanger Harris, Hosted by UU Fellowship of St. Augustine
Online Registration
February 4
Time, Treasure and Talent: A Stewardship Primer Workshop
with Reverend Susan Smith, District Executive, Southwestern UU Conference, Hosted by UUs of Clearwater
Online Registration
February 10-11
District Board Meeting, Vero Beach
February 19-24
SUULE: There's still time!
Southern Unitarian Universalist Leadership Experience (aka "SUULE")
 The nominations deadline for participation in the Southern Unitarian Universalist Leadership Experience is December 15th. Congregational leaders are urged to get their nominations in as space is limited. Details can be found at: SUULE. SUULE is a joint project of the four UUA Districts that comprise the Southern Region. The faculty consists of experienced Unitarian Universalist leaders, including several of the Region's staff team. SUULE is open to lay and clergy leaders alike; however, the congregation's leadership structure must formally nominate it's participants. Questions? Call the District Office. This is a life and congregational transforming opportunity. Register today: SUULE Nominations.
March 23-25
Crossing Boundaries, Annual District Assembly
Hosted by UU Church of Jacksonville
Our District Assembly planning continues. We are pleased to announce that this year's DA, as with our UUA General Assembly, is focused on issues that separate people and our work in restorative justice and community healing. We have a rich program, including community engagement with a Jacksonville neighborhood ministry project. We are pleased to welcome as our guest presenters: The Reverend Susan Frederick-Gray, Minister of our Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Phoenix (site of this year's GA), the Reverends Jose Ballester & Patricia Jimenez, co-authors of Both and Neither: Being a Unitarian Universalist Latina/o. Together, they will help us examine issues of racism and classism vis a vis migrant communities, xenophobia, the story of Florida's encounter with immigration, and an emerging Liberation Theology for Unitarian Universalists. Additionally, Friday evening, we will be inspired and entertained by emma's revolution, featuring popular Unitarian Universalist singers Pat Humphries and Sandy O. Our worship will be uplifting and challenging as, together, we embrace a Universalist engagement with diversity. Plan now to be there! |
| Around the Florida District - News and Events to Note |
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District Awards 2012
 Nominations are now being accepted for Florida District Awards. Awards will be presented during the District Assembly in March 2012. Click here to download more information and the nomination form. Please note, all nominations must be submitted electronically, no later than February 28, 2012.
Kudos to:
 Reverend Kathy Schmitz, First Unitarian Orlando, for her recent participation in a local public radio panel discussion on The Jefferson Bible. The 20-minute discussion followed a 10-minute interview with a curator from the Smithsonian which published the new edition. Here's the link if you want to check it out:
http://www.wmfe.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=12175&news_iv_ctrl=2141
Cluster, Congregation and Affiliated Organization Events
December 3
emma's revolution concert at UU Church of St. Petersburg
December 4
Move To Amend Training at UU Church of Brevard
December 6
West Central Cluster Annual Holiday Service - December 6 - UU Church of Tarpon Springs
 The West Central Cluster of the Florida District, UUA, invites all area UUs to our annual Holiday Service on Tuesday, December 6, 2011 at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Tarpon Springs beginning at 7:00 pm. Celebrate all the winter holidays in UU style with seasonal music, meaningful messages, a touch of UU humor, and good fellowship. Bring a treat to share at the after-service reception!
December 11, 5:00pm
Installation Service: The Reverend Wendy Pantoja, UU Congregation of Miami
Featuring UUA President, the Reverend Peter Morales, guest preacher
December 14, 4:00 pm
National Webinar "Call on Jobs" Sponsored by Interfaith Worker Justice/Faith Advocate for Jobs
Featuring Clearwater's Minister the Reverend Abhi Janamanchi
The Reverend James A. Forbes, Senior Minister Emeritus, Riverside (NY) Church
Pre-registration is required. Click here to register today.
December 26 to January 1
Southeast Winter Institute in Miami (aka SWIM) in Homestead
 This year we have a spectacular program planned with more workshops for varied interests, new trips, more music, a chaplain with an early SWIM and Florida connection, a food to die for, and an intergenerational Community Day on day one, with unplugged fun for all ages. This will be the day when we get to know each other better and begin the friendships that last through and past the week.
January 8, 4:00 pm
Installation Service: The Reverend Roger Fritts, UU Church of Sarasota
Featuring the Reverend Harlan Limpert, UUA Vice-President for Congregational Life
February 25-26
Annual Florida UU Choral Festival First Unitarian Church of Orlando
 The First Unitarian Church of Orlando is hosting the 6th Annual Florida UU Choral Festival on Saturday and Sunday, February 25-26, 2012. All Florida District UU choir and/or music ministry members are invited to participate. The overall theme for the Festival this year is Compassion and the music will include at least one new original piece by a UU composer.
We, at The First Unitarian Church of Orlando are celebrating our 100th anniversary this year, and as part of our celebration we would like to host 100 (or more) performers at the Festival. So, please, put this date on your calendar and share this info with your choir and other music ministry members.
If you have any questions, feel free to email us at ChoralFestival2012@OrlandoUU.org
April 27-29
Florida UU Women's Retreat at DaySpring Retreat Center, Ellenton
Multiple Dates
Florida Humanities Series at The Emerson Center, UU Fellowship of Vero Beach |
| Things to Know in Our Extended Unitarian Universalist World |
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Free Shipping from UUA Bookstore
 We're pleased to offer free standard shipping on all U.S. orders placed in the UUA Bookstore until Friday, December 9th!
This is a great time to pick up those new Skinner House titles you've been meaning to grab ... and to support your denomination while doing so!
Remember, we've got a wide array of books, jewelry, and other gift items sure to satisfy everybody on your holiday list.
Here's wishing you and yours a safe, warm, and happy Winter Holiday season.
Your Friends at the UUA Bookstore
 From our Church of the Larger Fellowship
Church of the Larger Fellowship (CLF), a unique congregation without walls, offers discount prices (PDF) on its UU pewter and enamel lapel pins and pendants. Items can be found in the CLF Gift Shop.
From our UU Ministry for Earth
Our Place in the Web of Life, Environmental Justice Curriculum, Module One
 The NEW Our Place in the Web of Life curriculum is ready to help professional and lay leaders working with adult education, the Green Sanctuary process, or other environmental activities in your congregation.
This Module establishes the theme of knowing one's place in the interconnected Web of Life. The innovative, values-based curriculum offers a highly experiential process to stimulate greater appreciation of our interdependence with all of life, ethical and spiritual discernment, personal behavioral change, and collective congregational advocacy. Included in this module are videos, readings, local research, guided conversations, music, and other arts to speak to our whole selves. The material, suggested for five sessions, is both practical and inspirational.
Learn more
From our UU Service Committee
Choose Compassionate Consumption
Human Rights from Field to Fork: A UUSC Project for Florida Youth
 The food we eat - where does it all come from? Today's global food supply chain is complex and far from transparent. Understanding the origin of the food we eat - including the labor conditions under which it was produced - can be difficult. Yet as consumers, we each have the power to educate ourselves and decide which businesses to support, which goods to buy. We can choose compassionate consumption.
Field to Fork is a project to raise awareness and mobilize UUSC members and friends in support of workers in the food sector. Florida is a major producer of vegetables, fruit and cattle. Food services from grocery stores to restaurants are a major part of our economy. This project is an excellent opportunity for Florida youth to work for human-rights issues that directly impact
their lives.
Learn more |
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