United Nations CRC - the first 20 countries (193 in total) - Signs of Our Times: "United Nations CRC - the first 20 countries (193 in total)
August 10, 2008 by ourtimes
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) required that it be ratified by a quorum of 20 Member States before it could become international law. Only one industrialized Western nation was among the first.
Monday, March 30, 2009
United Nations CRC - the first 20 countries (193 in total) - Signs of Our Times
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Social Action Committee
Social Action at Sunnyhill supports our Unitarian Universalist principles, including
...Justice, equity, and compassion in human relations
...the goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all
..respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part
Our committee encourages and coordinates activities balanced among International, National, Pennsylvanian, and Local Pittsburgh humanitarian needs.
As a community, we designate the collection from one Sunday a month to a deserving organization.
In addition, members of our church participate in letter and email compaigns as well as public forums aimed at raising awareness of political and social concerns.
Current and past social action includes the other activities listed below. All charitable organizations are carefully screened for the quality of their services and management of administrative funds.
International Activities
In 2003, three of our members introduced FINCA’s microcredit program to our adult congregation. Their efforts prompted donations of over $5,000 to sponsor a village bank in Zambia. Finca’s approach is to provide very small loans to local women for cottage industries. Because this approach is so successful in helping recipients become self-sufficient, members of our congregation spearheaded a second fund-raiser in 2007. This time, the congregation of about 200 members raised over $15,000 in just two weeks to sponsor three village banks in Haiti. The theme of “Mothering Out of Poverty” began on Mother’s Day in the U.S. and ended on Mother’s Day in Haiti -- a powerful way to promote the concept of women helping their children.
Currently our 8th graders are building upon these past successes in raising funds for microcredit loans. Once they know how much money they have they will go on the KIVA website and choose how to allocate their resources to one or more small businesses in ‘3rd world’ countries. They plan to monitor how these businesses do, and report to the congregation.
We are also planning on contributing to the Central Asia Institute (CAI) which promotes and supports community-based education, especially for girls, in remote regions of Pakistan and Afghanistan. CAI was founded by Greg Mortenson, the author of Three Cups of Tea: One Man’s Mission to Promote Peace, One School at A Time.
2008 was our third year to raise money for holiday gifts for a very grateful Kopek, Romania congregation, our Partner Church. Member Roz Maholland visited there in August 2006 with other area Unitarian Universalists. The purpose of the Partner Church movement is to learn about Unitarian Universalism in other parts of the world and to facilitate global friendships. American UU congregations currently have sister congregations in eastern Europe (especially Hungary and Romania), India and the Philippines.
International & National Activity
Many of our congregants are members of the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC), an independent branch of the UUA, that actively promotes human rights and social justice both in this country and around the world. The UUSC is especially active in national social concerns such as gay rights and peace efforts. Our congregants of all ages participate in the “Guest At Your Table” campaign culminating around the holidays whereby we put money in a special box at each meal to support UUSC projects.
National Activity
In response to the hurricane two groups of adults and youth went to New Orleans in 2007 to help repair some of the damage.
State & Local (Pittsburgh Area) Activities
Currently 8 to 10 adults spend one Saturday a month working for the Habitat for Humanity chapter in Washington, PA.
We also support the South Hills Interfaith Ministry (SHIM) with periodic food collections and with donations of money or school supplies for children in need at the beginning of each school year.
In the past we have joined other Pittsburgh congregations as members of the Pittsburgh Interfaith Impact Network (PIIN). PIIN draws attention to and advocates politically to address needs in under-served areas of the city. We plan to continue this endeavor.
...Justice, equity, and compassion in human relations
...the goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all
..respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part
Our committee encourages and coordinates activities balanced among International, National, Pennsylvanian, and Local Pittsburgh humanitarian needs.
As a community, we designate the collection from one Sunday a month to a deserving organization.
In addition, members of our church participate in letter and email compaigns as well as public forums aimed at raising awareness of political and social concerns.
Current and past social action includes the other activities listed below. All charitable organizations are carefully screened for the quality of their services and management of administrative funds.
International Activities
In 2003, three of our members introduced FINCA’s microcredit program to our adult congregation. Their efforts prompted donations of over $5,000 to sponsor a village bank in Zambia. Finca’s approach is to provide very small loans to local women for cottage industries. Because this approach is so successful in helping recipients become self-sufficient, members of our congregation spearheaded a second fund-raiser in 2007. This time, the congregation of about 200 members raised over $15,000 in just two weeks to sponsor three village banks in Haiti. The theme of “Mothering Out of Poverty” began on Mother’s Day in the U.S. and ended on Mother’s Day in Haiti -- a powerful way to promote the concept of women helping their children.
Currently our 8th graders are building upon these past successes in raising funds for microcredit loans. Once they know how much money they have they will go on the KIVA website and choose how to allocate their resources to one or more small businesses in ‘3rd world’ countries. They plan to monitor how these businesses do, and report to the congregation.
We are also planning on contributing to the Central Asia Institute (CAI) which promotes and supports community-based education, especially for girls, in remote regions of Pakistan and Afghanistan. CAI was founded by Greg Mortenson, the author of Three Cups of Tea: One Man’s Mission to Promote Peace, One School at A Time.
2008 was our third year to raise money for holiday gifts for a very grateful Kopek, Romania congregation, our Partner Church. Member Roz Maholland visited there in August 2006 with other area Unitarian Universalists. The purpose of the Partner Church movement is to learn about Unitarian Universalism in other parts of the world and to facilitate global friendships. American UU congregations currently have sister congregations in eastern Europe (especially Hungary and Romania), India and the Philippines.
International & National Activity
Many of our congregants are members of the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC), an independent branch of the UUA, that actively promotes human rights and social justice both in this country and around the world. The UUSC is especially active in national social concerns such as gay rights and peace efforts. Our congregants of all ages participate in the “Guest At Your Table” campaign culminating around the holidays whereby we put money in a special box at each meal to support UUSC projects.
National Activity
In response to the hurricane two groups of adults and youth went to New Orleans in 2007 to help repair some of the damage.
State & Local (Pittsburgh Area) Activities
Currently 8 to 10 adults spend one Saturday a month working for the Habitat for Humanity chapter in Washington, PA.
We also support the South Hills Interfaith Ministry (SHIM) with periodic food collections and with donations of money or school supplies for children in need at the beginning of each school year.
In the past we have joined other Pittsburgh congregations as members of the Pittsburgh Interfaith Impact Network (PIIN). PIIN draws attention to and advocates politically to address needs in under-served areas of the city. We plan to continue this endeavor.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
SUNNYHILL'S NEXT STEPS on April 4
On February 28th twenty-five of your friends gathered to take the Next Steps toward the future of Sunnyhill. We began the workshop by looking specifically at the current Mission Statement of the Unitarian Universalist Church of the South Hills. With my suggestion of how they could look at the Statement in four parts, I asked them to draw (yes, draw) their individual Visions in those four areas of Sunnyhill five-years from now; which they then shared around their tables.
As you will recall at the January 10th Identity Workshop seven groups each came up with their own Identity Statement ? their description of Sunnyhill as it is right now. A small group tried to combine those statements and produced a document that very nicely put everyone?s images into eight categories. I then took both lists and asked them to focus on four areas which seemed to me to be most representative and which offered the best possibility for exploration: Our Membership, Our Governance, Our Diversity, and Our Participation/Stewardship. After they rearranged themselves at the four tables (one for each topic) I asked them to use the Mission Statement, Identity Statements, and their own Visions to answer the question, ?What would it take to fulfill your vision?? Here is my rendering of what they wrote and articulated as their visions.
Our Membership: In 5 years our members will be committed to maintaining the health of our church community and united in fulfilling our Mission. Our members will be diverse and welcoming.
Our Governance: Our vision of governance is
1) A welcoming and transparent process
2) Foster a group culture of Right Relations (The Promises)
3) Sharing responsibility ? what does the Board decide vs. what the membership decides
4) Clear expectations on all sides
5) Ease communications ? a good and efficient feedback loop to governance
6) Explicit vs. implicit decision making
7) Use Annual Meetings & Budget Meetings better? using all of the above
8) All members are responsible to obtain information needed to help in decision process
Our Diversity: They agreed on a vision to either ?Celebrate Our Diversity? or for the need for a ?Unifying Principle? (which could be respect for life, respect for the individual, enrichment, understanding, among others) but did not decide on a priority between them. Among the ideas they were working on were: while the Sunday morning services articulated the Unifying Principle we could add an evening service that would specialize in one aspect of Our Theological Diversity (Pagan, Christian, Eastern, and Humanist) and appealing to young adults. The minister would focus on the unifying services and help facilitate the evening services, which they hope would raise visibility.
Our Stewardship/Participation: Develop and implement a 5-year plan including
? Continuing stewardship education
? Participation in the ?3Ts? (Time, Talent, Treasure) as a requirement for membership
? More youth involvement
? Redesign the annual stewardship census
? Open and effective communication on goals and progress
These were their Visions and their beginning steps for the future. I then asked them to plan the Next Steps ? to spell out completely (what, how, by whom, by when, resources needed) their Vision. In the limited time they had they each began the process but ran out of time. So, we have decided to continue the process on April 4th with the ?Next Next Steps? (poor title but you get the idea). Please plan on joining us from 9:00 to 1:00 and be a part of the process to mapping out Sunnyhill?s future! Sign-up in the foyer this Sunday or reply to this email ? be sure to let us know if you need childcare.
As you will recall at the January 10th Identity Workshop seven groups each came up with their own Identity Statement ? their description of Sunnyhill as it is right now. A small group tried to combine those statements and produced a document that very nicely put everyone?s images into eight categories. I then took both lists and asked them to focus on four areas which seemed to me to be most representative and which offered the best possibility for exploration: Our Membership, Our Governance, Our Diversity, and Our Participation/Stewardship. After they rearranged themselves at the four tables (one for each topic) I asked them to use the Mission Statement, Identity Statements, and their own Visions to answer the question, ?What would it take to fulfill your vision?? Here is my rendering of what they wrote and articulated as their visions.
Our Membership: In 5 years our members will be committed to maintaining the health of our church community and united in fulfilling our Mission. Our members will be diverse and welcoming.
Our Governance: Our vision of governance is
1) A welcoming and transparent process
2) Foster a group culture of Right Relations (The Promises)
3) Sharing responsibility ? what does the Board decide vs. what the membership decides
4) Clear expectations on all sides
5) Ease communications ? a good and efficient feedback loop to governance
6) Explicit vs. implicit decision making
7) Use Annual Meetings & Budget Meetings better? using all of the above
8) All members are responsible to obtain information needed to help in decision process
Our Diversity: They agreed on a vision to either ?Celebrate Our Diversity? or for the need for a ?Unifying Principle? (which could be respect for life, respect for the individual, enrichment, understanding, among others) but did not decide on a priority between them. Among the ideas they were working on were: while the Sunday morning services articulated the Unifying Principle we could add an evening service that would specialize in one aspect of Our Theological Diversity (Pagan, Christian, Eastern, and Humanist) and appealing to young adults. The minister would focus on the unifying services and help facilitate the evening services, which they hope would raise visibility.
Our Stewardship/Participation: Develop and implement a 5-year plan including
? Continuing stewardship education
? Participation in the ?3Ts? (Time, Talent, Treasure) as a requirement for membership
? More youth involvement
? Redesign the annual stewardship census
? Open and effective communication on goals and progress
These were their Visions and their beginning steps for the future. I then asked them to plan the Next Steps ? to spell out completely (what, how, by whom, by when, resources needed) their Vision. In the limited time they had they each began the process but ran out of time. So, we have decided to continue the process on April 4th with the ?Next Next Steps? (poor title but you get the idea). Please plan on joining us from 9:00 to 1:00 and be a part of the process to mapping out Sunnyhill?s future! Sign-up in the foyer this Sunday or reply to this email ? be sure to let us know if you need childcare.
Friday, March 13, 2009
Social Action Committee
Social Action at Sunnyhill supports our Unitarian Universalist principles, including
. . . Justice, equity, and compassion in human relations . . . the goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all . . .respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.
Our Social Action Committee encourages and coordinates activities balanced among international, U.S. Domestic, Pennsylvania, and local Pittsburgh humanitarian needs. As a community, we designate the collection from one Sunday per month to a deserving organization.
Many of our congregants are members of the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC), an independent branch of the UUA, that actively promotes human rights and social justice both in this country and around the world. The UUSC is especially active in national social concerns such as gay rights and peace efforts. Our congregants of all ages participate in the "Guest At Your Table" campaign culminating around Christmas-time whereby we put money in a special box at each meal to support UUSC projects.
In addition, members of our church participate in letter and email campaigns as well as public forums aimed at raising awareness of political and social concerns.
Currently, our social action includes the other activities listed below. All charitable organizations are carefully screened for the quality of their services and management of administrative funds.
International Activities
In 2003, three of our members introduced FINCA's microcredit program to our adult congregation. Their efforts prompted donations of over $5,000 to sponsor a village bank in Zambia. FINCA's approach is to provide very small loans to local women for cottage industries. These Zambian women owned and managed their bank so successfully that members of our congregation spearheaded a second fund-raiser in 2007. This time, the congregation of about 200 members raised over $15,000 in just two weeks to sponsor three village banks in Haiti. The theme of "Mothering Out of Poverty" began on Mother's Day in the U.S. and ended on Mother's Day in Haiti -- a powerful way to promote the concept of women helping their children.
Currently our 8th graders are building upon these past successes in raising funds for microcredit loans. Once they know how much money they have they will go on the KIVA website and choose how to allocate their resources to one or more small businesses in '3rd world' countries. They plan to monitor how these businesses do, and report to the congregation.
We are also planning on contributing to the Central Asia Institute (CAI) which promotes and supports community-based education, especially for girls, in remote regions of Pakistan and Afghanistan. CAI was founded by Greg Mortenson, the author of Three Cups of Tea: One Man’s Mission to Promote Peace, One School At A Time.
Christmas 2008 was our third year to raise money for holiday gifts for a very grateful Kopek, Romania congregation, our Partner Church. Member Roz Maholland visited there in August 2006 with other area Unitarian Universalists. The purpose of the Partner Church movement is to learn about Unitarian Universalism in other parts of the world and to facilitate global friendships. American UU congregations currently have sister congregations in eastern Europe (especially Hungary and Romania), India and the Philippines.
State and Local (Pittsburgh Area) Activities
Currently 8 to 10 adults spend one Saturday a month working for the Habitat for Humanity chapter in Washington, PA.
We also support the South Hills Interfaith Ministry (SHIM) with periodic food collections and with donations of money or school supplies for children in need at the beginning of each school year.
In the past we have joined other Pittsburgh faith organizations as members of the Pittsburgh Interfaith Impact Network (PIIN) . PIIN draws attention to and advocates for politically to address needs in under-served areas of the city. We plan to continue in this endeavor.
. . . Justice, equity, and compassion in human relations . . . the goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all . . .respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.
Our Social Action Committee encourages and coordinates activities balanced among international, U.S. Domestic, Pennsylvania, and local Pittsburgh humanitarian needs. As a community, we designate the collection from one Sunday per month to a deserving organization.
Many of our congregants are members of the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC), an independent branch of the UUA, that actively promotes human rights and social justice both in this country and around the world. The UUSC is especially active in national social concerns such as gay rights and peace efforts. Our congregants of all ages participate in the "Guest At Your Table" campaign culminating around Christmas-time whereby we put money in a special box at each meal to support UUSC projects.
In addition, members of our church participate in letter and email campaigns as well as public forums aimed at raising awareness of political and social concerns.
Currently, our social action includes the other activities listed below. All charitable organizations are carefully screened for the quality of their services and management of administrative funds.
International Activities
In 2003, three of our members introduced FINCA's microcredit program to our adult congregation. Their efforts prompted donations of over $5,000 to sponsor a village bank in Zambia. FINCA's approach is to provide very small loans to local women for cottage industries. These Zambian women owned and managed their bank so successfully that members of our congregation spearheaded a second fund-raiser in 2007. This time, the congregation of about 200 members raised over $15,000 in just two weeks to sponsor three village banks in Haiti. The theme of "Mothering Out of Poverty" began on Mother's Day in the U.S. and ended on Mother's Day in Haiti -- a powerful way to promote the concept of women helping their children.
Currently our 8th graders are building upon these past successes in raising funds for microcredit loans. Once they know how much money they have they will go on the KIVA website and choose how to allocate their resources to one or more small businesses in '3rd world' countries. They plan to monitor how these businesses do, and report to the congregation.
We are also planning on contributing to the Central Asia Institute (CAI) which promotes and supports community-based education, especially for girls, in remote regions of Pakistan and Afghanistan. CAI was founded by Greg Mortenson, the author of Three Cups of Tea: One Man’s Mission to Promote Peace, One School At A Time.
Christmas 2008 was our third year to raise money for holiday gifts for a very grateful Kopek, Romania congregation, our Partner Church. Member Roz Maholland visited there in August 2006 with other area Unitarian Universalists. The purpose of the Partner Church movement is to learn about Unitarian Universalism in other parts of the world and to facilitate global friendships. American UU congregations currently have sister congregations in eastern Europe (especially Hungary and Romania), India and the Philippines.
State and Local (Pittsburgh Area) Activities
Currently 8 to 10 adults spend one Saturday a month working for the Habitat for Humanity chapter in Washington, PA.
We also support the South Hills Interfaith Ministry (SHIM) with periodic food collections and with donations of money or school supplies for children in need at the beginning of each school year.
In the past we have joined other Pittsburgh faith organizations as members of the Pittsburgh Interfaith Impact Network (PIIN) . PIIN draws attention to and advocates for politically to address needs in under-served areas of the city. We plan to continue in this endeavor.
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