[UUA-L] Memorandum on Fort Lauderdale General Assembly Site

[Unitarian Universalist Association]

General Assembly Planning Committee Chair Beth McGregor, President
William G. Sinkford, and Moderator Gini Courter have sent a memorandum
to the UUA Board of Trustees and the General Assembly Planning Committee
regarding security issues at the Fort Lauderdale site of the 2008
General Assembly.  The memorandum notes, "Our concerns include the
possibility of an unfriendly environment for youth, particularly youth
of color, and the problems inherent in using a site that is not open to
those not eligible for government-issued identification."  The complete
memorandum can be found online at
http://www.uua.org/events/generalassembly/updatesannouncements/60305.sht
ml .  

After studying reports on the Fort Lauderdale conference site and
following meetings held by UUA staff with convention center and law
enforcement officials in Fort Lauderdale, McGregor, Sinkford, and
Courter have concluded that "the conditions in Fort Lauderdale provide
us with an opportunity to shine a light on the issues that concern us
and to use the situation as a teaching moment: What is it that we, as
religious people, are called to say at this time and in this place? What
privilege do we enjoy that is denied to others?"  They have recommended
to the Board of Trustees that the Board not take any steps to change the
location of the 2008 General Assembly. 

Further information, including the security protocols at Fort Lauderdale
and a report from an onsite visit, can be found at 
http://www.uua.org/events/generalassembly/updatesannouncements/60305.sht
ml (see related content links).