| | Southern Region UUA E-News Journal
Evangelizing the South for Unitarian Universalism
| | A message from Natalie Briscoe, Congregation Life Consultant for the Southern Region | | Summer is Here! Summer is quickly approaching, and that is the perfect time for Unitarian Universalists of all ages to gather in intentional community. We have several opportunities throughout the Southern Region to practice living in covenant, deepen our shared Faith, worship and learn together, and don't forget relax and have some fun! Please check out one of these great camps and conferences during the summer: Read more. | | News of Regional Interest | | Mountain Movers Program - 2013 Mountain Movers is a grass-roots program being launched by The Mountain Retreat and Learning Center. It is a 2013 initiative of The Mountain's Board of Trustees with the following objectives: - Create a community of individuals who are called Mountain Movers - people who love and value The Mountain and feel a sense of ownership and commitment to the treasured place that is The Mountain Retreat and Learning Center.
- Communicate effectively with Mountain Movers so that they are informed about activities, programs, opportunities and issues at The Mountain.
- Invite all who value The Mountain to become Mountain Movers, reaching out especially to Unitarian Universalists in congregations of the Southern Region.
- Identify Congregation Mountain Movers and Cluster Mountain Movers to help recruit Mountain Movers and help coordinate the Mountain Movers Program. (Those who are already contributing Mountain Members and Ambassadors will be made Mountain Movers automatically.)
- Encourage active involvement of Mountain Movers in The Mountain's programs and activities, leadership opportunities, and stewardship efforts.
- Work with Mountain Movers to connect The Mountain and its activities and opportunities to Unitarian Universalist congregations and their district, cluster and regional events, offering use of The Mountain's facilities where appropriate, bringing communications from The Mountain to the sites of these Unitarian Universalist gatherings, and inviting dialogue and conversation about The Mountain.
| | Presidents' Convocations 2014 Building the Beloved Community The goal for this year's Presidents' Convocations is to come together in a learning community, to network, share and deepen our experience. The convocations are an opportunity to gather with other congregational Presidents and Regional Staff, and to learn from one another. We will open up possibilities and develop friendships. We will share expertise and stories. There will be three Presidents' Convocations in June. Please choose the one that is the closest or the one that best fits your schedule. If the President of your congregation cannot attend, please send the President-elect or Vice President. We will gather from Friday evening throughSunday noon. May 31 - June 1, The Mountain, Highlands, NC Staff: DeAnn Peterson and Kathy McGowan June 7 - 9, LaQuinta Inn, 8300 John Carpenter Hwy, Dallas, TX Staff: Nancy Foreman and Natalie Briscoe June 7 - 9, UU Fellowship of Marion County, Summerfield, FL Staff: Bob Taylor and Connie Goodbread More info and Register here. | | Have you ever wondered how your staff keeps up with all the leadership of all the congregations in the Southern Region? We use the UUA's database,Raiser's Edge, aka My.UUA.org, which is the repository of a wealth of information, including the home addresses for all to whom UU World is sent. The Contact List for the Regional Enews consists largely of email addresses from the My.UUA.orgdatabase. New contact addresses are added at the first of every month. The Staff and Leaders portion of the database provides us with names, addresses, phone and email contact information, position (President, Treasurer, Director of Music, etc.) and congregation. We are able to download a list of, for example, all Congregational Treasurers in the Region, or all DREs...but ONLY IF the data has been entered at the congregational level. If it is available, we can send messages of importance to selected leaders. You would not be reading this article if someone had not entered your information. One of the safeguards of My.UUA.org is the fact that ONLY a congregational "Data Services Updater" (usually the Administrator, President or Minister) has the authority to make changes to that information. Regional staff cannot change your information. That means, of course, that if the information in the database for your congregation is out of date or - equally bad - incomplete, our attempts to communicate with you are likely to be thwarted. Leaders and Administrators: Please familiarize yourselves with (click here) My.UUA.org., and be sure that someone in your congregation is designated a "Data Services Updater" to add to the Staff and Leaders information on a regular basis. Review a one-page CHEAT SHEET. | | SWUUSI - JULY 21-26, Western Hills Guest Ranch, Hubert, OK New event registration system begins with SWUUSI 2013 Check out the new Southern Region Registration Data Base and register for SWUUSI HERE. Please take the time to register yourself and your family. Our new events website is the home for registration information of all Southern Region members, and will apply to current and future events. By adding yourself and your family, you will add to Southern Region membership profiles. This information will help us to tailor our events to our membership and - occasionally - to inquire about the types of events, speakers and topics that interest you. And finally, once you are included in the directory, you will not have to re-enter informationfor yourself and your family members when you register for events. It's "one and done" until you need to change your information. Here's how to register: - Create an account for the website with a username which will be your Household ID. This should be short and meaningful, but will need to be unique among all users.
- Add each member of your family to the directory, creating a unique family ID for each member.
- Then, when registering for an event, simply list each family member (using their family ID) who will be attending and their event specific preferences, if any are applicable. Calculate your fees and pay on-line via credit card.
We hope that our regional community will take advantage of this new system in order to streamline our outreach and make your registration for our events more convenient. | | Developing Elders of Our Faith The Dwight Brown Leadership Experience (DBLE) will be held August 4-9 in Denton TX. DBLE is a weeklong course for individuals who are well grounded in UU principles and who want to take things to the next level. In addition to taking a deep dive into their personal faith, participants will learn about systems theory as it applies to congregational behavior and work on developing their own leadership abilities. More information about the process to nominate participants can be found HERE. This year DBLE will allow some congregations to send more than 4 individuals to the program. If your congregation is interested in sending a larger delegation, please contact the DBLE Dean, Scot Bealer, smbealer@gmail.com. | | The Living Legacy Project offers its 2013 Pilgrimage to civil rights sites in Alabama and Mississippi. The experience will run from September 21 - 28. We will visit Birmingham, Marion, Selma, Hayneville, and Montgomery in Alabama, then Meridian, Philadelphia, Jackson, Greenwood, Money, Ruleville, and Oxford in Mississippi. Along with visiting historic sites, we meet with civil rights movement veterans, many of them unsung heroes and foot soldiers of the movement. Additionally, we spend time exploring what today's racism, white privilege, and barriers to equality look like in the Southern towns we visit -- and in our own hometowns. Early Bird registration runs through June 30, 2013. More information. Poster for your bulletin board. | | Small Group Ministry Institute The UU Small Group Ministry Network and the Central East Regional Group UU will sponsor aSmall Group Ministry Institute 2013 at Murray Grove, NJ Monday, July 22 - Friday, July 26. New and experienced program organizers, ministers, religious educators and congregational leaders will learn about and practice Small Group Ministry through shared experiences, hands-on workshops, presentations, daily group sessions, and networking. Flyer and schedule. REGISTER here. | | News from Districts, Clusters and Congregations | | The UU Fellowship of Gainesville FL will sponsor and host Our Whole Lives (OWL) Training -7th-9th grade level - for facilitators of OWL sexuality education programs May 31st - June 2nd, 2013. Read more and register here. | | News of Religious Professionals | | Open Staff Positions in the Southern Region Congregations Seeking Partial Time Consulting Ministry (for full time, see uua.org) Georgia Mountains UU Church, Dahlonega, GA (1/4 or 1/2FT) UU Congregation of Lakeland, FL (1/2FT) Spirit of Life UUs, Odessa, FL (1/4FT) 1st UU Church of New Orleans, LA (1/2FT) Aiken UU Church, SC (1/3FT) UU Congregation of the Outer Banks, Kitty Hawk, NC (1/2FT - Interim) First Unitarian Church of Orlando, FL is seeking an interim (1 year) Coordinator of Religious Education. For more information and to apply, click HERE. UU Congregation of Asheville, NC has an opening for a Children's and Youth Coordinator, to begin June 17, 2013. Interested candidates: submit a cover letter and resume to uuca.dre@gmail.com. Deadline is May 24, 2013. UU Congregation of Asheville seeks a half-time Music Director, to begin August 1, 2013. This person will work with the Lead Minister to develop, maintain and promote a program of high-quality music integrated into and complementing the worship ministry of the church. Please send cover letter, resume and references to: Rev. Mark Ward, Lead Minister, Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Asheville, 1 Edwin Pl., Asheville, NC 28801,minister@uuasheville.org If you have interest (or an opening to post), please contact our Regional Transitions staff member, Rev. Kenn Hurto, 239.560.5628 or khurto@uua.org. | | RE Week at the Mountain Sunday, July 7- Friday, July 12
The Rev. Dr. Debra Haffner and Marie Alford-Harkey, M.Div., will lead attendees in Sexuality for Religious Educators, a program designed to offer participants the knowledge and skills they need to address sexuality issues in the context of their faith communities. It will provide opportunities for skill development in family counseling, sexuality education, and creating safe congregations. All that AND it's approved for credentialing portfolios! | | UUMA Guideline for compensating guest speakers The UUMA establishes a recommended fee schedule. The current one, adopted in 2011: It is generally understood that rites of passage are offered freely to contributing members of a minister's congregation. The following fees apply to non-members/contributors and to requests for service from those persons and congregations a minister does not contractually serve. NOTES: If overnight lodging is required, the host society assumes the cost. Some ministers prefer home hospitality; others are more comfortable in a motel or hotel. The decision should be made by the minister. The UUMA strongly urges that all financial arrangements between the minister and individuals or congregations be clearly stated and agreed to in advance. The use of the funds for these services shall be left entirely to the discretion of the minister. | | The Unitarian Universalist Service Committee is seeking an Associate for Youth and Young Adult Programs. This is a regular full-time position located within the UU College of Social Justice, a partnership between the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC) and the UUA. Find more information here. | | UBarU Summer Camps, Texas Hill Country Registration is now open for the following camps: Primary (8-11, rising 3-6th grades)) - June 30 - July 6 Junior (12-14, rising 7-9th grades)- July 7- 13 Senior (14-18, rising 9-12th grades) - July 14 - 20. To register, visit www.ubaru.org. Print and post a flyer in your church. | | MountainCamps at The Mountain, Highlands, NC Registration is now open for the following camps: Beginning (ages 6-8), 6/23-28 Elementary I (9-11), 6/16-28 Elementary II (9-11), 6/16-21 Intermediate (12-14), 6/30-7/12 Senior High (15-17), 7/14-26 Explorers (12-14), 7/14-26 Service and Adventure (15-17), 6/30-7/12 Ascender (16-17), 6/30-7/26 Counselors-in-Training (17-18), 6/16-7/26 More info and Register here. | | Summer Camps at ShelterNeck UU Camp, Burgaw, NC Registration is now open for the following camps: Primary (8-11, rising 3-6th grades)) - June 30 - July 6 Junior (12-14, rising 7-9th grades)- July 7- 13 Senior (14-18, rising 9-12th grades) - July 14 - 20. Get more info and Register here. | | New Orleans Youth Justice Training Social justice education and hands-on action for youth will occur August 3rd-10th, in New Orleans, with the Center for Ethical Living and Social Justice Renewal. UUCSJ's 2013 high school youth programs are designed both for those who are newly inspired to take action against the injustices of our world, and for seasoned social justice youth leaders. More information here. | | Do you have news you want to share with UUs in the Southern Region? Your comments and suggestions for the newsletter are always appreciated. Our target dates for publication are the 1st and 15th of each month. Please send comments, articles or announcements to southernregion@uua.org. Next Southern Region newsletter: mid-April 2013. | | Our Congregational Life Consultants: Natalie Briscoe, nbriscoe@uua.org, 243-673-4983, focus TBA Connie Goodbread, cgoodbread@uua.org, 727-772-3508, (Focus: Leadership & Faith Development) The Reverend Kenn Hurto, khurto@uua.org, 239-560-5628, (Focus: Professional Leadership Transitions) Maggie Lovins, mlovins@uua.org, 850-525-6858, will begin 8/1/2013, facus TBA
Kathy McGowan, kmcgowan@uua.org, 518-859-9267, focus TBA The Reverend Sue Sinnamon, ssinnamon@uua.org, 757-254-6389, (Focus: Evangelism & Growth, Growth Strategies) on sabbatical until 6/1/13 Our Administrators: Kathy Charles, kcharles@uua.org, 281-216-6999, (Event Planning) Jessica Curren, jcurren@uua.org, 407-894-2119, (Congregational Connections) All team members are available to help congregational leaders in the Region. Please contact the one you know or whichever one's program focus seems to best serve your need. | - May 17 - 19, Region - Universalist Convocation, Outlaw's Bridge Univ. Church, Seven Springs, NC
- May 31 - June 2, Region - Presidents' Convocation, The Mountain, Highlands, NC
- June 7 - 9, Region - Presidents' Convocations, Dallas, La Quinta Inn
- June 7 - 9, Region - Presidents' Convocation, Orlando, UUF of Marion County, Summerfield, FL
- June 16 - 28, Region - Elementary I Camp (ages 9-11), The Mountain, Highlands, NC
- June 16 - 21, Region - Elementary II Camp (ages 9-11), The Mountain, Highlands, NC
- June 16 - July 26, Region - Counselors in Training (ages 17-18), The Mountain, Highlands, NC
- June 19 - 23, UUA General Assembly, Louisville, KY
- June 26 - 29, SED - Youth Leadership Retreat, Shelter Neck UU Camp, Burgaw
- June 23 - 28, Region - Beginning Camp (ages 6-8), The Mountain, Highlands, NC
- June 30 - July 6, SWD - UBarU Primary Camp
- June 30 - July 6, SED - Goldmine Youth Leadership Trng, UUF of the Peninsula, Newport News, VA
- June 30 - July 12, Region - Intermediate Camp (ages 12-14), The Mountain, Highlands, NC
- June 30 - July 12, Region - Service & Adventure Program (ages 15-17), The Mountain, Highlands, NC
- June 30 - July 26, Region - Ascender Experience (ages 15-17), The Mountain, Highlands, NC
- July 7 - 12, Region - RE Week at the Mountain, Highlands, NC
- July 7 - 13, SED - Junior High Camp, Shelter Neck UU Camp, Burgaw
- July 7 - 13, SWD - UBarU Junior High Camp
- July 14 - 20, SED - High School Camp, Shelter Neck UU Camp, Burgaw
- July 14 - 20, SWD - UBarU Senior High Camp
- July 14 - 26, Region - Explorers Program (ages 12-14), The Mountain, Highlands, NC
- July 14 - 26, Region - Sr. High Camp (ages 14-17), The Mountain, Highlands, NC
- July 21-27, SUUSI - Southeast UU Sumer Institute, Radford, VA (Registration opens April 12th)
- July 21-26, SWUUSI - Southwestern UU Summer Institute, Western Hills Guest Ranch, Hubert, OK
- August 4 - 9, Region - Dwight Brown Leadership Experience, Dallas
- September 13-15, Region - Life on Fire Conference, Oak Ridge UUC, Oak Ridge, TN
- September 27-29, Region - All District Boards meet, The Mountain, Highlands, NC
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