Pacific Western Region Assembly

     Plan to join attendees from 185 PWR congregations as the four districts of the Pacific Western Region convene in Portland, Oregon, April 27-29, for the 2018 Regional Assembly. Three dynamic speakers will address the theme, Stories of Hope, Courage, Resistance, and Resilience. The Rev. Dr. William Barber, a national figure in civil rights activism, will be in the pulpit for Sunday’s worship service. Saturday’s keynote speaker will be Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal, the first Indian-American woman to be elected to U.S. Congress. Jayapal has spent the last twenty years working internationally and domestically as a leading advocate for women’s, immigrant, civil, and human rights. The Rev. Susan Frederick-Gray, UUA president, will speak at Friday evening’s opening ceremony. Frederick-Gray will share her emerging vision for the future of the UUA and the wider movement.
Several workshops will be offered during Saturday’s programming. If you prefer, you may opt to participate in a local social justice activity. Full details about workshops and the social justice activity will soon be posted on the Pacific Western Region website (www.uua.org/pwr).
     All four districts of the Pacific Western Region will hold concurrent annual meetings on Saturday afternoon. Meeting materials and delegate information will be distributed in February/March.
     If you are a minister, religious educator, or music director you will want to attend the day-long Professional Day activities on Friday, April 27. Rev. Erika Hewitt, UUA staff Minister of Worship Arts, and Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout, Director of Worship and Music at the First Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Ann Arbor, will be presenting a workshop for religious professionals on multi-generational, multicultural worship. In addition, the Revs. Elizabeth Stevens, Emily Brault, and Susan Maginn will be presenting “From Burden to Blessing: Working with Secondary Trauma” for community-based ministers. Professional Day programming will be held at First Unitarian Church of Portland prior to the start of Regional Assembly. Registration for Friday’s Professional Day will be available via the Regional Assembly registration form.
     Regional Assembly registration will be open by January 4. You will be able to access full details and the registration form through the Pacific Western Region website (www.uua.org/pwr).
     The Portland DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, site of the Regional Assembly, is offering discounted room rates through March 29. If you book through another link or by phone, be sure to use the group code, UU8. Full details will be posted on the PWR website before registration opens January 4.
     PWR staff is working hard to keep registration costs low. An Early Bird adult registration fee will be available through January 31 and fees for young adults, youth, and children will be discounted. Still, could your congregation consider either subsidizing or fully funding the costs for at least one person to attend Regional Assembly? What a great opportunity for someone identified as a potential leader in your congregation!
     Be sure to check the PWR website (www.uua.org/pwr) after the first of the year for full Regional Assembly details.