Every year at this time we get lots of requests for resources, training opportunities and more from new and returning congregational leaders. So we decided to focus this issue of OMD UpClose on answering those questions for our congregational leaders. Not a leader? No problem - these resources are available to anyone who is interested in leadership. Or maybe you can help your congregation's new leaders find these resources when they need them. Can't find something you need listed here? Please contact the district staff. We are here to help you.

Building A New Way: Leadership for the Next 50 Years

September 24, 2011
First UU Church of Youngstown, OH

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.

Rubén Castilla Herrera is a second generation Mexican-American born in Seguin, Texas. Currently he is a Community Development Specialist and Organizer specializing in the development of learning organizations through systems thinking and planning, personal mastery, building shared vision, convening conversations that matter, team learning and achieving human potential through diversity and inclusion. He has consulted with several corporations, non-profit organizations, community organizations and faith communities throughout the state, region and country. He is on the faculty of the Center for Progressive Leadership, has worked with such notable organization development experts as Margaret Wheatley and is a trained World Cafe facilitator.

Leadership Day 2012 will focus on multicultural communities and how those changes and challenges will affect our congregations. Attendees will learn about the Faith Formation 2020 shifts in demographics and culture that our churches face; develop awareness of what the changing future means to our churches and how to leader them into the change; and start thinking in terms of becoming broadly welcoming and multiculturally competent.

All current and aspiring leaders are welcome to join us. For details, registration information and more, visit theOMD website.

Newsletters For UU Leaders

Interconnections is the monthly e-newsletter for UU Congregational Leadres. Each month focuses on issues that UU Leaders face. Stories come from UU congregations who have had success in the particular area of interest for the month. In addition, past issues are archived at the UUA website for review. To learn more and subscribe visit www.uua.org/interconnections/

Leader of a Small Congregation? There is an additional resource you might want to subscribe to. Small Talk is a monthly newsletter sent out via email as a pdf file. Each issue focuses on a topic that is an issue for small congregations (fewer than 150 members). Back issues are archived on the creator's website for reading. Learn more about small talk at http://spiritoflifepublishing.com/newsletter.html

Training Opportunities

Many training opportunities in a variety of formats are available for UU leaders in our district and region. Here are few you may be interested in.

• Chaplain Training is for Youth, Young Adult and Adults who want to provide Chaplain services during youth and young adult conferences and events. The training is over a weekend from Friday evening to Sunday morning. The next of these trainings is being offered by the Heartland District Sept 9-11 at Miami Valley UU Fellowship in Dayton, OH. Registration information can be found at the Heartland Website. Another Chaplain Training is in the works in the St. Lawrence District in November. Details will be available soon.
• Catalyst Training is an anti-racism/anti-oppression training for those who want a better understanding of racism issues. This training is being offered October 14-15, 2011 at First UU Church of Columbus. Details will be posted to the OMD website soon.
• On-Demand Learning Center, a CERG resource, offers webinars on a variety of topics on your own schedule. Many basic "101" type classes are offered here such as Basic Safety Policies, How to Run a Meeting, Committees 101 and more. Find the full list at www.cerguua.org/moodle. You must log in, but the classes are free to anyone who wishes to access them.
• Webinars are a very popular method of attending workshops and trainings without having to leave home. The Central East Regional Group offers many webinars over the year. We are just starting to plan this year's schedule, but some have already been posted to our website. You can find the current list atwww.cerguua.org/calendars/cergwebinars.html. Check back often as new webinars are being posted each week.

Blogs - a way to keep up with current ideas

The UUA, CERG and the OMD have created a number of blogs to help congregational leaders keep up with new programs, new ideas, how other congregations are doing things and more. Here is a list of blogs that you might find helpful in your work:

• OMD Staff Blog - covers a variety of topics by our OMD Staff on a rotating basis
• CERG Staff Blog - covers a variety of topics by the CERG staff on a rotating basis
• Interconnections Tipsheet - timely resources from the Monthly Newsletter for Leaders from the UUA
• Congregational Stewardship Blog from the UUA Congregational Stewardship staff
• Giving Speaks Blog is by Laural Amabile, head of the UUA Annual Program Fund
• Green Sanctuary Blog from the UUA Green Sanctuary Staff
• New Media for Unitarian Universalist about Social Media issues from teh UUA Staff
• General Assembly Blog from the UUA GA Staff
• UU Growth Blog by Peter Bowden, an independent consultant who also works with UUs and growth issues.

You can find more blogs and other resources at the Social Media Resources page of the UUA website.

Congregational Clusters: Working Together For a Common Goal

Do you know that all our congregations are organized into clusters? Some of our clusters are very active and do many things totgehter, others not so much. But clusters can work together to do a lot of good for each other and to strengthen the indivdiual congregations. Cluster cooperation can include sharing classes or programs (such as a cluster Our Whole Lives program), working on outreach and marketing, or social justice projects. For an upcoming issue of OMD Up Close we invite you to share what your cluster is doing together.

Here are a couple of examples of cluster activities that your cluster could try:

• Healthy Congregations Training - Healthy Congregations is a great program to help congregational leaders work through issues and help their congregations become healthier and therefore better able to deal with challenges and growth. This training is six sessions long and is often offered in a cluster setting. Pittsburgh cluster is doing the training series this fall and if you didn't know about it, please talk to your minister, president or contact the district office. Other clusters are talking about offering the training later this year or next year. If your cluster is interested, please talk to Joan Van Becelaere about what you need to do to schedule the training in your area.
• Hosting District Assembly. Did you know that since we moved away from a host church, clusters now work together to host district assembly? The Southern Cluster hosted DA 2010 and the Central Ohio Cluster hosted DA 2011. The Northwest PA/NY Cluster will be hosting this year's District Assembly in March of 2012. If your cluster thinks this is something you would like to do, contact the district office for details on the proposal process or check the District Assembly webpage.