[cuc-uumoc] message from Mary Bennett, CUC Executive Director - November/06

[Mary Bennett]

Hello, professional ministers, CUC board and staff,
 
You are free to forward this message to anyone you wish.
 

Fare Thee Well and Thank You to Sara  McEwan, Director of Regional Services
- West  


In the spring of 2002, we advertised in CanU for three people who "can make
things happen." The Implementation Task Force had created an ambitious plan
which included 42 (count 'em) "we will's". It divided the country into 4
regions, albeit with only two Directors of Regional Services and designed a
volunteer Regional Network Group consisting of volunteer Service Consultants
who would lead workshops in six areas of Congregational Life and
Congregational Networkers who would keep communications going between and
among congregations and the CUC.  

 

Since September of 2002, based in Edmonton, Sara McEwan built two Regional
Network Groups for BC and Western regions; supported teams to run Regional
Fall Gatherings and connected with congregational leaders to help them "use
the system". The  recent two weekend  Regional Fall Gatherings saw
successful, well-attended gatherings that included youth and adults in
Saskatoon and Kelowna. 

 

Sara has presented a professional, poised and purposeful face to CUC West.
At events, she's joyfully done chauffeur duty; made breakfast for youth and
got the photocopies done-all in the interests of serving key volunteers
whether at RFG's , CUUL school or congregational workshops like Dreams &
Dollars. Her teams are loyal to her and the CUC and grateful for her time
and attention to them. 

And now, having "made it happen", Sara has announced her resignation as of
December 31, with December 15 as her last day of work (last two weeks will
be accumulated vacation and lieu time) . 

 

The Theme for the Edmonton ACM was "We are the new pioneers " .  Sara has
ably bushwhacked, cleared the land and found the teams to build the new
structures that are CUC West. She leaves a legacy of a smoothly running
organization "out west". 

Thank you, Sara! 

 

The job will be a different one for the next DRS - West who will bring their
own gifts, interests, commitment, creativity and energy to this challenging
and satisfying role. 

 

 To take a line from the Hobbit's Song in the Fellowship of the RiNG: "and
whither now, we cannot say." 

 

I will be working on a transition plan and will be advertising the role in
the next CanU and on our website. And will keep you posted through this
email list. 

 

Where's Mary?

I am back in BC till after the winter holidays and happy to be connecting
with friends, family, church and housing coop.  Also just spent two days
with Director of Lifespan Learning, Sylvia Bass West, visiting UBC, the site
for ACM '07, and we're very excited about the upcoming conference and
especially how family-friendly the site and venues are.

 


Where was Mary?


While on a 3-week tour in the Eastern region, I stopped by Bouctouche and
stayed at Rev. Ray Drennan's Auberge and visited Rev. Anne Treadwell in
Middle West Pubnico. I know a lot more about Acadian Villages in the
Maritimes. 

 

I learned that there's a United Church at 25 Beacon Street-YARMOUTH, Nova
Scotia

 <http://beaconunited.freeservers.com/?source=www.yarmouthcounty.com>
http://beaconunited.freeservers.com/?source=www.yarmouthcounty.com

and with Anne attended an "Adult RE" program on Living the Questions. 

Both Anne and I felt the video-based program would be a good fit with
Unitarians and Universalists. If you're interested, here's the web link:
http://www.livingthequestions.com/

 

I visited 5 of our congregations, Ottawa First, Montreal, Saint John,
Fredericton and Halifax while in the East. I hear that 100 people have
registered for this weekend's Eastern Regional Fall Gathering in North
Hatley, Quebec. 

 

UPDATES on UUA positions in Canada

 
Compensation Consultants - Bob Dobbs of First Victoria has been appointed a
UUA Compensation Consultant and will be attending training in January. Bob
will be lightening the load of Bernie Keeler who has notified us he will
remain in the role until June, 2008. 
 
Ministerial Settlement Representative - Rev.  Jane Bramadat, of First
Victoria, has been appointed by the UUA as MSR - Canada West.  
 
Barry Coburn, of Ottawa First, and Rev. Ray Drennan, are the CC and MSR for
Canada - East.  
 
RSCC vacancies as of December,  2007 - Rev. Susan van Dreser and Rev.
Raymond Drennan both will have completed 8 years of service on the UUA/MFC
Regional Sub-committee on Candidacy in 2007. The committee consists of 4
professional ministers and 3 lay persons, so two ministers will be required
to complete the full complement. If you, or someone you know, is interested,
contact the UUA "Committee on Committees".
http://www.uua.org/administration/committees/coc/application.html
 
These groups and services are funded by the UUA as ministerial credentialing
and settlement/transitions remains continental. 
 
ACM '07 updates. The Theme is Diversity in Community. We've received 50 or
more proposals for concurrent sessions and the committee will be meeting
mid-November to select and then schedule.  There's a great variety of
accommodations available. Book early for best selection. If you intend to
come early or stay late, you may need to phone UBC if the online form does
not show availability. 

 Information on all things ACM can be found at www.cuc.ca/conference/2007.
Details on accommodation, online booking form and other information can be
found at: http://www.cuc.ca/conference/2007/accommodation.htm

 

Regional Fall Gatherings - are winding up this coming weekend. We've had an
average of 100 in attendance and all with a youth component. We're still
building the Children's programs, but this will come!  Each gathering
included a workshop on the "12 Keys to a Lifespan Community" - more
information including photos of the "keys" made by Director of Lifespan
Learning, Sylvia Bass West, can be found at:
http://www.cuc.ca/lifespan/llCommunity.htm
 

Take care,
 
Mary Bennett, Executive Director   <mailto:mary at cuc.ca> mary at cuc.ca
CANADIAN UNITARIAN COUNCIL 
 <http://www.cuc.ca/> www.cuc.ca   1-888-568-5723/416-489-4121 
 
This message is sent once per month on or about the 5th of each month. It
contains information that I've selected as of particular importance to our
professional ministers but can be forwarded to anyone who wishes it.