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TAC Bytes 02-03-10 This newsletter was sent on: 2/3/2010

  • Updates on Haiti
  • Volunteer Disaster Chaplain Training to be held in Long Island
  • Fair Trade palms available for Palm Sunday
  • VIM News
  • ‘God and Money’ course looks at financial planning and more
  • ‘Change the World’ events show the work of faithful Christians
  • Resources from the General Church
  • What’s new at www.umc.org
 
Updates on Haiti
 
  • Troy Conference giving tops $18,000 to date
    Leah Robinson in the Troy Conference Treasurer’s office reports that during the last week, the conference has received over $15,000 in cash donations for Haiti, bringing the total to-date to over $18,000. Robinson says this amount only reflects what has been received as of Monday, Feb. 1, from churches, and that she anticipates receiving more donations in the coming weeks.
  • Health kits
    Churches can drop off Health and other UMCOR kits at the Conference Office, 396 Louden Rd., Saratoga Springs, NY 12866, instead of sending them directly to the UMCOR depot at Sager-Brown in Baldwin, La., or to Mission Central in Pennsylvania. Conference office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Click Here for Health Kit content information.

    For kits delivered to the Conference Office for distribution, please include $1 for toothpaste for each kit and a donation towards the shipping costs.  Do not put the money in the plastic bag; instead submit as one check payable to Troy Annual Conference and sent to the Treasurer’s Office.  Those funds will be sent to UMCOR to Advance #901440 (for materials for emergencies).  For kits that are sent directly to Sager Brown Depot, please include the monies in the form of a check payable to UMCOR noting Advance #901440 for toothpaste and shipping.

    Also, please note: The Health Kits call for hand towels, not dish towels. 
  • News about future need for recovery teams
    Hank Coghill, Troy Conference Disaster Response Coordinator, reports that recovery teams for Haiti are not needed at present, only medical personnel. Jay Dunkleberger, Troy Conference Volunteer-in-Mission Co-Coordinator reports that while volunteers will be needed in the near future, “at this time, [Haiti] cannot support VIM teams. Those teams that are providing so much help now are highly-trained, very experienced and very self-sufficient. The best way we can be of help is with monetary donations through your church or by preparing health kits and getting them to the Conference Center.” 
  • Haiti Methodist Church expresses thanksgiving
    The Rev. Gesner Paul, President of the Methodist Church of Haiti, sent a letter of thanksgiving for the United Methodist Committee on Relief’s (UMCOR) response to the devastation of the earthquake. The letter, which clarifies both the need for future volunteers and the wisdom of responding at the appropriate time, can be downloaded and shared with congregations. Click Here for the letter.
 
Digital packet of materials available from General Board of Global Ministries
The General Board of Global Ministries (GBGM) has created a digital packet of materials, including a multimedia presentation, bulletin inserts, fliers, posters, music and worship ideas, for use by conferences, churches and groups to help interpret and promote mission and ministry in Haiti. The packet is available for download individually or all together.
 
 
Volunteer Disaster Chaplain Training to be held in Long Island
Training for pastors interested in serving as Volunteer Disaster Chaplains will be offered Monday, March 8, and Tuesday, March 9, from 8:15 a.m. to 5 p.m. at The George mercer, Jr., Memorial School of Theology, 65 Fourth St., Garden City, N.Y. Attendance is limited to 35 participants and registration is due by March 1. Tuition is $195. The course is compliant with NIMS (National Incident Management Systems) and incorporates FEMA Incident Command System (IS 100) training. It also complies with the National VOAD* Points of Consensus for Disaster Spiritual Care. For more information …
 
 
Fair Trade palms available for Palm Sunday
The North American Commission for Environmental Cooperation (NACEC) and the University of Minnesota Center for Integrated Natural Resources and Agricultural Management (CINRAM) are working together with the Rainforest Alliance TREES program, Smartwood, and TransFair to certify palms harvested from the forests of Mexico and Guatemala for sale to Christian congregations in the United States and Europe. Go to the General Board of Discipleship web site and to place an order.
 
 
Volunteer in Mission news
 
Team Leader Training to be held March 12
A Team Leader Training will be held March 12 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., location to be announced. Let Jay Dunkleberger know that you’re interested in the training by calling him at (518) 371-7071 or sending an e-mail to jdunkleb@nycap.rr.com.
 
Upcoming VIM missions 
  • Cedar Rapids, Iowa: Jack Hill is organizing a team to return in the fall and continue efforts to rebuild houses in Cedar Rapids Iowa that were flooded. If you are interested or want more information, contact him at vfhills@yahoo.com
  • Belfast, Ireland:Mike and Pat Thomas will again lead a team to Belfast May 4 to 13 to continue efforts at reconciliation between Protestant and Catholic partisans. Cost is estimated at $2300. There are a few spots still available on this team. Contact them at pmthomas6@mac.com for more information or to register.
  • Local teams:  There are occasionally a few local projects lasting a day or more. For more information about these projects, contact Jay Dunkleberger at jdunkleb@nycap.rr.com
  •  Teams from the Upper New York conferences are being sent many places. Make connections with others who share a passion for hands-on mission. Contact Jay Dunkleberger at jdunkleb@nycap.rr.com for more information.
 
‘God and Money’ course looks at financial planning and more
The Rev. Norman Tellier will teach “God and Money,” beginning Sunday, Feb. 28 and continuing with financial planning classes on Sunday evenings, March 7, 14. 21 and 28, at Shenendehowa United Methodist Church, 971 Route 146, Clifton Park, N.Y. The cost is $20 per person; $30 per couple. Pre-registration is required and space is limited. For more information, contact Kelly Hutchinson, Coordinator of Educational Ministries, at (518) 371-7964, ext. 13.  Download a flyer.
 
 
‘Change the World’ events show the work of faithful Christians
Consider how your congregation currently impacts its community. Do you have a food pantry, a clothing closet, an ESL program, a tutoring program, etc.? Join other United Methodist congregations throughout the world by spending April 24 and 25 engaged in serving people locally while uniting globally to eliminate malaria. Learn more .by visiting the Change the World web site.
 
 
For news about the new conference being created in Upper New York, subscribe to the Upper New York e-newsletter by sending your name and e-mail address to Holly Nye or visit the Upper New York web site.
 
For news about what’s happening in the New England Annual Conference, check out the news at the New England web site.
 
 
Resources from the General Church
 
  • Bulletin inserts for Women’s History Month from The General Commission on the Status and Role of Women
  • Resources for One Great Hour of Sharing, Sunday, March 14—remember, the gifts given during One Great Hour of Sharing support the administrative costs of running the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR), allowing 100 percent of gifts given to emergency response in places such as Haiti or to programs that help develop sustainable economies in impoverished communities goes to the designated advance. To learn more about UMCOR’s work, click here …. . 
 
 
News from www.umc.org
 
 
Reminder: the deadline for submitting stories and items for the March Connection is Feb. 8. The deadline for posting information in TAC Bytes is Wednesday noon for publication that week. Send submissions for both publications electronically to Sandra Brands, editor, at sbrands@troyac.org.

 
TO SUBSCRIBE: Visit the Sign-up for newsletter web page http://www.troyac.org/stay_connected.asp at www.troyac.org.

 
Open hearts, open minds, open doors: Troy Conference United Methodists Welcome their Neighbors
©2010 Troy Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church
Troy Annual Conference congregations have permission to duplicate the contents herein. UMNS material must include UMNS credit line.
 
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