Haiti Earthquake Distaster Response

Many Unitarian Universalists are moved to aid those stricken by Tuesday’s earthquake. In the wake of devastation wrought by the earthquake which struck the island of Haiti on January 12, 2010, the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC) and the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) are launching a joint relief effort to bring aid to the impoverished island nation.  Read more

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Now Accepting Nominations for District Awards

The Florida District Awards Committee requests your nominations to honor members and friends who have made significant contributions to their congregations and communities. Awards will be presented during our District Assembly, April 9-11, in Miami.

Award Information and Nomination Form

Please note, the deadline to submit nominations is March 15, 2010

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Calling all Chalice Lighters

A call has gone out seeking contributions to assist Friendship Fellowship at Pineda and Unitarian Universalist Church of Tampa.

Read more about this Chalice Lighter call

Learn more about the Florida District Chalice Lighter program

Contribute to this Chalice Lighter call

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Building the World We Dream About Workshop
March 13, 2010 ~ UU Fellowship of Boca Raton

This workshop is designed for Unitarian Universalist congregations to examine cultural competencies and gain tools and resources for effectively engaging in racial justice ministry. This hands-on event will leave your congregation equipped to take the next step in your racial justice ministry with the support of other congregations also committed to leading the way in “building the world we dream about.”

Building the World Workshop Flyer

Building the World Workshop On-Line Registration

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Joan Lund

There is always information to be written about governing as a board using the Carver Policy Governance method. Although both the Florida District Board and the UUA Board of Trustees (BOT) studied and were trained in Carver PG, the UUA BOT has adapted much of what is appropriate in policy governance as we govern on your behalf. The BOT has begun to tackle more deeply the issues on whose behalf we govern and to whom we are accountable.

For the readers of this column it may be good to understand certain aspects of policy governance which are affecting the deliberations, decisions, and operation of the BOT. It is necessary to clarify who the “owners”, also known as one of our Sources, are in our governance structure. Owners are all those UUs who are the people on whose behalf the BOT determines the Ends: the benefits being produced, for whom at what cost. Owners in our Association are the congregations. An owner is sometimes perceived as a “customer” when requesting services from the District and/or UUA Staff. The use of the term “stakeholders”, who are not “owners”, refers to those who have an interest in our Association and includes employees and other UU organizations. The time frame and expected results for owners are long-term, involves the big picture and future returns. For customers expectations are much more short term. The connections our UUA has with our owners and customers are very different.

The BOT will govern with an emphasis on outward vision, an encouragement of diversity in viewpoints, strategic leadership, a clear distinction between the roles of the BOT and President, collective decisions, the future, pro-activity, and an open, transparent process. Our primary focus will be linkage with our congregations in a process of engaging the relational, cooperative power of covenant. The work of the BOT in connecting with congregations will not be “telling” or “reporting” but rather “listening” to perspectives regarding needs and what benefits our UUA should produce, be accountable, and let you know what is being achieved.

The BOT will be concerned with congregational values and who in the congregation speaks for these values. This will help determine the values of future generations of UUs. The BOT may involve itself in the history and theology of UUism to be sure the values inherent in our UU traditions and heritage are understood. We will be involved with much questioning and researching.

Hopefully in March I will be able to write about the method of selection that will identify a random sample from a variety of representative groups, perhaps determined by congregation size and location. Our linkage focus will be “right relationship” between the BOT and its member congregations in their role as Sources. Stay tuned…and let me hear from you: jlund@uua.org or 813-931-9727.