News from the USA

Interfaith service

Rev Orlanda Brugnola, IARF United Nations representative, and Hope Johnson, a Unitarian Universalist ministerial candidate, were asked to help plan and officiate at a service in New York for the employees from many religious traditions of a major financial institution (with offices in 102 countries). The service took place on September 25th and was held in memory of those colleagues lost in the destruction of the World Trade Center. It was attended by 500 people and videocast to some 60 thousand employees on other continents.
OTHER EVENTS

The Unitarian Universalist Association General Assembly took place in Cleveland in June.

Congratulations to Sue Nichols who was presented with the IARF US Chapter Award for Distinguished Service. She has worked for many years within the community of Non-Governmental organisations at the United Nations. Sue has played a major part in the NGO Committee on Freedom of Religion or Belief and has organised major events at the UN. She has been an eloquent voice for religious freedom in a variety of UN settings.

The IARF US Chapter organised a session of local Hungarian dancers which attracted a large interest and highlighted the forthcoming Congress.

A workshop was sponsored by the IARF Canadian Chapter at which the IARF General Secretary introduced the Strategic plan, designed to focus the developmental priorities for the years ahead.

The IARF Tampa Bay branch has held several meetings since the very successful IARF/ WCF conference in St Petersburg in January.
In Northern California, a conference is planned for Sunday, October 14th. It will be held at the Rissho Kosei-kai Centre near San Francisco. Conference planners are hoping to explore creating an area branch.
The New York Metropolitan area branch of IARF is planning a mini conference for Saturday, November 17th, at the Rissho Kosei-kai Centre in Manhattan.
For more information on the events above, contact Rev Doris Hunter, 14 Concord Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02138, email: Revdrleen@aol.com.