Sept. 26           BCD UUMA Chapter In-gathering.  

First Unitarian Church, New Bedford, MA    9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

The annual first meeting of the BCD Chapter of the UU Ministers Association. Information to be sent to ministers.

Sept 28            Presidents Council Breakfast and Discussion

First Parish Church in Taunton, MA              8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

The annual breakfast and discussion gathering hosted by the BCD Board of Directors for congregation presidents to meet, network, and discuss issues of mutual importance. See following article.

October

Oct 5             Adaptive Challenge and Leadership Workshop

UU Wellesley, Wellesley Hills, MA                 8:30 a.m. -- 12:30 p.m.

[Clara Barton-Mass Bay Learning Congregation Workshop)

Workshop to review basics of Adaptive Leadership, including the difference between adaptive challenges and technical problems, how and why congregations fail to make progress on their most important challenges, examine six types of adaptive challenges common to our congregations, and strategies for helping our congregations face any challenge more adaptively. Registration deadline - September 30.

Information at: https://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/eventReg?oeidk=a07e810359t19414a09&oseq=&c=&ch=

Registration at https://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/eventReg?oeidk=a07e810359t19414a09&oseq=&c=&ch=

Oct 19            Job-apalooza

Unitarian Church of Barnstable, MA              9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

A gigantic "job-a-like" jamboree for congregation leaders and committee chairs/members to meet in groups formed around congregation tasks or committee functions such as finance, worship, social justice, etc. to learn from one another about approaches to the various tasks.

Oct 28             BCD Board of Directors meeting

Location - TBA                                               6:30 - 9:00 pm

November

Nov 9              Youth Overnight Con (one night)

Location - TBA

Nov 20-21       BCD Office closed for Thanksgiving

December

Dec 24-Jan 1  BCD Office closed for holidays

2014 Dates

Jan 31             Youth Overnight Con (2 nights)

Location - TBA

Mar 14-16      Allies for Racial Equity 2014 Conference

Rocky River, OH

Apr 2-5           UU-United Nations Office Intergenerational Spring Seminar on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

New York City, NY

Apr 26                        Youth Overnight Con (one night)

May 3             BCD Spring Conference and Annual Meeting

Location - TBA

Jun 25-29       General Assembly

Providence, RI

Presidents Council Annual Gathering Expanded This Year

For over 15 years congregation presidents have met annually for networking and discussions at the Presidents Council. This year the BCD Board encourages presidents to invite their ministers and religious education director to be part of the discussions as a congregation team. The morning starts with breakfast prepared by the BCD Board then moves into discussions to share information, questions and ideas about issues of common interest.

The Council will be held at First Parish Church in Taunton. [Directions at http://www.firstparishtaunton.org/contact-us/map-directions ] It starts at 8:30 with check-in and breakfast and concludes at 12:00.

There is no fee for the gathering, but registration is requested for planning. Call or email by September 25 the BCD office at 508-559-6650 / BallouChanning@verizon.net with the names of attendees.

Help BCD Office Update Email Rosters and Directory

The BCD Administrator asks that congregation offices that have not already done so, to please send in the name and email address of a new president, minister, religious education director or music director. Send to ballouchanning@verizon.net.

Also, if the Directory Questionnaire that was sent out in June has not been returned to the BCD Office the Administrator asks that it be completed and sent to ballouchanning@verizon.net by September 5.

General Assembly Items

1. Workshop/Program proposals. The deadline for submitting a workshop or program proposal has been moved from October 1 to November 1. Go to www.uua.org/ga to get the latest information about submitting a program proposal.   Workshop and other programs should, in direct way, relate to the GA theme of "Love Reaches Out" that asks UU to explore way for Unitarian Universalism and UU values to reach beyond the congregation walls.
2. Congregation GA contact. The BCD Office would like to have a congregation member specifically identified as the GA Contact who will be the point person to receive and distribute information about GA to the congregation members during the year. Send the individuals name and contact information to the District GA Coordinator, Beth McGregor, at bethGA14@gmail.com
3. Volunteering. Information about applying to be a GA volunteer through the GA Office, which brings with it financial assistance, will be available after the start of the new year on the GA website www.uua.org/ga
4. Home Housing Opportunities. Information about offering home housing opportunities will be sent to congregations later in Fall.

Workshop to Ensure the Future of District Youth Cons

"Building Bridges and Nurturing Bonds" is the theme of a workshop for Youth, Youth Facilitators, DREs, Ministers devoted to discussing and planning for the future of Youth Cons in the BCD. The workshop is being facilitated by Diane Elliott, BCD RE Development Consultant, Karen Fisk, Youth Ministry Facilitator for the Northeast Unitarian Universalist Association Districts, and district youth Yvonne Marcoux, Gare Reid, and Jennifer.

The program includes discussions about what makes Youth Cons safe, fun, and Unitarian Universalist and understand some of the challenges Youth Cons present and how to view these challenges as opportunities for transformation. Participants will also meet and get to know youth leaders, adult youth advisors and religious educators from around the district as well as have tme to learn some new games for youth events and create a list for hosting Youth Cons

The workshop is on Saturday, September 21 from 9:00 to 4:30 at the UU Society of Fairhaven, MA, RSVP by September 17th to Diane Elliott. dianeabbeyelliott@gmail.com