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Frequently Asked Questions
General Assembly
is the yearly meeting of the Unitarian Universalist Association
of Congregations. The myriad programs, business events,
and exhibits provide a rich experience to the thousands of UUs
who attend each year.
What does Long Beach have to
offer?
How much does GA cost?
| |
| Registration
closes November 15, 2003 and reopens March 1,
2004.
|
10/1/03
through
11/15/03 |
3/1/04
through
4/30/04 |
5/1/04
through
GA '04 |
| Adult Full-time (Thursday
- Monday) |
$200 |
$250 |
$295 |
| Adult One-day |
NA |
$85 |
$100 |
| Youth
Caucus (Ages 14-20) Full-time
(Thursday - Monday) |
$115 |
$140 |
$165 |
| Youth
Caucus (Ages 14-20) One-day |
NA |
$50 |
$60 |
| *Reduced
Full-time (Thursday -Monday) |
$115 |
$140 |
$165 |
| *Reduced
One-day |
NA |
$50 |
$60 |
| *Reduced
rates are offered to: Retired Ministers,
Spouses of Retired Ministers, Surviving Spouses
of Ministers, and UUA Registered Aspirant Ministers.
For information on obtaining Aspirant Minister
status, see www.uua.org/ministry/preperation/prepstage.html.
Thursday, June 24th and Friday,
June 25th have been combined for the purpose of
registration and are being offered together at
the One-day registration rate.
GA registrations are NON-TRANSFERABLE.
Registration forms cannot be submitted without
the name of a specific attendee (i.e. Congregations
cannot submit a blank form and fill in the name
later.)
Cancellation
fee is $35 until May 1st; $60 thereafter.
Cancellations after June 8th must be submitted
in writing. |
|
| |
| Children's
Programs |
| Registration for
Children's Programs opens March 1, 2004 and closes
June 1, 2004.
Children may not be registered
for GA children's programs without a GA registered
parent or guardian. Space is limited. Registrations
received after May 1st will be subject to a $50
late fee. A$50 per child discount is granted when
a child's parent or guardian is a registered GA
Volunteer. |
| Child care is available for children (age 0-10)
on the Wednesday (6/22) and Thursday (6/23) prior
to GA. This program is called Pre-GA and
is $70 for Wednesday and Thursday, or $40 for
Thursday only. |
| Program |
Program
Start |
Program
Finish |
Rate
|
| Child Care (age
0-5) |
Begins
Friday, 6/25 |
Ends
Monday, 6/28 |
$175 |
| Day Camp (age
6-10) |
Begins
Friday, 6/25 |
Ends
Monday, 6/28 |
$175
|
| Young Fun (age
8-14) First child in family |
Begins
Wednesday, 6/23, or Thursday, 6/24 |
Ends
Tuesday, 6/29
before lunch
|
$390
|
| Young Fun (age
8-14) Each additional child in family |
Begins
Wednesday, 6/24, or Thursday, 6/24 |
Ends
Tuesday, 6/29
before lunch
|
$270
|
| A
$50 late fee will be added to all registrations
for Children's Programs received after 5/1/04 |
|
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How do I find lodging
for GA 2004?
The General Assembly Housing Reservation System opened March 1st, 2004. Click here to make your housing reservation.
We block out a large number of local hotel rooms in order to ensure that these rooms will be available to our attendees. In addition, contracting with hotels for guest rooms guarantees the UUA will receive meeting and function space for GA. While we negotiate rates with hotels that are much lower than published rack rates, we recognize that it is sometimes possible to book a room using online services that can undercut our rates. However, the UUA is responsible for paying for unused guest rooms. Please be advised that by making a reservation outside of our system, you are considered outside of our block and we do not get credit for having booked your room. As a result, the UUA is responsible for costly attrition penalties to our contracted hotels.
We encourage all GA attendees to please use the General Assembly Housing Reservation System. We recognize that the cost associated with attending the General Assembly can be prohibitive for some. Accordingly, we are constantly working to find alternative housing for these individuals.
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Can I
register at General Assembly?
There will be registration hours onsite during GA at the
Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center. Please keep
in mind that registration rates at GA will be higher than
those for registrations received or postmarked by April
30th.
Please do not mail registration forms after June 1st, as we are unable to process registrations received in Boston after June 10th.
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Do I qualify as an Aspirant
Minister?
Aspirant Status
is determined by the UUA Ministry department. The requirements
for obtaining Aspirant Status are listed on the
Ministry website. Those Aspirants who have reached "Candidate"
status still qualify for the Aspirant discount. Questions
regarding ministerial credentialing should be directed to
Christine May at cmay@uua.org or (617) 948-6403.
Back to topical index
What
is the cancellation policy?
.
.
Cancellation fee is $35 until May 1, 2004; $60 thereafter.
Cancellations after June 1, 2004 must be submitted in
writing. GA registrations are NONTRANSFERABLE To cancel
a registration contact the GA registrar at garegistrar@uua.org
or (617) 948-6413.
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How can I get a copy of the General
Assembly Printed Program before GA?
.
A GA printed program will be mailed to everyone who registers before May 1, 2004. Programs are mailed bulk rate in late May and delivery times vary. Most registrants will receive their program by mid-June. Programs are mailed directly from our printer; the General Assembly office is not able to re-send printed programs to registrants or to mail printed programs to those who register May 1st and thereafter. Additional programs will be available to all registrants at the Long Beach Convention Center when General Assembly begins and will be available online at www.uua.org/ga/prog.html in May.
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How can I find a roommate
for General Assembly?
If
day care is required for young ones, several Children's Programs
are available.
Advance registration is required for all Children's Programs
and space is limited.
-
Pre-GA:
Supervision is available for children (age 0-10) on
the Wednesday and Thursday prior to GA. The number and
ages of the participants determine the specific program
and activities. Lunch is provided.
-
Daytime
Child Care for infants and children through age
5 will be offered during General Assembly. Children will
be cared for by professional child care workers and experienced
UU volunteers in a setting that provides both activities
and quiet time. The registration fee includes lunch and
snacks. Parents must furnish baby supplies baby food,
or other special food. Child care begins Friday, 6/25
and ends Monday, 6/28.
-
Children
ages 6 through 10 may enroll in Day Camp, a
daytime program that offers activities, field trips,
and participation in appropriate GA programs. Every
morning participants, with their adult UU program
director and staff, will gather for activities and
field trips. The registration fee includes lunch,
snacks, and the costs for field trips.
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Young
Fun is a full-time overnight program for youth
ages 8 through 14. Young Fun will be held at an
off site location. Activities will include field
trips, workshops, games, athletics, arts and crafts,
and attendance at selected GA events. Participants
may begin on Wednesday or Thursday. Young Fun concludes
on Tuesday before lunch. Registration fees for Young
Fun include all meals, lodging, and activities.
Please note: online registration is not available for Children's
Programs because a parent or legal guardian's signature is
required.
All children under the age of fourteen are permitted to
attend GA with their parents or guardians and, if not participating
in Children's Programs, are not required to register.
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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 General Assembly attendees who are under 18
must register for Youth Caucus. Youth aged 18 to 20 are
encouraged to participate. Visit the Young
Religious UUs website for more information.
Online registration
for Youth Caucus will not be available because the signature
of a parent or guardian is required. Click
here 
for a Youth Caucus General Assembly Registration Form (PDF).
Forms may also be requested from the GA Office at gaoffice@uua.org
or 617 948-4209.
Each youth under 18 (born after 6/24/86) who attends GA must have a GA registered adult sponsor who is responsible for the youth's supervision and well-being. GA attendees aged 25 and over may sponsor up to three youth, with whom they are responsible for checking-in frequently and providing support. We require youth sponsors to stay in the same housing as the youth they are sponsoring. Youth Caucus staff is responsible for youth programming and support at GA, but not supervision.
However, Youth Caucus staff does take action when violations of the Code of Ethics occur, which may result in the youth being asked to leave Youth Caucus and/or General Assembly at his/her own expense. In such an event, the sponsor is responsible for getting the youth home safely.
All youth are required to sign a Code of Ethics 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. In the interest of creating a safe, intergenerational community at GA, Sponsors are expected to abide by the same Code of Ethics as the youth. If you are sponsoring a youth, you may not drink alcohol at GA.
General Assembly Youth Caucus is a very different event from youth conferences. There will be well over 400 youth attending General Assembly this year and it is not possible for the General Assembly Youth Caucus staff to provide enough adults to be responsible for that many youth. Therefore, it is imperative that Parents, Youth and their Sponsors know and understand the expectations related to youth sponsorship at General Assembly.
To complete
registration, each youth 14-17 must provide:
-
Full
payment of registration
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Signed
Code of Ethics
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Adult
Sponsor Responsibilities Acknowledgment Note: must be
completed even if sponsor is parent
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Parent
Permission for Sponsorship (If sponsor is not parent or
legal guardian)
Each youth
18-20 must provide:
.
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I am a Sponsor for a Youth
Caucus participant. What do I have to do?
All youth must have an adult sponsor at GA who is responsible for support and supervision of the youth. Sponsors are not responsible for the youth's registration fee.
While youth sponsorship carries responsibilities, it also brings meaningful opportunities for mentoring, empowering, and sharing your faith with young UUs.
Many adults report that sponsoring a youth at GA is a very rewarding experience. These adults have found that they have been challenged to look at their faith in completely new ways, and have been re-energized by the joy and vitality that youth bring to all they do.
Each adult may sponsor up to three youth. Sponsors must be at least 25 years old, registered for GA, and must stay in the same hotel or housing (sponsors need not stay in the same room) as their sponsored youth. GA attracts a large number of youth from a multitude of backgrounds. While they come together to form a community at GA, they agree to the YRUU Code of Ethics and Policy on Sexuality . As members of the Youth Caucus community, sponsors are expected to abide by the same code and policy as their sponsored youth.
While the Youth Caucus Staff provides youth-focused programming, they are not responsible for supervising the youth at GA. Supervision is the responsibility of each sponsor-youth pair. A youth and sponsor should always know each other's whereabouts and how to contact one another. Sponsors and youth should check in with each other several times a day.
Sponsors should obtain a signed medical release form from the youth's parent or legal guardian. (Medical release forms are available from the YRUU Office at yruu@uua.org or (617) 948-4350.
The spirit and energy of youth at General Assembly is both inspirational and contagious. Consider sharing your time and experience with a Young Religious UU. Some YRUU youth have difficulty obtaining sponsors if their parents or guardians are not attending GA. If you are interested in sponsoring a youth at GA, ask your minister or Director of Religious Education if there are any youth from your congregation that need a sponsor and volunteer!
Any questions about these policies can be directed to the YRUU office or (617) 948-4350.
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Is there Financial
Aid available for attending GA?
The
UUA General Assembly Planning Committee is committed to increasing
the economic accessibility of the General Assembly. An important
part of this endeavor is the approximately forty scholarships
available to individuals attending the GA. Scholarships are
intended to support delegates and others for whom attendance
is financially difficult. A scholarship may include a monetary
award up to $750 (to cover expenses related to attending GA,
i.e., registration, travel, lodging and meals).
The
Scholarship Committee, made up of representatives of the GA
Planning Committee, determines scholarship recipients based
on the following criteria:
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The
applicant should be a minister or member of a UU congregation.
-
Priority
is given to applicants that are delegates from their congregations
and are in positions of leadership in their congregations.
Special consideration is given to delegates from congregations
that have not recently sent representation to GA.
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The
applicant should demonstrate financial need.
-
Consideration
is given to whether an applicant has received a scholarship
in the past. Scholarships are generally not given to the
same people in consecutive years.
Click here for a PDF of the Scholarship Application Form. All Scholarship Applications must be received, in their entirety, in the GA Office by April 15, 2004.
Youth Office (YRUU) Scholarship: The Youth Office
is offering modest scholarships ($50 - $150) for YRUU's.
Scholarship money can be used for any GA related expenses.
Applicants must be between 14-20. Priority is given to applicants
who are seeking partial funding from a variety of sources,
are first-time General Assembly attendees, and/or are congregational
delegates. Youth Office Scholarship Applications will be
available at www.uua.org/yruu
(or from the Youth Office at yruu@uua.org or 617 948-4350)
on March 1st. Completed applications must be received, in
their entirety, in the Youth Office by April 15, 2004.
How can I volunteer
at GA?
The GA Volunteer Committee selects about 200 volunteers each year to work during GA. Approved volunteers will have their registration fees funded by the committee in exchange for work during GA (24 hours of work for adult registrants, 14 hours of work for Youth Caucus participants, retired ministers and their spouses, surviving spouses of ministers, and UUA aspirant ministers). Volunteers are able to attend GA events, but the work schedule may preclude attending all events desired. Volunteer positions include Registration Assistant, Greeter, Usher, Accessibility Services Assistant, Children's Program Assistant, etc.
Click here for a PDF of the Volunteer Application. All Volunteer Applications must be received by March 31, 2004.
Is there assistance
for people with disabilities attending General Assembly?
There is assistance for people with disabilities attending General Assembly. Every effort will be made to match services with identified needs. If you are in need of services, the GA Accessibility Services Committee asks that you complete the Accessibility Services Request Form (available by clicking here , or by request to the GA Office at gaoffice@uua.org or (617) 948-4209) and submit it with your GA registration between March 1st and May 1st. Requests must be received by May 1st so that arrangements for necessary assistive equipment can be made. The GA Accessibility Services Committee will analyze the responses they receive and match needs with resources before GA. Services requested onsite cannot be assured. There will also be an Accessibility Services table, staffed by volunteers, located onsite near the GA registration area.
Who can present programs
at GA?
Associate Member Organizations, Independent Affiliate Organizations and Related Organizations listed in the UUA Directory, as well as UUA Staff and UUA Committees can sponsor events at General Assembly. In addition, UUA District offices can sponsor up to two events from congregations in their district. Packets with GA Event Request Forms will be mailed to qualifying sponsors in late October.
The GA office will do their best to honor scheduling requests made on the Event Request Forms that are received by the early deadline of December 1, 2003. Events that are requested by the early deadline will also be listed in GA promotional materials. Events for which forms are received between December 2, 2003 and February 2, 2004 (final deadline) will be assigned times by the GA office and not listed in GA promotional materials.
December 1, 2003: Early
deadline for event requests
February 2, 2004: Final deadline for
requests for all GA events, exhibits, ads, and A/V equipment
orders
March 16, 2004: Deadline for receipt
of event edit mailing, photos for GA program and payment
for A/V.
The GA Planning Committee will sponsor up to fifteen programs at the General Assembly in Long Beach, CA, June 24 - 28, 2004. Ten of the fifteen programs selected will receive funding up to $500. Applications must be received at the UUA by October 15, 2003 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. Late applications will not be considered. The Planning Committee will award sponsorship to UU Congregations and/or individual UUs that would otherwise not be eligible to sponsor GA programming. UUA Staff and Associate Member, Independent Affiliate or Related Organizations can sponsor their own GA events and are therefore ineligible for Planning Committee sponsorship. The GA Planning Committee is looking for significant, innovative programs that will appeal to many UUs attending GA. Lectures, presentations, performances and workshops will be considered. Original ideas are especially welcome. Click here for a PDF of the Application Guidelines.
The GA Planning Committee will sponsor up to four Major Programs at the 2004 GA in Long Beach, CA and provide grants up to $3000 for each program. There will be one Major Program on each day of GA between Friday, June 25th and Monday, June 28th, 2004. The programs will take place in an auditorium that seats approximately 3000. Be advised that Major Programs will be scheduled at times when there is competing programming. Major Programs are not open to the general public; GA registration is required for all Major Program attendees. Applications must be received at the UUA by October 15, 2003 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. Late applications will not be considered. The Planning Committee will award sponsorship to proposals submitted by UU Organizations, UU Congregations, individual UUs and/or UUA Staff. The GA Planning Committee is looking for speakers who will appeal to many UUs attending GA. Because space constraints in Long Beach will not accommodate rehearsals, the Planning Committee will be selecting lectures only. Musical/theatrical performances and other complex presentations will not be selected. Click here for a PDF of the Application Guidelines.
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How does my congregation or district
create a banner for the GA Banner Parade?
What Issues are coming to the
floor at GA 2004?
The Study/Action
Issue selected by the 2002 GA in Quebec, Civil Liberties,
will be on the GA agenda for final adoption as a Statement
of Conscience. In addition, there will be up to five new
Study/Action Issues, from which one will be selected for
a 2-year study.
Criminal
Justice and Prison Reform is the Study/Action Issue
chosen in 2003 for two years of study, and there will be
a workshop at GA 2004, but the Issue will not be on the
GA agenda.
What is
a Study/Action Issue?
Working
for social justice is central to Unitarian Universalism, and
the moral challenges of our times compel our commitment to
this work. We have a process that makes it easy for your congregation
or district to take an important part in shaping our movement's
social justice agenda. Each member Congregation and district
may submit to the Commission on Social Witness (CSW) a single
issue for study and action during the coming two years in
the form of a one-page narrative statement.
The proposal,
called a "Study/Action Issue for Social Justice" (SAI),
must first be voted on at a meeting of your membership or
governing board at which a quorum is present. When your
member Congregation or district submits an SAI to CSW, you
take the critical first step in a process that eventually
may lead to the UUA adopting a Statement of Conscience,
articulating the views of the UUA on a social justice issue,
perhaps on the one you have proposed. Every
congregation and district had the opportunity to propose
one Study/Action issue to the Commission on Social Witness
by December 15, 2003. More information is available at the
GA Business Page
or at the CSW website.
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What is an Action of Immediate Witness?
Statements of
Conscience cannot effectively deal with all issues. Sometimes
a significant issue arises after the deadline for submitting
Study/Action Issues. Sometimes issues emerge that require
addressing an event that will occur before a Statement of
Conscience would be able to respond. Actions of Immediate
Witness (AIWs) are available to address these issues.
The GA may consider up to six AIWs. The petition to admit
an AIW to the Final Agenda must carry 150 signatures of
delegates from at least 25 congregations in at least five
districts. If CSW receives more than six petitions satisfying
the requirements, it selects six. An advocate for each AIW
has the opportunity to speak for two minutes at a plenary
in support of the motion to admit the AIW, which requires
a two-thirds vote. More
information is available at the GA Business Page
or at the CSW website.
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Is there free registration for Congregational Presidents?
Rev. William Sinkford has extended an invitation to each congregation's highest appointed lay leader (i.e. Congregational President) to come to GA. If your congregation does not have a "President," the invitation is meant for your highest lay leader (Board President, Prudential Chair, etc. and not for ministers, administrators, DREs or other designees). At General Assembly, congregational presidents who attend the President's session will receive refund applications, which must be returned to the UUA GA office no later than July 15th. Refunds of $250 will then be processed for congregational presidents who attended GA ($200 for those who registered during the Early Bird registration period). In order to receive a reimbursement, attendees will be required to verify their status within the congregation they represent. Click here for more information.
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What if I can't open a PDF file?
All
forms and documents published by the General Assembly Office
are made available as PDF files. PDF is the standard format
for distributing documents on the web and via e-mail. The
software required to open and print PDF documents is a free
download available from Adobe Acrobat.
If you cannot
download Adobe Acrobat or are having trouble opening any
of our forms, contact the GA Office at gaoffice@uua.org or 617 948-4209.
Forms can be faxed or mailed to you upon request.
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June
24-28, 2004 in Long Beach, CA
June 23-27, 2005 in Fort Worth, Texas
June 22-26, 2006 in St. Louis, Missouri
June 21-25, 2007 in Portland, Oregon
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