AccommodationsMinneapolis Marriott City Center The Marriott City Center is located in the heart of our downtown’s entertainment district, just a block away from the city’s new light rail service to such destinations as Minnehaha Falls Park, the Mall of America and the airport. Hotel ReservationsA discounted rate of $99 per night per room for one to four occupants is available. Children under age 18 may stay free with a parent. Rooms must be reserved by March 16, 2007. For the discounted rate, please specify that you are attending the Unitarian Universalist Prairie Star District Conference. Note: To get the conference rate on the hotel website below, be sure to enter our group code: UNNUNNA Phone: 1-800-228-9290 ParkingParking is available at reasonable cost for conference participants in the parking ramp adjacent to the hotel. RegistrationRegistration is $135 for adults, $50 for youth. Please print or photocopy the Conference registration form for each attendee 12 years old and older. Early bird registration ($120) for adults must be postmarked by March 16, 2007.
Youth must register by mail (rather than through Prairie Store) because we need a parent’s signature. Each youth registering should mail in both a Conference registration form and a Youth registration form. Full refunds available until April 1. Youth ProgramAll attending youth (ages 12–18) must be sponsored by an adult who is attending the conference. Let your congregation know if you are willing to be a sponsor. Youth will participate in the full Annual Conference and are encouraged to attend the special consultation with the UUA. Youth will provide the Saturday evening worship service. For more information, see Youth. MealsAdult registration includes Saturday breakfast, lunch, and dinner at the hotel and Sunday breakfast at First Unitarian Society. If you prefer vegetarian meals, or have other dietary needs, please indicate this in advance on your registration form. Banner ParadeThe Banner Parade will be Friday evening, and banners will be exhibited throughout the conference. You are invited and encouraged to bring your congregation’s banner (and pole) for the parade. To learn more about creating a banner, visit http://www.uua.org/ga/bannerspecs.pdf . (The link is to a PDF file; see About PDF for more information.) Child CareChild care will be available at the hotel for children ages 3–11 years. The fee is $40 per child; registration must be received by April 1, 2007. Sunday MorningFirst Unitarian Society welcomes you to experience the combined choirs of First Unitarian and First Universalist Church and our orchestra performing “Sources”, a dynamic musical presentation based on the six sources of our UUA Purposes and Principles. Composed by Jason Shelton, Music Director at the UU Church of Nashville, with lyrics by Kendyl Gibbons, Senior Minister of the First Unitarian Society, this Cantata will have you singing, shouting, and making a joyful noise about the inspiring faith we share. ChoirThe Annual Conference choir is on sabbatical this year, due to the special musical presentation. Sunday Morning CollectionHelp us to nurture justice in the wider community by focusing UU generosity on the American Refugee Committee’s efforts in Darfur. Our Sunday morning collection at the Annual Conference will be for ARC’s efforts in Darfur. The American Refugee Committee is a Minneapolis-based international nonprofit, nonsectarian organization that has provided humanitarian assistance and training to millions of beneficiaries over the last 27 years. ARC works with refugee communities in 10 countries around the world, helping people regain control of their lives. The people ARC serves have lost everything to events completely beyond their control. ARC provides shelter, clean water and sanitation, health care, skills training, microcredit education, protection and whatever support they can give to let people begin again. Currently in Darfur, ARC runs 16 Primary Health Clinics, repairs or builds one wateryard and one new well per month, provides books, classrooms, school kits, and water systems to 8,000 school-age kids, and assists farmers with seeds, tools, training, care of livestock, and development of community gardens. For more information, please visit http://www.arcrelief.org . Scholarship FundThe Prairie Star District Board has authorized the creation of a scholarship fund to subsidize attendance at future Annual Conferences for those who could not otherwise attend. When you register for this year’s conference, you will have the opportunity to make a voluntary contribution to this fund. The criteria for awarding of scholarships will be published when funds are available. Questions?For more information, contact Rev. Lisa Friedman, lfriedman@gfn.org, 612-781-5182. |