LepreCON February 13-16, from 7 PM Friday to 1 PM Monday Registration Unitarian Universalist Congregation, Santa Rosa Deadline is 547 Mendocino Ave February 7!! Santa Rosa, CA 95401 It’s elections time! YRUU is electing a new crop of council-members, so be there if you’re interested in a position, or just want to have your voice heard. Also, there are some Special Activities planned, so in addition to bringing the usual set of not-so-special, can-be-wrecked-while- painting clothing you should usually have at con, we recommend that you also bring some pretty/shiney/sequin-ey/etc clothes as well. Special activities!! The DoCONumentary project has begun! From Elections Con ’09 to Elections Con ’10, PCD YRUU will be filming a documentary about Conferences! Besides the new legal chunk on the registration form, it means that Branduin Stroud and her helpers will be filming and taking pictures and eventually turning the whole thing into a wonderful documentary! Contact Branduin Stroud ([email protected], (415) 931-7200) with questions, concerns, if you would like to donate your own pictures or footage to the cause, or become one of her helpers. Any and all help will be appreciated!! What is a con, anyway? Conferences are a safe place for us as youth in our community to celebrate Unitarian Universalism, ourselves, and our diversity in a fun and spiritual weekend. The District’s Youth Council plans four standard conferences throughout the year. We stay in a church for the weekend playing games, learning about social action issues, deepening our Unitarian faith, and hanging out with great friends. Since we believe strongly in youth empowerment, conferences are youth-planned and youth-led, although we keep a strict youth-adult ratio of 10:1. Who may attend? Youth between the ages of 14 and 20 How can I go? It's easy! Let Sam Neff know that you want to come via e-mail or phone, and then bring a filled out registration form and a check for $40.00 (made out to PCD YRUU) to the conference. Make sure you call or email Sam before the con! Sam Neff (650) 858-2436 3150 Emerson St [email protected] Palo Alto, CA 94306 ***Anyone new to conferences will receive 50% off the registration price!*** **No walk-in registrations** will be accepted. Those who register after Feb 7 will be charged a late registration fee of $10. If you have questions, need a scholarship, or are curious about anything else regarding registration, contact Sam Neff. There are a limited number of scholarships. They will be offered on a first come, first serve basis. Sorry, no exceptions! If you have general questions about the conference or you would like to be a youth leader at this con, contact a Conference Co-Coordinator; Becca Freeman ([email protected], (707) 293-8831) or Justin “Testiclees” Smith ([email protected], (707) 287-8293) If you have general questions and concerns for Youth Council, contact the Facilitator Chair (or Administrative Advisor) Kelsey Smith (or Garrick Linn) at [email protected] or (530) 400-8990 (or at [email protected] or (510) 502-8574) You should bring: Weather-appropriate clothing, toiletries, a sleeping bag and pillow, positive attitudes, open minds, love, fun, and neat things to share at Coffee House. Please don’t bring: Bad attitudes, amplified instruments, weapons, drugs or drug paraphernalia, pets, unregistered friends, or anything else that might be inappropriate in our community.

To register, contact Sam Neff at: Sam Neff, PCD YRUU Registrar (650) 858-2436; [email protected] 3150 Emerson St. Palo Alto, CA 94306 If forms are not received by February 12 and no prior arrangements have been made, you will be turned away at the door. Now here’s the fun part!  Name______Birth Date ______/_____ /_____ Age______Vegetarian_____ Vegan_____ Omnivore_____ Other (please specify) ______Phone # ______-______-______Emergency Phone # ______-______-______Mailing Address ______City______State____ Zip Code______E-mail ______[ ] I would like to receive PCD YRUU Conference information by paper mail OR would like to continue using paper mail for information. [ ] I consent to allowing my photo to appear on the PCD YRUU website (without a name in any case). [ ] I would NOT like to receive PCD YRUU Conference information by email. [ ] I would NOT like to be identified by name in the DoCONumentary project. [ ] I would NOT like to be identified in any way in the DoCONumentary project. Health insurance carrier and # ______I ______will be an attendee at LepreCON, Elections Con 2009, in Santa Rosa from Feb. 13-16. I understand all of the conference rules and I will abide by them throughout the conference. I understand that PCD YRUU is in the process of filming a documentary, and that my image, voice, name, or likeness may be recorded at any or all PCD YRUU events. By signing this form I give PCD YRUU Youth Council permission to use such material as they see fit. In addition, I certify that all the information stated on my registration form is true and complete to the best of my knowledge. Attendee Signature______Date _____-_____-____

Other Medical info: Current medications:______Allergies/ medical conditions:______Date of last tetanus shot: __/__/__ Special health needs:______OTHER CONCERNS:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I, ______will abide by YRUU’s Policy on Sexuality and Community (as adopted by Continental YRUU Steering Committee, October, 2000) while attending this conference.

Signature ______Date ______

I, ______will abide by YRUU’s Codes of Ethics for Conferences (last updated 7-07) in both adult and youth leadership positions as appropriate while attending this conference.

Signature ______Date ______~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ You should bring: Weather-appropriate clothing, toiletries, a sleeping bag and pillow, positive attitudes, open minds, love, fun, and neat things to share at Coffee House.

Please don’t bring: Bad attitudes, amplified instruments, weapons, drugs or drug paraphernalia, pets, unregistered friends, or anything else that might be inappropriate in our community. The Rules To keep our community safe and healthy, the following are of course not allowed within a conference: violence, drug use, leaving the site (unless prior arrangements have been made with the registrar and the deans of the conference). Youth under the age of 18 will be turned away if they do not have a registration slip with the signature of their parent or legal guardian. While sexuality is a healthy and important part of the lives of youth, exclusive relationships and disrespecting the boundaries of others are not allowed as they detract from the community. Thus it goes without saying that any type of sexual harassment or any clearly sexual activity (the appropriateness being determined by the conference staff) is strictly not permitted. As a Unitarian Universalist organization, we are a community that celebrates diversity and promotes the inherent worth and dignity of all human beings. Therefore discrimination based on gender, sexuality, physical capability, race/ethnicity, politics, religion and even diet is also not permitted. The Pacific Central District Young Religious Unitarian Universalist (PCD YRUU) Council and the conference staff reserve the right to deem any behavior inappropriate. Parents/Guardians are invited to discuss this policy with youth. Breaking any of these rules may result in being asked to leave the conference and/or not return to future conferences. YRUU’S Policy on Sexuality and Community (As adopted by Continental YRUU Steering Committee, October, 2000) Our goal is to uphold healthy communities, healthy relationships and to discourage sexual activity and harassment in the conference community.

Healthy relationships are based on responsibility, respect, love, and commitment. Healthy sexual relationships are respectful, consensual, pleasurable, safe, caring, developmentally appropriate, and based on mutual expectations. Sexuality is an important part of young people’s lives.

In the conference community, youth are encouraged to express themselves in healthy ways and respect each other’s boundaries. However, behavior that breaks down the community, including sexual activity and sexual harassment, is inappropriate and therefore not permitted in a conference setting.

It is the job of the Council Action Committee to, by these standards, deem any such behavior inappropriate and to determine consequences. Parents, Guardians, and youth are encouraged to discuss this policy with each other.

Note: A Council Action Committee is the equivalent to a rules committee. It is a group of youth and adults that meets when a rule violation or suspected rule violation has occurred to decide/take appropriate action for those involved in the rule violation and the community. YRUU’S Codes of Ethics for Conferences

Code of Ethics for Adults Adults are in a position of stewardship and play a key role in fostering the spiritual development of both individuals and the community. It is, therefore especially important that adults be qualified to provide the special nurture, care, and support, that will enable youth to develop a positive sense of self and responsibility. The relationship between young people and adults must be one of mutual respect if the positive potential of their relationship is to be realized. There are no more important areas of growth than those of self-worth and the development of a healthy identity as a sexual being. Adults play a key role in assisting youth in these areas of growth. Wisdom dictates that youth and adults suffer damaging effects when leaders become sexually involved with young persons in their care; therefore, leaders will refrain from engaging in sexual, seductive or erotic behavior with youth. Neither shall they sexually harass or engage in behavior with youth, which constitutes verbal, emotional, or physical abuse. Leaders shall be informed of the code of ethics and agree to it before assuming their role. In cases of violation of this code, appropriate action will be taken.

Code of Ethics for Youth In Leadership Positions Youth in leadership positions are uniquely visible and influential in any conference community. They should recognize that power imbalances exist in their interactions with other conferees. Inappropriate sexual behavior is never acceptable; additionally, youth leaders should remain aware of the impact of their actions and behave accordingly. Youth who abuse their roles as leaders, consciously or not, can damage individuals and the community. Youth leaders are expected to use their influence in a positive manner.