UUA GENERAL ASSEMBLY - June 20-24, 2007
The UUA General Assembly comes to Portland this year and with it the chance to join as many as five thousand UUs in celebration of our community. If you think you’d like to attend, talk now to someone who has been before. GA attendees may register online at http://www.uua.org/ga/ or by snailmail.
- Basic costs: registration $285, housing, meals, transportation
Workshops, meeting new friends, re-energizing your spiritual life, seeing how the grassroots connect to UUA headquarters in Boston: priceless
~ Attend as a delegate from UUCE
~ If you need housing, you are asked to use the General Assembly Housing Reservation System also at http://www.uua.org/ga/ . Blocks of hotel rooms have been reserved to help ensure meeting and function rooms will be available to our attendees.
~ If you need to share motel space or transportation, Mary Otten has volunteered to connect local UUs. Contact her at maryotten@earthlink.net
To preview this year's events for the Portland, GA please google http://www.uua.org/ga and click on the topics of your interest in the dark blue box.
YOUR FIRST GA?
http://www.pnwd.org/pdfs/GA_firsttime.pdf
General Assembly Informational TEA and DISCUSSION (Eugene) - May 13, 12:30-2pm
Have you been to a General Assembly in the past and are you registered (early registration ends April 31) for this year's UU Annual Convention? If you are curious to hear from folks who have attended before then come to the GA Informational TEA and DISCUSSION in the social hall after 2nd service. If you have a special tea or teapot/service you would like to use, or if you care to make or bring delicious vegetables or lite sandwiches please RSVP to Linna linnam@efn.org or 684-8015
UUCE DELEGATES SOUGHT
The UUCE Board of Trustees is looking for seven responsible voting members of our congregation to represent us as delegates. The job of a delegate is to attend meetings, examine issues before the convention and to vote on those issues. Here is why you might wish to consider doing this job:
- “Why bother? Because you can -- because if you are reading this, you are among the fortunate of the earth who can read and see and do something about what you read and see. You're reading this most likely as a Unitarian Universalist, so at some point in your life you've signed on to a faith of high expectations, a faith that is tough to practice because it takes so much practice. So here you are, about to participate as a congregational delegate in an assembly of congregations that hold some amazing power to make a positive difference in our congregational communities and even our global community. We do this in worshipful community, questioning community, celebrating community, and caring community that bears social witness and practices social conscience.”
The Board has asked Sally DeCou to collect information about those interested in filling this important roll. If you are interested please send her answers to these questions by email at sdecou@comcast.net
- • How long have you been a voting member of this congregation?
• How are you currently involved in the church?
• Why do you think you would be a good delegate?
If you just want to attend GA and would like to connect with others from UUCE, attending let Sally know that as well. We will be putting together a temporary list serve so those who want to connect about rides or housing will have an easy way to contact each other.
HOUSING AT GA
~ For motels, we are asked to use the General Assembly Housing Reservation System also at http://www.uua.org/ga/ . Blocks of hotel rooms have been reserved to help ensure meeting and function rooms will be available to our attendees.
~ If you need to share motel space or transportation, Mary Otten has volunteered to connect local (Eugene) UUs. Contact her at maryotten@earthlink.net
FIRST UNITARIAN CHURCH BED AND BREAKFAST PROGRAM
The Convention Center is located on the east side of the Willamette River in a commercial district that has few residences. We currently have First Unitarian host homes located all over the metropolitan area and a number of them are near bus lines that connect with the light rail "Max" line that stops at the Convention Center. You will find a description of the First Unitarian Bed and Breakfast Program below. This is also available on the First Unitarian web site at: http://www.firstunitarianportland.org
The Bed and Breakfast Program of First Unitarian Church provides Unitarian Universalist travelers short-term stays in the homes of congregants for a modest financial contribution to the church. Visitors are hosted in a variety of accommodations across the Portland metropolitan area including charming older homes, contemporary homes in wooded suburbs, and newer condominiums near downtown. Most host homes are near Portland’s excellent public transit system.
How does it work?
~ Volunteer hosts are listed with the Bed and Breakfast coordinators by area, number and type of accommodations, as well as other pertinent information. When to have guests and how many is always the decision of the host.
~ Guests contact one of the coordinators who then finds a host home that fits the requirements of guest and host. Reservations are taken by both email and phone with both parties told the rates at the initial contact.
~ A reservation deposit of $25 payable to First Unitarian Church is required from the guest and must be mailed to the coordinator, Judy Davis, 17616 Arbor Lane, Lake Oswego, OR 97035, to arrive at least one week prior to the scheduled arrival. Rates range from $60 to $75 per night depending on the number of guests and the chosen accommodations. At the end of the stay, a check made out to the First Unitarian Church for the balance is given to the host. The check is then forwarded to the church by the host.
What happens after the reservation is made?
After the host and guest are matched, the guest contacts the host to arrange times of arrival and departure and to get directions to the host home.
What happens when the guests arrive?
Guests are welcomed, shown the accommodations, and given additional information about Portland, if desired. Arrangements are made for guests to get into the house when the hosts are not home.
What’s for breakfast?
Breakfast decisions are at the discretion of the host. Possibilities include a continental breakfast, assorted cereals with coffee and tea, or a more elaborate meal.
Judy Davis at 503-699-8737 or jwdavis@hevanet.com.
Anne Upshaw at 503-777-7587 or abupshaw@easystreet.com.
Elaine Carter at 503-236-0950 or aecarter@pcez.com
YOUNG ADULTS GA FUNDRAISERS
* Saturday, April 21 High Tea 3:30-5:30
* Saturday, May 12 Parent Night Out and Kid’s PJ Party 5:00-Midnight
* Saturday, June 2 Dinner Cabaret 6:30-8:30 p.m. Childcare provided.
* Ongoing — "Personal Assistants" Service: yard work, house cleaning, moving, organizing... Call our helpful YA group! All $$ go to sending Young Adults to GA!
Call Ashley 729-1978 for more information.
PRE and POST GA WORKSHOPS/EVENTS
GREEN WORKSHOP
UU Ministry for Earth presents a full day workshop with Joanna Macy "AWAKENING AS EARTH: Spiritual Practice for the Great Turning." Monday, June 25, 2007 (the day after the UUA General Assembly ends), from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in Portland, Oregon at First Unitarian Church, SW 12th and Salmon. More at http://www.uueugene.org/Green/Sanctuary.html
CUUPs
2007 is the 20th Anniversary of the founding of CUUPS, and there will be special observances recognizing that event at General Assembly 2007 in Portland.