Home safe (if not sound) and wrap up

Am sick as a dog, due in part, I'm sure to a) not getting enough sleep or eating right at GA and b) flying -- as Katy says, sharing all those germs.

Lesson Learned: Get sleep while at GA. Take my vitamins. Don't fly. (Well, at least that last one will work next year.)

The flights themselves were uneventful, but got a thrill in Phoenix when I walked past Peter Yarrow. He had his head down, talking on a cell, so I didn't even get to smile at him. Oh well. And it was definitely him. I turned and looked after he passed me, and he was dragging a suitcase cart with a battered guitar with a "Kerrville Folk Festival" sticker on it. Gee. Wish I'd been able to say, "Hey, thanks for all you do" to him. (In addition to being part of Peter, Paul and Mary, he stays busy with folk music and social action, including founding the Operation Respect program - http://dontlaugh.org/ )

My mind is still swirling with the whole experience. As I shared with Allen B, it would be impossible to "share the experience" -- all I can do is share the information I learned and encourage everyone to go to GA next year.

What can I say? It changed me.

Monday ... all over for me

It’s over. Well, technically it’s not. There’s still a small number of people here for the closing ceremonies and other things going on tonight. But I’m tapped out, I’ve said my goodbyes and I need to pack and sleep so I can get up at 3:30 am to catch a shuttle to the airport.

Got up early this morning to make an 8:30 am workshop on “Money Talks: Liberation, Listening and Love.” Basically, how to ask for money. Really good workshop. The person leading it, Terry Sweetser, spoke about creating a culture of generosity, and removing the secrecy surrounding finance. I couldn’t argue with his belief that when we canvass our church, it is helping people to make their dreams come true in an organization they love. Oh, and never try and mix fundraising and finance. The job of the finance committee is to be pessimistic, you WANT them to be. The job of fundraising (and canvass) is to be hopeful, to be the folks who can see the vision for the future.

Next workshop is in the same room – Small Churches. We break into groups and discuss what we’re doing in our respective churches. One woman, who is about to be president of her church, says that she’s going to start a program where congregants are only allowed to talk to visitors the first 15 minutes of coffee hour, and they’ll ask visitors what committees they want to be on. ??? Surely she is joking! She is not. When a couple of us question the idea, echoing the belief that “people don’t join a church because they want to be on a committee,” she shrugs and says, well, her church is experiencing phenomenal growth. She adds that they won’t ask about committees until the third time they meet. Huh. Not an idea I’ll be adopting any time soon.

Wandered around the Exhibit Hall, lusting after various chalices and wall hangings. Get one within my price range to give to the church for the sanctuary, if Heide and our decorating people like it. If not, no problem, I’m SURE I can find a place for it in Casa Crawford.

Went to a workshop on What we can learn from the Mega - Methodists. Was tickled to learn that the Methodists they learned from were right here in Houston. Learned some great things. “Back to Egypt Committee” – wow. Just ask me about that concept. Wish I’d learned about it two years ago.

Lastly, went to the follow up meeting for all the district lay leader representatives. We talked about what worked, what didn’t. All of us agreed that it was a tremendous opportunity, an amazing experience and for some of us, a life-changing experience.

Hope my plane trip home is standard and boring.

Sunday

Holly Near was incredible. At different times, I’ve wished that certain people could be here at GA with me. The Ware lecture, with singer/activist Holly Near, I wanted Woody, Bil and Rita to be in the front row. She effortlessly blended speaking with singing, all acapella. By the end, we were singing with her and holding hands – not just us hippie chicks, but 80 year old grandmothers, business-like preppy men, all of us. She ended, so appropriately, with a song she wrote, a song which is in our hymnal. (And one of my favorites) – We Are a Gentle Angry People … for the last verse, she changed it to "We are a gentle LOVING people" ... as we left the main room after the program, people were still humming or singing under their breath … “and we are singing, singing for our lives.”

Okay, but I’m starting at the end of the day. Back up. It was an incredible day, start to finish. Very glad that I skipped the last workshop last night – I needed time to decompress, to absorb some of this mountain of knowledge. I saw several people this morning who did *not* skip and they all felt that they were hitting a wall.

LESSON LEARNED: You can’t do it all. Take some breaks, go play a little, so you don’t completely fry your brain.

Okay, start of the day … all of Long Beach (as well as GA) was invited for the Sunday morning worship service, led by UUA President, Rev. Bill Sinkford. Great speaker. He’s funny, articulate, and passionate. Lots and lots of music. One song, Gathered Here, was a simple 4 part round. Hearing 5000 people singing a 4 part round is pretty intoxicating. They of course had “The” UU hymn, Spirit of Life. They had it once in English, then in Spanish. Very nice, and really beautiful in Spanish, since many of the words are familiar to those who don’t speak Spanish … Corazon … compasion . justicia de la vida. Does Fuente de Amor translate literally into Spirit of Life? I need to ask Delpha, or Dorie, or Ellen.

Oh, and a new hymn, written by the music leader, Jason Shelton. “We are standing on the side of love: hands joined together, as hearts beat as one. Emboldened by faith, we dare to proclaim we are standing on the side of love.

I could go on and on. It was an incredible experience, sharing worship with 5000 of my tribe, keepers of the faith.

Lunch with my covenant group; our fourth and last meeting. All of us feel it was a terrific, bonding experience and think everyone should get the chance to do it.

Workshop: Outreach Times Three. Representatives from three different churches explained their outreach programs and how they worked. One used a program called 50-50-50. It was their 50th anniversary as a church, so their program had each person donating $50 to a cause of their own choosing, 50 hours to that cause, then the church matched the $50 donation. Another used their church facility to have experts come in to give bioterrorism training for doctors. Another gave many different examples of faith in action and echoed what Barbara has reported to us before – churches that have a “charity” Sunday every month, in which 15% of the plate goes to a different selected charity, report that their plate goes up more than 15%, meaning that in addition to helping a worthy cause, the church also benefits. This is again reinforcing something I keep learning here – if your church does outreach, helps others, the church will benefit even more than those we help.

In that workshop, I meet one of the old-time members of the Houston network. We discuss some business – he has someone who’ll take over uuhouston.org, yay, and he likes the idea of a weekly announcement list encompassing all of the Houston UU churches to go out on a uuhouston yahoogroup … note to self, talk to Andy.

Anyway, then he gives me the lowdown on the Uncommon Denomination blitz marketing program … Houston WILL be getting the program, says he, thanks in part to some generous local donations. Extremely generous donations. It should start in November, which means that we at NWCUUC need to track down all the information and get going on it. In the previous test, in Kansas City, there were reports of churches not being adequately prepared for how to respond to an influx of visitors … it will be good to get some specific training for questions about the Uncommon Denomination program, but we have some friendly folks here at our church. How exciting!

Went to a workshop on Home-Centered Faith Development: The Family Chalice Project. Fascinating. Wish Katy were here. A church decided to take the idea of RE with home life supplementing it and flip it … set up a program called “Primum Domas” (Latin, “First, the Home”) for families to raise their children as Unitarian Universalists with specifically UU family rituals, complemented by RE. Really, really neat idea and a lot of organization used to make it a standing program.

Go to the last workshop of the evening, from 8:30 – 9:45. Can’t miss this one – Covenant Groups, Some Good, Some Gone Bad. In his intro, Bob references our Spiritual Parenting group as one of the successes, which is cool. They run it most as a question/answer session. I’m in line to ask a question and Bob finishes his answer to a previous question – “…and I know that as a minister, I minister to all people, not just the ones I like. I don’t have to love or even like them,” he says, jabbing with his finger for emphasis. “Bob, please don’t point at me when you say that,” I say into the microphone. He hadn’t noticed it was me yet, so he busts up laughing and explains that he used to be our minister. Good workshop. Afterward, I talk to Bob about the GA covenant groups and tell him I think that ministers need what he has referred to as “the conversion experience,” e.g. to really believe in covenant groups, you have to have experienced them. Maybe they can be a part of future GA covenant groups – not as facilitators or ministers, but as participants.

Came back to the hotel to a slumber party. Well, not really. But in addition to my roommate, Barbara is crashing with us, since she could only get her hotel room through Saturday. She insists on sleeping on the floor, says it helps her back. I tell her she just doesn’t want to be accused of sleeping with a parishioner. ;)

Saturday - head swimming and lessons learned

I slept in the morning. Whew, needed it, too.

Went to the first workshop at 11:00 -- Breaking Through Media Monopoly, Project Censored. It was interesting, but the content was different from what was described. At the last minute, they were able to get someone from the FCC. He talked about the recent successes they've had and recommended ways for the public to fight back, but they didn't get into talking about the big censored stories. Oh well.

Lunch, covenant group. Wow. If I wasn't already in a big believer in covenant groups, I would be now. This was our third day to meet, and already there is trust and relationship within the group. Several people really opened up today. One was so touching ... an older lady, perhaps in her late 70s, said that she had tripped and fallen the other day. Her adult daughter told her, Mom, you've got to accept that you're an old lady. "And it hit me, I *am* an old lady. I don't feel like one. I feel like me. But I am. And I think I'm accepting that for the first time." You could see in her face that this acceptance was hard, and hard to admit. Others in the group (including myself) got emotional when we spoke to the topic of the day -- one's calling. It was humbling to see everyone be willing to be real and open up so deeply.

Second workshop: Chaos, Complexity and Leadership in UU Congregations. Wow. Wish some of our science geeks, er, science afficionados, like Scott and Otto, could have seen this. It was way over my head, but I still got something from it. The speakers explained how chaos theory and complexity science provide powerful tools for understanding how human communities function. In a nutshell -- spend more time building relationships and less time struggling to get things done. e.g. rather than try to get everyone in church to read the newsletter, accept that only a certain percentage of folks will read it, and the others will get the information other ways -- through fellow committee members, through covenant groups, through chatting with people at coffee hour, through announcements. So work to make more "relationships" for that to work.

Third workshop: Releasing Your Inner Sermon. I've never taken one of these workshops, so decided it was time to see if I was missing any important information. Hmmm. Not really, but it was still interesting, to see another way in which to organize one's thoughts. But it was great watching others come up with their ideas that they're passionate about and formulate them into the start of a sermon.

Fourth workshop: Taking On Debt: Financing Your Spiritual Home. VERY interesting and I'll be making a full report to the Board. I really like the speaker -- Wayne Clark. He's very businesslike, very down to earth. In a nutshell, the UUA can help one of two ways when you want to buy your own land or church. One way is a loan -- up to $750,000. Your annual debt service cannot be over 25% of your annual operating income.

The other way is to be a guarantor on a loan we get from a local bank. They guarantee 50% of the loan, up to a max guarantee of $375,000.

It's more complicated, the process, of course. Capital campaigns would be involved, feasability studies, etc. But good to know it's out there.

Next: Reception for the Southwestern District. Since GA will be held in Ft. Worth next year, members of the planning committee met with us to come up with ideas for performers, themes, etc. When I get back home, I want to have a brainstorming session with anyone who is interested. I like the idea of Molly Ivins or Kinky Friedman for a speaker! Saw many familiar faces, including Allen Jones, formally of NWCUUC. He's in Ft. Worth now. I told him that he'll be my contact for all the local "hole in wall" places when I'm at GA next year.

Okay, got to get ready to go to the Sunday service. UUA president, Rev. Bill Sinkford is giving it, and I understand there has been a big effort to invite Long Beach locals in.

Oh, and wait til you hear what I learned about Houston being the next place for the Uncommon Denomination marketing push ... Houston has a donor!

Friday, continued

The Service of the Living Tradition *was* special. Very cycle of life. It affected me on a very personal level and I'm going to need some time to assimilate what that means.

So, workshops today ... went to one about ministry, then to one about Annual Stewardship campaigns. Was surprised, but the latter was very good. I'm actually excited about canvass! It was recommended that canvass be about building community, not "getting pledges." It's an opportunity to be able to be able to sit down with a person (or a couple) and really talk to them about what they want to see in the church and what their gifts of ministry are. Love that.

Went and met with my GA covenant group at lunch. Ever the covenant group evangelist, I had spoken so glowingly of the experience to someone I met in a workshop, he came along with me. Hey, only 1 day in and our covenant group is growing! I like the way communication is done "in the covenant group way" and look forward to taking that back with me. Note to self: talk to Rob Barreda about the covenant group he'll be facilitating.

Went to a workshop on webmastering; didn't learn that much about the topic, but it gave me good ideas for structuring the webmaster's workshop I'm going to give at Fall Conference.

Fall Conference! Wow, just realized that proximity-wise, this is going to be a great year for us. The Southwestern District's Fall Conference is going to be at Emerson, right here in Houston, and then GA next summer in Fort Worth.

Okay, okay, okay ... so why am I so high on getting other folks from NWCUUC to go to these events? Well, there's the usual reason of "you'll get new ideas; learn something" ... but the main thing is that getting out of our church and really experiencing the greater UU body has been transformational to me. Whether it's the small church conference, or SWUUSI or the big kahuna General Assembly, it gives me a context to put everything into. The challenges we face are the same ones other churches face. The argument about whether to keep joys and sorrows is so universal, (and so contentious), that a joke was made about it in a sermon this morning -- and everyone understood. We all know the challenges of being quietly faithful to our religion in a sea of "Unitarian ... what's that, Unity Church?"

But best of all, the people that go to these things are hopeful. And positive. They believe that in working to better our churches, we are improving our wider communities and giving comfort and strength to the people in it. These crazy people actually believe that we can change the world! And here's the real power of GA and other events ... you start to believe it, too. (Ask Brett Jones -- he went to one of these this Fall.) You hear about other churches doing great things, and you begin to feel that anything is possible.

Okay. Sermon over. ;) It's hanging around all these darned UUs.

The last workshop I went to wasn't a workshop, but a talk by Clinton's Labor Secretary, Robert Reich. Fantastic, had people on their feet, applauding. "Why Liberals Will Win the Battle for America." I appreciated that he made a point of drawing a distinction between the partisanship of Democrat v Republican and the ideological differences between the religious/social liberal and far-right conservative. As he said, there *are* some liberal Republicans. There have been sightings! He must have dropped by NWCUUC ...

LESSONS LEARNED TODAY: Wear walking shoes, not cute sandals, especially if one's hotel is 5 really long blocks from the convention center. Bring bandaids. Find a restaurant close to the convention center that does takeout; get their phone number so you can place your order while still in workshop. Don't buy a coke from the convention center -- $3.24. Oh, and sell canvas bags with our design at GA next year, along with the tshirts. Already have had one person ask where he can buy one. (I pointed him to our online store.)

Quick note before SLT

My mind is full -- how do I reboot it? Wow. Have been on the go since 7:30 am. Am resting for a moment and enjoying a duck pizza. (Thanks, Patti.) Great worship service this morning, the theme was covenant groups. Went to the plenary meeting since I'm a delegate for our congregation. No elections this year, so it's more business plans and statements of conscience. They reported that the association has seen a .7% growth this year. Good, when you consider that many mainline churches have declining memberships, but way poor considering how many people out there need us, and don't know what UU means.

Really nice thing -- those that passed away this past year and left money to the association were recognized -- staff had made a slide show made up of photos the families had provided.

And YAY, I have two more ribbons on my nametag. Funny how important little things like that become. A purple ribbon for being a fair share congregation and a pink ribbon for doing more than last year. And a silver star for giving at least $100 over the minimum fair share contribution. Don't anybody tell Elaine, she'll do an audit. ;)

It's really cool seeing all the youth that are here for YRUU. They are so knowledgeable about issues and passionate about change ... I watch them in their do-rags and low-slung jeans and wonder what my incipient YRUUs will be like at that age. They are definitely going with me to GA next year. I spoke with the mom of another 8 year old who was praising the "day camp" they have for the kids. Lots of activities, so it's not just "babysitting."

siiiigh ... I don't know how I'm going to do it, but I have to drag myself back for the Service of the Living Tradition. I've been told that it's very special and not to be missed. Should be streaming video of it on uua.org.

I'm here!

Whew. Well, after getting up extra early in the morning, being pulled aside for extra security since my drivers license expired 4 days ago (many terrorists let their US drivers licenses lapse), my plane then had a broken part and we wound up sitting on the ground for 3 hours. How do all the people in our church that travel all the time keep from going crazy? Anyway, I miss my connection, get a new one and finally am here. Took a puddle jumper from Phoenix to Long Beach and I think half the folks on board were UUs, including my seat mate. How cool!

So, I go to SW District and see many familiar faces, including Bob Hill; he has to leave early for covenant groups too. Go to my covenant group; we're going to meet at lunch time each day. I think this trip is going to have the added bonus of being like a weight-loss spa for me, since I'm walking back and forth to the convention center each day and never having time for meals. Go over to the Lay Leaders meeting, since they're paying my registration and airfare, can't miss that one. Blow off the president's reception, I'm not the president of the congregation anymore, anyway.

And then ... the opening ceremonies. Am "verklempt" with emotion, watching the banner parade, singing the hymns with 5000 of my new closest friends, listening to the acclaimed Gay Mens Chorus of Long Beach sing. Much is being made of the battle for gay civil marriage. My parents were active in the church during the Civil Rights upheaval and talk proudly of that time. I will talk proudly of this time in our religious history -- 50% of the plaintiffs in the Massachusetts case were UUs.

Everyone must experience GA!

Wednesday

Hmmm. I'm frantically scurrying around, packing, organizing, etc. I finally sat down with a pen and looked at the schedule, plus the emails I've received for places I'm supposed to be:
Thursday 4:30 - 5:30: SW district ingathering
Thursday 5:00 - 6:00: Covenant Group meeting
Thursday 5:00 - 7:00: Presidents meeting with UUA President Bill Sinkford
Thursday 5:00 - 7:00 District Lay Leaders meeting with Harlan Limpert

Uh-oh. Think Hermione would loan me her time changer?

Packing and preparing

Well, hit a small snag yesterday. Since the only room I could get is (yikes) $150 a night, I advertised on the GA list serve for a roommate. I have one, and she sounds very nice, a delegate from New York City. She describes herself as being a non-smoker and "considerably older" than I am. I consider telling her that "some of my best friends" are considerably older than I am.

Anyway, so I call the hotel to add her name to my two-double-bed room and am informed that mine is a single-king-bed. Several phone calls ensue, as the hotel tells me I have to go through the UUA's reservation desk and the UUA's reservation desk tells me they closed their reservations in May and I have to talk to the hotel. Finally get someone at the actual hotel to promise that he'll try and get me a double room and if that's not possible, they'll wheel in an additional bed.

LESSON LEARNED: Call both the hotel and the UUA Reservation service a week after reservation is made to verify what kind of beds are in the room. The email receipts don't specify.

Luckily, my roommate is quite flexible, and willing to swing with whatever happens. She was in India a few months ago and had a similar situation.

Shirts came in! I now have two new shirts I can wear at GA, which means I need to get going and print up some kind of "business cards" to link to http://www.cafeshops.com/unitarianshop. Just in case anyone comments on them ...

Ugh ... gotta get moving, doing the stuff that needs to be done. I heard once that when you procrastinate, it's not because you want to do the thing later, it's because you don't want to do it at all. There's some truth to that ...