See You At General Assembly!
As I write this we are just about six weeks out from the start of General Assembly in Salt Lake City. I for one am really looking forward to returning to Utah. We have a very exciting agenda for the meeting including the election of a new president, some at-large trustees and the re-election of our moderator and financial advisor. UU University is going to be part of GA this time instead of a “pre-GA” event. Everyone gets to participate! The PSWD has always been known to send a very strong contingent of congregational representatives to GA. It was a little light last year in Fort Lauderdale but I expect we will once again have a strong showing from this corner of the country.
One item on the agenda that I am looking forward to is the vote on continuing the discussion of Article II of our Bylaws, better known as our Purposes and Principles. They have been under review by the Commission on Appraisal and now we have a chance to say either we want to continue a discussion of them for another year or no, we like them just the way they are so “leave ‘em alone”! Personally, I’m fine with a decision to leave them alone but I want that to be an informed decision if that is the way it goes. The most informed decision will come if we take the time to study this fundamental statement for the next year; so I am recommending a vote to pass the proposed revision for another year of study and discussion. In 2010 in Minneapolis, if we still want to make a change and two-thirds agree, then we will have a well-thought out revision of one of the most important parts of our bylaws.
If you have not made a decision yet as to whether to attend GA let me encourage you to do so. It is educational, inspirational, informational, emotional and renewing. There are great entertainment events going on both at GA and in the community (last GA I saw a wonderful organ recital in the Mormon Tabernacle – fabulous). If you have the time for a pre or post GA tour Utah has some of the most magnificent natural wonders in the country. It is either a fairly easy two day drive (or one hard day’s drive) or there are still good rates on flights from the southwest. So get some friends or family together, share a ride, share a room and have one of the best weeks of the summer in Salt Lake City this June! See you at GA!
Tom Loughrey
UUA Trustee from the PSWD
PSWD Trustee to the UUA Board
- Tom Loughrey
- I became the PSWD Trustee to the UUA Board in June of 2006 when Rev Ned Wight resigned to take a position in New York. In the fall of that same year I was elected to the position to complete the term ending in June of 2009. I am a 28 year member of Orange Coast in Costa Mesa and was previously a member of congregations in State College, PA and Gainesville, FL. I have served on the PSWD Board and have served on the deBenneville Board as a member and president. As part of my responsibilities as your Trustee I also sit as a voting member on the PSWD Board. On the UUA Board I serve in several capacities including Secretary of the Association and as a member of the Committee on Committees, which makes recommendations to the whole Board on appointments to various UUA Committees. In addition I have recently been appointed to the Governance Working Group. My wife Nancy, a former PSWD President, and I live in Orange, CA. We are the parents of three grown children and three grandsons, all of whom are increasingly spread around the country. Professionally, I am a health care manager and consultant primarily involved with physician practices.
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