Carbonfund.org, the UUA's partner for offsetting carbon at General Assembly, is set to launch a very ambitious tree-planting campaign, coupled with a dining rewards program. The campaign is simple:

Participants go to https://www.carbonfund.org/plant-trees-dine-free and select from among the three options and get an eGift Card from http://Restaurant.com 

* Plant 50 Trees for $50 - Receive a $100 Restaurant.com* eGift Card

* Plant 75 Trees for $75 - Receive a $200 Restaurant.com eGift Card

$500

Carbonfund.org was founded by Unitarian Universalist, Eric Carlson.

Interested in experimenting with Crowdsourcing as a fundraiser, but confused by the ever growing number of platforms? Here is an excellent blog post that will help you determine which platform is right for your congregation or  organization: 

http://forums.techsoup.org/cs/community/b/tsblog/archive/2013/09/03/which-crowdfunding-platform-is-best-for-your-organization.aspx    You need to take into consideration the scope of your project, the risk factor (some platforms require that you meet your goal or you get none of the funds raised), any fees involved, and the track record of success for any given platform. For an example of a UU fund on a crowdsourcing platform, see: http://cbd-mbd-uua.org/drupal/faithful-risk-fund.

Looking for a unique book to give this Christmas?  Check out the offering at the UUA Bookstore, such as:

• Where Two Worlds Touch While caring for her mother, who is living with Alzheimer's disease, author Jade Angelica's learned a lot about grief, the nature of selfhood, and the unexpected gifts of Alzheimer's disease. She also found a purpose and embarked on her life's work-to teach that people with Alzheimer's can have relationships, meaningful lives, joy, and growth. Where Two Worlds Touch is both a spiritual memoir and a pastoral guide for those who love someone with Alzheimer's.
•  "Thou, Dear God"  ": Prayers That Open Hearts and Spirits. A collection of sixty-eight prayers by Martin Luther King, Jr. Arranged thematically in six parts--with prayers for spiritual guidance, special occasions, times of adversity, times of trial, uncertain times, and social justice--         
• American Plastic: Boob Jobs, Credit Cards, and Our Quest for Perfection Sociologist Laurie Essig traces the history of plastic surgery, tracks the effect of fashion and porn on our desire to "fix" ourselves, and explores our image- and youth-obsessed culture.

Check out the selection at www.uua.org/bookstore. 

The current Interweave newsletter has articles about: Interweave Continental Board meeting in Boston, Interweave Continental Needs Assessment Reveals All, Employment Nondiscrimination Act, and Remembering Transgender Day of Remembrance. For this issue and archived issues go to: http://interweavecontinental.ning.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=144&Itemid=157 

Dec 24-Jan 1 BCD Office closed for holidays

Jan 11             BCD Board of Directors Winter Retreat

                        Unitarian Church of Sharon, Sharon, MA

[a Clara Barton-Mass Bay Districts workshop]                                 

Harvard (MA) Unitarian Universalist Church         9:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

[a Clara Barton-Mass Bay Districts workshop]                                 

First Parish of Sudbury, MA

[a Clara Barton-Mass Bay Districts workshop]                                 

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

May 3                         BCD   Spring Conference and Annual Meeting

First Universalist Society of Franklin

Jun 25-29       General Assembly

Providence, RI

 ^# Change of information from last BCD in Brief 

@New from last BCD in Brief