The Ballou Channing District Scholarship Board of Directors has funded fifteen $250 scholarships to assist with GA Registration.  The scholarship recipients will be selected by lottery. Submission deadline has been extended to April 8.  Names will be drawn on April 10. Checks will be sent on or about April 15.  

BCD in Brief issue or contact the BCD office to have a form emailed to you.  Scholarship recipients will be asked to send GA registration receipt to the BCD Office by May 1.

Financial aid is also available through the UUA.  Applications for UUA financial aid are being accepted now. Most are due by March 31.

• 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 of 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.

With the theme "launching a liberal religious Great Awakening in New England" the 2014 Spring Conference and Annual Meeting will convene on May 3, at the First Universalist Society in Franklin, MA.  Justine Sullivan, president of the Clara Barton District, and Laura Graham, president of the Mass Bay District will be co-keynoters.  The Clara Barton and Mass Bay District boards initiated the call in 2013 to New England Unitarian Universalists to have a liberal religious Great Awakening.  Jim Keys, UUA Moderator, will be a special guest, Skyping into to the Conference to talk about the many major changes afoot within the Association.   The Annual Meeting will follow the presentations.  

Immediately after the Annual Meeting the BCD Board of Directors will host a reception for retiring District Executive, Rev. Bill Zelazny.

Details of the Conference, Annual Meeting and reception are still being developed.  Information will be sent to congregation offices and leaders by the end of March.

The annual congregation certification was recently completed. Forty-one of the forty-five BCD congregations submitted their certification reports.  Again, this year as for the past several years the district has lost total congregation membership based on the numbers reported as of February 3, 2014.  This is now how we look.

• 5022 members from the reporting congregations  (5094 reported in February 2013)
• 5100 estimated numbers for the district including the 4 non-reporting congregations using 2013 or earlier numbers.   (5172 estimated reported in 2013)
• The largest reported membership - 478;  smallest (non-federated) -- 11
• 1637 children and youth enrolled in congregation religious education programs.  Largest enrollment - 203;  smallest enrollment for congregations with RE programs - 2.

The new logo of the Unitarian Universalist Association was recently unveiled.  The new logo is part of a larger branding initiative that has a mission of helping UUs improve the way we share our faith and values to a wider audience, in other words, to help people know what we are all about as a faith tradition.  The new logo, only one small part of the total branding initiative, is important  because it is a visible identification of Unitarian Universalism. 

The new logo is now available in various sizes and formats for congregations to download and use as part of websites, Facebook pages, newsletter, event advertizing, etc.  Download the logo at http://www.uua.org/communications/art/uuachalice/index.shtml

Read more about the new logo in a special message from UUA President Rev. Peter Morales at

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

• Developing Multigenerational Ministry in Your Congregation - May 17, 2014

(A Ballou Channing District workshop)

Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Falmouth, MA   www.uuffm.org

• Sermon Writing for Lay Preachers -- May 17, 2014

(A Clara Barton/Mass Bay District workshop)

First Parish Weston, MA  http://www.firstparishweston.org/welcome.html

The Rev. Sue Phillips will lead a hands-on workshop that will give participants an understanding of what makes good sermons good and how to transform kernels of spiritual wisdom into a worshipful sermon.  Participants will have the opportunity to:

•    Reflect on the structure and content of meaningful, memorable sermons
•    Learn how to translate an idea into a powerful sermon
•    Consider presentation and speaking tips

This workshop is sponsored by the Clara Barton/Mass Bay Districts, but is open to members of Ballou Channing District congregations.   $50 registration (includes handouts and refreshments

Register after April 1 at http://www.cbd-mbd-uua.org/drupal/content/sermon-writing-lay-preachers

The Congregation Poll to determine the next congregational study/action issues (CSAI) closed on February 3.  Six proposes CSAI received enough votes to be placed on the agenda for consideration at a GA business session this June: Escalating Inequality, Gun violence: A Public Health Issue, Renewing and Securing Our American Democracy, Ending the War on Terror, and Empowerment: Age and Ability Reconsidered. 

More information about the social witness process of the UUA is available at  http://www.uua.org/statements/process/index.shtml.

Nominations for the 2014 Stewardship Sermon Award are now being accepted.

http://www.uua.org/giving/awardsscholarships/stewardshipsermon/index.shtml

Congregations, families, individuals, youth groups, community groups, and others are invited to build a food garden at home or in the community to sponsor one for a family in Haiti. 

If 100 groups participate, and each raises $250 (donation or sales) the UUSC will be able to help 100 Haitian families receive training and materials to grow their own food and achieve food sovereignty and sustainability. The $250 provides materials for tire gardens, including platform construction, compost, organic seeds, maintenance, and technical assistance from an agronomist. Food sustainability can be at the heart of lifelong sustainability for thriving families and communities in Haiti. Once Haitian families don't have to buy all their food, they are better able to cover other basic expenses like school fees for their children. How-to resources are available from the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee to help grow your garden and raise funds to sponsor a garden in Haiti. Sign up now. Questions? Contact: volunteerservices@uusc.org

Mar 15            Women's Federation grants application deadline

Mar 29            Cape & Island Leadership Cluster meeting                      11:00 AM

First Parish, Brewster, MA

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

Mar 31            GA volunteer and scholarships deadline

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

                        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

May 17           Developing Multigenerational Ministry                              TBA

Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Falmouth, MA

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 8, 201