UUFR Youth Religious Education Committee

Purpose

In accordance with the mission of UUFR, the Youth Religious Education Committee provides vision, sets policy, advocates for and supports YRE program implementation in cooperation with the RE Director. Members seek input from families to build community and create a nurturing religious education experience that enhances the spiritual development of children and parents.

• Committee members are required to take on one of the portfolio or administrative positions.
• ALL committee positions should be publicized in April. New committee members should be actively recruited and/or recommended by current committee members, the DRE, and the YRE Administrator. Candidates can report their interest to the committee chair before the May YREC meeting, when candidates new and old will be considered by the YREC.
• IF more than one suitable person is interested in a specific position or portfolio, every effort will be made to match both with appropriate roles in YRE work.
• If the YREC has concerns about a candidate’s suitability for YRE Committee work, such concerns will be expressed in executive session, and will be confidential. The committee Chair and Volunteer Recruitment/Support portfolio holder will express those concerns directly to the candidate.
• The term of office for all committee members shall be from the June meeting through the June meeting of the following year.
• The position of chair is a two-year commitment; all other positions on the committee are for one-year terms. Individuals may serve a maximum of two years in the same position.
• Volunteers should not take on more than one portfolio position at a time.
• If a volunteer is not able to fulfill the commitment of the position, the chair will invite that person to step down. The committee will work together to recruit a replacement mid-year.
• The DRE is an ex-officio member of the Youth Religious Education Committee.
• The Past-chair will also serve as an ex-officio member, to offer support as needed, but with no specific duties or responsibilities.
• Regarding conflict: If there is a conflict betweencommittee membership that is disruptive to the work of the group, the committee chair may ask those members to consult with the conflict management group. If there is a conflict between a member of the committee and the DRE, the chair may ask that the conflict be heard by the DRE relations committee.
• The YREC members and the DRE will develop a covenant together at the annual retreat, held at the start of each term, including Rules of Conduct to be followed at meetings.

• Regular monthly meetings shall be held at the Fellowship at a standard time and place. Child care will be provided for meetings with one week RSVP.
• The Chair may call additional meetings as needed, with as much advance notice to all members as possible, and the committee will sponsor open forums about YRE topics as needed.
• Chair will lead meetings and will assign a process observer and time-keeper for each meeting. Future chair will record action items and follow-up with those responsible.
• Rules of Conduct shall be reviewed and adhered to at all YREC meetings.

As a whole, all members of the committee will:

• Assist the DRE in continuing program development, including choosing curricula and overall program design.
• Support the DRE in maintaining the ongoing YRE program, understanding that there may be times of intensified workload.

• Establish annual and long-term goals for the Youth Religious Education program, and monitor progress toward these goals.
• Establish annual goals and define the focus for YRE Committee work, and monitor progress toward these goals.

• Ensure periodic evaluation of the mission and vision of the YRE program.

• Revise policies and procedures as necessary to support the mission and vision of the YRE program, and that of the UUFR community at-large.
• Evaluate the Youth Religious Education program in a way that involves feedback from participants and leaders. Identify problems and work collaboratively with the DRE to create solutions.
• Consider, represent, and advocate for the interests and needs of children, youth, and their parents at UUFR.
• Work collaboratively with other committees and groups within UUFR as needed, so that Youth Religious Education programming “can be an expression of the congregation’s guiding vision and sense of mission, and is an outreach into the surrounding community.”

In addition to team work, individual responsbilities include:

• Fulfill the duties outlined for their specific position on the committee.
• Attend monthly YRE Committee meetings (at least 75% required)
• Participate in YRE Committee retreats, and attend forums and workshops as able.
• Serve as Sunday Morning greeter four times per year.
• Submit monthly report to the YREC one week prior to monthly meeting.
• Assist in recruitment and appreciation of those involved with YRE.

The committee shall consist of four administrative positions, and eight portfolio positions and two ex-officio positions. The portfolios are areas of focus and function similarly to subcommittees. Individuals in portfolio positions may recruit people to assist in the accomplish of the tasks of the portfolio.

The administrative positions are:

Chair

Future Chair

Secretary

Treasurer

The portfolio positions are:

Volunteer Recruitment/Appreciation

Parent Resources Coordinator

Elementary OWL Coordination

Youth OWL Coordination

YRE Committee Publicity

Family Circle Liason

Coming of Age/Rites of Passage Celebrations

Membership Liason

The ex-officio positions are:

DRE

Past Chair

• Facilitate committee meetings by calling the meetings, soliciting agenda items, preparing the final agenda, and recruiting people to serve as leader, process observer and time-keeper.
• Attend monthly meetings of the Joint Council or arrange to maintain a YRE presence on the Joint Council. Provide a monthly written report to the Joint Council, detailing current activities of the YREC.
• Apprise the committee of any actions of the UUFR Board of Directors and Joint Coucil affecting YRE and solicit input regarding these issues.
• Provide leadership to the Committee in identifying issues and facilitating discussion and action by the Committee.
• Maintain weekly contact with the DRE to stay informed and to advise and support the DRE.
• Interact with chairpersons of other committees and staff as needed to coordinate activities.

• Serve as liaison to the Nominating Committee for finding the next Future Chair.

• Call additional retreats, workshops and forums as necessary. Future chair will coordinate logistics. Chair will assign presentations and facilitation to others, including self and DRE.
• Provide periodic opportunities for the committee’s ongoing evaluation of its process, structure, and effectiveness with evaluation sheets, process reports, sub-group discussions, etc.
• Work with the DRE to prepare notebooks for new YREC members.
• Prepare a written annual summary of YREC activities to be included in the Annual Report to be distributed at or before the Annual Elections Meeting.
• Continue to provide advice and support to the next chair in the capacity of Past chair, serving as an ex-officio member of the committee, for the year after service as Chair ends.

• At least once during the year, serve as each of the following: Leader, Process Observer, Time-keeper.
• Attend at least one Joint Council meeting during the year.
• Coordinate at least one additional YRE event (workshop, forum, or retreat) during the year.
• Record Action Items during meeting and distribute. Follow-up with Action Item owners as needed.
• Coordinate logistics for retreats, workshops and forums as necessary. Chair will assign presentations and facilitation to others, including self and DRE.
• Support and assist the current Chair as needed/able.

• Record (or recruit someone to record) the minutes for all monthly meetings.
• Submit draft of minutes to Chair for review within 3 days of meetings.
• Distribute minutes to all committee members within one week.
• Maintain notebook of committee’s written records (minutes, agendas, action items) for the year.

• Review the annual budget, prepared by the DRE, for Youth Religious Education.
• Monitor spending and adherence to the budget and update the committee, at least monthly, on our financial standing.
• Serve as an advocate for YRE funding, and be available to attend Board and Congregational Budget meetings.
• Aid in the collection and deposit of monies received from fundraisers for the program.
• Ensure any fundraiser held for or by the Youth Religious Education program follow UUFR policies.

Position Duties - Administrative: Portfolio Positions:

• Recruit and organize volunteers as needed for YRE events.
• Be available to hear concerns and questions about issues related to volunteer work, teacher policies, etc.; especially if there is a conflict between volunteers and the YRE office staff. Prepare a brief introduction of self and responsibilities at teacher training.
• Assist the YRE Administrator to recruit teaching teams and assistants for Sunday classes.
• Work with the DRE and the YRE Administrator to create volunteer appreciation events for YRE.
• Ensure that thank-you notes are sent to volunteers as appropriate.

• Solicit feedback from parents about their support and educational needs.
• Publicize opportunities for learning to parents and hear accesibility concerns.
• Work collaboratively with the DRE to plan ongoing opportunities for parent learning.
• Support the DRE with coordination of guest speakers, discussion groups, workshops, and support groups for parents.
• Work with the DRE in development of a brochure about parent resources at UUFR.
• Work with the DRE to compile resources for parents who would like to introduce religious education, spiritual practice, and ritual into their family lives.

• Ensure that one elementary OWL program is run each year, alternating between K-1 and 4-6 program.
• Work with the DRE to recruit new teachers for OWL training.
• Maintain list of OWL trained facilitators for elementary ages.
• Publicize OWL trainings and recruit members to attend.
• Schedule and coordinate OWL sessions for all age groups.
• Keep YRE Committee informed of all events relating to OWL.
• Communicate with parents, teachers, and the DRE will oversee a meeting schedule for OWL class.
• Be responsible for appropriate, advance publicity about OWL programs.
• Serve as host to OWL teacher training held at UUFR, with the support of the YREC and the DRE.

• Ensure that one youth OWL program is run each year, alternating between middle and senior high program.
• Work with the DRE to recruit new teachers for OWL training.
• Maintain list of OWL trained facilitators for youth ages.
• Publicize OWL trainings and recruit members to attend.
• Schedule and coordinate OWL sessions for all age groups.
• Keep YRE Committee informed of all events relating to OWL.
• Communicate with parents, teachers, and the DRE will oversee a meeting schedule for OWL class.
• Be responsible for appropriate, advance publicity about OWL programs.
• Serve as host to OWL teacher training held at UUFR, with the support of the YREC and the DRE.

• Publicize YREC sponsored events, such as YRE forums and discussion groups sponsored by the committee.
• Send an abbreviated version of the YRE Committee minutes are sent out to the YRE newsgroup.
• Maintain the YRE Committee bulletin board.
• Work with the DRE to format the UUFR Program Handbook (DRE collects submissions), and to ensure that it is published and delivered in a timely fashion.
• Publicize YRE Committee positions in April.
• Periodically provide articles to the Chalice that summarize committee decisions/actions, such as curriculum selection.

• Hold annual or semi-annual open meetings to discuss ideas for future social activities and to evaluate the social activities process and programs. 
• Serve as a liaison between the YRE Committee and family social events “folder holders” to coordinate and promote child-centered social activities.
• Recruit “folder holders,” preferably at the open meetings, but if unable, fill them via the UUFR families’ newsgroup and through YRE registration.
• Prepare binders for each “folder holder,” including information about publicizing events, safe congregation policies, contacts, etc.
• “Folder holders” are responsible for planning the activities as well as publicizing them.
• Ensure that YRE sponsored Family Social Events are publicized as other YRE events are (Chalice, handbook, and yre newsgroup).
• Ensure that safe congregation practices or policy is communicated to coordinators of YRE sponsored Family Social events.
• Prepare the Family Social Events portion of the YRE budget.
• Ensure that “folder holders” understand the Gold sheet approval process.

• Coordinate special events and/or worship services to honor children and youth who have passed significant milestones (COA, OWL, graduation-elementary, middle school, and high school).
• Serve as a point person for the Coming of Age program; help coordinate the logistics of that program and hear parent concerns about COA (in addition to the DRE). DRE is responsible for COA teacher training and support, parent orientation, and teacher/mentor recruitment.

• Attend Membership committee meetings as able (at least quarterly).
• Review all Membership Committee minutes and communicate to the YREC about the work of the Membership Committee that is relevant to YRE.
• Work with the Membership Committee so that the path to membership is a collaborative effort between the YREC and Membership to welcome new families.
• Ensure that UUFR greeters understand the YRE program and greeting process for new families.
• Work collaboratively with the YREC and the Membership Committee to develop systems that may better support new families.
• Call new families as a representative of the YREC

• Teaching Teams

The ideal team is made up of 3-4 dedicated teachers who agree to serve as lead and assistant teachers for the entire program year (fall to spring). We believe that this structure provides the best chance for teachers and children to form supportive relationships. We do recognize, however, that this model requires a major commitment on the part of our volunteers. We hope that, over time, the ideal team will become the norm. Until then, we do ask that each volunteer committ to serving no less than nine Sundays during the program year. This means a teaching team of 6-8 (3-4 teachers and 3-4 assistants).

• The DRE retains the primary responsibility for the recruitment, selection and ‘vetting’ of potential teachers and teacher assistants.
• The teaching team creates its own schedule and is responsible for giving their schedule to the YRE Administrator. The YRE Administrator will keep a master schedule and will schedule assistants as needed.The YRE Administrator provides administrative support to teams, such as attendance sheet, visitor form, and registration processing. The YRE Administrator is also able to generate class contact lists. The YRE Administrator and the DRE are both available to hear feedback from teachers, and are responsible for soliciting feedback in an annual teacher survey. The DRE is available to support teachers if they need additional resources for teaching or class management.
• The teaching team is responsible for ensuring that a teacher and assistant are in the classroom each Sunday. If the scheduled teacher is unable to teach, he or she is responsible for contacting their team and scheduling a replacement.
• Teachers are also responsible for upholding the safe congregation policy or practice standards: if guidelines cannot be met, the teacher may solicit help from the DRE or cancel the class.
• Teachers are also responsible for ongoing communication with parents about class plans, and are strongly encouraged to send weekly emails to parents before each session, in order to help parents prepare their children for a positive experience in class.
• Teachers should also serve as an initial point of contact for parents with concerns regarding their child’s class. The DRE is also available, if necessary.
• Recognizing a child’s need for exposure to diverse learning styles and the value of developing relationships with other adults in the congregation, we encourage our volunteers to work with the same group of children for no more than two consecutive years.

• Because the YRE Committee needs to work collaboratively with the DRE, the committee will not do a formal evaluation of the DRE’s performance.
• The committee will hold an executive session to provide informal feedback on the DRE’s performance over the evaluation period.
• This feedback will be shared with the DRE’s immediate supervisor, the Personnel Committee, and with the DRE.