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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
~ August 2018
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Featured Resource: Board Basics Trainings
Do you have new board members joining your leadership team this year? Do you have returning board members?

Board leadership in a UU congregation calls on a unique set of skills and attitudes. Not every person elected (no matter how enthusiastic they are!) comes to the work with a full sense of what is means to serve and the skills needed to serve well. Congregations are encouraged to send a team of leaders, chosen from both newly elected and returning leaders, to attend this day long workshop presented by your staff from the Central East Region of the UUA.

Trainings are scheduled in clusters around the region starting in April and running through September. Not able to attend a training in your area? We offered this training online last year and the videos are now available on our YouTube Channel. You can review it at any time.

The UUA LeaderLab has a 12 part training for board members that your board can do as a team or new members can do on their own. Each section contains a video or reading illustrate the topic.

Several trainings are scheduled for the month of August, check the calendar to see if one is near you. If your cluster is interested in a training, contact your primary contact.
Better Together Blog: What Four Years Has Taught Me
For the last four years, I have had the honor of serving the congregations of the Central East Region of the UUA, first as the District Executive of the Joseph Priestley District, and then as a Primary Contact and as a specialist in governance, staffing, ministry, and pastoral care.  I remember when I accepted the position, the Central East Region had been mostly a dream and an agreement to share a few staff between the four districts, and now it is a fully functioning staff team, and a growing set of wider relationships among congregations.  While the Central East Region is still growing and adapting, it is wonderful to see the ways in which what was once an idea has been "made manifest".

Read the rest of the article
BREAKING NEWS- Rev. David Pyle To Join New England Region Team for One Year
As sometimes happens within the Army Reserve, Rev. David Pyle informed the UUA this week that mission changes have led to his unit not taking a Chaplain overseas on their upcoming mission, and as such he would not be going on leave from the UUA as planned. Since Central East had already made a commitment to Paula Cole Jones for the year, we inquired into other staff groups to see where David might best serve our congregations in the coming year. The New England Region had an opening, and we’re delighted to announce that David will serve there for the year, and then plans to return to CER in August 2019 as planned.  The UUA is pleased that we were able to work together to maintain our commitments to staff while also honoring our commitment to military chaplaincy, as David will continue to serve as an Army Reserve Chaplain at Fort Dix, NJ. A special thank you to the New England Region for their flexibility.
Reminder - It's Time to Update Your Leadership Information!
It's that time of the year again. Your congregation has held its annual meeting, or its on your schedule and elected new officers. You have new committee chairs appointed to lead your work for next year. But have you told anyone about these changes?

To help us and the UUA stay in touch with the leaders of your congregation we need YOU to update your leadership information on myuua.org. This is the same place you update your UU World lists. Need help? Let us know or check out the webpage with the details.
News from the UUA
UU-UNO Intergenerational Seminar looking for leaders! Are you passionate about creating inclusive learning environment and working for peace and justice on a worldwide scale? The UU United Nations Office invites Youth and Adults to apply to join the leadership team for the 2019 Intergenerational Spring Seminar! The UU-UNO is accepting applications for Youth and Adult Chaplains due August 8. The Intergenerational Seminar will take place in New York City April 10-13, 2019, and will focus on the issue of gender equity. Check out links for Blue Boat blog post about Deans and the webpage about 2019 Seminar Details.

College of Social Justice programs
allow those passionate about social justice to experience this work in their areas of interest. Current locations range from Minnesota, Houston and Honduras and topics range from racial justice, to recovery to interfaith work. Volunteers also being matched with partners working with those directly affected by oppression. Congregations and clusters can also request programs in their interest areas. Learn more at the UU College of Social Justice website. Experiential learning that inspires spiritually grounded action for social justice.

Funds are Available to Take Your #PowertothePolls
. The Fund for UU Social Responsibility is pleased to announce that grants of up to $500 are available for your 2018 Get Out The Vote projects! Unitarian Universalist congregations frequently support the democratic process in a nonpartisan manner by participating in voter registration drives, providing nonpartisan educational materials or forums for voters, or by volunteering to help registered voters get to the polls on election day. The deadline is rolling and you can apply between March 15 and November 1, 2018. Grants will be available until the fund is depleted. Applications and more information are available online. You can also contact us at uufunding@gmail.com or (617) 971-9600.


Support Black Unitarian Universalists. Since the Black Lives of Unitarian Universalism (BLUU) Sunday campaign kicked off, many Unitarian Universalist congregations have been excited about exploring the theme of The Promise and the Practice of Our Faith and making a pledge to BLUU by June 30. Has your congregation scheduled your Sunday? Please post it to this map! This spiritual and financial commitment to BLUU allows UU congregations to address systemic inequality while uplifting the voices and stories of Black Unitarian Universalists. The worship materials, written by Unitarian Universalist Professionals of Color, allow Unitarian Universalists to deeply explore the challenges, the beauty, and the complexity of UU traditions from the perspectives of Black Unitarian Universalists. Join the UUA as it continues to work toward the path of being an inclusive, multicultural and multigenerational faith tradition. Get resources and guidance for holding a BLUU Sunday service in your congregation on UUA.org and help us all enter into a new chapter within our faith.

New publications from the UUA - The following new publications are now available: Revisiting the Empowerment Controversy: Black Power and Unitarian Universalism by Mark Morrison-Reed and Love Like Thunder: Meditations the 2018 volume of the InSpirit Series. Recommended for the new church year is Upcycle Your Congregation by UU Leaders in the field. The UUA has announced the 2018-19 Common Read as Justice on Earth: People of Faith Working at the Intersections of Race, Class, and the Environment, edited by Manish Mishra-Marzetti and Jennifer Nordstrom. August's Justice and Spirit Goodreads Book Club pick is The Heritage: Black Athletes, a Divided America, and the Politics of Patriotism by Howard Bryant (Beacon Press). Visit the Publications Page for details.

The UUA is hiring for several positions including the Director of Congregational Life. Find job descriptions and application information at their Job Openings webpage.

CER Events at a Glance
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.

  • Elementary Our Whole Lives Teacher Training ~ Burke, VA ~ August 3-5, 2018
  • Jr/Sr High Our Whole Lives Teacher Training ~ Burke, VA ~ August 3-5, 2018
  • Young Adult/Adult Our Whole Lives Teacher Training ~ Frederick, MD ~ August 10-12, 2018
  • OMD Youth Adult Committee Meeting ~ Kirtland, OH ~ August 10-12, 2018
  • Board Basics Training ~ Lincroft, NJ ~ August 11, 2018
  • RE Week by the Sea ~ Ocean Grove, NJ ~ August 12-17, 2018
  • Board Basics Training ~ Syracuse, NY ~ August 18, 2018
  • Elementary Our Whole Lives Teacher Training ~ Media, PA ~ August 17-19, 2018
  • Jr/Sr High Our Whole Lives Teacher Training ~ Pittsburgh, PA ~ August 17-19, 2018
  • Elementary Our Whole Lives Teacher Training ~ White Plains, NY ~ August 24-26, 2018
  • Jr/Sr High Our Whole Lives Teacher Training ~ White Plains, NY ~ August 24,-26, 2018
  • Jr/Sr High Our Whole Lives Teacher Training ~ West Chester, PA ~ August 24,-26, 2018
  • Board Basics Training ~ Charleston, WV ~ August 25, 2018
  • UNY Youth Adult Committee Meeting ~ September 7-9, 2018
  • Northeast Ohio Board Development Day ~ Akron, OH ~ September 15, 2018
  • MNY Junior Youth Fall Retreat ~ Patteson, NY ~ September 15-16, 2018
  • Restorative Practices for Faith Communities ~ Williamsville, NY ~ September 29, 2018

CER Webinars at a Glance

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.

Our repeating webinars will begin again in September. The Congregational Presidents and Leaders Roundtable will meet on the fourth Thursday of each month and the Money Matters Roundtable will meet on the second Monday of each month. Details will be added to the calendar by the first of September.
Congregation, Cluster and Affiliate Groups News and Events
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.

If your congregation or cluster has news or events to share, please send it to us at bcasebolt@uua.org
 
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Central East Region of the UUA, 100 W 10th Street Suite 1008, Wilmington, DE 19801, United States

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Central East Region of the UUA
100 W 10th Street Suite 1008
Wilmington, DE 19801
United States