CUC eNews: January 8, 2019 – Issue 72
In This Issue:
Message from the CUC Executive Director: Welcome to 2019
Many of us start off the new year with resolutions and good intentions. We resolve to eat more healthily, keep fit, spend more time with our loved ones, or stop procrastinating. I find myself reluctant to make such resolutions, mainly because the control freak in me fears not achieving the goal of those resolutions.
Still, I don’t want to enter a new year aimlessly, so a more workable approach is framing questions for myself. How can I be my best self? How do I engage with others in meaningful ways? How can I be a bridge? How do I contribute to making our global community a better place? Asking these questions expands the possibilities instead of checking off succeed/fail boxes. It invites exploration and wonder, and may lead to surprising discoveries about ourselves and the people around us.
I have similar questions for and about our Unitarian Universalist faith community. What does it mean to be our best selves? In what ways can we live out our interdependence so that it manifests in love and justice? How do we form bridges that connect and nurture? How do we make our corners of the world brighter and better?
Our answers will differ, but I am confident that we are all held to the same principles of respect, justice, equity, and interdependence. Let’s question and dare to venture out together. What could go wrong?? For in the words of that great philosopher, Winnie-the-Pooh, “You’re braver than you believe and stronger and smarter than you think.”
Vyda Ng, Executive Director of the CUC
The 2019 Annual General Meeting is Coming Up!
Each year, the Canadian Unitarian Council holds its Annual General Meeting (AGM) to elect members for the CUC’s Board of Trustees, vote on resolutions, and to attend to the business of the Council. The CUC’s member congregations send selected delegates from among their own membership to represent their congregations and to vote on business matters.
The AGM is scheduled for Saturday, May 11, 2019, and will run from 1:00 – 4:30 pm ET (to be confirmed). The AGM will be held at the Unitarian Congregation of Mississauga. Online participants are requested to sign on thirty minutes ahead of time to check sound and video systems. If you’re a new-ish participant or delegate, and unfamiliar with the online platform, please sign up for an orientation session, listed below.
AGM Plenary, Friday, May 10, 7:00 – 9:00 pm ET
Join the CUC Board for an informal dialogue amongst congregational delegates, leaders, board members, and CUC staff to discuss issues of concern in support of the CUC’s vision, goals, and strategic priorities. The plenary will be held at the CUC office location (302-192 Spadina Ave, Toronto) and both on-site and online participation is welcome. Online connection details will follow.
AGM Participation:
Participate in one of two ways:
– Online: join in via Zoom web meeting platform at https://zoom.us/j/902732895 or call toll-free 1-855-703-8985, meeting ID 902 732 895; (remember to sign up for an orientation session if you’re new to the online platform). OR
– In person at the Unitarian Church of Mississauga
Read More information on the 2019 AGM
AGM Delegate Selection and Registration
Congregations are encouraged to select their online and in-person delegates early. Consider choosing your delegates when you hold your review of motions for the AGM in February. Delegates need to be registered by April 1.
Already know who your 2019 delegates are? Register them now.
Online participation and voting
There will be full online participation and voting ability for the AGM. The delegate registration form asks how your delegates are participating, and instructions and tech requirements for voting online will be sent prior to the AGM. Please appoint and register an online voting manager to facilitate the online voting process. Register your online voting manager.
Orientation sessions will also be held for those new to the online voting system and Zoom webinar platform.
Sign up for an Online Voting Orientation Session
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- Thu, April 4th – 4 pm PT | 5 pm MT | 6 pm CT | 7 pm ET | 8 pm AT
- Sat, April 20th – 9 am PT | 10 am MT | 11 am CT | 12 pm ET | 1 pm AT
- Tue, Apr 23rd – 6 pm PT | 7 pm MT | 8 pm CT | 9 pm ET | 10 pm AT
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Learn More About Delegate Selection
Motions Under Consideration for the 2019 AGM
There are several motions being proposed for the AGM, including one to consider the feasibility of an 8th principle. Read the motions, discuss in your congregations, and provide feedback to the proposers by February 28th.
Download and read the CUC Motions for 2019 AGM
Reminder: February Congregational Meetings
In preparation for the Annual General Meeting (AGM), motions for the AGM will be sent to congregations in early January.
Congregations are asked to set aside time before the end of February to meet and discuss these motions, decide how delegates will vote, and provide feedback to the proposers of motions by February 28.
Set the date for your congregational meeting!
Youth and Young Adults (YaYA): CanUUdle and Chorus 2019
The 19th annual Canadian Unitarian Universalist youth conference, CanUUdle XIX, will be hosted this year by the Calgary Unitarians, May 17-20.
At the same time, in a nearby location (TBA), young adults (ages 18-35) will gather for Chorus, now in its third year as an annual event.
What are CanUUdle and Chorus all about?
Chorus is the annual national young adult gathering and CanUUdle is the annual con for Canadian Unitarian Universalist youth and their adult advisors. It’s a beautiful weekend where youth and adults create an amazing community, worship together, play and grow as spiritual beings. CanUUdle participants get together with the young adults of Chorus for shared activities throughout the weekend, including the bridging dinner and ceremony.
The weekend will be full of fun, laughter, games, discussion, spiritual deepening, and above all, love and friendship! The two cons will come together for some workshops, games, and the Bridging Dinner and Ceremony, and will also have plenty of time to deepen into their respective communities. This year we are excited to explore the possibilities of the question, “What makes CanUUdle and Chorus special when there is no CUC Conference (and all the intergenerational activities that go along with it) happening at the same time?”
More information about both events can be found on the CUC’s Calendar of Events: CanUUdle XIX and Chorus. Registration for both will be open from February 15 – April 30. For inquiries about CanUUdle, contact CanUUdle Coordinator Heather MacLean-Smith. For Chorus, contact YaYA Events staff Casey Stainsby.
Learn More about CanUUdle and Chorus
New Date for Nominations: April 11, 2019
Would you like to make a difference to Unitarian Universalists in Canada? Do you have an enthusiasm for the Unitarian Universalist faith? Our Canadian Unitarian Council is an intentional community of Unitarian Universalist congregations that jointly work to create connections, to be inspired, and to have a national voice.|
One of the ways to make a difference to the Canadian Unitarian Council is by serving on the CUC Board of Trustees or the CUC Nominating Committee. The CUC’s Nominating Committee is inviting expressions of interest from or on behalf of individuals in congregations who are interested in serving on the CUC Board or Nominating Committee beginning in May 2019. By encouraging diversity on the Board and Nominating Committee, we are hoping to balance youthful perspectives with senior experience in leadership.
CUC Board Members are elected at the Annual General Meeting in May for a three-year term. In May 2019, two current CUC board members will be retiring from their positions. We are searching for one board nominee in the Western Region (Alberta to Thunder Bay, ON) and one nominee in the Eastern Region (Kingston ON to Nova Scotia) to begin terms in May 2019.
Download the CUC’s Call for Nominations 2019 for the Board of Trustees and Nominating Committee.
Submit expressions of Interest no later than April 11, 2019, to nominations@cuc.ca.
Read more about the Nominating Process
Share what’s going on in your congregation. Contact communications@cuc.ca
Deadline: the 14th of each prior month.
Join the Canadian Unitarian Council on Facebook!
Upcoming Events
National Events
CUC 2019 Annual General Meeting (AGM), May 11 from 1:00 – 4:30 p.m. ET / 10:00 am – 1:30 p.m. PT
Our host will be the Unitarian Congregation in Mississauga. More information will be available soon.
CanUUdle XIX, May 17 – 20 – Hosted by the Unitarian Church of Calgary
CanUUdle is the annual national conference for Canadian UU youth and their adult advisors.
Registration will be available soon.
Chorus, May 17 – 20, Location TBA
Each year, Canadian UU young adults (18-35) gather to build beloved community, deepen our cross-country connections, and grow as spiritual beings. Registration will be available soon
Regional Events
30th Annual Southern Ontario Midwinter Retreat, February 1 – 3
All UU’s are welcome to this retreat, organized by Southern Ontario UUs, at the YMCA Cedar Glen Retreat Centre in Bolton, ON.
OWL Training
Owl Facilitator Training – Grades 7-9 and 10-12, January 11- 13. Hosted by the Unitarian Church of Vancouver.
Become a facilitator for Our Whole Lives sexuality education – junior high and high school levels (grades 7-9 and 10-12).
Youth and Young Adult
Gathered Here: Young Adult Check-In, 1-14, 2-11, 3-11, 4-8, 5-6, 6-10, 7-8, 8-12, 8 p.m. ET
Gathered Here is a monthly online check-in and gathering for Canadian Unitarian Universalist young adults.
Peterborough Self Care UU Youth Con, Friday, January 22 – Sunday, February 24
Unitarian Fellowship of Peterborough, Ontario
Webinars
Financial Webinar with Clyde Harris – Part 3, January 23, 7:30 – 8:30 p.m. ET
Discussion: should charities rent out their property, why this should or should not happen, and the pros and cons of property rental.
Worship as a Beacon for Congregational Growth, Saturday, March 30, 9:30 – 12:30 p.m. PT (6:30 – 9:30 ET)
Part one of two, we’ll explore ways to create meaningful worship that engages minds, hearts, and spirits. Our presenter is the Rev. Dr. Barbara Wells ten Hove.
Connecting Across the Generations, April 13, 12:30 – 2:30 p.m, ET
Churches are one of the few places (outside of our own families) where we can make friends across the generations. How can we use that niche to build a sense of community, trust, connection, and care? Facilitated by Asha Philar, CUC’s Youth and Young Adult Ministry Specialist.
Roundtables and Virtual Gatherings
Board Legal Considerations 101, January 26, 12:30 p.m.m ET
We’ll discuss insights and questions arising from the “Serving on a UU board in Canada: legal and practical perspectives” video which was prepared for UU congregations.
Practical Applications of Social Media, February 9, 12:30 p.m. ET
A followup to the December webinar with Peter Bowden. How is your congregation using social media?
Virtual Gathering: Hope in Hard Times, Wednesday, March 6, 7 – 8:30 p.m. ET 0r Saturday, March 9, 12:30-2:00 p.m. ET
Arising out of common concern, voiced by religious professionals, we invite people to join in this time of reflection and sharing – looking at the ways we find Hope in Hard Times.