Ohio-Meadville District Unitarian Universalist Association
Summer Institute

July 10 - July 16, 2005
Kenyon College, Gambier, Ohio

Each morning throughout the week the youth will meet to participate in the youth theme talk led by Rev. Dr. Mark Belletini. Mark’s presentation will cover various aspects of this year’s SI theme “Building Faith, What’s In Your Toolbox?” and promises to be thought provoking, interactive, and inspiring. Following Mark’s 75 to 90 minute session each youth will be able to select from one of several youth workshops offered each day. Some workshops will span multiple days while others will be offered just one day. Every morning each youth will select the offering that most interests her or him. Workshops will include planning community worship, discussing a thought provoking theatrical piece, games and much more.

Also each youth will be part of a small group called a “Touch Group” co-led by a specially trained youth and adult team. These groups meet at least once each day to touch base with each other, talk, play games and create a service for one night’s youth vespers. These groups will be as diverse as possible giving each person the opportunity to get to know others from different grades and churches. “Touch Groups” also help aid in the transition into the youth group, creating a more intimate community within the larger youth community.

Mark Belletini - A Californian from the Bay Area who was born in Michigan (1949) and now lives in Ohio. Small family...parents are both only children. No aunts or uncles. No cousins. A brother and sister. Four grandparents while growing up. Ate mostly Emilian food, since the whole family is Emilian, a kind of Italian American. Worked in hospitals, factories, studios, kitchens, hotels, day-care centers, mental hospitals. Has a degree in art. Two degrees in divinity...a masters and a doctorate. Served many churches over the length of career ... Walnut Creek, Rockford, San Francisco, Hayward, Dallas, Columbus. Served as chair of the Hymnbook Resources Commission. Sits on the Ministerial Fellowship Committee. Taught at Starr King School, Meadville Lombard, as adjunct professor. Expertise: biblical studies, art history, world religions. Has preached in Europe and over thirty states of the USA. Has written songs and hymns ... text only. Has had the immense privilege of visiting Jerusalem, the Galilee, Santiago de Chile, Puerto Montt, Patagonia, Tierra Del Fuego, Ciudad de Mexico, San Miguel, Firenze, Venezia, Roma, Siena, Bologna, Paris, Chartres, London, Bruxelles, Amsterdam, the Rhineland and Westphalia, Moskva, Sankt Petersburg, Karelia, Helsinki. An artist by avocation,(drawing, painting and sculpture) a cook, a single gay man, a poet, and lover of poetry, reluctant gym goer, walker, a good friend and brother to many, (friendship is a central metaphor in life) a godfather five times over, a person who grieves, a person who laughs.

YOUTH PROGRAM

The Youth Program is for youth that have completed grades 6-12. Youth who have just completed 6th grade may opt to attend either the Children’s Program page 8 or the Youth Program. Youth program activities build social and individual skills, provide youth with opportunities for learning more about their beliefs/values and forming long lasting friendships. The youth attend the morning worship service and then adjourn with their group leaders for the Youth Theme Speaker’s daily presentation and youth workshops. At SI, early afternoon and evening programming is intergenerational so that children, youth and adults have a chance to meet and mix.

All participating youth agree to abide by and must sign the YOUTH AGREEMENT. If the youth is under the age of 18, the parent must also sign the YOUTH AGREEMENT, and the youth, parent and sponsor must sign the PARENT/SPONSOSR AGREEMENT.

If you have any question(s) about any section(s) or consequences before initialing and signing these forms please contact: John McCrystal – Youth Coordinator (614) 459-5632 (johnmc@columbus.rr.com), Ken Kuehm - Assistant Youth Coordinator (216) 991-1466 (MrBuckeye61@aol.com), Jeremy Brauning – Youth Panel (UUsRgr8@aol.com), or Eliza Hens-Greco – Youth Panel (Cheerios457@aol.com). For e-mails please put “Summer Institute/SI” in the subject.

Parents and sponsors are responsible for enforcing the following community rules with their own youth:
• All youth must observe curfew as set and announced by OMDSI Committee.
• No youth is allowed to leave Kenyon College campus without permission of a parent or sponsor.
• Summer Institute prohibits Violence, Illegal Drugs, Alcohol and Vandalism.
• Local and state laws regarding tobacco consumption and sexual conduct must be obeyed.

Youth are expected to participate in all Touch Group sessions/activities. Touch Groups (small groups led by an adult and designated youth), will coordinate interactive activities and explore reflections from the presentation and community concerns.

Parents and sponsors are responsible for knowing the whereabouts of their youth. Youth are encouraged to touch base with their family/sponsor at least several times a day. Youth are asked to participate in community-wide activities, such as all meals, morning worship, afternoon workshops, youth vespers and volunteering.

Please refer to registration guidelines within to ensure your child’s participation in this year’s program.

Senior High Youth Dorm

The Senior High Youth Dorm is an option for youth having just completed 9th, 10th, 11th or 12th grade. The dorm will be predominantly made up of youth but there may be some adults staying in this dorm as well. Youth are not required to stay in the youth dorm. It is up to the discretion of the parent(s) to decide whether they feel their youth is mature enough to handle themselves appropriately in an unsupervised environment. The parent(s), the youth, and the sponsor, if there is one involved, should be part of this decision. There are several options regarding the housing of their youth. Options are listed under youth housing options. If you have any questions regarding the youth dorm feel free to contact the Youth Coordinators.

Youth Volunteer Opportunities:

Everyone 11 and older is strongly encouraged to contribute, as fit and able, at least two hours of time during the week. Please select first and second choices on the registration page. Looking at the busy Youth schedule. We have chosen some jobs with good time slots for the youth:

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