District News
A Brief Review of the NNEUU Conference
North Conway, NH
April 13 – 14 2012.
Fourteen people from the Unitarian Universalist Society of Burlington, VT attended the 4th annual Northern New England Unitarian Universalist Conference in North Conway, NH during the weekend of April 13 -14, 2012.
Here is a brief review. ….. Last year’s participants had driven there in near blizzard conditions. Drivers this year enjoyed clear sunny days both to and from North Conway. Accommodations were provided at the Red Jacket Resort.
The 14 UUs from our Society who attended the conference were: Pat Allen, David Clark, David Conrad, Sally Conrad, Carol Czina, Martha Dallas, Marla Emery, Mia Eyth, Ginger Hobbs, Nancy Freeze, Chip Patullo, Liam Patullo, Bill West, and Mark Westergard. About 150 UUs attended the conference. There are 73 UU affiliations in this district; our UU is the largest.
Each of the attendees was provided with comfortable accommodations, great food, and a nurturing atmosphere. A bookstore was available. The workshops offered a wide variety of interests, some for children, some for youth, and others for adults. Others were multigenerational. Here is a sampling of the favorites: ‘Earth meets Politics,’ ‘Active Hope,’ ‘the 1 and the 99,’ and ‘Intercultural Competence: A new way to think about Diversity.’ An indoor waterslide was available for use.
Dave Conrad supplied us with fine photos including a shot of our banner which Martha Dallas and others showed proudly during the banner parade. Plans are underway to have the photos on our bulletin board at UU.
As I began to write this report, I asked the attendees to offer impressions of the Conference. Here are the responses I received:
Marla Emery: “Three things stood out for me. The building of the beloved community moves to:
1. A focus on seeking and doing what is possible.,
2. Mutuality and reciprocity are the heart of identifying, defining, and solving problems.
3. Sacred economics are relational.” Visit this website for more information: http://www.communityeconomics.org/Home
Nancy Freeze: “Friendships developed during the 2 days were extraordinary. Getting to know UUs locally and from other places was a plus. … Learning more about people’s lives was fun for me. …. I liked the form with the 10 questions where we rated ourselves and our congregations on a scale of 0 to 5. It was called “Spiritual Leadership Practices to Build Beloved Community”
Mia Eyth: Magical.
Sally Conrad: “In addition to the formal presentations were the opportunities to get to know members from our congregation better as well as congregations from other areas were highlights. I met people from Portland, Augusta, and Auburn, Maine.” Sally also made an important observation about the Nominating Committee’s make up from a group of Mainers. That idea will appear in another article.
Chip Patullo and Liam Patullo: “I was impressed with the expansion on MLK’s Beloved Community idea. The presentation was a fun left brain way to analyze the importance of thinking right brain as well as from the heart. For me, the most powerful statement is the difference between the ideas: (dominant paradigm) issues are problems to be solved, while (beloved paradigm) issues point to ways lives can be transformed.”…. “The water park relieves stress and may influence more families to participate in future years. The water park was definitely a highlight for me and especially for Liam.”
David Conrad: “It was wonderful to be together in community this weekend at the District Spring Conference. It was a banner weekend indeed! … I was impressed by the main speaker focusing on ‘Justice making Together’ who stated that it has become increasingly clear to her that Martin Luther King’s prophetic vision of the beloved community is now the indispensable starting point for the 21st century revolutionaries….”
Ginger Hobbs: “I was very moved by the concept that the purpose of power is right relationship and restoring humanity to all. And that justice comes from correcting what stands against love. We are a web of interconnectedness. I also came home wanting to explore intercultural competence in my own life and in the UU community.”
Pat Allen: Rev. Mark Glovin, the facilitator for the Workshop ‘The 1 and the 99’ visually demonstrated the power the 1 and the 99 hold. … Being together with fellow UUs at special events like this can form new relationships, reconnect others, and provide more meaning for both.
So many worthwhile and interesting events happen at conferences of likeminded people. While UUs are different in many aspects, we are also alike in many ways. We have more to agree about than to fret about. Go to a conference. You’ll see….
Thanks,
Pat Allen, Writing for the Group who attended
Introducing our new District Executive
March, 2012
On behalf of the Board of the Northern New England District, I am delighted to announce that Joe Sullivan will become the District Executive of the Northern New England District of the UUA on April 1, 2012.
Joe brings a wealth of Unitarian Universalist and business leadership experience to our District. A geologist by training, Joe worked for 23 years in exploration, project development, and management in the international energy business. He chose early retirement in 2005 to follow a call to work with leadership in churches and non-profits.
As a charter member of the Thoreau Unitarian Universalist Congregation in suburban Houston, Joe served in nearly every lay leadership role during the congregation’s formative years from the mid ‘90’s through 2008, and continues today in what he enjoys most -- teaching religious education for the children and youth. Through his congregation, Joe currently volunteers as board president for the Family Promise affiliate of Fort Bend County, Texas, an interfaith effort to empower homeless families to self-sufficiency.
Joe became active in District leadership (SWUUC) in 2000 when he joined the staff of the Southwestern Conferences annual week-long leadership experiences, and has served as the school’s dean since 2009. He was among the District’s first cohort of congregational consultants beginning in 2001, and served as SW District President from 2003-2008.
From district work, Joe became involved in greater UUA initiatives. In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, he served as project manager for the UUA-UUSC Gulf Coast Relief Fund during 2006-07 and assisted in a consulting capacity with leaders of the Greater New Orleans Unitarian Universalists to help them restore their congregational lives and renew their visions. Through his involvement in the District Presidents Association, Joe served from 2006-08 on the UUA Congregations Come First task force concerning UUA and district services, and later co-chaired the Fifth Principle task force concerning the future configuration of General Assembly. Currently Joe helps as one of the senior facilitators for the UUA’s Gathered Here initiative.
Since 2009, Joe has been a church consultant in partnership with Unity Consulting, a subsidiary of Unity Church-Unitarian of St. Paul. He specializes in custom governance and leadership development services for progressive congregations and related organizations. With Unity Consulting, he has helped develop and lead the programs on governance for the UUA General Assembly and the National Conference for Large Congregations.
The Board wishes to thank Nancy Chaddock and Rev. Johanna Nichols (Co-Chairs), Rev. Olivia Holmes, Jennifer McAdoo, and Thomas Pistole for their service on the DE Search Committee, and for their faithful and comprehensive work in finding us a new District Executive with such a breadth of experience and demonstrated commitment to Unitarian Universalism. We are all so lucky to have such dedicated and capable folk among us who are willing to take on the necessary and time-consuming tasks!
Please join us in welcoming Joe to NNED. We on the Board are looking forward to working with Joe in service to our congregations and in furtherance of this great faith of ours.
Regards,
Sue Buckholz
Board President for the NNED