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![Text Box: Toward a New Day
Annual Gathering of Unitarian Universalist Continental Women and Religion
June 23, 2005, 9:00-4:00 in Ft. Worth, TX
The meeting was held the day before GA 05 began, which worked well so will be done again. It was led by Dorothy Emerson (Mass Bay) and Misty Sheehan (Heartland District). THE NEXT ANNUAL MEETING WILL BE HELD ON JUNE 21st AT ST. LOUIS. Please put that on your calendar now!!
Present: Jane Britton (Pacific Central); Betty Crowley (JPD), Rev. Dorothy Emerson, Helena Goodwin (Pacific Central), Laurie James ((Metro NY), Geri Kennedy (Pacific Central), Rosemary Matson (Pacific Central), Chris Nielsen (JPD), Betty Ortez (Pacific Central), Helen Popenoe (JPD), Rev. Shirley Ranck (TJ), Misty Sheehan, Marnie Singer (Pacific Central), and Carole Etzler Eagleheart (Mtn Desert)
After creating our sacred space with an opening ritual, Rosemary Matson (Pacific Central) took us back to the past with opening remarks on the hopes and activities from the preceding years and presented greetings from Lucile Longview, writer of the original W/R resolution. We then hung on the wall a “Wall of Caring” for each person to put her involvement with W/R on sticky notes on a timeline. Jane Britton wrote of attending a wonderful class “Women in Search of Themselves” in 1973. The 1980s were full of comments including Rev. Shirley Ranck’s writing “Cakes for the Queen of Heaven”, a course that bound groups of women together as they explored the history of women and their own histories. The 1990s included the sunsetting of the W/R, UUA appointed committee with the charge of implementing the 1977 Women and Religion Resolution. The present time includes a new course, “Unraveling The Gender Knot,” written by Barbara Schonborn, Alison Campbell and Rosemary Matson.
So, then we asked the questions: Where do we go from here? What are our dreams for the W/R movement? What are our big dreams, and what are specific ideas? What is our identity base? Is it time to establish categories of membership or continue to operate solely by donations? What would memberships mean? How are district W/R groups related to the continental group? What would it mean to be a direct services organization? What services would we want to provide?
An exciting new program was conceived. Included is a GA ’06 celebration that will be held for the 20th anniversary of “Cakes for the Queen of Heaven”. Dorothy Emerson suggested applying for a grant from the GA Planning Committee for a featured presentation as part of the GA celebration.
Dorothy also suggested applying for two other grants, from the UU Funding Program and from UUWF. These grants could be for developing UU W&R in general and for the republication of the Cakes curriculum and book. As UUWF is no longer a “direct service” organization, W/R can fill the gap with district level activities. She volunteered to pursue the information on those grants.
Chris Nielsen and Betty Crowley spoke to the group on strategies for the passage of the Study Action Issue “Women’s Rights Worldwide.” Unfortunately it wasn’t chosen at GA, but the group will continue with the concerns listed.
New core members were selected [see page 3 for the list] and we see a new thrust forward to get the money to fund a website and to develop district connections. Much has been done, but much more still awaits us!!
To enhance our enthusiasm for moving Toward a New Day, we sang and danced with the leadership of Carole Etzler Eagleheart, a highlight being the "offering" song, "Joyful We Come Dancing." It's on Carole’s CD "She Calls to Us" and, also in the "She Calls to Us" songbook.
It was an inspiring day for our spirits, hearts and minds to enjoy full expression and togetherness.
Misty Sheehan
[Note from Helen Pop – For more on the annual meeting, please, see the Summer WOMMUNWEB in the archives on <http://www.gwa.jpd.uua.org>]](page0001_files/image004.gif)
