UUA Trustee’s Report

John Blevins

Annual Meeting in Kansas City
April 23–25, 2004

All Souls UU in Kansas City served as hosts for this year’s PSD annual meeting, and they did themselves proud! Quality workshops galore were offered, high energy levels were exhibited everywhere, and we had a larger youth presence than in recent years.

Sondra Smalley arranged a special reception for Friends of PSD donors. Jim Grebe presented a terrific Chalice Lighters display! Gaia Community built and staffed a beautiful, warm meditation room, and a fantastic chalice-designed labyrinth walk. And there was just enough rain to keep the dogwood blossoms fresh.

Carol Jean Larsen

I want to extend my personal thanks to Carol Jean for her four years of service as the President of our district. This is a job without borders, and CJ has lived large. The impact of her dedication and hard work will be seen for years! Thank you, CJ.

Help Wanted:
Low pay, easy work, high rewards possible

I am seeking a good way to reach many of you (and every congregation) quickly when needed. I am using the PSD-L email list today, which is the best tool I’ve found. Would you each take steps to insure that at least one key person (a board member, or a staff member perhaps?) in each congregation is a member of this list, and ask that they then take responsibility to forward communications to the correct persons in your congregation?

The list can handle as many of you as wish to be included. Typically the news arriving on this list would be of interest to your minister, your Social Justice committee, and your Board. You can join this list by going to www.uua.org/mailman/listinfo and then scrolling down to PSD-L and subscribing.

Thanks for your help. Other ideas on how to achieve my objective are welcome!

Leadership School: Don’t miss it!

Our renowned (seriously!) Midwest Leadership School will happen again this July, in beautiful Beloit, Wisconsin. This will be its 18th year of operation. Something over five percent of our district’s members have now attended this marvelous school, and I know this has had a positive effect on our success as a vital, growing district. Seven Presidents of my home congregation have been to Beloit. Help your congregation’s leaders, and leaders to be, have every opportunity for success by helping them find a way to get to Beloit.

You can get all the details at www.psduua.org/mwls/index.html .

Social Witness Position Development

A high-level UUA task force has worked for 18 months to review and suggest changes to the way we develop our social witness priorities. They have just published their report, which we will be exploring together in the coming months.

The report speaks candidly of some of the shortcomings of our process, and offers some creative steps forward. I would much appreciate hearing your thoughts on the analysis and recommendations. Please pay special attention to the section on “Public Policy Statements”.

Justice work is such an integral part of our work together that it deserves all our attention. You may download your own copy at www.uua.org/uuawo/new/downloads/swrp_finalreport.pdf or email me at jblevins@uua.org and ask for the Social Witness Review Panel final report, and I’ ll email you a copy.

Position Open

White Bear Unitarian Universalist Church, Mahtomedi, Minnesota, seeks a full time Church Administrator with executive and financial experience. See www.unitarian.org/whitebear or call (651) 426–2369 for job description. Send resume and cover letter to: whitebear@unitarian.org .