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Ohio-Meadville District of the UUA |
You can contact Erin Riffle via email at eriffle at ohiomeadville.org or by phone at 330-573-2030. If you need her mailing address, please contact her or the district office or check the printed copy of the district directory found in every district congregation.
OMD YAC: Save the Date!! |
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YAC Planning Meeting for the Social Justice Conference February 7-8, 2008, East Suburban UU Church, Murrysville, PA |
Social Justice All Age(grade 7-age 19) Conference, March 7-9, 2008, First Unitarian Church, Pittsburgh, PA |
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YAC Planning Meeting for the Spring Con April 11-12, 2008, Olmsted UU Congregation, Olmsted, OH |
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All Age (grade 7-age 19) Spring Conference, May 16-18, 2008, First Unitarian Church of Cleveland, Shaker Heights, OH |
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Questions? Need more information? Check out: www.ohiomeadville.org/yac/index.php |
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Here is Erin's article from the February issue of District Doings:
So many exciting events are happening in all things O-MD youth, it’s tough to know where to start. Since mid-September, my calendar has been filled to the brim with YAC meetings, Summer Institute Youth Panel meetings, YAC conferences, trainings…you name it! The dedication of our parents and sponsors, diligently driving youth to each of these events is admirable and worthy of great praise.
It was a pleasure to meet some new and not-so-new advisors at the Basic Youth Advisor Training, hosted graciously by the First UU Church of Columbus, OH in September. We worked in small and large group settings to understand what makes a successful, vibrant youth program and how to navigate through tricky situations that can arise when charged with tending to local youth groups.
A few weeks later, many of those newly trained advisors had their own reunion at the YAC All-Ages Fall Conference at the East Shore congregation in Kirkland, OH, where we had over 100 youth in attendance!! Though we found ourselves in close quarters, a great time was had by all.
During that same conference, I also had the honor of attending my first SI Youth Panel meeting. Talk about another dedicated and talented group of volunteers! For those of you who have enjoyed being part of the SI Youth Program, I hope you take the time to thank the panel members who meet monthly, put in long but productive hours at their meetings, and who are tireless in crafting a program that will meet the needs of our youth.
YAC met in Pittsburgh to plan its Junior High Conference and elect a new Conference Dean, Lydia Delphia. The Junior High Con at West Shore UU was another rousing success. Special thanks goes to the on-site crew who provided outstanding meals and hospitality. The host congregation providing such support is such a key to the success of YAC conferences. Providing this service-and ministry-to YAC gives its leaders the ability to focus on keeping the conference running smoothly.
Ellen Carvill-Ziemer, Karen Lapidus, and I have been working as a team to bring the first Peer Chaplain training for youth, sponsors, AND young adults to our District. As I write this article, we are less than two weeks from this exciting event.
Keep your eyes open for updates from the Consultation on Ministry to and with Youth. Our district staff will be meeting in January to review the work started by the UUA Consultation team and bring information to our congregations and leaders very soon.
Yes, most of my weekends are filled to the brim with youth activities. But it is such a blessing to work with these folks that I wouldn’t have it any other way. Check in this issue of District Doings for the Save the Date list of youth events, and check out the YAC website for more information, forms, and a sign up for the YAC list serve at: www.ohiomeadville.org/yac/index.php.
I hope to see you at our next YAC event and at District Assembly soon!
