From your (Cedars) Prez - about AGM

Last weekend in Salem, OR was my 2nd experience at the Pacific NW District (of the UUA) Annual General Meeting. And again, I was surprised at how much I enjoyed it and learned from it. In my former professional life, I attended so many conferences, most of which were of limited value or interest. But these UUA/PNWD conferences are different.

For one thing, it is amazing how exhilarating it is to be around SO MANY UUs!  So many people who ardently believe as I do, in values that I so deeply believe would make this world a hugely better place. I've even started to feel that UUs need to do an intervention in the halls of Congress and the Senate to teach these folks about our 7 principles. Getting them all to start each session and each day with our affirmation would be such a big help, don't you think?  (Maybe we could start with our own COBI government!)

Secondly, I always learn useful and interesting information about how we UUs can make a difference in the world; and I learn useful information about how to make Cedars a better place for all of us.

The most interesting workshop I attended was on blogging - how blogs in congregations can enhance communication, engagement in the congregation's activities, and even excitement in what's going on. This workshop was co-led by the minister at the UU church on Whidbey Island who maintains a blog (Ms. Kitty's Saloon and Road Show) that has become very popular even beyond her congregation. (Perhaps our ministers could be persuaded to have a blog?) What I am particularly hopeful of is that Cedars' blog could become an active, vital place to exchange ideas and be an avenue of open communication between the Board of Trustees and Cedars' members.  The Board wants and needs to hear from Members so that it makes policies that are appropriately responsive to Members' needs and wishes. I will try out for the rest of this church year (end of June), writing a "From the Board" post after each Board meeting to let anyone who's interested know about some of the ideas that surfaced, and about any interesting discussions that could benefit from Members' input. With some publicity, I am hoping that more Members will come to the blog and let us know what they think.