By Connie Skidmore

This is the first installment of three articles to help orient each of you to the upcoming 2015 Triennial Meeting adventure in Salt Lake City.

Are you going to be a first-time delegate to the Triennial Meeting in June 2015, or have you previously been a delegate? Whatever you are, the 2015 Triennial Meeting should be an exciting time, so it is important that you learn about what to expect.

First of all, you will be participating in the largest official gathering of Episcopal Church Women (ECW). Held every 3 years, the Triennial Meeting runs concurrently with General Convention. The meeting provides an opportunity to meet with ECW members from all nine provinces within the Episcopal Church, women from within the Anglican Communion, ecumenical guests, as well as a variety of speakers and special visitors.

Secondly, as an elected person from your diocese, you will be an integral part of the entire Triennial Meeting process—from registration, to special meetings and elections, to reporting on these privileged experiences upon returning home. Prior to attending the Triennial Meeting, each diocesan president, or other designated representative, will receive several packets of information to review and respond to as requested. (All mailed materials will also be available on the National ECW website, at www.ecwnational.org.) Included will be a schedule listing the times and locations of each day’s events.

As a delegate, you will be expected to attend the ECW plenary (meeting) sessions and events. Delegates will have the time and opportunity to visit the General Convention Exhibit Hall, as well as attend various General Convention meetings, participate in diocesan group for activities and/or meals during the General Convention/Triennial Meeting “shared time.” (A special bonus this triennium: The opportunity to see and hear the newly-elected Presiding Bishop.)

Upon arrival at the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City, delegates will register and receive a finalized Triennial Meeting information packet. A delegate welcome/orientation meeting will take place in Plenary Room, where you will hear helpful information to get you started. As a Triennial Meeting delegate, you will be voting on officers, resolutions and motions in plenary sessions. A hearing may be held at a certain time to help you understand a resolution, or issue that will be voted on in a later plenary. In plenary sessions, there will be an opportunity to speak to issues as they are presented. Questions are welcome, although it is expected that all in attendance follow the decorum of parliamentary procedure.

One of the best learning times will be attending the ECW workshops that are offered during Triennial. There are so many good choices it will be difficult to select just a few during the time available. A suggestion is to have each delegate in your diocese attend something different so you can take home a variety of information and experiences to share with those in your diocese.

The goal of the ECW National Board is to make the 2015 Triennial Meeting in Salt Lake City a wonderful and memorable experience for each and every ECW delegate.†