For Everyone:

Annual Retreat

Leadership Training

Unity Links

UMMAS on Facebook

The meeting was opened with prayer at 9:30.

Present: James & Leah King, Ed & Erin Kosak, Dale Worley, Chad O’Shea, Neusom Holmes, Bruce Milne, Beth & Charlie Curtis, MaryAnn & Joel Blackford, Richard & Maureen Levy

Minutes of the Last Meeting: were approved as written.

Treasurer's Report:

• Checks for this retreat should be mailed to Terrance
• James will check with Terrance about discretionary funds that are available
• Ed moves to approve Financial Report;  MaryAnn seconds; all approve

1. The South East Region would love to join us every other year at Kanuga.  Last year SE lost $25,000 on their retreat and so they have decided to take a different track.  They like our speakers, so beginning in 2011 they would like to join us.  Their ministers would pay the regular price (average 50 attendees).  They will need a meeting space available to them during the meeting for their business meeting.  They are not asking for any participation in process, just attending the meeting.
• Chad will talk with Kanuga to assure that rooms are available
• Erin expressed desire to keep the focus on our regular Kanuga supporters and not make it a “minister’s” event – keep our current focus
• Ed stated that Russell has asked for the promotional materials be sent to Florida so that they can distribute it to all the snowbirds that head north during Kanuga time
• James will speak with Penny, as the registrar, to make sure that the registration process with 50 additional folks will work for her

• Ed motions to accept going forward in discussion with SE region; Joel seconds; all in favor
2. Leadership Training - July 16th & 17th – host church: Unity Mills River (Chad O’Shea)
   • We’ll be staying at the Hampton Inn, Arden – Chad needs to receive plans on attendance from everyone so that they can reserve blocks of rooms
   • Bill Easom will be the speaker, he will be speaking about strategies on church growth, creating a dynamic experience where everyone is involved.  Chad will send a write-up about Bill to us for promoting the event with our leaders and board members.

3. Host churches for February and May, 2011 churches
   • Greenville SC will host in February 2011, Raleigh NC in May 2011
   • Ed suggests we contact one of the Tennessee churches to host so that we can get the Tennessee churches involved.  Neusom suggests we offer airline tickets to anyone who has to travel over – discussion.  Erin suggests travel voucher/scholarships up to $200 per person with a cap of 5 people per event.  Consideration of distance from the retreat/meeting site will be criteria for acceptance – discussion.  Suggested that Lisa, as VP, contact some of the out-lying churches to investigate the level of interest – whether this new policy would indeed increase attendance by some of those churches
   • James will contact Lisa
   • Ed moves that we offer five (5), $200 travel vouchers to ministers/spiritual leaders who want to come to UMMAS meetings, based on the following criteria:
     • Distance from site meeting
     • Availability
     • Deadline is 6 weeks prior to meeting
   • Neusom seconds motion; all in favor

4. Kanuga 2010 (September 13 – 17)
   • Mary Manin Morrissey is speaker, $5,000 inclusive.  She will be bringing an assistant at her own expense.  She will speak to ministers on Tuesday morning, and keynote 2 times.  She will stay through Thursday, share meals and be available during event.
   • Cheryl needs workshop descriptions from everyone – everyone urged to get those in within the next 7 days
   • Ed will get all of the promotional materials to Russell in Florida
   • $150 per minister
   • Richard and Maureen will use their “first-time” attending benefit for the Kanuga event
   • Blackburn’s will not be attending Kanuga so Bruce Milne will head up the Talent Show
   • Discussion regarding the closing ceremony -  Levy’s will do The Oneness Blessing.  Further discussion on Felicia’s time slot – switching Dale Worley’s Dancing with the Divine time slot and Felicia’s workshop. 
   • James will check with Doug about Yoga practitioner

5. Kanuga 2011
   • Coordinator/”Cruise Director” – Erin is willing to help someone but would not be available for 2011; Joel & MaryAnn will work together as a coordinating team
   • Possible speakers – Sky St.John, Iyanla Vanzant, Sharon Salzberg, Marianne Williamson, Filmore family, Pema Chodron; Bolozof, Stephen Levin, Neal Donald Walsh, Alan Cohen, Wayne Muller, Carlton Pearson, Greg Braden, Robin Reiter, Lynn Twist, Karen Drucker, Janice Stanfield, Karl Anthony, Jim Rosemergy

6. Requests for Funding
   • SE Region requested we send 2 representatives to Regional this year instead of one – last year we paid, via scholarship, for one minister to go. Discussion
   • Ed motions that we allocate $400 for a minister to go to SE regional meeting, with $200 coming from discretionary tithe and $200 from general fund; Dale seconds; all in favor
   • Neusom requested scholarship of $800 to cover a stipend for a student in his church to do his internship at the Village.  Discussion
   • Ed motions that we give $800 to Neusom’s student, Tim Armstrong, for internship; Erin seconds; all in favor
   • Discussion about sending a representative to National Convention – we will take this up at next meeting

7. What’s working at our churches
   • Chad discussed use of Facebook, Twitter, “Truth on Tap”
   • Neusom discussed book “Me To We” and leadership training within their church; Storytelling evening once a month, “Tell It”
   • Richard discussed their Wednesday night service “Midweek Oasis”, begins with chanting followed by short message, offering and prayer/meditation with Oneness Blessing.  Doing a lot of YouTube stuff within the Sunday talks –
     • Bruce recommends KarmaTube.org
     • Iskysoftitubestudio – program for converting YouTube to DVD.
     • flexingheart.com – “Mini Insights”
   • James discussed using media inserts in weekly e-zine
     • Ratepoint.com – ½ price of Constant Contact
   • Bruce discussed Mutual Ministry Review, an appreciative inquiry process; Campus Ministry
   • Dale – 2nd time visitor gifts (like a coffee cup with Unity logo)
   Meeting dismissed