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Ohio-Meadville District of the UUA |
The UUA Trustee from the Ohio-Meadville District is Patricia Solomon. Her term will end in June of 2009.
The election process of our new trustee is currently in process. If you are interested in running for trustee, please visit the trustee election page for more information.
Here is Pat's column from the June issue of District Doings.
As I approach my last year as your UUA Trustee, I find much of my time absorbed by my role as chair of the UUA Board’s Committee on Committees. The CoC shepherds the process of involving over 200 volunteers in meaningful work on UUA committees. So it was great to connect with so many of you at District Assembly in Pittsburgh in April. I also look forward to the Friday night gatherings that precede most OMD Board meetings, where congregational leaders from the area are invited to meet with the Board. Our District Executive has done a great job of giving those gatherings an educational focus, as well as an opportunity for dialogue and a springboard for collaboration. I hope you will plan to attend when the Board comes to your area.
Congratulations to OMD Folks!
The UU Congregation of Greater Canton, which recently moved into a new building, successfully applied for and received a $16,000 First Home Grant awarded by the Congregational Properties and Loan Commission of the UUA. Way to go, Canton!
Commitment to Anti-Racism/Anti-Oppressions & Multiculturalism
At each Board meeting, a few members are asked to reflect on any aspect of our commitment to Anti-Racism, Anti-Oppressions & Multiculturalism. I focused on the District, including that the OMD Board is taking steps to learn more about AR/AO/MC. Much of the annual Board retreat in June will be devoted to A/R training and introspection. I also pointed out that ministers of color now serve in two of our churches (Charleston WVA and Oberlin OH), plus a seminarian is a frequent guest preacher in Bellville OH. In addition, Pittsburgh First, led by Senior Minister Rev. David Herndon, may be the first in the UUA to settle a minister through the Diversity in Ministry initiative.
On another level, the Committee on Committees which I chair is completing an Orientation Manual for UUA Committee Chairs, and it includes a section on AR/AO/MC. The Board affirmed the guidelines, which are intended to strengthen and clarify expectations for committees and their members. CoC member Rev. Rosemary Bray McNatt, trustee from the Metro New York district, noted, “We need to give people the tools to do the right thing. We’ve come too far for us to behave as if it was optional.”
UUA President Bill Sinkford has said, “I believe that the language of reverence, and its handmaidens, humility and gratitude, offer our best hope for white UUs to understand privilege. It is a window through which we must look.”
"Food for Thought: Is diversity, of all kinds, a goal for your congregation? If so, what actions are you taking to achieve it?"
April UUA Board Meeting, Highlights
I was honored to conduct the Sunday morning service for the Board, which was titled “Ministers & Me.” I talked about knowing and working with a dozen or more ministerial colleagues on the Board over the past seven years, and used excerpts from the Pulitzer Prize winning novel, Gilead, to explore the intricacies of a religious life.
A major item of business was around efforts to ensure a smooth transition from old structures for youth and young adult ministry to new ones. The Board agreed to place a resolution developed by the Youth and Young Adult groups on the General Assembly agenda. The Board also charged the UUA administration with ensuring that transition planning be transparent, and that those responsible for implementation are in authentic relationship with the youth committee and its elected leadership, and directed the Administration to provide funding for a Youth Transition Team.
The Board approved $58 as the APF Fair Share amount for FY 2010. They also requested the General Assembly Planning Committee to authorize a fundraising appeal at General Assembly to support the UUSC/UUA Gulf Coast Volunteer Center. The Center has run out of funds to support the work of congregational groups that have made plans to do volunteer work in the area. Also, an international agreement was struck with an NGO (non-governmental organization) in the Netherlands to support our common partners in India.
Board conduct around elections in 2009 were discussed. Two candidates have declared for President of the UUA: Rev. Laurel Hallman, Senior Minister at First Unitarian in Dallas, TX and Rev. Peter Morales, Senior Minister at Jefferson Unitarian in Golden CO.
Reports from the President, the Financial Advisor and the Moderator can be found in the Board minutes online. UUWorld online also reports on each Board meeting.
Resources
As I write my reports for District Doings, I often think about how much more information you could be getting, more comprehensive and more relevant to your own interests or leadership positions in your congregation, by subscribing to a variety of UUA lists. Some that I would recommend include:
If you're interested in looking into these, go to uua.org/lists and click on "over 300 different mailing lists".
Also, you should know that small scholarships are available for art or law scholars who are members of UU congregations. For information, go to uua.org and google “Stanfield Scholarships”.
Hope to see you at General Assembly!
Pat Solomon
(216) 932-7808
psolomon at uua.org
