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Unitarian Universalist

Fellowship of Athens

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What’s Up with the Board – March 2022

President Vivian Sellers called the March 8, 2022, meeting of the Board of Trustees to order.

Treasurer Lyndall Tunnell updated us on the month-long Stewardship Drive now underway, noting that so far about one fourth of members have pledged for the 2022-2023 year which starts July 1, 2022. The Stewardship Drive committee – Kate Blane, Dan Everett, Rev. Lisa Romantum Schwartz, and Susie Weller – are welcoming members to feel “full of gratitude, full of hope” as we work together to reach the aspirational budget described here. You may pledge securely online here or print a pledge form here. Please consider your pledge by March 30.

The towering stack of digital documents which greeted Board members last fall is now considerably shorter as we have reviewed policies, by-laws, the employee handbook, and more over the months. After several more motions to accept revisions during our meeting, the document to-do pile is now hardly visible.

We voted to approve hiring John Neff, pending a background check, as a part-time audio tech to help continue the outstanding Sunday services staff and volunteers have created as UUFA first went virtual and now provides hybrid services.

Clela Reed and Sarah Cook reported that the Regathering Task Force and the Medical Advisory Panel continue to review the status of the pandemic and will make proposals to adjust the level of onsite participation as numbers indicate.

We took a look at the Fellowship’s spring calendar. Please mark your calendars! Find these events on the website calendar when you are looking for more information, pertinent documents, and links to join the virtual portions.

  • April 3  Rev. Alison’s installation as Emerita Minister and Reception
  • By April 10  The Nominating Committee will present the slate of candidates for 2022-2023.
  • April 10  Town Hall (Bylaws & 8th Principle & Budget) at 11 a.m.
  • April 19  Evening Town Hall (Bylaws & 8th Principle & Budget) at 7 p.m.
  • April 24 – May 1 Candidating Week! Meet and hear our candidate for settled minister.
  • April 24  Deadline for Nominating Committee to accept written petitions of 15 or more Voting Members to add any qualified member to the slate
  • May 8  Celebration of Shaye Gambrell and her 20 years of serving UUFA
  • May 15  UUFA Annual Meeting
  • June 12  Reception thanking Rev. Lisa Romantum Schwartz for her service as our Interim Minister
  • June 22 – 26  UUA General Assembly. Registration is underway. Watch for news on participating in Portland, OR, or online.

Board of Trustees meetings welcome visitors. We meet next on April 12, 2022.

Susan Curtis, Board member 

August Share the Plate CotM Benefits Athens Immigrant Rights Coalition

AIRC, a UUFA Justice Partner, brings together people working with and supporting immigrants. AIRC works with Support For Immigrant Families In Crisis (SIFIC), Dignidad Inmigrante En Athens (DIA), U-Lead Athens, and the Interfaith Sanctuary Coalition. UUFA members and friends are invited to AIRC’s next monthly meeting on August 21 from 5:30 to 7 pm at the Oconee Street United Methodist Church. For more information contact justice@uuathensga.org.

2026-27 Cause of the Month Organizations Selected

UUFA voters have chosen the 2026-27 Share-the-Plate recipients: (* indicates a UUFA Justice Partner)

July                  ACC Center for Racial Justice and Black Futures 

August             Athens Immigrant Rights Coalition *

September     Athens Area Emergency Food Bank 

October           Project Safe

November       Athens Pride and Queer Collective *

December       The Ark

January           Athens Anti-Discrimination Movement *

February         U-Lead

March              Athens Wellness Center

April                 Athens Land Trust

May                  Economic Justice Coalition *

June                 Dignidad Inmigrante en Athens

Learn more from justice@uuathensga.org

Help with Food Insecurity through August CANtributions

Please continue to bring non-perishable food items to Fellowship Hall’s wicker baskets. While all CANtributions are appreciated, in August the Athens Area Emergency Food Bank is especially in need of more pork ‘n beans, plain white rice (preferably in 1 pound bags) and tomato sauces (not spaghetti sauce as that has its own category, but tomato sauces, tomato paste, manwich sauce, etc). To give by credit card, visit uuathensga.org/give and look for “Charitable Giving.” To give by check, make the check to UUFA and put “CANtributions 1-8016” in the memo line. To learn more, contact justice@uuathensga.org. If you are experiencing food insecurity or know someone in our UUFA community who is, please contact Rev. Pippin (revpippin@uuathensga.org).

UUFA Justice Partner Highlights

AADM Hosts Saturday School Workshop on Court Navigation

Navigating the court system can be overwhelming, especially when you believe your civil rights may have been violated. This Saturday School session is designed to help participants better understand the court process, recognize potential civil rights violations, and learn the steps involved in filing a complaint or seeking legal assistance. Participants will receive guidance on how to organize documentation, understand court procedures, identify available legal remedies, and prepare questions before meeting with an attorney. The August 22 event at the Oconee Street UMC will run from 10 am to 12 pm. To register visit https://www.aadmovement.org/events/x857y2fuhe1rlbz0umdu06iuo3br11

Monthly Highlights

Scroll on for the

“Let’s Get Together” sections!

Look for virtual links in Realm/Connect under “Events.”

What’s a monthly highlight? It’s a meeting or event that doesn’t not usually recur at UUFA. You might see a special call out to a community event in this section or a new offering that will recur but is just getting started. 

After the Highlights section, Let’s Get Together showcases the many recurring meetings and events that happen at least monthly at UUFA. Under the sections below–Seeking Justice, Making Music, Fun and Fellowship, and Exploring–you will find information such as the monthly topics for Second Lookers, Book Talks, and Forum, as well as the standing meetings of Justice groups at UUFA, Chalice Choir and Palms of Fire drum choir.

How We Can Partner with Jubilee Partners

While many of us have actively opposed Trump’s immigration policies, we now have the opportunity to assist one family who is caught up in the throes of such policies. Jubilee Partners is looking to form a working relationship with UUFA, beginning with the permanent settlement of a Congolese family in the Athens area. Take a look at some ways you might help. For more information contact  justice@uuathensga.org.

Cooking for Bigger Vision Community Shelter

This month the Food Justice Team will be preparing a meal for the Bigger Vision homeless shelter on July 7 beginning at 3 pm in the UUFA kitchen. You are invited to be part of this cooking team. To learn more contact justice@uuathensga.org.

LEAF Hosts Pool Party

LEAF (Learning, Exploring, and Affirming our Families) invites everyone to gather at the Green Acres – Crestwood Pool (635 Brookwood Drive) on July 18 from 7:00 to 10:00 pm for an evening of swimming, eating pizza, and hanging out! Please use the following Google Form link to select your pizza option: ORDER PIZZA HERE

Sign Up Now for SUUSI: one week. one community. all ages. all in.

The Southeastern Unitarian Universalist Summer Institute runs from July 19 to 25 at the Radford University campus in Radford, Virginia. Get registration information here: https://solis.suusi.org/register.

Food Justice Team Opportunity

Join members of the UUFA Food Justice Team at the UGA Research Horticulture Farm in Watkinsville as they help to provide fresh fruits and vegetables that are delivered to both the Food Bank of Northeast Georgia and the Athens Area Emergency Food Bank. They work most Monday and Thursday mornings year round. Contact Kathy Larson with questions and/or to get on the volunteer list. All are welcome. 

Annual Ice Cream Sunday Sign-Up

The Annual Ice Cream Sunday, one of our long-cherished traditions, is scheduled for August 9. We need your help! Please sign up here to bring ice cream and toppings, volunteer to serve, or help with set up or clean up.  We can’t wait to see you there!

Fibercraft Exhibit Runs through August 31

Be sure to view the Claire and Robert Clements Gallery’s current exhibit by artists of the Athens Fibercraft Guild. Over more than fifty years AFG members have worked in a variety of disciplines, including weaving, spinning, rug making, knitting, crochet, lace making, quilting, embroidery, baskets, paper crafts, beadwork, and silk painting. For more information see www.athensfiber.org. Watch for the gallery’s exhibit featuring UUFA’s Mystery Pet Portraits arriving in September.

Straight White Male Book Discussion

Join in the second of two discussions focused on exploring how we can live with intention and integrity in an unequal world on August 9 from noon to 1:30 pm in the AWE Room. The book is Straight White Male: A Faith-Based Guide to Deconstructing Your Privilege and Living with Integrity by Chris Furr, William Barber II, Melissa Florer-Bixler, and Roberto Espinoza. While the book is written with straight, white men in mind, the conversation will be meaningful for anyone interested in reflecting on privilege, identity, and how we live out our values in community.

Looking Ahead to the 2026-2027 Leadership Summit 

This year’s Leadership Summit will take place August 29 from 9 to 12 pm. All group, team, and committee leaders are urged to attend this vital annual startup. All members are welcome to attend. The Leadership Summit is an opportunity to get to know who does what in the congregation (staff and volunteers), how to access what you need, relationship building, and more. 

Covenantal Conflict Workshop Series Set for September

Diverse viewpoints and identities strengthen our congregation, our society, and our world. When differences are embraced, they can foster affirmation, creativity, and growth. Yet differences can also create conflict, even when no harm is intended. Learning how to address conflict constructively is some of the most important work we can do as individuals and as a congregation. Rev. Pippin and the Covenantal Conflict Panel will offer workshops on the mornings of September 12 and 19 to provide practical tools for navigating conflict within the Fellowship and beyond. To learn more, visit https://docs.google.com/document/d/1xcS-83fITTwxF6iESFaFZjwSK7WCgRjOIeW77m_9ehI/edit?tab=t.0