1029 Plenary 1
Sponsor: GA Planning Committee
Prepared for UUA.org by Lisa Presley, reporter; Margy Levine Young, Editor.
Watch Opening Celebration & Plenary #1: RealVideo  | Windows Media 
Report: Opening Ceremony
The Opening Plenary Session of the 45th General Assembly was called to order by UUA Moderator Gini Courter at 9:24.
Rules of Procedure
Moderator Courter referred delegates to the Rules of Procedure set out in the agenda, and then spent time articulating specific rules regarding how to present proposed amendments to several types of motions during the mini-assemblies. She also pointed out that, once the motions come to the floor, the Rules require discussion on the main motion for specified amounts of time prior to amendments being considered, as well as the manner of voting on the various types of motions. Courter also highlighted rules concerning speaking for or against items, the use of the procedural microphone, and what delegates should do if they don't understand the proceedings. She introduced the UUA's legal counsel Ned Lebensberger and Massachusetts District Court Judge Gordon Martin, who will serve as the parliamentarian. Martin has served us in this capacity since the 1969 General Assembly.
After this explanation, General Assembly Planning Committee Chair Linda Friedman moved that the Rules be adopted as presented in the Final Agenda  . The motion carried, without discussion.
Courter then told delegates that these rules would now be used to change the order of the agenda. The rules specify that after Actions of Immediate Witness (AIW) have been admitted for consideration, then these AIWs must be discussed in mini-assemblies. The problem, Courter said, was that the mini-assemblies are scheduled prior to the time that the admission of these AIWs would normally be held. Therefore, it would be important to move the vote to Saturday morning in Plenary 5 rather than Plenary 6. Courter pointed out that UUA Executive Vice President Kay Montgomery has offered to present her report in Plenary 6 to balance out the time. With this now explained, Planning Committee Chair Friedman moved that the AIWs be considered in the earlier plenary. There being no discussion, the motion to alter the agenda carried.
Social Justice Process Timetable Outlined
The deadlines for submitting Actions of Immediate Witness were outlined by Courter. She then called the Rev. Susan Smith, Chair of the Commission on Social Witness  (CSW), to describe the parts of the social witness process. Smith outlined how delegates can be involved in the mini-assemblies on this year's Statement of Conscience "Threat of Global Warming," and that it is only at the mini-assemblies that amendments can be proposed. Following the mini-assembly, the CSW will consider each of the proposed amendments, and incorporate those that they believe fit with the spirit of the Statement of Conscience. If the CSW does not admit a particular amendment into the Statement, then that amendment can be presented on the floor during debate.
Smith also told delegates that there will be discussion in mini-assemblies on the Study/Action Issue (SAI) "Peacemaking" presented for consideration this year. This proposal will need to be voted affirmatively to be admitted for discussion. Smith also outlined the AIW deadlines and process, and urged delegates to seek out the Commission members at their booth should they have questions.
Admission of New Congregations
Moderator Courter introduced First Vice Moderator of the UUA Board, the Rev. Ned Wight, and announced that he will leaving the UUA Board to become the Executive Director of the Veatch Program at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Shelter Rock in the summer. Wight then introduced the new congregations admitted to the UUA during this past year. These congregations are :
Recess, but More!
FUN TIMES Managers of the General Assembly Youth Caucus invited attendees, particularly those aged 14 to 20, to attend Youth Caucus events. Young Adult Caucus representatives invited attendees between 20 and 35 to attend their events and visit their booth in the display area.
Courter next introduced Planning Committee Member Donald Wilson. Wilson outlined the variety of evening entertainments events—from dancing to opera, a masquerade ball to jazz—and invited people to attend.
There being no other business to come before the evening's Plenary session, Moderator Courter declared the Assembly to be in recess. UUA President the Rev. William Sinkford closed the evening's opening celebration with a benediction.
Report: Opening Ceremony
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