Category: Uncategorized

In the third session of the first day of our spring 2024 conference, the Service of Remembrance will focus on three elements from service leader Rev. Lilia Cuervo’s Hispanic culture: presence, honoring, and healing.

An ofrenda (altar) will hold pictures of the ministers and spouses whose presence we yet feel. In front of each picture, a votive candle is lit, which flame signifies and celebrates their lives and the examples they give us.

As in past conferences, we will honor them in four segments with eulogies and roses. Reflective, healing interludes of poetry and music help us to remember them, and perhaps, ponder our own lives.

Honoring the lives and legacies of

Treva Frank (widow of Rev. Vance Frank)
Rev. Lewis Dunlap
Rev. Joel Baehr
Anne Clarke (widow of Rev. Robert Clarke)

Rev. Susan Weickum
Rev. Carolyn Owen-Towle
Rev. Dori Somers
Rev. Cynthia Johnson

Rev. David Maynard
Rev. Olivia Holmes
Rev. Patience Gardner
Rev. Ronald Marcy

Rev. James Grant
Rev. Steven Protzman
Rev. Janne Eller-Isaacs
Rev. Rick Koyle

(approved by the Board on 3/21/24)

Rationale:  The Membership Coordinator performs important functions for UURMaPA in keeping membership and communication lists current and accurate. They manage posting and use of the membership list for communications and serve as primary administrator for the UURMaPA Announce list-serve provided through UUA.org. 

Expectations:  Basic duties of this job include the following:

• Maintains current membership information using an Excel spreadsheet and two  Directories (Membership and Connections) as Word documents or in whatever format the membership database management system requires.
• When a minister retires, the Intent to Retire form is sent from the UUA to the Membership Coordinator, and the minister (and spouse if any) are added as new members. This includes adding the email address to the Announce-List.
• Updated Directories (saved as pdf documents) are sent monthly to the Webmaster to post on the website. The Announce-List is also updated with any changes. 
• Other duties include preparing extracts of the Excel data to send to the printer for mailing the newsletter, the appeal letter, or other needed mailings.

This is an appointed position with Board liaison that begins or may be renewed annually each July.

Proposed by Marcia Olsen, Membership Coordinator as of March, 2015. 
Edits by Judy Gibson, March 2020. 
Suggested revision – Susan V Rak December 2023.

(approved by the Board on 3/21/24)

Rationale:  The Historian works with other leaders to assure that important UURMaPA documents are preserved, including publications such as newsletters, directories, brochures and guides produced by the organization since its beginning in 1985. The UURMaPA website (uurmapa.org) serves as a site for reference and preservation of many recent past and current public items, including Elderberries (since beginning in 1985), Board minutes (since 2014) and obituaries (since 2004).

Expectations:   The duties of the Historian include the following:

• The Historian may be provided with documents and asked to assess their value for historical purposes. 
• The Historian maintains a relationship with the Archivist at Andover-Harvard Library and ensures that selected UURMaPA papers and records are filed there, as appropriate. (Note: Any documents sent to Andover Harvard Archives become their possession and UURMaPA no longer retains any copyrights.)
• The Historian updates UURMaPA’s history so that the organization has an accurate record of its early history and progress since 1985. A version of the most current history may be posted on the website under RESOURCES.
• The Historian may research member obituary information prior to 2004 to help build the online website archive of obituaries for ministers and partners.
• On their own initiative or as requested, the Historian may assist with UURMaPA historical projects and prepare historical articles for Elderberries or other outlets.

The Historian is appointed for a one-year term by the UURMaPA Board and reports to the Board. The Board President is the liaison for the Historian to the Board. The term may be renewed at the discretion of the Board.

Originally created Fall, 2011. 
Revised by Judy Gibson, Nominating Comm member, with Susan LaMar, current Historian, June 2020.

(approved by the Board on 3/21/24)

Rationale: This at-large Board position was created in 2013 in order to implement a recommendation of the 2012 Task Force on Retired Ministry (a joint task force representing UURMaPA, the UUMA, the UU Interim Ministers Guild, and the UUA). The report from this Task Force is recommended for review, and is available for reference as a guideline for this job — see the UURMaPA website under PUBLICATIONS – “Best Practices in Right Relations.” Since this At-Large position involves coordination between the UUMA and UURMaPA, it should be filled by a retired minister.

Expectations:  Several current duties include the following, and the Board may define others as needed:

• Serving as the Good offices person for UURMaPA andas a resource for UUMA Good Offices persons who will work particularly with situations involving retired ministers and/or partners.
• Participating in the UUMA Good Officer training (held periodically on Zoom)is expected. 
• Serving as our liaison to the UUMA and the UUA — typically to the Office of Church Staff Finances regarding concerns related to all things retirement, and sometimes to the Professional Development Director.
• Serving as a liaison to other UU professional organizations:  Liberal Religious Educators Association, Association of UU Administrators, Association of UU Musicians.  
• Communicating with the leadership of the UUA and the UUMA regarding mutual concerns, invitations to participate in conferences, and shared program ideas.

As part of the UURMaPA Board, this person will attend monthly Board meetings (online via ZOOM, and in-person if required annually at a conference), participate in decision-making and accept other duties as needed.

Revised by Wayne Arnason 3/16/23
Updated 9/7/23

(approved by the Board on 3/21/24)

The editor creates a 16-page newsletter printed in black and white four times each year. Issues are currently sent to the printing service during the last week in January, April, July and October. The editor may use any suitable software program for newsletter creation. The editor is encouraged to ask multiple volunteer proofreaders to review each issue before it is printed.

The newsletter is sent in electronic format to a printing service for printing and mailing. The editor asks the Membership Coordinator to send a file containing recipient names and addresses to the printing service. The printing service is currently Minuteman Press in Portland, Oregon.

The newsletter is sent by USPS to all members, except those who have opted out of receiving a paper copy. Copies are also sent to the UUA, to the UUMA, and to the Andover Harvard Library for the archives. The editor sends an electronic copy of the newsletter to the UURMaPA webmaster, who posts it on the website. UURMaPA members are notified by email that the newsletter has been posted on the website.

At the discretion of the editor, a longer color version of the newsletter may be created and posted on the UURMaPA website. The longer electronic version allows for content with more depth to better support the goals of the UURMaPA Board, as well as allowing for greater creative expression by members. Typical content includes, but is not limited to, business of the Board, a periodic list of recently retired ministers and partners, updates concerning the UUA retirement plan, and obituaries as provided by the clergy obituary editor and the partner obituary editor.

The editor may develop an informal network of advisors to generate content ideas or to review the ideas. The editor will encourage the Board to weigh in on the suitability of potentially controversial content in advance of publication.

The editor will prepare detailed notes for the successor editor.

Draft prepared by Ann Schranz, March 14, 2023

Revised at the Board meeting, February 15, 2024, and modified by Ann Schranz February 20, 2024

Most Recent Editors:

Anne Schranz, Summer 2022 –
Jaco ten Hove, Summer 2018 – Spring 2022
Nancee Campbell, Summer 2017 – Spring 2018
Judy Welles, Summer 2013 – Spring 2017 
Eleanor Richardson, Spring 2013
Chuck Campbell, Fall – Winter 2012 – 13 
Chris Lilly Backus, 2008 – Fall 2012
Eleanor Richardson, 2004 – 08 
Ed Lane, 2000 – 2004