OMD Now! September 2011

OMD Now!

A monthly roundup of news, events, dates and deadlines of the Ohio-Meadville District

September 2011

In This Issue

Leadership Day
Phoenix Witness Project
Intergen Con
Social Justice Events
Chalice Lighter Call
Young Adult Events
Youth Events
Webinar Schedule & On-Demand Learning Center
Congregational & In-District News
CERG News and Events
UUA & National News & Events

Welcome to the September edition of OMD Now!. For individual information, flyers and details, click the links in each article. Want to share one of your events with the district congregations? Send it to the OMD Office to be included in the October edition. Deadline is September 25th.

Have you heard about our new social witness coordinator, Rachel Baker? Learn more at the OMD website.
Are you a Membership Coordinator? Announcing UUMAP - a new professional organization for those who work with membership in their congregations. To learn more visit www.uuamp.org
Nominate Your Candidate or Apply Now for UUA Moderator. Deadline is October 15. Learn more at www.uua.org/uuagovernance
Don't get caught owing taxes on your church property. Make sure your state tax exempt documents are properly filed. Check with your state to determine what forms and when you need to file them.

Check out the district website for information about events and resources for your congregation.

Building a New Way: Leadership for the Next 50 Years

As our district celebrates 50 years of existence in 2012, we are looking to how we will be a religious community over the next 50 years. Join our keynote speaker, Ruben Herrera, for a day of learning, inspiration and building skills for a multicultural future.

All current and emerging congregational leaders - adults, young adults and youth - are invited to join us at First UU Church of Youngstown on Saturday, September 24, 2011. Cost is free, donation for lunch if registered by September 10th. $10 late fee, donation for lunch after that date. For details and registration forms....

Phoenix Witness Project

In an effort to support as many people attending the Phoenix Justice Assembly in Phoenix, AZ in June of 2012, the OMD Board has intiated the Phoenix Witness Project. The purpose of the project is to raise money to support sending youth, young adults and adults to the Justice GA 2012 in Phoenix, AZ in response to their anti-immigration legislation that was passed in spring of 2011. Learn more about this exciting project and the energy around it at www.ohiomeadville.org/news/phoenix.html

Intergen Con

We invite you to attend our first ever Intergenerational Conference at First UU Church of Columbus, OH, on September 17-18, 2011. Earlybird deadline is Sept 1, registration deadline is Sept 10. During this event we hope to create a multigenerational community. For details and registration information..

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Help us provide more programs to our congregations and their members.

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Social Justice Events

Anti-Fracking Information and Opportunities. Educate yourself and your congregation on this environmental issue. New - Info on 2 meetings in the state in August and early September.
Repairing the Statue of Liberty with Rev. Susan Frederick-Gray ~ October 29, 2011, First Universalist Church, Rochester, NY. Learn about Immigration Issues and UUs. For details...
The OMD will be offering a multicultural anti-racism training with the Catalyst Group (who helped with training the folks who protested in Phoenix last summer) on October 14-15, 2011. Details and registration will be coming soon. Please save the date for this important training and plan to send several representatives from your congregation.

Chalice Lighter Call to Benefit First UU Church of Columbus

The current Chalice Lighter Call benefits the First UU Church of Columbus' Campus Ministry Program, FOCUUS. The program is being developed and they hope to use this program as a template for other congregations to copy. Chalice Lighters received this call on August 1st. To learn more and donate, visit the OMD Chalice Lighters Page.

Young Adult Events

Chaplain Training ~ Chaplain Training is being offered September 9-11, 2011 at the Miami Valley UU Church in Dayton, OH. Deadline is Sept 5. This training is open to youth, young adults and adults of Ohio-Meadville and other districts. Learn more...
Rocky Horror Overnight ~ Saturday, October 1-2, 2011, UU Society of Cleveland, Cleveland Heights, OH. Details and registration open on the OMD website soon.
OMDUUYAN Fall Con ~ October 28-30, 2011, UU Church of Akron, OH. Details and registration to open on the OMD website soon.
Looking for inspiring opportunities to serve? Check out the service opportunities for Young Adults page at the UUA website. www.uua.org/leaders/justice/service/index.shtml
Are you a new young adult? Register with the UUA so we can help you make connections at school. www.uua.org/religiouseducation/youngadults/128036.shtml
You can keep up with Young Adult News from the UUA by subscribing to their monthly newsletter. Go to: www.uua.org/religiouseducation/youngadults/112286.shtml

Youth Events

Chaplain Training ~ Chaplain Training is being offered September 9-11, 2011 at the Miami Valley UU Church in Dayton, OH. Deadline is Sept 5. This training is open to youth, young adults and adults of Ohio-Meadville and other districts. Learn more...
Senior High Con ~ Sept 23-25, 2011 at East Shore UU Church, Kirtland, OH. For youth to register... For adult to register...
Youth Work Camp has been scheduled for a site in West Virginia for June 24-30, 2012. Details are still being worked out, but learn what we know at the OMD website...
You can keep up with Youth News from the UUA by subscribing to their monthly newsletter. Go to: http://www.uua.org/religiouseducation/youth/news/index.shtml

Staff & Consultant Links

Rev. Joan VanBecelaere
District Executive

Karen LoBracco
Program Consultant for Lifespan Faith Development

Michelle Buhite
Youth, Young Adult &
Campus Ministry Intern

Beth Casebolt
District Administrator

Debra Boyd
Compensation Consultant

Adjunct Congregational Consultants

CERG Webinars & On Demand Learning Center

Are you interested in taking a webinar but aren't sure what is involved? Don't know if you have everything you need? This video will walk you through everything you need to know about taking a webinar from a CERG presenter. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8IDn7LsrHo

Not able to take one of these workshops at this time? Check out the On-Demand Learning Center, where basic level programs are available for you to explore on your own time schedule. Current programs include Congregational Polity 101, Basic Safety Policies and Tips, and Committees on Ministry. More programs are being developed and will be added soon.

Environmental Justice Curricula Introduction Webinar ~ 2 offerings: Sept 20 at 7:30 pm and October 15 at 10 am. This is an introduction to a new curricula by UU Ministry for Earth. Learn more and register....

Back this year - Youth Ministry 102 series. This series addresses various issues of youth minstry each month and is open to professional and volunteer youth leaders in the Central East Regional Group. The first session is September 21 at 7:30 pm and the topic will be 5 Steps to Building Community. To register and see the rest of the year's schedule...

New webinars are being added every day, please check www.cerguua.org/calendars/cergwebinars.html to see what is being offered. Groups are encouraged to share the webinar experience at one location.

Congregational & In-District News

The UU Society of Cleveland will celebrate their 60th Anniversary on September 17. Stay tuned for details.
West Shore UU is hosting a Civic Forum on SB5, September 19, 2011 at 7 pm.
North Hills UU Church will ordain and install their new minister, Scott Rudolph on November 13, 2011
First Unitarian Church of Toledo was featured in an article in the Toledo Blade.
UU Church of the North Hills has called Scott Rudolph to be their new minister.
The book Here We Have Gathered: The Story of Unitarian Universalism in Western Pennsylvania, 1808-2008 is now available. For more information..

Central East Regional Group News & Events

Don't know what CERG is? Check out this video that premiered at GA to find out.

Did you know ~ That OMD folks are welcome at Joseph Priestley, Saint Lawrence or Metro NY events? Webinars from all four districts are listed on our webinar page. Check the CERG Website to get calendar and flyer links and additional details. Updated information and later events are listed on the CERG Calendar page.

Leading at the Edge ~ May Memorial, Syracuse, NY ~ October 1, 2011
Racial Justice Conference: Weaving Our Stories of Change ~ UU Church of Arlington, VA ~ October 14-15, 2011.
Repairing the Statue of Liberty: Immigration Conference ~ First Universalist Church of Rochester, NY ~ October 29, 2011
Defying Gravity: Leadership Day ~ UU Congregation of Shelter Rock, Manhasset, NY ~ November 5, 2011
Harvest the Power Training ~ Murray Grove Retreat Center ~ November 11-13, 2011
Elementary Our Whole Lives Training ~ UU Congregation of Shelter Rock, Manhasset, NY ~ Dec. 2-4, 2011

OMD Website

OMD District Office
Email: office@ohiomeadville.org
Phone: 740-297-6966
PO Box 157
St. Clairsville, OH 43950

UUA & National News & Events

UU Peacemaking Group offering Resources for 9/11/11 Services. Learn more...
Check out what is new at the UUA bookstore, Beacon Press and Skinner House. Skinner House announces that many of their books are now available as ebooks.
The UUA is now searching for a District Executive for Northern New England District and Children and Families Program Director.. Check the UUA website to see descriptions.
CLF offers a new service called Make Your Own Sundays for $129 a year. Select your theme, readings, children's story, sermon, songs, select holidays, formats or a season. Contact CLF at clf@clfuua.org or 617-948-6150 for details.

Ohio-Meadville District

Serving UU Congregations in Ohio, western Pennsylvania, West Virginia and southwest New York

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