THE CANADIAN UNITARIAN COUNCIL’s Annual Report for 2011 was released on May 14, and is now available for download on the CUC website. Printed copies will be distributed at the Annual General Meeting at The Westin, Ottawa, on Friday, May 18, 2012.
Download the Report:
THE CUC Active Democracy Study Group has released its final report, recommending that more voices be brought into CUC decision-making, more effectively, and much more frequently than at Annual General Meetings.
The report also urges improved and more accessible communication between congregations, individuals, stakeholder groups and the CUC’s Council, Board and staff.
The Study Group’s report, titled Strengthening Our Democratic Voices, was released on April 20, and will be officially presented at the 2012 CUC Annual General Meeting in Ottawa on May 18.
Keith Baxter of UU Estrie (North Hatley) speaks at the 2011 CUC Annual General Meeting in Toronto.
THE THREE RESOLUTIONS to be considered at this year’s CUC Annual General Meeting are posted on the AGM page of the Spiritual Leadership Symposium website.
Congregations are encouraged to discuss these resolutions, and decide how to instruct their delegates to vote. The subjects are: Continue reading
IT’S A FRIDAY in May, 2016. People are entering a large room with rows of seats for about 100, and a head table where the CUC President is being joined by members of her Board. With the exception of the smaller room, looks like the usual set-up for a CUC Annual General Meeting.
But there is another difference. Behind the head table is a large screen. Projected onto it are live images of other meeting rooms in three cities across Canada. In those rooms too, people are entering and taking their seats.
The President calls the meeting to order, welcoming the delegates assembled in the room. Then she welcomes those watching her from the three cities, as well as the others who are watching on their home computers, ready to call in and participate in the discussions.
The possibility of electronically observing, speaking and voting at CUC meetings and other events is just one area under review by the CUC Active Democracy Study Group.
The ADSG is tasked with undertaking a national conversation about our democratic processes.
The Study Group is considering how the Council (i.e. the member congregations along with the individual members) and the Board share decision-making. They are examining how delegates are selected to attend CUC annual meetings, what information-sharing opportunities are available to the membership before meetings, and how to ensure all generations and interests are represented in our democratic processes.
Broad participation is necessary in order for the report to be meaningful. The group encouraged congregations to hold workshops over the last ten weeks, to gather input for the Study Group’s report to be issued in April. An easy-to-use guide for the workshops was made available online.
If you have not submitted input at the workshop in your congregation, or want to comment further, the Active Democracy Survey is open through Saturday, March 17.
THE CUC Active Democracy Study Group (ADSG) is undertaking a national conversation on democratic processes in the CUC. Between now and March 11, 2012, the Study Group encourages congregations and other stakeholder groups (including youth, young adults, religious education professionals and ministers) to participate in the conversation.
The ADSG will compile the results and make recommendations in their report to the CUC Annual Meeting in Ottawa, May 18, 2012.
The Study Group has prepared discussion materials and a survey, available on the Active Democracy Study Group page on the CUC website, and has asked all congregations to hold a workshop on the topic. Some of the workshops have already been held and others are scheduled.
Individuals are also invited to review the study materials and complete the survey — or even just those parts which are of most interest to you.
The survey needs to be submitted by March 15, 2012.
If you have questions please e-mail the Active Democracy Study Group.