How General Assembly Events Are Selected

Proposing a Program for General Assembly

There are approximately eighty 75-minute program slots available for the 2013 General Assembly (GA). All submitted proposals (due November 5, 2012) are currently being reviewed by the Program Development Group (PDG). The PDG is a diverse team of Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) staff and GA Planning Committee members committed to provide excellent General Assembly programs aligned with the vision and mission of the UUA and its member congregations.

Building on the experience of Justice GA, the General Assembly Planning Committee, the UUA Board of Trustees and the Administration seek to create a General Assembly in 2013 that moves our Association “From Promise to Commitment.”

Promises call us into relationship. The experience of making, breaking and remaking promises is the reality of our lived faith. We will gather in Louisville to examine and renew our covenant to our faith, one another, our congregations and the larger world.

To merit consideration, program proposals submitted for the 2013 GA should explore the kinds of promises our religious communities are called to make as we seek to live out our UU values; how we make them, with whom, and how we hold ourselves and each other accountable.

Equally important is the question of how might we move from the act of promise-making into the journey of long-term commitment. For example, how are we fulfilling the promises made or implied by participating in Justice GA in Phoenix last year? What new promises do we want to make? Submissions that focus on local or regional concerns and that include Louisville or Appalachia area partners are encouraged. More detailed selection criteria are listed below.

Though the proposal form is short, it still requires the clear description of a fully designed 75-minute event (workshop, worship, etc.). You also have the option to propose a 150-minute event that would occur during two workshop slots scheduled back-to-back. Proposers must assume that there will be participation of people of all abilities and of all generations in all General Assembly activities.

Preparing to submit a program proposal:

1. Though the form is short, it still requires you to describe a fully designed program. You need to state clear goals for the program and describe how those goals address the selection criteria below.
2. We invite proposals for workshops, lectures, panel discussions, worship services, performances (with minimal technical requirements) and other types of presentations. Sequences or series of programs that build on each other are welcome. If your workshop is part of a sequence of workshops, please make that clear in your proposal.
3. You will need to name your workshop leaders, moderators or presenters, list references who can provide insight into the content and quality of the proposal and indicate that you understand the financial obligations involved (see the section, “Financial Considerations” below).
4. If your program is selected you will be provided with a 75-minute program slot or two slots back-to-back equaling 150 minutes. Rooms in the Louisville Convention Center range in seating capacity from 100 to 1100 persons. The seating in all rooms is set theater style and cannot be altered.
5. You will need to know your AV needs.  All GA programmed events will be scheduled in meeting spaces provided with a podium and microphone, an audience microphone, a projection screen, and an AV cart with an extension cord. You may bring your own additional equipment (such as projectors) or indicate on the proposal that you want to rent additional equipment.
6. Budget information is needed if you plan to request funding from the PDG. Limited grants will be awarded based on need, the availability of additional revenue sources, and the merit of the proposal.

The selection criteria:

• Selection will be based on the degree to which proposals:
• Address the topic of moving “From Promise to Commitment”
• Are grounded in our UU faith tradition
• Continue to fulfill the promises made at Justice GA in Phoenix or explore the journey from promise to commitment regarding Louisville and Appalachia area concerns.
• Partner with the community where we are meeting in mutually accountable relationships.
• Respond to the call of delegates to explore covenant and how we gather

Additional criteria include:

• Usefulness to our congregations (of a particular size or all sizes)
• Incorporation of Antiracist/Anti-oppression/Multicultural awareness and practice
• Relevance to people of all abilities and of all generations
• Clarity of program learning goals
• Presence of real-world examples to illustrate concepts
• Excellence in presentation, fostering engaged participation
• Depth, inspiration and prophetic vision

Private Events

Private events are invitation-only and are not listed in the GA program book. GA registration is not required for attendance. Examples of private meetings include business meetings, food functions, receptions, pre/post GA meetings (usually business or conference) of organizations for their own agendas. Requests for private events must come from an authorized sponsoring organization. Space is assigned based on availability.

The use of UUA contracted meeting space designated for private events may only be reserved by authorized sponsoring organizations: UUA staff, UUA elected committees, Board appointed committees, Associate Member Organizations (Unitarian Universalist Service Committee and Unitarian Universalist Women’s Federation), and UUA Related Organizations listed as either Professional Organizations or Theological Schools.

Other UUA Related Organizations may request the use of UUA contracted meeting space for a private meeting of their organization. Requests may be made by email to the GA Planning Committee in care of meetingplanner@uua.org. Requests are due by December 15th. The GA Planning Committee will review requests at their January meeting.

Programming Suggestions and Requests

If you have suggestions or requests for GA programming, please contact meetingplanner@uua.org or a member of the GA Planning Committee.