This resource was created by the Resolution to Increase District and Local Participation in Youth Council (YC 1999) as a way to encourage districts and local youth groups to submit resolutions and project proposals for consideration at Youth Council. It is hoped that by enabling direct participation in the decision making processes of continental-level YRUU, it will become an organization more responsive to its membership.

What are resolutions?

A resolution is a statement of policy, belief, or recommendation that represents the official position of Continental YRUU. Resolutions first outline either problems the writers see in YRUU, Unitarian Universalism, or the world, or ways in which YRUU can grow, then give steps to fix the problem. At Youth Council’s annual session, the resolutions are debated and voted on. Designated people work on the resolutions that are passed to ensure that the goals of the resolutions are achieved.

What are project proposals?

A project proposal is very similar to a resolution and follows the exact same format. The difference is that resolutions deal with issues that require help to achieve from more than a couple of individuals and/or that affect the whole of YRUU. Project proposals, on the other hand, are smaller issues that only need a few individuals to do. An example of a project proposal would be the writing of a resource.

What do resolutions and project proposals look like?

Resolution or Project Proposal title: The name of the resolution or project proposal. It should be descriptive but still concise and to the point.

Sponsor: Every resolution or project proposal must have a sponsor. Who the sponsor can be is explained later.

Point Person: Can be one of the sponsors. This person is responsible for making sure the resolution or project proposal is implemented and each individual assigned to specific steps gets assistance if needed.

Primary Aid: An assistant to help out the point person.

UU Principle: Relates the project to our beliefs and values. Helps give the project more meaning. (Optional but encouraged)

Specific issue or problem being addressed: Helps to show to others why the resolution or project proposal was written.

Hope to achieve: Statement of vision and hope. Shows the general goal and does not have to be very specific.

Short-Term Goal(s): Can contain multiple goals with individual steps to achieve the goal. These should generally be things that can be accomplished within the first 6 months. One person must be assigned to each goal to ensure the goal worked on.

1. State short-term goal

2. Next short-term goal (same setup as above)

Evaluation: A system for making sure each goal is done on time and working.

Local and district peopl: People on different levels that should be able to help out and how they could help. Does not have to be specific people. Examples- newsletter editors, SAC, advisors, ministers, etc.

Long-term goal: Not quite as specific as the short-term goals and takes more time to work on.

1. State Long-term goal

2. Next Long-erm goal (same setup as above)

Evaluation: A system for making sure each goal is done on time and working.

Local and district people: People on different levels that should be able to help out and how they could help. Does not have to be specific people. Examples- newsletter editors, SAC, advisors, ministers, etc.

Resources YRUU has that will be used: These could be things such as Synapse, website space, or people.

How this will further the vision and purposes of YRUU: More of why this is important to others in YRUU. (optional)

How this will further the greater denomination and the world: Why should others care about this. (optional)

Changes that are needed in YRUU Policies or Bylaws: (optional)

Organizations or other resources that can be used: External materials that could be helpful. (optional)

Fiscal impact: How much money will be needed for the resolution or project proposal.

This resolution or project proposal can be difficult to write, but it is much more easily carried out than the old “Whereas and Therefore” resolutions. You can get help writing these resolutions or project proposal from your Youth Council Representative (YCR) or the Youth Office.

How can I get my resolution or project proposal passed and enacted?

Any person (and we mean any person. Even you! Especially you!) is allowed to write resolutionsor project proposal, but in order for them to be debated at Youth Council, they must be place on the agenda, which is set by the YRUU Steering Committee (SC). According to the YRUU Policies and Procedures (Article 4a.21), there are three ways that you can get the SC to put an item on the agenda:

First, two members of Youth Council, one of which must be a youth, can place an item on the agenda. If you have a resolution or project proposal you would like to be passed, start by contacting the YCR(s) that represent you, such as your district YCR, the Canadian At-Large, the Post High and Junior High Transitional Age Range Reps, the Continental Social Action Coordinator, or one of the seven adult At-Larges.

Second, any district youth organization (such as a YAC) can place an item on the agenda by submitting it to the SC.

Third, an item will be put on the agenda by the SC if it has the endorsement of: ten UU youth; three UU adults; the district Youth Council Representative; and either the District President, the District RE Chair, or the District Executive.

Once you have made sure that your resolution or project proposal can be put on the Youth Council agenda, you can get continental publicity for your resource by sending it, along with an explanation of why it is necessary, to the Youth Office to be printed in Synapse. The resolution or project proposal that created this resource also mandated the publication of any proposed resolution or project proposal that does not conflict with the YRUU Bylaws, so you won’t have to worry about whether or not it will be accepted by the editors . Sending your proposed resolution or project proposal to Synapse has the added benefit of allowing YCRs to communicate with the people they represent about these resolutions or project proposals, further increasing the amount of involvement in Youth Council by individual YRUUers and possibly convincing them to vote for and cosponsor it.

Finally, once you have found sponsors for and publicized your resolution or project proposal you can sit back and wait, and hope that it is passed at Youth Council. If it is passed, the next step is its implementation, which you will most likely play a major role in. Good Luck!

Resources

A copy of the Resolution to Increase District and Local Participation in Youth Council (YC 1999), the YRUU Bylaws and Policies and Procedures, and the contact information for the members of Youth Council and Steering Committee can all be found here online. The YRUU Youth Office can be contacted at (617) 948-4350.