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              May 7, 2000 
            Dear Friends, 
            The 2000-2001 District Directory information is needed in the office 
              soon. You can access this form online at http://www.cyberstreet.com/uuFld/forms.htm 
              or use the enclosed form and return to the District office. The 
              website is interactive so you can fill it out and forward it directly 
              to our office. Please take a good look at your map and make sure 
              that a stranger could find you if they wanted to. Sometimes the 
              maps are so obscure that folks have trouble when they try and join 
              you for events and worship. Thanks for your attention to this important 
              detail. 
            Put the date for the Fall Leadership Conference on your calendar 
              now! We have invited all the candidates for President of the UUA 
              and Moderator of the UUA Board to attend our conference to be held 
              in Orlando on December 1 and 2nd. The entire group will be making 
              only six appearances in Districts this campaign year and ours is 
              one of them. I urge you to take this opportunity to talk in your 
              congregations and clusters about your concerns, dreams and issues 
              and bring those to the forum. More information will follow. 
            The Renaissance module, Developing a Philosophy of Religious 
              Education will take place in Orlando from June 8-10th. This 
              is a fundamental course if we are to help our congregations ground 
              their RE offerings in the tradition and possibility of our UU movement. 
            Many of the New Presidents will gather in East Orlando May 12-13 
              to talk about their transition into that role. It is a great opportunity 
              to network and address those issues that are most significant to 
              the new lay leadership of your congregations. It is not too late 
              to apply, so call the office and we will get you in contact with 
              the coordinator. 
            The registrations for the Florida Leadership 
              School are due soon. Have you chosen the best and brightest 
              in your congregation to attend this week-long training event in 
              November? I urge you to look around you for the future leaders of 
              our movement and make this investment in them,your congregation 
              and our wider movement. 
            General Assembly is a wonderful 
              event that gathers thousands of UUs from around the continent together 
              for fellowship, learning, worship and stimulation. This year GA 
              will be in Nashville. We will welcome two of our Florida congregations 
              into affiliation with the UUA at this event and will celebrate appropriately. 
              Please join more than a hundred others from this District who traditionally 
              attend. Call the office for details. 
            I look forward to the summer and the down time that it affords. 
              May your spirits find peace and you energies be restored in the 
              time that stretches before us. 
            In Faith, 
             
              Mary C. Higgins 
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