1. If I never see the state of Florida again it will be too soon.
2. I will (hopefully) be doing my CPE unit.
3. I’m still getting over what has happened to the theological Independent Affiliates.

And while to many this will seem to be harping for harpings sake, I just don’t like the idea of having to show my ID to get into a church’s worship service. That seems, to me at least, to be antithetical to the whole idea of “Enter, Rejoice and Come In”. I’ve never heard of a church asking people to submit to a security check to go to worship, so that idea still irritates me.

I’ll miss seeing everyone, but that’s not the point of GA.

Colleagues choose not to attend GA every year, so the fact that a significant percentage won’t be there yet again doesn’t really bother me. But if those absences stem from a boycott whose grounding seems, a best, a little shaky, then I’m more inclined to be peeved. There are plenty of issues within the GA structure which merit our best focus and attention (the economics of access being highest on my list; Christine makes some good points, too), and I’m afraid those get ignored year after year because of what I percieve as piddly complaints. We can’t get to the bigger problems if people don’t show up - if only to change the structure so that our being together might actually bring about change once in a while. If we leave it to the “GA junkies” then the problems will continue ad infinitum, ’cause they’re not skipping GAs for any reason, and it seems like they will do everything they can to keep the status quo no matter what the cost in terms of associational resources and credibility.

I just wish UU’s would get over their “special” complex. Look at us, standing up for the undocumented workers. Wow. Too bad GA is so outrageously expensive (both in terms of actual cost and lost work time for those of us who can’t write it off as a professional expense/expectation) that the liklihood of folks attending GA who fit that description is incredibly remote. And yes, there are some restrictions which come with meeting in a publicly owned and facilitaed space, even if it’s for worship. Sorry, but renting the space for a few days does not give us license to do or say whatever we want. That this sentiment still thrives in many of our congregations is a major reason for the continuing disconnect between the way we market ourselves (i.e. principles/sources) and the reality of the behavioral patterns in our churches. We do well to quash the expectation that this will be so at GA.

And it’s not like we’re the first group with GLBT folks in our numbers ever to meet in Ft. Lauderdale. Do you know how many GLBT-themed/oriented cruises leave from this same port every year? I’m guessing this won’t be the port authority’s first time at this party. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if their training left them better prepared to be welcoming than most of our congregations.

Sorry if I’m whining. My (non-UU) family is coming from all across the country for this GA to celebrate some pretty big moments in my life. I’d like for them to feel like they’re welcome, too, and not be so turned off by our living up to the modern liberal caricature that they embarrassed to tell their friends where they spent the week.

Former Independent Affiliates will have the same booth discounts for GA 2008 that they had with their IA status for GA 2007.

Also, the Planning Committee increased the number of its sponsored workshop slots, and specifically invited former IA’s to apply for them. This is a boost, actually, because these Planning Committee slots are eligible for a financial subsidy, which is not available to IA’s sponsoring their own workshops.

Here’s something not financially ruinous or politically laughable, and it even has spiritual overtones. Let’s go to GA and fast from expensive meals in restaurants. Let’s not order catering. Let’s bring apples and granola bars and instant oatmeal and lament all that is lamentable that way. Now, there’s a real sacrifice!