Last updated: 05/18/2011

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Metro NY Minute -- October  2005

  
 
Upcoming Workshops and Meetings 
 
Visit the District's Calendar and Events page for these and other events:
 
bullet New York State Convention of Universalists Annual Conference: October 21-22, at the UU Church of Buffalo (NY); Keynote Speaker will be the Rev. Rosemary Bray McNatt, Minister at the Fourth Universalist Society (Manhattan). For information, visit the NYSCU website or click here for a flyer.
bullet Liberal Religious Educators Association (LREDA) Fall Conference: October 21-24, at the Doubletree Hotel, Philadelphia PA.
bullet Senior High Youth Advisor Workshop:  Sponsored by the District, October 8, at the UU Congregation at Shelter  Rock, Manhasset NY. To register, visit the RE-sources page at the District website.
bullet Colleague Conversations: Sponsored by the District,  November 2, at the Community Church of New York UU, Manhattan. For Parish  Minister and Religious Educator teams in new relationship. For information,  contact Andrea Lerner or Harry Green.
bullet Young Adult Conference: Sponsored by the District Young  Adult Steering Committee, November 4-6, location tba. For Information,  contact Laura Beth  Brown.
bullet Diverse & Revolutionary UU Multicultural Ministries (DRUUMM) Annual Conference: November 4-6, at Murray Grove, Lanoka Harbor NJ. For information, contact  -
bullet Elementary OWL Training: Sponsored by the District, November 11-13, UU Congregation at Shelter Rock in Manhasset NY. To register, visit the RE-sources page at the District website.
bullet UU Women's Association (UUWA) Fall Renewal Weekend: Sponsored by the UU Women's Assocation and the Metro NY District Women and Religion Committee, November 11-13, at St. Josephat's Retreat House in Glen Cove, Long Island, NY. All UU women in the District are invited. Contact Reena Kondo at 518-226-0438 (212-724-0438 after November 1).
bullet Young Religious UU (YRUU) Leadership Development Con:  Sponsorship and location to be announced, November 18-20. For information, contact Andrea Lerner.
bullet A Conversation with the District Board: Sponsored by the District, December 10, at the Unitarian Society, A UU Congregation, East Brunswick NJ. For information, contact Jerry Muntz.
bullet Advanced Youth Advisory Training: Sponsored by the District, January 20-22, 2006, location to be announced. For information, contact Andrea Lerner.
bullet Young Religious UU (YRUU) Con: Sponsored by the UU Congregation of Princeton, February 3-5, 2006, at the UU Congregation of Princeton (NJ). For information, contact Genna Ayres.
bullet Anti-Racism & Diversity Committee (ARDC) Conclave: Sponsored by the District, February 11, 2006, location to be announced. For information, contact Jennifer Hampshire.   
bullet 6th National Conference for Mid-Size  Congregations: Sponsored by the UUA, March 2-5, 2006, at the Hyatt Regency Phoenix.
 
Did You Know . . . ?
 
. . . The second in a Series of Conversations between the District board and congregational leaders to explore creating and sustaining healthy congregations is scheduled for December 10 at the Unitarian Society, a UU Congregation, in East Brunswick NJ. Click here for further details.

. . . The time is now! to nominate worthy UU individuals and congregations for the 2006 District Awards. Awards will be presented at the District's 2006 Annual Meeting April 28-29, 2006, in Stamford CT

. . . The 2005-06 District Directory, part of the District's online Contact Information System, is now available at a password-protected website. Contact your congregation's Minister, Board President, Director of Religious Education, or Administrator if you'd like a copy.

. . . New salary recommendations, effective January 1, 2006, are now available from the UUA. District Compensation Consultant Lynn Dash can help congregations work with the recommendations.

. . . The First Unitarian Society of Rockland County (Pomona NY) is sponsoring "Come Sing a Song With Me," a workshop by Steve Fenner, music director of a small congregation in Vermont, on November 5 to explore "tricks of the church musician's trade." All interested UUs are welcome. 

  
More Good Stuff to Check Out!

RE-Sources for religious education leaders

Job opportunities around the District

SmallTalk for or small congregations

Action Alerts from the UUA Washington Office for Advocacy

InterConnections for lay leaders

UUA Monthly Mailing to all congregations

UUWorld.org, UUA's online magazine

It Bears Repeating!

. . . The Fall 2005 Chalice Lighters Call will help the Fourth Unitarian Society of Westchester (Mohegan Lake NY) to engage its minister for half-time service. The Society has been lay-led for most of its 48 years, only recently hiring the Rev. Dawn Sangrey on a quarter-time basis.
 
. . . The UU Fellowship of the Poconos (Stroudsburg PA) returned from the summer hiatus with its new UUA designation as a Welcoming Congregation. Plans are underway to demonstrate support for the issues and concerns of the GLBT (gay, lesbian, bisexual,  transgender) community.
 
. . . The UU Congregation of Central Nassau (Garden City NY) will host a dinner in honor of UUA President Rev. William Sinkford's visit to the congregation on October 9.  
 
. . . The First Universalist Church of Southold (NY) provides safe shelter and hot meals for the homeless two Fridays each month as part of their participation in Maureen's Haven, a multi-church program to help the homeless.
 
. . . The UU Congregation of the Catskills (Kingston NY) will be honored by Ulster County Big Brothers Big Sisters at their annual dinner October 14. The UUs were the first in the county to join the Children of Promise program, which engages the faith community to mentor children of incarcerated parents.
 
. . . The UU Fellowship of Bellport (NY) makes plans for its unique Holiday Victorian Tea on December 10. This is the 10th year the fellowship has recreated a Victorian tea during the holiday season.
 
. . . The Upper Delaware UU Fellowship (Beach Lake PA) will hold its 13th Annual 5-mile Walk For Social Justice on October 16. This year all funds raised will be distributed to the Habitat for Humanity, Victims Intervention Program, and Rape Intervention Service & Education.
 
. . . The UU Society of South Suffolk (Bay Shore NY) is participating in God's October Surprise, a month-long series of events in October as part of the organization known as the Tent of Abraham, Hagar, and Sarah striving for a shared spiritual concern for peace, justice, and healing.
 
. . . InterConnections Resources now include Drive Time Essays for UU lay leaders, 21 short essays designed to engage, inspire, uplift, enlighten, rejuvenate, and motivate. The essays, as read by the Rev. Rosemary Bray McNatt and Denise Davidoff among many others, are available on CD. They are also available in written form in PDF format.
 
. . . Campus ministry training is being held in Worcester MA on November 11-12 at the UU Church of Worcester. The cost is $20 and you can register online.
 
. . . The Internal Revenue Service has authorized an increase to 48.5 cents per mile for employees' business use of cars; the volunteer rate remains the same at 14 cents per mile. The rate is effective during September, October, November, and December 2005.
 
. . . Automated External Defibrillators (AED) are used to stimulate the heart when a person collapses in cardiac arrest. UUA Human Resources Director Pete Rogers recommends the following website for more information: www.aedhelp.com/.
 
. . . The Unitarian Universalist Church of Amherst in Williamsville NY has become the first church in New York State to purchase 100% wind energy for its church buildings.
 
Milestones and Transitions
 
The Hollis (NY) UU Congregation and the UU Church of Flushing (NY) celebrate their merger into the UU Congregation of Queens (Flushing NY). Final papers were signed on September 14.

The UU Fellowship of the Poconos (Stroudsburg PA) entered its first full-time church home at 940 Ann St in Stroudsburg on October 1.

The Morristown (NJ) Unitarian Fellowship marks its 50th Year Anniversary with a special celebration on October 22.

  

In Memorium

The Rev. Dr. Donald S. Harrington, Minister Emeritus of the Community Church of New York UU (Manhattan), died in Romania on September 16 at the age of 91. Read about the life of this extraordinary UU as covered in the Harvard Square Library and the New York Times.
 
The First Unitarian Congregational Society in Brooklyn (NY) welcomes Charlotte Cowtan as Interim Minister.
 
The UU Church at Washington Crossing  (Titusville NJ) has welcomed Nancy Vignolla-Torres as Acting Director of Religious Education.
 
Cheryl M. Walker will be ordained by the Community Church of New York UU (Manhattan) on October 9 at 4:30 p.m. She is Assitant Minister at the Unitarian Church of All Souls (Manhattan).
 
The Rev. Alison Miller will be installed by the Morristown (NJ) Unitarian Fellowship on November 13.
 
The Rev. Debra Haffner was inducted into the Norwalk High School Wall of Honor on October 2 for leadership in religion and sexuality.
 

Guided by our living faith, the Unitarian Universalist District of Metropolitan New York exists to be a source of connection and transformation for our congregations and our larger world.