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Unitarian Universalist Association Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministries
July 2011 Young Adult Newsletter
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 Letter from the Editor
Fifty-One
Dear Friends, Carolina was a big success and now it is time to look toward GA 2012, celebrating our movement's passing this milestone by standing and witnessing for justice in Phoenix. How big was GA '11, you ask? 1,933 delegates and more than 4,100 on-site attendees representing 585 congregations as well as 40 off-site participating congregations from 49 states, 3 Canadian provinces and Mexico all made themselves heard in Charlotte. Our action of public witness that drew hundreds of UUs wearing the trademark yellow of Standing on the SIde of Love was covered by the local paper and on all four area TV news channels. For more detailed information including video of plenary sessions, our public witness for LGBT RIghts in Marshall Park, worship services and music, visit the General Assembly 2011 Event Coverage page. Our presence was seen, heard and felt in Charlotte. Follow the live plenary updates and discussion on the UUYouthMinistry Facebook group page; familiarize yourself with what Young Adult Caucus does at GA; visit uua.org for access to video-streams and reports in GA activity, and follow UU World Online for blog posts and commentary. Happy reading! UUA Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministries. Visit the Unitarian Universalist Youth Ministry Facebook page!  |
Find comprehensive GA coverage at www.uua.org/ga. Here are highlights we want to share!
Synergy Worship
Eighteen youth from across the country bridged and over 1000 GA participants were in attendance at the annual youth and young adult led Synergy Service . The Synergy service paid special attention to the 50th Anniversary and the role of youth and young adults in our history.
Board Restructured
Delegates at General Assembly voted to change the size of the UUA Board of Trustees and the process by which they are elected . The change in the process, in part, is to encourage the nomination of a more diverse Board, which includes a Board diverse in age. ( plenary video, 2:18:00 ).
Remote Voting - Can't make it to GA in the future? No Problem!
One of the many votes taken this year was to allow off-site delegates and remote voting. That means that if you can't get to GA but you still want to serve as a delegate from your congregation, you will be able to virtually attend sessions and vote! This year a trial was held in which off-site delegates participated from home - or in some cases their congregation - and could speak about the issues at hand and be heard by the entire Assembly. Watch this newsletter in the coming year for information on how you might be an off-site delegate at the next General Assembly.
Statement of Conscience Ethical Eating: Food and Environmental Justice
"Aware of our interdependence, we acknowledge that eating ethically requires us to be mindful of the miracle of life we share with all beings . With gratitude for the food we have received, we strive to choose foods that minimize harm and are protective of the environment, consumers, farmers, and all those involved in food production and distribution."
Actions of Immediate Witness and Responsive Resolutions
Three Actions of Immediate Witness passed: Protest Representative Peter King's Hearings on "Muslim Radicalization", Support Southern California Supermarket Workers' Struggle for Decent Wages and Benefits,and Oppose Citizens United-Support Free Speech for People.
Responsive Resolutions on learning Spanish, celebrating New York's marriage equality law and preparing youth and young adults for Phoenix were also passed on Sunday.
Couldn't make it to Charlotte? Missed a workshop you wanted to go to?
If you couldn't make it to GA this year or couldn't make a workshop but still want to know what it was that everyone experienced, you can! Extensive online coverage is available and many of the workshops were recorded for you to listen to at home. Look for ideas you can bring to your congregation or campus ministry in the next year. Workshops range from "Vibrant Young Adult Ministries" to our Young Adult Caucus "What Young Adults Look for in a Congregation" and " Conversations on UU Campus Ministry" to a number of different workshops preparing for next year's GA in Phoenix in 2012. (Note that the second link provides audio downloads for purchase.)
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 Campus Ministry
Summertime and...
Hi, Friends!
I hope you're all having a great summer! It was wonderful meeting some of you at General Assembly last month. I'd love to talk with those of you who couldn't make it, and follow up with those who did. Please shoot me an email at ya-cm@uua.org, and we can set up a time for a phone chat!
Kayla Parker Campus Ministry Associate campusministry@uua.org Find and friend us on Facebook!
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Social Justice
UPDATE 07: Do you recall?
(source for graphic: http://colorlines.com)
This column follows legislative issues in specific states with national impact that decrease social justice in our nation. This month's update adds news on the efforts by Wisconsin Governor Walker to abolish collective bargaining for public sector workers in Wisconsin, an established right since 1959.
IMMIGRATION Alabama The Southern Poverty Law Conference has brought suit challenging the constitutionality of Alabama's Immigration Law (HB 56), widely considered the toughest in the country.
Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer has announced a recall election for the chief sponsor of SB1070, the state's legislation against illegal immigration, state Senate President Russell Pearce. Elections officials certified that opponents had collected enough signatures to force the recall election. A judge has placed key provisions of that measure on hold while they are challenged in federal court. The American Civil Liberties Union has produced an online FAQ about Arizona SB1070.
South Carolina The South Carolina House voted to enact immigration reform SB20 allowing police officers to check a suspect's immigration status during a lawful stop, seizure, detention, or arrest, and mandating businesses to participate in the E-Verify system, which confirms a person's employment eligibility. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the National Immigration Law Center (NILC) announced they will file a lawsuit. MARRIAGE EQUALITY When the New York legislature legalized same-sex marriage on June 24 it changed the marriage equality debate in the United States. WORKERS RIGHTS Ohio, Oklahoma and Michigan have recently approved legislation curtailing employee collective bargaining rights while the New Jersey legislature approved new anti-union legislation. Other states are moving to do the same. Wisconsin All six fake Democrats lost to real Democrats supported by the party in primaries that are the first in a series of recall elections targeting nine state senators for supporting Republican Gov. Scott Walker's divisive union rights restrictions. The winners advance to take on incumbent Republicans targeted for recall on Aug. 9.The state Republican Party orchestrated the placement of the fake Democrats on Tuesday's ballot. |
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Events
Opportunities
Training
Gatherings
Common Read: "The Death of Josseline: Immigration Stories from the Arizona Borderlands"
Participate in a Common Read project: encourage your congregation to read and discuss the same book in a given period of time, or take part in an on-line group. Common Read builds community within congregations and among Unitarian Universalists by giving diverse people a shared experience, a shared language and a basis for deep and meaningful conversations. Purchase Margaret Regan's book in hardcover or paperback from the UUA Bookstore. The book is available in hardcover at public libraries.
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Announcements
Association-wide
International
Regional
Local
Unique Opportunity to Perfect the UUA Website! IMPERFECT UUA.org Do you have difficulty finding what you're looking for when searching UUA.org? Well us too, so the UUA is in the process of re-shaping the website and your input as a tester is needed! YOU ARE PERFECT(ING) Testers are given scenarios and then look for information on a sample website structure. It's really easy to test (there are no wrong answers!) and it only takes a few minutes, a computer and internet connection. If interested in being a tester, please go to www.uua.org/about for more information and to apply. PERFECT UUA.org The Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministries wants young adults to help shape the way the new UUA.org works, feels, and looks. We are recruiting youth, young adults, parents, and lay leaders to test youth and young adult topics to make them easy to find, useful and vital. Non-UUs are welcome, too, so please share this information with your friends! EVEN MORE PERFECT Please send us specific examples of what you have had trouble finding on the UUA website in the past to youngadults@uua.org and help us make a more perfect UUA.org! With your help we will create a UUA website that works for everyone! Interfaith Leadership Training More than 40 youth/adult interfaith teams have applied for Interfaith Leader training and ten teams were selected to attend the training in February, but the story does not end there! The UUA is training teams to lead additional trainings in districts and regions all over the country, so be on the look-out for future opportunities to gain skills leading interfaith service work. |
 Resources
Books
Videos
Website
Organizations
UU World Summer 2011 Issue. Grab your copy of the "Gold Issue" to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Unitarian Universalist Association. Subscribe or read UU World online! HAPPY BIRTHDAY UUA! 
Video - "A Religion for Our Time, Episode 18: "Unitarian Universalists Rebuilding New Orleans" shows how three UU congregations in New Orleans, like the city itself, were devastated by Hurricane Katrina. However that devastation became an inspiration, not an obstacle, to the members of all three churches. Their resilience and determination have been in evidence every day of the last five years as they rebuild not only their churches, but the city of New Orleans itself.
Download Episode Eighteen (MP4) (right-click to save the file). Video - "A Religion for Our Time, Episode 17: "Greater Good Project" shows how the
First Unitarian Church in Rochester, New York has developed an amazing holiday tradition. Congregants decide how much they will spend on the holidays and then give half of that amount to the church! The children then decide what local and international charities to support with the funds. Five years on this remarkable project provides a whole new meaning to the holidays for hundreds of UU families and for the people they help. Resource - "Standing on the Side of Love Activist Toolkit" - download application for your FREE memory stick! This toolkit gives you the tools to further the Standing on the Side of Love campaign in your community and it comes on a cool memory stick! |
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Evolution
We are working on making your newsletter more fun to read and use, with more opportunities to get involved, connect with other UUs and deepen your faith.
Let us know what you think! What's missing? What are you tired of seeing?
Tweet with us at  YAYAUUA
E-mail us at youngadults@uua.org
Keep reading - let's evolve together! 
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