| News and updates from the Central East Region of the UUA to keep your congregation informed.
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| Opportunities for Connection
CER Update ~ February 2019
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| Featured Resource: Funds for Furloughed Federal Workers
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While we know the shutdown is over for now, we also know that it will take time to receive back pay and catch up on payments. You may have congregants who won't be getting a check at all and need money to cover expenses. The Central East Region has funds available for the relief of furloughed workers in the region (and, currently, only in our region). These funds can be distributed to congregations for disbursal to those in need.
Who should get funds, and for what?
Let me paraphrase Rev. Peter Friedrichs who recently wrote, "No one should be evicted or have to pick between food and medicine, or go without – come to us first." We don’t want any UU to lose their home or go hungry during the furlough. On the other hand, the Region has $50K available at present, which sounds like a lot until you think of rent/mortgage payments for dozens, perhaps hundreds of people. This is largely up to you, the congregation, to decide. We strongly recommend that folks first look into the multiple offerings available to furloughed workers, and come to this fund as a last resort. On the other hand, if you need the money, please apply! We want to help you.
How do we get the funds?
Contact Beth Casebolt at bcasebolt@uua.org for a link to the application. Applications must be
submitted by the congregation and approved by the congregational minister, president or board. You should get word of approval in a couple of days, and then a check in 7-10 days.
We want to give money to help furloughed workers, can we donate?
At this moment we can accept donations to our general UUA Disaster Relief Fund, which helps hundreds of UUs each year as they face a variety of disasters. We are in the process of deciding whether we can expand the use of that fund to the furlough, so please give generously! You may also
want to consider ‘share the plate’ or special collections in your congregation.
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Are you beginning to feel the winter "ho-hums"? School, work, and the state of the world getting you down? Need some inspiration and excitement in your life? Curious about justice work, spiritual practice and how the two are connected? Or just feeling the need to spend some quality time with a bunch of other UU youth, playing, learning, laughing, worshiping and being yourself? The Central East Region is excited to host YMR2019! We’re planning with Youth and YA leaders, community partners, local musicians, UUA and congregation staff to bring you a dynamic and inspiring event. Some of the things attendees can expect to experience: dynamic, interactive worship; creative expression through visual arts, spoken word music and song; workshops with community organizers and activists; community circles for building deeper connections and relationships; identity circles for sharing and exploration; spiritual practices to take back with you. Don't miss it - March 1-3, 2019, Cedar Lane, MD Registration is open!
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| UU Leadership Institute Spring Semester is Open
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New Online Leadership Courses for Spring!
Core leadership courses are designed for team or individual learning ($30):
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If you missed the New Day Rising Conference or want to share what you learned, the videos from the afternoon session of congregational sharing is now available. View the videos on our Better Together blog.
Looking for ideas for summer? Don't know about you but we've been dreaming of CERSI (formerly SI) during these dreary days of winter. Sunshine, old and new friends, engaging programming, worship, music. Ahh! This 40th year of magic promises to be especially memorable with our theme speaker, Dr. Ysaye Barnwell, a powerful speaker and musician. Join us July 7-13, 2019. Registration opens March 15. More info at the CERSI website.
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| Better Together Blog: Join us for Youth Ministry Revival!
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Do you have youth in your congregation who are yearning for connection with other UU youth? Who are interested in exploring spiritual practices that help us survive and thrive in the world? Who would like to learn more about justice issues from activists and organizers in the field? We’re excited to announce registration for Youth Ministry Revival 2019: Answering the Call of Love in Bethesda, MD March 1-3 is now open! Read the rest of the article
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Nominations for the 2019 Angus H. MacLean Award for Excellence in Religious Education will be accepted until March 15. The recipient will be selected by a committee headed by Gail Forsyth-Vail, Interim Director of the UUA Faith Development Office. The MacLean Award can recognize a leader for many years of contributions to UU religious education, for significant mid-career accomplishment, or for relatively recent, yet high impact, service. Find a full description of the award and and nomination instructions at the UUA website.
Compensation and Benefits News:
Are you aware that the cost of benefits is often 40% or more of an employee's salary? Our Compensation Worksheet can assist you in budgeting appropriately for benefits for all of your staff.
The Office of Congregational Staff Finances created a video that offers advice and perspective on each line of the Compensation Worksheet:
Salary Recommendations for July 2019 - June 2020 are now posted on the UUA's Salary Recommendations for Congregational
Staff page. Keep in mind that our charts are based on national wage surveys: they do not take into account state wage laws or local norms. Also remember that while our recommendations have increased 1.8% from 2018-2019, the cost of living is projected to rise about 3% in 2019. (The Social Security COLA for 2019 is 2.8%.) When adjusting salaries for continuing staff, this is a key benchmark.
2019 Intergenerational Spring Seminar - "Equity in Action: Gender in an Intersecting World" - New York City, April 11-13, 2019. Registration is open through February 25; rates increase after Jan 21. Applications are now open to apply for reduced registration rates. We also have a special discount rate for young adult participants (age 18-35) which includes lodging at the hostel where youth and their sponsors stay. The UU United Nations Office is excited to host this year’s Intergenerational Spring Seminar on gender equity in collaboration with the UU College of Social Justice. Programming will be interactive and intergenerational, encouraging participants to challenge their assumptions, connecting their activism with grounding in UU faith, and empowering them with
the tools to bring back to their communities to make change locally and globally. More at www.uua.org/unspringseminar
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The following events are upcoming in the region. For full details and a complete list visit the CER Calendar Page. Also, please note, if you are mailing a check to pay for your event to us, you must write the name and date of the event in the memo line. Otherwise we may not get it properly credited.
- Pastoral Care Workshop ~ Ridgewood, NJ ~ February 9, 2019
- Winter Institute ~ Salt Fork State Park, OH ~ February 15-19, 2019
- MNY Youth Conference ~ New York, NY ~ February 15-17, 2019
- OM Winter Youth Conference ~ Pittsburgh, PA ~ February 22-24, 2019
- Pastoral Care Summit ~ Bethesda, MD ~ February 23, 2019
- Youth Ministry Revival ~ Bethesda, MD ~ March 1-3, 2019
- Restorative Practices for Faith Communities ~ Akron, OH ~ March 2, 2019
- Jubilee Anti-racism Workshop ~ Devon, PA ~ March 8-10, 2019
- The Healthy Congregation ~ Rochester, NY ~ March 9, 2019
- Jr/Sr High Our Whole Lives Training ~ Canton, NY ~ March 13-15, 2019
- Restorative Practices for Faith Communities ~ Hastings on Hudson, NY ~ March 16, 2019
- MNY Youth Adult Committee Meeting ~ March 16, 2019
- Fundamentals of Health Youth Ministry ~ Columbia, MD ~ March 23, 2019
- UNY Youth Conference ~ Schenectady, NY ~ March 29-31, 2019
Save the Date for these events:- UU-UNO Intergenerational Seminar ~ New York, NY ~ April 10-13, 2019
- Seaway Gathering ~ May 3-4, 2019
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The following webinars will take place in the region the next two months. For full details and a complete list visit the CER Webinars Calendar.- Annual Program Fund Open Office Hours every Monday, 5-6 pm ET with Norrie Gall, Congregational
Giving Manager. https://zoom.us/j/6179486514
- Money Matters Roundtable - February 11 at 7 pm with Patricia Infante for anyone who is involved with money in the congregation.
- Money Matters Roundtable - March 11 at 7 pm with Patricia Infante for anyone who is involved with money in the congregation.
- Curriculum Conundrums: How to Plan for Changing Times with Patricia Infante, March 18 at 7 pm ET. No registration required.
- The following online Renaissance Modules are currently open for registration:
- Curriculum Planning on Mondays, starting February 4th
- Teacher Development on Tuesdays, starting March 5th
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| Congregation, Cluster and Affiliate Groups News and Events
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Our congregations and clusters in the region have many exciting activities and announcements going on. For a complete listing of events, visit the CER Congregations and Clusters Calendar Page. For news and to see which congregations are hiring, please visit our News Blog for listings.
- Introducing Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Cleveland
- The Fourth Universalist Society awarded prestigious $500,000 historic preservation grant from New York State
- UU Congregation of Reston Hiring Bookkeeper
- Community UU Congregation in White Plains, NY Searching for Director of Religious Education
- Building Beloved Community Beyond the Binary ~ Syracuse, NY ~ February 9, 2019
- OM LREDA Chapter Retreat ~ Wheeling, WV ~ February 14-16, 2019
- 7th Annual Poetry Workshop and Poetry Slam ~ Sterling, VA ~ February 16, 2019
- Voices in Action ~ Princeton, NJ ~ March 9, 2019
- Jr/Sr High Our Whole Lives Training ~ Canton, NY ~ March 13-15, 2019
- Installation of Rev. Charlotte Lehman ~ March 23, 2019
- Ordination of Norman Allen ~ March 24, 2019
- Installation of Rev. Julie Kain ~ March 24, 2019
- UU Buddhist Fellowship Annual Convocation, Garrison, NY ~ April 25-28, 2019. Registration is now open.
If your congregation or cluster has news or events to share, please send it to us at bcasebolt@uua.org
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| This work is made possible by the generosity of member congregations and individual donors.
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| Sent to: _t.e.s.t_@example.com
Central East Region of the UUA, 100 W 10th Street Suite 1008, Wilmington, DE 19801, United States
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