The Prairie Star, Issue 68: May 2012

The Prairie Star

It was great to see nearly 400 PSD people at the District Annual Conference last month. The very dedicated work of the host congregation, White Bear Unitarian Universalist Church, and of our district conference planning committees was the foundation for a very successful conference!

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.

Nancy Heege, District Executive

This issue of the PSD Newsletter, and previous issues, can be read at http://www.psduua.org/Newsletter .

Awards Given

At the PSD Annual Conference seven individuals were honored.

Christopher Greene, Michael Servetus Unitarian Society, Fridley, Minnesota, received the President's Award for Outstanding Service to the District.

Katy McCluskey,Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Quad Cities, Davenport, Iowa, was named the PSD Unsung UU.

Emily Rose Sylvestre, First Universalist Church, Minneapolis, Minnesota, received the Social Justice Youth Award.

Shawna Foster, First Unitarian Church, Omaha, Nebraska, received the Social Justice Adult Award.

Vicki Chronister George,  Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Topeka, Kansas, received the Keeping the Faith Award.

Carol Eades Delnevo, Unitarian Fellowship of Lawrence, Kansas, received the Ellie Morton Religious Education award.

Darlene Cruikshank Joyce, Pilgrim House UU Fellowship, Arden Hills, Minnesota, received theBetty Gorshe Heritage Award.

More information about each of them and why they deserved the award is at http://www.psduua.org/Awards/2012Awards .

Questions about the New Region

by Nancy Heege

The major topic of conversation during the Annual Conference was regionalization - the proposed merger of three districts to a regional structure. PSD President Kathy Burek and I both wrote about this in our printed reports in the 2012 Annual Report, available here: http://www.psduua.org/Documents/AnnualReport 

Some interesting questions were raised.  

"Will we still have District Annual Conferences?" 
My answer: our District Annual Conference regularly attracts more than 300 people who come for connection and inspiration and learning - it's unlikely that we would do away with these events that attract so many people. The look of the conference might change - for example, we might have major speakers live-streamed into 3 or 6 locations spread out across the region.

"Will you have to move the office to Chicago?"  
Our district is the only one of the three with a physical office where the staff work together. For the time being, our office will continue to be in its current location in Minneapolis. Cost is a factor, of course, but for now, it's good to have our office where it is.  

"What will happen to Nancy and Phil and Sarah?"
The six Field Staff of the three regions [including Nancy and Phil] are in place for at least the next couple of years. It would not be wise to transition our professional staff at a time when so much else is in flux. We will be reducing our level of administrative staff for the region as we move from three web sites to one; from three newsletters to one. We are developing job descriptions and have let our administrative staff know that we invite them to consider whether they want to apply for one of the new positions.  

This is a very exciting time, as we reflect on how we can help our congregations advance our UU faith in this region. If you are interested in more information about regionalization, our new MidAmericaUUA blog is a good resource. Here you will find new ideas for and about congregations, as well as our current thinking about regionalization and what that will mean for the congregations of our three districts. See http://www.midamericauua.org/blog My most recent contribution to the blog is a post on a new staff position we're seeing in some midsize and larger UU congregations here in Prairie Star.

If you have questions that aren't answered in what you can read online, please shoot me an email, and I'll do my best to get you an answer. Of course, because this is still in progress, there are some things still in development. With good will, and hope and confidence for the future, we are moving forward.

Recordings of Annual Conference Events Available

Last month's District Annual Conference was really great! Three events were live-streamed so people could watch from home. The Friday night keynote address, the Judy Lecture, and the Sunday morning service are now archived on our web site, available for your viewing pleasure. Go to http://www.psduua.org/AnnualConference2012 for links to access the recordings. 

PSD President's Column

by Kathy Burek

Thank you for re-electing me to the PSD Presidency. It means a great deal to me to have your trust and support. Whatever I do in my role as PSD President, I am mindful of all of you, your congregations, and our larger faith movement.

Most of my columns contain updates about the doings of the PSD Board, or information I think you will find of interest, or that I think you need to know in order to make decisions you will be facing. This time, I'd like to go beyond the activities that comprise district work, and write about why I accepted nomination to the PSD Board in the first place.

I love our UU faith. I can't imagine being at home spiritually any other place. Here, I have the freedom to deeply explore my beliefs, strengthen my ethics, and to keep learning and adjusting those as I mature. ...

Read more at http://www.psduua.org/Newsletter/68May2012/PresidentsColumn

Meet the Newest PSD Board Members

PSD Board Supports Action on Doctrine of Discovery

The UUA Board of Trustees voted to place a Responsive Resolution on the General Assembly  2012 Agenda that would put the UUA on record as repudiating the Doctrine of Discovery. (See http://www.uua.org/documents/boardtrustees/rrmc/120109_motion.pdf for the text of the motion).

This Doctrine held that European Christians were free to take the lands and possessions, and even enslave, any non-Christian indigenous peoples in the Americas and Africa. The Doctrine became part of US law, and as recently as 2007, was cited in a US Supreme Court decision.

Recently, the Prairie Star District Board voted unanimously to support the UUA Trustees' action. We strongly encourage each of our member congregations to study this issue, and give instructions to their delegates as part of their preparation for Justice GA. The UUA has prepared a study guide and there are videos available. See http://www.psduua.org/SocialJustice/Immigration for more information.

News of People and Congregations

PSD Congregations are celebrating anniversaries and won an Energy Star competition.  Several individuals are receiving honors, and we send condolences to the friends and family of two who have died. 

Candidates Sought for UUA Positions

The UUA Nominating Committee seeks candidates and suggestions for volunteer positions elected by the General Assembly (except Moderator and President). The brochure describing all of these opportunities is at http://www.uua.org/documents/nc/nomination_brochure.pdf .   The application form is at http://www.uua.org/documents/nc/nomination_application.pdf .   The deadline to apply is August 15, 2012. 

Prairie Star District is a growing community of healthy, vital congregations in covenantal relationship with one another, transforming ourselves and our world by living our Unitarian Universalist principles. 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 http://www.psduua.org .