General Assembly FAQ
What is General Assembly?
General Assembly (GA) is the annual meeting of the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA). Its programming includes open business meetings in which delegates speak and vote, (this is called Plenary); Workshops that any registered attendee may attend; Worship services scattered throughout the days and nights; a large exhibit hall with displays from congregations, departments of the UUA, and other Unitarian Universalist (UU) or UU-related organizations; and tons of other great events, meetings and fun programs! Thousands of UU children, youth and adults, gather at GA and take the city over for a week. It has a contingent of youth, but it is not a youth con. See "What Is Youth Caucus at General Assembly?" The registration link is below.
General Assembly Youth Registration Form
When & Where is General Assembly?
General Assembly 2008 is in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. This year’s theme is “Common Threads” It begins Wednesday June 25, 2008 at 2:15 p.m. with a Mandatory Youth Caucus and Sponsor Orientation and ends on Sunday, June 29, at 7:00 p.m. with closing worship. We recommend that participants arrive the morning of Wednesday, June 25 and leave the morning of Monday, June 30. The airport to fly in to is Ft. Lauderdale/ Hollywood International Airport.
What is the Youth Caucus at General Assembly?
Youth Caucus is the blanket term for all youth programming that happens at General Assembly. Youth Caucus is a group of UU youth, ages 14-20, which participates in regular General Assembly programming and holds programming specifically for youth, including daily meetings to discuss and take part in GA business. All youth are welcome to participate in Youth Caucus. Youth aged 14-17 who want to register for General Assembly must register for Youth Caucus, though they are not required to attend any Youth Caucus programming other than the orientation.
The purpose of Youth Caucus is to serve:
- Youth who want to get involved in UUism, or the UUA youth who want to grow as UUs through attending a wide range of GA and/or Young Religious Unitarian Universalist (YRUU) workshops, who want to network with the wider UU community.
- Youth, including youth delegates, who are interested in and/or committed to participating in plenary session and the business of GA. There will be support and programming for how to participate in the business, as well as an interest group in the business meetings.
Adult support and supervision at GA is also different from youth conferences. Read more about supervision below.
Workshops
Every year, there are many workshops of interest to youth and adults. This year, there are several workshops run by youth for youth and the larger GA community. At General Assembly will have a week-long track of anti-racism/anti-oppression workshops, lead by Groundwork trainers. Groundwork is an anti-racism/anti-oppression youth and young adult collective within the Unitarian Universalist denomination. We will also have Commit to Community, which is a small group ministry gathering discussing drugs and alcohol in youth communities.
This year there also is the Youth Ministry Implementation workshop, discussing the work of the group asked to carry out the changes in youth ministry and the Mosaic Project, an assessment of our UU ministry to youth and young adults of color and/or Latino/Latina and Hispanic and multiracial descent, please come to the joint workshop! This workshop will be held twice, Thursday, June 26 from 3:15-6:15 p.m. and Saturday, June 28 from 1:30-4:30 p.m. This workshop will provide valuable tools and training to bring this new vision of youth ministry back to your communities.
FUN TIMES / Business Meetings
Youth Caucus also meets to conduct business at sessions called Folx Unanimously Networking To Imagine, Manage, and Execute Sessions (FUN TIMES). FUN TIMES meets every day at GA to discuss and take action on GA and YRUU (Young Religious Unitarian Universalist) business. These meetings operate on consensus, and all youth at General Assembly may take part in them, whether they are delegates or not. The great part about consensus is that when a youth who is a delegate is speaking during a plenary session (see "What is Plenary?") she/he/ze is actually speaking for the entire youth caucus. Cool, huh?
HUUPLA
Hard-core UU Person Large Assemblies (HUUPLA) also happen every day to keep the Youth Caucus and sponsor community informed and updated on all of the happenings of GA, including pre-planned events and spontaneous celebrations! Youth and their sponsors are encouraged to attend and use it as a time to connect each day.
Transitioning
Every year at General Assembly, a Junior High Welcoming Circle is held to welcome Coming of Age and Junior High Youth into Senior High youth programming. There is also a huge all-GA bridging ceremony to welcome Youth/Young Adults who are bridging out of YRUU into Continental UU Young Adult Network (C*UUYAN) and the Adult world. Both are wonderful, transformative experiences.
Identity Groups and Anti-Racism
Youth Caucus holds identity groups every day as well, which are groups that meet to discuss personal and cultural identity, especially racial identity. The groups meet separately, as White Youth and Youth of Color (youth that identify as being of Arab, African, Asian, Latino and Native American descent, multiracial, biracial and transracially adopted., as well as meeting as a whole to talk about how racial identity (and gender, sexual orientation, class, etc.) affects them in the UU world and in society at large.
For more information on Identity Groups and why they are integrated into YRUU’s anti-oppression/anti-racism work, please check out Synapse, the Fall issue 2004 under Publications on the UUA website.
Dances and Coffeehouses
Traditionally, every night at General Assembly, there is either a dance or a coffeehouse, a Unitarian Universalist-style talent show lead by Youth and Young Adults. Both of these special events include high levels of youth participation. Be prepared for a good time!
Youth Worship
Every night at General Assembly, there are worships planned and run by youth. These worships are generally circle-worship, participatory, widely-attended (200+ people!) and amazing. The larger GA community is always invited to youth worship! This year, there will be a new, multigenerational and inspirational is happening for this year’s General Assembly Bridging Ceremony. The youth and young adult worship teams are joining efforts to create one powerful, spiritual experience that honors the transition from youth to young adulthood and celebrates our faith for every age and stage of life.
What is Plenary?
Every day at General Assembly, there are Plenary sessions where representatives (delegates) from all UU congregations gather to do the business of the Unitarian Universalist Association. This includes changing the bylaws of the Association and doing social witness work as part of our faith. Plenary is way cool and Youth Caucus plays an important and influential role in each session. Although only youth who are delegates may speak on the floor of Plenary, any youth may take part in the consensus-run Youth Caucus business meetings leading up to plenary sessions.
Can Youth be Delegates to General Assembly?
YES!!!!!!!! DEFINITELY!!!!! Youth generally make up around 10% of all delegates at General Assembly. Being a delegate gives youth a chance to participate in the democratic process and help shape the face of Unitarian Universalism for the next year. To become delegates, youth must go through regular delegate election/selection processes (these vary from congregation to congregation.) By sending youth as delegates, congregations send a powerful message that youth are a vital and important part of Unitarian Universalism.
What is the Staff Like?
GA Youth Caucus Staff is made up of twenty members. The Hard-core UU Person Energized and Ready (HUUPER) is a youth who serves as the Dean of Youth Caucus, leads the HUUPLA, and deals with loose ends. The Community Specialists are a two-person team who make sure first-timers feel included, plan extra fun events that go on throughout the day and late at night for Youth Caucus, and finds folks to lead working groups and oversee some of the logistics of community at Youth Caucus. The Worship Coordinators are a team of two youth who work with a group of volunteers to plan each night's worship. The Youth and Adult Chaplains are on call 24-hours a day to monitor the energy of the community, deal with crises, and just be ears for anyone who wants to talk. The Sponsor Coordinator is an adult who serves as the point person for all youth sponsors at GA and holds all of the youth caucus member's medical info in case of an emergency. The Go-fer, or Logistics Coordinator is a young adult or adult who helps coordinate logistics and does supply runs for the staff throughout GA. The Working Action Manager is a youth who is elected every year at GA to work throughout the year with a group of youth (the Super Working Action Team (SWAT)) who are committed to bringing a Study-Action Issue to the plenary floor and coordinates social justice efforts during General Assembly. The GA Business Managers are two youth who facilitate the Youth Caucus Business Meetings every day during GA. The Identity Groups Coordinators are two Groundwork trained youth who, will work in a team with the two Adult AR/AO Trainers and a young adult apprentice trainer. They coordinate and facilitate the white youth and youth of color identity groups that meet every day at General Assembly. The Office of Youth Ministry staff is (Youth Ministry Associates, the Assistant Director of Youth Ministry, the Director of Youth Ministry, and the Office of Youth Ministry Office Assistant) serve as the main logistical support for GA Youth Caucus and run from place to place all week!
What is the Code of Ethics?
All youth are required to sign a Code of Ethics (which will be a part of the Youth Caucus Registration form) prior to attending General Assembly. This code serves as a covenant that youth caucus members have with each other in order to keep the community, and all members of the community, safe and healthy!
Who Supervises the Youth?
Supervision at GA is different from other conferences at which there is a youth presence. At other conferences, adult advisors share collective responsibility for youth supervision. At GA, the number of youth and the urban setting make this impossible.
At GA, each youth under 18 must have an adult sponsor also present at GA who is responsible for supervision and ensuring the well-being of the youth. A sponsor must: (1) be over the age of 25 (2) be the sponsor of no more than 3 youth (3) agree to the same Code of Ethics as the youth (4) stay in the same hotel as their sponsee(s). Sponsors are responsible for checking-in frequently (at least twice a day) and providing support. More details on sponsor roles below.
Youth sponsors are ultimately responsible for the behavior and supervision of their respective youth at GA. Youth Caucus staff is responsible for providing youth programming and support at GA, but not supervision. When violations of the Youth Caucus Code of Ethics or of law occur, the Youth Caucus staff will inform the sponsor and may possibly request the youth to leave Youth Caucus and General Assembly at his/her/hir own expense (depending on the severity of the infraction). In such an event, the sponsor is responsible for discipline, including safely getting the youth home, if necessary.
What is a Youth Sponsor? For What are Sponsors Responsible?
A youth's sponsor serves as his/her/hir legal guardian for the duration of General Assembly. She/he/ze may be a parent, relative, minister, youth advisor, religious educator, or another person trusted by the youth’s full legal guardian(s). Youth are responsible for finding their own sponsors.
The role of a sponsor at General Assembly is the following:
- Provide supervision for the youth she/he/ze is sponsoring at General Assembly.
- Meet twice daily (minimum) with the youth for whom she/he/ze is responsible.
- Attend Youth Caucus Orientation and required sponsor training.
- Be available in case of medical emergency as legal guardian.
- Stay in the same hotel as the youth for whom she/he/ze is responsible.
- Be supportive and encouraging of full youth participation in the greater General Assembly community.
- Be the first and final authority on disciplinary issues for the youth.
The ideal sponsor supports their youth in the following ways:
- Meets with youth and youth’s parent/legal guardian prior to General Assembly and discusses code of ethics, supervision expectations, and schedule for checking-in with family.
- Works out a meeting schedule and emergency contact plan with youth and parent/guardian throughout the Assembly.
- Ensures that youth travels safely to and from GA (travels with youth!), and helps youth get settled in hotel room at General Assembly.
- Takes youth out to lunch every day.
- Makes sure youth eats and sleeps sometime during the course of General Assembly. (See #4, #7, and #9 for suggestions on how to do this.)
- Attends HUUPLA every day, as well as other youth caucus events.
- Attends Youth/Sponsor picnic at General Assembly.
- Sits with Youth Caucus during plenary.
- Leaves goodies and warm milk on message board for youth to ensure eating and sleeping.
- Attends the Youth/Young adult coffeehouse and cheers on youth.
- Attends youth dance and makes a fool out of self.
- Calls parent/guardian in the middle of General Assembly to let him/her/hir know that everything is fine.
- Dyes hair in solidarity with youth and support him/her/hir through the 4-month grounding following General Assembly.
What about Medical Liability?
There is a question of liability for medical decisions for youth under the age of 18. We do not require a medical release to be sent to the UUA. Instead, we provide a form by which a parent/guardian can give legal permission to a third-party sponsor to authorize treatment in case of a medical emergency involving his/her/hir child.
General Assembly Medical Liability Form.
Again, do not send this form to the UUA. Have the parent/guardian complete the form and give it to the sponsor, who should carry it at all times while at GA. If you are sponsoring your own child/ward at GA, you do not need this form.
How Do I Find a Sponsor?
If you're having trouble finding a sponsor, and if your parent/guardian isn't going to GA, we recommend that you start right in your own congregation. Talk to your Minister or Director/Minister of Religious Education and ask them which adults from the congregation are going to GA, who are serving as delegates, etc. If it's not possible to find someone from your congregation, then look for a trusted advisor from a nearby congregation, or from your district/regional youth program. Your Minister/Religious Educator might have a friend or colleague from another congregation who is going to GA who could sponsor you. If you have friends in either district/regional or continental YRUU, perhaps their parents are going to GA, or maybe their sponsor would be willing to sponsor you. Just make sure it's someone who has the trust of your parents and/or the staff of your congregation. Also make sure your sponsor meets the guidelines set out above. Unfortunately, the Youth Office does not have enough staff time to manage finding individual sponsors for the 400+ youth who go to General Assembly.
What About Housing? And Roommates?
The Youth Office is not coordinating housing this year; that should be done through the GA Housing authority. We recommend the Renaissance Ft. Lauderdale for youth this year. It is close to the convention center and, though expensive, offer a flat rate for the room, regardless of the number of occupants. This becomes more affordable (just over $25 per night) if you put four people into a double room. The Renaissance is just a few blocks away from the Convention Center in Ft. Lauderdale. Of course, youth are not required to stay at the Renaissance.
We do acknowledge and share the frustration with the high cost of housing at GA. Economic accessibility, physical accessibility, youth safety, sponsor supervision, and staff management time are all things which are important priorities for us; each year we try to put them into balance as best we can.
Roomates: To find roommates in order to make your stay more affordable, we recommend that you talk to other youth in your congregation or district who are going to GA, and share a room with them. Your local Director/Minister of Religious Education should be able to help connect you with other congregations. Unfortunately the Youth Office does not have enough staff help people find each other on a continental level.
How do Food and Travel Work?
Youth are expected to get to and from GA by themselves. Again, we suggest that you and sponsor travel together if they are from the same area.
Youth are also expected to find food on their own at General Assembly. In the Youth Caucus Pre-packet (which all youth caucus registrants receive) there will be a guide to eating cheaply at GA. Food will generally cost less than $20/day if you eat 'smart'.
What is Young Fun?
Young Fun is the General Assembly program for children and junior high youth. This does not run through the Youth Office. See GA website or contact Jan Sneegas, jsneegas @ uua.org, for more information.
How do I Pay for GA?
See the GA rates here. Youth aged 14-20 qualify for "reduced rates." Scholarships and Financial Aid are also available. Also, if you are a youth delegate, many congregations have scholarships available for delegates. Also please see our resource, “Getting to General Assembly,” which will be coming out in the near future, with information on how to fundraise, how to recruit sponsors, and other important information!
How Do I Register?
Use the youth registration on the GA website. Because of the signatures required, you cannot use the adult form, nor can you register online.
Who Do I Contact if I Have More Questions?
Please check the General Assembly or Regular GA Frequently asked Questions. These websites should provide answers to your questions. If you still have questions contact the Youth Office or the General Assembly office at:
General Assembly Office
(617) 948-4209gaoffice @ uua.org
For more information contact youth @ uua.org.
Last updated on Friday, March 14, 2008.
