Many GA related things are happening in March.

• March is the month to apply to be a GA volunteer.

GA volunteers get free GA registration in return for 24 hours of volunteer service at GA for adults, 14 hours for youth. The application forms will be posted on www.uua.org/ga on March 1. Volunteers need to apply by March 31. Check out the volunteer opportunities at http://www.uua.org/ga/registration/financialaid/14930.shtml

• GA Registration / Housing Reservations open March 3.

General Assembly registration information and forms can be found at http://www.uua.org/ga/registration/index.shtml.  If you register before May 1, you get a lower registration rate.

For housing, you'll find a selection of hotels, dormitories, and UU home hospitality to choose from, at a range of prices. Descriptions of the housing options will be posted soon on

• March is the month to apply for Financial Aid.

Here' what's available for financial aid from the BCD and the UUA.  Applications for UUA financial aid will be available March 1, and most are due by March 31. 

•  Ballou Channing District Scholarships. Fifteen $250 scholarships to assist with GA Registration.  See next article for details
•  UUA Congregational Matching Grant Scholarships.  The GA Planning Committee will provide a limited number of free registrations and a match of your congregation's contribution toward your attendance, up to $250. A recommendation and financial pledge from your congregation is required when application is made.  See  www.uua.org/ga/registration/financialaid/15005.shtml
•  UUA Congregation President Registration Rebate. The Unitarian Universalist Association Board of Trustees has authorized 500 $100 rebates on the registration fee congregational presidents who attend GA as delegates.  Individuals should register at the regular rate. Instructions for how to receive the registration rebate will be provided at General Assembly.
• UUA Youth and Young Adult Scholarships provide free registration and up to $500 toward expenses. Information at www.uua.org/re/youth/events/gacaucus/56024.shtml. The application deadline is March 31.
• Youth Group Scholarships There are also a limited number of competitive $1000 Youth Group Scholarships for youth groups who have gotten organized to raise money and bring most of their group to GA. Information at www.uua.org/re/youth/events/gacaucus/56024.shtml.  
• Davidoff Fund Scholarships. A scholarship to cover the cost of GA registration for lay delegates from congregations who have not been represented by lay leaders at GA in the last three years. Information and application at www.uua.org/ga/registration/financialaid/15005.shtml  Application deadline is April 30.

The District will offer fifteen $250 scholarships to assist with General Assembly registration. The scholarship recipients will be selected by lottery. Submission deadline is April 1. The drawing will be at 1:00, April 3.  The checks will be sent on April 10.  

DRE Grant for Growth provides funds to congregations to support religious education directors to get actively involved in outreach and congregation promotion in the community.

The grant is a pilot project.  The money is to provide funds to congregations to increase paid hours for a religious education director to engage in activities such as accompanying families to sport events, concerts or festivals where they can talk to people about the local Unitarian Universalist congregation, especially its religious education program.  Grant amounts will not exceed 10% of the DRE's current salary to be matched at least by an equal amount by the congregations.  All of the money is to be used to increase DRE hours for outreach/growth activities.

Nominations for the annual Award for Distinguished Service to the Cause of Unitarian Universalism, one of the most prestigious awards given by the Unitarian Universalist Association, are being received by the UUA Award Committee.  Candidates for this award should, over a considerable period of time, have strengthened the institutions of our Unitarian Universalist denomination or clarified our message in an extraordinary way. They should have exemplified what Unitarian Universalism stands for.

Ministers or laypersons may be nominated. Nominations should include supporting reasons and information about the candidates.  

The deadline for receipt of nominations is March 17, 2014. Send nominations to Susan Ritchie, Chair of the UUA Distinguished Service Award Committee, c/o Stephanie Carey Maron, UUA, 25 Beacon Street, Boston, MA  02108; or by email to sritchie@uua.org

The Unitarian Universalist Association is launching an association-wide branding initiative to present Unitarian Universalism in a comprehensive, identifiable, easily recognized manner.  The initiative's purpose is to help congregations reach out to the larger community, especially the millennial generation and individuals and families who may be currently unchurched.

The Rev. Dr. Terasa Cooley, the UUA's Program and Strategy Officer, said the new initiative developed out of a growing realization that the UUA and its congregations have been sending "inconsistent" messages about Unitarian Universalism into the larger world.  "We have not been very good about speaking to people who don't know anything about Unitarian Universalism," said Cooley. "We've never come up with a succinct way to share our faith."   A study guide is being developed to will help congregations become more fluent in explaining Unitarian Universalism and explore how they can better present themselves to the larger world.

A new UUA Logo was unveiled recently as the first step in a broader initiative.  The logo is completely different from prior logos that had the flaming chalice and blue as the dominate color.

The full press release from the UUA where the new logo can be seen is available at:

www.uua.org/news/pressroom/pressreleases/293249.shtml

Read full story about the release of the logo and the branding initiative in the February 17 issues uuworld.org at www.uuworld.org/news/articles/293197.shtml

The UU Women's Federation is currently accepting applications for our three funding programs.  The application deadline for all grants is March 15, 2014. 

·         The Equity and Justice Grants Programs gives grants to UU congregations and organizations for projects that improve the lives of women and/or girls and address the causes of gender oppression. Information at http://www.uuwf.org/fundingprograms/equityandjusticegrants.html The Margaret Fuller Grants Programs gives grants to UUs doing projects focusing on UU religious feminisms:  Information at: http://www.uuwf.org/fundingprograms/margaretfullergrants.html The Marjorie Bowens-Wheatley Scholarship Program supports aspirants or candidates to the UU ministry or enrollees in the UUA's religious education or music leadership credentialing programs who identify as women of color, Latina, or Hispanic: Information at http://www.uuwf.org/fundingprograms/mbwscholarships.html  

The UUCSJ is a formal collaboration of the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) and the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC). Its mission is to increase the capacity of UUs to catalyze justice. Building on several years of successful UUA-UUSC partnership, especially in the area of disaster relief, the UUCSJ combines the resources of both organizations to offer a broader and more effective portfolio of service learning and justice education experiences. 

The College has added new experiential learning trips and new youth justice trainings.  These programs allow UUs of all ages, from all over the country, to be immersed in real hands-on experiences. To learn more about these programs go to http://uucsj.org/february-2014-update

April 3 - 5 (with youth arriving April 2) in New York City.  The 2014 seminar will be on the rights of indigenous peoples and environmental justice. The Intergenerational Seminar is organized to allow youth and adults from around the United States and gain a deep understanding on topics of global concern.   Information and registration is at http://www.uua.org/international/events/seminar/index.shtml.  Early registration discount deadline is March 7.   Information about scholarship or financial assistance can be obtained by contacting the office at unitednations@uua.org,   

Mar 14-16      Allies for Racial Equity 2014 Conference

Rocky River, OH

http://alliesforracialequity.wildapricot.org 

Mar 14-16      UUs for Jewish Awareness Conference

Morristown Unitarian Fellowship in Morristown, New Jersey.

www.fuub.org/home/conference-of-unitarian-universalists-for-jewish-awareness-march-14-16th

Mar 31            BCD Board Meeting                                                 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Location TBA

Apr 2-5           UU-United Nations Office Intergenerational Spring Seminar

on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

New York City, NY

http://www.uua.org/international/events/seminar/index.shtml

Apr 8              South Shore Leadership Cluster                                         TBA

                        Location TBA 

Apr 6              Rev. Pamela Barz, Scituate Minister, Installation3:00 pm

                        First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church Scituate, Scituate, MA

May 3             BCD   Spring Conference and Annual Meeting

First Universalist Society of Franklin

Jun 19             BCD Office closes for summer break

Jun 25-29       General Assembly

Providence, RI

(Please print or type clearly)

Name ______________________________________________________________________

Address ____________________________________________________________________

City _____________________________________ State ___________  ZIP _____________

Phone _________________________  E-mail _____________________________________

Congregation _______________________________________________________________

Is this your first General Assembly?  ____  Yes   ____ No

Affirmation

I will register to attend the 2014 General Assembly in Providence, RI.  If I cancel my GA registration I will reimburse the District for the amount of the grant.

Signature _____________________________________________  Date _________________

Mail to:  BCD Office, 325 West Elm Street, Brockton, MA 02301 by April 1, 2014