Young Adult News
A monthly newsletter of the UUA Office of Young Adult Ministries
August, 2008 -  Issue 60
In This Issue
2008 Donna DiSciullo Award Granted to Elandria Williams
Training and Meeting Event for Young Adult and Campus Ministry Professionals
International Convocation of Unitarian Universalist Women
Final Reminder - Elected UUA Leadership Position Openings - Young Adults Needed to Apply!
Nine Districts Now Boast Young Adult and Campus Ministry Specific Staff
UU University joins General Assembly - Young Adult Leaders Needed!
Congratulations to our 2008 Anchor Congregations
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Hello, Everyone!

As you can see, this month's issue of Young Adult News is coming to you in a different format.  We're testing out a new newsletter program--hopefully you'll like it! This issue is chock-full of information about upcoming events, leadership positions, awards and much more.  
 
Here at the office we're gearing up for what looks to be a busy but fun autumn.  I'm personally looking forward to the cool weather and famous fall colors. Hope you all enjoy the last month of summer!
  
Best wishes to all,
Hallie Andrew
2008 Donna DiSciullo Award Granted to Elandria Williams
 
Each year, the Unitarian Universalist Association's Office of Young Adult Ministries presents the Donna DiSciullo Award to a person who has demonstrated profound ministry, service, and care to young adults in our denomination. These individuals devote time, energy, and passion to helping young adults navigate and negotiate the daily struggles and joys that make up their daily lives. This year's award was presented to Elandria Williams who hails from the Tennessee Valley UU Congregation in Knoxville, Tennessee. Elandria was unanimously voted the winner of this year's award by a committee of her peers, all of whom determined her service and commitment to the community to be exemplary. Thank you, Elandria, for all you bring to Unitarian Universalist young adults and their allies and peers and the denomination as a whole.
Training and Meeting Event for Young Adult and Campus Ministry Professionals
 
The UUA Office of Young Adult Ministries is organizing a training and networking event for young adult and campus ministry professionals. If you are paid to do young adult or campus ministry at the congregational, local, district, or other levels, we hope you will attend!
 
LOCATION: Unitarian Universalist Church at Washington Crossing, 268 Washington Crossing-Pennington Rd. Titusville, NJ 08560-1511
 
DATES: October 10 - 11, 2008. As we will have two full days of programming, please arrive on the evening of Thursday, October 9 and plan to depart on Sunday, October 12.
 
WHO: Any professional paid young adult or campus ministry staff member at the congregational, local, regional and/or district level.
 
COST: 2-day training = sliding scale $75-$150.
 
More information and a registration form is available online. You may also register online at ConnectUU.com. Direct any questions to Hallie Andrew, Young Adult Ministries Office Administrator, at [email protected] or 617-948-4645.
International Convocation of Unitarian Universalist Women
The international Convocation of Unitarian Universalist Women will be held Thursday, February 26 to Sunday, March 1, 2009 in Houston, Texas.  The Convocation focuses on education, faith, action and transformation. 
  • Celebrate with, worship with and learn from extraordinary women with inspiring stories about women's successful action in local communities in many cultures;  
  • Energize the U*U Global Village network, a primary Convocation initiative;
  • Learn about grassroots organizing for women's rights and social justice through education, healthcare and safety, leadership development, and economic empowerment in the context of sustainable environments;
  • Bring these strong messages back to your home congregations and organizations;
  • Develop action ideas and plans that can continue, ignite and expand local initiatives that improve opportunity and women's lives in your communities and in locations across the globe; and
  • Enjoy art, culture, worship and music along the way!

We have extended the payment date to November 1st.  $100 can be paid by credit card online (non-refundable deposit), locking in the early bird rate with the balance not due until November 1st.
 
We also have air fare discounts through Continental airlines. You book online and enter the code number: ZE3NCPMGM4
 
The hotel rate of $146 per room per night is good for double, triple of quadruple occupancy.
 
Fore more information and to register, visit the Convocation of Unitarian Universalist Women Website.

Final Reminder - Elected UUA Leadership Position Openings - Young Adults Needed to Apply!
 
The Nominating Committee of the UUA invites applications for nomination to the committees, commissions, and positions that will be elected by the General Assembly in June, 2009.
 
Positions to be elected are: At-Large Trustees (including one Youth Trustee) on the UUA Board of Trustees, the Financial Advisor, and positions on the General Assembly Planning Committee, the Commission on Appraisal, the Commission on Social Witness, and the Nominating Committee. Terms and qualifications for each position are described in the brochure and application form. Additional information on each position may be found by doing a Google search of the UUA.org website, using the name of the committee or commission of interest.
 
Applications, including letters of recommendation, must be completed no later than August 15, 2008. If you are interested in these Association leadership opportunities, please submit an application. If you know someone else who may be interested, please relay this information to them.
 
If you have questions, please contact any member of the Nominating Committee.
Nine Districts Now Boast Young Adult and Campus Ministry-Specific Staff
 

Nine of the UUA's nineteen districts now have full or part time staff members focusing specifically on young adult ministries. These District Staff members range from very part time consultants (e.g. three hours a week) to full time staff members; they are listed below alphabetically by district with their email and phone if available. Most prefer email for initial contact. These incredible staffers are important resources for our congregations and everyone involved in young adult and campus ministry. We hope you will be in relationship with them! Whether your district has a young adult or campus ministry specific staff person, you can find contact information for all your district staff members and your district's web address at the District Services page on the UUA website. 

 

Central Midwest District
Kimberlee Tomczak
608-225-7463
[email protected] 

 

Joseph Priestly District
Christopher Donshale Sims
302-757-9409
[email protected] 
 
Massachusetts Bay District
Greg Buckland
617-816-0402
[email protected] 
 
Metro New York District
Claire Sexton
214-868-6054
[email protected] 
 

Mountain Desert District
Jessie Trovik
719-205-0296
[email protected] 
 
Ohio Meadville District
Ellen Carvill-Ziemer
330-281-3306
[email protected] 

 

Prairie Star District
Sherry Warren
[email protected] 
 
Saint Lawrence District
Elayne Mosher
[email protected] 
 
Southwest District
Rev. Aaron White
972-333-6707
[email protected]



UU University Joins General Assembly - Young Adult Leaders Needed!
 
Unitarian Universalist University, the highly successful lay leadership education program that has been offered since 2006 prior to the start of each General Assembly, will become part of General Assembly in 2009. The current plan is to have six tracks of UU University 2009 programming from which participants may choose one. Participants will stay within their chosen track, to gain in-depth knowledge within their particular area of interest. Proposed tracks are:
  • Theology through the Arts 
  • The Multi-generational Church
  • Multi-cultural Ministry 
  • Effective Social Justice
    Stewardship 
  • Conflict Transformation
Deans for each programming area will be appointed to develop and administer each track. Deans will be selected on the basis of demonstrated skill in core areas. Applications to serve as a program dean are invited through September 1, 2008. View the Dean Application on the UUA website to apply.  UU University Program Directors Harlan Limpert and Terasa Cooley will make the selection of program deans. For questions, please email [email protected]. More information on UU University is available at the UU university page.
Congratulations to our 2008 Anchor Congregations
The Anchor Congregation program, introduced in 2004, recognizes congregations that have made a significant commitment to young adult and/or campus ministry. This award is aimed at institutionalizing strong, congregationally-based young adult and campus ministry programs across the continent. The Anchor Congregation designation recognizes congregations that have made a substantive commitment to young adult and campus ministry, and which serve as a model to other Unitarian Universalist congregations seeking to do young adult and campus ministry.
 
The UUA Office of Young Adult Ministries was thrilled to award the following congregations with Anchor Congregation status at General Assembly 2008:
 
First Unitarian Universalist Church of San Diego
Second Unitarian Church of Chicago
Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Shelter Rock
 
For more information on the Anchor Congregation Program, please visit the Anchor Congregation Information page at the UUA website.
Until next month,
 
Nancy, Erik, and Hallie
Office of Young Adult Ministries
Unitarian Universalist Association
 
Contact the Office of Young Adult Ministries
Hallie Andrew - Young Adult Ministries Office Administrator
(617) 948-4645 - [email protected]
Nancy DiGiovanni - Acting Co-Director of Young Adult Ministries
(617) 948-4629 - [email protected]
Erik B. Kesting - Acting Co-Director of Young Adult Ministries
(617) 948-6463 - [email protected]