Herstory - District and Regional

1. Start fine-tuning your program of activities. If you have a co-facilitator, you may want to start by brainstorming together.
   1. browse through several resource books
   2. talk to facilitators of prior retreats and see if evaluations done by participants will give you helpful ideas.
   3. think back to activities which seem to have gone well at other successful retreats you have attended.
   4. you may want to add other persons to your planning/facilitation circle at this point, to generate more ideas or to lead/facilitate specific parts of the retreat.
2. Consider these suggestions:
   
   • Assume that you will need to spend several sessions with your co-facilitator refining the program. It takes thinking time as well as talking time. Each time you go back to your plans, you will find things to change.
   • Assume that everything at the retreat will take longer than you thought it would. Therefore, plan fully, but be ready to take things out when you have too much.
   • Remember that retreats usually differ from conferences in the significant respect that a retreat is on one theme and offers everybody only one activity at a time. Conferences, though they also usually have some general theme, offer lots of workshops with more than one thing going on at once, so that participants make choices among options at certain times.
   • People come to retreats expecting lots of "down" or free time. If you try to keep them at an activity too long, they grow weary. They may leave the activity or not show up for the next one. You may want to try to prevent this by having short activities and lots of breaks. Or you may want to convince yourself that it is fine if some people opt out of attending all the activities you provide. (Convincing yourself of this may be easier said than done!)
   • Remember that people operate on different internal "time clocks." Think about ways to offer early morning programming (e.g., matins, yoga), as well as "into the night" programming. Consider how to honor needs of some to gather and drum/talk/dance late into the night, while others cherish truly quiet time.
   • When you are planning activities, keep in mind that some people will be having reunions with old friends, and they will be totally at ease. Others will be new. They will know nobody or almost nobody. They need to be made to feel welcome and at ease.
   • If the retreat begins on Friday evening, people will arrive at different times, some tired from driving, some frazzled from the work day they have just completed. Assume people's heads and hearts are in different places. They need an opening activity or ritual to get them to relax, focus, and get ready for whatever you plan to do.
   • Most people who come to retreats are receptive to whatever you plan for them. You can expect them to be eager participants, but they need clear directions. Giving them too many options can end up in confusion.
   • Whatever you plan, you need to be willing to revise to suit the needs of the group. Remember that it is THEIR retreat. If they get interested in talking about something or doing something, try not to cut them off or force them down a track where they aren't ready to go.
   • It is good to have some things for the group to do together in one circle and some things for small groups — possibly with reporting back to the whole group. Remember that some people will be more comfortable about speaking up in a small group than in a large one. On the other hand, it works very well to have at least a couple of activities in which you go around the circle and have all participants speak, not only to introduce themselves but also to answer some question or finish out some sentence. Some people speak more easily when it is established that it is their turn and the subject is something that they are sure to know about. In open discussions, it is harder for those people to speak up, especially if there are some "eager talkers" in the group.
     • Always respect the right of anyone to "pass" — to not speak.
     • Keep in mind that going around the circle for each person to speak can take a long time if you have a lot of people.
   • The people at your retreat will probably have lots of talents, some hidden and some not. You may want to provide opportunities for people to display their creativity, either in showing and selling their arts and crafts, or in performing or leading others in such activities as early morning birding, or yoga at the end of the day.
   • If you need to have a business meeting scheduled at the retreat, try to have it at a time that does not interfere with the activities or mood of the retreat: possibly over breakfast, or announcements made at the beginning of the morning session, or right after the retreat is over. (Warning: people tend to want to leave at the end of an intense weekend, or have little energy left for important business.)
   • Consider the power of ritual as a force for building community. Opening rituals bring the group together, helping to leave the rest of the world behind and focus on the retreat theme and space. Closing rituals cement and solidify, allowing participants to gain from the retreat experience, while releasing it to move back into their everyday life. (See Appendix E for resources on ritual.)
   • Be cautious about use of incense and other highly aromatic materials in your rituals. These may create problems for those with allergies.
   • Think about incorporating music into your retreat. If you can get someone to play the guitar and sing, or someone to beat a drum, that can be a fine way to bring people together. You may want to have a theme song, or theme chant, for the retreat and have the group sing it several times. Chants are generally easy to teach and lend themselves well to repetition. (See Appendix E for resources on chants.) Consider also setting aside "after-program" time in the evening for drumming and other informal musical experiences. And, be sure to invite participants to bring drums, rainsticks or other musical instruments.
3. Get other people who will be attending the retreat to take care of some things. This will lighten your load, and it will get more people actively involved.
   • Someone(s) to bring light refreshments for the registration hour(s) and later (or next day)"happy hours." Keep in mind policies on and appropriateness of wine/spirits at different times in your program. Plan to have baskets for donations whenever refreshments are served. (See Appendix I for menu thoughts.)
   • Someone to look out for shy people and make them feel at ease.
   • Someone to line up talent for talent show if you are having one.
   • Someone to help newcomers find their way around the facility, or to assist anyone with physical difficulty.

1. Gather any materials you will need, and make sure you keep receipts for all expenditures. (See Appendix H: Retreat/Conference Financial Statement) Retreat materials commonly include:
   •  pencils or pens and writing paper
   • newsprint and marking pens, masking tape, scissors
   • name tags or materials for participants to make name tags
   • round table to use as center altar and interesting cloth to cover it
   • candle
   • sacred objects to put on altar
   • copies of handouts, such as retreat activities schedule, readings or songsheets
   • bell or other instrument to call people together
   • materials for display, such as books, Women and Religion newsletters, UU Women's Federation membership brochures, etc.
   • Make an hour-by-hour plan of activities, indicating exactly who is going to do what, when and where. Include any readings.
2. Make any posters, diagrams, or other visual aids you will use, including signs to welcome retreat participants and tell them where to "check-in."
3. Compose an evaluation for participants to complete at the end of the retreat. Keep in mind that the simpler the form, the more likely people are to fill it out. If you are truly curious about how participants react to some specific features of your retreat, then you will want to ask questions about those features directly. Otherwise, your form might just ask a few questions:
   • What were your expectations for this retreat, and did it meet them?
   • What did you like best about this retreat?
   • What did you like least?
   • If you were designing the next retreat, what would you like to see included? left out?
   • Other comments?
4. Check with registrar on number of people expected so you have enough handouts, etc. Assume you will have a few late registrants and a couple of cancellations.
5. Have the registrar assign you and your co-facilitator a room together, with no one else in it.

We do not want a piece of the pie; it is still a patriarchal pie.
We want to change the recipe!

--Rosemary Matson,
W&R foremother and Resolution implementer

In 1977 the UUA General Assembly unanimously passed the Women & Religion Resolution, calling all individual UUs and UU organizations to examine and put aside sexist assumptions, attitudes and language, and to explore and eliminate religious roots of sexism in myths, traditions and beliefs. Lucile Schuck Longview, visionary UU laywoman working in tandem with individuals and organizations, initiated the Resolution. And a vital, ongoing movement was born.

For two decades the UUA Board-appointed Women and Religion Committee led in transforming Unitarian Universalism toward greater inclusiveness and gender equality. Significant changes in the denomination were inspired by the Resolution. At the same time Women & Religion groups formed and grew at the District level, where W&R programs and retreats deepened and enriched the lives of countless women, UU or not. These gatherings continue to nurture and support women of all ages, expanding and broadening horizons of possibility. Oftentimes, W&R newcomers subsequently joined UU churches in their District.

In 1996 the UUA Board declared the work of the Resolution complete and "sunsetted" its Women and Religion Committee, ending its UUA funding. District W&R groups, however, continued to meet, and there was much conversation across the continent about what to do next. In 1997 at its 20th anniversary, W&R’s "sunrise" logo was introduced—a broad umbrella under which District activities carried on and flourished. Active District groups called themselves ‘stars in the night’ and the overall movement ‘The Continental Constellation’ of Women & Religion, moving “Onward...to the sunrise.”

In 2002, in honor of the 25th anniversary of the Resolution, UU Women & Religion officially became an independent affiliate organization of the Unitarian Universalist Association in order to continue the work of establishing gender equality in our religious movement and the world. The religious roots of sexism persist in pervading the secular world today, reinforcing sexism and patriarchy throughout civilization. Clearly, we still have work to do!

In 2006, a new motto was coined for the sunrise logo: ‘Toward a new day...’

We're Women & Religion
And we're here to say
We're Women & Religion
And we're here to stay!
We're Women & Religion
And we're here to say
The work to do's not done
So we're here to stay!

from uucfl.org

UU Sisterhood at Unitarian Universalist Church of Fort Lauderdale

Meetings are held the 1st and 3rd Sunday at 9:30 am sharp and all women are welcome.

A women's discussion group featuring shared leadership, offering topics chosen by the individual meeting leaders, open to all sisters.

http://uucfl.org/groups/uusisterhood.shtml

Dear Women of WomanSpirit... 
Next Monday, June 8th, we gather for an evening of celebration of the month of June:  June is named for the Goddess Juno; it's the time of Summer Solstice, of weddings and graduations -- it's the time for UUA General Assembly and for easing into summer activities.  

All UUFBR women members and friends are welcome to be part of this gathering at 7:30 p.m. in the Sanctuary:     bring a June poem or piece of music, a solstice candle (non-scented, please), pictures from June occasions, or ??????

Bring also your thoughts about the future of the "scarf hoop" we created last November when Jan Taddeo led us through the sacred hoop ritual.   We have been keeping the hoop in Jan's office -- but she is leaving soon.  Would those whose scarves are on the hoop like to have them returned?  or should we send the scarves & hoop on with Jan so that other women can add to it when she leads this ritual elsewhere?  or, should we ....(what are your thoughts?)..............???   

Thursday April 22nd from 5-8pm
Come out to Ten Thousand Villages in Winter Park, where they will donate a portion of their proceeds to support the UUUS Women's Group.

Friday April 30th at 6pm
Pot Luck dinner followed by a presentation on Cultural Diversity by Lydia.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/UUUSWomensGroup/

1. Conference participants usually like the opportunity to buy and sell such items as books, jewelry, buttons, bumper stickers, and various art objects. A sales bazaar is usually a popular place between programs.
2. The conference facilitator needs to know whether the sponsoring organization has a policy limiting sales to items made by the participants, or, at least, to sales by participants.
3. The conference facilitator needs also to confirm any policies on charges to vendors: flat fees for use of space or percentage of profits donated for specific purposes (such as scholarships for future events).
4. Registration forms should include a check-off box for vendors and name of person to contact about fees and space availability.

All of the good women who have made Women and Religion what it has been in the past, as well as those who are contributing to its future, are volunteers. Many of you have given generously of your time and

energy to this and to many other projects in your communities. Those efforts have gone a long way toward making your communities a better place to live and work.

Those of us who are continuing to work toward making Women and Religion continue to be a resource for UU women and their friends would like to have a few more women join us, to share in both the work and the wealth of experience and community and learning that we've all enjoyed so far.

As the saying goes, "Try it, you'll like it."

Important Things to Remember:

• We will be renting inexpensive folding chairs for outdoor seating under the tent/canopy. If you would be more comfortable bringing your own outdoor chair for whatever reason, please do so. Remember to put your name and number on it, just in case...
• Item(s) for outdoor altar. (please mark them discreetly with your name)
• An anecdote about a favorite ancestor to share at the campfire.
• Any kind of noise-maker for the opening ritual. Drums and instruments for our fire pit celebration.
• Books to donate to our book sale (proceeds go towards W&R scholarships)
• Snacks, fruit, cheese, drinks to share in the Social Hour Friday or Saturday afternoon .
• You may want to bring a flashlight. Favorite drinking mug. Extra beverages for your cabin (refrigerator available).
• Basic comfort clothes (shorts, slacks, walking shoes, P.J.s, sweater), sunscreen. Insect repellant may be important to you, since we are meeting outside in the evening. NO PERFUMES PLEASE!

Optional:

• “goddess clothes” (loose, swirly, colorful outfit suitable for dancing, comfortable for outdoor wear) for Saturday evening.
• Money to spend at the artisans’ bazaar, at the W&R used book sale and for refreshment/snack donations.
• A mat or a towel for yoga.
• Binoculars or camera for nature walking.
• You don’t need to bring: sheets or towels

1. Clear up all financial matters as promptly as possible.
2. Give multitudinous thanks — in person, or in writing — or both
   • Thank everyone who came and participated.
   • Thank everyone who helped with preparation and presentation, including workshop leaders, food preparers, home hospitality hosts, etc., etc., etc.
3. Thank the host society.
4. Be generous with hugs — including yourself — for jobs well done and time well spent!

WHEREAS, a principle of the Unitarian Universalist Association is to affirm, defend, and promote the supreme worth of every human personality, and the use of the democratic method in human relationships; and

WHEREAS, great strides have been taken to affirm this principle within our denomination; and

WHEREAS, some models of human relationships arising from religious myths, historical materials, and other teachings still create and perpetuate attitudes that cause women everywhere to be overlooked and undervalued; and

WHEREAS, children, youth and adults internalize and act on these cultural models, thereby tending to limit their sense of self-worth and dignity;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: That the 1977 General Assembly of the Unitarian Universalist Association calls upon all Unitarian Universalists to examine carefully their own religious beliefs and the extent to which these beliefs influence sex-role stereotypes within their own families; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: That the General Assembly urges the Board of Trustees of the Unitarian Universalist Association to encourage the Unitarian Universalist Association administrative officers and staff, the religious leaders within societies, the Unitarian Universalist theological schools, the directors of related organizations, and the planners of seminars and conferences, to make every effort to: (a) put traditional assumptions and language in perspective, and (b) avoid sexist assumptions and language in the future.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: That the General Assembly urges the President of the Unitarian Universalist Association to send copies of their resolution to other denominations examining sexism inherent in religious literature and institutions and to the International Association of Liberal Women and the IARF (International Association for Religious Freedom) and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: That the General Assembly requests the Unitarian Universalist Association (a) to join with those who are encouraging others in the society to examine the relationship between religious and cultural attitudes toward women, and (b) to send a representative and resource materials to associations appropriate to furthering the above goals; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: That the General Assembly requests the President of UUA to report annually on progress in implementing this resolution.

This Resolution was passed unanimously by the Unitarian Universalist Association at General Assembly 1977, Ithaca, NY

from uujax.org

Women Over 50 Group
Meets the 2nd & 4th Monday @6 pm

A monthly event to allow UUC Women and friends to socialize and get to know each other better, have a good meal and try different restaurants.
Generally we have a Northern county location one month and a Southern county location the next month. If you have a question or an idea, call Denise Seeber at (727) 474-2647, or call Martha Kowalski at (727) 656-9429

1. How many workshops occur during the conference depends in part on the physical plant. If relatively few rooms, or only small ones, are available, it is possible to stagger workshops.
2. It is important for people's comfort not to allow workshops to become over-crowded. One way to control the size is to make sign-up sheets with numbered lines for participants.
3. If there are space limitations, it is possible to accommodate a popular workshop by offering it twice. (This also helps participants make fewer agonizing choices between interesting workshops which fall at the same time.)
4. When planning workshops, it is good to offer a variety of options that will appeal to a diverse group, including thinking, feeling and artistic endeavors.
5. Workshop leaders should be asked to turn in a form giving the title and a brief description of the workshop, a short autobiographical note, an indication of how they want their space set up (theater style, chairs in a circle, etc.), and equipment they need. (See Appendix J: Sample Workshop Information Form.)
6. The conference program should include a biographical note on the workshop leaders as well as the title and short description of each workshop.
7. Setting aside a space with refreshments, where participants can relax and get acquainted when they first arrive, can help to facilitate community-building.