Booklet Gives Tips On Relating to People With Disabilities

A new booklet describing how to interact with people who have disabilities is available from the UUA's Accessibilities Committee. The booklet, What Do I Say? What Do I Do? includes information on relating to people with mental retardation; mobility, hearing, and vision impairments; learning disabilities; psychiatric disabilities; and chemical sensitivities.

Among the tips: 

• refer to a person's disability only if it is relevant
• use the word disability rather than handicap
• don't portray people with disabilities as overly courageous
• do not talk about someone being "confined" to a wheelchair. Rather, say "person who uses a wheelchair"

New E-Mail Newsletter Collects Religion News

Ministers and others who need to stay abreast of current events and trends in the world of religion can subscribe to a new daily e-mail service that culls items about religion from more than 40 newspapers.

OnReligion.com is compiled by John A. Rakestraw Jr., a UU from Nashville, TN. He is a former professor of philosophy and religious studies. Each day, he sends onReligion.com subscribers an e-mail with brief descriptions of three to 10 news items, plus links to the complete articles.

The cost is $29.95 annually, $19.95 for students. A free trial subscription is available. 

New at the UUA Bookstore: UU Pocket Guide Updated

The following books are new at the UUA Bookstore, which may be contacted at (800) 215-9076.

UU Pocket Guide. An updated version of the best-selling pocket guide, including new essays by the Rev. Jane Ranney Rzepka; the Rev. Mark Belletini; Jacqui James and the Rev. Meg Riley; the Rev. Bill Sinkford and Kay Montgomery. A wonderful gift for new members.  (Skinner House)  #6070   $5

Evensong, by the Rev. Barbara Hamilton-Holway. A guide for eight community-building worship services, designed for groups of 10 to 20. Each service includes worship, singing, readings, and discussion.

Titles for the eight sessions include Religious and Spiritual Experiences, What Do I Really Want, What Limits Do I Encounter?, What Keeps Me Going?, What is Possible Together?  (UUA) #1093   $16

UUA Retirement Plan Information Available

Participants in the UUA Retirement Plan may now obtain information about their accounts by calling Fidelity Investments at (800) 343-0860 24 hours a day.

Be prepared with your Social Security number and a six-digit birthday code. From the voice response menu you can obtain your account balance, make transfers among the seven mutual funds, change beneficiaries, provide address changes, and make other transactions. Newly eligible employees of congregations can request enrollment forms, which should be signed by the church treasurer and sent to Fidelity, not to the UUA.

Where to Turn for Help On Fund-Raising Projects

Congregational leaders seeking information about annual canvasses, capital campaigns, strategic planning services within the context of canvasses and capital campaigns, congregational endowment programs, and building loan programs may contact the UUA's newly named Office for Congregational Fundraising Services. The office was formerly known as the Building Programs Office.

Check the office's website or contact Pam Bachman, UUA, 25 Beacon St., Boston, MA 02108; (617) 742-2100, ext. 251. 

District Services Listed

A website identifying the wide range of services available through UUA district offices is now available. The page, part of the UUA website, also includes links to district websites.

Compensation Information Asked From Congregations

All congregations will be asked to fill out a survey in January focusing on compensation of religious professionals. The survey, conducted every three years by the UUA Compensation, Benefits, and Pension Committee, will help measure progress toward fair compensation standards for ministers, religious educators, administrators, and music directors.

"Many UU congregations are now taking seriously the concept that fair compensation is a social justice issue," says the Rev. Ralph Mero, the UUA's church staff finances director, "and the results of the 2000 survey will reveal just how much we believe that justice begins in church."

Compensation consultants work with congregations in analyzing and improving compensation policies and practices. They may be reached through district offices.

UU Congregations Part Of Religious Life Survey

A 12-page questionnaire, the basis of the most comprehensive survey ever done of religious life in the US, is being sent in January to more than 20,000 congregations in 40 faith traditions, including all UU congregations.

The survey, titled Faith Communities Today, will ask for demographic data and information on programming, financial health, and community roles. There will also be a block of questions designed by the UUA and asked only of UU congregations. The Rev. Lawrence Palmieri Peers, UUA education and research director, says results will be sent to congregations so they can compare themselves with other faith traditions in their communities and with UU congregations across the continent. The survey will also be linked with the 2000 federal census. Unitarian congregations in Canada will be surveyed, but they will only be compared to other UU congregations.