11th ANNUAL MEETING UCCOSSN
April 17-19, 1998
Cleveland, Ohio
We began the meeting with a WORSHIP SERVICE lead by The Rev. Henrietta Stith Andrews, an Associate Association Minister with the Western Reserve Association of the Ohio Conference. Rev. Andrews was the 1995 recipient of the Antoinette Brown Award.
Rev. Dennis Fredriksen, Sr. Minister at the 1st Congregational UCC in Elyria, Ohio led us through a innovative COMMUNITY BUILDING experience. Friends from former years were greeted and new friends were met. Fun was had by all!
Jim Meyer, Building Manager at the National Offices gave us an "overview" of the new UCC HOTEL, which we could easily see out of the windows of our meeting room at 700 Prospect. When we come back to Cleveland in 2000, we will stay in the new hotel (We booked the event before Mr. Meyer left!) The hotel lobbies and guest rooms will be full of special pictures and works of art relevant to the UCC. The New Hampshire Conference is in Partnership with the United Church of Christ in Zimbabwe. Mev Metulevich from the New Hampshire Conference presented A GIFT of a decorative hanging made by the people of the UCC in Zimbabwe especially for the hotel.The Friday afternoon was spent in a tour of the UCC RESOURCE CENTER WAREHOUSE. Books and resources everywhere! Arms were full and credit cards posed and ready!
After dinner on Friday night we heard a presentation on LOTUS NOTES by Tony Lisy, Director of Information Systems for the UCC, and Jeanine Satterfield, Lotus Notes Systems Administrator for the UCC. Goals and objectives were shared. It is the immediate goal to have all national agencies and departments using Lotus Notes soon. Once this goal is accomplished, Conferences presently using Lotus Notes will be upgraded and Conferences not yet using Lotus Notes will be brought aboard. Good technical support and training will be available as the use of Lotus Notes as an effective communications and informational tool expands throughout the UCC.
Saturday provided numerous "CONTINUING EDUCATION" experiences through the "Filling the Shoes" activity (Carol Cashmere/Charlene Higginbotham) and
Workshops:
 | "Retirement & the Layperson" w/ Joan Brannick, Executive Director of the Pension Boards |
| "Stress Management" w/ Jim Cunningham, Chaplain at Fairview Hospital who recently helped author a health care book. |
| "Managing the Minister" w/ Arlene Nehring, Associate Director and Dean of Diakonal Academy with the Council for Health and Human Services Ministries. |
| "Utilizing the Volunteer" w/ Susan Sanders, Minister for Volunteer Services with the United Church Board for Homeland Ministires. |
We fellowshipped, shared and planned together. We also welcomed Edith Guffey, Secretary of the United Church of Christ, who took time from her Sabbatical Leave to stop by and say hello!
We said "goodbye until we meet again" after CLOSING WORSHIP led by Rev. Denise Mason, Minister for Church Life and Leadership of the United Church of Christ.
