Prairie Star District

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This issue of the PSD Newsletter, and previous issues, can be read online.

Registration is Open

“Our Blue Boat Home: Living the Seventh Tradition” is the theme of the 2009 Prairie Star District Annual Conference taking place April 3–5, in Duluth, Minnesota.

During the conference, we will explore our stewardship of the environment (and all of our resources!), hear about candidates for the Presidency of the UUA, and enjoy great fellowship with other Unitarian Universalists. All information, including facts about youth programming and child care, is available on the Annual Conference pages of our website. Join this fun and interesting two-day meeting with Unitarian Universalists from our district! Register now; early registration ends March 6!

New Multigenerational Summer Camp

Registration is now open for Camp StarTrail, our new UU camp set for August 2—7, 2009. Located at a Lutheran facility we’re renting in the Platte River Valley between Omaha and Lincoln, Camp StarTrail will serve Unitarian Universalists of all ages, from all over the Midwest. From the Morning Celebration to Vespers and campfires at the end of the day, you’ll have the opportunity to be with others who share your religious values for stimulating conversations, good food, and lots of fun!

If you want to sit, read, and relax, there are places to do that. If you’re a Young Adult, you might want to sign up for the Young Adult Our Whole Lives (OWL) workshop. If you want to stargaze at night, there’s Inspiration Point. If you want to enjoy a swim, there’s a pool. If you bring children and youth, there will be programs for them. We’ll have workshops on a variety of topics, and you can offer to lead one, if you wish.

To learn all about Camp StarTrail, visit the Camp StarTrail pages of our web site. Regular registration ends April 30.

Come to MidWest Leadership School

MidWest Leadership School (MWLS) develops lay leaders in the UU community. The program is designed to provide insights, confidence, and enrichment for each participant’s congregation, work, and personal life.

This year MWLS will be held July 19–25, 2009 on the campus of Beloit College in southeast Wisconsin. MWLS is co-sponsored by three UU Districts. For information or a registration form, visit the MWLS page on our web site. Brochures will be distributed to congregations in February. Or request a registration form from:

Welcome Joanne

In November, Joanne Burns Roudebush was elected by the PSD Board to serve as a Director for a vacant term ending in 2010.

Joanne Burns Roudebush has been an active member of the UU Fellowship of Topeka for 19 years. During that time she has had many roles in Fellowship life as a member and leader. She has served on the Fellowship Board of Directors three times as general trustee, President-elect/President, and as Treasurer. She has served as chairperson of the following committees: Religious Education, Membership, Finance, Pledge, Nominating, and Endowment/Investment. Joanne co-led the Presidents Track of the Southern PSD Leadership Conference twice. She served on the PSD Volunteer Recruitment Committee 2006–08. PSD honored her as the Unsung Unitarian Universalist recipient in 2005.

Sherry Warren, PSD Youth and Young Adult Specialist reports:

I have heard from a few people across PSD that they are wondering what has become of youth ministry at the district level. The PSD Youth–Adult Committee (YAC) is in a transition period and refers to itself as the YAC Transition Group. As a very small group of youth and adults who are extremely busy, their challenge is immense, their constituency incredibly diverse, and their resources limited.

While they continue to wonder what UUA will present for youth ministry, and they attempt to carve out time in their hectic schedules to address the needs of youth in PSD, take some time to open up the conversation with your local congregation with these questions: . . .

Read the complete report online.

News of PSD People and Congregations is online. Look there for a welcome to a minister, news of congregation building projects, events celebrating Darwin, and an adult heritage tour. There is also an obituary for Erv Miller who served as UUA Trustee from 1987 to 1995.

for Lay Theological Education

Gifts to Assocation Sunday have made possible $150,000 to provide grants for lay theological education. Applications will be accepted from now to October 2009 with decisions made on a rolling basis. More information is at http://www.uua.org/giving/associationsunday/index.shtml

 
Prairie Star District is one of nineteen districts of the Unitarian Universalist Association. We serve almost 70 congregations in the Upper Midwest. We have three full time staff people and three part time program and support staff members who work with many volunteers to assist congregations. To learn more about us, see our Web site.