June 2013 BCD in Brief

The BCD office will be on summer vacation from June 14, to August 12, 2013, reopening August 13. Email, land mail and phone messages will be checked once a week by the Administrator.
The District Executive will be at General Assembly from June 17 to June 29. Upon returning from GA, he will be working at his home office other than for some vacation time in July and August. He can be contacted by email or phone - zelaz@aol.com / 401-353-5334
Congregation Contribution checks can be mailed as usual to the BCD Office. They will be received and deposited during the summer by the Administrator
There is no BCD in Brief in July. The August issue will be sent out the week of August 26 with regular schedule of mid-month distribution to resume in September.

Seminar on Emergency Preparedness - July 27

"When Storm Clouds Gather: Emergency Preparedness for Congregations", a free seminar, will be held at Westminster Unitarian Church Parish House, 119 Kenyon Avenue, East Greenwich, RI on Saturday, July 27, starting at 10 AM. The Rev. Robert Murphy, minister at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Falmouth who has extensive knowledge and experience in disaster preparedness work will present information about climate change and how congregations can engage in "here and now" work for the hurricane season. Other guest speakers will also share information about how to prepare the congregation for emergencies.

More information about the seminar and registration is available on the Westminster Unitarian Church web site (www.westminsteruu.org), or by calling the church office at 401-884-5933. Leave name and phone number. If calling for a congregation team, also include the number of individuals from your congregation who will be attending. While the conference is free, donations to help defray the cost of food will be gratefully received.

The seminar is sponsored jointly by the Green Sanctuary committee of Westminster Unitarian Church and the Ballou-Channing District of the UUA. The Westminster parish house is air conditioned and easily accessible for people with disabilities. Refreshments will be served.

Congregation Emergency Preparedness Handbook

Available on BCD Website

The hurricane season is upon us. NOAA's Climate Prediction Center is forecasting an active or extremely active season this year. For the six-month hurricane season, which began June 1, NOAA's Atlantic Hurricane Season Outlook says there is a 70 percent likelihood of 13 to 20 named storms (winds of 39 mph or higher), of which 7 to 11 could become hurricanes (winds of 74 mph or higher), including 3 to 6 major hurricanes (Category 3, 4 or 5; winds of 111 mph or higher).

An Emergency Preparedness Handbook developed by District Executive Bill Zelazny is posted on the BCD website that can guide a congregation in developing plans to handle storm emergencies. Look at "Emergency Preparedness" under Resources A - Z on the BCD web site: http://www.bcduua.org/DistrictResources/tabid/82/Default.aspx

General Assembly Agenda and Off-Site Information

The GA Final Agenda is now available for download and distribution to congregation delegates at http://www.uua.org/ga/program/13300.shtml. No hard copy will be mailed.

Everyone is invited to watch major GA events, such as Plenary sessions, Opening Ceremony, worship services, Service of the Living Tradition and the Ware Lecture by live streaming. Live streaming GA video will start on Wednesday, June 19 at 7:30 p.m. ET. Go to http://www.uua.org/ga/virtual/282213.shtml for more information.

Workshop, Meeting, Conference Schedule

The BCD 2013-2014 Workshop and Conference Schedule is being developed, A few dates are already on the calendar.

September 28, 2013 Congregation Presidents, Ministers and Religious Education Directors Breakfast - networking meeting with the BCD Board and staff
May 3, 2014 BCD Spring Conference and Annual Meeting

In planning for the fall, but not yet scheduled

October - Congregation Networking Job-a-Like Gathering

Congregation Presidents + Ministers and

RE Directors Invited to Breakfast

The traditional Congregation Presidents Council breakfast and discussion gathering is being recast this coming fall to include other congregation leaders. The BCD Board of Directors is inviting not only congregation presidents but parish ministers and religious education directors to join them for breakfast and conversation. The Breakfast will be on September 28 at First Parish Church in Taunton. This is an opportunity for participants to network with other congregation leaders, share information and ideas about issues of common interest with the BCD and learn about district services and programs. Registration information will be sent in late August.

General Assembly 2014

The 2014 General Assembly will be held in Providence, RI. Watch for information about submitting program proposals, applying for volunteer positions and much more starting in August.

News from the Larger UU World

W
illiam Ellery Channing Papers Discovered at Meadville Lombard

A professional archivist doing an appraisal of the Meadville Lombard Theological School Archives found that the William Ellery Channing Collection at Meadville Lombard contains over 150 unpublished sermons, 120 completed pages of an unfinished book, and roughly 250 pages of notes for the book. These materials have been largely inaccessible for over a century. The Meadville Lombard William Ellery Channing Collection will nearly double the number of known Channing sermons and the notations provide a unique insight into how the Channing family attempted to shape the memory of Channing. Meadville Lombard is seeking funds to preserve these precious materials and to make them accessible to the public. Donations for this preservation work are being sought. Contact the Meadville Lombard Development office at (312) 212-0676 for more information about making a donation or go to http://www.razoo.com/story/Meadville-Lombard-Archives .

UU Musicians Network Annual Conference

July 24-28, 2013 - First Unitarian Church of Dallas, TX

There are five days of inspirational music-making, vibrant worship, invaluable resources for your music program and harmonious fellowship for anyone who supports the ministry of music. The UU Musicians Network conference is not just for Music Directors. Attendees include church music staff, clergy, choir members, UU troubadours, Music Committee members. There is still time to register. For more details http://www.uumn.org/index.php/conferences/2013-conference?utm_source=One+%2526+One+eNews&utm_campaign=9926398053-One_One_11_28_2012&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_fab8a1852c-9926398053-19940697

Conference on Universalism at Ferry Beach

"Universalism: A Bridge to Unitarian Universalist Renewal" is the theme of a conference from August 17th to 23^rd at Ferry Beach Conference Center, Saco, ME. The conference will give attendees an opportunity to learn in detail about Universalist theology, both historically and as it has developed through to the present day. Presenters will be the Rev. Richard Trudeau, author of Universalism 101: An Introduction for Leaders of Unitarian Universalist Congregations and the Rev. Paul S. Sawyer, minister at the First Universalist Society of Hartland, Vermont, one of the "Sister Societies" that called Hosea Ballou as their minister in 1802. Conference Fee: $192.

Information and registration at: www.ferrybeach.org/conferences.html

UUA Blog for Youth and Young Adults Improved

"Blue Boat" the blog for Youth and Young adults from the UUA has been revised to provide easier access to more in-depth reporting on events and news of interest to Unitarian Universalist youth, young adults, and those who work with them. Check it out at

http://blueboat.blogs.uua.org/?utm_source=Copy+of+Blue+Boat

+Update+May+13&utm_campaign-Blue+Boat+monthly+update&utm_medium-email

Summer Events at UU Camp and Conference Centers

Conference and workshops for Unitarian Universalists are offered during the summer at three retreat and conference centers in New England.

Ferry Beach Park Association

5 Morris Ave

Saco Me, 04072

http://www.ferrybeach.org

Rowe Camp & Conference Center

22 Kings Highway

Rowe, MA 01367

http://rowecenter.org/pages.php?name=Home

Star Island Family Conference and Retreat Center

Isles of Shoals, off Rye Harbor or Portsmouth, NH

http://starisland.org/

Employment Opportunities

Membership Coordinator

First Parish, Old Ship Church is hiring a part-time membership coordinator. Flexible hours (12 hours/week-from September through June, with a few hours spread over summer months). The position will start in the Fall of 2013. $10,080 /year. A job description can be found on the church's website: www.oldshipchurch.org.

Administrator: Disability/Ability Action Program

The Unitarian Universalist Association and Equual Access seeking an administrator to assist in the launching of a program for congregations working to build a Beloved Community that encompasses people with disabilities. The Administrator is responsible for the overall management of the program and reports to the Certification Committee of Equual Access. This is a part time position averaging ten hours per week. This is a twelve month position beginning July 1, 2013 and ending June 30, 2014. Continuation of position is dependent on availability of funds after this time. Position is contracted (1099) and includes no benefits. Maximum number of hours per year is 520. Send resume and accompanying narrative information to Mark Bernstein, UUA Liaison to Equual Access, at

mbernstein@uua.org

. Questions may be directed to Mark at his email address or 610-639-3389.

Calendar

Date Event Time

Jun 13@ BCD Office closes for summer

Jun 19-23 General Assembly

Louisville, KY

[ www.uua.org/ga ]

Jul 6-13 Ferry Beach Multigenerational Religious Education Conference

Ferry Beach Camp and Conference Center, Saco, ME

[ http://www.ferrybeach.org/re-week.html ]

Jul 7-12 Adult Faith Development Renaissance Module