Re: [UUPoly-L] UUPA and independent affiliate status

["Elizabeth Jean Gish" <egish@hds.harvard.edu>]

I do not believe that issues about Independent Affiliates has very much or anything to do with UUPA. I am a member of UFETA and there was also a concern within that group (UUs for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) that it was "all about" singling out the vegetarians/animal rights people. In actuality, a range of organizations that were already Independent Affiliates had applications rejected at the most recent UUA board meeting and this appears to be due to a broad rethinking about what the IA status means, and how IA organizations are integrated into and involved in congregations.

Certainly this rethinking would make it significantly more difficult for UUPA to apply for and be approved for IA status since it is just at the point where fewer organizations are being approved and many who have been IAs for a long time are having applications rejected.

I agree that lack of or presence of IA status would not be particularly harmful or helpful to the awareness work that the UUPA is already doing.

As a side note, I agree that reading blogs is a helpful way to get some sense of what is going on "out there" in UU land. There is a guide to UU blogs on the web here http://www.philocrites.com/archives/000587.html

All the best,
Elizabeth