This Week at UUCD

Thursday, May 15, 2008

Absentee ballots for this vote, the New Sanctuary Movement, and Mission Statement are available on the website www.uudanbury.org and must be turned in or emailed to Carl Tichler, Barbara Myers, or the church office at secretary@uudanbury.org by TODAY.

From the Treasurer and Finance Chair:  Yesterday, the Board, upon hearing the projected results of the pledge drive, was forced to make some serious cuts to the previously proposed yearly budget.  To prepare for a useful discussion tomorrow evening (Friday), we will be sending more details early tomorrow morning via email.  This email will include as an attachment the proposed budget and a list of activities that the congregation will need to shoulder in order to fill the gaps.  Please take a little time to visualize the implications of these cuts and bring any additional suggestions that can be acted on next year.

FLOWERS again! Our children will be planting impatiens again by the back of the house. If you would like to donate a 6-pack of impatiens - the color of your choice – please bring it this Sunday, May 18th.  Planting will be on Memorial Day weekend.

Thank-You notes are being collected for our Religious Educators at an interactive display in the kitchen of the House.  There are markers and note paper there in a basket.  When you’ve written or drawn your note, please place it in the appropriate paper bag.  Notes will be collected through May and given to the RE Leaders at the June 8th Intergenerational Flower Communion/Thank You Service.

Videotaped copies of the 9:00 a.m. April 13th sermon by Reverend Craig Hirshberg are available on DVD in the congregation’s office for members and friends who missed this service about the ministerial search process.  Thanks to Gale Alexander for taping this service.

FRIDAY (MAY 16TH)

The eight applications for the Ministerial Search Committee are on the table in the back of the Fellowship Hall.  Please feel free to read them during the Potluck Friday evening before the meeting during which the Search Committee will be voted upon.  Only seven members may be elected according to our Bylaws, though the Board is recommending that the person not elected be available to serve as an alternate, if he or she wishes.  The nominees are:  Gale Alexander, Dennis DiPinto, Carol Huckabee, Judy Lacker, Bill McWilliams, Charlie Schott, Charley Stark, and Joanne Wells.

The Special Congregational Meeting and the Annual Meeting will be preceded by a FAMILY POTLUCK beginning at 6 p.m.  Please bring your own beverages, and the following (according to the first initial of your last name in the alphabet) to share with approximately 8 people (take-out or store-bought is fine):

A – K   Main dish

L – R   Salad

S          Bread

T – Z   Dessert

 

Call for a Special Congregational Meeting to Elect the Ministerial Search Committee

7:15 p.m., May 16, 2008

 

From our bylaws: “When a vacancy occurs in the ministry, a Special Congregational meeting of the UUCD shall be called to elect a Ministerial Search Committee. To that effect the Board will submit a list of nominees; however, additional nominations from the floor will be accepted at the meeting if approved by a majority of those members present and voting. The Committee shall be comprised of seven members.”

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 Call for the Annual Meeting of the UUCD

7:30 p.m. (or whenever the Special Meeting is over), May 16, 2008

Every May, as specified in the bylaws, we hold the Annual Meeting of the UUCD. The order of business is specified in the bylaws, and includes Reports, Adoption of the Budget, and New Business, as well as Elections. Nominations from the Nominating Committee:

1) To be elected to the Board of Trustees:

President: Carl Tichler                           1 year term until June 30, 2009

Secretary: Barbara Myers                                 1 year term until June 30, 2009

Treasurer: Marie Dupree                                   2 year term until June 30, 2010

Trustee: Jean Bowen                                         3 year term until June 30, 2011

Trustee: Eva DeFranco                                     2 year term until June 30, 2010

                                                               (to fill out remainder of Marcia Brooker’s term)

Remaining on the Board:

            Anne Krieg                                           Term ends June 30, 2009

            Andrew Bloch                                      Term ends June 30, 2009

            Nancy Tramontana                               Term ends June 30, 2010

            Valerie Cochrane                                  Term ends June 30, 2010

2) To be elected to Nominating Committee:

            Lana Wallace                                                   2 year term until June 30, 2010

            Remaining on Nominating Committee:

            Jane Leff                                                          2 year term until June 30, 2009

            Carol Huckabee                                               2 year term until June 30, 2009

Andrew Bloch                                                  2 year term until June 30, 2009

Our bylaws state that nominations may come from the floor if the group agrees.

A vote on the New Sanctuary Movement and our new Mission Statement will also take place at the Annual Meeting.

Robert’s Rules of Order prevail at all Congregational Meetings. Our bylaws also state that there must be a quorum of at least 15% of the membership. At an official membership of 145, this means there must be at least 22 members present at both of these May 16th meetings for the meetings to proceed.  Voting rights extend only to those who have been members for at least 60 days, which, for this year’s meetings, means anyone who signed the membership book prior to March 17, 2008.

 

SATURDAY (MAY 17TH)

Men Out to Breakfast is an organization of men seeking fellowship and spirituality and meeting for breakfast and discussion on the first and third Saturdays of each month, at the Windmill Diner, Mill Plain Road in Danbury, convenient to exits two and four.  Our next meeting is Saturday, May 17th, at 9:00 a.m.  All are welcome.

Linda Hansen’s Chalice Circle will meet at 10:00 a.m. in the Youth Room.

 

SUNDAY (MAY 18TH)

This morning our Coming of Age Youth present their Credos.  The 9:00 a.m. service will feature our 6th-8th graders and one four-footed guest with a tail.  The 11:00 a.m. service, "One Winged Angel...Learning to Fly," will showcase our 9th graders favorite music as well as their commentary on what they believe to be true. This is a day to celebrate and listen to the next generation!

“Reflections Corner” – Continue the conversations begun during Sunday Services in an informal setting during coffee hour.  People interested in discussing the sermon are invited to pick up a snack and head to the front corner of the Hall near the chimes.

Catie Gormley Berg’s Chalice Circle will meet at 2:00 p.m. in the second-floor Conference Room.

 

MONDAY (MAY 19TH)

The Spiritual Conversations Class will meet at 7:30 p.m. in the Conference Room.

 

TUESDAY (MAY 20TH)

The Knitting Ministry will meet at 10:00 a.m. in the Conference Room.

The Social Action Committee will meet at 7:30 p.m. in the Conference Room.

 

THURSDAY (MAY 22ND)

Unitarian Universalism:  Roots of our Faith meets at 7:30 p.m. in the second-floor Conference Room.

 

FRIDAY (MAY 23RD)

The Deadline for the June Comment is Friday, May 23rd.  Please submit your articles to the office by 9:00 a.m.

Movies with a Message  - As regular attendees probably know, we have been using selections for Spiritual Cinema Circle as the basis for nearly all of our Fourth Friday presentations.  Many have asked about Spiritual Cinema Circle (or SCC) -- what is it?  How did SCC originate?  What is its mission?  We will begin this month's session with a filmed discussion in which SCC responds to such questions.

            Our feature film for May is Tara Road, based on the novel of the same name by Irish author Maeve Binchy.   If you are a Maeve Binchy fan, you will recognize the strong characterization and emphasis on personal relationships that mark Binchy's works.  Two women, played by Andie MacDowell and Olivia Williams, living in different countries, agree to switch homes in an effort each to mend a broken heart.  At the conclusion of our feature, Stephen Simon and Mariel Hemingway share some observations, which we will use to spur our discussion. 

            Please join us on Friday, May 23rd, at 7:00 p.m. in the UUCD Conference Room.  As usual, all are welcome.  Pizza will be provided for those who wish to chip in.  Bring your own beverage.  Popcorn optional!

 

SATURDAY (MAY 24TH)

Women out to Breakfast will meet on Saturday, May 24th, at Elmer’s Diner on Padanaram Road across from the North Street Shopping Center (exit 6 from I-84W, turn right; exit 5 from I-85E, go straight 2-3 miles.)  Please notify Karen Gillotti via email if you plan to attend. 

  

UPCOMING EVENTS

The date is now reserved from Friday, May 30th, to Sunday, June 1st, at Camp Jewell for the Intergenerational Retreat.  All congregants are welcome.  If you plan on attending, please contact Nancy Tramontana, Carl Tichler, or Suzanne Perry.  Please send in a deposit of $20 (per person).

The Anti-Racism and Diversity Committee of our UU Metro-New York District invites us to their 9th annual conclave called “Spirit, Vision and Participation.”  The meeting will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, May 31st at Community Church of New York UU, 40 East 35th Street (between Madison and Park Avenues).  The Rev. William Sinkford, President of the Unitarian Universalist Association, will be the keynote speaker.  Registration is $25 until May 15th, $30 after; children under 16 are free.  There will be a special workshop track for Multiracial Families and Families of Color.  For more information, see www.antiracism.net. 

Are you seeking a more spiritual life?  Would you like more balance in your life?  Or would you just like some time away to deepen your inner connection?  If so, come to Murray Grove, July 11-13, for "Ways to the Spirit:  A Weekend of Spiritual Practice for Unitarian Universalists."  Explore meditation, prayer, art, music, yoga, reiki, labyrinth and silent time. For more information and registration, contact the Murray Grove Retreat and Conference Center in New Jersey, murraygrove@murraygrove.org, www.murraygrove.org or call 609-693.5558.

If you do not wish to receive these weekly e-mail reminders of upcoming events, please let our Secretary, Sherry Kyriacou, know at secretary@uudanbury.org.  Thanks.