TJ CONNECTION
Thomas Jefferson District
Unitarian Universalist Association
The Greater Nashville UU Congregation has moved into its new building, purchased from its former owners. It seats 250, providing plenty of room for expansion.
The new building of the UU Congregation of Hillsborough, NC will be dedicated on May 2, with UU Moderator, Dennie Davidoff as the Keynote Speaker.
Another important event on May 2 will be the installation of the Rev. Thomas Rhodes at the Westside UU Church of Knoxville, Tennessee.
A new TJ District congregation, in Kilmarnock, Virginia, will be chartered on May 2.
TJ DISTRICT ANNUAL MEETING TO BE IN WILLIAMSBURG, VA, APRIL 9-11
Highlight of this year's TJ District Annual Meeting hosted by Williamsburg Unitarian Universalists, April 9-11. will be a keynote speech by retiring District Executive Roger Comstock and a reception and banquet in his honor. His title is "It's No Small Task--Healing the World But Somebody Has To Do It." Other items on the agenda include a vote on amendments updating the bylaws, presentation of awards, and votes on the proposed long-range plan and the 1999-2000 budget.
The following workshops are planned:
Death by Opportunity. Large congregations face many exciting opportunities and challenges. This discussion, led by Leslie Takahashi Morris of the Eno River UU Fellowship will focus on approaches to managing the exciting array of possibilities with as few growing pains as possible. There will be a chance to share successes and troubleshoot together.
Building Right Relations. Organizational Systems and right relations among lay leaders and staff. Workshop led by Kathy Wimett, organizational andleadership development consultant, and Rev. Ed Piper, Extension Minister at UU Fellowship of Waynesboro and former congregational president.
Working With the UU Service Committee. The Rev. Bob Murphy, TJ District representative for the UUSC and chair of the disaster relief effort in the District will look at ways that congregations and individuals can work with UUSC in the months ahead.
It Takes Music, Food, A Chalice and Care to Make YRUU Programs Work. A requested repeat!! Peter deFur of the Community Church of Glen Allen, VA, winner of the Youth Advisor Award at the 1997 GA, will lead a hands-on workshop about YRUU and some of the factors that contribute to a successful program.
The New Volunteer - How to Deal With the Committed Volunteer Who Has Limited Time. Here's a chance to learn from a panel of successful practitioners: Michael Tino, Coordinator of Shared Ministry at Eno River UU Fellowship, Christine Gresser, board member and Campus Ministry Coordinator of the Thomas Jefferson UU Church, and Elizabeth Swope, DRE at UU Fellowship of Raleigh and co-chair of the District Extension Committee.
TJ District and the UUA -What They Do For You - And What You Want Them To Do.
Paul Clipp, of the UU Fellowship of Clemson, TJ District Annual Program Fund Chair, member of the District Finance Committee, and director of the Leadership School at The Mountain, will discuss the current activities of both the TJ District and the UUA in support of our religious movement. We will also look at the support that the District and UUA ask of us and our congregations.
An Extra: The Roundtable.
A chance to get answers to questions you might have about several important issues to be addressed at this year's business meeting.
The General Assembly website (http://www.uua.org/ga) contains all the useful information you need to start your GA journey.
FROM THE PRESIDENT
Linda Lane-Hamilton
Planning for an annual meeting is an ongoing process, and this year's is especially so in two major ways.
First, our slate of nominees has changed. With Ed Wilde's new role as UUA Trustee beginning this summer, he has resigned as vice-president. Leon Spencer, originally a candidate for a three-year at-large board position, has agreed to serve instead as Vice-President. The Nominating Committee was able to make this change in time to meet our bylaws regulations stipulating that candidates be announced to delegates a month before the Annual Meeting. The Nominating Committee could not act in time, however, to fill Leon's empty slot. A current board member, Polly Johnson, has volunteered to take a one-year slot, which is Board-appointed until the next Annual Meeting election, and Board members have enthusiastically approved. Polly has played a major role in creating the Long Range Plan and continues to offer valuable experience on the Board as we make the transition to a new District Executive.
Second, the Board, Long Range Planning Committee, and Finance Committee have continued meeting to refine financial support for the District's next 5-year plan. The Board will propose an ambitious but eminently do-able plan to raise the necessary funds. We are working now at forming a strong committee to design and implement a fund-raising program which will begin at the Annual Meeting 2000. We believe strongly in the importance of the many initiatives in the Long Range Plan, including moving to a paid religious education program consultant and supporting our innovative anti-racism program.
A one-hour special PBS broadcast on May 16 will present
a celebration at Harvard University honoring Nelson Mandela, President
of the Union of South Africa. Please contact your public station and encourage
them to schedule the program, cosponsored by the UUA, Meadville Lombard,
Starr King and the UUSC among others.
Other District news is available by e-mail at listproc@uua.org.with message:
Thomas Jefferson District Office:
9704 Mallard Creek Road, Charlotte NC 28262
Phone: 704-549-0750; fax: 704-549-0751
District Executive: Roger Comstock,
Rcomstock@uua.org
District Administrator: Krissa Palmer, KrissaTJD@aol.com
President: Linda Lane-Hamilton, llaneham@widomaker.com