2008 Southwest Conference Annual Meeting

Dreaming Wider Dreams in the midst of new dimensions

April 25 - 27, 2008

At Rincon Congregational UCC,
122 N. Craycroft Road, Tucson, Arizona
 

Annual meeting delegates, clergy and members of the Southwest Conference:

I write to you full of excitement urging you to attend this year's annual meeting of the Southwest Conference! Every annual meeting is important, but this one will be a reference point for the next decade (at least). Our theme is Dreaming Wider Dreams…in the midst of new dimensions.

We will gather at Rincon Congregational UCC in Tucson. (Rincon graciously agreed to host the meeting due to construction delays at Church of the Good Shepherd in Sahuarita … thanks, Rincon!) The meeting begins with lunch for everyone on Friday, April 25, at noon.

Our first business session will convene immediately after lunch, at 1:30 p.m., when we will introduce the candidate for Conference Minister. Our meeting will conclude with the benediction at the close of worship on Sunday morning, April 27.

When you read all the details, you will want to attend the full meeting. (You, too, clergy!) We will provide worship resources for our churches for that Sunday so that our whole Conference can share a common witness. Encourage your pastor to stay for the entire meeting!

Complete details and a registration form are included in this brochure. Set these dates aside! If they are not already elected, recruit a full slate of delegates! Join us in Tucson as the Spirit fills us and we dare to dReam wideR dReams!

Faithfully,
Len Silvester, Acting Moderator of the Southwest Conference

 

Tentative Agenda

Friday, April 25
11:00 am
 Noon    
 1:30 pm
 2:00
 4:00
 5:30
 7:00
 8:00

Registration begins                   
Lunch
Call to Order
Vitality for the future! Ron Buford
Business Session 1
Dinner
Presentation - Conference Minister candidate
Worship - The Rev. Lark Hapke preaching

Saturday, April 26
 8:45 am
 9:00
10:30
Noon 
 1:30 pm 
 3:30  
 4:30
 6:00
 7:00

Morning Prayers
Business Session 2
Q & A with Conference Minister candidate
Lunch
Workshops
Business Session 3 / Election of CM
Break
Dinner
Worship led by Southwest Conference Youth

Sunday, April 27
 9:00 am

Worship - Installation of Officers, Conference Minister elect preaching

 

Relationships … Revitalize … Refocus
Our annual meeting will be all about the 3 R's:

Relationships: There will be time for kicking back and being together. We will share meals and opportunities to encourage one another. We urge each church to prepare a one-paragraph success story from this past year … with a picture if possible. The weekend will be filled with these stories of success! You will get more information on what to do with these stories.

Revitalize: Ron Buford will return to bring to fulfillment the work he began last year, stirring us to fresh vitality and dreams. There will also be workshops on topics across a wide spectrum of interests and inspiration. And oh, how we will worship … with our youth on Saturday and with the people of Rincon on Sunday!

Refocus: It is time for the Southwest Conference to come into its own. We will meet the candidate for Conference Minister! (Yes … the search committee has selected one and the Board of Directors will recommend the candidate to the annual meeting for a vote!) If the vote is a 'yea!' our Conference Minister elect will preach at the Sunday morning service.

 

Hotel
Reservations need to be made individually and guaranteed with a credit card. Callers must identify themselves as part of the Southwest Conference UCC block. Reduced rates expire April 1, so please call early. Rooms may still be available after that date, but at the standard rate. The reduced rates are also available for Thursday night, April 24, if you arrive early.

Randolph Park Hotel and Suites
102 N. Alvernon, 1-520-795-0330, www.randolphparkhotelandsuites.com
$65.99 per night (plus tax).  An older, but well maintained, hotel with refrigerator, microwave, iron, and coffee pot in each room, heated pool, spa, wireless internet. Buffet breakfast included. (2 mi. west of Rincon)

La Quinta
6404 E. Broadway, 1-520-747-1414, www.laquinta.com
$71.10 per night (plus tax). Standard moderately-priced chain hotel, coffee pot and iron in each room, heated pool and spa, wireless internet. Light breakfast included. (1 mi. east of Rincon)

Embassy Suites
5335 E. Broadway, 1-520-745-2700, www.embassysuites.com
$119 per night (plus tax).  All 2-room suites, data port in suites (extra charge), refrigerator, microwave, coffee pot, iron in each room, heated pool, spa, workout room. Full cooked-to-order breakfast included. (.5 mi. west of Rincon)

 

Home Hospitality & Childcare
Home hospitality and childcare will be arranged for only those who request it before April 10. Contact Donna Harrison at 520-745-6237, to discuss your needs.

 

Travel Scholarships
Travel Scholarships are available for those outside the Tucson area. Please mark your registration form that you are interested in receiving assistance. An Expense Reimbursement Request form will be in your Annual Meeting packet to use to document the final amount. Flight reimbursement will be capped at $125 (please keep a copy of your ticket or confirmation) and mileage (payable at $.14/mile) will be capped at $100.

 

Transportation
Transportation from/to the airport can be arranged through Arizona Stagecoach. Fares to the hotels range from $20 - $22 each way. For more information call 520-889-1000 or http://azstagecoach.com.

 

Submitting a Resolution
The Resolution process shall be:

If a church or organization wishes to submit a resolution or resolutions for consideration at this Annual Meeting, pursuant to the standing rules adopted by the Conference at its 2002 Annual Meeting, said resolutions must be in the Conference Office no later than March 25, 2008 in order to be reviewed by the Executive Committee at their meeting on March 29, 2008 for submission to the Annual Meeting.

 

Delegates
Local Churches
500 members or less may have 5 delegates
Over 500 members: 1 additional delegate for each additional 500 members
Ministers with standing in the SWC
Officers and SWC Board of Directors
General Synod Delegates