Author: Jaco ten Hove

Spring 2024 Conference Odyssey 

Our association is fortunate to host Joyce Gilbert for an Odyssey presentation at the spring conference. Joyce is married to the Rev. Richard Gilbert, longtime minister of the First Unitarian Church in Rochester NY.

Joyce Timmerman descended from Palatine Germans who were drawn to the message of Universalist ministers in New York State after the French and Indian War. Growing up in the Universalist Church of Fort Plain NY, she met minister-to-be Dick Gilbert at Unirondack, the Universalist summer camp in the Adirondacks. Their paths continued to cross and merged 63 years ago. 

Music in and beyond churches has always been central in her life. A founder of the UU Musicians Network (now AUUMM), she regarded that group as her third child—after sons Matthew and Douglas. Her theme? “Life is but a song to sing.”

The conference is scheduled for April 15^th through the 17^th online or in person at Wilmington, Delaware or Kingston, Massachusetts. You can register for the conference at the UURMaPA website <uurmapa.org>. The conference fee is $45 per individual and scholarships are available. For more information and program details, check the Activities page on our webpage: <uurmapa.org/activities>.

Job Description (approved by the Board on 2/14/24)

The Connections Coordinator’s duties include:

➢  Upon receipt of an Intent to Retire notice, send the new member(s) a welcoming email 
A. to provide an overview of opportunities to connect with other UURMaPAns
B. to connect the New Member with their Area Connector (if identified)

➢  Annually, in July-September
A. Determine the willingness of current Area Connectors to continue service for upcoming year
B. (for Areas with no continuing Connector), send an All-Area-Member email soliciting interest in serving as Connector
C. Contact Open Special Interest Group Facilitators to determine identity of Facilitator for coming year (if any)
D. Send an UURMaPA-Announce notice soliciting interest in forming/facilitating new Special Interest Groups for the coming year

➢  Semi-Annually in October and April
A. Contact Peer Support Group Facilitators to determine
a. Identity of Group Members desiring to continue in the Group for the following six months
b. Identity of the Facilitator of each Continuing Group
c. Openness of each Continuing Group to welcome new Members
B. Send an UURMaPA-Announce notice
a. soliciting interest in entering or forming a Peer Support Group
b. publicizing all Open Special Interest Groups 
C. Assign and introduce interested new Members to ongoing Groups.
D. Facilitate interested Members to form & launch new Groups

Geographical Areas of UURMaPA’s membership may be served by one or more Connector(s), whose duties include:
➢  Upon receipt of the Connection Coordinator’s welcome letter copy, make contact with each new Member. 
➢  Annually, make contact with each ongoing Area Member 
A. to ascertain accuracy of directory information and notify Membership Coordinator of updates
B. to assess/support Members’ interest in UURMaPA activities
(Most recent list of members living in each Area is available on website, www.uurmapa.org, under Publications/Directories/Area Connections Directory, password WISDOM.) 
➢  Upon receipt of UURMaPA-Announce notice of an Area member’s death, make personal contact with survivor(s) 
➢  Upon learning of the death of an Area Partner-Member, send notice to the Assistant Connections Chair. 

Revised by the Board 4/12/16 and 9/14/16
Reviewed and approved by Art Severance, Connections Chair 2019-2021. 
Revision proposed by Fritz Hudson, Connections Coordinator, January 17, 2024
Revised version approved by the Board, February 15, 2024

For the spring 2024 UURMaPA conference, two in-person locations will be available for members to meet and enjoy the conference together. One location is in Kingston, Massachusetts and the other is in Wilmington, Delaware. When you register for the conference, you may express your desire to attend at one of these locations. Read below for details about each site.

In Kingston, the conference POD will be at the First Parish UU Church. The site is fully accessible, with plenty of off street parking. The church will be utilized for both large presentations and small breakout groups. There is an option of take-out meals at the church and/or opportunities to go to nearby restaurants. Plan on staying at least three nights and longer if you want to sight-see in the area.

On the Tuesday morning before the conference, a local historian will make a presentation about the history of the congregation, which was established in 1719, and lead a walking tour of the colonial, revolutionary and civil war burying ground. 

Many attractions are only ten minutes away in Plymouth: Multiple and varied arts offerings, fine and casual dining, Plymouth Harbor and the Plymouth and Pawtuxet living history museum, Pilgrim Memorial Hall, a Plymouth and Patuxet Wampanoag Arts, Culture and History museum, and any number of shopping opportunities.

More information is available by visiting www.kingstonuu.org. The website has everything you need to know about the location and has a map, directions to the church, and pictures of the buildings. For general questions, logistics, lodging, parking, special needs, send a message to Tom Schade trschade@gmail.com or Sarah Person person.revsarah@gmail.com.

In Wilmington, the First Unitarian Church will host an in-person POD to interact with others around the country. The church will host for both large presentations and small breakout groups. The church has an audio-visual system for the major presentations, but you might need a laptop or tablet for use during the breakout sessions. The church has a strong wi-fi signal throughout the building. 

Some shared meals will be at the church with opportunities to go to area restaurants. Coffee and tea will be available during the meetings. Snacks, wine and beer will be available for a nominal donation to cover our expenses.