REPORT OF THE VICE PRESIDENT TO THE
GENERAL COUNCIL OF
Urantia BROTHERHOOD
Carolyn Kendall
July 2, 1983
The past year has been eventful. Here is a list of projects and activities in which I have been engaged since last July 1:
1) Book Distribution. The book distribution surveys conducted by the Domestic Extension and Special projects Committees were combined, condensed, and reorganized for review by the Executive Committee, and forwarded to Urantia Foundation, All Executive Committee recommendations except one, were adopted by the Foundation.
2) Organizing Conferences Outline. As an outgrowth of a workshop I conducted at Lake Forest last summer, an outline has been prepared to aid organizers of regional and general conferences. It is available from Urantia Brotherhood.
3) 1984 General Conference. The Green Lake, Wisconsin site was selected; a planning committee chosen, consisting of Charles Burton, Michael Painter, Gloriann Harris, Lilllan Nicholas, David Kulieke, and myself as general chairman; and a proposal for the program has been submitted and approved by the Executive Committee. Work will begin on the conference immediately after the summer seminars have concluded.
4) October Retreat. Scott Forsythe and I coordinated the selection of the Green Lake site for the retreat attended by members of the General Council and Trustees and staff of the Foundation. We facilitated the technical aspects of the retreat while Helena Sprague, Steve Dreier, and David Elders attended to the program.
5) Dust Jacket. In response to a resolution passed at the Triennial Delegate Assembly and adopted by the General Council, I was appointed by John Hales to co-ordinate the review and revision of the dust Jacket of The Urantia Book, Several departmental committee chairmen polled their committees and friends for comments and suggestions. Mo Siegel and M. Seklemian volunteered to collaborate on design and text of the jacket. We are being joined by Barbara Kulieke for preparing the final layout, which will be submitted on or before October 1 to the Foundation.
6) Long Range Planning.- Late in 1982. Mo Siegel proposed to Meredith Sprunger that an ad hoc committee be appointed to engage in long range planning for the Brotherhood. The Executive Committee concluded that a philosophical review was also needed. I was directed to prepare a draft proposal addressing both needs. The draft is being held in abeyance until planning procedures are clarified and goals for the project are agreed upon.
7) Publicizing The Urantia Book. In early 1983, it came to the attention of the Executive Committee that several individual projects were in progress in the field, that had as their basis, the public promotion of The Urantia Book. After deliberation at the February meeting, the Executive Committee voted to reaffirm. the long-standing policy of not publicizing the book. The officers were directed to approach the Foundation with the idea of developing a joint statement of rationale for the policy, together with an indication of the types of constructive activities that are appropriate. John Hales, with the agreement of the Foundation asked me to compile ideas suitable for such a statement. A 25 page preliminary draft, consisting of some of the thinking of approximately 25 leaders of the past 30 years, was presented to the Executive Committee under the title, "Dissemination of The Urantia Book." The disposition of the material is yet to be determined.
8) Correspondence. I have answered several letters from readers that required extensive research into the book or corollary subject areas.
9) Travel. In April I accompanied Lynne Kuleke and John Hales to meet the folks associated with the Boulder School of the Rocky Mountain Urantia Society. I attended regional conferences in Lake Eufala, Oklahoma and Kansas City, Missouri, and plan to attend the upcoming Atlanta, Georgia conference. I am preparing a speech for the Midwest conference and a workshop for the summer seminars.
It is a challenge to attend to all of the organizational details, and still have time for study groups and my own personal study of the book. Of even more importance, it is vital to maintain contacts in the "outside" world where one must be aware of opportunities to serve and minister.
Carolyn Kendall, Vice President May 10, 1983