HighLights

The Unitarian Universalist Church of Annapolis (UUCA)
333 Dubois Road, Annapolis, MD 21401; Phone: 410/266-8044; Fax: 410/266-6910
mailto:newsletter@uuca-md.org Web site: The Home Page at: http://www.uuca-md.org

Staff:
Reverend Dr. Fredric J. Muir, Parish Minister

Reverend Amber Beland, Assistant Minister
Francoise H. Ateto, Director of Religious Exploration
Betsy Jo Angebranndt, Minister of Music
Christol Medley, Church Administrator/Editor

Theresa Novak, Intern Minister

Susan Eckert, Members Services Coordinator

Lori Frederick Office/DRE  Assistant

Stephanie Meredith, Coffee Server

 

Church Office Hours: Mon. - Fri. 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. 

Next News Deadline: midnight, 06/27/2007

Next Mailing: 07/10/2007

Volume 50, Issue 11

June 12, 2007

 

 

 

UUCA selects 07-08 Intern Minister

The Interns Search Committee is proud to announce the selection of Eric Kaminetzky as the Intern Minister for the calendar year 2007-2008.  Eric will arrive in August and we  hope the congregation will join us in welcoming him to a year of learning and personal and professional growth.

Eric and his wife Cathy are life long UU’s living in Durham, North Carolina with their two boys, Jacob (11) and  Sam,(5) whom they are raising in our UU tradition.

Eric is a practicing attorney transitioning to ministry to fulfill a dream he has had since his teenage years.  As part of that process, Eric has held a variety of key leadership positions in his home church and has served as the Summer Minister for the UU fellowship of Raleigh, N.C.

Eric is enthusiastic about ministry and Unitarian Universalism and is very excited about participating in the life of UUCA.

The Intern Search Committee

Members:  Co-chairs:  Suzy Ochs and Gail Casale

Carrie Baquire, Marlene Brown, Marie Halka, Henry Ledbetter, Claire Morgan, John Standage, John Wollums

 

No June 26 Highlights

Due to General Assembly the week of June 19- 25, we will not publish a June 26 newsletter. All information should be submitted for the June 12 issue. The deadline for submitting information is June 6. If you have any questions please contact Christol Medley, Editor at 410-266-8044 ext 102 or admin@uuca-md.org.

General Assembly Closing worship   Ceremony Streaming

Our Worship Lay Ministers invite you to join them at the church on Sunday evening, June 24 at 6:00 p.m. to participate in a worship service with several thousand UUs!  It’s the closing worship of the UUA General Assembly in Portland, OR.  The UUA is providing live video coverage of the event, one of the “peak experiences” of GA.  Come at 6, bring a dessert for four, and then at 7 put away the food and drink and get ready for a moving and meaningful service.  Join us at UUCA for this awesome event (and win an extra dessert if you see one of the twenty-five UUCAers at the worship service in OR!).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

               

Upcoming Sermons

 

June 17

“Our Father Who Art"

by Theresa Novak

The relationships between parents and children can be complex, and are rarely accurately reflected by the sentiments we find on greeting cards.  What is a good UU father (or mother or child) to do?

 

June 24  

Rev. John Gaffney, Guest Minister

 

July 1

Theresa Novak,

Summer Minister

 

July 8

Amber beland

 

        July 15           

Fred mUIR

 

 

 

 

Celebrating Our Beloved Community

 

Our uu seminarian

After a year of divinity school, what I’ve learned most is how much I don’t know about religion. Harvard Divinity is a great place, filled with people who really want to understand how religions can be a positive change in the world. As someone who came here from a financial background, I have been exploring our relationship to work, consumption, and money. I’ve also taken mediation workshops and am applying to become a certified mediator through Harvard Law School. Many of you also know about my interest in microfinance, and this past semester I took a course on the subject at the Kennedy School of Government. Next week, I’ll be going down to Guatemala for three months to work for an NGO and see it in action. It should be a rich experience, and one that I will certainly share with all of you the next time I come to Annapolis. In September, I start a job working for the UU Partner Church Council to come up with programs and materials for churches considering the microfinance option as a way to help their partner churches around the world. The next year will be exciting, and I welcome anyone who is interested in learning more about microfinance and how they can get involved. I wish everyone a summer filled with sunshine and the warmth of love. Please contact me at any time if you’d like to hear more about divinity school, microfinance, or how cold Boston is in the month of May.

 

Michael Looft

mlooft@hds.harvard.edu

 

 

Keeping the Faith

Thank you, Jerry Falwell.  We will miss you.* You challenged us, you gave us clarity.

Christian Fundamentalism was, of course, around for a long time before Rev. Falwell came onto the scene.  And for the most part, religious liberals and mainstream Protestants tried to ignore fundamentalism, dismiss it, tried in every way to marginalize it.  It worked for decades.  But for reasons that many have detailed (and so I won’t here), Rev. Falwell made his brand of fundamentalism personal and he could not be ignored:  His theology and politics, his relationships with the powerful and his rise as a national figure, his university and media splashes, all of these made it increasingly difficult for us to look the other way.  But what really bothered many was his growing popularity – his church and their organizations just kept growing and doing more.  Talk about shaping the world: Rev. Falwell’s legacy – like it or not – is a mighty one and a sliver of that legacy is something he gave to Unitarian Universalism.

Unlike (Christian) fundamentalisms of the past, Rev. Falwell’s brand of religion did not fade away; it grew not just in numbers but in mission and vision.  Like it or not, he spread his message with amazing success.  He spread his message until fundamentalism throughout the country reached a tipping point and then took off in ways no one would have predicted.  In the mean time, Unitarian Universalism remains nearly the same; some would say we’ve been stagnant; others would claim that we’ve been shrinking.  Yet, who among us would not agree that our message is a powerful one?  Who among us would not agree that Unitarian Universalism is a faith with a transforming mission and vision?

I am among those who believe that Rev. Falwell taught us a lesson (one among many) we have been slow to heed:  We must share our Unitarian Universalist faith.  Though few of us, if any, would agree with his theological message, he had an amazing ability to share it, to say what he meant, to engage others with his words.  And he was clear about it, about what he had to say, he was clear about his beliefs.  Could the same be said of us?  Of you?  For example, when someone asks you about your faith, about Unitarian Universalism, about our congregation, how do you respond?  It has long been the UU way to respond in the negative:  “We are not Trinitarian;”  “We are not Christian;”  “We don’t pray;”  “We don’t tithe;”  “We are not fundamentalist – like Jerry Falwell or Pat Robertson or …. (fill in the blank).”  I’m sure you could provide some more examples.

Please, stop saying what we aren’t and say what we are.  The reason I will miss Rev. Falwell is that he challenged us – at least he challenged me – to be affirming, clear, direct, and thoughtful; to describe what I believe and not what it is I don’t believe.  It was an inspiration on Sunday to listen to our Coming-of-Age youth state their beliefs.  If you need some support and clarity, each quarter our PathWorks program provides adults with lots of opportunities to have conversations about these issues and challenges.  Look for and participate in these opportunities.

So again: Thank you Rev. Falwell.  You taught us an important lesson of faith, of mission and vision.  Let us have the patience, presence, and clarity to share the meaning of Unitarian Universalism.

See you soon and keep the faith,

      Fred

*In case you’ve been away from the news, Rev. Jerry Falwell died on May 15.

 

 

 

 

2007-2008 Board of Trustees

Peter Lamb, President

Bryan Barrett, Vice President

Dick Roop, Finance Officer

Phil Tawes, Secretary

Tod Geimer, Nominating Cmte

Toni Mattia, Trustee at Large

Olivia Stewart, Trustee at Large

Pat Simons, Trustee at Large

 

Who Am I?

Known as “THE EINSTEIN OF RELIGIOUS THOUGHT” He entered Haverford College in 1915, leaving to join the Army Medical Corps for two years. He completed his college work at Harvard and took the Ph.D. in philosophy there. Among his teachers were R. B. Perry, W. E. Hocking, C.I. Lewis, H. M. Sheffer, and J. H. Woods. His dissertation was on "The Unity of All Things."

 

 

UUCA Book Club

The Book Club meets on the third Tuesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. in the church library.

Our upcoming selections are as follows:

 

      June 19     Shalimar the Clown             Salman Rushdie

 

      July 17      Reading Lolita in Tehran    Azar Nafisi

 

      Aug.12      East of Eden                          John Steinbeck

 

Reading Lolita is a memoir set against a background of world-shaking conflict and change. East of Eden, a classic novel, follows the intertwined destinies of two families in California’s Salinas Valley.

If you have questions, contact Jackie Rocca at 410-349-8351. All are welcome to join us.

 

Security Alert

With summer approaching fast we would like to remind all members that safety is our #1 priority.

Please remember to close and lock all doors when exiting the building. If you experience problems with securing the doors please contact Christol Medley, Church Administrator at 410-266-8044 ext 102 or e-mail her at admin@uuca-md.org.

Thank you in advance for your cooperation and have a wonderful summer.

 

Church Sound

The sound committee needs more people to support not only Sunday services, but also an increasing number of other activities.  Some of these activities are providing sound support for sanctuary rentals for which the church collects an extra fee.  Perhaps you would like to sit in the sound booth during a Sunday service to observe and ask questions.  If interested, please get it touch with me.

Dick Wilder 410-757-6706    DickWilder@Comcast.net

 

 

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Did you know?

The church has installed a depository safe to protect the valuable resources of the church. We now have a way for everyone to place resources in a secure place without the assistance of a professional staff member. The safe is located in an area that is accessible to everyone; has a drop slot to ensure that everyone can use it; and it is secure to the floor. Here are a few tips to ensure that everyone has an enjoyed experience:

      Complete a funds receipt form.

Be sure to include your budget number on the receipt form.

Place monies in an envelope. Slot is about 1/8 inch this may require multiple envelopes.

 

If you have any questions or concerns please contact Christol Medley at 410-266-8044 ext 102 or e-mail me at admin@uuca-md.org.

 

Help Wanted--Summer Child Care

Care for 14 year old twins. Monday-Friday. 10:00AM-6:00PM. June-mid-Aug. Must have car and excellent driving record. Waterfront neighborhood, pool, tennis, health club membership. Help with grocery shopping, meals, laundry. Salary open. Sydnia Jacobs 410-544-9044 (evening), 410-298-7000, x 1400 (day)

 

Newsletter deadline Changes

Please note that the deadline for articles to be published in the July 10 issue of UUCA Highlights has been changed to June 27. Please submit all articles to newsletter@uuca-md.org by 11:59 pm. If you have any questions, please contact Christol Medley at 410-266-8044 ext 102 or admin@uuca-md.org.

 

Annual Plant Sale Update

The fifth annual plant sale was held on April 22 featuring potted perennial favorites from member gardens.  Ealy bird shoppers were treated to a large selection of favorite plants at reasonable prices.  The hanging baskets were also a huge success.  The sale netted over $1000 for the church.  Many thanks to our customers and plant sale workers including Martha Wilder, Ginney Klocko, Darrel Nash, Anne Mavor, Patti Muir, Eva Gholson Jan Sprinkle, Judy Graham, Jackie Heimbuch, Rosanne Greco, Soibhan Percy, and Madeline Percey.  Watch for next year's announcment and put it on your calendar.  Be earth friendly and save your pots for refills at the next sale.

 

General     Assembly

The professional staff will be joining other UUs across the country at our annual General Assembly June 19 - 25. Please note the changes to office hours. If you are in need of assistance during this time, please contact Lori Frederick at 410-266-8044 ext 105.

 

 

 

Welcoming, Caring & Connecting

 

Welcome new members!

We would like to welcome our newest members who signed the Membership Book on June 3:

Robert Conley

David Durfee

Annie Thornton

Janell Sitton-Coats

Donna W. Furbish

Glenn D. Furbish

It’s good to have you with us!

 

Coffees with Amber

The Committee on Professional Ministry for the Assistant Minister is sponsoring a series of “Coffees With Amber” on the third Sunday of every month to provide members of the congregation with an opportunity to get to know Amber better and to ask any questions they might have about her ministry to our church.  Please join us after either service around the piano.  Upcoming “Coffees With Amber” will take place on: June 17, July 15, August 19 and September 16.  Please come and join us!  If you have any questions, feel free to ask one the committee members: Alan Adams, Stephanie Alig, Lisa Combs, Robert Ertman, Scott Gledhill, Henry Ledbetter or Gwen Schindler.

 

PASTORAL CARE TEAM NEWS

UUCA PASTORAL CARE TEAM IS HERE FOR YOU!

During the month of May Team Care Providers:

Provided transportation for two members on three occasions

Made five visits to two members admitted to Anne Arundel     Medical Center

Visited with a church family unable to attend services regularly

Made numerous phone calls to follow up on various individual care needs

Mailed five cards from the Care Corner

    Are you in need of a caring friend who will listen, empathize, encourage and provide confidential care and patiently support you as you work through a crisis or difficult time?  Do you know a church member who could benefit from this type of care?  Then contact one of our Coordinators.  They can tell you more about our Pastoral Care Ministry and how you can be matched with a Care Minister.

Care Minister Coordinators:

Susan Eckert              (410) 266-8044 (weekdays)

Becky Morris             (410) 544-2738 (evenings, weekends)

Kathy Hughes            (410) 798-4719 (evenings, weekends)

Care Ministers:

Nancy Eaton               Marge Matthews

Pat Fleeharty              Rob Slawson  

Jerri Kohler               

 

♥ Please be sure to register as a Unitarian Universalist if you are admitted to Anne Arundel Medical Center.  Due to regulations, it may be the only way our Care Ministers will know to check on you and offer support.♥

 

 

 

ORIENTATIONS & INTRODUCTIONS FOR NEWCOMERS

Please join us for these opportunities to learn more about Unitarian Universalism and the UU Church of Annapolis.  The “Newcomer Talk & Tour”– Sunday, June 17, after the morning celebration, provides an introduction to the programs and activities of the church as well as how to find your way around the buildings and grounds.  The New UU – Sunday, July 29, 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. covers UU theology, UU history and the UU Church of Annapolis.  Anyone thinking of becoming a member of the congregation is strongly encouraged to attend the New UU class.  Please contact Susan Eckert for further information or to request childcare 410-266-8044, x110.

 

 

 

Faith Development

 

Religious Exploration News

The Summer Religious   Exploration Program is starting!

Every Sunday 10:00 AM-11:15 AM June 17 through September 2

 

Nursery for children 2-4 years old and younger: children may be left in the Nursery at 10 AM and picked up by 11:15 AM.

 

Picture Book World Religions , a multi-age program for 3-4 to 10-year olds.  Children sit with their family in the sanctuary for the first part of the service, then go to the R.E. sanctuary downstairs.  Parents are asked to pick up their children by 11:15 AM.  All sessions will be led by Katie Michaelson or Anne Scholle, Children’s Program Facilitators, assisted by adult volunteers.

June 17:            Sacred Places – An introduction to similarities and differences in the way people of the world worship.

            Assistants:  Therissa Libby,  Andy & Ann McIntire

June 24:            Rama and Sita – An epic Hindu saga to convey the drama, intensity and richness of the Hindu faith.

            Assistants: Therissa Libby, Richard & Bridget Avila.

July 1:               Savitri – An ancient tale of loyalty and wisdom from India.

            Assistants:  Angela Baccala, Jennifer Senko.

July 8:               The Hundredth Name – A tale of friendship and faith in a Muslim village on the banks of the Nile.

            Assistants:  Lisa Combs, Sophia Parafina, Lettie Ozuna.

Tweens (for 11 to 13-year-olds) will meet three times for programs on July 8, 22 and August 5 (plus an afternoon-long Middle School Cluster Event on August 19).  On other Sundays, Tweens are invited to attend the service with their family, or help out in the Children’s Program.

YRUU (for youth in high school) will meet most Sundays; special activities are planned for June 17, July 15 and August 19.  Contacts: Phoenix Geimer (410-562-3520) or Kristina Korona (410- 990-1625

 

Have you registered your children?  

Many thanks to all the parents who have already registered their children for the 2007-2008 Religious Exploration program!  The registration forms were due by June 10.  Blank forms (on pink paper) are available in the Info Alcove, along with forms for the Summer Program (on yellow paper).  By returning yours promptly, you will ensure that your children can be enrolled in the session of your choice, and help us start planning for the fall.

 

 

 

Mindfulness Group UU Open House for Beginners, 7 PM Thurs. June 21

UUCA's Mindfulness Practice Group invites the interested (or merely curious) to the first of our two open houses for '07.  Want to see how UUBus [UUBuddhists]fit into your UU experience?  Join us for a shortened 25 min. of meditation in the sanctuary at 7 PM June 21 or just come to the program starting at 7:30, ending at 8:30, on "Transcendence? Here on Earth!"  This highly interactive program with meditative walking, chanting, and mindful discussion will explore how UUism and American Buddhism were entwined in the 19th century through such UU heroes as Ralph Waldo Emerson and through the home-grown, nature-loving, democratic, Transcendentalist movement.  No lectures--just EXPERIENCE and discussion with friends, just as Emerson and Henry David Thoreau would have wanted it!  You may come promptly at 7 PM for the meditation; if you don't come for that, we do ask that you wait just a few minutes until meditation is over and enter at 7:25 during the break.  Watch for the announcement of our SECOND open house the next week, June 28, with a beautiful visual program on Christianity and Buddhism. 

 

Social Justice  & Outreach

We’ve recycled over 2.5 tons in the month of May!!

Were off to a good start with our Abitibi Recycling Challenge.  By recycling 2.5 tons per month we can meet our goal of 10 tons by the end of August, but that doesn’t mean we have to take that long!  Let’s not stop now!  Clean out and recycle all that paper from your desk --or even your neighbor’s desk!   Let’s keep the tons coming in.   Magazines and catalogs add a lot.  I’ll challenge you to ask at least one other person this month for any old magazines and catalogs (great way to get to know your neighbors!)   Let me know how you do by sending me an email at debbiecole.email@yahoo.com.  I’ll check in with you next month via this newsletter to keep you updated!

 

Dignity Players  presents: Permanent Collection

Mickey Handwerger, Artistic Director of UUCA’s Dignity Players, announced that Terry Averill has been selected to direct the next production of the group, Permanent Collection, by playwright Thomas Gibbons.  Dignity Players will present seven afternoon and evening performances of the play during the first two weekends in August.

Based loosely on an actual controversy at Philadelphia’s famous Barnes Foundation when it faced charges of racism while under the leadership of a black director, the play examines heated racial controversy instigated by insensitive comments.  In the play, the marketing director, African-American Sterling North clashes with art historian Paul Barrow about the director’s desire to display some of the museum’s previously unexhibited collection of African art.  While the dispute between North and Barrow begins with art, the dispute soon demonstrates unspoken resentments between the two.

Permanent Collection will be performed Aug. 3 at 8:00 pm, Aug. 4 at 2:00 pm, Aug. 5 at 7:30 p.m., Aug. 9, 10 and 11 at 8:00 pm, Aug. 12 at 2:00 pm.   Ticket prices are $20 for Friday and Saturday evenings; Thursday and Sunday evenings, $15; Saturday and Sunday matinees, $10.  Senior Citizens and Students receive a $5.00 discount off any performance. For more information call 410-266-8044 ext 127 or visit www.dignityplayers.com.

 

Ray Still Oboe  Master Class - help needed

Ray Still, a member of the church since retiring after 40 years as principal oboe at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, will be holding a master class at UUCA on Saturday, September 22 with a concert that evening.  Ray is donating is time and all proceeds will be going to benefit the Annapolis Habitat for Humanity.

We are expecting participating/student performers from around the country. Unfortunately, the Navy is having a football game in town and hotel rooms will be sparse and expensive.  Some of the attendees will be college and post-grad students for whom hotel expenses may be too great.  We already know that Amber's alma mater, Ithaca College is planning to send a van of students.

We hope that many of our congregation will be able to provide sleeping accommodations for Friday, Sept 21 and Saturday Sept 22.  They will be busy all day Saturday at the church.  We will probably charge a modest fee which would be donated to Habitat.

There are other needs as well:

   Breakfast goodies in the morning Sandwiches, coleslaw potato salad for lunch

   Goodies in the evening.

If you would be able to provide any of these, especially accommodations email Tim Barnum, class coordinator at Timothy_Barnum@yahoo.com or call 410-421-9522.  Our vice-president Bryan Barrett is also part of the planning of significant event.

Partner Church News

The Partner Church Committee is busy planning a youth trip to Transylvania in the Summer of 2008.  The highlight of the two week trip will be a work project in our partner village of Rava!  We will be holding Hungarian language and culture lessons for participants as well as setting up e-mail pals with teens in Homorodalmas (where our friend Arpad Csete is minister).  Dont' miss this great opportunity to broaden your teen's view of the world as well as experience Unitarian culture in another country.

Contact Lynann Rudert at 410-267-0461 or paddlers@comcast.net for more information.

 

Christian and Buddhist Images Shared in UUCA-MPG Open House

On Thurs. June 28, the UUBu[ddhist affiliated] Mindfulness Practice Group is holding the second "open house" of 2007. John Edwards will lead a discussion of comparative Buddhist and Christian images as windows into spirituality.  The MPG will shorten its meditation at 7 PM to a more beginner friendly 25 min to create a 5 min. break from 7:25 to 7:30.  Join us for the shortened meditation, or skip the meditation and just come for the one hour program and discussion at 7:30.

     John has put together a program of beautiful and discussion-provoking images which ought to appeal to much of our UU heritage.  We hope to see you there!

 

Gallery at 333 

The Gallery at 333 is pleased to announce the opening of “Art in the Garden,” a show featuring six local artists’ impressions of gardens and landscapes. This show is a luscious celebration of nature and its beauty.  Included are the works of Eva Carson, oils and pastels, Gail Higginbotham, oil pastels, Bill Jaeger, watercolors, Donna Rhody, digital photography, Dick Schneider, photography, and Marietta Schreiber, watercolors.

      The artwork will be on display and for sale from May through the end of June.

 

Great Decisions

This is the eight month program sponsored by the Foreign Relations Assn and brought to the church by the UUCA UN Global Justice Cmte, will meet this month on Sunday, June 24 in the Emerson Room from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The topic will be “Migration.” All are welcome. Call Kay Cave at 301-925-7224 for more information.

 

Loewen lecture follow-up meeting

June 17, 11:15 AM, Angebranndt Room: The Anti-Racism Transformation Team will facilitate a conversation/debriefing as a follow-up of the Lecture given by Mr. Loewen on "Lies My Teacher Told Me". All are welcome; we have space for about 30 people.

 

Who Am I? (answer)

Charles Hartshorne was born in Kittanning, Pennsylvania, the son of Marguerite Haughton and Francis Cope Hartshorne, clergyman.

Awarded a Sheldon Fellowship, Hartshorne studied for two years in Europe, mostly in Germany. Among the lectures he attended were some by Edmund Husserl and Martin Heidegger.

On his return to Harvard, he spent three years as Instructor and Research Fellow. He and Paul Weiss edited the papers of Charles Sanders Peirce in six volumes (Collected Papers of Charles Sanders Peirce. Cambridge and Harvard University Press, 1931-1935). He found in Peirce a highly congenial spirit, and he appropriated many of Peirce's concepts and arguments.

 

Tips from Green Sanctuary

Waste Not

OK, here’s a little bitty green tip for you – it’s easy to do, and it saves you money in the bargain.  So give it a try.

 Did you know that on average, 10% of all toothpaste gets wasted.  Big deal, you say.  But think about it – all the toothpaste, lotion, shampoo, conditioner, liquid laundry detergent, etc. that gets left in the not-really-quite-totally-empty bottle that gets thrown away.  What if every last drop of all that stuff gets used?  Good things happen:  less landfill space gets taken up, and you save money.  You’ve bought all this stuff, why not use it all?

   ţ Now that you’re convinced, here are a few easy ways to use it all:

   ţ Add a little bit of water to your nearly-empty bottles of shampoo, conditioner, or liquid detergent, shake them up, and get lots more out.

    ţ  Store bottles upside down in your fridge, cabinets, or shower, and let gravity do the work for you.

 

Warm bottles up – the heat will soften the contents and let them flow out more easily.

And why not take it as a challenge to roll that toothpaste tube up tightly from the very bottom and squeeze out every last bit.  Think of it as one of life’s tiny little victories.  And even the little things you do can help the earth.

 

 

Save the Date

It’s a JUUbilee!

UU’s join together OCTOBER 13, 2007 at All souls Church

Service: 4:00-5:30 (refreshments to follow)

 

Saturday, October 13, 2007 will be a JUUbilee celebration for Unitarian Universalist in the Baltimore Washington region. On this day, Unitarian Universalist from around the region will join together in worship to celebrate the social legacy of A. Powell Davies and the last 50 years of UU growth in the region which he initiated.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unitarian Universalist Church of Annapolis Endowment Fund Announces Grant Awards

Charlie Gross was welcomed as a new member and farewells were given to Kay Cave. Unable to attend this meeting, we look forward to welcoming new member Al Pulsifer at our next meeting.

Three grant requests were received during the spring funding cycle. They included a request from Bowie Therapeutic Nursery Center to fund a project to provide additional room furnishings for child safety. BTNC has wished for safe room environment for several years. They provide therapy and psychiatric rehabilitation services to emotionally disturbed and behaviorally disordered preschool children who have mental health needs and concurrent developmental and cognitive delays. A grant request was submitted by Elizabeth Melvin for funding drumming classes to be held at community centers in low income housing projects in Annapolis for learning percussion … and building important life skills of communication, listening, collaboration, teamwork, discipline and respect for others. Also received was a request from ROB LEVITT 2C (Creating Communities) for three projects - funding to create a Success Stories Book for a current project with Arundel Lodge that serves members of the community debilitated by mental illness who have done creative writing, visual art and portraits that will be presented in an exhibit scheduled at Maryland Hall 11/07;  for scholarships for an arts enrichment program for deserving children who can not afford tuition required for the program at Boys and Girls Club at the Bates facility; funds to bring an art exhibit “The Secret Club” to Annapolis to bring awareness to the community about Perinatal Loss.

All three requests were submitted with excellent references and would serve the mission of UUCA. After considerable discussion, the Board voted to fund at some level all three grants.

The Endowment Fund Board thanks all donors who have contributed so that such worthwhile projects can be funded. If you have not contributed to the endowment fund, please consider making a donation. Planned giving opportunities will help to support the mission of UUCA in the future and can be a current tax advantage – and bring a feeling of commitment and worthiness to respective donors.

 

 

UU & Red Cross Annual Summertime Blood Drive

Another Item on your Vacation Getaway To Do List: DONATE BLOOD first! 

This time of year, many regular donors are out of town.  But the need for blood continues.  The  annual UU Summer Blood Drive is Sunday, July 29, at the UU Church of Annapolis.  To spark that festive "getaway" spirit, the Bloodmobile will be parked all day in the Fah's House parking lot.

Please sign up for an appointment from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.  On the day of your donation, you need to bring a photo I.D.  If you are between the ages of 16 – 17, you need to bring in an official permission form signed in all the correct spaces by one of your parents.

Please have a good meal before you arrive.  Women, especially, may want to ensure their iron count is adequate for blood donation by eating plenty of iron rich foods such as red meat, green leafy vegetables, dried fruits, and (yipee!) chocolate.  Also, drink plenty of fluids so you are well-hydrated.

You will check-in at the Fahs House, located next to the UU Church. 

For more information, please email Wendi Winters at wendi@quantumstep.com , or call her at 410.349.0945.