Track 1 - The Future of Unitarian Universalism:  A Conversation for Religious Professionals 40 and Under

Tandi Rogers is the UUA Growth Strategy Specialist and has served the UUA in the Pacific NW since 2002 as their Program Specialist. In 2010-11 she filled in as the Interim Director of the Office of Youth & Young Adult Ministries. She identifies as an evangelical Unitarian Universalist and has wanted to work with UU leaders in the Southwest for some time. Finally!

Track 2 - Examining Your Mission Field

Rev. Susan Smith serves as the District Executive for the Southwestern Unitarian Universalist Conference.

 Rev. Ron Robinson wears many hats. He is the Executive Director of the UU Christian Fellowship, is adjunct faculty and Director of Ministerial Formation for UUism at Phillips Theological Seminary, is Executive Director of A Third Place Community Foundation in far north Tulsa, which was begun through the work of a church plant now known as The Welcome Table Church.

Track 3 - Worship: From Theory to Practice

Rev. Kenn Hurto, Rev. Barbara Jarrell
The Reverend Kenn Hurto has served our faith for nearly 40 years, in four settled ministries and five consulting placements (including Australia and New Zealand). Well regarded for his work in family systems theory as applied to congregations, Kenn now serves as the District Executive to 46 congregations for our UUA in Florida. 

The Reverend Barbara Jarrell serves the All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church in Shreveport, LA.  She is a musician, composer and songwriter.

Track 4 - Shaping Your Stewardship

Kay Crider is a member of the UUA's Congregational Stewardship Services Team and advises UUA congregations throughout the United States. She has 11 years of professional fundraising experience and also teaches law as an adjunct faculty member for the University of Oregon's Lundquist College of Business and the Environmental Studies Program. Kay has lived in several states, including eight great years in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

 Track 5 - UU Identity

Thomas Pistole is a credentialed religious educator serving the Durham (NH) UU Fellowship for 21 years. He has served as staff of Star Island Religious Education Week for a number of years, including two years as Children’s Dean and one as Conference Dean. He has also served as the program coordinator for RE Week at Ferry Beach. He served on the, then, New Hampshire/Vermont District Board for six years, including two as District President. Currently he serves on the Liberal Religious Educators Association Mentoring Committee for individuals enrolled in the Religious Educators Credentialing Program. Apart from activities in religious education, he has been on the faculty of the University of New Hampshire for 40 years, married for 46 years and has two young adult children. He is a member of Journey Song, an a cappella group that provides music for folks in hospice care and nursing homes.Terry Ward is entering her 19^th year as the Director of Religious Education of the First Unitarian Church of Oklahoma City. She has served the district in a variety of capacities including  chair of the District Religious Education Committee, various search committees and director of children’s programming at SWUUSI. In her previous life she was an elementary school teacher and the president of the local teachers’ association. She is married and has 2 children in their twentys who identify as UU’s, but did not always appreciate being a “church kid” as children.

Track 6 - Coalition Building

Carrie Stewart
As the Owner and Principal of One World Consulting, Carrie has served various communities and organizations in their quest for greater understanding, and inclusion of diverse individuals. She serves on The Steering Committee of the UU Allies for Racial Equity, as Chair of the Southwest Unitarian Universalist Conference Racial Justice & Diversity Task Force and as a diversity and conflict consultant to SWUUC. Through workshops, training, conflict transformation, mediation, facilitation, dialogue and coaching, Carrie creates opportunities for bringing groups together to find common ground.

Carrie holds a Bachelor’s degree in American Studies from Smith College, and a Master’s in Communication and Information Studies, specializing in Intercultural Communication and Diversity Training from Rutgers University. She has additional multicultural and antiracism training through the Unitarian Universalist Association’s Journey Toward Wholeness program, Stir Fry Consulting, People’s Institute for Survival and Beyond, Plowshares Institute, and the National Coalition Building Institute where she served as Assistant Director for the Central Texas Chapter.

SATURDAY NIGHT ENTERTAINMENT

Julie Hazzard
Acoustic Rock from the 70s, 80s , 90s and Today!

 Julie has been playing the guitar and singing since she was teenager. She was lead vocalist for the DFW band SoundZ back in the early 1980’s. After high school, Julie entered the professional “real” world and didn’t get back to songwriting for about 10 years – when she did some studio work and started making demo tapes of her original tunes to shop around. Although she has never been signed by a recording label, she has continued playing her original songs and covers of what she calls “Acoustic Rock” in Coffee Houses (that include Jefferson Freedom Café) and private parties around Arlington and Fort Worth, Texas. 

In 1999, Julie entered the Lilith Fair Talent Contest for a chance to play on the small stage at that year’s Lilith Fair. She was chosen as one of the top 20 finalists in the DFW area (and got a nice review in the Ft Worth Star Telegram!).

 Julie and her partner are moms to two fantastic (and also very musical) little girls, so the easy going musical life of coffee houses and private events works out great for her to be able to share her music in a family friendly atmosphere. She also prefers the intimacy of these venues and seeing “up close” the enjoyment she is giving her listeners.

 To listen to some of Julie’s original work, go to www.myspace.com/juliehazzard or you can follow her on her website:
www.juliehazzard.com or
www.facebook.com/juliehazzardmusic