Convocation 2009 was a wonderful success with just about 400 members in attendance. Please continue to check here for postings of program information.

Click here to view a PDF Version of the Program Book.  Full books will be available onsite.

Look who's coming to Convo: click here to see

Extra! Extra!!!! Read, listen, see all about it!

eBrochure (plug-in download automatic)filled with links, photos, movies, descriptions of Ottawa and all the events at CONVO. Plan fifteen or more minutes - so get some tea and take a break - then click [+]

Here is the Thomas Moore interview with Wayne Walder for CONVO. Get the quick quotes, the meaty answers to individual questions or the entire interview - depends on how much time you have!

Since 1974 Unitarian Universalist Ministers has been gathering for friendship, for spiritual nourishment, for intellectual exploration, and for escape. The gatherings have taken place in The Poconos (1974), Newport, RI (1980), Well Springs, Bethesda, Maryland (1983), Hot Springs, Arkansas (1995) and Birmingham, Alabama (2002).

SCHEDULE: Wednesday, Nov. 11 and Monday, Nov. 16 are considered travel days.  Conference materials will be available beginning at noon on Wednesday, Nov. 11 and the first scheduled event is the opening reception at 6PM. Click here to view a tentative schedule of the week.

HEADLINER: Thomas Moore will be with us all week. Moore will speak to the entire group for a total of four hours and offers 25 of our registrants (by lottery of those who sign up during the regular registration period) an in depth experience of 12 hours throughout the week.

In addition there are eight CHAPTERS, 12 hour experiences on a single topic. Click Here for the detailed Chapter list. One CHAPTER is offered by Meadville Lombard Theological School as a credit course. The Trauma Ministry Chapter qualifies for continuing education credit.

There will be many SHORT STORIES of two hour duration throughout the week. They will take place at the same time as the CHAPTERS. A broad selection is offered. Click Here for a fuller description of Short Stories.

WORSHIP with some of our best story tellers and liturgists will begin each day for all participants in CONVO. In the evening there will be shorter vesper services for those who wish to enrich their spiritual and worship experience at CONVO.

In addition MINISTORY1, videotaping interviews with our elder ministers, will continue. Everyone will have an opportunity to see some of the interviews throughout the week

The MINISTORY2 project, collecting your best stories about ministry, will make the stories available on the Story Board throughout the Convocation.

All this takes place in Ottawa, Ontario, the national capitol of CANADA. Ottawa is an accessible city with most restaurants, museums, parliament, and shopping within a short distance of the Westin Hotel right in the heart of the city. There are beautiful walking and jogging paths along the Rideau Canal and Ottawa River very close to the hotel. With theatres, orchestras, art museums, and other world class museums, an outdoor market and the largest shopping experience in the city located nearby, there are ample opportunities for you to explore and enrich your time with colleagues in Ottawa. Canada has strict accessibility rules and recognizes the marriage of gay and lesbian couples.  Click here to book your hotel room

Don't miss the next historic and exciting gathering in Ottawa, Ontario, November 11-16, 2009!

Registration Fee Schedule:

· Early Bird Registration: October 1, 2007 — October 1, 2008

· Regular Registration: $580 January 10, 2009 — July 15, 2009 **Extended to July 15 to meet new Fiscal Years**

· Late Registration: $610 July 15, 2009 — October 1, 2009

· There will be no on site registrations accepted.

Financial woes? Part time minister? Community minister? Apply for an educational grant from Jory Agate, Ministerial Development Director at the UUA (mailto:jagate@uua.org), and have it applied directly to your registration costs. The CONVO Team is working to raise funds for more scholarships. They will be announced as funds become available.

Refund worries? Refunds are made within 30 days of request, minus a $25 administration cost through Sept. 1, 2009. After Sept. 1, 2009 partial refunds are made determined by the anxiety level of the registrar, or 50% depending on which is higher.

2009 Convo Planning Committee (click here for details):

Debra Faulk, Secretary
Brian Kiely, Treasurer
Brian Kopke, Chair

Kathy Sage, Grants

Joseph Santos-Lyons, Mini-Story

Leslie Takahaski Morris, Worship

Kate Walker, Program/Arrangements

Wayne Walder, Program/PR

In addition the team will have 75 - 100 of your colleagues working as volunteers heading up a host of tasks and programs necessary for a successful CONVO 2009.