YRUU STEERING COMMITTEE
I. Check in
II. Review covenant out loud
-respect
-care for yourself
-don’t talk when other people are talking
-step up/step back
-speak from experience
-be anti-racist and anti-oppressive
-be aware of identities in room, power, and privilege
-be aware that we’re all at different places.
-assume good will
-stay accountable (doesn’t mean saying or doing anything is appropriate or okay).
-be forgiving
-be responsible and know limits
-prepare
-follow through
-communicate
III. Assign roles
-NEW IDEA!!! Nora thinks that since the phone chain and job jot and parking lot keep end up disappearing, that we should tape the sheets down on the table, and whoever is doing it for that time should sit at that seat, rather then have the sheet sit with them. Way to think outside the box!!!
Facilitator: Nora
Time Keeper: Tony
Energy: Ed I.
Job Jot: Chris
Phone Chain: Tempa
Parking Lot: Sam
Oh the Whitworth’s arrive!!! What joy!! What fun!!! Yea for twins!!!
III. Call to push back the phone chain in the agenda
-Consensus
IV. A little late Chalice “lighting” (we have no candle)
Opening reading by Tony, Columbus diary entry:
“People began to come to the beach, as naked as their mother’s who bore them. They are friendly and well-dispositioned people who bare no arms except for small spears. …They are well-built, with good bodies and handsome features…They have no iron. Their spears are made of cave. They would make fine servants. With fifty men we could subjugate them all and make them do whatever we want.” (excerpt from Lies My Teacher Told Me)
V. Liasionships: How is this going? What’s going on?
-Freedom School
-Sam CUC Advisory Group
-Conference call
-They choose the Canadian At-Large
-Suggestion to invite more Canadians to have voices at the council
-UUs for Polyamory
-Going to meet with Ken
-Start a list serve for youth polyamory so youth can share in a safe space and talk about it
-Liaison to Campus Ministry Advisory Council Committee
-Having some trouble getting someone on the committee
-Jenny
-Feels like a poor SC member, tried to liaison to LREDA, maybe this year maybe last
-Kind of Liaison to DRUUMM
-Also UUSC
-Ed
-None
-Tempa
-LINC, couldn’t go tried to get someone, no one responded
-Chris
-Doesn’t have any officially
-Mimi
-Sort-of liaison type things with some other organizations: (look in her report)
-Nora
-C*UUYAN
-Talked to Michael Tino, talked to KT Michael who is the C*UUYAN liaison, there is a bridging process working group happening
-Talked to Food Not Bombs, they’d be interested in having people help with at least one of the days of GA
-Tony
-DRUUMM
-Meeting at AR consultation, thinking about restructuring the SC, create caucuses for different identities within DRUUMM. Talking about what to do with family members and/or spouses who are white, maybe a caucus of multi-racial families. SC would consist of representatives from people in these caucuses
-Jessica
-Diversity of Rockford
-Wants a new one—UUJEC
VI. Talk about rep to Campus Ministry
-A suggestion is made to find a district post-high person to do this
-If more then one person is interested Sam and Nora will make the decision
VII. DRUUMM and White Allies Conference Check-In
-Jenny talks about DRUUMM (since she was one of the co-deans (the better of the co-deans))
-It was fun, feels like there was a good range of people
-Young Adults need to learn youth empowerment
-YRUU as a whole needs to get out info about DRUUMM better and it’s youth opportunities
-This is something we should flag as an oppressive dynamic (YO all white kids, YACM has a person of color. White kids put more energy into white allies organizing; POC put more energy into POC conference. Need to do better outreach).
-Overall pretty good conference
-Next year will be in Brooklyn
-Nora talks about White Allies Conference
-A lot of new people, many non-UUs
-It was nice to have new people
-It went well, but the goals and ideas for the future weren’t addressed as well. Needs to happen. Would have been nice to do this, but peeps seemed burnt out by the end. Maybe if we had WA (WA) part two, after people had time to marinate might have been better.
-WA conference had difficulties with children at conference
-DRUUMM conference has little kids as part of the community
-Meeting between two conferences
-Groups talked about AR, had dinner, split up into groups and talked about accountability. White allies stayed for dance but no one was dancing, some POC weren’t comfortable with the white allies being there so they were asked to leave.
-There seemed to be lack of communication about what we would do when we would get there, and when they would leave. The decision to come together was made by a small group and not really among the community
-Random things
-Needs to be more institutional support
-Considering the early stages it seemed to go pretty well
-A question was asked if the YA were still dominating among the Y/YA DRUUMM conference. Jenny said participants were mostly in the bridging age, but peeps need to learn how to work together better.
-How can we do better outreach?
-Know when conferences are scheduled sooner
-Pre-packets and post-packetsàopportunities is the last section and it’s a big packet, maybe people get tired and don’t get to that section?
-Maybe someone could do something ‘big n’ exciting’ about DRUUMM at YC
-Working group for this to happen at the YC time
Twins do late check-in
Katie—really tired, got treated by her mom because packing too loud, hopes she can be productive today
Jessica—really busy, in a musical, directing a one-act, on soccer team, last quarter of high-school, gonna “gradatate” Going to school in Florida, “that’ll be tight cuz then I won’t be cold”. She’s not really that tired.
PROCESS DISCUSSION:
-More centering type-stuff
-We have time-keeper, but we don’t have times! Let’s make some!
-If facilitator and energy could figure out times before section, and energy pay attention because breaks are not on the schedule
-Remember our covenant, no talking over each other
LUNCH!!! Prepared by our good friend Gayface
2:05 pm Chalice “lighting”
quote by Mimi.
I. T-Shirts
-Design needs to be picked
-Can we send a call for designs?
-Bethany will take care of it (with Megan support)
II. POA projects and focus for next term
-When Chris started it was very vague and there was no support
-Anti-racism will be the specific focus for the next POA
-What sorts of projects for the POA to do? What do we want the person to concentrate on?
-We could do a workshop at YC, ask them what they want to see because this position is for them
Random Wisdom by Mimi, “There are two types of vegans: Vegans who don’t eat honey, and vegans who laugh at those vegans.”
III. POA Report
-Chris want’s to make a final report, but knows that 15 minds are better then just his one, so he want’s input from YC. It would be a report packet, rather then a sheet of paper. He would have a rough draft done at GA.
-What he plans on putting in so far:
TIMELINE OF EVENTS
COPIES OF ALL REPORTS WRITTEN
FOLLOW UP ON SUGGESTIONS HE WROTE
PROGRESS REPORT ON A-R
POSSIBLE GOALS AND DIRECTIONS FOR NEXT YEAR’S
RESOURCE LIST/SUMMARY AND ANALYISIS OF THESE RESOURCES
OUTSIDE GROUPS WITH SUMMARY TO NETWORK WITH
YRUU TIMELINE
AN ESSAY ON CHRIS’S ANALYSIS ON YRUU’S PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE
YOUTH COUNCIL/STEERING COMMITTEE RELATIONSHIP
ACCOUNTABILITY
DEFINITIONS/GLOSSARY (check out Tony’s for the Advisor Handbook)
ACTIVITIES SECTION
STUFF ABOUT IDENTITY AND SOCIALIZATION (According to Tony Leon Spencer has a good grasp on this)
*if you think of anything let him know by the end of this weekend*
-As POA, he hasn’t done too much for YRUU. Chris has done individual work but not as POA. (during this last session between sc meetings)
IV. Steering Committee Continuity
-There isn’t institutionalized turnover rather then POA (slightly)
-Maybe someone in addition to the POA?
-Adding to these terms making two-year positions staggered?
-PoCAC two year? Have one person have two-year term the opposite year that POA is selected, hence turnover always be the same
-Is only having one person remembering enough? What about a few other people having two-year terms?
-Having four total two-year terms, having two staggered every other year
-POA + One Person (1st year)
-One PoCAC + One Person (Next year)
-New Idea: Have two peopleàOne POA, the other POCC the other year
-Offer recommendation to YC to make this decision, or more?
-Jenny will make proposal for this to happen by GA
V. Passing the Torch (PARKING LOT)
-Talk about this at GA
Concern that Energy is still low
SC Switches roles and seats
Process/Personal Check-in
-Feels dominates convo, will work on it
-Doing well, start focusing
-Happy to be clean, some people need time to process and not answer right away
-Starting to get a bit tired
-Duh, working groups are good
-Still focusing
-We all have a responsibility to keep things focused
-Don’t think we’re going to get things done as a big group
-Use the butcher paper
POA Focuses (after Marinated)
-Have the POA person be at the GA meeting and participate in this discussion
Meeting with Bill and Judith:
-Ask Judith to write a letter to YC and YRUU about January YPS.
-Jenny and Tempa not feeling ownership over LRP, how to address that?
-Sam says LRP came from people who don’t usually give ideas
-Chris feels shut out of the decision-making process
-Jenny feels the LRP should go out to YRUU more, it’s made up of a small section of, needs more interaction and ideas before it represents a wider vision
-Was the whole thing created with anti-racism in mind, is the whole thing accountable?
-Maybe Chris and Sam could write a letter documenting their concerns
-Jesse sees this as a first step in a long process
-Lots of churches have done LRPs, we could ask them what’s been successful and unsuccessful
-I thought we were supposed to nail down how to spend 2 million, it doesn’t appear to do that, says Chris
-Jenny and Jesse think it’s heading us towards a common ground III, with complete restructuring
-We could look at the document and see if its anti-racist, or we could send it out to every congregation with a survey and ask for opinions about common ground
-How does our vision relate to DRUUMM and white anti-racists, LINC, etc, how can our conversation with Bill and the content of our plans be accountable to who we represent
-Tony wants to bring up youth of color being brought up by white families and identity issues—we say we want to build a strong people of color network, but what if the kids grow up and don’t want to identify as people of color
-How do we express frustration and be tactful at the same time
-Maybe we should start by talking about what is youth empowerment, what does that mean
-How do we be prepared for if they do not listen to us?
-Frustration could be judged as being stuck on decisions made in the past, but we are about anti-oppression, and including marginalized groups in decision-making
-How can decision-making be different? It can involve us.
-How to keep the dialogue going, not just an hour at our meeting, decided the day before, but ongoing
-Ed says, be honest, keep scarcity of finances in mind, if he doesn’t hear you, try again
-Own our roles, but speak as individuals
-Ignored, concerns aren’t heard, the way things are handled, accountability to youth isn’t given enough weight, when things get cut who is consulted, the restructuring and who had input into the new structure
-Budget cuts and the process they happened in-Just because it happens to everybody doesn’t make it alright. Being told not to tell anybody is wrong and isn’t fair
-What does it mean to be a part of an organization that has problems with anti-oppression calling the larger organization on its oppression issues
-Tomorrow: what do we do if we’re ignored?
Everyone gathers in the Rice room with their breakfast foods and drinks at just before 10am.
Jesse has to be at a GA meeting at the time of the September YPS selection time and wants to switch that time with something else so he can be here for the discussion The YPS selection time will now happen Saturday morning.
Start of meeting 10:00 on the dot!
Bethany is facilitator.
I. We go around the circle for a quick check-in.
II. Bill Sinkford conversation continues. Who is going to speak out to concerns? Bryan reads over the points made last night.
- We should listen first
- How the budget cut was handled
- We got the budget for Synapse back and we got money from the capital campaign for a-r/a-o
- We go around and say what we’d like to say
First: A thank you for meeting with us.
i. Sam: We feel left out of the decision-making process, there are ways decisions can be made with us included
ii. Jesse: Start modeling partnership and how we can work together
iii. Ed: Decisions made without us being included: we should be consulted not included
iv. Ed: We get much more attention from the President than in the past. He is willing to listen to you. Tony: He has to communicate with us because it’s a matter of trust, even if his hands are tied in the final outcome. Analogy of a marriage, decisions aren’t made without consulting a spouse. Also, with teenage kids, if you want them to learn responsibility and make them feel valued so you consult them on decisions that affect them.
v. Jenny: Wants to get across that the attention from them is nice, but we would like to institutionalized. Would like to ask Judith if she will write a letter to YC about no more January YPS.
vi. Tempa: Thankful that he’s talking to us, but he needs to listen.
vii. Bethany: Clarity on the issue of what is youth empowerment.
Business Stuff:
1. Tony: what does he mean by saying LRP is “based on current structures and assumptions.”?
2. Chris: Invite him to Youth Council
3. Jenny: Bring up the idea of common ground
4. Bethany: A next step for LRP might be to get input from church groups and churches about next steps and overall feedback about the plan
5. How do we institutionalize the discussion?
Some ideas: Face to face meeting with SC every time so we can plan on it, would like Taquiena and Bill Gardiner and maybe Tracey Robinson-Harris. Just as all the departments have looked at how they can
Ground rules:
- Use I statements
LUNCH MEETING W/ BILL SINKFORD
-Notes from the meetingà
Aside from Serendipity…
How can this dialogue continue?
o
UUA leaders know about YRUU structure
o Totals for YO budget not micromanagement b/c that is empowerment
o Apropos CC FUUC funding
NEXT
SC Talk to Board and/or Leadership Council at GA
How does Leadership Council minister to youth?
(SC: involved with youth ministry; LC: How could be?)
Joint Resolution: Common Ground III
Youth Caucus
Youth Council
Youth Board Rep
K-Mart is facilitating
I. Process Check-in:
-Sam feels we got a lot accomplished with the meeting with Bill Sinkford. We took important first steps towards better communication. Shout out to Mimi for facilitating the meeting.
-Topher observed a male dominance dynamic during the Bill Sinkford conversation and, to a lesser extent, adult dominance in the conversation. Shout out to Tony for being amazing with bringing up concerns with youth of color, especially youth of color with white parents.
-BB likes the efficiency and the flow better here than in January. Enjoyed the dinner meeting space used last night as opposed to current room. Being able to see the people you work with is crucial. Low energy in Sinkford meeting, but that meeting was really good, and shows progress from past presidents.
-JD is struggling to concentrate. Getting bored, really bored, and the boredom is annoying. Motivated and care for the work, but the energy is just not there and hard to get back. Wanted to say something but didn’t want side conversations. Needed more breaks. Meeting dynamics interesting: male speaking, adult/older folx speaking. He listened, but still salty about consultation. (the timing of the event and the lack of compassion given to that concern- most likely would not have happened if the adult antiracist movement had had meetings the weekend before. Ageism and apathy towards it in scheduling.)
-Katie was real quiet during the meeting. Wanted to say something, trying to articulate it but did not speak up due to the ending of the meeting. Really tired: needs to sleep, needs to exercise for self care.
-Tempa thinks Sinkford thing sucked at first then got good then got boring. This meeting with him was productive versus angering. Brings up the analysis that SC has very low energy right now. Wishes for a better meeting space, more conducive to circles.
-Nora went to class. Shares a story about her class and a person who came to speak. Addresses the agenda and the apathy and lack of energy around getting stuff done.
-Jessica didn’t speak up that much in the Sinkford meeting, wanted to talk more but didn’t know what to say. Thinks the meeting went well.
-Come out of a meeting with one thing accomplished is a victory and frequently meetings are not productive. This meeting two things were accomplished and therefore we win. Plus the things that came out of the meeting have lots of potential.-Ed Wilde
-Tony is doing good, wants stretching (physical) and fresh air during breaks. Raises up a new budget idea that he thinks will be acted on.
-Ed Irvin didn’t say anything at the meeting at all. He would think of things and how to articulate them and then someone else would say them. Little tired, low energy. Really likes how supportive Bill is. Feels like Bill advocates for us to act!
-Bethany thinks differently of Bill and thought it went well. If we want something we can get it if we act for it.
-BB again, feels that Bill dodged some questions and points (like authority figures do frequently.)
Do we want to send a message to YRUU about the loss of Jan. YPS or wait until Judith writes a letter. Some think that we should wait for Judith’s formal letter. Consensus is reached. The Youth Office needs to write a report to YC proposing how the restructure the Youth Office will be minus Bryguy’s successor (Jan. YPS).
Do we want to have this discussion without Mimi and Jesse, who are at the GA planning business, or do we want to wait for them to be here for this discussion. A concern is voiced that Jesse’s visions for YRUU, however good intentioned, is pushed upon the youth and it might be nice to have an initial conversation without Jesse present. Further, having him present is important for his role and job but SC needs to make sure that the discussion is an SC discussion and vision not SC taking JJ’s vision. Regardless much love to the up and coming baby’s daddy.
II. Youth Council working groups brainstorm
-Activities committee
-AR trainings/activities
-P(lenary B)uddies? A-teams? Are we going to have them?
-Schedule (workshops)
-Adult workbook working group [needs to happen later, TONY WANTS ACCOUNTABLITY>>>> YAY TONY FOR DEDICATION!]
What have we decided for YC moderator? Katie shows her amazing facilitating skills and brings raising hands back to the meeting process. YAY.
There is a concern that as we continue to have our meetings, we have more workshops for YC than there is time for them at YC. So, with two workshop time slots with ten workshops, you’d have five going at a time, too many choices for YCR’s to choose from and thinning our resources. We are putting our weight into less important activities like writing the agenda items for YC at YC, writing proposals and resolutions and skimping on the more crucial things YC could be doing, such as anti-oppression organizing and beginning the common ground three process. A question remaining is exactly which workshops will happen and how they will happen.
Process suggestion: go into topic based working groups then come back for a big group meeting of the antiracism working group.
Breaking into two working groups: activities committee and the a-teams/puddies
Schedule/workshops working group.
Report back:
A-TEAM:
-made a list of different resources:
DAY ONE:
-Capture the flag
-campfire: real marshmallows/vegan marshmallows/real meat/vegan meat/real chocolate/vegan chocolate
-Kickball tournament among each A-TEAM
-with prizes
-maybe some game that is cooperative and non-oppressive and non-support the ideals of oppression and domination
-group think of
DAY TWO:
-quick check-in
-basic definition review and discussion, talk about the building blocks of AR, institutionalized racism,
DAY THREE:
-expand, give each group something different to discuss—about oppressions of other groups as well
DAY FOUR:
-accountability: what does it mean?
-how do we stay accountable to our constituents?
DAY FIVE:
-over lunchàpose a question to be discussed
DAY SIX:
-how to stay accountable to each other
-how to get stuff done that they want to be done
Schedule working
group.
Nora: switch coffee house and dance.
JD: new old sc meeting not over the brunch.
Watch out for cranky folks who haven’t eaten
Change so that the new old is now on Dinner (the last supper)
Only one session of ID groups
Workshops:
POA: how focus is selected and specific projects for 03-05
YPS evaluation/selection/future structure
Bill Sinkford/ other important yinz
YRUU Checkbook
YO/SC relationship- youth council’s input
*SC news video
-YC suggestions for workshops
[how to create a workshop workshop: concern about the AR trainings and the role of Youth Council members in bringing analysis back to districts. Suggested that we talk about what is up with the trainings and getting everyone up to speed on that. Second suggestion was a middle ground with like general skills to send folx with to do intro activities ie movie guide. Third suggestion is to do an ID groups facilitator workshop. So instead of doing the whole anti-racist facilitator training workshop do a facilitator skills and how to get interest in districts for anti-racism work workshops.]
common terminology is a concern (address: that’s why SC leads a teams) but SC isn’t all on the same page.
-Tony talks about the five components of a balanced youth group and 5 steps to building community and the lack of attention and lack of these in our youth council planning. Further, the lack of antiracism incorporated into those two core items.
-Suggestion to delegate this scheduling hub-ub to a working group: the working group is Sam, Nora, JD
-Other ideas: **SC sit down with YC katz and go through prepacket. Put in after dinner on the second day.
-SC flies in the 2nd- leaves the ninth for youth council, youth council kids fly in the 3rd
-We need to incorporate the 5 steps and 5 components- safe space worship?
We discuss energy break and then decided to stay and talk about a whole bunch of shit before we break. (oh, that Chris is one bitter kid)
-have everyone have a buddy and plan worship?
-let’s let youth council plan worship with a point-person from SC?
-if we do this at least think of a theme for that group?
-maybe we could use the five steps to CB as a theme
-this worked well at TLI (Teen Life Issues (p.s. worst name ever for a youth camp))
-Bethany and Katie Working Group for this and be the point people for Worship
**Things that need to be talked about before YC
-Having
-an advocate
-chaplin
-Pre-packet
-someone needs to write a cover letteràNORA will write
-someone needs to go through the pre-packet
-YPS should look through the pre-packet and find what SC needs to do and post on the list and within the next two weeks peeps volunteer
-Ask on phone chain for cats to look at pre-packet and see what they liked, thought should not be in there, suggestions for what should be added, etc and then SC would get back to them next week.
-Have the packet go out before GA
-May 1st have all the info for the pre-packet decided
-There was a SC working group conference call to talk about trainers
-This group originally wanted SOUL, but SOUL isn’t available
-This group originally wanted Challenging White Supremacy to come as well, but concerns are that they are more of a young adult group and focus on white peeps
-What the working group asked Meems to do was to look into the CWS peeps still come but ask Leon Spencer to come as well because Leon (according to Tony) knows more about Racial Inferiority then anyone else he (Tony) knows
-Racial inferiority is really important to understand because it affects POC largely and people don’t understand the affect of racism on people of color
-This is important because youth are dealing with this and youth are growing
-According to Ed W. Leon is extremely qualified to lead workshops like this. He is very competent in this area and is used to working with young people
-He’s really motivated to youth
-Mimi has been trying to get in touch with him and has, they’ve been talking and said he can make it and come, but just has to double check it
-It’s looking like it will be Challenging White Supremacy, Leon Spencer, and one other youth of color from one of the other AR groups we work with, either Freedom School or from the core team
Random (yet related) AR info:
-Last weekend Chris and Stu Neils-Kraft lead an AR training in Heartland.
-He has a random concern
-White people were easier to get
-POC leaders were harder to get to come lead
-Are we working on burning out our youth of color leaders?
Back to AR at Youth Council
-We could have ID groups for processing, put them at the end of the AR activities
-On the schedule it was assumed that ID groups would be part of the AR blocks
-Who is working on ID groups at YC? –Nora, Jenny, Katie, Tony, Mimi, Chris
“I feel like I’m opening a whole new can of worms…”—Jenny Dunmore
“Don’t”—Katie Whitworth
-Is Paula going to know what the AR peeps are going to be presenting or someone from SC?
-Jessica in addition to Paula will communico with AR trainers
-For all the roles
-ask YC to pick from the group and have SC be a supporter to them
- use consensus model, and involve YC
-Chaplin
-how many chaplain’s to have?
-In between four and six—generally a youth and adult ratio; and two white people and two people of color
-Advocates
-suggest to have three
-perhaps have advocates double up as advocates
-use your puddy as advocates
-maybe one person in addition to the puddy a person on SC
-one person of color and one white person
Activities/A-teams/Puddies working group
Scheduling/Workshop Working Group—Jenny, Sam, and Nora
Anti-racism working group.
Plenary working group—rotating workshops:consensus,
Have a point person in charge of each section…
“Don’t be having an attitude about food because it’s just one meal”
-Sam lets the group know that in an effort to bring more voices to the table we should invite some Canadians to Youth Council
-The board didn’t approve the bylaw change so officially the can’t come, but we could still invite people, just not officially
-They have the funding available to send one or two more people
-Yes we should, but we should ask them to bring POC
-Canadians are part of YRUU, and we shouldn’t exclude people just because they are white
-Concern that there is not a formal body to send the Canadians to represent
-What about the “slippery slope”? If we let people who want to come from Canada, what about other people just wanting to come?
-The more people at YC the better
-Youth Council voted to pass this, that Youth Council wanted more Canadian representation, we should respect this
-Tell Canada that four Canadians are welcome to pay for themselves and each pay $100 each to cover the cost of food, excluding the Canadian At-Large
-Money is more expensive for Canadians
-Youth Council passed resolutions to support Canadians
-Straw pull about how people feel
-Leave this year the same, only send the two Canadian youth
-Invite two separate from the Western and At-Large
WE WILL INVITE CANADA TO PICK TWO SEPARATE YOUTH TO SEND
CONSENSUS
-Concern about getting on SC you have to have attended youth council
-Make a working group at YC about this
-YCR’s need to be “told” more that they need to be more accountable to their local districts
-YCR needs to be “told” that they need to attend events and be seen or just at least make a voice
-Talk about this at Youth Council
-At business meetings are we having a facilitator?
-No, like last year having rotating facilitation among SC
-Remember, we can change every year so if this doesn’t work we can make a recommendation to next year’s Steering Committee
-How can we get people to bring back info?
-Have handouts for everything that has been talked about rather then having to wait of the pre-packet
-Activities (how to do it, how to present it, etc.)
-Drill it into people’s head about how they need to be a good YC member
-Bring back Spider
-Have the POC applications been put on the web-site yet?
-There is an old application for the POC from about two years ago? And Mimi told Jenny and others? That if they wanted to use it it was there, but it’s old so…
-Paula was under the impression that the DRUUMM YaYA was going to appoint people
-Jenny’s brought it up, but no one’s talk about it and no one’s set up a process. Jenny says that it needs to get institutionalized, but for this year we should have a back-up plan
-Proposal: We have an application. Have the PoCAC look over it, and then bring it back to SC. Give the app to DRUUMM, and spread the word all over (YRUU and DRUUMM). Have the decision made by a SC member and a DRUUMM member while going over the application.
-Budget has room for six youth of color to attend YC
-Let’s try to get money for eight though
-One Adult At-Large needs to be filled for one year
-Brainstorm idea is that ask Leon Spencer to fill that one year, save on travel
-We go ahead and review the applications, either accept or not accept and find others and have a conference call
-Rev. Hope Johnson selected (adult at-large) –Jenny
-Mary Ellen Morgan selected (adult at-large) –Tony
-Asha Philar (Canadian At-Large) –Sam
-Chris, Katie, Bethany working group to pick the other positions
Process (told in a
creative manner)
-good meeting because ended before ten
-paid more attention after lunch
-past two hours more productive then the whole day
-these past two hours felt more like SC then Jenny had remembered for so long
-the integral of the work was above epsilon (above zero)
-“I feel like we’ve come together and bonded into one knot. Not really.”
-When you’re not paying attention it’s real easy to treat people for having fun, but when you’re not paying attention it’s real fun
-Energy really dead in the middle of the afternoon
-Some people looking to other’s opinions to support his or her own
-Really excited about having these new people come to Youth Council
-Shout out to Katie “facilitation skills have just blossomed this year”
-Shout out to Jenny for sticking to her guns
-Shout out to Sam for sticking up for Canadian youth
-Shout out to this Steering Committee because it’s just so amazing and Youth Council will be so exciting, and the concern for accountability
-Just real happy and proud of this year
-Shout out to everyone for sticking with this meeting for so long
Brainstorm of important qualities of September YPS
Responsible
Good social justice background
Solid AR analysis
Accountable
Open to others’ ideas
Can talk with people
Accountable to/able to support POC
Excellent writing skills
Affiliation with other groups
Multi-cultural experiences
Stress management
Dedication
Understand ex-officio role
Creative
Able to multi task
Transition support
Accessible/not cliquey
Gets youth empowerment
Local experience
Experience with GA- shown good con planning equivalent
Trustworthy
*Comfort with consensus (this is a plus but not to be looked at as a requirement.
And Steering Committee has decided to lengthen the application period.
Word of the Day: Marinate (think about that!)
YPS Reports
-Suggestion to have the Youth Office write textual ones
-Megan and Bryan send in post-packet
-Mimi and Jesse present
September YPS
-Update on AR training
-In March Core Team went to the Jubilee World Trainers Meeting about how they could support our work and the CT has identified three goals
--Short term goal-continue to flesh out the workshop and finalize it
--Intermediate goal-help the denomination prepare for intergenerational AR work
--Long term goal-to create multicultural,
-We secured funding between departments for a Working Group meeting in Portland
-Hopefully in the fall there will be a Training of Trainers
-Been trying to get applications for people interested in being trainers
-Hopefully this will be a regular thing
-Build a Trainer collective, been talking to Bill Gardner
-These trainers will hopefully get together with JTW trainers to create an intergenerational trainers network
-Need a part-time staff person (hopefully by 2005) to coordinate these trainings who will work jointly for the Youth Office, YACM office, IDBM
-There will be a LDC for youth of color before GA, spread the word
-Mimi is trying to finish the Racial Justice Action Projects resource
-There’s a
number of district AR conferences coming up
-At GA there will be one-shot workshops in the twenty-four hour space. If you know anyone who would like to lead one Paula Nett will be coordinating it
-JTW needs us to give a recommendation of one youth to the Committee on Committees to be on the Journey Towards Wholeness Transformation Committee
-Mimi is trying to connect with the Challenging White Supremacy people on how YRUU and CWS could work together after Youth Council
-Keep on the lookout for other organizations that we could liaison with
YPD Report
-Safety reports
-Let’s be proactive in our safety
-Budget report
-Tempa, Sam, and Ed Wilde
Brainstormed ideas relating to budget
-SC should get their own President’s Council
-Sell cookies at GA
-Have a donation can at events and booth at GA
-Social auction at GA
-Youth Cabaret
-youth free/adults money
-at coffee house?
-bar @ coffee house with non-alcoholic drinks
-All GA worship pass a collection plate
-Date auctions with SC and Youth Office
-SC parents?
-Open up a YRUU corner store
-Have “required donations”
-Can or can’t we do our own fundraising at GA?
-We’ll find out
-SC should apply for GA scholarships from the scholarship fundàit’s very ample
-Can switch times when peeps start
-June and September seem more accessible to young people
-Think about when we get the third one back
What are the concerns with each term’s skill set?
-September: many important deadlines for GA are IN September
-June: hard coming in at the busy time/makes it difficult to learn the office (this takes between one to three months to feel comfortable)…maybe start instead in May or July?
Ideas
-Possibly a 2 year term for a youth
-Have one start in July
-Have both begin in Juneàfourteen or fifteen month position (overlap) i.e. December through March term (probably if the third YPS position returns)
-better overlap of tasksàknow everyone’s business
-having a counter proposal might be an option
-would we want to make a temporary plan and then go back to the way it is today?
-working group to work on restructuring roles: BETHANY, BRYAN, TOPHER, and a YOUTH COUNCIL REP have a counter plan by three weeks
wakey wakey at seven am bakey!
UU Campus Ministry Advisory Council Liaison
-Liaison wanted’
Brainstormed possibilities:
-Alex Rickert
-Vanessa Pope
-Greg Boyd
-Amir Fouad
Working Group to select people: Jessica and Ed
Due date 2 Weeks
POA Projects for 2003-05
*Create written resources
-Booklet of AR activities
*Network
-Local YAC’s ;
-more AR in district -Bill Sinkford and UUA
*Work with YPS’s to develop YYA AR training
*Be more than a continental kid [local/district]
*develop ways to YYA POC + WA to support and each other regionally, district and local
BOT report
Board is meeting in two weeks. The timing of our meetings and theirs never works well. There is going to be a restructuring of the working groups. Ed talked to the board about questions they had for the youth and how it’s organized. These questions were sent out to Jesse and the group, but no one has responded. Responding to emails and following through with tasks between meetings is something we need to work on (e.g. phone chains). These questions will be sent out over the listserv again and SC members will write back and answer the questions! Ed will write BOT report and send out over YC listserv.
Give this list to Michael Tino
How do we involve bridgers without congregations?
-DYSC: bridging
-YRUU-L to create a list
-GA bridging track
-Folx stop coming after high school. Address by talking to parents.
-Post info on website
Requested Applicants for September YPS
-past applicants
-Annie Abernathy
-ask Mimi to stay longer --- hire 1/1/04 not September 03
Concerns were raised about the process of brainstorming people to ask to apply for YPS position. This process only brings up people we know personally and it should be open to all and it does not seem like an appropriate process. Not all youth are continental youth.
-Individuals on SC go back and encourage people to apply who have an AR analysis, have the applications in by the end of April and for SC to review. Don’t encourage people to apply who don’t.
-Spread the word on Phone Chain
-Picking people who we know is pretty fucked up. We need to address this.
-This is pretty fucked up
-There isn’t any AR questions in the Sept. section maybe we could put supplemental questions in the application
-The people can make changes to their application
-It is perfectly acceptable to say that there was a flaw in the application process, and please add these answers, and in addition other people can apply because there was this flaw…if some one applies and does not have the questions he or she will be sent these new questions
-Who is going to make up these questions? —Tony, Jenny,
Potential questions:
-What multi-cultural experience have you had?
-What AR training/education/reading have you done?
-What changes do you think YRUU needs to make to become an AR/multi-cultural institution?
-How has racism personally affected you?
-Ask Mimi to apply again
-Wants youth to be in a discussion on UU theology
-Proposal to let GA staff take care of it
-Spread the word throughout the YRUU grapevine
*Spread the word throughout the YRUU grapevine and at the call in May decide on the names to give to the COA*
LINC (Linked Identities Networking and Coalition) is a group…
-Tempa needs to give LINC a YRUU presentation answering these questions:
-What is YRUU doing in the form of AO/AR?
-What does YRUU want from LINC?
-What is YRUU doing in the form of anti-oppression/anti-racism?
-Portland meeting for the AR Core Team
-POA
-All of our events have AR aspects to them, like ID groups or trainings
-We keep each other aware of AR
-YPS focus
-YSJC
-Youth Council was restructured to be more AR intensive
-Working on a Training of Trainers for AR trainers
-YRUU offers many resources
-Steering Committee makes AR a large focus and puts it first
-YRUU is involved with DRUUMM YaYA and White Allies
-Y*FUUD was given on basis of AR and justice focuses
-Perhaps put this in a timeline?
-POI: There was recently an AR written history created, Paula can make sure Tempa gets it
-What does YRUU want out of LINC?
(answered in what SC wants from LINC, as representatives and workers for YRUU)
-Network of communication among the different groups
-Sharing information with each other (i.e. logistical info)
-Info dissemination
-General support
-Solidarity in hardlining the institution for funding for AO work
-Being allies and advocating for YRUU
-Backing up YRUU on the stances we decide
-We need to assign a GA point person(s) to come up with an agenda and to find out people’s schedules, when they arrive, when they leave, if they have any other commitments—Nora and Katie will work on this
-SC has already talked about relationship to Youth Caucus at the January meeting
-SC’s relationship to GA Youth Caucus staff:
-last year’s GA staff brainstormed how they were disappointed with Steering Committee’s actions at GA, and ideas how SC could support the staff
*SC didn’t go to many eventsàshould go to events
*Sometimes SC didn’t see themselves as staff support, confusionàGA staff did
-We should honor what last year’s thought, but also SC has their own responsibilities and they physically can’t do everything
-Send out on list serve what Mimi is going to send to GA staff based on the convo that already happened, and send the list that last year’s GA made
-SC has made a commitment to respond to these e-mails and make a decision by Friday
-SC also needs to write a report about GA to Youth Council because they are the semi-official reps to GA
-Next weekend GA staff is meeting, have a dialogue about it from them?
Workshops at GA
-Steering Committee is not leading a workshop at GA, although there are one-shots available so if SC wants to then can at the twenty-four hour space
-Idea to do workshops to make SC more visible and able to communicate with
-Suggestion that if Paula and Mimi need help to lead workshops to ask SC members
-Review brainstorm list that SC came up—does any one want to lead any of these?
-It’s pretty hard to lead a workshop by twelve leaders, so if we look through the list and see if anyone of them that we like to lead it
-Concern with this is there is no support with this idea and will not be backed by SC
-Big fan of getting to know you’re BOT—Jenny point person
-District leadership gathering/caucus—Tempa point person
-Consensus workshop
-There’s consensus training as part of the business meeting
-Does this meet this need?
-Kind-of, but consensus is a complicated process
-What about a back up meeting?
-We could get an LDC leader to do it—Megan find one or two
-“Don’t Be Scared of Vegan Food”—a midnight one facilitated by Nora
Likes and Wishes:
-Liked: bonding feeling, cohesiveness this time more then any other meeting
-L: enjoyed beautiful weather today
-Wish: review ex-officio role—ask group first and wait for an answer
-W: work on saying something to the whole group rather then just to the person next to us
-Liked: Mimi’s house, the group bonded
-Wish: stay on task more and stick to the time
-Wish: white male domination needs to end
-Wish: energy needs to do a better job and pay attention, more energy breaks
-Liked: people were able to speak up more when a person has something to say
-Wish: bonding wasn’t as great…, people were salty and on edge by the end of the meeting
-Wish: Need to do different types of process
-Liked: meeting on the porch to enjoy the beautiful spring weather
-Liked: consensus was pretty good, SC got better
-Wish: more independence for some projects, leaving here and being excited to do some of these things
-Liked: reports were good
-Liked: group stuck to the process, and decisions will move the YO forward
-Wish: erratic energy level, do something to make it more constant
-Wish: disrespect that is paid to facilitators, when people know they are doing it yet still doing it
-Liked: we were productive
-Wish: could have gone to bed earlier
-Wish: focus more on what we are doing, not getting distracted
-Like: group has a dedication to our process and evaluating it
-Wish: need to come up with creative ways to process
-L: meeting with Sinkford was the best one person was in, doesn’t mean it was great, but it was good and that is encouraging
-L: all the talks about creating continuity, getting institutional support and creating networks
-L: good facilitation, facilitators were active in getting people involved
-W: people weren’t getting involved
-L: group movie watching
-L: facilitators taking responsibility for their section and coming prepared
-W: work on being aggressive about a person’s role (i.e. time, energy) this might lesson side conversations because people would focus on role instead of talking)
Shoutouts:
-