The New York State Convention of Universalists 2002-2003 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 2003 the Convention supported a special grant of $1,000 for the Metro NY District. The Convention has loaned over $200,000 to the First Universalist Church of Southold and the Unitarian Universalist Church of Amherst. These loans are scheduled for repayment during the next three years. The NYSCU granted $37,450 for eleven additional special projects this year. These include: a seventh year of UU participation in Interfaith Impact of New York State continued co-sponsorship of the John Murray Distinguished Lecture at the UUA General Assembly www.murraygrove.org   an innovative inmate transition program by the UU Congregation of the Catskills a collaborative growth program by the Oneonta and Binghamton congregations a second year of distribution of “UU & Me” to 7-year olds in NYS congregations  support for publication of a children’s picture book about Adin Ballou a grant to Unirondack’s capital campaign www.unirondack.org support for publication by Skinner House Books of “The Larger Message: Universalist Religious Education’s Response to Theological and Cultural Challenges: 1790 to 1930” by the Rev. Dr. Elizabeth Strong additional projects that promote the growth of Unitarian Universalism The 2002 Annual Meeting of the Convention was held this past October at All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church in Watertown, NY. The keynote speaker was the Rev. Thandeka. Workshops highlighted past grant recipients of the NYSCU, including Soulful Sundowns, as well as highlighting new initiatives in the UU movement like Green Sanctuary Program. Information on current and past grant recipients is available at <www.nyscu.org>. The 2003 meeting of the Convention will be held October 10-11 at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Middletown, NY. The keynote speaker will be the Rev. William F. Schulz of Amnesty International USA and former president of the UUA. 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 First Universalist Church of Rochester, 150 Clinton Ave. South, Rochester, NY 14604-1897. Susan M. Shaw, Secretary 12 March 2003 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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