LeRoy Farmer, Chair—663-7257
Angela Morris, Care Coordinator—667-1345
Chris Rader, Board Liaison
This committee has the privilege of facilitating communication within the CUUF family, caring for members in need, welcoming newcomers, and managing records. This committee also has the major responsibility of planning and leading the annual pledge drive.. We have a wonderful opportunity to share the UU spirit with all who venture in to check out our services, and with our own official members and frequent attendees. If you are interested in any aspect, from being a greeter to making suggestions for the content on our web site, please consider joining the Fellowship Care Committee.
Ministerial Search Committee
The committee, which was formed to find a minister to serve
our fellowship, met March 2nd. Gary Pape and Leroy Farmer
will serve as co-chairs. To prepare for this meeting the committee
members read the Consulting and Part-time Ministry
Handbook. A questionnaire in the handbook indicated CUUF is
100% ready for a part-time minister. To facilitate the search, a
conference call was made to Dave Maynard of the PNWD. He
answered all questions asked and posed several of his own to
help the committee with the process.
The Ministerial Search Committee will be taking the following
steps:
1) Analyze needs and preferences of the fellowship via a
questionnaire.
A survey is being distributed which will collect the specific desires
for ministerial qualities. Information from the surveys will
be compiled and analyzed. Leroy, Louise Buchanan, Angela
Morris and Gloria Kupferman are preparing this questionnaire.
2) Develop a packet of information describing our
history, our present and our future.
A Who We Are book will communicate our identity and specific
needs for ministry as assessed by the questionnaire. It will also
introduce the Wenatchee area to the candidate. This will be put
together by Gary, Ben Knecht, Natalie Palmer, Dan Sconce,
and appropriate committee leaders.
3) Interview, research, and present the candidate.
The interview process will be confidential until the candidate is
presented to the fellowship during a weekend of introductions,
including a Circle Supper, and a service led by the candidate.
After the service the candidate will leave and the members will
vote. Approval of the candidate requires a 90% favorable vote
by members (those who have signed the membership book and
have made a financial contribution within the last year).
The committee is committed to finding the best minister for
CUUF. To do that we will need your help. We want all those
active in the fellowship to have a voice. Let us know your ministerial
preferences and please become a formal member if you
want to vote.
Dan Sconce
Personnel
Pat Brooke, Chair—886-0173
Joe Palmer, Board Liaison
This committee is responsible for the management of our finances, which includes budget preparation, financial reporting, and monitoring of investments. The committee will address two other functions important to the future of our fellowship. First, preparation of a long-term financial plan will be presented to the board and then to the congregation. Second, explore and make the congregation aware of the advantages of bequests and endowments to the Fellowship and to the donor. Bringing your knowledge to this committee is one way of helping the Fellowship fulfill it's mission and meet it's goals.
The Community Concerns Committee's yard sale will be May 31st. We can start taking
contributions for the sale now. Any questions...and any volunteers...call Bev at
663-2248.
Enhance awareness of CUUF and our
principles within the community.
Increase participation in CUUF sponsored events.
PROGRESS:
Enhanced our advertisement in the Wenatchee World.
Installed a readerboard in front of the sanctuary.
Designed and hung a new welcome sign in the foyer.
Overhauled the newsletter, calendar, order of service, and informational pamphlet.
Strengthened our web presence.
Improved the location and functionality of CUUF's existing bulletin boards.
Added regular announcements to GO! magazine.
CURRENT PROJECTS:
NWPR campaign similar to drives from years past.
Placement in all available local directories.
Increase our photo catalog of CUUF activities.
Put an informative UU video on the web for viewing.
Put together information for the needy that come to CUUF's door.
Distribute a template for committees to follow to enrich their web presence.
Facilities
John Rundell, Chair—782-0366
Erik Dilling, Board Liaison
NEW FACILITIES COMMITTEE CHAIR
CUUF starts the new year with a new chair of the Facilities Committee.
John Crew, to allow more time for his other volunteer activities,
has resigned and John Rundell has stepped up to take the leadership
position.
Much appreciation is due John Crew for all of his hard work and
dedication to the upkeep of our buildings and grounds. We are grateful
that he is still willing to lend a hand as needed.
If you are handy with tools and good at fixing things, or you’d
like to keep our landscape looking good, give John Rundell a call,
782-0366, and let him know you’d like to serve on this committee.
CUUF POSITION OPEN FILLED
The position of CUUF janitor, recently vacated by Dan Sconce,
has been filled by, not one, but two people. John Crew and Brian
Ohme are the dynamic duo that will job-share to keep us looking
spiffy. They will also ensure that the building is set up for scheduled
events. Questions?—Brian Ohme is the one to contact, 886-3008.
Thank You, Dan! With appreciation for all your hard
work keeping CUUF clean, beautiful, and ready for all the events
that happen year round!
Long-Range Planning
Larry Tobiska, Chair—662-3209
Gary Pape, Board Liaison
The Sunday Services Committee arranges for the speaker, celebrant/coordinator, forum leader, music, and post-service hospitality. New this year, Spiritual Education Programs for adults will also be coordinated through this committee. Meetings are held in the library at CUUF at noon on the first Wednesday of each month. The task of the meeting is to fill the calendar as the year progresses.
The CUUF Social/Environmental Action team values political
diversity and doesn't espouse any one political ideology. We serve
to inform the CUUF Fellowship of various issues and events reflecting
the Seven Principles and supported by the national UUA. We
strive to continue UU's proud legacy of social and environmental
activism.
The Social/Environmental Action Team will be meeting at a
new time. Join them at 12:15 pm, the last Sunday of each month in
the CUUF Library.
"To cherish what remains of the Earth and to foster
its renewal is our only legitimate hope of survival."
—Wendell Berry
LOCAL ACTIONS
TAX APPROPRIATION AWARENESS: UPDATE
Two CUUF members, Kathleen Cullison and Peggy Love, with
four other activists, passed out 750 fliers on April 15, to let
taxpayers know how our taxes are being spent.
The next project for the local Habitat for Humanity group
is building a 5 bedroom home in East Wenatchee for a family
of nine. You can buy a square foot in a Habitat home in honor
of a friend or family member for $35, or $100 for three square
feet. Your special someone will receive a card letting them
know you have purchased this special gift for them! To volunteer,
or for more information, contact the Habitat office at
663-1889.Habitat for Humanity - "Providing decent and affordable
housing for those in need".
Help the Chelan-Douglas Land Trust combat noxious weeds
and maintain our public trails in the Wenatchee Foothills.
Meet at John Newbery Elementary School parking lot, 850 N
Western Ave, and carpool to different Wenatchee Foothills
locations. For additional information, contact the Land Trust
office at (509) 667-9708 or email Lyn at lyn@cdlandtrust.org
Signing up is preferred, but not necessary.
CASHMERE - intersection of Cottage and Division, 4-5 pm.
WENATCHEE - intersection of Chelan & Orondo, 5:15- 6:15 pm.
Bring a sign or candle (or borrow one on site).
NATIONAL ACTIONS
CLIMATE CHANGE LEGISLATION
Support Effective Climate Change Legislation—309/H.R.1590
Global climate change is already creating water shortages and
forcing large-scale human migrations. The scientific community
tells us that we must reduce carbon dioxide and other
greenhouse gas emissions to 80% below 2000 levels by the
year 2050. Only the Sanders-Boxer (S. 309) and Waxman
(H.R. 1590) bills require the sufficient reductions. For more
information on why the UUA endorses Sanders-Boxer (S.309)
see the UUA's Office for Advocacy News website.
UU DELEGATION TO KENYA
Kenya is has been racked with violence in the wake of the flawed
presidential election in December. Hundreds have been killed and
over 250,000 displaced. The Unitarian Universalist Service Committee
has been closely monitoring the situation. They sent a delegation
including UUSC president, Charlie Clements, to monitor the
situation first hand. Information from that trip, including Charlie's
blog posts are on the UUSC website at http://www.uusc.org/Kenya/
index.html. We urge you to visit and learn more.
WASHINGTON UU VOICES' LEGISLATIVE AGENDA
These are the current House and Senate Bills supporting the WA
UU's Four Priorities for a Healthy Washington. You can call or
email your legislators directly, or call the Legislative Hotline,1-800-
562-6000. Read the full text of all legislation at www.leg.wa.gov.
MARRIAGE EQUALITY:
House Bill 3104, Senate Bill 6716
ENVIRONMENT:
HB 2815 and SB 6516: Climate Action and Green Jobs bill
HB 2797 and SB 6580: Local Solutions to Global Warming;
HB 2798 and SB 6483: Local Farms/Healthy Kids;
HB 2844 and SB 6469: Evergreen Cities
HEALTH CARE:
SB 6221, SB 6603 and HB 2640: Provide health care coverage
for Washington residents.
The UUA Washington Office for Advocacy is pursuing an intensive
campaign to pass House Resolution 3797. This would require
immediate regional negotiations aimed at U.S. redeployment from
Iraq and the stabilization of Iraq and the region. We believe that as
a religious movement that strongly supports diplomacy, multilateralism,
and being in right relationship we are uniquely situated to
support and advocate for this bill. Send an email or call your legislators
now in support of H.R. 3797.
FROM AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL
Thanks to everyone who took part in the 2007 Global Write-a-
Thon Amnesty's largest and most renowned letter writing event.
Because of your interest we surpassed our goal of 70,000 letters to
be written to free prisoners of conscience and jailed human rights
defenders around the world. We hope that you will join us for next
year's Write-a-thon on December 10, 2008!
Darfur and Socially Responsible Investing
UUSC’s "Drumbeat for Darfur" campaign has formally joined
hands with the Fidelity Out of Sudan divestment campaign to cut
off the flow of funds that are financing the Sudanese campaign of
genocide in Darfur. Fidelity Investment's continued support in
certain companies is providing precious funds to continue the
horrifying genocide of the Darfurian people.
Take action! Send an immediate email to Fidelity through the
UUSC Legislative Action Center, or call Fidelity at 800-343-3548 and ask that they
sell their remaining PetroChina and Sinopec shares on the New
York Stock Exchange and divest all of their holdings on the Hong
Kong Stock Exchange.
Check that your investments are not in Sudanese companies by
using this "screener" site. View socially
responsible investing firms at socialinvest.org.
Past Events
"COMPASSION IN ACTION" HISTORIC 5-DAY GATHERING IN SEATTLE
Featured Speaker, His Holiness The 14th Dalai Lama;
“Compassion in Action” Workshops, Dialogues and Resource
Fair; a dialogue between His Holiness The Dalai Lama, children
and adults about peace, compassion and hope; a Children
and Youth day; a Youth and Spiritual Compassion Day.
Sponsors: Seeds of Compassion, Voices in Wartime and YES!
Magazine. See www.seedsofcompassion.org for more info.
Lunch barbeque community fundraiser for the Domestic/
Sexual Violence Center. The CUUF Social Action Team
will sponsor a booth and an item for the silent auction.
Five years. Four thousand dead Americans, thirty thousand more
injured. A million dead Iraqis, and nearly 5 million Iraqis driven from
their homes, many now refugees in other countries. A trillion dollars
spent on a war that has made America less safe. Had enough?
On Wednesday, March 19th, 2008, the fifth anniversary of the U.S.
invasion of Iraq, there will be a protest against the war from 11:30 AM to
1:30 PM at the intersection of Wenatchee Avenue and First Street. All
are welcome to participate.
In addition, there will be the usual Wednesday evening vigil for peace
at the corner of Chelan Avenue and Orondo Street, from 5:15 to 6:15 PM.
We will pass the basket to benefit Dana Visalli's peace-making
and environmental efforts in Iraq. All cash donations in the offertory
will be given for this cause.
There is much talk of a need to increase the U.S. military. This
workshop will inform youth, parents and others about how to document
CO status in preparation for a potential draft. Musician Michael
Stern, himself a conscientious objector, will perform original
folk songs. The workshop is led by Rocci Hildum.
UPDATE!
SOCIAL JUSTICE AWARD & MLK DAY
CUUF Social Action Team nominee, Ruth Esparza, and the
Wenatchee Just Housing Coalition were awarded the 2008 Social
Justice Award by Mayor Johnson at the Martin Luther King Day
celebration on Jan. 21. The Social Action team also sponsored the
Children's March, which was a big hit with about 50 kids participating.
The Mayor will award the local 2008 "Civil Rights and Social
Justice Award". Written nominations for the award are due to the
mayor's office by Dec. 31. Our own CUUF member, Rocci
Hildum, was the 1st recipient of this award in 2005.
The CUUF Social Action Team will sponsor a booth at the event.
In recognition of International Human Rights Day, on Sunday,
Dec. 9, the CUUF Social/Environmental Action Team will
provide materials from Amnesty International's Global "Write-a
Thon" for the fellowship to write letters of support to non-violent
prisoners of conscience around the world.
UPDATE:
In observance of Human
Rights Day, the CUUF Social Action team sent 14 letters to
international governments asking for the release of prisoners
of conscience.
The CUUF Social/Environmental Action Team has
begun quarterly “Social/Environmental Action Sundays”. Service
attendees will be informed of an organization whose work is
aligned with the 7 Principles of Unitarian Universalism and
the basket will be passed for donations for that
group.
Salee Allawe, a 10-year-old Iraqi girl who lost
both legs last year in what her family said was a U.S. air
strike on the outskirts of Baghdad, recently was fitted with
mechanical knees and prosthetic limbs at the Shriners Hospital
for Children in Greenville, S.C. Also killed in the attack
were Salee's 13-yearold brother and her best
friend.
Cole Miller, founder of Los Angeles-based No
More Victims, a grass-roots organization dedicated to
assisting Iraqi children injured in the war, was instrumental
in raising money to bring Salee to the U.S. for her corrective
surgery. "There are thousands of Salees in Iraq," Miller said.
"I don't consider this charity. It's
responsibility.”
--from an article in the Los Angeles
Times, Oct. 16, 2007
On Sunday, November 11, the cash proceeds from the offertory
basket will be donated to the organization "No More Victims"
which provides medical assistance to Iraqi children injured in the
war. Checks may also be made out to the nonprofit and placed in
the offertory.
In October, our own Rev. William G. Sinkford, President of
the Unitarian Universalist Association, and Rev. John Thomas,
President of the United Church of Christ, together delivered
75,000 signatures to Congress asking to end the occupation of
Iraq.
UU ADVOCACY
The UUA’s Justice Action Network informs us on current
legislation, resources, and actions which give voice to our UU
values. The Washington Office for Advocacy priority issues for
2007 are as follows:
Civil Rights and Religious Liberty
Religion and State
Bisexual Gay Lesbian Transgender Issues
Darfur
Criminal Justice
Immigration
Voting Rights
International Issues
Global HIV/AIDS
Human Trafficking
Iraq Occupation
Torture
Iran Diplomacy
Women's Issues
Human Rights in the Philippines
Violence Against Women
Comprehensive Sexuality Education
Civil Liberties
Reproductive Health and Family
Planning
UU State Advocacy Networks
In addition to
the work being done by the Washington Office, there are
several UU state advocacy groups across the country working on
these and other issues. To find out more about them please
visit the UU State Advocacy Networks website and sign-up to
receive informational emails through the Justice Action
Network.
The Wenatchee Valley Environmental
Film Series presents a “Celebration Sampler” - an evening of
films from Telluride’s Mountainfilm On Tour, with accompanying
hors d’ oeuvres, desserts and fine wines. The event is
sponsored by the Trust of Public Lands and Chelan-Douglas Land
Trust. Tickets are $35, and can be reserved by calling
Michelle Loudon at 664-3349.
The Chelan-Douglas Land Trust is building
a large section of new trail to connect Horse Lake Road to the
Sage Hills. They need a volunteer crew of trail grubbers,
scratchers, flaggers, porters and supporters. Pick a day and
come lend a hand! Contact Patrick Walker if you would like to
help, (509) 667-9708 or patrick@cdlandtrust.org.
The CUUF Social/Environmental Action team invites you to join in the
"Interfaith Fast for Peace".
This event is co-sponsored by many faith
groups, including the UUA. More information can be found at the website -
www.interfaithfast.org.
"We call on all Americans to join in fasting from dawn to dusk on
Monday, October 8, to call for an end to the Iraq War. On this day, people
of faith in local communities across our nation will act as catalysts to
transform the meaning of the day from one of conquest to community and
from violence to reverence."
The CUUF Social/Environmental Action Team will be carpooling over to
Seattle to attend the National "United for Peace" Rally asking
Congress to end the U.S. occupation of Iraq. Please contact
Diane Groody, dgroody@charter.net, or Peggy Love,
jlschlaman@charter.net, if you want to join us for this event.
Day Long Prayer Vigil
At Wenatchee Brethren-Baptist Church United (Okanogan & Peachey)
(Please enter from the parking lot side)
Quiet vigil begins at 6:00 a.m.
Written prayers will be available on hand-outs
Candles will be available for lighting
Occasional verbal requests for prayers may be requested when clusters gather
Add your prayers and the prayer of your presence
Pray for everyone in conflict, especially in Iraq
Pray for those who suffer because of the conflict, both abroad and here at home
Pray for God's power to turn attitudes of violence into attitudes of peacemaking
Pray that every family's cry to God, that their loved ones be brought home safely, will be fulfilled
Candle-light prayer circle and march 6:30 p.m.
Gather at the First United Methodist Church parking lot (941 Washington)
Silent candle-light march will proceed to the Brethren-Baptist church
Non-marches may drive to the vigil and await the marchers
Prayer service to end the vigil 7:00 - 8:00 p.m.
At Wenatchee Brethren-Baptist Church United
A corporate offering of prayers and a celebration of the faith that God desires our prayers