A Short History of the UUMN

The UUMN was formed at a meeting during the 1982 General Assembly. A continental mailing invited broader membership. In 1983 the UUMN Newsletter, Notes, began publication and the first summer conference was held in Boston.

An elected board and executive committee govern the UUMN. Board members are drawn from across the continent and serve staggered terms. The executive committee serves a three year term.

The UUMN took an active role in the development of the UUA hymnbook, Singing the Living Tradition, and the hymnal supplement, Singing the Journey. UUMN members served on both task forces. The Network provided support in raising development funds, collecting and evaluating material, and helping to introduce the new book to congregations and their leaders.

A Services center was created in 1995 for the purposes of coordinating Network activities, providing communication among members and making contact with UUMN officers and liaison personnel. UUMN Services contains databases and published materials of the Network and processes membership mailings.

In 2000, 2003 and 2006 the UUMN organized a UU Children’s Choir in conjunction with the UUA General Assembly. UU children from the US and Canada come together for five days where they prepare and present music for GA attendees.

A certification program for UU musicians was established in 2006 with 10 candidates. This program is supervised by the Leadership Development Board of UUMN.

The UUMN is an international organization which boasts a membership of over 650 from North America, Europe and Asia.

Past UUMN Conferences and Hosts

1. 1983 – Boston, MA – Joyce Gilbert, Ken Orton, Leo Collins
2. 1984 – St. Paul, MN – Ken Ford
3. 1985 – Portland, OR – Bob Winkley, Mark Slegers
4. 1986 – Madison, WI – Bob Winkley, Ellsworth Snyder
5. 1987 – Washington DC – Betsy Jo Angebranndt, Niki Davis
6. 1988 – San Diego, CA – Ken Herman
7. 1989 – Toronto, CAN – Laurie Frasier, Jacqui Alkin
8. 1990 – Milwaukee, WI – Bob Simiele, Christian Rich
9. 1991 – Baltimore, MD – James Huston
10. 1992 – San Francisco, CA – Edwin Barlow, Eric Howe
11. 1993 – Rochester, NY - Joyce Gilbert, Ed Schell
12. 1994 –The Mountain - Shelley Denham
13. 1995 – Evanston, Ill. - Bart Bradfield, John Giles
14. 1996 – Houston, TX - Dean Dalton, Kay Dunn
15. 1997 – Santa Monica, CA – Nicole Baker
16. 1998 – Providence, RI - Helene Gersuny, Lee Ridgway
17. 1999 – Bloomfield Hills, MI, Sue/Dan Boyce, Barbara Woolf
18. 2000 – San Diego, CA - Ken Herman
19. 2001 – The Mountain - Shelley Denham
20. 2002 – Vancouver, BC - Joyce Poley
21. 2003 – San Antonio, TX - Bill Ross
22. 2004 – Arlington, VA – Bob Griffith, Bea Ann Phillips
23. 2005 – Denver, CO - Keith Arnold, Marlys Brinkman
24. 2006 – St. Paul, MN – Sonja Johnston, Ruth Palmer
25. 2007 – Clearwater, FL – Frank Wells
26. 2008 – Boston, MA (25 th Anniversary):  Beth Norton, Mary Neumann, and Boston-area musicians
27. 2009 – Portland, OR:  Mark Slegers
28. 2010 – Madison, WI:  Dan Broner
29. 2011 – Arlington, VA:  Bob Griffith, Bea Ann Phillips

Past Presidents of UUMN

1. 1985 – Leo Collins
2. 1987 – David Jackson
3. 1989 – Ken Herman
4. 1991 – Niki Davis
5. 1993 – Ed Schell
6. 1995 – Eric Howe/ Bob Simiele
7. 1997 – Scott Ward/ Bill Belan
8. 1999 – Joyce Gilbert
9. 2002 – Ken Herman
10. 2005 – Elizabeth Norton
11. 2008 – Keith Arnold
12. 2011 – Sarah Dan Jones