Spring 2007 Newsletter

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From the Chair

Greetings, all! As the Earth continues on its trip around the sun, we find ourselves with longer days, and hopefully much warmer ones on the way. In the midst of dreaming about fresh local produce that will soon be here, we are also thinking about frolicking in the sun, with our friends, and perhaps at the wonderful event called Spring Conference.

Since last year’s spring con, I have been honored to serve as Chair of OMD UUYAN. Not only have I been able to help keep the work of young adults in this district on track, it has been a joy to work with other young adults. Being chair has been a wonderful excuse to keep in contact with many of my friends who I have met through UUYAN.

At the Spring Conference, we will be holding elections for open seats on the OMD UUYAN Steering Committee. This is the group of people who gets together regularly between conferences to check in with each other and make sure that OMD UUYAN is alive and kicking. At the spring conference, two positions have terms that end, and we will need to elect new people to fill these positions, in addition to others who would be willing to serve in smaller appointed roles. I have been fortunate to be on the steering committee this last year with wonderful people, and encourage you to consider stepping up into a leadership role within the district.

Being on the steering committee in an elected or appointed role is an opportunity that should not be passed over lightly.

This spring, there are two positions on the steering committee up for election: OMD UUYAN Chair, and Publicity and Outreach Coordinator. The Chair is the person who makes sure that everything happens; the Chair schedules meetings, and keeps track of who is doing what. The Publicity and Outreach Coordinator is responsible for making sure that we are all able to stay in contact – through the newsletter, Facebook, e-mail lists, etc. This person is not responsible for doing everything, but is responsible for making sure everything gets done. The Publicity and Outreach Coordinator may appoint, with steering committee approval, a Newsletter Editor, Webmaster and Database Coordinator.

There are also appointed positions in addition to those mentioned above: ConCentric Representative, Recording Secretary, and Treasurer. The ConCentric Representative has specific responsibilities in conjunction with attending ConCentric, the continental UU young adult business meeting and leadership training held in August. OMD UUYAN has set aside finds for our ConCentric Representative to attend ConCentric. The Recording Secretary attends all OMD UUYAN meetings, takes minutes, and distributes them. Finally, the Treasurer is responsible for keeping track of OMD UUYANs finances, including available funds and expenses. If you have any questions about any of these positions, please contact me or any other member of the steering committee.

No matter how you are involved with OMD UUYAN, I strongly encourage you to consider a leadership role. Some are small, some are larger, but they all provide you with the opportunity to keep in touch with others in the district as well as keep OMD UUYAN a vibrant, spiritually alive community.

In the faith,
Karina Leppik, OMD UUYAN Chair
karina@oberlin.net

YA/CM Consultant Update

I would like to personally invite you to this year’s District Assembly on April 20-21 at West Shore UU near Cleveland. Two reasons: One, this year’s District Assembly is going to be so much more exciting and fabulous than past years’ Annual meetings. Two, young adults will be EVERYWHERE. We will be leading worship Friday night, hosting a coffeehouse and game night, leading two workshops, and fundraising by selling items at the marketplace. Basically, it will be a little like a UU conference plus a con, because the adults will go to bed early and we’ll stay up and have fun.

What do you need to do? Register!!! Go to the OMD District website and download the brochure. If you’re under 25, it’s only $35. If you’re over 25, it’s $45 if you register before March 20th. If you can’t afford this, please simply register, but don’t send in a check. Email me or Karina Leppik and we will find a way to help you get to District Assembly. Again—register even if you can’t afford to pay your own way—we’ll help you get there. You are welcome to request home hospitality, we’re also working on specifically young adult home hospitality and some of us might sleep at the church. There’s a shower and everything already there.

AND—contact the board at your church and ask to be a delegate. If you’re a delegate, your church should help support you in going. Most churches can’t drum up enough delegates and will be happy that you’re interested. And, if you’re doing the work of your church, it’s perfectly reasonable that they help you get there and help pay your registration.

Please come, it’s important for adults to see young adult faces to remember that we’re out here. This is the year we break out on to the district stage!

Ellen Carvill
Young Adult and Campus Ministry Consultant
Ohio Meadville District of the UUA
ellen@carvill.net

What's Happening in the OMD YA District and in the Larger UU YA Community

2007 OMD Spring Conference: Spring CONsciousness

The 2007 OMD UU Young Adult Spring Conference is “Spring CONsciousness”. It will focus on being aware of our own existence in the universe. There will be a climate change presentation by Alvidas Jasin , who is a Climate Project trainee. The Climate Project is a movement to educate and challenge citizens and governments into action against the growing crisis of global warming. This is the project spearheaded by Al Gore and the movie An Inconvenient Truth. Come join old friends and new for a weekend of fun, fellowship, and exploration! The Spring Conference will be held at the First Unitarian Universalist Church of Cleveland, OH on April 27-29. For more information and to find out how to register, go to the Events Page. Don't forget to download the Conference flyer and share it with your friends!

2007 OMD District Assembly

The 2007 Ohio-Meadville Annual Meeting has a new name and a new attitude – it is now called District Assembly, and it will go far beyond what has happened at Annual Meetings in the past. Best of all, Young Adults will be a major force – now is our time to show the District who we are. In order to do this, the OMD UU Young Adult Network is encouraging all Young Adults to come and have your voices heard. District Assembly will be held at the West Shore UU Church in Rocky River, OH on April 20-21. Go to the OMD District website for registration information - young adults aged 18-25 will be able to register at a reduced rate of only $35! Contact Ellen Carvill or Karina Leppik if you need transportation or financial assistance.

Play Music? Write Poetry? Like Leading Worship? We need YOU. Seriously—we need you to help with the Friday night worship of District Assembly, April 20th. This is a chance to be a part of showing adults how worship can be vibrant, energizing, and alive. Email Ellen Carvill to get involved.

Do You Love Your Congregation? If so, we need your voice at District Assembly to help other congregations figure it out. Email Ellen Carvill to be part of this workshop. All you need to do is bring your fabulous self and the story of your involvement in your church.

Spread the News! Post the District Assembly Flyer anywhere – on bulletin boards, campus group meetings, anywhere you think people who would be interested in coming to the District Assembly might see it! We need a big showing to get the attention of the District!

Events for Young Adults at West Shore UU

The West Shore UU Church in Rocky River, OH is planning several events that are of interest to Young Adults. Young Adults from all over the district are welcome!
“The Motherhood Manifesto” The Social Action Committee will be hosting a viewing of "The Motherhood Manifesto", followed by discussion and desserts on May 12, 2007 at 3pm. This important documentary addresses the challenges that young families face in America today that many people who are not currently young parents can be completely unaware of, and the personal, economic, and political ramifications of the current situation. This event is free and open to the public, but RSVPs are appreciated. For more information and to RSVP please visit the event webpage

Intergenerational Game Night West Shore UU is starting a (hopefully monthly) Intergenerational Game Night. The first one will be April 14th, from 4-10pm at the church. Come when you can, leave when you must, all ages welcome (care for children too young to play games can be coordinated amongst the attendees so parents can get a turn to play and a turn to care for the children). Bring your favorite board/card game(s) and a snack to share, if enough folks are around as dinner approaches we will order something to be delivered together. Contact Ahmie Yeung for more information. Directions to the church are available online at West Shore's webpage.

Friday Family Fellowship Don't have much family of your own? Come be part of ours! Are you home with a little one (or several) on Friday nights and want something family-friendly to do? Join West Shore UU for Friday Family Fellowship, Fourth Fridays through June 2007. All services are intentionally intergenerational, highly participatory community worship but the style of each service can vary greatly. Gather at 6pm for some music, some laughs, and to orientate yourself. Service starts at 6:30pm and runs for 30-45 minutes, followed by a potluck and a chance to relax and unwind. For more information or to be a part of the service, please contact Ahmie Yeung.
Upcoming Fellowship dates and themes:
March 23 - A free and responsible search for truth and meaning
April 27 - The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large
May 25 - The goal of world community with peace, liberty and justice for all
June 22 - Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part

GROUNDWORK Was Great!

In early February, about 20 of us gathered in Pittsburgh for a weekend of exploration of race, racism, and oppression. Mimi LaValley and George Brown of the national youth and young adult Groundwork training led a fantastic workshop, complete with comedy videos. The very supportive anti-racism task force at First Unitarian in Pittsburgh fed us and many wonderful folks in the congregation put us up in their homes.

This program is really great--very experiential, engaging, and thought-provoking. I highly encourage other young adult groups to host a such a training in future years so that more young adults have this great opportunity to learn how racism still affects our lives and how by better understanding racism we can put our UU values to work.