The New York State Convention of Universalists 2001-2002 Report to the St. Lawrence and Metropolitan New York Unitarian Universalist Districts The Convention is pleased to continue its direct support of district programs, providing block grants of $11,000 to Metro NY and $17,000 to St. Lawrence districts. In addition to our ongoing support for each district’s operating budget, in 2002 the Convention supported a special leadership grant of $5,000 for the Metro NY District. Additional grants to the St. Lawrence District include $5,000 for a new leadership development program and $6,000 for a long range planning committee to deal with the consequences of the loss of all 19 Canadian congregations to the district. The Convention has outstanding loans of $50,000 to the First Universalist Church of Southold and $195,000 to the Unitarian Universalist Church of Amherst. The NYSCU granted $22,430 for ten additional special projects this year. These include: a sixth year of Unitarian Universalist participation in New York State Interfaith Impact www.interfaithimpactnys.org continued support for the Unitarian Universalist Women’s Heritage Society www.uuwhs.org publication of “A Bold Experiment” about the Charles Street Meeting House by Meadville/Lombard Theological School Press www.meadville.edu a grant to establish a UU Adoption Ministry website by the Church of the Open Door, Chicago, IL support for renovation of Unirondack’s Zigmund Cabin www.unirondack.org a second year of support for “Soulful Sundowns” by the Unitarian Universalist Church of Utica additional projects that promote the growth of Unitarian Universalism The 2001 Annual Meeting of the Convention was held this past November at the First Unitarian Universalist Society of Albany, NY. The keynote speaker was the Rev. José Ballester. Workshops highlighted past grant recipients of the NYSCU, including Interfaith Impact of NYS and a hands-on experience of Sacred Stories Theater incorporating social responsibility with drama to strengthen our expression of UU Principles. Information on past grant recipients is available at on our Grants & Loans webpage. The 2002 meeting of the Convention will be held October 25-26 at the All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church of Watertown NY. The keynote speaker will be the Rev. Dr. Thandeka, Associate Professor of Theology and Culture at Meadville/Lombard Theological School. While voting rights in the Convention extend only to delegates of the 23 member societies, all Unitarian Universalists are warmly invited to attend, for a day of workshops, worship, and fellowship. For further information about the Convention and our grants and loans opportunities, visit our web site at http://www.nyscu.org or write to NYSCU c/o Susan M. Shaw, 9A Evergreen Circle, Liverpool, NY 13090-3347. Susan M. Shaw, Secretary 1 March 2002 The New York State Convention of Universalists was organized in 1825. Today the Convention administers two large endowments. One provides pensions* for retired New York State Universalist ministers and their families; the other is used to promote the growth of the UU movement and to uphold the Universalist heritage. In addition, the Convention appoints the majority of the Board of the Saint Lawrence Foundation for Theological Education, which uses proceeds from a third endowment to support students studying for the UU ministry.

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