Action of Immediate Witness (AIW) Process for 2023

General Assembly 2023 Action of Immediate Witness
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An Action of Immediate Witness (AIW) is a statement about a significant action, event, or development in the world that necessitates immediate engagement and action among UU member congregations and groups.

Proposal Period

Now thru June 6, 5 pm ET / 4 pm CT / 3 pm MT / 2 pm PT / 1 pm AKT / 11 am HT.

An AIW proposal must meet all of the following:

  1. Pertain to an issue that requires immediate action.
  2. Call on UUA member congregations and groups to take specific meaningful action.
  3. Present an opportunity for member congregations to build partnerships and/or act in solidarity with marginalized groups beyond and within the Association.
  4. Be grounded in UU theology and practice.
  5. Be crafted in anti-oppressive and inclusive language that is conducive to justice.

An AIW must not:

  1. Duplicate a recent AIW
  2. Be primarily focused on issues within the UUA.

Access the submission form via the Delegate Platform

June 6 – proposals are reviewed by the Commission on Social Witness

  • There will be no wordsmithing or resubmission this year.
  • Review and follow the proposal criteria as carefully as possible to ensure submission is accepted.

Polling Period June 7 - 14

Approved proposals will be posted on discuss.uua.org for anyone to discuss. During the polling period, delegates will be able to vote for the top three AIWs to admit to the agenda.

During General Assembly

During Thursday’s General Session the Commission on Social Witness will present the top three AIWs and move to add them to the agenda.

During Saturday’s General Session the AIWs will be presented by the proposers and discussed. Afterwards delegates will vote to adopt the AIWs.

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How do we vote for the three AIWs we wish to support? I do not find anyplace where a vote can be taken.

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Hmm, ballot or delegate portal? Probably ballot.

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Voting is through the delegate platform.

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Delegates can access the ballot via the delegate platform: https://delegate.uua.org/

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For those of us who are not delegates this year, would a delegate be kind enough to post the 3 AIWs that will be admitted to the agenda. Thank you!

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Here are the details:
The votes are in:
• 805 Votes: Protect the Dreamers, the Recipients of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) with a Pathway to
Permanent Residence
648 Votes: Organizing for Health Equity
• 414 Votes: Rise Up to Stop Cop City
• 361 Votes: Not on Our Watch, Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine and Call for Action
• 300 Votes: Code Red for Humanity: The Climate Impacts of Military Emissions
• 247 Votes: Urgent Call to Action: Embracing the Goals and Provision of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear
Weapons

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The Health Equity AIW responds to some simple questions: Who controls your body? How can individuals be empowered? How can Unitarian Universalist organizations be helpful? These questions have developed in response to systemic racism, homophobia, misogyny, agism and ableism, and other forms of oppression. The Health Equity AIW is a radical proposal. It’s a call for immediate action for healing and wellness. It’s an AIW that will bring different groups together to improve health care and to reduce suffering. Please vote “yes” in support of this AIW.

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