Table of Contents:

1. It Ain't Just About Marriage!
   
2. Making Education Reform and Multiculturalism the Long-Term Working Action Issue (WAI) of YRUU
   
3. UUni TARP (UU Transitional Age Range Programming) for Post-High Youth
   
4. Resolution to Establish a Joint YRUU-CUUYAN Anti-Racism Transformation Team
   
5. A Resolution That Will Ensure Steering Committee Continuity
6. In the Spirit of Canada
7. YRUU's Commitment to Involvement with The Paper Campaign
8. Resolution to Establish a Reading Panel for the Selection of a Youth Trustee
9. Common Ground III: Can we just change the world already?
   

"It ain't just about marriage!"

Sponsor: Ian Moore, Kat Manker-Seale, Laura Manning, and Gregory Boyd
Point Person: Kat Manker-Seale and Ian Moore
Primary Aid: Betty Jeanne Rueters-Ward, Julian Sharp
UU Principle: The inherent worth and dignity of every person; A free and responsible search for truth and meaning.

Specific Problem: The problem observed is a lack of support and accountability for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, questioning, and queer (GLBTQQ) youth in YRUU.

Hope to Achieve: We, as GLBTQQ youth organizers, hope to maintain a supportive and accepting YRUU environment in every aspect. We hope to gain institutional support and buy-in from constituencies for SATUURDAY as a GLBTQQ youth caucus.

How will this further the principles and vision of YRUU: By supporting queer youth, YRUU will further its commitment to Anti-oppression work and create a more inclusive and supportive youth movement. By creating a safer community for all people, we will be ale to further YRUU work and progress and be accountable to all people whom YRUU serves.

Short-term Goals and Steps to Achieve:
· Secure and support a workshop at General Assembly every year centered on GLBTQQ youth issues.
· Develop resources available at all district and regional conferences for GLBTQQ youth distributed by Youth Office
· Build an accountable relationship between Interweave, the UUA Office of BGLT Concerns, and GLBTQQ youth caucus.
· Support the SATUURDAY (Sexually Accepting Teenage Unitarian Universalists Respecting Diversity Among Youth) visioning committee in their decisions as part of a GLBTQQ youth caucus.
· Publicize SATUURDAY conference and other workshops, events, issues, and resources that pertain to/include GLBTQQ youth.
· Research opportunities for supporting GLBTQQ youth, especially for sending youth to SATUURDAY con and finding other ways to be accountable to GLBTQQ youth on a local, district/regional, and continental level.
· A general support for GLBTQQ youth and an understanding of the struggle they face in a heterosexist society.
· Distribution of resources to Youth Council Representatives (YCRs) on suggestions for queer youth organizing and programming on a district/region and local level to be included in the post-packet.

How will this further the greater denomination and the world: While it is important to support adult GLBTQQ peoples, GLBTQQ youth need representation and consideration. When the denomination serves all folks with equal respect and consideration, a strong and sustainable denomination is fostered. By providing youth with resources and an outlet, a better understanding of self is created and perpetuated. This better understanding of self can often be used to help others in understanding GLBTQQ issues and creating a grassroots struggle against inequality and intolerance. By spreading the word of change and understanding, a world of acceptance, hope, and optimism for all people will begin to manifest itself in our society.

Local and District/ Region Resources: Distribution of resources by YCRs, at-large representatives, and Transitional Age Range Representatives will provide GLBTQQ youth with easily accessible resources. YCRs supporting and encouraging GLBTQQ youth programming on a district/Region level in Youth Adult Committees (YACs) and District Youth Steering Committees (DYSCs) is crucial to the strength and continuation of such programming.

Long-Term Goals and Steps to Achieve: As socially conscious youth, we plan on creating and maintaining a lasting GLBTQQ youth caucus with the institutional support and backing that is so importantly needed. As well as creating a sustainable GLBTQQ youth caucus, we hope to foster accountability between GLBTQQ youth and heterosexual allies. We request the support and implementation of SATUURDAY's decisions as a GLBTQQ youth organization.

Resources YRUU has that will be used: YPS staff time, funding from the Capital Campaign.

Changes that will be needed in our Polices and Procedures or Bylaws: none

Organization or books that can be used: GLSEN (Gay, Lesbian, Straight Education Network); Interweave; UUA Office of BGLT Concerns.

Financial impact: unsure as of yet. Fundraising will be conducted to support the costs of future conferences and events.

Evaluation: The SATUURDAY Visioning Committee, as a leading body in GLBTQQ youth issues within YRUU, will be accountable to creating a regularly and consistently reported evaluation that analyzes and reflects upon GLBTQQ youth work in YRUU and further the productive direction of youth GLBTQQ programming.

Consensus!

Making Education Reform and Multiculturalism
the Long-Term Working Action Issue (WAI) of YRUU

Co-Sponsors: Lydia Pelot-Hobbs, Sean Jones, Al Jensen, Siri Larsen, Nora Lindsey

Point Person: Lydia Pelot-Hobbs

Primary Aid: Siri Larsen

UU Principles:
Justice, equity, and compassion in human relations; goal of world community with peace, justice, and liberty for all.

Specific Issue:
The way new YRUU WAI's are currently chosen is that after the existing WAI is elected as the UUA's new study action issue (SAI) at General Assembly, Youth Caucus decides on a new WAI. In this current structure, every few years the WAM (Working Action Manager), SWAT (Super Working Action Team), and YRUU have to start organizing around a new issue. This has lead to a lack of serious long-term commitment around any one social justice issue, and makes sustaining significant social justice work in YRUU very difficult. For example: for many years YRUU had a very strong commitment to Prison Reform. Yet after it became the SAI, and no longer a WAI (less than a year after it being chosen as the 2003-2005 SAI) there was very little prison reform working being done by YRUU/YRUUers. UU adults are now the primary group organizing around prison reform, not youth.

Hope to Achieve: Make the current YRUU WAI, Education Reform and Multiculturalism, a long term focus of YRUU social justice work, even if the issue is chosen as an SAI at a future General Assembly.

Short Term Goals:
o Work with district/region YCR's and SACs about YRUU's new commitment
Who? Sean Jones, Al Jensen, Siri Larsen
Deadline? September 15,2004
o Network with UU and non-UU leaders around youth empowerment and education reform and multiculturalism work
Who? WAM
Deadline? Continuous
o Develop a working relationship with the Canadian Youth Leadership
Who? WAM
Deadline? Continuous
o Ensure that the Youth Office is educated on different issues of education reform and multiculturalism
Who? The Youth Office
Deadline? Continuous
o Each year create one or two Super Working Action Team Packets of Activist Tools (SWAT PoAT) focusing on specific sub-categories of education reform and multiculturalism
Who? WAM
Deadline? Continuous

Long Term Goals:
o To establish a cohesive organized focus of YRUU Social Justice efforts and ensure the sustainability of this work
o To impact current educational systems (including public, private, homeschooling and unschooling) so that they become more responsive and accountable to the needs of all students, and act as anti-racist and anti-oppressive institutions
o To revolutionize the purpose of schooling in the United States of America and Canada, so that it empowers and supports all students, and their individual goals and needs
o For YRUU to become more accountable to individual youth and youth groups as they organize in their communities around specific issues (sub-categories of education reform and multiculturalism) that they are impacted by and passionate about

How This Will Further The Vision Of YRUU:
o According the purposes and goals of YRUU, YRUU shall develop "an effective system for social action" and "develop individual social consciousness: be group agents of change". Moreover, because of the YRUU age range most or all members of YRUU are effected by education in one of its many forms (unschooling, Home schooling, public school, private school, college, internships, military school, vocational school, etc.) Supporting education reform and multiculturalism in a sustainable way would, therefore, support the needs and struggles of YRUU members.

How will this further the greater denomination and the world:
o By making education reform and multiculturalism the long-term WAI of YRUU, YRUU will have a greater ability to make change in our educational systems and around how people view education. This will impact the greater denomination and the world, as so many are effected by one of educations forms, and the oppressions present in these systems. Further the focus on multiculturalism in the WAI will aid in creating a more anti-racist anti-oppressive society. Lastly by having a long-term WAI it will be easier for YRUUers to become and stay involved in social justice work making the future leaders of the UUA more socially conscious adults.

Organizations:
o Inner City Struggle
o Students Against Testing
o Rethinking Schools
o Teacher for Change
o Self Education Foundation
o Power to the Youth
o National Association for Multicultural Education
o Harmony School

Books:
o Lies My Teacher Told Me by James W. Lowen
o Teaching to Transgress by bell hooks
o Teaching Community by bell hooks
o Why are all the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria by Dr. Bevery Tatum
o No More Prisons by William Upski Wimsatt
o The Teenage Liberation Handbook: How to Quit School and Get a Real Life and Education by Grace Llewellyn
o I'd Rather Teach Peace By Coleman McCarthy
o Helping Kids Include Kids with Disabilities by Barbara J. Newman
o Bilingual and ESL Classrooms By Carlos Julio Avando, et.al.
o The Case Against Standardized Testing By Alfie Kohn
o Keeping Track: How Schools Structure Inequality By Jeannie Oaks
o When the Drama Club is Not Enough: Lessons from the Safe Schools Program for Gay and Lesbian Students By Kim Westheimer and Jeff Perrotti

Financial Impact:
NONE

Necessary Bylaw or Policy and Procedure Changes:
NONE (currently there is no written policy or procedure on how the WAI is chosen or how often)

Evaluation:
WAM and C*SACs will each write two letters: one to Steering Committee and one to Youth Council about the progress of education reform and multiculturalism in YRUU, the UUA, and the greater world

Consensus!

UUni TARP
(UU Transitional Age Range Programming)
for Post-High Youth

Sponsors: Greg Boyd, Dylan Uscher, Nora Lindsey

Primary Aide: Youth Office for Development

UU Principle: Inherent worth and dignity of every person; Peace, liberty, and justice for all

Specific problem being addressed: Too many older youth's needs are not being met through YRUU's current programming. None of our current programming emphasizes the value and importance of the bridging age range (18-20) or of transition on the C*UUYAN instead of out of YRUU.

Hope to Achieve: The development of resources, curricula and actual transition-specific programming in regions and districts for 16-22 aged youth.

How this helps further YRUU: We are neglecting the most at risk age range. By embracing this group we will further our commitment to lifelong learning and creating youth who have a personal understanding of UUism, individual spiritual practice and world peace activism.

How will this further the denomination: By having a corps of committed older youth who continue to carry the torch of UUism, we can redefine and encourage lifelong UUism. We can also rock the movement by continuing to be present in our ongoing struggles against racism and ageist oppression.

Short Term Goals:
· Begin research of and create tentative list of resources for 16-22 year old youth
Point Person - Gregory Boyd
Date: December 2004
· Seek out funding through grant money for resource development
Point Person - Nora Lindsey
Date: March 2005
· Develop relationship with the Young Adult/Campus Ministries office and C*UUYAN as they have many resources for these youth and need to be included in new developments. Also important to network for financial support as the Youth Office cannot solely fund these projects.
Point Person - Gregory Boyd
Date: Ongoing

Local and District/Regional Resources: Regional and District DYSCs, RRYSCs, YACs and DYCs can form a compilation of bridging worships as a primary resource for the transitional age range. Youth boards should also encourage local youth groups to work in conjuncture with their DREs/MREs in order to start a compilation of Senior. High Coming of Age programs. Florida Districts Transitioning Out Program should be utilized as an example for resource development.

Long-Term Goals:
· To adapt the local Coming of Age and Lifespan Faith Development Coming of Age Curricula for 16-22 year old youth
· To have steady transitioning in and out programs in regions and districts that focus on anti-racism analysis development, individual spiritual practice, social responsibility, and accountable activism
· Create a position or add to YPS job description active monitoring of these transitioning programs
· To create Transitional Age Range Programming Consultants in all regions/districts who work in collaboration with the Post-High TARR between Youth Councils

Local and Regional/District People: YCRs and Youth chairs will really need to lead this work on local and regional/district levels. Working to create resources in conjunction with DREs/MREs in order to create the transitional resources that we need.

Current Resources: We can use the "Blessings for All Beings" worship practices. We can also look over the new ARTO program in order to begin creating introductory resources very intentionally address the needs of the older transitional age range.

Changes in Bylaws: NONE

External Resources: We need to do more research to find these

Financial Impact: We should apply for a one-time grant or use capital campaign money in order to gather resources and distribute the program throughout YRUU

Evaluation: A report will be written about the state of transition programs in regions and districts by YCRs. The Youth Office will monitor the number of programs for transitioning on youth that are occurring in regions and districts until such a time as a position is created at Youth Council or at UUA headquarters.

Consensus: One person stands aside with no concerns listed

Existing Resources:

Crossing the Bridge from Youth to Young Adulthood
YACM Office
Formerly called Bridging Ceremony Resource Pack, it has been revised and updated. A comprehensive resource guide to the planning and implementing a Bridging Ceremony in a congregation. Focuses on the ceremony itself--the parts of the liturgy, the philosophy behind it, and ways to connect new young adults to UU communities after the ceremony. It is also a valuable resource for planning youth and young adult-oriented worship services at other times of the year. (Young Adult/Campus Ministry Office). 2004 59 pp.

The Bridging Program
Workshops and Guidelines
Colin Bossen and Dawn Star Borchelt
A step-by-step guide for bridging workshops and a Bridging Ceremony. Includes sample registration form, sign-up sheet, speeches and blessings. Also provides valuable advice on how to keep young UUs involved in their faith communities after the bridging stage. Perfect for congregations, conferences and district, regional and national events. For use with ages 17-23. (UUA) 2004. 64 pp. ISBN 1-55896-467-3

Bridging Cards
Jesse Jaeger
Greeting cards designed to assist congregations introduce Young Adults moving from their community to the UU congregation in the Young Adult's new location. A Youth Advisor, RE Director, Campus Minister, or Minister can fill out the card with their contact information and send it to the nearest UU congregation in the community into which the Young Adult has moved. When that congregation receives the card they will have the contact information for the new Young Adult in their community, plus a helpful list of ways to welcome that Young Adult. Pack of 10. (Young Adult/Campus Ministry) 2001

Bridge Connections Program
YACM Office
Bridge Connections are gifts for each UU youth turning 18 or graduating from high school in 2005, intended to help keep them connected to Unitarian Universalism as they become adults. These gifts, which have a retail value of $60, are available for UUA and CUC member congregations for only $5 each.

Each Connection Pack Contains:
· A copy of one a wonderful collection of meditations published by the UUA, suitable for a personal message of congratulations from the congregation.
· A postage-paid reply card entitling each "bridger" to one free year of UUWorld and Quest (the newsletter of the Church of the Larger Fellowship), as well as the Canadian Unitarian Council's quarterly magazine for those who live in Canada, and a subscription to our monthly electronic Young Adult news; and
· A directory of UU Campus Ministry groups

Currently under development... contact Michael Tino for more details:

UU Backpacking
Donna DiSciullo and Michael Tino
A year-long, in-depth curriculum for youth that helps them articulate their UU identity and connect with their congregation.

Resolution to Establish a Joint
YRUU-CUUYAN Anti-Racism Transformation Team

Sponsors: Laura Manning, Meggie Dennis

Point Person: Jason Lydon

Purpose of this Resolution
To pledge and document the support of the governing bodies of YRUU and CUUYAN to the establishment of a Unitarian Universalist Youth and Young Adult Anti-Racism Transformation Team.

Mission of the Transformation Team
Transformation Team Mission Statement: "The Transformation Team determines, evaluates, and directs AR/AO training, resources, and support within UU YaYA communities in the context of their specific cultural needs. The TT is a center that facilitates, coordinates, and connects the various AR/AO work within the UU Youth and Young Adult Communities, to UU denominational institutions and society at large. The Transformation Team serves and acts as a body through which YRUU and CUUYAN are accountable to DRUUMM."

History of Establishing the Transformation Team
The transformation of YRUU and C*UUYAN into anti-racist, anti-oppressive multicultural communities has been a clear priority of the leadership of both organizations since anti-racism work was identified as a priority within the UUA in the 1997 GA Business Resolution. However, much of the work in the youth and young adult communities has been sporadic due to the fact that it has fallen on the shoulders of already overburdened staff.

In 2001, two years after C*UUYAN and YRUU Steering Committees made intentional commitments to Anti-Racism/Anti-Oppression education and work, a collective of leaders agreed to convene a strategic planning meeting with the C*UUYAN Steering Committee, YRUU Steering Committee, DRUUMM, UUA, and youth-young adult leaders who have worked with C*UUYAN and YRUU communities around anti-racism/anti-oppression training and organizing. At this meeting a set of anti-racism initiatives was created entitled the Tampa Priorities for Anti-Racism.

In 2003, by the initiative of the UUA's Youth and Young Adult & Campus Ministry Offices and the direct involvement of a staff-appointed ad hoc youth-young adult team, a meeting was called in Portland, OR to review and envision the direction and development of resources for anti-oppression and anti-racism education. At this meeting the idea of a youth-young adult Transformation Team came about. That same year, at both the Youth Council and Concentric meetings, a resolution was formally adopted to create an anti-racism Design Team, charged with envisioning and creating an anti-racism Transformation Team to carry out AR/AO work within the youth-young adult communities.

Role of the Design Team
The Design Team is the current group of UU youth and young adults that has met three times in the past year to design the Transformation Team. The Design Team was created through a mandate from Youth Council and Concentric (see history above). Design Team members were selected by UUA staff in conjunction with the DRUUMM Youth and Young Adult Steering Committee. This resolution is the creation of the Design Team and represents its decisions about the design of the Transformation Team.

Funding
Both the Young Adult and Campus Ministry and the Youth Office of the Unitarian Universalist Association have committed to funding the Transformation Team to the best of their ability. As well, members of the Design Team are currently pursuing small grants from the YACM Office's Special Projects Grants and YFUUD to the support the work of the Tranformation Team.

Structure of the Transformation Team
Time commitment: Maximum of four meetings per year; two-year term, with one additional year of mentorship to a new member (no meeting attendance required during mentorship year).

Membership Requirements: Majority people need some Anti-racism organizing experience; Ability to self-critique; 50% the team should have history of YRUU, CUC, and/or C*UUYAN involvement.

Total members: 8

Decision-making: Consensus should be used as decision making process with written description about how consensus was made and if there are stand asides why there are stand asides.

Roles: Two co-chairs, secretary; rotating facilitation and agenda creating, appointed by co-chairs.

Accountability: The Transformation Team will create a system of accountability in which each member has a specific constituency to which ze/she/he is accountable and in close communication.

Selection: Transformation Team will be chosen by the Design Team in collaboration with DRUUMM YaYA SC, YRUU SC, C*UUYAN SC, and ARID.

Timeline

Two Year Plan

• 9/04 Announce TT members
  
• 10/04 Large AR/Strategy meeting with EVERYONE (DRUUMM YAYA SC, YRUU SC, C*UUYAN SC) TT focus on internal relationship building. Have a meeting with ARID
  
• 11/04 DRUUMM Con, have first biz. Meeting and meet with DRUUM SC to discuss accountability
  
• 10/04-1/05 Continual Communication to be determined before Oct. meeting with constituencies. Plan GA activities
  
• 1/05 Evaluate ToTO program, fundraising/regional organizing. Accountability structure
  
• 4/05 Evaluate past year and recruitment strategy.
  
• 6/05 TT, new members selected at GA, TT brunch and awards
  
• 8/05 TT goes to YC and Concentric announce members and report back from year
  
• 10/05 LTP transform institutions, advanced AR training,
  
• 1/06 Compiled resources published
  
• (1 ½ years: Begin creating application process for new members, although some people stay over. Continuous: prototype focus/pilot group to incorporate AR work into coming of age programming (by end of 2 years) process of institutional memory - continue developing/compiling AR resources stay in contact with Arid group, ongoing recruitment and identifying those already involved, possible new leadership, ongoing work/chat with AR/ToTO continually supporting AR UU resources.)
  
  

Five Year Plan

• Year One
  o smaller resource group within the TT delegated by who works with AR ToTO/ARIC people creating workshops
  o begin working for funds that are not YO/YACM
  o push for UUA staff/board to attend AR workshops
  o begin creating website identifying AR organizers
  
• Year Two:
  o start organizing for paid staff position
  o revision/plan for next five years
  
• Year Three
  o Constant relationship with LFD
  o Washington Office - structural change/analysis -> attend AR programming through year
  o Responsible for building formal relationships with other AR/AO groups
  o Evaluating SC's , bylaws/structures, accountable to AR/AO work
  o How can it be changed to be more accountable
  o TT incorporated into governing body
  
• Year Four
  o Reunion of former TT who would evaluate revision plan
  Year Five
  o Have paid staff position from UUA and CUC directly in lead of
  YO/YACM AR
  o AR component in Coming-of-Age program
  o AR training held semi-annually in districts/regions/campus

UU Anti-Racism History:
1967: walk out at General Assembly (GA), Black Affairs Council and Black and White Alternative had been established by this time
by 1994: Jubilee World Trainings began
1997: Journey Towards Wholeness Resolution at GA
1998: Youth Council Resolution "It's time we did something about Racism in YRUU"
1999: First AR trainers at Youth Council, people of color invited who were not Youth Council Representatives
mid 90's: "Race to Justice" curriculum created
late 90's: Thomas Jefferson district establishes first district based transformation team, AAUUM and LUUNA come together and form DRUUMM
2000: People of color caucus at Youth Council, Metro district AR conference for youth, Jubilee training model for youth in NH/VT district
2000-3: DRUUMM one day meeting after GA
2000-1: White Allies one day meeting after GA
early 2000's: developing AR/AO RE curriculum for children
2001: first DRUUMM YaYA Conference
2001: Tampa YaYA Resource Development
2002: First white ally YaYA Conference
2002-3: Budget cuts in UUA
Dec. 2002: MB, CBD, BCD districts host first faithbased AR con in Wooster
Summer 2002: Weeklong AR programming at Camp Unirondack for middle schoolers
2003: Resolution passed at Youth Council and ConCentric to create design/transformation teams
2003: Opus and ConCentric had AO as focus
2003: DRUUMM sent out call to white allies

Notes to the Design Team/Transformation Team:

• Clarify whether their work is around AR or AR/AO or AR/AO/MC. The title of the Transformation Team as an AR TT differs from their mission which refers to AR/AO rather than AR.
  
• Name as many stakeholders as currently known.
  
• In regards to CUC specifically, TT/DT realizes that the goal of having a paid staff position, both with UUA and CUC, is a long-term goal, which will require intentional outreach and accountability between TT/DT and these organizations.
  
• In the TT/DT mission statement; add something about outreach to other organizations like CUC, LUUNA, etc.

Consensus: 4 Stand Asides one person standing aside notes that the process has broken down and the way this conversation has been going has broken down community

A Resolution
That Will Ensure Steering Committee Continuity

Sponsor:
Katie Whitworth Jessica Whitworth

Point Person:
Katie Whitworth

Primary Aid:
Jennifer Dunmore

UU principle:
The one about social justice

Specific problem being addressed:
Steering committee has only one position which is two years, the POA. This means if no one chooses to run for reelection there may be nobody on the new steering committee from the previous year. It is a good idea to have at least one person who has been on steering committee the previous year.

This will hopefully achieve more continuity throughout steering committees.

How it will further principles:
It will help with organization. It will help information to be passed along. Less time will be spent trying to figure out how to do things someone already knows how to do. Conversations will not have to be repeated as often. There will be more time to spend on things like AR, liasonining, YC planning, and other conversations.

Short terms goals.
This year at YC 2004 elect one position from POCAC for a 2 year term. It should happen this year so it can be staggered with the POA. If it doesn't happen this year, it would have to wait until 2006. Time is of the essence.
This will have little affect on the organization of steering committee. Often times people will run and get elected for two terms. This will just guarantee that there will always be at least one returning member to steering committee. Also, the structure of steering committee might change with common ground. So this may only be temporary.

This will take almost no effort to implement. It will require no extra money or resources.

One reason this two-year position should be a POCAC is because it will require no by-law changes making it easier to implement. Also it helps to support the other members of POCAC to have a member who has been there before. A lot of AR issues come on Steering Committee and a 2nd year POCAC member is really helpful. This resolution will make something that usually happens and is a good idea on official part of the Steering Committee structure.

Consensus: Achieved among the People of Color Caucus and informally affirmed by the larger Youth Council

In the Spirit of Canada

Sponsors: Meggie Dennis, Jenny Dunmore, George Brown, Laura Mannig, Ian More, Kendra Joseph-Rodgers and Lydia Palot-Hobbs

Point people: Meggie Dennis, Jenny Dunmore, Laura Manning, and Topher West

Primary aids: Jason Lydon, Mimi LaValley

UU/YRUU Principle:
The goal of world community;
The inherent worth and dignity of every person;
Justice, equity and compassion in human relations;
The goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all

Specific issue or problem being addressed:
As the UUA continues to be in a budgetary crisis and as anti-racism funding is not where it needs to be it is the duty of Youth Council and other youth and youth supportive communities to financially support this vital work. This past year we have expanded our anti-racism programming to include the anti-racism Trainer/organizer Program as well as the Design Team/Transformation Team but we do not have the money to fund these programs to their fullest extent. Money is being obtained from grants, the UUA, and the Mind the Gap fund but these resources are not enough to cover the expenses this community accrues by being committed to this struggle.

Hope to achieve:

• Enough funding to support another meeting of the Anti-Racism Trainer/Organizer Program to continue to develop our resources and organizing abilities.
  
• Enough funding to support the ongoing work of the Design team/Transformation Team
  
• An understanding of the need for all YRUU constituencies to give what they are able in order to continue this struggle

Short Term Goals:

• Start a conversation about the need to better fund Anti-racism work within the Association
  
• Create a better dialogue with the Board of Trustees for increasing the funding of the anti-racism work within YRUU, C*UUYAN, and DRUUMM
  
• Reaching out to districts and talking about the need to do anti-racism work within our denomination
  
• Encourage districts to start or continue the discussion with ARTOP collective members

Steps to Achieve:

• Ask districts and regions for roughly one additional dollar for each attendee to their youth conferences, leaving specific methods of fundraisers to each district/region, to be donated to a fund created by the Youth Office specifically for Anti-racism work
  
• Ways to do this include: adding $1.00 to registration fees, add $1.00 per conference attendee to the expenses of each conference, and any other creative idea works as well
  
• Encourage youth and youth allies to have conversations with large donors, churches, Board members, District Board members, etc. about providing sufficient funding or donation for anti-racism work. This includes talking with home congregations and youth groups to do fundraising. Supporting Anti-racism work is everybody's responsibility.

Evaluation:

• Have the Youth Office monitor the money which is coming in
  
• Encourage districts to monitor there own contributions

Long term goals:

• District youth being informed about anti-racism work on local, district/regional and continental level
  
• With local support for anti-racism work shown by districts/regions these donations will show to the UUA's leadership and decision making bodies a need for greater institutional funding
  
• Being able to use some of the money for DRUMM scholarships
  
• Help fund districts who can't afford Anti-racism trainings/workshops

Local and district/regional resources:

• District/region treasures/other make sure the money gets sent to the Youth Office
  
• YCR's inform district/regions about Anti-racism working being done in YRUU
  
  

Resources YRUU has that will be used:

• The Youth Office can help track the donations and make sure that it is used for Anti-racism work
  
• Anti-Racism Trainer/Organizer Program (ARTOP) will ensure that districts/regions will receive information about holing a anti-racism conference or workshop
  
  

Financial impact:

• A rise in conference prices by one dollar per person
  
• Increase in anti-racism budget
• Youth Council Acknowledges that any monetary requests systemically perpetuates classism, however, to actively challenge racism, oppression, and prejudice in numerous forms, is asking for support of this resolution by districts/regions.

Consensus: Passes with one stand aside: Reason noted is that it might be more effective to take this to the UUA Board of Trustees Finance Committee instead.

YRUU's Commitment
to Involvement with The Paper Campaign

Sponsor: Shana B. Ortman and Siri Larsen
Point person: Shana B. Ortman
Primary aide: Siri Larsen

UU principle: Justice, equity and compassion in human relations. The respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part

Specific problem being addressed:
The pulp and paper industry is the largest single industrial wood consumer in the US of A and in the world.

Ever since many of us were in elementary school, bright plastic bins have appeared in classrooms throughout the US of A, and people all over the country have taken their recyclable goods to the curb each week. Nonetheless, walk into any paper aisle at most office store, book store or supermarket, trying to find paper that contains any semblance of recycled content proves difficult if not impossible; magazines and catalogs printed on recycled paper are almost nonexistent. The production of paper is currently causing widespread forest destruction.

Every year, catalog retailers mail out approximately 17 billion catalogs. That's 59 catalogs for every person in the US of A. Yet almost none of this paper contains any recycled content. This means that every year, over eight million tons of trees go straight into catalogs, 95% of which are discarded or recycled unread. Many of these trees come from North America's last remaining old growth and endangered forests, including Canada's Boreal forest, the second largest road less area on the planet, the size of 12 California's laid side by side.

At 1.4 billion acres, the great Canadian Boreal forest is an ecosystem of astonishing scope and significance; it is larger than the Brazilian Amazon and three and a half times the size of Alaska, and rare species of wolves, wolverines, and woodland caribou thrive there. The Boreal is home to approximately 500 First Nation communities, but as logging trucks plow through their communities, these people suffer. The Grassy Narrows First Nation, for example, suffers acute health problems from uncontrolled logging, as mercury and other poisons from pulp mills have contaminated their drinking water and fishing sources. Billions of North America's birds nest in the Boreal every year, but in Ontario logging destroyed 85,000 migratory bird nests in 2001 alone. Because the Boreal holds more carbon than any other place on earth, its destruction would release greenhouse gases and increase global warming, transforming the Boreal from one of the few "lungs of the planet" into the world's largest climate destabilizer.

Every day we are losing more of our forests to the production of paper. Paper production is one of the primary reasons our forests are being clear-cut at such a dizzying pace. And many of these products - especially catalogs - are never even used, or used once and thrown away. There is no reason that our forests have to be cut so massively for catalogs when there are other sustainable alternatives. This is why we are now working to change the catalog industry, one corporation at a time.

Hope to achieve:
This Paper Campaign's goal is to protect forests by changing the way paper is made in the US of A. This is done by harnessing the power of the marketplace to take pressure off of endangered forests, which are being cut at unsustainable rates and with destructive practices to make products that can often be made from other materials. This market-based approach uses public pressure, protests, events, articles and paid media, and negotiations to persuade key companies to make environmental commitments. Moving on from successful campaigning against the office supply industry, this Paper Campaign is now focusing on the catalog industry. While working with a number of large and small progressive catalogers on making changes for their catalogs, this Paper Campaign will also focus on a specific corporate target. This target will be launched in September, but more information will be distributed between now and then. In passing this resolution, YRUU will make a commitment to being involved in the paper campaign in any of the many ways it can (see goals and steps to achieve).

How this will further the principles and vision of YRUU:
This campaign is the perfect way to put our faith into action. Social justice and social change have always been the foundation that YRUU stands upon. We know that we must work to change the world we live in, in order to for it to last and for it to be a just and better world. Standing up to corporate injustices is a fun and important way to stand up for environmental justice. Certain corporations like Victoria's Secret, L. L. Bean, and J. Crew think that they continue with their destructive practices, continue to make their profits, and that we won't notice. It is time for us to notice and to take action to show that we notice. As the progressive community, it is our responsibility to take on corporate America and show them that we want our forests protected.

Short term goals and steps to achieve:

• Educate district Social Action Coordinators about the campaign
  
• Read and utilize the action packet (coming soon) from FE (Forest Ethics)
  
• Distribute materials and information at the YSJC to SAC's and others
  
• Raising awareness about paper consumption and paper usage within the UU community
  
• Invite Forest Ethics to give presentation about endangered forests/the Paper Campaign
  
• Provide information and materials to conduct surveys at churches to assess paper usage and the amount of post-consumer recycled paper used by churches.
  
• Reduce paper consumption/commit to saving endangered forests
  
• Get churches to sign on to Endangered Forest Values sign-on
  
• Increase post-consumer recycled content in all paper products in churches to 50% or 100%
  
• Committing to using as much recycled paper as possible in the Youth Office with registration forms, pre- and post-packets, and other distributed information and resources.
  
• Print double sided and print less
  
• Help support the corporate campaign and make corporate target get out of Endangered Forests.
  
• Help youth create an action/event for churches to do during the fall as part of the weekly actions across the country
  
• Participate in the December 1st national day of action
  

Local and district/regional resources: YRUU will be able to utilize the materials that will come from the Forest Ethics office in the fall. These include an action packet, postcards, stickers, information, one-on-one phone calls, etc. Shana and Siri would be able to attend the YSJC to talk about the campaign with SACs and provide materials.

Long term Goals and steps to achieve:

• Move UU churches and the Youth Office to sign on to Endangered Forest (EF) Values statement and use as much 100% post-consumer recycled paper products as possible by assessing and acting on their paper consumption.
• Have a blurb in each pre- and post-packet from events about the packets being printed on recycled paper and why. (Provide Youth Office with that info and the blurb.)
  
• Move corporations to use more recycled content and to stop using products from endangered forests.

Local and district people: YCR's, SAC's, the Youth Office and any other interested and committed youth

Organization or books that can be used: Forest Ethics and Shana will provide info about alternative paper sources for churches, info about Endangered Forests, and other materials. Forest Ethics could make stops on info tours to speak to congregations, and will provide action packet, postcards, stickers, etc, as well as be available for advice/help anytime.

Financial impact: Only low costs for actions will be needed. It would be helpful to have a small amount of money set aside that youth groups/SAC's/individuals could apply for if they really need it for an action they want to take and they need more resources than Shana/Siri/FE can give them.

Evaluation: Shana and Siri will send out letters to SAC's to see what steps districts or individuals have taken or are taking and offer assistance for furthering their goals where needed.

Consensus: Passes

Resolution to Establish a Reading Panel
for the Selection of a Youth Trustee

Sponsor: YRUU Steering Committee
Point Person: Julian Sharp
Primary Aid: Tim Fitzgerald and Mandy Keithan

UU Principle:
This resolution will provide for a youth trustee to be selected for the Board of Trustees in a way accountable to the YRUU Community. It represents the importance of the democratic process, and youth empowerment and representation in UUA governance.

Problem Being Addressed:
As of now, Youth are not a part of the formal process for nominating the Youth Trustee position. YRUU recognizes the importance of this position and of the selection process being fair and accountable to youth.

Goals:
A Reading Panel will be formed to review applications and make a recommendation of a youth to the UUA nomination committee. This panel will consist of:
· 1 Steering Committee member
· 1 Youth Caucus member
· 1 Nominating Committee member
· 2 Youth Council members (1 POCC)
· 1 Outgoing Youth Trustee
· 1 Youth Office Staff Member (for purpose of institutional memory)

After reading the applications the panel will hold a conference call to select, by consensus, an applicant to recommend for the position to the nominating committee.

Resources Needed:
The UUA Nominating Committee will defer costs for mailing and copying applications and for hosting the conference call. One Youth Office Staff person will need to dedicate some time to application review and the phone conference.

Consensus: Two people not present during decision

Common Ground III:
Can we just change the world already?

Sponsors: YRUU Steering Committee

Primary Aid: Jennifer Dunmore, Megan Dowdell, Tim Fitzgerald

Purposes:

• Extend and strengthen the Unitarian Universalist institution of YRUU through visioning and long term planning.
  
• Gather the ideas, visions and support of congregational youth who are not formally associated with YRUU.
  
• Explore what it means to be accountable to all Unitarian youth and learn how to accommodate their diverse needs.
  
• Foster and develop strong connections with the Board of Trustees and other adults.

History/Cover Letter:
In 1981, after the collapse of Liberal Religious Youth, the organization of Unitarian Universalist youth in Canada and the United States, young people needed a total revisioning of youth programming and the way their organization worked. Such a large scale revisioning came in the form of Common Ground I, an event that brought together all the visionaries and young people with great ideas in the UUA and CUC. These youth and adult allies envisioned what a new and improved organization might look like within the larger adult structure. A year later many youth with planning and implementation ideas came together to figure out how to implement the ideas of young UUs. During that two year process, Young Religious Unitarian Universalists was formed.

At the time of the Common Grounds, youth and adults came together and charted a structure, a purpose, bylaws and procedures and core programming components for YRUU. For over twenty years, these documents have remained virtually unchanged and there has been little opportunity for a large revisioning of YRUU by the youth who are invested in it. There have been several attempts at reexamining our organization, but very few of the ideas generated have been implemented to date. Efforts like the 15 year review, the youth advisor Task Force, the Long Range Planning meeting, have tried to gather together the important players of YRUU and youth programs to look at the way we work, but each time the ball has been dropped and YRUU has continued unchanged. Although we need to value the work done and use the ideas generated from these meetings, a bigger scale revisioning is needed for our organization and revisions the very soul and spirit of YRUU.

We feel that this revisioning is Common Ground III, to be held in 2006. There are many reasons why it would be appropriate and strategic to hold CGIII as soon as possible and the following are just a few of them. YRUU needs new visions and goals, after 20 years of existence, staff positions have been cut and structures changed to compensate, anti-racism and anti-oppression is shifting the direction YRUU is taking, many youth have so little connection to UUism and YRUU, the leadership has become less accountable to its constituents, the recent UUA/CUC split and growing concerns about the rift between YRUU and adults.

Our goal for CGIII is to bring together many different youth and adults who have diverse views on YRUU and youth programming. We need to reach out beyond the leadership bodies, beyond youth who attend continental events, beyond the advisors who attend every conference. For YRUU to really look at itself critically, we need to gather together representatives of all the aspects of YRUU, including UU youth who are not even involved on a local level in a youth group.

Common Ground III must incorporate the views of the youth who are always present and the youth who are seldom heard, especially those who are part of marginalized groups in our faith such as people of colour and members of the GLBT community. Only when we bring together all these groups and hear the voices of all the youth and adults involved with youth programs can we truly obtain the buy-in and support of all the members of YRUU. If the revisioning of Common Ground III is successful, YRUU will become a more inclusive and effective organization that can serve the needs of diverse groups of youth.

Ideas for the formation of the Common Ground III Planning Group have been bounced around, but there is still a need to reevaluate who will be on this group and how they will be selected. It has been decided that the co-conveners of the Planning Group will be a youth elected at Youth Council and Bill Sinkford. Hopefully Bill and the youth selected will show in the planning process what it means for youth and adults to have a productive and accountable youth-adult relationship.

It is extremely important for the entire planning group and process that youth and adults on the Planning Group work in accountable relationships that demonstrate youth empowerment. In a meeting with the YRUU Steering Committee, Bill Sinkford, Megan Dowdell, and Paul Richter a possible structure was brainstormed for the CGIII Planning Group. On this group there are the co-conveners, a Steering Committee or Youth Council representative, a DRE, a Common Ground 1 or 2 staff member or participant, a congregational youth not involved in the structure of YRUU on a district or continental level, a youth on Board of Trustees, an adult on Board of Trustees, a member of the Youth Office Staff, a member of the UUA Staff, and a DRUUMM YaYA representative.

There are concerns with the adult-youth ratio on this possible structure, and with the institutional power on the Planning Group. Steering Committee will brainstorm other possible ideas for the formation of the Planning Group and get them to the Board ASAP.

Keep in mind that Common Ground III is not definitely going to happen, and that Youth Council must come to consensus on the resolution before any more steps can be taken. We welcome any feedback the Board has on this proposal, and the Steering Committee will consider the recommendations made. In accordance with YRUU's system of Youth Empowerment, this proposal has been drafted by youth, and all changes will be made by youth with imput and feedback from adult allies. We look forward to working with the Board on this project, and hope that Common Ground III will renew the YRUU and UUA commitment to accountable, empowering youth-adult partnerships.

Thank you for your support. If you would like to reach any Steering Committee member, our contact information is at www.uua.org/yruu/governance and can also be obtained from the Youth Office.

Sincerely,
The YRUU Steering Committee

Specific Problem being addressed:
YRUU has not had a serious large revisioning session in a long, long time. Figuring out what it means to be a sponsored organization of the UUA, to be accountable to all UU youth and to exist as a unique cross-border organization with a relationship with the UUA and the CUC. We would also like to clarify the role of UU youth in the UUA and the denomination as a larger body.

Short term goal: To hold Common Ground III

1. Find site in the St. Louis, MO area
   a. The reasoning behind the initial choice of this site is that General Assembly 2006 is in that area and June of 2006 would be an ideal time for CGIII. St. Louis is also a central location to accommodate youth from many geographical areas.
   
2. Find out how much money is available from outside the YRUU budget
   
3. Explore the ways in which as many people as possible can attend the meeting
   
4. Chose a date and finalize length of the meeting. Date recommendation is after General Assembly in June/July 2006.
   
5. Put together a planning committee and eventually pick a group of staff for CGIII.
   a. Use outside facilitation for large group meetings. Conferees will be empowered to create the agendas and visions for this conference.
   b. The Planning Committee will work with YRUU Steering Committee to find an appropriate way to pick staff.
   
6. Figure out a way to make the meeting more accountable to people who can't come. Discuss how to get the ideas and energy of YRUUers and UU youth that won't be able to attend the meeting.
   
7. Compile the results of the Common Ground III Survey, which has been distributed by the Youth Office.
   
   

Evaluation: The meeting shall be evaluated by the participants. From the group of participants, a group will be created to compile the evaluations and then send them to the youth office to be put in the upcoming years youth council pre-packet. Although recommendations of the Long Range Planning Meeting were not implemented, the structure of having a continuing task force to monitor the implementation and accountability of YRUU to the recommendations may be an appropriate process for implementing CGIII.

Local and District people: We are choosing not to differentiate between "local/district people" and "continental people" because we feel that that distinction breaks down the YRUU community and furthers the current culture of an exclusive leadership body. However it is important that at the Common Ground III meeting there are youth participants with a wide variety of experiences in YRUU and UUA youth programming, involved in all levels of programming and involvement.

Long term goal: To revision all of YRUU

1. Through the conference we hope to hear the visions and opinions of youth and advisors from all levels of YRUU and all geographic areas. We also need to make sure the voices of marginalized groups, such as BGLT youth and people of colour are heard and that their ideas are incorporated into the revisioning of YRUU.
   
2. To reexamine and change for the better the face of YRUU. The changes adopted will likely affect the structure, staff, programming, bylaws and priorities of Unitarian Universalist youth and may drastically alter the path that YRUU is currently taking.

Resources: Money from YFUUD and a general FUUD grant could likely be obtained through the application process. We recognize that all UUA budgets are tight this year and will be for the years to come but we have also noticed the huge cuts to the Youth Office that have taken their toll on YRUU programming. It is unlikely that the Youth Office will be able to contribute any significant funds for Common Ground III.

As the leadership and CGIII Planning Committees study the history of Common Grounds in the youth movement and learn about best practices for CGIII, we will use such written resources as the SCOYP report, fifteen year review, the Youth Advisor Task Force report, Wayne Arnason's book on LRY, and the history of YRUU and Anti-racism in the UUA. We will also be in close contact with Common Ground I and II participants, staff and planning committees as well as interviewing people who were youth or advisors around the time of the formation of YRUU. The information that these people share with the planning committee will help us set up the logistics and meeting procedures of Common Ground III.

How will this further the principles and vision of YRUU? By envisioning where YRUU will go in the future and making new goals for the organization I think that this conference will help YRUU grow stronger, create a blueprint for future leadership, help to create stronger institutional ties with the UUA and CUC, and generally help make YRUU more meaningful for those involved in it.

How will this further the greater denomination and the world? As of 2001, the president of the UUA is the former president of Liberal Religious Youth, the predecessor to YRUU. This is true of many of the UUA's leaders, so by creating a better YRUU, we are working to create a better future for the UUA and CUC. As well, a new and improved YRUU is likely to inspire more dedication to anti-oppression and anti-racism work, which will hopefully make Unitarian Universalism a truly welcoming place and a leader for the world in these aspects of social justice.

Organizations that will be involved: Many YRUUers are already connected and deeply involved in many organizations outside of the UUA, which has created a more inclusive, connected and knowledgeable YRUU body. In general, there will be a strong push to make sure that organizations within the UUA and CUC are involved in the revisioning process and support the outcomes of the conference. UUA affiliated groups that we will likely be involved with include Lifespan Faith Development, Liberal Religious Educators and Directors Assn., Identity-Based Ministries, Diverse Revolutionary UU Multicultural Ministries and the Young Adult and Campus Ministry Office. Great support for Common Ground III has already been shown by the UUA president, Bill Sinkford.

Fiscal Impact: At present, little financial analysis of this gathering has been done but some numbers have been explored for the CGIII planning committee. The cost of CGIII has been estimated at tens of thousands of dollars, including the planning, staff support and the actual event.

Consensus: Not Reached; Referred to Committee

Reasons for stand asides:

• we didn’t address all of the concerns listed.
• Can’t support CG3 without addressing all of the concerns.
• Still confused as to why we even need a CG3, we already had LRP.
• Feel very strongly to pass CG3 but that seems to block consensus, and this resolution wouldn’t have been brought up if everyone in UU youth ministries was being served.
• During this process people have not listened, not represented constituencies, have gone off topic and been led off topic.
• This CG3 can happen whether we buy into it or not, feel lonely here about that.
• Mental capacity is not allowing to pay attention long enough to understand what is being said.
• Need self-care and can’t pass this without going through all the concerns.
• We can’t possibly solve this without sending it to committee.
• Can’t agree with resolution as it stands.

Irresolvable concerns:

• Feel that we would have better accountability for our constituents under the precedent set by LRP; since we don’t have resolution in front of us there’s lots of information missing.
• Really disheartened by the fact that Bill came out here to build a relationship and made it clear that this wouldn’t necessarily pass but that YC must come to consensus on this resolution before any more steps can be taken;see too much conflict.
• Seems like a problem of youth empowerment vs. youth entitlement.

Clarification: Lyn said the Board can do this without youth buy-in, but won’t necessarily do that.
Suggestion: YRUU evaluates its decision process. Thank you so much for staying at the table, it means so much, this says volumes.
Suggestion: assume good intentions on both sides of Board and YRUU.
Question: if this doesn’t pass, will Board look into any of the concerns listed here if they choose to evaluate youth ministry anyway?
Answer: The entire Board will get Lyn’s notes, which have times on them. Board will probably refer this to the Board Working Group.
Concern: If we don’t pass this the Board still could.
Concerns: Hidden agenda from the Steering Committee through the entire process and that broke down the community. Feelings of being betrayed by people who were controlling the process. It is disruptive to the consensus process for this breakdown to exist. If people are so outside of their needs from self care that they are falling asleep during the process they are not representing their constituencies and are hurting the consensus process.

Sending the Resolution to Committee:

Proposal: old Steering Committee would get the names and information from people who are interested specifically from Adults, youth at large, People of Color Caucus, Youth Council Representatives, New Steering Committee, and Old Steering Committee