Issue 52: October, 2009
Although we’ve already had a couple of light snowfalls, the fall colors in the Twin Cities are peaking! There’s a brilliant red tree outside our office window, and it’s a reminder that we’d better stock up on Halloween candy and apple cider. Hope you enjoy our October newsletter!
We always appreciate your comments and suggestions for the newsletter. Click on the “email the editor” link in the menu on the left to send us a message.
This issue of the PSD Newsletter, and previous issues, can be read at http://www.psduua.org/Newsletter .
Roots and Wings
Weaving Multigenerational Dreams
Davenport, Iowa, isn’t the City of Lights, but we can promise you an illuminating experience at the 2010 Prairie Star District Annual Conference: Roots and Wings, Weaving Multigenerational Dreams, April 23–25, 2010.
Barb Robinson and the committee from the Unitarian Church in Davenport have planned a true family event sure to shake off winter doldrums and generate new ideas, renewed friendships and spirited fellowship.
- Interactive workshops and dynamic presenters
- An unforgettable concert and family workshop by folk music’s renaissance man, John McCutcheon
- Friday Night Open Mike (bring your instruments!) during an early supper
- Creative make it/take it art opportunities plus the Journal Wall
- A scavenger hunt along the banks of the Mississippi
- Inspiring music and worship at The Figge Art Museum
Registration for Roots and Wings, Weaving Multigenerational Dreams will open in January 2010. See http://www.psduua.org/AnnualConference2010 for information about the keynote speakers and coming soon the workshop selections.
In a recent survey of congregational leaders, PSD was asked to highlight ways that UU congregations can work together. Here’s a great example – a new, gateway web site created by two congregations in Iowa.
Leigh Zeitz of Cedar Falls writes “What would happen if the UU congregations of Iowa joined together to create an advertising campaign that would cover the state of Iowa? Would it make an impact on our acknowledged presence in the state? Could it be a campaign to increase public awareness of our movement? . . . the campaign was on . . . we began running joint messages on KUNI (Iowa Public Radio) for UUIowa.org . . .” Read the complete article at http://www.psduua.org/Newsletter/52October2009UUIowa .
PSD is now on Facebook. If you are too, become our fan. Get early notices about upcoming events, and see photos afterwards. Click the Facebook logo above or search in Facebook for Prairie Star District Unitarian Universalist.
Adult RE
Here is your chance to access new information from home, without having to put time or money into travel. Participants will need a high speed Internet connection and a phone line. This workshop will be offered twice on weekday evenings at 7:00 PM.
10 Good Ideas for Organizing and Sustaining an Adult RE Program
November 10 & 19
Guest presenters: Nancy Combs-Morgan and Dori Davenport Thexton, District Staff in the Central Midwest and Heartland Districts. Nancy and Dori are familiar with curricula and programs for adult religious education. If you need new ideas, sign up for this workshop.
More information and registration athttp://www.psduua.org/Workshops/FutureWorkshops Registration is necessary, but the workshops are free.
The PSD Board of Directors welcomes observers at its meetings. The next meeting will be Friday and Saturday, November 13 and 14, at Dakota UU Church in Burnsville, Minnesota. Agendas and future meeting dates are posted at http://www.psduua.org/Board/BoardMeetings .
GA 2010 in Prairie Star District!
Next year’s General Assembly, the annual meeting of the Unitarian Universalist Association, will be held at the Minneapolis Convention Center on June 23–27, 2010. You can register to attend GA, and apply to be a GA volunteer, at http://www.uua.org beginning on March 1, 2010. See you in Minneapolis!
Want to Offer a Workshop?
The UUA has developed a new process for the selection of workshops to be offered at General Assembly. A team of Unitarian Universalist Association staff and GA Planning Committee members is responsible for developing and/or inviting proposals for quality, mission-based GA programs for GA 2010 in Minneapolis. Proposals are due no later than November 16, 2009. In the past, each District had two guaranteed workshop slots to use or to give to their congregations to use. This will no longer be the case. Everyone who wants to submit a workshop application will have to use the new process.
To learn more, go here:
https://conference.uua.org/eventmanager/OnlineRegistration.asp?eventcode=bke
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.
