Prairie Group

To study thought as it affects religion . . . A Gathering of Unitarian Universalist Ministers

Prairie Group Disciplines

Expectations for Papers

Essay papers should be between 12-20 pages, double spaced, 1" margins; Times New Roman text.  Response papers should be 3-5 pages double-spaced, 1' margins, Times New Roman text. All references should be cited as footnotes or endnotes. Maximum word limit for papers is 5500 words.  Each of these papers should not exceed this maximum word count. To do so is a violation of Prairie Group protocol and the extended length of the paper cannot be read aloud.The maximum length for papers will be forty minutes in presentation. Length of respondent paper for papers is 1500 words. The papers must not exceed this word limit. The maximum length of the respondent presentation for the fifth paper must not exceed 10 minutes. All writers must place the total word count (not including footnotes and bibliography) of their essays in the top left corner on the first page of their paper.

A major draft of all papers and presentations should be completed by no later than the third week of August. Respondents must receive the final draft of the papers or the multimedia presentations and papers by September 1.  Program committee contacts will keep in touch with writers/presenter for support and to help ensure that these two deadlines are met.

Membership

Membership is open to Unitarian Universalist ministers, and others upon invitation, in the central states of the United States and the provinces of Canada.  It has also extended a permanent invitation to attend its meetings to seminary students in the Prairie Group area who are in their senior year and who are seeking UU fellowship.  Exceptions to this Article may be granted in individual cases by majority vote of the membership at any annual meeting.

New Members

A minister should write to the Scribe and make arrangements to attend, and will be welcomed as a one-time visitor.  He/she may then be extended an invitation to become a member and to share in the privileges and responsibilities.

Resignations

Failure to respond to requests for reservation or to pay dues and travel equalization on schedule shall constitute an automatic resignation.  Members not attending any scheduled meetings may retain membership by notifying the Scribe and by paying dues and travel equalization in advance of that meeting.

Reinstatement of Membership

Any members subject to voluntary or automatic resignation may be reinstated upon his or her written application to the Scribe, enclosing payment of all delinquent dues and travel equalization.  For reasons of financial hardship an applicant for reinstatement of membership may be excused from such payment in whole or in part by written request to the Scribe.  Any person whose membership lapses by reason of his or her removal from the Prairie Group area may, by written application to the Scribe, continue membership with all the rights and obligations thereof, except that any such member may receive no more than $100 in travel equalization funds for any one meeting.

Associate:
A member who resigns from full activity may continue as an associate upon payment of $2.00 annually and receive copies of papers read at meetings, reading lists and all other mailings.

Emeritus/a Membership
Any member who retires from professional serve may subsequently be invited by vote of the membership to assume the status of Member Emertus/a.  Such status carries the prerequisites of regular membership without the commitments stated in Article 5, except that an Emeritus/a member may assume any of the commitments of regular membership by mutual agreement with the group.

The Discipline
  • Be on time for, and atttend all sessions.  Give each presenter and respondent your full attention.

  • Attend the Annual Meeting
  • Read the assigned books
  • Write papers and accept other duties as requested by the Program Committee.  An essayist must provide his/her/gher respondent with a copy of the paper by September 1st and must bring an appropriate number of copies to the meeting.  In the past, writers have made 60 copies.

  • Pay annual dues and travel equalization fees in amounts determined from time to time by the membership.
Duties
The President presides at business meetings.  She/he/they  appoints moderators for discussions, with the advice of the Program committee.  She/he/they performs other duties of the office as required.

The Program Committee provides a reading list according to the subject chosen by the members and assigns papers and criticism to members and provides other items for the program.  Effort is made to provide reading lists and assignments as early as possible.

The Scribe forwards all mailings that relate to the meetings and the program; makes arrangements for a place of meeting as the members direct and receives reservations from them; takes the minutes and keeps minimum records for the society.  As treasurer, the Scribe receives dues and makes disbursements, and especially makes reimbursements from the travel fund under the direction of the members.  The society has no permanent funds, no bank account and the nonexistent books are not audited nor the treasurer bonded.



This website is maintained by Kathleen Rolenz. 
To provide content or corrections, please contact her at krolenz@uuma.org

Home

Papers

Readings - Trauma - 2020

Comedy - 2019

Comedy - Readings - 2019

Octavia Butler - 2018

Empire - 2017

African Theology - 2016

Sin - 2015

Schleiermacher-2014

Prayer - 2013

Pentecostalism - 2012

Location & Dates

Schedule

History & Disciplines

Purposes and Procedures

For Newcomers

Minutes-Business Mtg

Minutes

Membership

In Memoriam

Photo Gallery