Present: Julia Sargent, Joseph Priestley; Nathaniel Klein, Ongoing YPS; Brian Beck, Southwest; Arnie Birren, Central Midwest; Emily Stainer, Outgoing Steering Committee; Rev. Carol Johnson, Adult-At-Large; Melissa Cain, Jr. High @ Large; Lorne Tyndale, Youth Council Moderator; Rob Nugen, Adult-At-Large; Robin Larson, Ohio Valley; Walt Courtley, Steering Committee and UUA Trustee; Lucy Taube, Saint Lawrence; Melanie Griffin, Guest; Robette Dias, Adult-At-Large; Carrisa Hansen, Thomas Jefferson; Gregor Faron, Outgoing Steering Committee; Elizabeth Martin, Metro New York; Jen Harrison, Youth Programs Director; Chris Helwig, Florida; Mandy Jacobson, Outgoing Position on Appraisal, Steering Committee; Ben Kidder, Mountain; Stefanie Knipfer, Prairie Star; Aaron Kucharski, Central Mass; Mimi LaValley, Ohio-Meadville; Micaela Christopher, Desert; Jeff Liebman, Adult-At-Large; Tera Little, Outgoing Steering Committee; Erica Nicols, Outgoing Steering Committee; Matt Moore, Ballou Channing; Alana McGibney, Pacific Central; Sarah Pappas, Connecticut Valley; Danielle Picard, Western Canada; Duncan Metcalfe, Incoming YPS; Austin Putman, Outgoing YPS; Laura Trumbull, Outgoing Steering Committee; Geoff Schwarz, Canadian At-Large, Steering Committee; Vanessa Lott, Pacific Northwest; Maia Cudhea, C*SAC; Julie Slater, Incoming Position On Appraisal; Abbey Tennis, Mass. Bay; Chris Trace, Mid South, GA Business Manager; Alena Acker, Michigan; Seth Guinchard, New Hampshire /Vermont; Elizabeth Capone-Newton, Northeast; Evan White, Pacific Southwest; Geoff Woodman, Post-High @ Large;

Absent: Johanna Staples, Adult-At-Large; Ann Buckmaster, Adult-At-Large

WHERE: Graceland College, Lamoni, Iowa
WHEN: July 24^th-30^th, 1999

Resolution to Create the Youth Funding for Unitarian Universalist Development (YFUUD) Committee for the Distribution of the YRUU Program Fund - YC 1999

Co-Sponsors: Bryan Beck, Melissa Cain, Aaron Kucharski, Alana McGibeny, Rob Nugen, and Evan White

Point Person: Alana McGibeny

Primary Aid: Rob Nugen

YRUU Purpose:

Build the Unitarian Universalist movement: its traditions, membership, and heritage.

Develop personal growth and leadership skills.

Specific Issue or Problem Being Addressed:

There is no current policy for distributing the money in the YRUU Program Fund.

Hope to Achieve:

Create a better method of distributing the YRUU Program Fund. The YRUU Program Fund will be used to create and support new and developing programs. Because it is difficult to find funding for district programs, and even more difficult to find funding for local programs, Youth Council encourages YFUUD to distribute funds with priority towards local, district, and continental programs respectively.

Short Term Goal: Create the YFUUD Committee for the purpose of distributing the YRUU Program Fund.

1. Create a committee called Youth Funding for Unitarian Universalist Development. The committee will consist of the four youth at larges, one adult at large, two YCR volunteers, and one non-voting facilitator chosen by Steering Committee. The meeting will be open to other Youth Council members. Any member of YFUUD will be excluded from discussions in which they have a vested personal interest.

Who: Steering Committee
Deadline: Youth Council 2000

Evaluation: YFUUD 2000 will write an evaluation about how the committee is composed and chosen and how the first-year grant approval process is executed. This evaluation will be given to Steering Committee to report to the following year's Youth Council and YFUUD committee.

Long Term Goal: To continue the YFUUD grant application process.

1. Distribute the YRUU Program Fund grant application at all continental YRUU events as well as publication in Synapse, the YCR Resource notebook, and the YRUU web site.

Who: The Youth Office
Deadline: dates of events and publication

Before reading the grant applications at their annual Youth Council meeting, YFUUD will determine their decision-making process (eg. The order in which grant applications are reviewed, tie situations, lack of funds, vested personal goal, etc.)

Who: the YFUUD committee
Deadline: the beginning of the YFUUD meeting

3. YFUUD will submit their report to the Youth Council for approval with the possibility for amendment.

Who: YFUUD
Deadline: the end of Youth Council

4. Steering Committee will schedule the YFUUD meeting after the first meetings of all Youth Council workshops and working groups.

Who: Steering Committee
Deadline: the beginning of Youth Council

Evaluation:

An annual evaluation of the overall purpose and objectives of YFUUD will take place after each YFUUD committee meeting. This evaluation will be given to Steering Committee to report to the following year's Youth Council and YFUUD committee. A serious re-evaluation of YFUUD will be necessary if more than $20,000 of the YRUU Program Fund is not used after any YFUUD meeting or if the YRUU Program Fund endowment exceeds $1,000,000.

Things Local\District people can do to help:
YCRs: These representatives will distribute and advertise the YRUU Program Fund grant application in their districts.

Resources that YRUU has that we will need to use: Synapse, YCR Resource Notebook, YRUU-L emailing list, YRUUYC-L emailing list

How will this further the vision and purposes of YRUU:
The creation of YFUUD will aid and support programs which serve the YRUU community as a whole. YFUUD will also offer continental support for youth empowerment projects on the local and district levels.

Policies and Procedures addition to Article V, Section 6:

Rule 1

The Youth Funding for Unitarian Universalist Development (YFUUD) committee

a. This committee will allocate the YRUU Program Fund to new and developing projects using a grant application process. The committee will meet annually at Youth Council and needs a majority vote for grant approval. Any excess funds not allocated by YFUUD will be rolled over into the next year’s usable YRUU Program Fund. (YC, 1999)

This committee will be composed of the four youth at large representatives, one adult at large representative, two volunteer Youth Council Representatives, one non-voting facilitator chosen by Steering Committee, and any Youth Council members who choose to attend. (YC, 1999)

Passes 32-0-0

Resolution to Distribute YAC Productivity Resource Book - YC 1999

Co-sponsors: Arnie Birren & Aaron Kucharski

Point Person: Youth Office

Primary Aid: Arnie Birren

YRUU Goal/Purpose: Develop educational resources and skills in group interaction

Specific Issue: District governing bodies who do not address any problems of their district.

Hope to Achieve: A more organized, productive YAC in every district.

Short-Term Goal: To distribute the resource book to Youth Office

Genni Birren executes final revision of 165-page resource book before October 15th.

Arnie Birren will assemble a five-member editorial team from among team from among Youth Council members by July 30 who will review the final revision and prepare the final copy for submission to the Youth Office.

Youth Office sends copies of resource book to YACs by February 29^th.

Presidents and/or YCRs of YACs are responsible to make the resource accessible by the district’s turnover meeting.

Evalution: If the Youth Office concludes the resource book to be ineffective then resolution would become inapplicable.

Long-Term Goals: Distribute resource book to every governing body in YRUU including Youth Council.

Distribute at General Assembly 2000 for purposes of governing bodies that are not YACs or for district starting up new YACs.

Evalution: YCRs report to Youth Office on how effective and how frequently the resource book has been.

How this will further the vision and purpose of YRUU: To increase the effectiveness and productivity of YACs.

How this will benefit the greater denomination: To foster better youth leadership and programming.

Fiscal Impact: Funds for printing would come from the revenue from the sold resource.

Passes 22-5-5

Resolution to add Conference Planning Training to C*LDC - YC 1999

Co-sponsors: Arnie Birren & Chris Trace

Point Person: Arnie Birren

Primary Aid: Youth Office

YRUU Goal/Purpose: To develop skills in group interaction

Specific Issue: Conferences are, sometimes, poorly planned and poorly led.

Hope To Achieve: To improve conferences by providing planning and leadership training.

Short-Term Goals: To provide the Youth Office with conference planning resources.

YCRs collect standard and unique conference planning strategies and sent to Arnie

Due Date: January 31^st, 2000

Arnie organizes materials into a resource and sends to Youth Office

Due Date: April 1^st, 2000

Evaluation: Arnie will contact Youth Office to clarify any questions or concerns that may arise.

Long-Term Goals:

To apply conference planning to next C*LDC
Youth Office produces curriculum for training conference planning.
C*LDC participants are trained in conference planning and apply them to district LDCs.

Due Date: By the next C*LDC

Evaluation: District LDCs train for conference planning.

Visions and purpose: To provide a resource for conference planning

How it will effect the denomination as a whole: By encouraging and developing youth leadership.

Passes 7-15-10

Resolution to Merge Connecticut Valley District and Central Massachusetts District in Order to Create Clara Barton District - YC 1999

Co-Sponsors: Sarah Pappas and Aaron Kucharski

Point Person: Sarah Pappas

Primary Aids: Aaron Kucharski and Dan Fassett

UU Belief: We believe in the importance of a supportive and far-reaching religious community. The validation of experience requires the confirmation of peers who provide a critical platform along with a network of mutual support.

Specific Issue: The Central Massachusetts District can gain strong leadership, stability, and longevity from the Connecticut Valley District, and the Connecticut Valley District stands to gain financially from this endeavor. Also, CVD has been looking for a way to address the over-population issues at conferences, and therefore the lack of community. This merger provides an opportunity to address these problems.

Hope to Achieve: A stable, healthy district in the name of Clara Barton.

Short Term Goal: Within the coming year CVD and CMD will hold joint conferences where the conferees will become better acquainted with one another. At the end of the year the districts will elect a YAC board to represent Clara Barton District.

Steps to Achieve… (We chose not to charge continental persons with these jobs, as they are related to district events only.)

Hold a joint Social Action Conference with CVD and CMD that would provide an opportunity for the youth from the two districts to meet, and also to enhance social action and responsibility in the two districts.

Who: Meredith Gerraghty and Andrea Taylor
Deadline: Feb./Mar. 2000

Hold a joint CVD/CMD conference in order to provide yet another opportunity for these youth to meet and greet.

Who: Eric Fletcher and Katrina Magdol
Deadline: April/May 2000

Hold a joint CVD/CMD conference at which to vote for a new YAC that will represent the Clara Barton District in the upcoming year.

Who: Eric Fletcher and Katrina Magdol
Deadline: Juneish 2000

Establish a joint newsletter between CVD and CMD in order to inform youth from both districts of Clara Barton happenings.

Who: Amber Powers and Meg Killian
Deadline: June 2000

Hold a joint CVD/CMD YAC meeting in order to decide on a final structure for CBD.

Who: Aaron Kucharski and Sarah Pappas
Deadline: Nov. 1999

Create a bank account for CBD.

Who: Midori Harris and Erin Matson
Deadline: June 2000

Create a web page for CBD in order to inform both district and "foreign" youth of CBD.

Who: Pam Stone
Deadline: June 2000

Plan and hold a joint Jr. High Rally for 11-14 year-olds in CVD and CMD in order to get them excited and engaged for upcoming CBD YRUU events.

Who: Martha Dallas, Riky Stone, and Noah Diamond
Deadline June 2000

Evaluation: Point Person and Primary Aids will check up on the persons assigned to above achievements a month before, and then again two weeks before deadlines listed.

Local and District People:

CVD/CMD YACs: Will offer support, and help organize joint activities.

Advisors: Will offer transportation and support.

Newsletter Editors: Will cooperate in informing both districts of the current and future plans of CBD.

Jr. High Representatives: Will help organize the joint Jr. High Rally.

Long-Term Goal: To distribute surveys to youth in CBD and have them come back with a majority of positive answers.

Steps to Achieve…

Hold an LDC for CBD.

Who: Current President
Deadline: June 2001

Hold an SDC for CBD.

Who: Current Worship Coordinator
Deadline: June 2001

To have monthly YAC meetings, except for in the summer when they will be called as necessary.

Who: Current President
Deadline: June 2001

Participate in JAHNNY DEPP.

Who: Current YCR
Deadine: June 2001

Evaluation: Co-Sponsors Sarah Pappas and Aaron Kucharski will check up on above goals and assigned persons at least a month before deadlines listed.

Local and District People:

CBD YAC: Will solicit and help to plan LDC and SDC.

Worship Coordinator (if they attended a CSDC): Will help coordinate SDC.

Ministers (if they attended a CSDC): Will help coordinate SDC.

YCR: Will write article for newsletter about Janny Depp exchange.

YRUU Resources:

LDC trainers, Youth Office, SDC Resource notebook, SA manuals (SACRIN), Any web page information and resources available, and Jr. High Resource notebook.

How this will further the vision and purposes of YRUU:
This merger will help to develop youth leadership and strengthen the continental community by strengthening the district community.

Necessary Policy and Procedure and Bylaw Changes:
On page 4 of YRUU bylaws under Group A replace "Conn. Valley, Central Mass.," with "Clara Barton,"

Organizations with more Information:

CMD and CVD Boards of Trustees and CMD and CVD YAC Boards.

Fiscal Impact:

$650 (or however much LDC costs at time of occurrence) will positively impact the YRUU budget.

Resolution passes 31-0-1

Resolution for the Creation of a Spirituality Resource Manual - YC 1999

Co-sponsors: Vanessa Lott, Stefanie Knipfer, Elizabeth Martin, Arnie Birren, Lucy Taube, Rev. Carol Johnson

Point person: Stefanie Knipfer

Primary aid: Arnie Birren

UU Principle: Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations.

Problem being addressed: Lack of creative spirituality

Hope to achieve: Enhance spiritual community

Short Term Goal: Compile resources from each district

Steps to Achieve Continental person assigned Date Due

1. Find editor(s) for resource.

Point person (Stephanie Knipfer)
October 15, 1999

2. The Resource Manual has been divided into the following sections and assigned to various continental persons. They should compile their section of the manual and send to point person.

a) Space of Worship
b) To Theme or Not to Theme
c) Accessibility
d) Audience (five steps to building community)
e) General YRUU Worship at Cons/Rallies
f) Bringing Spirituality to youth groups (i.e. Sunday meetings)
g) Personal Practices
h) Services vs. Worship
i) Spirituality outside of Worship and Services
j) Bridging (junior and post high)
k) List of Resources (i.e. books of poems, readings and songs, in addition to YO resources)
l)Any other sections that emerge as writing and compiling proceeds

a) Ben Kidder
b) Lucy Taube
c) Elizebeth Martin
d) Alena Acker
e) Elizabeth Martin
f) Vanessa Lott
g) Sienna Baskin
h) Sarah Pappas
i) Rick Roehlk
j) Rev. Carol Johnson
k) All YCRs

Deadline: February 1, 2000

3. Point person will compile and edit resources

Point Person (Stephanie Knipfer)
Deadline: April 30, 2000

4. Send to YO for printing

Point person (Stephanie Knipfer)
Deadline: June 1, 2000

Evaluation: Stefanie and Arnie talk to each other to discuss how the first phase went. Stefanie will call/e-mail co-sponsors to update them on progress.

Local and district people: YCR's should contact the following suggested individuals:

SDC trainer, Worship Coordinator, (D/M)RE, Ministers, adult advisors, individuals who take an active role in worships. The YCR's should either collect information from the above individuals, and compile it themselves; write their portion listed above; or delegate that responsibility to an SDC or Worship Coordinator.

Long term goals: Revision of Manual

Steps to Achieve...

1. Conditional- If CSDC happens, then there will be a mandate for the YO to offer a Spirituality Resource Manual revision workshop. Revised version will be sent to Stefanie.

Who: Lucy Taube
Deadline: Conditional - Date of next CSDC

2. Editor(s) will compile final version. Submit the final resource to the YO for printing.

Who: Stefanie Knipfer
Deadline: Three months after the date of the CSDC

3. A notice will be placed in Synapse regarding the resource.

Who: Lucy Taube
Deadline: Next Synapse deadline after CSDC

Evaluation: If CSDC does not happen, the resolution will come back to Youth Council and a new working group will revise the proposal as needed.

Resources YRUU has that we will need to use: manual- Resource on Disabilities and Accessibility in YRUU, various manuals available in YO regarding spirituality, including the CSDC training manual

How this will further the vision and purposes of YRUU: The manual being created is hoped to be present in every Youth Group meeting room. Our hopes in creating this manual are to improve the quality and creativity of spirituality in all aspects of all YRUUers lives.

How this will benefit the greater denomination and/or world: Congregations will get to experience the new things that come out of youth worship from this and hopefully learn from this in their own spiritual practices.

Organizations or books that could give me more information about this: At discretion of persons responsible for compiling sections.

Resolution to Form a Task Force to Evaluate Jr. High Programming - YC 1999

Co-sponsors: Alana McGibney, and Melissa Cain

Point Person: Melissa Cain

Primary Aid: Alana McGibney

YRUU Goal: Develop continuity between programming levels.

Specific Issue or problem being addressed: The Jr. High age group is a place in the UUA where many youth leave congregations. We believe this is due to a lack of programming, resources, curricula and support for Jr. High youth and Jr. High advisors.

Hope to achieve: Create Jr. High programming that supports the difficult transition between Religious Education and Young Religious Unitarian Universalists, that Jr. High youth face, and nurtures the transitions and problems occurring in their everyday life.

Short Term Goal: Create a task force to evaluate Jr. High programming. The task force will be composed of one (1) of each of the following: a Jr. High youth, a YRUU youth, an advisor for either Jr. High or YRUU, a parent of a youth, a minister, a DRE, and a moderator. The charge for the Jr. High Task Force (JHTF) it to:

Evaluate and report on the current progress of Jr. High youth programming at the continental, district, and local levels and give recommendations for changes that would better meet the needs and purposes of UU Jr. High youth;

Deliver a report by May of 2002.

Steps:

Apply for a $16,000 grant to fun four (4) meetings of the JHTF. Possible funding sources are the Fund for Unitarian Universalism and the Sunday School Society.

Who: Melissa Cain
Deadline: Sept. 15, 1999

Create an application for JHTF.

Who: Alana McGibney
Deadline: Oct. 1, 1999

Distribute application.

Who (in charge of distribution to YCRs and Youth Office): Micaela Chistopher
Who (in charge of distribution to all others): Melissa Cain
Deadline: Oct. 15, 1999

JHTF applications due.

Who: applicants
Deadline: Jan. 1, 2000

Choose JHTF from applications and choose a moderator.

Who: Steering Committee
Deadline: During the Jan. SC meeting.

JHTF meets.

Who: Task Force
Deadline: May 1, 2000

Evaluation: Melissa Cain will determine whether or not the grant was received, the JHTF was chosen, and the Task Force met. She will prepare the evaluation in a written report to SC and the next Jr. High TARR.

Local and district people and things they can do to help:

YAC/DYSC/SC: Submit applications. Distribute applications and inform their constituency of the opportunity.

Advisors: Submit applications. Distribute applications and inform their constituency of the opportunity.

Newsletter Editors: Put the application in district newsletters and encourage people to apply.

YRUUer: Submit applications. Distribute applications and inform their constituency of the opportunity. Encourage advisors, ministers, parents, DREs, and Jr. High youth to apply.

DREs: Submit applications. Distribute applications and inform their constituency of the opportunity.

Ministers: Submit applications. Distribute applications and inform their constituency of the opportunity.

Parents of youth: Submit applications. Distribute applications and inform their constituency of the opportunity.

Jr. High youth: Submit applications. Distribute applications and inform their constituency of the opportunity. Encourage advisors, ministers, parents, DREs, and YRUU youth to apply.

Long-term goal: The committee will make a report analyzing the current status of jr. high programming with recommendations about how the program could be better.

Steps:

Decide how the JHTF will evaluate the current jr. high programming.

Who: JHTF
Deadline: May 15, 2000

Evaluate Jr. High programming.

Who: JHTF
Deadline: May 31, 2002

Compile evaluations and write report.

Who: JHTF
Deadline: May 31, 2002

Evaluation: The report will include a self-evaluation by the committee. Whether or not the report is done will be an overall evaluation of whether the steps were followed or not.

Local and district people and things they can do to help:

YAC/DYSC/SC: Be a resource for the JHTF to collect information.

Advisors: Be a resource for the JHTF to collect information.

Newsletter Editors: Be a resource for the JHTF to collect information.

YRUUers: Be a resource for the JHTF to collect information.

DREs: Be a resource for the JHTF to collect information.

Ministers: Be a resource for the JHTF to collect information.

Parents of youth: Be a resource for the JHTF to collect information.

Jr. High youth: Be a resource for the JHTF to collect information.

UU and YRUU resources that can be used for short term goal: Jr. High TARR reports, Synapse, YRUU and UU Websites, REACH, DRE-l, advisor-l, yc-l, district and local UU and YRUU newsletters, localjrhigh-l, yruujrhi-l, yruu-l

Passes 31-0-1

YRUU Budget Proposal - YC 1999

To the UUA Board of Trustees, Finance Committee, and Finance Department

Prepared by: Chris Trace

On behalf of the Youth Council Budget Working Group

Seth Guinchard, Geoff Schwartz, Rob Nugen, Carissa Hansen, Ben Kidder, Elizabeth Capone-Newton, Elizabeth Martin, and Mimi Lavalley

In an unprecedented move, the Youth Council voted against the budget for Fiscal Year 2000. The Youth Council feels that its operating budget is inadequate to continue the programs that YRUU has been implementing, and stifles YRUU from moving forward as an organization that strives to be accountable to its constituency.

Budget Overview

The following tables highlight the budget cuts and increases in the YRUU Budget in Fiscal Year 2000. In the table entitled "Budget Increases in FY00," the total has been calculated including the YRUU Program Fund (YPF) and not including the YPF.

Table 1

Budget Cuts in FY00

Table 2

Budget Increases in FY00

*This line is interest incurred from YRUU Program Fund.

Table 3

The budget decreases cut monies out of line items that are among the most necessary for YRUU to continue its work effectively.

The postage line item has been decreased by $1,500, thus limiting the ability of the Youth Council, Steering Committee, and Youth Office to disseminate information to its constituency about youth programming, and the initiatives and positions of Youth Council. Communication is an issue that YRUU has identified as a problem. Youth Council Representatives are working to make information about their work, about the work of the Steering Committee, and about the wealth of information available from the Youth Office more accessible to their constituencies. This information is integral to burgeoning and ongoing programming in the churches and districts where our movement is the most vibrant. This cut of roughly forty percent will disable effective internal communication in YRUU and inhibit youth groups from developing effective programming. Effective communication is necessary if Unitarian Universalism is to retain YRUUers as Young Adults and Adults. Youth Council recommends that the Postage line be restored to Fiscal Year 1999 levels in Fiscal Year 2001.

Programs and Projects is the line item that gives YRUU the ability to pay for unbudgeted expenditures. In previous years, this line has been used to fund resolutions from Youth Council, and to pay for incidental expenditures such as shelving in the Youth Office when it moved to 41 Mount Vernon. An example of a resolution that required immediate funding is the Continental Spirituality Development Training (C*SDC). It was partially funded with monies from this line. The C*SDC is a training for Spirituality Development Conference district trainers that work to empower youth as spiritual leaders and improve ministerial understanding of youth worship. It is a program that has continuing effects in districts and churches, as the trainers continue to be active in their districts. The Programs/Projects line is also used as a contingency fund when YRUU overspends in other line items. This budget line empowers YRUU to act quickly on issues of importance and enables the work of Youth Council to be implemented in a timely manner. Youth Council recommends that the Programs/Projects line be increased to $3,500 in Fiscal Year 2001.

The Meetings line item is used exclusively for the Fall, Winter and Spring Steering Committee Meetings. Steering Committee is the executive body of YRUU and works throughout the year to implement Youth Council Resolutions, chooses continental conference and program staff, nominates the YRUU Programs Specialists, and furthers the mission of YRUU through its work. Steering Committee has three meetings in Boston and one meeting at Youth Council. Each meeting of Steering Committee costs between $4,000 and $4,500. For Fiscal Year 2000, there is $11,566 budgeted. Assuming that the Fall, Winter and Spring Steering Committee Meeting cost $4,250 each, there is an annual deficit of $1,184. Steering Committee 1999-2000 is therefore limited to only two meetings. In May, Steering Committee found it necessary to call a special session particularly devoted to visioning which was funded by the Fund for Unitarian Universalism, funds from the Programs/Projects line, and even tee-shirt sales. As YRUU continues to blossom, the responsibilities of Steering Committee will grow responsively. Steering Committee will be particularly important this year as YRUU has voted to begin its Journey Towards Wholeness. Youth Council recommends that the Meetings line item be restored to Fiscal Year 1999 levels in Fiscal Year 2001.

The YRUU Program Fund has been allocated for grants. For the past two years, YRUU has taken the beginning steps towards creating a bona fide granting panel by dispersing grants with Youth Council approval. In 1999, YRUU established a formal application process. The money from the YPF is being used to help churches and districts begin or further their youth programs. Our goal is to have a funding panel modeled after UUA funding panels. The YPF would fund both the grants and the meetings of the committee. The function of Youth Council in YRUU is similar to that of the UUA Board of Trustees. As it stands, Youth Council is charged with dispersing the grant money to applicants, thus, distracting Youth Council from its primary duties, and placing an inordinate amount of power in one body. Creating a Funding Panel would solve the aforementioned problems, but it is important that the members of the committee are trained specifically for the work that the panel will undertake and educated about the issues surrounding just and equitable funding. Youth Council recommends that the LRY Endowment which funds the YPF be increased to $5,000,000 within the next five years utilizing fifteen percent of the funds from the August 1999 Friends of the UUA campaign and the upcoming Capital Campaign. Youth Council recommends that a training be developed in conjunction with the Unitarian Universalist Funding Program for the members of the YRUU Funding Panel.

Youth Caucus is the largest annual gathering of Unitarian Universalist Youth. The new structure of Youth Caucus recognizes the three facets of the Youth Caucus community: business, worship, and intentional community building. This facilitates more participation by youth in the business of the Association and in the larger Unitarian Universalist community. In Fiscal Year 1999, Youth Caucus 1999 cost $11,000, only $2,000 of which came from the UUA Budget. The additional funding included $7,000 funding came from the General Assembly Planning Committee and $2,000 from the Sunday School Society. The $11,000 paid for a pre-site meeting (at which only four of the eight core-staff members were present because of the lack of funding), cost of travel and lodging for staff at General Assembly, and actual program cost. In contrast to other UUA leadership, the food for the staff was not paid. The combination of loosing a week’s pay along with incurring the expense of meals discourages youth from seeking leadership roles. It should be recognized that many youth pay for some or all their expenses without financial support from their parents. This is an ageism issue; the UUA should not expect youth a vibrant part of its organization to have to pay for positions of leadership.

Thorough preparation and adequate staff is necessary to successfully run an event. Without a full pre-site, it was difficult for the individual staff members to prepare sufficiently and to have a common vision for Youth Caucus and a clear understanding of what the new structure meant to their positions. This impeded sufficient communication among the staff members, and consequently, needs of staff were not always met.

In Fiscal Year 1995-96, YRUU received a grant of $19,860 to provide programming for the 360 youth participants at General Assembly. There were 375 youth registered at General Assembly 1999 in Salt Lake City; however, there was a total budget of $11,000. The Budget Working Group projects the following figures for successfully executing Youth Caucus in future years.

Table 4

Youth Caucus with Ten Staff Members

The Budget Working Group’s projections were made in view of costs incurred in previous years. Youth Council recommends that the Youth Caucus line item be increased to $23,375 in Fiscal Year 2001.

YRUU’s Commitment to Anti-oppression

YRUU is committed to a Journey Towards Wholeness initiative within our organization. YRUU is boldly seeking to become an inherently anti-oppression organization. As a movement of young religious Unitarian Universalist, the members see it as their responsibility to create an organization that respectfully, boldly, compassionately, and honestly engages itself in anti-oppression dialogue, that embodies and honors justice. As Clark Olsen suggested in General Assembly 1998 Fulfilling the Promise Report, show the world how diverse peoples can work and be in community together. This is YRUU’s commitment.

In the next five years, YRUU will work toward becoming an inherently anti-oppression institution. To achieve this, continental YRUU will need to educate its members about issues relating to oppression, how those issues affect YRUU, and how oppression ultimately hinders its progress as an institution.

There are many steps on this journey that compel YRUU to examine its conferences and programs through an anti-oppression lens. The National Social Justice Conference has been renamed the YRUU Social Justice Conference (YSJC) to be more inclusive to YRUU’s Canadian members and has been redesigned to include information about Canada’s political system. The YSJC, in contrast to the NSJC, will have open registration, as opposed to the former application process. Open registration will ultimately increase the number of youth equipped with skills to advocate for justice in the larger world.

The YSJC is a conference that:

Provides skills training on media issues (i.e. interviews and press releases), campaign planning, and political organizing,

Gives youth an opportunity to share information and personal stories about previous social justice work,

Uses worship and discussion to frame social justice as a spiritual practice,

Exposes youth to the social justice work that the UUA and other organizations do, and

Uses the monuments and the Holocaust Museum in Washington D.C. to spark conversation about social history and hope for the change people can make as activists for justice.

In 1998, YRUU received a grant for $5,000 from the Fund for Unitarian Universalism to plan and execute the NSJC; similar grants were received the two years prior: $3000 in 1997, and $5000 in 1996. This paid for the site, and travel for the staff. The registration fee was $350. This is prohibitive for many members of the YRUU community and prevents them from attending this conference. An increase in funding would the conference fee provide money for valuable staff increases. As the number of conference attendees increases, a greater number of advisors will be needed. Funding for the food and lodging for more area adults is required to ensure that there is an adequate number of adult advisors. The YSJC will provide YRUU’s youth leaders with skills and awareness necessary to do anti-oppression work in the larger world. Youth Council recommends that a line item be added under the subheading Youth Programs in the Religious Education Budget entitled YRUU Social Justice Conference with $7,000 allocated.

Administrative Support

The Youth Office is the only office within the UUA specifically concerned with youth, and administers continental conferences, programs and meetings. Staff includes one Youth Programs Director, two YRUU Programs Specialists, one Youth Office Intern, and one Youth Programs Assistant. There have been no additions to the Youth Office programs staff in the seventeen years since YRUU was established. Since 1985, the number of people enrolled in Religious Education programs has risen 58^%. This is an increase that has been strongly felt by YRUU’s administrative support.

YRUU is undergoing a tremendous period of growth when continental YRUU is working to be a better resource to churches and districts regarding programming. These groups are asking for the creation of resources that are relevant to their programming. Simultaneously, the Youth Office staff is administering the expanding continental programs. The current staffing level is not sufficient to perform all of the duties that the Youth Programs Director and YRUU Programs Specialized are asked to perform.

Over the past six years the UUA has repeatedly spoken of its strong commitment to ministry with youth.

In order to fulfill this commitment, the office at the UUA should be able to provide better training for advisors, issues-specific training for leadership, resources for large church youth group structures, effective models for small church youth group networking, and on-site problem-specific mediation and consultation services.

Additionally, in order to become a life span denomination, the Youth Office, needs to work with other UUA departments and field staff in assessing denominational needs. Under current staffing conditions, the Youth Office is unable to begin this dialogue.

While YRUU realizes that many other departments are in need of additional funds to compensate staff, the issue is not compensation, the major compensation for the Youth Office staff comes from the fruits of their work in an organization that is committed to its principles. Despite the satisfaction, the Youth Office staff finds themselves continually unable to meet the growing demands of an organization that is struggling with its rapid growth.

YRUU believes that in order to fulfill our commitment to effective youth programming on all levels, to support current initiatives, and to sustain an increasingly organized governance structure, the Youth Office needs an additional full-time YRUU Programs Specialist. The commitment of the UUA to its youth must to reflect the commitment of its youth to Unitarian Universalism. Youth Council recommends that the UUA create another YRUU Programs Specialist position in the Youth Office, consulting the Youth Office Staff, Youth Council and the Steering Committee^* by no later than July 2000.

FISCAL IMPACT FOR YRUU PROGRAMS AND STAFF: $46,532

FISCAL IMPACT FOR LRY ENDOWMENT PRINCIPAL: $5,000,000

Resolution Supporting the 1999 Budget Proposal - YC 1999

Co-sponsors: Chris Trace, Carissa Hansen, and Elizabeth Capone-Newton

Point Person: Chris Trace

Primary Aid: Carissa Hansen

UU Purpose: "The Unitarian Universalist Association shall devote its resources to and exercise its corporate powers for religious, educational and humanitarian needs. The primary purpose of the Association is to serve the needs of its member congregations, organize new congregations, extend and strengthen Unitarian Universalist institutions and implement its principles."

Specific Issue or Problem Being Addressed: The Budget for fiscal year 2000 is inadequate to continue the programs YRUU has been implementing and stifles YRUU from moving forward as an organization that strives to be accountable to its constituency.

Hope to Achieve: Adequate Funding for YRUU.

Short Term Goal: Submit Youth Council Supported proposal regarding fiscal year 2000 and 2001 to UUA Board of Trustees, Finance Committee, and Finance Department.

Steps To Achieve:
Distribute Copies of the YRUU Budget Proposal to Board of Trustees, Finance Department, Finance Committee.

Who: Chris Trace
Deadline: August15^th, 1999

Evaluation: Elizabeth Capone-Newton

Short Term Goal: Lobby for the acceptance of the Recommendations made in the YRUU Budget Proposal by the UUA Board of Trustees, the Finance Committee, and the Finance Department.

Steps To Achieve:

Youth Council Representatives should initiate discussion with their district's trustee about the budget proposal. Along with a reminder, a sample letter will be createdand distributed for Youth Council Representatives to send to trustees regarding the budget proposal.

Who: All Youth Council Member's
Deadline: September 15^th

Evaluation: Elizabeth Capone-Newton

Local And District Members of YRUU and the UUA can also Lobby Trustees on the behalf of YRUU.

How this will Further the Vision and Purposes of YRUU: allow for greater support and programming on all levels, and making YRUU able to actually execute its vision.

How this will benefit the greater denomination and the world: YRUU will be able to further Unitarian Universalism as a Lifespan Denomination, and More supported and empowered youth will reap more world-conscious society members.

Passes 32-0-0

Resolution to Send a Delegation of YRUU Youth to the Parliament of World Religions in December 1999 - YC 1999

Co-Sponsors: Maia Cudhea, Mimi LaValley, Robin Larsen, Stefanie Knipfer, Melanie Griffin, Rev. Carol Johnson, Jeff Liebmann

Point Persons: Robin Larsen and Stefanie Knipfer

Primary Aid: Rev. Carol Johnson

UU Principle: Respect for one another and encouragement to spiritual growth; justice, equity, and compassion in human relations; goal of world community

Specific issue: Increase the interdenominational exposure of YRUU; increase the global presence of YRUU; involve YRUU in the Call for Creative Engagement, a new international document exploring critical issues confronting the planetary community.

Hope to achieve: Create a YRUU presence at the major interdenominational gathering of religions in the world; connect with youth movements of other religions globally; bring experiences back to share with YRUU; participate in the new spirit of hope and possibility occurring at a time of phenomenal transformation within South Africa.

Short-term goal: Secure funding and send three or more YRUU youth and one YRUU advisor to the Parliament of World Religions meeting in Capetown, South Africa in December 1-8, 1999.

Steps to Achieve:

1. Obtain registration and other relevant information

Who: Robin and Stefanie with help of Rev. Carol Johnson
Deadline: August 31, 1999

2. Secure funding for trip (grant applications, other possible sources)

Who: Robin and Stefanie with help of Youth Office and, if necessary, district and local sources
Deadline: October 31, 1999

3. Publicize application period for delegation to YRUU community (including Synapse article and web site advertising)

Who: Maia Cudhea
Deadline: August-September 15, 1999

4. Identify members of delegation

Who: Steering Committee
Deadline: October 15, 1999

5. Inform delegates of necessary passports, vaccinations, and other preparations (such as currency acquisition) for travel to South Africa.

Who: Robin and Stefanie
Deadline: October 31, 1999

6. Equip delegation with materials to exchange with other youth participants in the Next Generation program of the Parliament (Gift of Service to the World)

Who: Youth Office
Deadline: November 15, 1999

7. Contact Unitarian Church of South Africa in Capetown and other applicable groups for information and possible support

Who: Robin and Stefanie
Deadline: September 30, 1999

8. Request use of UUA digital camera and assist delegation in creating a "live" web site on the Parliament

Who: Youth Office
Deadline: October 31, 1999

9. Contact delegates and ensure they are fully equipped with information, resources, travel info, etc.

Who: Robin and Stefanie
Deadline: November 15, 1999

10. Collect a report from the delegation to share with the YRUU community

Who: Robin and Stefanie
Deadline: January 15, 2000

11. Post report to the web site along with links to other religious resource information.

Who: Robin and Stefanie
Deadline: January 31, 2000

Evaluation: Transportation and participation of delegation (12/99); Submission of report to the Youth Office (1/00)

Local and District people: Rev. Carol Johnson is attending the Parliament and can serve as a resource for information; District YCR’s and SAC’s can help distribute information about this opportunity to interested youth and advisors; Local districts, churches, and individuals if additional funding is needed.

Long-Term Goal: Review the feedback from the participation and explore future directions.

Steps to Achieve:

1. Discuss delegation report at GA (workshop or Youth Caucus presentation)

Who: Delegation representative
Deadline: June 30, 2000

2. Set aside designated slot at the 2000 Youth Council to review the delegation report.

Who: Steering Committee
Deadline: July 31, 2000

3. Explore further resolutions for action at Youth Council.

Who: Youth Council
Deadline: July 31, 2000

4. Present workshop at 2000 ConCon.

Who: Delegation representative
Deadline: August 15, 2000

5. Write an article on the experience for possible publication in the World.

Who: Delegation representative
Deadline: March 1, 2000

Evaluation: GA presentation (6/00); Youth Council report and discussion (7/00); ConCon presentation (8/00).

Resources YRUU will need to use: Funding sources (possibly including Faith in Action Office, grant sources such as Veatch Foundation, the LRY Endowment (based on a commitment expressed in Common Ground II to use these funds in part for international efforts)); International Association for Religious Freedom (IARF); ICCC; the World Conference on Religion and Peace (WCRP), Unitarian Universalist-United Nations Office (UU-UNO).

How this will further vision and purposes of YRUU: The resolution will: foster spiritual depth by increasing the exposure of YRUU to global religions and youth from other countries and spiritual persuasions; help create a peaceful community on earth by helping to identify universal religious ideals and creating friendship linkages with youth of other cultures, backgrounds, and beliefs; and will expand the horizon of potential social action to the global arena, thus raising the consciousness of youth to issues of global importance.

How will this benefit the greater denomination and/or the world: The resolution enhances the presence of the denomination at this seminal gathering, thus expanding awareness of Unitarian Universalism across the world.

Necessary policy and procedures/by-law changes: none

Organizations or books for more information: n/a

Fiscal impact: approximately $3,750 per delegate, to be raised through grants, donations, and other private sources

Passes 32-0-0

Resolution to Promote the Development of a Summer Work Camp Opportunity in South Africa - YC 1999

Co-Sponsors: Maia Cudhea, Mimi LaValley, Robin Larsen, Stefanie Knipfer, Melanie Griffin, Rev. Carol Johnson, Jeff Liebmann

Point Person: Mimi LaValley

Primary Aid: Maia Cudhea

UU Principle: Inherent worth and dignity of every person; encouragement to spiritual growth; justice, equity, and compassion in human relations; goal of world community

Specific issue: Work to develop a social action opportunity directly linked to the YRUU anti-racism focus in conjunction with the UUSC and other appropriate groups; Increase the global presence of YRUU

Hope to achieve: Provide YRUU youth with a unique social action connections with people from other cultures and persuasions; bring experiences back to share with YRUU; expand the anti-racism focus of YRUU to the global arena by supporting the major transformations occurring in South Africa: and create an empowered cooperative link with the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC).

Short-term goal: Solicit the support of the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee to create a summer work camp opportunity for youth in or near Capetown, South Africa for as early as 2000.

Steps to Achieve:

1. Prepare and submit concept proposal for the work camp opportunity to the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC).

Who: Mimi
Deadline: September 30, 1999

2. Contact the Unitarian Church of South Africa in Capetown for possible support and direction (Parliament of World Religions delegation)

Who: Parliament of World Religions delegation
Deadline: December 1-8,1999

Evaluation: Preparation and submission of proposal (9/99); Obtain commitment to support development from UUSC (ASAP); make contact with Capetown church (12/99)

Local and District people: Faith in Action Office for preliminary training

Long-Term Goal: Actively participate with the UUSC in the development of the work camp; disseminate information on the work camp, once established.

Steps to Achieve:

1. Post information/URL link on the YRUU web sites.

Who: Mimi
Deadline: ASAP

2. Distribute information to YCR’s and SAC’s in each district.

Who: Maia
Deadline: ASAP

3. Create an ongoing relationship with UUSC that empowers youth to improve the service opportunities available to youth.

Who: Mimi
Deadline: ongoing

Evaluation: Information posted and sent (immediately after creation of camp)

Resources YRUU will need to use: Unitarian Universalist Social Committee (UUSC); International Association for Religious Freedom (IARF); ICCC; Partnership Church Council

How this will further vision and purposes of YRUU: The resolution will: promote the anti-racism work of YRUU by expanding the effort to a global perspective; foster spiritual depth by increasing the exposure of YRUU to people other countries and spiritual persuasions; help create a peaceful community on earth by helping to identify universal religious ideals and creating friendship linkages with youth of other cultures, backgrounds, and beliefs; will expand the horizon of social action to the global arena, thus raising the consciousness of youth to issues of global importance; and strengthen the relationship between YRUU and UUSC, empowering youth to develop expanded service opportunities.

How will this benefit the greater denomination and/or the world: The resolution enhances the expansion of the denomination into Africa, thus expanding awareness of Unitarian Universalism across the world.

Necessary policy and procedures/by-law changes: none

Organizations or books for more information: n/a

Fiscal impact: negligible

Passes 30-0-2

Resolution: It’s Time We Did Something About Racism in YRUU! - YC 1999

Co-Sponsors: Mimi LaValley, Sarah Pappas, Maia Cudhea, Carissa Hansen, Geoff Schwarz, Danielle Picard, Chris Helwig

Point Person: Geoff Schwarz, Melanie Griffin

Primary Aid: Position On Appraisal (Julie Slater)

UU Principle: Inherent worth and dignity of every person, Justice, Equality and compassion in human relations, The goal of the world community with peace, liberty and justice for all.

Specific Issue: Although the YRUU purposes state that "we shall... embrace all persons of diverse backgrounds", our organization has not taken the necessary steppes to dismantle racism within our communities and beyond.

We currently do not offer sufficient support to youth of color in our community with relevant "educational resources, communications network, and with love", as stated in the Statement of Purpose.

Hope to Achieve: YRUU is a self-proclaimed welcoming, accepting, and justice-seeking organization. Therefore we must strive to be anti-racist.

We want to redefine YRUU as a community that is available to and inclusive of youth of all backgrounds. We aim to dismantle the structures of privilege within YRUU and foster a sense of accountability throughout. We must work to create a collective consciousness concerning the issue of racism.

Short Term Goal: Assemble a body of youth leaders charged with examining continental events through an "anti-racists lens". These leaders will use UUA resources and network with trained professionals to begin to assess how continental events and training can meet the diverse needs of their participants. They will attempt to identify aspects of specific YRUU programs that are exclusive and/or perpetuate the cycle of white privilege within our organization. They will work in conjunction with existing groups involved with anti-oppression work to incorporate anti-racist awareness into events and trainings. This body will be known as the "Journey Towards Justice Core Team" (JTJCT) and will compile their findings to be presented to one another at a meeting of the JTJCT. They will be charged with accomplishing the following steps as well as helping to meet the more general long-term goals of this resolution.

Steps to Achieve:

1. Regarding Leadership Development Conferences:

Establish contact with Faith in Action, Anti-Racism Core Team and organizations involved with leadership training that is more multicultural.

Engage in dialogue with youth of color who are trainers or have participated in LDC’s to get input.

Generate copies of the Leadership Development Conference (LDC) Trainer manual to those affiliated with anti-racism work to assess how LDC’s and the Continental Leadership Development Conference Training (CLDCT) can better meet the needs of youth of color and incorporate anti-racism components for the benefit of the trainers and participants.

Point Person: Mimi LaValley
Initial Deadline: January 15, 2000

2. Regarding Advisor Trainings:

Establish contact with Youth Advisor Task Force (YATF), Journey Towards Wholeness Transformation Committee (JTWTC), Faith in Action, and multicultural mentoring programs.

Generate copies of Advisor Training manual to those affiliated with anti-racism work to assess how Advisor Trainings can better meet the needs of youth of color and incorporate anti-racism components for the benefit of the trainers and participants.

Point Person: Chris Helwig
Initial Deadline: January 15, 2000

3. Regarding Spirituality Development Conferences:

Establish contact with Diverse Revolutionary Unitarian Universalist Multicultural Ministries (DRUUMM), African American Unitarian Universalist Ministers (AAUUM), Unitarian Universalist Ministers Association (UUMA), and Crossroads.

Contact other multicultural denominations for input and generate copies of Spirituality Development Conference (SDC) Training manual to those affiliated with anti-racism work to assess how SDCs can better meet the needs of youth of color and incorporate anti-racism components for the benefit of the trainers and participants.

Point Person: Danielle Picard & Melanie Griffin
Initial Deadline: January 15, 2000

4. Regarding the YRUU Social Justice Conference:

Arrange for a speaker to appear at the YRUU Social Justice Conference (YSJC) from DRUUMM or the Jubilee Working Group (JWG) to educate about the anti-racist movement in the UUA and opportunities to get involved.

Look into the possibility of an anti-racism training session for the participants of the YSJC.

Arrange to attend the YSJC and observe for possible incorporation of anti-racism components.

Point Person: Sarah Pappas
Deadline: December 15, 1999

5. Regarding adapting the Jubilee World Workshop into youth specific anti-racist training.

Contact all relevant groups and leaders regarding the making the training more relevant to youth.

Who: Elizabeth Capone-Newton, Carissa Hansen
Deadline: October 1999

Identify a group of youth and adults to commit to structuring and beginning the adaptation process.

Who: Elizabeth Capone-Newton
Deadline: November 1999

Insure that enlisted youth and adults, including UUA departments, and professional allies discuss their ideas for adapting the training, and submit them.

Who: Elizabeth Capone-Newton

Deadline: January 15, 2000

Compile a report of all imputes submitted, and conclusions made on how the training should be formatted and/or run to be brought to the meeting of the JTJCT.

Who: Elizabeth Capone-Newton
Deadline: March 2000

6. Regarding Continental YRUU Leadership Opportunities:

Put a question on applications for all continental trainings of trainers (i.e. CLDCT, CSDC, CAT) and staff positions (both conference and office staff) concerning whether participants have had anti-racist training and what it means to them.

Consider this information an important aspect of their application.

Who: Youth Office
Deadline: ongoing

7. Regarding Funding a Meeting of the JTJCT

The JTJCT will need to meet as body in order to share their findings, network, gain mutual support, and discuss issues relevant to their purpose. For this reason grants must be researched and proposals submitted to different granting sources for a weekend meeting of this JTJCT. Funding will be secured to cover the expense of the approximately 10 members’ attendance (including travel, room and board of all members of the JTJCT). The JTJCT will consist of the persons assigned tasks from this resolution and the UUA professionals involved in assisting their work. The target date for this meeting will be March 2000.

Point Person: Geoff Schwarz
Deadline: September 1, 1999

Short Term Goal: To raise awareness of anti-racism work being done within the denomination, and encourage local youth groups and district youth to get involved.

1. Research and compile information about continental, non-Unitarian Universalist progressive organizations doing anti-racism work that can be a resource to youth groups and districts who want to get involved with our anti-racism initiative.

Who: POA, C*SAC
Deadline: February 1, 2000

2.YCRs in conjunction with local SACs research local organizations doing anti-racist work that can be used as specific grassroots resources.

Who: C*SAC
Deadline: February 1, 2000

3. Regarding internal UUA Anti-Racist Committees:

Create a resource for YRUUers providing information about committees devoted to anti-racism work within the UUA and how youth can get involved.

Distribute to YCRs for YCR notebook.

Who: POA, mailed out by Youth Office
Deadline: Youth Council post packet deadline

4.There should be an annual YRUU anti-racism workshop at GA dedicated to dialogue concerning YRUU’s anti-racist work.

Who: GA Business Manager
Deadline: apply to GA Planning Committee by August 31, 1999

5. Regarding using Synapse to further Anti-Racism within our Organization:

Use Synapse as a valuable forum for highlighting successful anti-racism work within the districts.
Solicit articles for "Power Shuffle" detailing projects.
Use "Common Cause" as a place to publish YRUU- friendly Anti-Racist organizations.

Who: C*SAC
Deadline: ongoing

District and Local People:

Social Action Coordinators:

Keep youth in the district aware of opportunities to get involved with anti-racism work such as protests, meetings, etc.

Short Term Goal: Every continental leader has at least initial experience in anti-racism training.

1. Have an anti-racism training at Youth Council 2000 and assess the need for such trainings in future years.

Who: POA
Deadline: Winter Steering Committee meeting

2. Have a week-long anti-racism workshop at ConCon 2000.

Who: ConCon 2000 Workshop Coordinator
Deadline: ConCon Pre-site

Short Term Goal: Initiate tradition of youth of color caucus ("family group") at continental events, in association with DRUUMM, to foster support at conferences and also begin to form a communication network with DRUUMM that youth of color can benefit from.

1. Regarding initial Networking with DRUUMM and YRUU youth of color:

Establish a relationship with DRUUMM by contacting members
The POA will serve as a liaison from the Steering Committee to DRUUMM.
Help maintain contact between family group participants and DRUUMM.

Who: POA
Deadline: November 1, 1999

2. Ensure that youth of color family group members’ contact information is passed on to DRUUMM.

Who: events’ staff
Deadline: ongoing

Short Term Goal: Promote anti-racism work in districts through youth empowerment by getting youth members onto district Transformation Teams.

1. Find out from Faith in Action which districts have a Transformation Team and which are in the process of creating one.

Who: Carissa Hansen
Deadline: August 15, 1999

2. Make YCRs aware of Transformation Teams in their districts and pass on the names of contact people with whom they can discuss the necessity of appointing youth and make suggestions of possible appointees.

Who: Carissa Hansen
Deadline: September 15,1999 with ongoing pursuit and follow-up

District and Local People:

YAC/DYSC/SC chair:

Lobby the district adult leadership structure and request representation on transformation teams; emphasize the value of youth contributions to anti-racism work.

Get in touch with Transformation Team organizers.

SAC:

Assist in recruiting possible youth for Transformation Team.

YRUUer:

Volunteer for district Transformation Teams.

Evaluation:

The JTJCT will evaluate the progress of all short-term goals mandated by this resolution at their meeting in March of 2000 and develop a timeline for the next steps needed to be taken. The team will be an important forum for discussing "The Plan" with people of color organizations.

Long Term Goals:

1. Continental events where a safe space exists for youth of all colors.

2. Create a Jubilee World Workshop designed specifically for youth. Once established, the JTJCT will work together to create a training for youth leaders of the workshop and make them available to youth groups and districts.

3. Anti-racism training is a requirement for all continental leadership positions.

4. All members of Youth Council and Steering Committee attend anti-racism training in their local district or congregation. Provide Level II Anti-Racism Training at Youth Council once all members have been through Level I Anti-Racism Trainings.

5. Youth are included in every facet of Journey Towards Wholeness.

6. Youth of color family groups are a fixture at every continental event and establishment of an efficient evaluation process ensures their effectiveness as a support network.

7. The JTJCT meets regularly and directs the goals of YRUU’s anti-racism work.

The Board of Trustees of the Unitarian Universalist Association appoints the JTJCT as Board appointed task force of the UUA.

Passes 30-1-1

Resolution to diversify the number of Canadians who go to ConCon - YC 1999

Co-sponsors: Geoff Schwarz, and Geoff Woodman

Point Person: Geoff Schwarz

Primary aid: Geoff Schwarz

UU priciple: Justice, equality and compassion in human relations.

Specific issue: The goal of having a Canadian At-Large representative, was not only to make sure Canada was well represented at Youth Council and Contenental Events, but also to encourage more Canadians to attend Contintal Conferences. Although a few Can

Short term goals:

1. Youth office execute the change.

2. Someone will be charged to ensure the change.

Point person: Geoff Schwarz

How this will further the vision and purposes of YRUU: This will respect the YRUU puposes, by further fostering YRUU to be an accepting and loving community to all of its members

How this will benefit the greater denomination: This will give Canadians a chance to have Con Con in their own country. This will promote the involvement of Canadian YRUU'ers in Con Con, while in Canada, and also further Candaian involvement at other con

Necessary policy and procedures changes:

Rule 1.3 Con Con Site selection

Con Con will rotate between five regions: Southwest, Central, Southeast, Northwest, and Northeast, in that order, with the folling states and provences in each region:

Southwest: TX, NM, CO, UT, AZ, CA, NV, HI.

Central: ND, SD, MN, IA, NE, KS, MO, WI, IL, MI, IN, KY, WV, OH, OK, AR.

Southeast: LA, MS, AL, GA, FL, TN, SC, NC, VA.

Northwest: AK, YK, BC, WA, OR, ID, MT, WY, AB, SK, WM, W. ONT, NWT.

Northeast: E. ONT, NY, PA, MD, DE, NJ, CT, RI, MA, NH, VT, ME, PQ, NF, PEI.

Change: Con Con will rotate between six regions: Southwest, Central, Southeast, Canada, Northwest, Northeast, in that order, with the following states and provinces in each region:

Southwest: TX, NM, CO, UT, AZ, CA, NV, HI.

Central: ND, SD, MN, IA, NE, KS, MO, WI, IL, MI, IN, KY, WV, OH, OK, AR.

Southeast: LA, MS, AL, GA, FL, TN, SC, NC, VA.

Canada: BC, AB, SK, MAN, ONT, PQ, NB, NS, PEI, NLFD, YK, NWT, NU.

Northwest: AK, WA, OR, ID, MT, WY.

Northeast: NY, PA, MD, DE, NJ, CT, RI, MA, NH, VT, ME.

Passes 32-0-0

Resolution to Increase District and Local Participation in Youth Council - YC 1999

Co-Sponsors: Micaela Christopher, Ben Kidder, Geoff Woodman, Alena Acker

Point Person: Micaela Christopher

Primary Aid: Ben Kidder

UU Principle: The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process in our congregations and in society at large.

Specific Problem: Whereas there is little interest in or knowledge of the activities and workings of Youth Council at the district and local levels, very few are involved in the resolution process.

Hope to achieve: Increase interest in, knowledge of, and participation in the Youth Council resolution process, hold YCR’s accountable for their work to the people they represent, and center Youth Council around the needs of the district and local levels to better serve all of YRUU.

Short Term Goals:

1. Create a resource to explain and instruct on how to write resolutions using the new resolution format to participants in the district and local levels.

2. Create a resource to help districts evaluate their YCRs and constituencies to evaluate their At-larges.

3. YCRs hold workshops at one of their district conferences to solicit local and district input. At-larges communicate with their constituencies for input.

Workshops led by YCRs are held in each district before Youth Council. At-larges contact their constituencies through various methods.

Who: Alena Acker Contacts YCRs
Deadline: February 1, 2000

YCRs bring ideas for resolutions from their constituencies to Youth Council

Who: Micaela Christopher
Deadline: Youth Council 2000

4. Article for Synapse is published to explain Youth Council and the new resolution process and to encourage participants in YRUU to write resolutions for Youth Council.

Steps Continental Person Assigned Due Date

Article is written and sent to the Youth Office that explains what Youth Council does and how it functions. Article also explains the new resolution process and encourages local and district people to submit resolutions.

Who: Ben Kidder, Micaela Christopher, Geoff Woodman, Alena Acker
Deadlien: Fall Synapse Deadline

Article is published in the Fall issue of Synapse

Who: Micaela Christopher
Deadline: Fall Synapse

Long Term Goal:

Resolutions which originated at the district and local levels are submitted to Youth Council by being sent to Synapse

Youth Office collects all resolutions sent throughout the past year, and publishes them in the Spring issue of Synapse.

Who: Micaela Christopher
Deadline: Spring Synapse deadline

YCRs consider (with input from their constituencies) which of the published resolutions to sponsor and bring them to Youth Council

Who: Micaela Christopher
Deadline: Youth Council 2000

Evaluation: After each due date, Micaela contacts the continental person assigned to each step for evaluation and feedback and gives help if requested.

Local and district people and things they can do to help:

YACs/DYCs- Evaluate YCRs, ensure that there is a time at a conference for YCRs to lead a workshop on Youth Council, help publicize the Resolution Resource.

SACs- Work with YCRs to promote Social Action oriented resolutions

Con Planning Committee- Make workshop slots available for YCRs

Newsletter Editors- Promote writing resolutions for Youth Council in district newsletters

YRUUers: Write resolutions for Youth Council and send them to Synapse

Resources YRUU has that will be needed: Synapse

How this will Benefit the Vision and Purposes of YRUU: The purpose of Youth Council is to provide leadership and direction to YRUU. Without an understanding of the needs, hopes, and dreams of the participants of YRUU, it cannot provide adequate leadership.

Expected Fiscal Impact: None

Passes 32-0-0

Resolution to Make C*LDCs, C*SDCs, and CATs Occur Regularly. - YC 1999

Co-sponsors: Matt Moore and Abbey Tennis

Point Person: Matt Moore

Primary Aid: Abbey Tennis

YRUU Principles:

Because, C*SDCs provide for worship celebration and rites of passage

Because, C*LDCs develop person growth and leadership skills

Because, CATs provide resources for identifying and training program advisors

We shall strive to support our members and member groups with educational resources, and serve to raise our levels of mutual respect, communication, and community consciousness

Specific Problem:

Whereas, C*SDCs are the only continental trainings not funded by the "Youth Leadership Training" line in the YRUU budget.

Whereas, at the current status, there is only enough money to do one training per year

Whereas, spirituality development is as valuable as leadership development and advisor training

Whereas, there is not an established schedule of continental trainings where the C*SDC is included

Hope to achieve: An established and organized schedule of continental trainings which includes, C*SDCs, C*LDCs, and CATs

Short Term Goal: To charge Steering Committee to seek out and apply for a grant to fund a C*SDC for the year 2001 as the 1998 C*SDC was previously funded. The CAT will also take place that year as funded by the "Youth Leadership Training" line in the YRUU budget.

Long Term Goal: No three year period shall pass without a C*LDC, C*SDC, and CAT.

Necessary policy and procedure change:

Add to Article VII, Section 2 the line 2.46 as follows:

Continental Trainings

The offered continental trainings conducted by the Youth Office are Continental Leadership Development Conference (C*LDC), Continental Spirituality Development Conferences (C*SDC), and the Continental Advisor Trainings (CAT). A minimum of one training shall be offered per year. No three year period shall pass without all three trainings take place.

Passes 31-0-0

Resolution to Revise the Continental Spirituality Development Conference (CSDC) Training Manual - YC 1999

Co-Sponsors: Abbey Tennis and Matt Moore

Point Persons: Abbey Tennis and Matt Moore

Primary Aids: Matt Moore and Abbey Tennis

UU Principles:

• Free and responsible search for truth and meaning
• Acceptance of one another and encouragement of spiritual growth

YRUU Principles:

• YRUU shall serve its members for the purpose of fostering spiritual depth
• Provide for worship, celebration and rites of passage
• Develop educational resources

Specific Issue or problem being addressed: After extensive testing of the CSDC trainer’s manual by SDC Leaders, it has been deemed incomplete to deal with the vast growing needs of YRUU spirituality

Hope to Achieve: To foster higher quality spirituality in our institutions

Short Term Goal: Collect information to pilot a rough draft of the CSDC manual

Write a letter to CSDC staff and district SDC leaders requesting that they send evaluations from SDCs to a point person (Matt Moore) and requesting them to fill out a visioning survey for the CSDC manual and for future CSDCs

Who: Point People
Deadline: Sent out September 1, 1999 Return deadline of October 1,1999

Evaluate and assess district SDC evaluations, visioning surveys, and current CSDC manual

Who: Point People
Deadline: September 1 to December 15, 1999

Advertise in Synapse for youth involvement in the revision of the CSDS Manuel.

Who: Abbey Tennis
Deadline: September 1, 1999

Select a team to revise the manual and establish roles in the process of revision with the idea that each team member will have their own section to revise

Who: Point People
Deadline: December 15, 1999

Have the revision team create a circus in which they can provide preliminary feedback on each section and make adjustments accordingly.

Who: Revision Team
Deadline: April 15, 2000

Have the revision team submit their sections to point persons for rough assessment and editing

Who: Revision Team
Deadline: May 15, 2000

Have point persons edit and format rough draft of manual for testing

Who: Point People
Deadline: July 1, 2000

Evaluation:

• Revision Circus will act as an evaluation for the revision team
• The Point Persons will discuss the process and adjust the timeline as they see fit
• The Point Persons account for unforeseen details of the revision and establish a mode of action to accommodate details.

People:

Ministers, SDC leaders, SDC participants, Youth Office, Other interested people can help evaluate, be part of revision team, and submit materials to revision team

Long Term Goal: Have the manual used at the next CSDC

Charge CSDC staff with final revisions of the manual

Who: CSDC staff
Deadline: Prior to next CSDC

Use manual and distribute to new SDC leaders at CSDC

Who: CSDC staff
Deadline: Next CSDC

Evaluation: Collect written evaluations from new SDC leaders about the manual and file at the Youth Office for future revision by CSDC staff (evaluation included as part of the manual)

People: Ministers, SDC trainers, SDC participants, Youth Office, other interested youth, YRUUers etc. are encouraged to provide feedback once SDC trainers begin to utilize the manual. Comments should be directed to Youth Office.

Resources: CSDC manual from 1998 CSDC and the Spiritual Anthology

How will this further denomination: To create a new generation of spiritual leaders to further the UU purposes.

Fiscal Impact: Approximately $800 to print. However, this should be incorporated into the future CSDC budget and not affect the current budget

Passes 31-0-1

Resolution to Hold the Continental Conference prior to Youth Council - YC 1999

Co-sponsors: Geoff Woodman, Ben Kidder

Point Person: Geoff Woodman

Primary Aid: Ben Kidder

UU Principle: The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process in our congregations and in society at large.

Specific Issue: The decisions made by Youth Council often do not include the voice of the district and local levels of YRUU.

Hope to Achieve: Inclusion of the ideas from the district and local levels voiced at Con Con in the business of Youth Council rather than Youth Council informing people about its decisions during the Con Con business meeting.

Short Term Goal: Con Con shall now be held the week prior to Youth Council so that ideas can be brought to Con Con from the local and district levels and from there to Youth Council.