Present: Eva Owens, Steering Committee, Lexie Aliotti, Steering Committee, Carl Cade, Steering Committee and GA Business Manager, Phoebe Hanshew, Steering Committee, Ben Wellemeyer, Steering Committee, Alison Purcell, Position on Appraisal, Drake Baer, Steering Committee and Adult At-Large, Phyllis Daniel, Steering Committee and UUA Board of Trustees, Debra Faulk, Adult At-Large, Rev. Ruth Gibson, Adult At-Large, Joanne Victoria, Adult At-Large, Rev. Kathryn Hawbaker, Adult At-Large, Mosch Virshup, Adult At-Large, Jerry Winsett, Adult At-Large, Jenn O’Brian, Ballou Channing, Carly Seaberg, Central Midwest, Chris Bosworth, Connecticut Valley, Cody Saxton and Duncan Metcalf, Mountain/Desert, Katie Dow, Florida, Morgan “Cid” Lynn, Joseph Priestley, Leif Hardison, Mass. Bay, Brendan Hill, Michigan, Sandy Schneider, Metro New York, David Ramsey, Mid-South, Kirsten Amann, New Hampshire/Vermont, Jon-Jon Lander, Northeast, Jared Forman, Ohio-Meadville, Nora Talley, Ohio Valley, Malcolm Pullinger, Pacific Central, Erica Boberg, Pacific Northwest, Elena White, Pacific Southwest, Alex Moe, Prairie Star, Robin Griggs, Southwest, Marki Sveen, Western Canada, Ellen Sale, C*SAC, Jessie Eller-Isaacs, Transitional Age Range Representative, Mel Hoover, guest/workshop leader, Faith in Action Department, Joey Lyons, Moderator, Diane Miller, guest, Director of the Department of Ministry, Christine Murphy, guest/workshop leader, Faith in Action Department, Donna DiSciullo, guest, Director of Young Adult Ministries, Conor Dunleavy, guest, Youth Programs Review Committee, Jory Agate, Youth Programs Director, Rachel Reed, YRUU Programs Specialist (outgoing), Kathy Daneman, YRUU Programs Specialist, and David Taylor, YRUU Programs Specialist (incoming).

Absent: Tom Innis, Central Mass., Melissa Laferla-Steel, Saint Lawrence, YCR from Thomas Jefferson.

LOCATION: Reed College, Portland Oregon
DATE: August 6-11, 1996

Resolution for Continuing Development of Spiritual Resources

WHEREAS YRUU shall serve its members for the purpose of fostering spiritual depth; and

WHEREAS YRUU has a need to re-energize its spiritual programming in order to fulfill the aforesaid purpose; and

WHEREAS the Position On Appraisal is a two-year position that cannot adequately meet the shifting spiritual concerns of YRUU; and

WHEREAS the Youth Office has already begun to develop a renewed focus on spirituality;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that this Youth Council support the Youth Office’s development and implementation of a Spirituality and Worship Development Curriculum/Conference; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Steering Committee be charged with determining the fiscal impact of this program;

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the development of further spirituality resources through the Youth Office be reviewed by Youth Council annually.

Resolution on Changing the Bylaw Pertaining to the Composition of the Steering Committee

WHEREAS the bylaws currently state that the Steering Committee is composed of “five youth and one adult, with at least one youth representing each age group: Jr. High, Senior, and Post;” and

WHEREAS the original structure was created to ensure representation on Steering Committee from a wide range of ages; and

WHEREAS these categories pertain to the old age range of 12-22 years; and

WHEREAS the three categories (Junior, Senior, and Post High) cannot be suitably represented with the new age range of 14-20 years; and

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that Steering Committee selection be based specifically on age; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the categories be: one person 14-16 one person age 16-18 and one person age 18-20 youth ages 16-18 must choose which category they want to represent

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that if two or more people are not in the election for a particular age group, then someone outside a particular age group be allowed to represent that age range.

Resolution on Assimilating Racial Justice into Continental YRUU

BECAUSE the Unitarian Universalist Association affirms the inherent worth and dignity of every individual; and

BECAUSE YRUU is a socially active and responsible body; and

WHEREAS anti-racism is an integral part of the YRUU social action structure; and

WHEREAS continental events are an important part of the YRUU movement;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that anti-racist programming will be integrated into at least one continental event annually, including Youth Council, Con Con, and the Social Justice Conference.

Resolution for Exploring the Possibility of Establishing a Liaison between the Youth Council and the Black Concerns Working Group

BECAUSE the Youth Council recognizes the importance of racial justice; and

BECAUSE the Youth Council wishes to become involved in efforts of anti-racism; and

WHEREAS the Black Concerns Working Group has resources that will assist the Youth Council in this process; and

WHEREAS there is no existing direct youth connection between the Youth Council and the Black Concerns Working Group;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the 1996-97 Steering Committee appoint a person to explore the possibilities around creating a youth liaison between the Youth Council and the Black Concerns Working Group; and

THEREFORE BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the aforementioned person report to the 1997 Youth Council.

FISCAL IMPACT: to be determined by the Steering Committee.

Resolution for the Creation of a Youth-Specific Anti-Racism Resource

BECAUSE YRUU acknowledges the need for increased pro-active involvement in Racial Justice; and

BECAUSE the UUA has committed itself to engaging issues of Racial Justice in its congregations; and

BECAUSE youth are fundamental members of these congregations; and

WHEREAS Anti-Racism resources created for and by youth are available only minimally to congregations and youth groups;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that a youth-specific, process-oriented program be developed by the 1996 Youth Council Racial Justice Working Group; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this program be distributed by the C*SAC to all YCR’s, District SACs, YAC co-chairs, and RE Directors via Spider, the REACH Packet, and the Youth Advisor Newsletter; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that this packet also remain available at the UUA Youth Office and in all District Office.

Resolution on YRUU Support of “Journey towards Wholeness”

BECAUSE the Unitarian Universalists support diversity and tolerance; and

BECAUSE the Radical and Cultural Diversity Task Force was created to strive towards those ideals; and

BECAUSE the Young Religious Unitarian Universalists Youth Council is whole-heartedly dedicated to the first principle, and

WHEREAS racism is an on-going issue within UU churches and outside our denomination;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that this Youth Council enthusiastically support the work of the Racial and Cultural Diversity Task Force and its program “Journey towards Wholeness,” and

THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Youth Council encourage all YCR’s to participate in their local Journey towards Wholeness program whenever one is available, and

THEREFORE BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the Youth Office will request that the Faith in Action Department mail a copy of the Journey towards Wholeness handbook to all YCR’s. The Youth Office will also publish an announcement in Synapse to inform all YRUU members that this material is available.

Resolution on Transitional Age-Range Programming for Jr. High Level

BECAUSE the YRUU age range has changed and no longer includes 12 and 13 year olds; and

BECAUSE they are no longer continental YRUU’s direct responsibility; and

BECAUSE there is no longer a direct connection between Jr. High age youth and continental YRUU; and

BECAUSE the transition between Jr. High RE programming to YRUU programming is not adequately addressed; and

WHEREAS in many congregations, Coming of Age programs are providing effective transitions; and

WHEREAS there does not exist an agreed upon model for Coming of Age programs; and

WHEREAS Social Action, service, Unitarian Universalist history and principles, OWL, and mentoring are often effective components of Coming of Age programs; and

WHEREAS continental YRUU, individual congregations, and Jr. High youth will benefit from such programming;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Steering Committee, with Youth Office support, research available Coming of Age or other transitional programs; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a publication be created to provide a model of Coming of Age programming which will include a YRUU transitional component and summarize a variety of additional options for such programming; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that a report on such a publication be presented to the 1997 Youth Council.

Resolution on Easing the Transition from Youth to Young Adulthood Within Unitarian Universalism

BECAUSE YRUU originally encompassed people up to age 22 and still holds responsibility for people ages 18-20; and

WHEREAS Unitarian Universalism loses many people as they age out of YRUU; and

WHEREAS the average age of members of Unitarian Universalist congregations is in the early fifties, which many Young Adults find intimidating; and

WHEREAS the YRUU structure has the potential to be linked to various Unitarian Universalist Young Adult Organizations,

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED Youth Council Representatives view the Young Adult Ministries (YAMs) Office as a clearinghouse for resources and information; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Youth Office shall send the Spider mailing list to both the Young Adult Ministries Office and the Continental Unitarian Universalists Young Adult Network (C*UUYAN) Steering Committee annually; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Youth Council Representatives encourage the distribution of the Post High School Survival Kit through district youth structure; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the YRUU Steering Committee request from C*UUYAN and the YAMs office a written report for Youth Council each year and that they give a report on local Young Adult Activities; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Steering Committee be charged with selecting a visitor (who will not stay overnight nor be reimbursed for travel) to Youth Council from an active Young Adult Group or Organization in the vicinity of Youth Council each year; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Youth Council Representatives work to encourage regular communication between their district Youth structures and Young Adult Organizations (including Campus Ministry groups, district wide groups, and congregational Young Adult groups); and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the Youth Office work with C*UUYAN to select sites for Con Con and Opus in adjacent weeks and sites near each other WHEN POSSIBLE so as to allow Youth between 18 and 20 to go to both events.

Resolution on the Creation of a Canadian Youth At-Large Position

WHEREAS Youth Council is an affiliate of the Unitarian Universalist Association, a continental organization; and

WHEREAS the UUA recognizes the diversity of two of this continent’s countries through inclusion of the Canadian At-Large position on its board; and

WHEREAS the representation of Canadian YRUUs on Youth Council has been inadequate in recent years; and

WHEREAS the uniquely Canadian perspective can only be presented by the presence of a Canadian youth;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that a new At-Large position be created with a specific designation of Canadian Youth At-Large.

THEREFORE BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that this Canadian At-Large be charged with outreach to the continued continent in attempts to pool more Canadian representation in continental events and district wide events.

Corresponding Bylaw Change: Article V, section I b) [Three] Four at-large youth. ...as previously determined by Steering Committee. And One Canadian youth shall represent Canadian constituents.

[text to be deleted] text to be inserted

Fiscal impact: $1,000

Resolution toward Maximizing Youth Presence and Participation at the 1997 General Assembly

BECAUSE we find exposure to the leadership of our denomination is valuable to youth; and

BECAUSE we think GA is an excellent training ground for the future leaders of this denomination and of the world; and

WHEREAS youth provide valuable input at GA; and

WHEREAS youth’s visibility at GA leads to ever improving relations and support for youth groups from other UU's in general;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Youth Council request that the UUA Board continue to include a youth scholarship option on the GA Registration form.

Resolution to Give Two Awards Annually at General Assembly to an "Advisor of the Year" and to an "Unsung UU Youth"

BECAUSE some UU youth do amazing things we can all be proud of; and

BECAUSE some advisors are totally cool; and

WHEREAS there are several venues at each annual GA where individuals are recognized with awards; and

WHEREAS the process of awarding youth and advisors supports denominational awareness and pride in these categories of person and occupation;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Steering Committee negotiate for and, if successful, arrange an awards ceremony for an "Unsung Youth" at the 1997 GA; and

THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Steering Committee negotiate for and, if successful, arrange an awards ceremony for an "Advisor of the Year" at the 1997 GA; and

THEREFORE BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the Steering Committee create and publicize a process by which (an) award winner(s) may be chosen for the available award(s).