Explanation of the process of creating a UUA MidAmerica Region of three UUA Districts: Prairie Star, Central Midwest, and Heartland

1. Creating the
MidAmerica Region
A New Era
in
Unitarian Universalism

2. The religious community is
essential, for alone our vision is too
narrow to see all that must be
seen, and our strength too limited to
do all that must be done. Together, our
vision widens and our strength is
renewed.
-- Rev. Mark Morrison-Reed

3. 3
What You’ll Read About Here
 How we are currently organized: Congregations,
districts, UUA
 Services to congregations
 Proposal for Regionalization
 Your congregation’s role in creating MidAmerica Region
 Advantages of Regionalization

4. 4
Unitarian Universalist Association of
Congregations
 Voluntary association of autonomous, self-governing
local congregations
 Each congregation chooses to pursue common goals and
be part of UUA
 Congregations elect UUA President, Moderator, and
Board of Trustees

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Each Congregation
 Sets own mission and goals
 Uses democratic processes in decision making
 Raises operating funds
 Hires minister and staff, if any
 Elects local, district, national governing boards
 Receives assistance from UUA Field Staff

6. 6
Field Staff Services to Congregations
Expertise in
 Membership and Growth
 Leadership and Organizational Development
 Faith Development Ministries
 Multigenerational Involvement
 Finances, including stewardship and administration
 Conflict Transformation
 Transitions in Professional Leadership
 Governance
 Multicultural Competency
 Congregational Justice Making
 Spiritual Growth
 Staffing and Human Resources
 Youth Programming
 Young Adult and Campus Ministry Programming

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Districts/Regions
 UUA assigns field staff by regions, not districts
 Region: geographic area larger than district
 Our field staff have been regional team since 2010
 Boards govern by districts, not regions
 Congregations still grouped into districts
 Change to re-group into regions must be approved by
congregations

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Our 6 UUA-paid former districts Staff are working
as regional staff already as “deep generalists.”
Nancy Heege Lisa Presley Ian Evison
Phil Lund Nancy Combs-Morgan Dori Davenport Thexton
Deep generalist definition: expertise in one service to
congregations, knowledgeable about all services

9. 9
19 Current Districts
include
Prairie Star
Central Midwest
Heartland

10. 10
Regionalization
dissolves our 3
districts and forms 1
region.
Our 3 districts
become
MidAmerica Region.
Same field staff and
services.

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Regionalization and UUA
 District boundaries are losing significance
 UUA Field Staff already a regional team
 UUA Board of Trustees elected at large
 Other districts are discussing regionalization
options
 MidAmerica is pioneer for Regionalization
 UUA Administration awarded $20K grant to our
districts to help form the MidAmerica region

12. 12
How Regionalization Happens
Follow 5th principle of democratic process
• Within congregations to make decision
• Congregations vote their decision
3. Delegates
1. Congregations 2. Congregations 4. Delegates
attend District
identify delegates certify delegates vote
Meeting/Assembly

13. 13
Steps to Forming MidAmerica Region
3. Delegates
1. Congregations 2. Congregations 4. Delegates
attend District
identify delegates certify delegates vote
Meeting/Assembly
• Congregations make decision
• Congregations send delegates to carry out their decision

14. Steps to Forming MidAmerica 14
Region
3. Delegates
1. Congregations 2. Congregations 4. Delegates
attend District
elect delegates certify delegates vote
Meeting/Assembly
• Delegate certification procedures are clarified by each
district office
• Fill out delegate certification forms and return to
District office by deadline

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Steps to Forming MidAmerica Region
3. Delegates
1. Congregations 2. Congregations 4. Delegates
attend District
identify delegates certify delegates vote
Meeting/Assembly
• Prairie Star meeting April 5-7 in Cedar Rapids, IA
• Heartland assembly: April 12-13 in Muncie, IN
• Central Midwest assembly: April 26-28 in Waukesha, WI
• Delegates check in and receive voting documentation

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Steps to Forming MidAmerica Region
3. Delegates
1. Congregations 2. Congregations 4. Delegates
attend District
identify delegates certify delegates vote
Meeting/Assembly
• Authorize formation of MidAmerica Region and dissolution of own District
• Slate of MidAmerica officers and Board of Trustees
• If all motions pass in all Districts, MidAmerica Region effective July 1, 2013
• Contingency slate of officers and Board if your District not dissolved
• Amend UUA bylaws in 2013 and 2014

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Camp UniStar
 UU family camp donated to Prairie
Star in 1961
 On island near Cass Lake, MN
 PSD delegates will vote on transfer to
the new Camp UniStar Foundation
 Non-profit based on UU values
 Responsible for camp operation and
liability
 MidAmerica Region represented on
Foundation Board of Trustees

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Each Congregation’s Role
 Be informed
 Review all documents and details of voting
 Review guidelines for eligible congregations and number of
delegates
 Involve all members in discussion
 Reach decision on support of Regionalization
 Elect delegates to District Meeting/Assembly who will
carry out congregation’s direction
 Certify delegates through District

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Advantages of Regionalization
 Administrative cost efficiencies
 Reduced office and administrative expenses
 Shared software/technology/staff
 Streamlined governance
 Financial stability for ongoing services and programming
 Midwest Leadership School
 Webinars
 Conferences and workshops

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Advantages of Regionalization
 Promotion of UU presence
 Field staff expertise
 Increased visibility of our UU faith and values
 Outreach to those who are spiritual but not religious
through “Congregations and Beyond”
 Strength in numbers for social justice witness and advocacy
 Legislative ministries
 Support of congregational clusters

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Advantages of Regionalization
 Strengthen collaborative partnerships/relationships
 Covenants with other UU congregations
 Social justice work with like-minded organizations
 Foster growth
 Reduced numbers of boards frees staff to work more with
direct services to congregations
 Within congregations
 Number of congregations

22. To live in this world you must
be able to do 3 things:
To love what is mortal;
to hold it against your bones
knowing your own life depends
on it;
And, when the time comes to
let it go, to let it go.
– Mary Oliver

23. 23
Support Regionalization
A New Era in UUism
More information:
www.midamericauua.org
District websites
facebook/MidAmericaUUA