Prairie Star District

In most of our District Newsletters, we feature one of our District congregations doing something extraordinary — something you might want to read about. In October, we told about a cluster of Iowa congregations doing joint advertising to promote Unitarian Universalism in their state. In November, we profiled the Humanity Series at the UU Fellowship of Mankato, which invites the public in for speakers on contemporary topics. In this issue, you can read about the work of the Disabilities Task Force at First UU Church in Rochester. If your congregation is doing something you’d like others to know about, send me an email. I’d like to hear about it.

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

If you’re already dreaming about the warm, sunny days of Summer 2010, we invite you to consider attending a UU camp.

Camp StarTrail

Camp StarTrail will be held August 1–6, 2010, near Omaha, Nebraska. Join us for a multigenerational camp that celebrates and explores Unitarian Universalism, in the beautiful rolling hills of the Platte River Valley.

From the morning Celebration, to the workshops, to the evening Vespers and campfires, there will be fun and good conversation. If you’d prefer to sit in a rocking chair and read a good book, you’ll enjoy the quiet of the woods, lake, and sky. We’re renting a Lutheran camp for the week. There’s a swimming pool, a small lake for canoes and paddle boats, and excellent food. Photos of the camp and more information are available at http://www.psduua.org/CampStarTrail .

Registration is open.

Camp UniStar

Camp UniStar in northern Minnesota offers a full summer of week-long programs. See http://www.psduua.org/Camps/CampUniStar for more information. The 2010 program is posted.

Midwest UU Summer Assembly

MUUSA takes place one week in July near St. Louis, Missouri. For more information see http://www.psduua.org/Camps/MUUSA .

We invite you to join us April 23–25, 2010 in Davenport, Iowa, for Roots and Wings: Weaving Multigenerational Dreams, the PSD Annual Conference 2010.

Everything you need to know about this multigenerational conference, including registration, is on our web site. See http://www.psduua.org/AnnualConference2010 .

Monthly Online Workshops

The March online workshop “Ten Good Ways to Manage Difficult Behavior” will offer ten effective and good ways to respond to, and even prevent, challenging and disruptive behavior in your congregation.

Two workshops available – March 9, and March 18, both at 7:00 PM. Find more information and registration at http://www.psduua.org/Workshops/ManageDifficultBehavior Registration is necessary, but this workshop is free.

by Nancy Heege, District Executive

It all started with an email from Gail Bishop, former President of First Unitarian Universalist Church of Rochester, Minnesota, and currently the Chair of the Social Justice Council. “Can you tell me what other UU congregations are working on disability issues?” Gail asked. “I’d like to get in touch with them to compare notes.” Not able to think of any congregations that are working on this, I thought I’d better learn more, and we had an intriguing conversation.

Gail is Chair of the Disabilities Task Force at the Rochester church. This is one of several working groups formed by church members as a result of a Social Justice Empowerment workshop held a couple of years ago. With facilitators trained by the Unitarian Universalist Association, congregation members committed to a new way of doing social justice work, and since then, have totally re-energized and reorganized the social justice work being done by the congregation.

There are now task forces that are working on several issues – environmental; poverty; GLBT (Gay, Lesbian, Bi-Sexual, Transgender) allies; racial justice; and people with disabilities. These groups use a multi-pronged approach – public witness, advocacy, hands-on service, education, and community organizing – to make a difference in the church, in Rochester, and the greater community. To learn more about the work of the Disabilities Task Force read the complete article at http://www.psduua.org/Newsletter/55February2010Accessibility .

For news of an installation and of congregations receiving Green and Gold Star recognition for growth see PSD People and Congregations online at http://www.psduua.org/Newsletter/55February2010PeopleAndCongregations .

As you have heard, General Assembly will be in Minneapolis June 23–27. We hope to see a large number of Prairie Star District people there! From the Banner Parade on Wednesday evening to the Closing Celebration on Sunday night, there are hundreds of events to choose from! Registration opens on March 1; only people who are registered can attend most events. There are two events open to people who aren’t registered – the Service of the Living Tradition on Thursday evening and the Sunday Worship on Sunday morning. For more information see http://www.uua.org/events/generalassembly/index.shtml .

New GA Schedule

Those of you who have been to GA in previous years know that the schedule has usually included a mix of things each day – workshops, plenary sessions to do the business of the Association, worship services, lectures sponsored by various groups, etc. This year, the GA Planning Committee is trying something new. They’ve scheduled the plenary sessions mostly on Saturday and Sunday, with workshops and other programs mostly on Thursday and Friday. To read more about the thinking behind this decision, you can read this article in the recent online UU World.

Future Changes in GA

One topic that delegates will want to know about in advance of the General Assembly is a proposal by the Fifth Principle Task Force that would reduce the number of delegates and separate the GA into two gatherings in alternate years. You can read more about that here: http://www.uuworld.org/news/articles/154573.shtml?n .

We look forward to seeing you in Minneapolis in June!

The Universalist Convocation 2010, May 14–16, 2010, First Universalist Society of Rochester, New York, will feature The Rev. Mark Morrison–Reed, “Dragged Kicking and Screaming to Heaven.” For more information see http://nmuc.org/Convo .

The UU History and Heritage Convocation will be October 8–10, 2010 in Waltham, Massachusetts. Sermon contest, youth essay contest, workshops sought. See http://www25.uua.org/uuhs/uuhs/historyconvocation/index.html .

 
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.