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Ohio-Meadville District of the UUA |
In March of 2009 we will elect a new UUA Trustee from the Ohio-Meadville District as Pat Solomon completes her term. They OMD bylaws specify the process and deadlines for this election.
You can download a packet of information including a letter from Pat, a list of the deadlines and the required nomination form as a word document or a pdf form. The deadline to have nomination forms in to the district office is September 26, 2008.
Below is the cover letter of the packet written by Pat Solomon, our current UUA trustee.
Dear Friends,
My second four-year term as your trustee from the Ohio Meadville District to the Board of the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations will end in June of 2009, and a new trustee will be elected at the OMD District Assembly in the spring of 2009.
So what does it mean, and what does it take to be the UUA Trustee? First, the basics from OMD Bylaws:
At the time of the election each person nominated must be a legal resident and member of a certified church or fellowship located in the district. The elected trustee must comply with this eligibility provision during his/her entire term. No person shall be eligible to serve more than two consecutive four (4) year terms.
Beyond that, what are the expectations? First of all, one has to learn and become acclimated to the culture, the intensity, the work expectations, the time requirements. There are four Board meetings per year (including at General Assembly). Meetings end on a Sunday afternoon, but the arrival day can range from Tuesday to Thursday, depending on whether a special retreat is planned, and whether the trustee is involved in pre-Board meetings. The days are often filled from early morning to late at night. Trustees are currently assigned to a Working Group, and may be assigned to Board committees or as liaisons to other committees. This is more likely as seniority increases, as does work between meetings; but well-qualified and experienced newbies may be tapped early on for responsible positions. The trustee also is a non-voting member of the OMD Board.
Secondly, an effective District Trustee on the UUA Board will arrive with a broad and deep understanding of Unitarian Universalism, with significant experience as a congregational leader, and district or broader UU leadership experience and/or participation. Knowledge of the district is important---congregations and geography, programs and initiatives, strengths and opportunities, lay and ministerial leadership---as is a track record of effective group work and leadership in a variety of life settings. An understanding and commitment to our association’s anti-racist, anti-oppressions, multicultural journey and future is essential. Some understanding and experience with Policy Governance would be helpful.
It’s important to me that the District will be represented by a credible, accomplished Unitarian Universalist, and I am more than willing to speak with anyone who is contemplating entering the nomination process. The first deadline will be late September. Details are included in the OMD UUA Trustee Nomination packet.
Pat Solomon
psolomon at ohiomeadville.org
