Youth News
A CONquest report from Eve Markovitz
Nashville, TN
So, what do you get when you put around 40 of the best, craziest, funniest, UU youth in a building together for a weekend? (With a fieldtrip to Outloud) You get an amazing time and around 40 new friends.
I was one of the Co-Deans for the CON, which is kind of like a youth boss-person. Fortunately, I didn't really have to do anything. The youth were all really great so there weren't any discipline problems! I really didn't have to use my super powers and open up a can of punishment.
CONs are a great way for youth to meet others from different states and become buddies. I absolutely love CONs because they are a way to spend an entire weekend with all of my friends (without my mom or anyone's parents around!) Don't get me wrong, there are plenty of parental units around making sure we don't do anything that would hurt our inherent worth and dignity. They aren't there to necessarily keep us in line, because as Unitarians, we are respected for whatever shape we make, and they want us to be free to explore away from the "line." The advisors are the CONs are spectacular for keeping us happy and safe.
I am so grateful to the Unitarian churches that participate in CONs. I don't know what I'd do without them. CONquest Co-Dean, Eve Markovitz
News from the YoUUth Groups, from Dana Poss:
After a hiatus during the holidays, the youth are off and running.
The senior high group had its second (and final) district Youth-Adult Committee (YAC) meeting January 11th-13th in Oxford, Mississippi. The district officers from UUCB that attended were Eve Markovitz (social action coordinator), Sarah Swatzell (secretary) and John Albea (networker). Christien Sullivan also attended as a delegate. I never cease to be amazed at the amount of work these youth manage to squeeze in to a weekend conference. They do everything from analyze and revise the district bylaws to plan the dates and venues for next year's youth CONs. (Personally, I had to take a nap after lunch while these guys kept rolling along.)
The congregation at the Oxford church really went to incredible lengths for our group. On Saturday evening they hosted a potluck dinner for the YACers. Almost the entire congregation showed up to share community with us. Later, around midnight, when it was obviously most appreciated, 5 pizzas were delivered, paid for by an anonymous benefactor. It was heart-warming to witness the dedication this congregation places on youth programs at all levels. We even seem to have recruited some new youth into the district YAC from Oxford, as well.
All-in-all, it was a dynamic and enjoyable meeting and retreat.
We are so excited that CONquest, our social action CON regarding GLBTQQ issues is FINALLY near. Eve Markovitz, as social action coordinator, has done an outstanding job of working with Tristen and Rick Wolfe from Clarksville and Scott Weaver from Nashville to ensure this CON runs smoothly, is educational and entertaining.
The district YAC has also requested that UUCB host the Jr. High youth CON in April 2009. We'll need a 'flashlight patrol" for Friday and Saturday night, again. It would also be wonderful if our congregation could host a potluck the Saturday night of that CON, the way the Oxford congregation did for us. We look forward to more of the same tremendous support you have given our youth in the past in this endeavour, as well.
As for our middle school group, we seem to be gaining new members at each monthly meeting! I could really use more help from some of our adults to help facilitate these monthly game/meeting/lunch days. Even if you could only volunteer one Sunday a year, it would really make a difference. This group is so enthusiastic and energetic and creative. Working with them is an absolute joy. Please contact me or the DRE if you can volunteer one Sunday of your time to this worthy cause.
Finally, I would like to close by thanking you all for allowing me to work with your youth. We have some of the most wonderful and hard-working youth I've ever had the pleasure of meeting. I hope that someday I grow up to be just like them.
In faith and love,
Dana Poss
UUCB Senior Youth Advisor
MountainCamp 2008 provides meaningful, quality experiences for Youth
Need help with church acronyms?
Unitarian Universalist Church of Birmingham
A member congregation of the Unitarian Universalist Association
Location: 4300 Hampton Heights Drive · Birmingham, Alabama · 35209 · U.S.A
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 19786 · Birmingham, AL 35219
Phone: (205) 945-8109 · Fax: (205) 945-8111
E-mail: office@uucbham.org
Copyright © 2006-2008 Unitarian Universalist Church of Birmingham
All Rights Reserved.