Vibrant logo unveiled for 2013 Annual Conference
4/7/2013
By GLENN HANNIGAN
The local Connection has gone global. That is the inspiration behind the theme of the 2013 North Georgia Annual Conference: Bridges to Mission.
The recently released logo for Annual Conference, a colorful illustration signifying the multi-faceted outreach efforts emanating from North Georgia, celebrates the global nature of missionary efforts.
The vibrant logo illustrates the theme in three ways:
• We may be members of the North Georgia Conference but the globe represents our parish: the whole world.
• The arrows point in the general direction of the six international bridges that we have already established and the homes of the international delegations joining us at Annual Conference this year.
• The third element, the people – men and women, young and old, as colorful as the rainbow – are linked together, hand in hand, around the globe. All of us are connected.
Mission partners from across the globe will be making the trek to Annual Conference, June 11-13, at the Classic Center in Athens, to share their stories, answer questions, and strengthen bonds.
“We will have 21 people, representing all our Bridge partners, who will be visiting with us in Athens,” said Mike Selleck, Director of Connectional Ministries. “This will provide a wonderful opportunity for members of the North Georgia Conference to get more information about what we are doing around the world and to see how their churches can get involved.”
North Georgia launched its first Bridges effort in 2011, focused on Uganda. Since then, the list of Bridges has expanded steadily to include: El Salvador, the Bahamas, Russia, Portugal, the Philippines, Israel, North Georgia (Action Ministries), and World Methodist Evangelism.
Bridges partners will play a prominent role throughout Annual Conference. In addition to presentations made from the main stage, each of the Bridges will have a display table.
Wednesday night, June 12, with no regular conference business on the agenda, is being planned as an everyone-is-welcome, Bridges-focused special event.
Various districts in the North Georgia Conference will be serving as logistical support (handlers) for the Bridges partners, coordinating arrivals and departures at the airport, transportation and housing, as well as schedules before and after Annual Conference.
To allow adequate time for Bridges partners to share during Annual Conference sessions, Selleck said regular presentations will be pared back.
“We will be making an effort to add extra detail to the reports published in the handbook so we can cut back on the time it takes for reports to be given from the stage.”
The global missions focus is not the only thing that will be fresh at Annual Conference.
The Classic Center has undergone a dramatic $24-million renovation.
The two most dramatic improvements involve the expansion of the Grand Hall, where the majority of Annual Conference is held, and the new climate-controlled atrium, a 8,500-square-foot gathering area between the Grand Hall and the Theatre, where ordination is held.
The Grand Hall has virtually doubled in size, encompassing 55,000 square feet. The extra space will not only allow for expanded seating but also for a significantly larger stage.
The renovations have been completed. Two grand opening events were held in February.
To register online or for information about hotel availability, pre-conference briefings or hosting a meal at Annual Conference, go to: www.ngumc.org.
Display Table Request Deadline May 1
No requests can be considered after May 1. See conference website for policy statement, guidelines and request form.
Procedures for submitting a resolution
The Committee on Resolutions processes all resolutions presented to the annual conference that are not submitted through programmatic committees.
The Resolutions Committee’s job is to ensure that resolutions presented are in compliance with the Book of Discipline and the Standing Rules of the Annual Conference and are properly before the Annual Conference for a vote as part of the Resolutions Committee Report.
The committee may take the following actions on resolutions:
1) Accept the resolution as presented with no changes;
2) Accept the resolution after amending it to comply with the Standing Rules or Book of Discipline;
3) Refer the resolution to another Annual Conference committee for inclusion in that committee’s report. (If the committee to which a resolution is referred does not choose to include it in their report, then that resolution is included in the Resolution Committee report.) Members of the Resolutions Committee vote concurrence or non-concurrence on each resolution and the committee’s decision is included along with the resolution in the report to Annual Conference.
To submit a resolution for consideration by the 2013 Annual Conference, send properly formatted resolutions to Beth LaRocca-Pitts, Chair, Resolutions Committee at beth.larocca-pitts@ngumc.net. The resolution is to be written in the following format: “whereas, whereas, whereas…therefore be it resolved” structure and submitted in 14 point, Times New Roman font, single spaced, with the following margins: top 1.25 inches; bottom 1 inch; left 1 inch; right 1.25 inches. The name, title, phone number, and email address of author/originator must be included with the resolution.
The deadline for submitting resolutions to appear in the annual conference handbook was Feb.1. Resolutions requiring additional research may preclude inclusion in the handbook. Resolutions submitted after Feb. 1 will be processed by the committee; then, upon notification by committee, copied by the author (3,000 copies paid for by the submitter), and delivered to the Secretary of the Annual Conference for inclusion in the delegate packets prior to annual conference.
Resolutions submitted after the deadline for assembly of delegate packets can be received no later than 48 hours prior to the scheduled report of the Resolutions Committee during Annual Conference. Resolutions submitted at this time will be processed by the committee, copied by the author, and given to the Annual Conference Secretary and properly distributed to the members of annual conference at least 24 hours before the Resolutions Committee report.
Since the Resolutions Committee must process all resolutions before they are official and properly before the body, copies of late resolutions shall not be produced prior to committee processing and notification.