Unitarian Universalist Fellowship April 2009 of Ames
From the minister Sunday services, 9 & 11 a.m. Reconnection begins after sabbatical absence 5 The Interdependent Web: Jean Eells Here I sit in my high-backed chair Right Relationships to the Land behind the wonderful, oak roll-top Annual meeting materials Here in Iowa, where commodity rules, desk that’s tucked away in my office in Pages 11-14 join in an exploration of the idea of land as the far corner of the Fellowship. Back community and what it means to live in right after nearly four months, the world relationship to the land. Music looks different yet the same since my Page 4 time away. Warm greetings and visits began this busy week, along with 12 Life the Rev. Brian Eslinger Religious Education meetings to get me up to speed on the To our conscious minds, it seems that we live Pages 7 occurrences during my absence. I’d like a linear existence, a starting path from birth to offer my thanks to our Fellowship to death, while surrounded by the recurring Green Corner president, Janet Klaas, and all those circular seasons of life, death, and life’s return. Page 8 folks in leadership and on the staff Easter connects those two aspects of our story who shouldered extra responsibilities with ancient symbols and miraculous stories. President while I was away. And thanks to all of In these connections, we can find reasons for you for supporting the Fellowship and Page 10 joy. Join in our celebration of the creative me while I continued my professional process that leads us toward life. We will host and personal development. a child-dedication celebration at both services. Social Responsibility I am happy to say that I Please contact the Rev. Brian Eslinger or DYCM Page 16 accomplished the major goals of my sabbatical. In December and early Lori Allen to register your family or for more Committees & Groups January, I prepared for the storytelling information. Page 18 class that I taught as the final project for my Doctor of Ministry degree. 19 Earth Day the Rev. Brian Eslinger, At the end of January, I taught Lori Allen & Erv Klaas the class at Meadville Lombard As we join the worldwide celebration of our Theological School (our Unitarian home, the planet Earth, we’ll explore how our Universalist seminary associated with congregation is becoming a Green Sanctuary the University of Chicago). When and how we can each lead a greener life all I returned home from Chicago, I year round. began grading papers, five papers and two projects from each student. 26 A Brief History of African Americans I also began meeting with the other Odell McGhee doctoral students via telephone each 1015 N. Hyland Ave. Polk County District Judge Odell McGhee Ames, IA 50014 Wednesday morning to discuss and review each other’s papers. Between brings the Langston Hughes Theatrical 515-292-5960 grading, reading new resources, and Troupe to present vignettes from four www.uufames.org writing, my days were filled with time distinct segments of Black American history [email protected] in front of the computer. — slavery, Jim Crow, Harlem renaissance, and Vol. 16, No. 4 Continued on page 20 modern times. ground floor key: Lib=Dustin Berger Memorial Library, YR=Youth Room middle floor key: FH=Fellowship Hall, FR=Fireside Room, Kit=Kitchen, TR=Tower Room April 2009 upper floor key: RE-north=Potter room (pink), RE-east=Emerson room (blue), RE-south=Barton & Channing rooms Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 2 3 4 5:30 exec team 9:15-10:30 FH Yoga Off-site Prairie Star District Off-site Prairie Star District 5:30 WELLSPRING WEDNESDAY 1:30-2:45 FH Recorders Conference Conference MEAL & PROGRAMS 2-3 TR Moms Off Meth 5:30-7 April Fools’ Day meal 5:30-6:30 FH Yoga 5:30-6:15 FH Kinetic Spirits 7-9 YR HS Youth
9 & 11 a.m. services 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12-2 Campus meal & mtg 5:30-6:45 FH Yoga 9:15-10:30 FH Yoga 4 TR Music Committee 9:15-10:30 FH Yoga 9:30 Lib Library Committee 3:30 English Country Dancing 7 TR Women’s Book 5:30-6:45 TR Prenatal Yoga 5:30 WELLSPRING WEDNESDAYS 1:30-2:45 FH Recorders 10 SMPC 4:45 YR/RE UU Yoga 7 FH Red Friars 7 FR Caring Brainstormiing MEAL & PROGRAMS 2-3 TR Moms Off Meth 6-7 FH Mindful & Meditate 7 TR Flickers film group 5:30-7 meal 5:30-6:30 FH Yoga Off-site Prairie Star District 5:30-6:15 FH Kinetic Spirits 7-9 FH Red Friars Conference 6-9 YR HS Youth 7-9 TR Board of Directors
9 & 11 a.m. services 12 13 14 15 16 17 newsletter deadline 18 12 Easter Dinner 1:30 TR Daytime Circle 9:15-10:30 FH Yoga 5:30 WELLSPRING WEDNESDAYS 9:15-10:30 FH Yoga 6:30 FH Yoga Chakra 7:30 FH Mooncookie Concert 12-2 Campus meal & mtg 5:30-6:45 FH Yoga 5:30-6:45 FH Prenatal Yoga MEAL & PROGRAMS 1:30-2:45 FH Recorders 12-2 Prairie Fire young adult 7 FH Red Friars 7 TR Women’s Spirituality 5:30-7 meal 2-3 TR Moms Off Meth 4:45 YR/RE UU Yoga 7 off-site Skadberg Science 5:30-6:15 FH Kinetic Spirits 5:30-6:30 FH Yoga 6-7 FH Mindful & Meditate 6:30 CoA forum 5:30 FR New-member potluck 7-8:30 This I Believe 7-9 FH Red Friars 7-9 HS Youth
9 & 11 a.m. services 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 12-2 Campus meal & mtg 5:30-6:45 FH Yoga 9:15-10:30 FH Yoga 5:30 WELLSPRING WEDNESDAYS 9:15-10:30 FH Yoga 6 main Fourth Friday Families 2 off-site Coming of Age retreat 3:30 English Country Dancing 7 FH Red Friars 5:30-6:45 FH Prenatal Yoga MEAL & PROGRAMS 1:30-2:45 FH Recorders (LGBTA social) (overnight) 4-5:30 Conscientious Knitters 7-9 TR Women of Wisdom 7 TR Flickers film group 5:30-7 meal 2-3 TR Moms Off Meth 4:45 UU Yoga 5:30-6:15 FH Kinetic Spirits 5:30-6:30 FH Yoga 6-7 FH Mindful & Meditate 6:30 CoA forum 7-8:30 Lib RE Comm 7 off-site Historical Jesus 7-8:30 This I Believe 7-9 HS Youth
9 & 11 a.m. services 26 27 28 29 30 The Noon AA Group meets in the Fireside Room from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. weekdays. 12-2 Campus meal & mtg 1:30 TR Daytime Circle 9:15-10:30 FH Yoga 5:30 WELLSPRING WEDNESDAYS 9:15-10:30 FH Yoga Please respect the group’s privacy and curtail your 12-2 Prairie Fire young adult 5:30-6:45 FH Yoga 5:30-6:45 FH Prenatal Yoga MEAL & PROGRAMS 1:30-2:45 FH Recorders visits to the main floor, 4:45 UU Yoga 7 FH Red Friars 7 TR Women’s Spirituality 5:30-7 meal 2-3 TR Moms Off Meth 7 off-site Skadberg Science 5:30-6:15 FH Kinetic Spirits 5:30-6:30 FH Yoga 6:30 CoA forum 7-8:30 This I Believe 7-9 HS Youth April 2009 Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Ames Page Group considers, seeks input on memory garden, Adult Education This I Believe outdoor meeting area, other exterior improvements 7 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesdays Initial focus is on areas to the north, west of Fellowship Hall April 15, 22, 29 in the Tower Room A committee has been formed to and as a place for memorial plaques; an work on development of some of our all-weather glass door in the north wall Based on the successful outdoor property, specifically areas to of the meeting room to provide visual National Public Radio series the west and north of the large meeting connection and access to this outdoor about sharing the stories of our beliefs, we’ll gather to room. space. examine what theological and Items for consideration include, but We welcome your ideas and input philosophical ideals shape our are not necessarily limited to: to the development of a master plan lives and how we live, how • Installation of a memory garden that will guide gifts, memorials, and we can frame those ideals into on the hillside area that might contain funding for this undertaking. language that expresses our plantings of native trees, shrubs, grasses, Zach Strah is seeking approval innermost convictions, and how flowers, and a stand of white pine at the for work on this project to meet his we can share those ideas with top of the hill; a path and meditation Eagle Scout requirements and will be others in such a way that we areas of remembrance; areas available for organizing work parties in April if his promote understanding instead scattering of cremation ashes; sculpture request is approved by the Boy Scouts. of divisiveness. The end result or other outdoor art installations. Please watch for opportunities to may be a piece for you to submit • A green room (outdoor meeting welcome in 2009 spring by becoming to NPR! For more information, please area) directly north of the building, involved with this great new endeavor. contact the Rev. Brian Eslinger. with a cobblestone patio to be the Comments can be made to Ray To register for the class, please site of programs, ceremonies, services, Strah (232-7854, rayandtrish@msn. contact the UUFA office by or social events; enhanced plantings com) or Lynn Avant (292-6834, ldma@ Sunday, April 12. We will need at and grass; a low wall to serve as casual att.net). least 10 participants. seating around some of the perimeter — Lynn Avant
Fine Arts Sunday
Is there art in your home? Bring it into our Fellowship! May 3 is Fine Arts Day at the UUFA.
Musical soloists, duets, and small groups are all welcome. Do you dance? Create a performance piece alone or with others (including adults). Original prose or poetry would be delightful. Or create a dramatic vignette. Artists can enter framed two-dimensional works, sculptures, or well-executed craft items. Who: Intergenerational – congregation members of all ages What: One performance program and art show Where: UUFA Fellowship Hall When: Sunday, May 3, single service at 10 a.m. How: Contact Peggy Earnshaw ([email protected], 232-1665) by April 24 E-mail Peggy today to join in! Page Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Ames April 2009 From the music coordinator Ames Unitarian Universalists New member drumming Let the Music Move Our Souls up interest in forming new musical group Mooncookie Concert For the past two months, I have Lori Allen, Reggie Greenlaw, and Tom Russell, all UU musician performers, urged people to come forth and share have been moving souls for years through their music — music that rings their musical talents with the members in social justice, tunes that flood memories, and rhythms that open hearts. of the Fellowship. A number of you Come and celebrate Veishea Saturday night in community with Coming of have done so, and I am delighted to tell Age youth, mentors, and music lovers. you that one of our newest members, Tracey Yates, has taken that step, as well. Tracey has a background in Middle 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 18 Eastern dance. In her dance career, she at the Fellowship learned to play the finger cymbals (zills) and various drum rhythms common This is the last Coming of Age Mooncookie fundraising concert for 2008- to that dance form, such as the balady, 2009. Expect Italian sodas and exceptional treats. saidi, kashlama, ayyub, and masmoudi. She is interested in finding Lori Allen other members in the Fellowship Music has been an integral part of Lori’s life, beginning with the lullabies and who play drums or who would like to learn the basic drum rhythms. hymns that were so prevalent in her family. Her musical performance career began She is willing to teach playing the with her gig as a soprano/alto/accompanist in the Knudson Gospel Singers at age zills and what she knows about 12. In a show of rebellion and defiance, she picked up the guitar and switched from drumming to anyone interested. She gospel to folk music as a teen. She has sung lead vocals in the Trimont Troubadors, also has an eclectic collection of other Plains Folk, and her very own group — Lori. As other life pursuits got in the way percussive instruments, such as claves, of regular gigs, she continued to weave her music into lullabies, choirs, and choral tambourines, maracas, and a frog, groups, community theater, and her work with children. She is excited to bring if someone wants to play along on some of her old and new favorites to the Mooncookie Cafe. something other than a drum. Please contact her (TraceyYates@ Reggie Greenlaw yahoo.com, 291-3861) if you have Reggie’s instruments of choice include the hammered dulcimer, guitar, mandolin, questions or are interested in playing autoharp, and more. He has spent years performing alone as a singer-songwriter with other Fellowship members. and has performed many original tunes at the Fellowship. A few years ago, he Depending on the level of interest, a drum circle or musical group may be worked with the Free Spirits children’s choir on songwriting and singing. formed to meet regularly. I urge those of you who are Tom Russell interested in drumming to contact Tom recalls early memories of listening to his mom and her ukulele, through Tracey and help to create another sitting at the Steinway on the C.Y. Stephens stage. Music has been a guiding force musical group for the Fellowship to in his life. Over the decades, he has played in a variety of groups and solo settings. enjoy. Currently, he sings and plays an eclectic mix of ragtime, folk, classical, blues, and — Paul Ferrone original music on mandolin, guitar, banjo, fiddle, and occasionally piano.
UUFA to ordain former intern Dawn Cooley in June ceremony Guests from throughout the Prairie Star District and candidate for the First Unitarian Church in Louisville, Ky., beyond will gather in Ames at 2 p.m. June 13, along with our and plans her candidating week for late April. Fellowship congregation, to ordain 2006-2007 ministerial The UUFA’s Intern Committee is working with Dawn, intern Dawn Cooley into the ministry. the Rev. Brian Eslinger, and the board on plans for the local Dawn also is making great strides toward embarking on ceremony, to which all in the Fellowship community are her first full-time ministry, as she has been named the official invited. — Brenda Witherspoon April 2009 Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Ames Page
Caring Conversation to include review, brainstorming, how-to Surveys needed before ministry review The Caring Network invites you to a large-group Caring Conversation at 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 7, in the Fireside Room. Refreshments will be served, and we All committee chairs will wrap up by 9 p.m. at the UUFA should have Our hope is to gather input from a wide group of people, whether you have received the annual ministry had ongoing or intensive interactions with our caring functions or whether you’ve survey. The survey helps us never had occasion or desire to participate. evaluate where we are in accomplishing our mission The evening will include three parts: and where we want to go. If you are a committee 1. Sharing our collective experiences with providing or receiving care (or chair and don’t know what not providing or receiving care) within our Fellowship community and identifying I’m talking about, please strengths, weaknesses, and areas not being addressed. contact me (Katie.Heathcote@ gmail.com, 231-2485) so 2. From those conversations, developing ideas to improve how we function and brainstorming options and models for addressing wider needs. that we can hear from your committee. 3. A brief presentation and time for questions about the nuts and bolts of Surveys are due to me by going about the work of caring. Should you send a card to someone you don’t May 1. know? How do you sit with someone who is dying? What guidelines are there for Committee chairs should preparing meals? attend the annual ministry retreat from 8:30 a.m. to noon The Rev. Brian Eslinger and members of the Caring Network will facilitate the Saturday, May 30, at Stone conversation. Please contact any of us with questions. Brooke Clubhouse. — Brenda Witherspoon — Katie Heathcote
RE Committee breaks needs into smaller tasks, expands program ownership Greetings from religious education. of the benefits of building a strong help in identifying community members The RE committee, with Lori’s help, learning community. who will volunteer to oversee the success has been reflecting on how best to The RE Committee Needs Chart of any particular opportunity. coordinate the opportunities available presents opportunities in social action, Therefore, in the next few months for families of children and youth, as social and special events (fall and before summer hours, we would like well as any other interested community winter), child care (fall and winter), and people to consider volunteering for any members, to share in community religious education. event that piques their interest. building and religious education. Each section will be overseen by Or, perhaps, someone simply We have broken down the religious- an RE Committee member (requiring strongly identifies with a particular education events into combinations at least six RE committee members, opportunity, or they may feel that of different types of opportunities and including the chair). a particular event or opportunity is different seasons in an attempt to spread The committee member overseeing important for the health and vitality the joy. an area of opportunity will not be of youth and children and the UU Clearly we don’t want a small group responsible for the success (or failure) of experience/culture. of enthusiastic individuals to reap all any particular event or program but will — Doug Jones Please consider donating time and energy next year focused on a reasonably limited commitment. See the next page for more details about opportunities. Contact Lori Allen or Doug Jones to sign up or for more information.
Fall: Spring: 6 social-action events from October, 4 religious-education events November, January, February, March, April 3 special and social events 3 special and social events, 3 events for child care 3 events for child care Page Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Ames April 2009
RE Committee Needs Volunteers
Social Action Social & Special Events Childcare
Coordinator (RE committee member) Coordinator (RE committee member) Coordinator (RE committee member)
implementing social action in RE classes October Social & Special Events Recruiter Child-care Recruiter World's Children recruit positions recruit positions
November Alternative Gifts September October & December Kick-Off Event - Ice Cream Social Cleaning Nursery & Toys Saturday afternoon activity utwo days
January Peace
February October October Fellowship Halloween Party & UNICEF Young Family Event - Potluck one evening one afternoon/evening
______March Community ______
December January April X-mas Eve Play & Service Supplying & Sorting Nursery Environment Sunday afternoons & X-mas Eve one day
RE Committee Needs Volunteers January
Religious Education Social & Special Events Childcare
Coordinator (RE committee member) Coordinator (RE committee member) Coordinator (RE committee member)
RE Recruiter Social & Special Events Recruiter Childcare Recruiter recruit positions & assist coordinator recruit positions & assist coordinator recruit positions & assist coordinator
April & May February February , April & August RE Teacher Recruiter Secret Friends Cleaning Nursery & Toys recruit teachers Saturday afternoon three days
September April April Cleaning & Sorting RE Spaces Spring Event - Easter Young Family Event - Potluck two days Sunday morning one afternoon
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September August August Assist in Teacher Training UU Camp Supplying & Sorting Nursery previous RE teaching experience requested two weekdays before school starts one day April 2009 Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Ames Page
Religious-education classes Call for snacks The religious-education and April, with our Earth Day celebration, is a time for us to learn more about the nursery snack cupboards Earth and the Earth-based spirituality that is affirmed and practiced all over the are bare! Please bring world. We’ll be spending some time outdoors, if the weather permits, to honor a nonperishable snack and celebrate the grounds of the UUFA, as well. and nonfrozen juice. The concentrated cans of juice Pre-K found in juice aisles store well, April 5 We Need the Rain! keep well, and are preferable April 12 Spring Brings Changes to Our Earth to the large containers of juice. Thanks! April 19 Earth Day – All Congregation Service – No RE Classes April 26 Spring Makes Our Earth Beautiful with Color Nursery play date Families with children who spend Grades 1-2 time in our nursery are invited to April 5 Gaia Creates Herself gather for a play date at Emma April 12 One of the Stories of Easter McCarthy Lee Park from 10 to April 19 Earth Day – All-Congregation Service – No RE Classes 11:30 a.m. Saturday, April 18. In case of rain, we’ll meet in the RE April 26 Rainbow Bird – a story from the Aboriginal peoples of Australia spaces at the Fellowship on the top floor. To help with planning Grades 3-4 or hosting, please contact Lori April 5 Gaia Creates Herself Allen. April 12 One of the Stories of Easter April 19 Earth Day – All-Congregation Service – No RE Classes Senior recognition April 26 Tuk the Hunter – a story from the First Nations tribes of far North We will be bidding farewell to our high school seniors on America Sunday, May 10, during the morning service. We would Grades 5-6 like to invite all UU high school April 5 Gaia Creates Herself seniors, including both those April 12 One of the Stories of Easter who are currently active in our April 19 Earth Day – All Congregation Service – No RE Classes youth programming and those April 26 Grandad’s Prayers for the Earth who were active in years past, to join us for a celebration of graduation and moving further Boston-bound youth fundraising report on the path to adult life. Coming of Age retreat The COA students, mentors, and The youth continued to raise money with spaghetti dinners, Panera coupon high-school touch group leaders sales, a bake sale, leaf raking, and the Transylvania Dinner in March. By the end of will be heading back out to the March, the group had raised more than $14,000 toward its goal of $20,000, which YMCA Camp near Boone for will pay for bus travel and overnight lodging in Boston. our final retreat. We will leave the UUFA parking lot at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 25, and return April events about 1:30 p.m. Sunday, April Sunday, April 12, youth assist with Easter lunch, keep donations 26. Students will experience a Saturday, April 18, Mooncookie Concert with home-baked goods, beverages. time of solitary contemplation Saturday afternoon, followed May garage-sale donations by a time to complete their statements of faith. Sunday Coming of Age May garage sale: Donations of household items and children’s morning they will tackle the high clothing are accepted 10 a.m to 2 p.m. weekdays and after the 11 a.m. Sunday ropes course. More detailed service. A desk volunteer will unlock the south house for your delivery. information will be sent to Contact Theresa or Gary Munkvold (232-9231) for other arrangements. participants closer to the date. — Lori Allen — Suzanne Zilber & Theresa Munkvold Page Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Ames April 2009 Green Corner Envisioning community in harmony with Earth is essential first step When government leaders can go a more helpful and inspiring garden to the congregation has established the green by getting into gardening on some minds than a whole acre of lawn infrastructure for becoming a Green the grounds of the White House, then or flowers may be to another.” Sanctuary — we could refine the plan maybe we, too, can go green by gearing In the 1970s, I heard a man and expand the project. up our gardening efforts or being good from the Agricultural Extension What members or friends have patrons of local food growers. Department say that having fun and turf with good topsoil, drainage, and The White House garden is a success were important considerations sunshine where they would be willing to reminder of the Victory Gardens that for people who wanted to garden. He host a garden plot? It could be 2×2 feet American families grew during World recommended that people begin with a here or 3×9 feet there. Who among us War II. Victory then meant the defeat of single tomato plant next to their door. has gardening wisdom and a desire to Germany and Japan. In this era, victory The idea was that they would pass by it be part of the project? Who suffers from can mean finding successful strategies to often, appreciate its daily development, the impression that they have a brown deal with the dire social, economic, and and be able to pluck a tomato at the thumb but wants to garden? environmental challenges that confront peak of ripeness without hiking to the The idea would be to develop the nation and world. back yard after a long day of work to gardening circles analogous to the Gardening and the use of locally tend the vines or losing the out-of-sight- Fellowship circles that the UUFA grown food have many values — some out-of-mind fruit to neglect. His advice experimented with a few years ago. that can be important in facing those for people who wanted to put food by However, in this case, each circle would challenges. The taste is exceptional, the in large quantity — say spaghetti sauce be linked to a geographical location nutrition superb. There is more control — was to buy the produce in bulk from and the production of food. Ideally, over food safety, less waste in packaging, local farmers. circle members would be able to walk or lower consumption of fossil fuels to I am reminded of the container bicycle with ease to their group’s garden transport the food, and benefits to our garden on the deck of my second-floor plot. The plots could be in various state’s environment, economy, and Gilbert apartment, where I grew zinnias, sections of town. And perhaps there communities. The use of locally grown tomatoes, cucumbers, kale, and herbs could be one small but highly visible foods can also counter the trend of our before moving to Ames nearly three one on the Fellowship grounds. area becoming like a colony dependent years ago. Now I have a huge garden Each group would discern its own on urban and corporate food producers. and am able to grow enough cucumbers goals and operating guidelines. The Another value of gardening and to supply pint jars of pickles at many operation may not be 100 percent bliss; using locally grown food is the potential of the UUFA soup lunches and holiday but in this not-entirely-perfect process for engaging in a slower lifestyle meals. But the container garden was may lie an avenue to the deep bond that and deriving the intangible benefits satisfying and a great learning laboratory happens when people work together. — spiritual, emotional, or communal with no weeds and no rabbits. A circle would decide if it was going — that come from connecting with the Regardless of what is written in this to have a rugged-individualism model, earth and/or the people who produce column, there are Fellowship members with each person having a piece of the our food. who will engage in gardening. So the turf to grow what he or she wants, or if That said, I should mention that bigger question is how we, as a diverse it would opt for collaborative decision- gardening is not for everyone and that community of caring individuals, can making. There would be decisions about nongardeners, too, can be patrons of the become be a more supportive network what to grow, to grow organically or local-foods movement. for gardening and the use of locally not, to use city water or rain water, or to The bookBloom and Blossom, grown food. start from seed or transplants. The circle edited by Mary Swander, ISU professor I propose an informal gardening would decide upon its style of farming. and the state’s new poet laureate, is a survey of Fellowship members, a project Would there be meticulous row-crop collection of essays about gardening. to start slowly on an experimental scale gardening or messy permaculture beds, In the first essay, “General Advice,” this year. Then a year from now — after advanced efforts put into layered beds originally published in 1908, L.H. that reduce the need for weeding or Bailey* writes, “Every family can have * Liberty Hyde Bailey (1858-1954) is credited with Herculean efforts to pull weeds as the being instrumental in starting agricultural Extension a garden. If there is not a foot of land, services, the 4-H movement, the nature-study season progresses? there are porches or windows. Wherever movement, parcel post, and rural electrification. He Oh, yes, there would decisions there is sunlight, plants may be made to was considered the father of rural sociology and rural grow; and one plant in a tin can may be journalism. (From Wikipedia) Continued next page April 2009 Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Ames Page
A Green Effort Recycle your cell phones ...... to provide lasting solutions for poverty and climate change.
That’s what printed on the front of a new box in the Fireside Room. The white box with green, purple, and black print features a handy slot where you can donate cell phones and personal digital assistants, or PDAs. This program is jointly sponsored by the Good Deed Foundation (www.GoodDeedFoundation.org) and the Women’s Funding Network (www.wenet.org).
How It Works Roughly 60 percent of used cell phones sent in can be refurbished and resold. These cell phones generate the greatest amount of revenue to help lift women and families out of poverty and provide lasting solutions to climate change. Another portion of the recycled phones are programmed to dial only 911 and donated to domestic violence survivors, elders and low-income people at risk for use in emergencies. The remaining cell phones are recycled according to EPA standards.
Why It Is Important A staggering 70 percent of people in poverty globally are women and children. In the United States, 14.6 million women and nearly 13 million children are living below the poverty line — equal to the combined populations of Iowa, Indiana and Wisconsin. Recycling 1 million cell phones reduces greenhouse-gas emissions equal to taking 1,368 cars off the road for a year. (www.womensfundingnetwork.org/take-action/recycle)
Contact Chris White for more information.
Continued from previous page homeless shelter, brought to a sharing — be they emotional, spiritual, social, table in the Fireside Room on a Sunday or political — that emerge from such about rabbits — whether to swear at morning, preserved for UUFA soup engagement and help fortify us to face them and threaten to get out the pellet lunches, or sold to a make a dime or the extraordinary challenges of this era. gun or simply greet and let them be two? And the big question will be: Who And, just maybe, what we do will be (while erecting fences). There will be is responsible for the bounty of unused symbolic with a ripple effect beyond our the rub of how to share the input costs, zucchini! congregation. work ethics, job and vacation schedules, The new garden at the White House If you are interested in becoming standards for cleaning the shovels, rakes, is more than a source of fresh vegetables part of a Fellowship gardening circle and other tools. Will there be one queen for Barack, Michelle, Malia, Sasha, and/or have ideas about the project and/ bee and several worker bees? Michelle’s mother, and their guests. It is or want to help organize it, please call Will someone who can’t physically an iconic project. The Victory Gardens or e-mail Helen, or visit the gardening engage in gardening be a welcome of the 1940s provided more than table on Sunday mornings in the member of the circle and benefit simply food for ordinary families. Those Fireside Room. You may also contact from being in a garden setting and gardens, too, were iconic — practical the Executive Leadership Team or the connecting with other gardeners? but a way to be grounded with limited Environmental Committee. Maybe that person could read the resources in the face of great challenges. This is the first of a two-part instructions from the back of the seed The success of our UU gardening column. The second will focus more packet or serve lemonade or iced tea. project will not be merely a matter on how to be a patron of the local-food How will the circle share its produce: of the food and deepened friendships movement and putting food by for the among members, with friends? Set aside that emerge from our garden plots and winter months. Look for it in the June for the Plant-a-Row-for-the-Hungry our care of them. Its value will also lie newsletter. project, used in preparing meals for the in the unexpected, intangible benefits — Helen Gunderson Page 10 Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Ames April 2009 From the president Film honors former UUFA member; annual meeting nears When Erv and I moved to Ames with decided to tell Miya’s story on film. Julien, our young children in 1975 and joined who was born in France, met Miya when the Fellowship, one of the first members she applied to become a coordinator we met was Sonya Rodolfo-Sioson. for his nonprofit organization, which We got to know Sonya through small gives students an opportunity to travel potlucks and learned something of her abroad and experience foreign cultures. story. She had moved to Ames from the Miya excelled at her demanding job and Philippines with her husband, who took impressed Daniel with her dedication. a position in the mathematics department His film,Miya of the Quiet Strength, at Iowa State University. With them were will be shown in Ames on Monday, April their four children. Sonya’s husband died 13. (See the flyer in this newsletter.) The from cancer in 1969, soon after their film will be followed by a Q&A session arrival in Ames; and Sonya raised three with Daniel and with Miya’s mother, sons and a daughter on her own. Sonya Rodolfo-Sioson. For those of you The youngest of her children was who knew the Rodolfo-Siosons from the Miya, born in 1968 in the Philippines but time when they attended the UUFA and raised in Ames. After Sonya finished her for those of you who would like to hear graduate degree in genetics at Iowa State, about Miya’s amazing life, here is your she found it impossible to find a position chance to learn more. in her field and for some time taught at a was paralyzed from the neck down. Her university in Saudi Arabia. But eventually dancing would be no more. Her recovery she returned with her children to Ames. was very difficult. Initially she was Our annual congregational meeting Miya was a beautiful child and a connected to a ventilator and strapped will be at 11 a.m. Sunday, May 3, after beautiful young woman, inside and out. into a head brace with metal pins screwed our single service. Please, please plan to She attended the UUFA. She graduated into her forehead. Sonya was there for her, attend. We have important decisions to from Ames High School in 1986, then of course. make, and we need to make them as a attended college at the University of Iowa, Miya, who was just 24 at the time congregation. where she majored in global studies and of the shooting, did not waste her time Included in this newsletter is Spanish. She danced with a Palestinian on anger. “I try to put my injuries into the agenda, proposed changes to our folk group. She poured herself into perspective,” she said, “If I didn’t think bylaws, and biographical notes from our activities on behalf of the people of El about the people in Central America, I’d candidates for the board, the Nominating Salvador, which she visited for three feel sorry for myself all the time. Now I Committee, and the Endowment summers and where she planned to live feel sorry for myself just half the time,” Acquisition & Disbursement Committee. someday. she once said. Eventually, Miya learned Additionally, for those of you who Then, on Nov. 1, 1991, while she to use a mechanized wheelchair and a really cannot attend, we have included worked her first day as a temporary personal computer controlled by sips and an absentee ballot to vote on the bylaw receptionist-secretary in the academic puffs on a straw. changes, which require a 40 percent affairs office at the University of Iowa, In 1996, Miya and Sonya moved quorum of the membership represented in Miya was shot in a bizarre revenge assault to Berkeley, Calif., the birthplace of the person or via absentee ballot. by a Gang Lu, a graduate physics student disability-rights movement. In Berkeley, Since one of my goals for my from Beijing. Lu, enraged because he she dedicated her life to advancing the year as president has been to make had not received a departmental award, rights of the disabled. Professionally, the administrative functioning of killed three professors in the physics Miya worked with a student-exchange the Fellowship more transparent, I department, the student who had received organization, coordinating the homestays am especially eager that we make the the coveted award, and the associate vice of students from Spain, France, China, recommended changes to the bylaws. president for academic affairs. Then he and Austria. Article XVII is a requisite (according shot himself. On Dec. 3, 2008, Miya lost her to the Federal Communications Miya was the only person who battle with breast cancer. Sonya requested Commission) addition to our bylaws if we survived Lu’s gunfire — she was that anyone wishing to memorialize are to continue to pursue our application apparently shot only because she was in Miya could contribute to Miya’s favorite for a noncommercial, educational radio the office. Ironically, Miya had been safer nonprofit organization, Whirlwind station, a project approved by the Board in violence-wracked El Salvador than in Wheelchair International. of Directors two years ago. Iowa City. As a result of her wound, Miya Independent filmmaker Daniel Julien — Janet Klaas April 2009 Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Ames Page 11 UUFA Congregational Meeting Sunday, May 3, 2009, after the 10 a.m. service I. Presentation of the 2008-2009 annual report
II. Election of candidates [20 percent quorum] These center four A. Board of Directors pages contain B. Nominating Committee materials for the C. Endowment Acquisition & Disbursement Committee annual meeting III. Consideration of Bylaws amendments [40 percent quorum] and can be pulled out for reference. IV. Consideration of 2009-2010 budget [20 percent quorum] V. Adjourn
Slate of candidates Mark Witherspoon Deb Kline President Vice president Board of Directors I have lived in Ames since 1999 and I have been a member of the Mark Witherspoon, president have been a member of the Fellowship Fellowship for 10 years. From 2001 Deb Kline, vice president since 2000. I have served on the to 2004, I worked as the DRE (now Ginny Molgaard, secretary Sunday Morning Program, Personnel, the director of youth and children’s Jim Ranalli, through 2011 Nominating and Stewardship committees; ministries). During that time, I served have taught RE several years; have helped three years on staff for MidWest Steve Martens, through 2011 teach Our Whole Lives; have been a Leadership School, a training ground Nominating Committee mentor in the Coming of Age program; for UU lay leaders, and one year on Tammy Hartmann and have been a member and vice the Prairie Star District’s Volunteer Mary Richards president of the board. In that role, I have Recruitment Committee. My Fellowship Endowment Acquisitions & learned much about the behind-the-scenes involvements have included: Partner Disbursement operations of our Fellowship. I welcome Church, Ministerial Intern, and Campus Rosa Ünal, through 2014 the chance to continue working with the Group committees; Caring Network; board and the congregation as president. Continued next page
Optional Absentee Ballot Annual Congregational Meeting — May 3, 2009 Suggested Changes to the Bylaws, Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Ames As approved by the UUFA Board of Directors on March 11, 2009 You must sign this side and mark your votes on the other side.
Bylaws must be voted either up or down, section-by-section, in their entirety. There can be no wordsmithing at this point. Voting by absentee ballot does not, of course, allow for discussion; but if you cannot attend the May 3 meeting, please send in this absentee ballot by mail or by depositing it in the box at the desk outside the office on the ground floor before May 3. Bylaw revisions call for a 40 percent quorum; the other parts of our agenda only require a 20 percent quorum. The Board voted on March 11 to allow absentee ballots for the bylaw section of the meeting.
Signature: ______Date: ______
Printed name: ______Page 12 Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Ames April 2009 Continued from previous page adult life living and working overseas in on Sunday morning or singing in the Building Your Own Theology facilitating; the field of English language teaching. choir. She considers the Fellowship her RE teaching; Coming of Age mentoring; I served as a Peace Corps volunteer in local extended family, as well as a focus Secret Friends; Fellowship Voices; Namibia in southern Africa and also for religious and philosophical exploration Recorder Group; Blue Moon Players; spent time in South Korea and Sri Lanka and a place to make individual social- Women’s Spirituality; Artistic Dabblers; before moving back to the United States justice efforts magnified as part of a larger and Kinetic Spirits. I look forward to three years ago to start a doctoral program group effort. further serving the Fellowship’s vision in in applied linguistics and technology at an executive-team role on the board. ISU. I met a lovely Portuguese woman Rosa Ünal named Leonor Leandro at a salsa class Endowment Ginny Molgaard in October 2006, and we got engaged I am originally from Mexico, and Secretary about six months later. We were looking my husband Ozer is from Turkey. Our I joined the Fellowship in 1994, for a community in which to start our family came to Ames in 1993. We have shortly after moving to Ames. The UUFA lives together and a family and were lucky two children at Ames High School: Erol has become a very important part of my enough to happen upon the UUFA. We and Esin. We have attended the UUFA life, and I enjoy being involved in many became members in March 2008, and since 2002 and became members in activities. I have been quite active in Brian married us three months later in a fall 2004. I was the treasurer from July Fellowship music life. I have accompanied very windy ceremony at Snus Hill Winery 2006 to June 2008, and I am looking in services for at least once a month for in Madrid. I’ve been teaching RE to forward to serving the Fellowship as a 14 years. I directed Women in the Round third- and fourth-graders for the last year member of the Endowment Acquisition for several years before my voice gave out, and enjoying it a lot. I’m happy to put my & Disbursements Committee. I have and I now direct the Recorder Consort. name forward now to serve the Fellowship participated in multiple activities at the Right now I am enjoying working with in a different capacity. Fellowship, including teaching fourth- first- through fourth-graders who are and fifth-grade RE in 2003, being part of learning to play our Orff instruments. I Mary Richards the group that helped raise funds for the have actively participated in Women of Nominating youth Boston heritage trip in 2005, and Wisdom and the Women’s Sprituality Mary came to Ames and UUFA currently as a member of the Fellowship and Book groups. Wednesdays find me with her husband and three daughters in Voices and the Technology Committee. I dancing with Kinetic Spirits. 1969. Since that time she’s had numerous also have volunteered for several nonprofit Fellowship jobs, including teaching in the organizations in the community, and I Jim Ranalli religious-education program for many am currently a board member at Youth Board years and being UUFA president three and Shelter Services, where I also serve I’m a native of Anaheim, Calif., times. She’s usually been involved in some as chair of the Substance Abuse and although I’ve spent a good chunk of my kind of music, too, such as playing piano Prevention Policy Board.
Absentee Ballot You must sign the other side. Circle YES or NO for each item.
Article III, Section 2 YES NO Article IX, Section 12 (intro before parts A & B)
Article III, Section 3 YES NO YES NO
Article V, Section 5 YES NO Article IX, Section 12, Part A YES NO
Article VI, Section 6 YES NO Article IX, Section 12, Part B YES NO
Article IX, Section 1 YES NO Article XII, Section 1 YES NO
Article IX, Section 3 YES NO Article XVII, Sections 1-4 YES NO
Article IX, Section 11 YES NO April 2009 Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Ames Page 13 Proposed bylaws changes as approved for recommendation by the UUFA Board of Directors on March 11, 2009
New text is indicated in bold, italic type. Eliminated text is indicated by strikethru.
Article III – Membership
Section 2. One becomes a member of the Fellowship by completing the new-member orientation and by signing the membership book, subject to affirmation by the Board of Directors of the Fellowship. Members are entitled to vote and hold office and are encouraged expected to show their support by participation participating in Fellowship activities and by contribution of contributing their time, talent, and money.
Section 3. Any member may resign his/her membership by notifying the Board of Directors in writing. If a member has not been active for a period of twelve months, such member will be notified by mail that his/her membership will end unless written word of the desire to continue membership is received within 45 days. A member who has neither participated in the life of the Fellowship nor contributed services or funds during January 1-December 31 of a given year will be notified by mail that his/her membership has become inactive pending a return to participation.
Article V – Board of Directors
Section 5. The Board is required to meet at least once each month, September August through May June, and at other times as needed.
Article VI – Officers
Section 6. The Executive Leadership Team (ELT) shall consist of the president, vice president, the immediate past president, and the minister. The ELT will develop the Board agenda items and carry out other responsibilities as designated by the Board.
Article IX – Committees
Section 1. There will be a Nominating Committee, Committee on the Ministry, Finance Committee, Religious Education Committee, Membership Committee, Sunday Program Committee, Youth-Adult Committee, Stewardship Committee, Personnel Committee, and two endowment committees. In addition to these committees, a Ministerial Search Committee will be activated in the event of a vacancy in the position of minister. Unless otherwise provided in these Bylaws, these committees and all other committees created by the Board will select their own chairpersons, with approval of the Board. The chairpersons of all committees (or their designees) constitute the Council of Committees.
Section 3. The Committee on Ministry consists of fivefour members, chosen cooperatively by the Board of Directors and the minister. Members serve for three-year, staggered terms and may be reappointed or reselected. When a vacancy occurs, the minister will submit a list of three names to the Board, which will select the new member. The purpose of the Committee on Ministry is to strengthen the quality of ministry by being available to the minister for council, keeping the minister informed of relations between the congregation and minister, assisting in clarifying the role expectations of the minister and congregation member, assisting the minister in creating goals and planning for professional development, and being available to the congregation for input and feedback.promote effective ministry in the congregation and to assist the congregation in understanding and evaluating the nature and scope of the ministry of the Fellowship. The committee counsels the minister on professional development and advocates continuing education plans for the minister to the Board and congregation.
Section 11. The Personnel Committee shall consist of four members, preferably one of whom is also on the Finance Committee. These members shall serve in rotation and shall meet as needed. The committee may elect its own chair, who shall serve for a minimum of one year. The Personnel Committee shall consult the Unitarian Universalist Association fair-compensation guidelines for implementation at the Fellowship; monitor Page 14 Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Ames April 2009 staff job descriptions and compensation, including salary and benefits; and annually review and prepare staff contracts and make salary and other compensation recommendations to the Finance Committee and to the Board of Directors. The committee shall periodically review the Personnel Policy Manual and may suggest to the Board of Directors revisions and/or additions to the manual. Additionally, the Personnel Committee shall assist regular supervisors with staff training and orientation in an advisory capacity; develop, implement, and monitor performance evaluations procedures for all staff; and conduct annual staff reviews.
Section 12. The endowment committees shall consist of the Endowment Acquisitions & Disbursements Committee and the Endowment Fund Investment Committee.
Part A. The five-person Acquisition & Disbursement Committee shall be elected by the membership of the Fellowship. The members of this committee shall be members of the Fellowship, nominated by the Board of Directors or from the floor and elected by the membership at the annual meeting or at a special meeting called in accordance with the Bylaws of the Fellowship. Members serve a five-year, staggered term. Any unexpired vacancy on the committee shall be filled by appointment by the Board of Directors for the remainder of the unexpired term. No more than one member may also be a member of the Board of Directors. None shall be a member of the Endowment Fund Investment Committee. This committee shall solicit, encourage, and promote gifts and bequests from all possible sources and shall make a diligent effort to develop and carry out programs for that purpose. Such solicitation shall not be conducted in competition or conflict with the regular pledge programs of the Fellowship.
Part B. The three-person Endowment Fund Investment Committee shall be appointed by the Board of Directors of the Fellowship. Members shall serve at the pleasure of the Board, and may serve for an indefinite period of time. No more than one member shall also be a member of the Board. This committee shall be responsible for the management, supervision, and investment of all assets of the endowment fund. It shall distribute income and principal as directed by the Acquisitions & Disbursement Committee.
Article XII – Parliamentary Authority
Section 1. The rules contained in 21st Century Robert’s Rules of Order Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised shall govern the Fellowship in all cases to which they are applicable, and in which they are not inconsistent with these bBylaws and any special rules of order the Fellowship may adopt.
Article XVII – Noncommercial Educational Radio Station
Section 1. The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Ames is authorized to serve as the Corporation for a noncommercial educational radio station to provide educational programming plus media access and services. Programs will include, but are not limited to, those concerned with regional history and culture, ecology, sustainable agriculture, education, economy, politics, spiritual life, and social issues ranging from local to international. Programs of significant general interest will also be considered.
Section 2. The Corporation is authorized to apply for, license and operate one or more noncommercial, educational broadcast stations, serve and fully qualify as a “public telecommunications entity” within the intent of 47 U.S.C. Section 397 (12).
Section 3. The Corporation at all times shall maintain “local diversity of ownership” as defined in Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Rules and Regulations, Section 73.7003 (b) (2). At no time shall the Board, any parent or subsidiary entity, any voting member, officer or director of the Board have an attributable interest in another radio station, including any license, construction permit or debt or equity position, if the principal community contour of such station would overlap in any part with the principal community contour of a new noncommercial radio station for which the Corporation files an FCC application for construction permit.
Section 4. The Corporation shall maintain a permanent headquarters within 25 miles of Story City, Iowa, and composition of the Corporation Board shall be maintained at all times with the characteristics necessary to qualify it as an “established local entity” under Rules and Regulations of the FCC, Section 73.7003 (b) (1), 47 C.F.R. Section 73.7003 (b) (1). April 2009 Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Ames Page 15 From the Stewardship Committee co-chair Next year’s financial picture gaining clarity, still a little fuzzy All kinds of things are happening on year and next. So we might meet the goal congregation has final authority to the UUFA’s financial front. this year, we might not. approve the budget. With two months gone by in the So what do we do now? To do all this, we need as much annual and capital campaigns, we’re a We be realistic. We be transparent information as possible. And that means little more than two-thirds of the way about the budget process. We be we need to know the intentions of as toward our annual goal of $300,000 and responsible in our decision-making. We many members as possible. about 80 percent of our way toward our start thinking with those wonderfully If you haven’t pledged, please turn capital campaign goal of $150,000. creative minds that UUFA members are in your pledges as soon as possible. Or That sounds good. But if last year’s known for. And we do what we can. let me or Lynne Van Valin, Stewardship financial figures are any indication, and So I want to explain the UUFA co-chairs, know where you are as far as if those who haven’t pledged pledge budget process. First, the Stewardship making a financial decision. the same amount as last year, we’ll end Committee and, this year, the Capital If you who haven’t received your up about $24,000 short of our annual Campaign Committee estimate needs pledge packets, please let us know so we campaign goal. The capital figures look and set campaign goals. Stewardship then can make sure you get your information. good, but we have few benchmarks plans the annual pledge drive. For those of you on committees, because our last capital campaign was so The Finance Committee also looks at please be as creative as possible in your different from this one. last year’s budget while gathering requests budget thinking, with an eye toward Now is not the time to give up on from committees. It takes into account efficiency. If you have questions about achieving this year’s goals, but it is time to salaries, the physical plant, and programs, Fellowship finances, just ask. be realistic. The economy is not looking plus longer-term needs. I want to thank each and every one good this year, and we don’t know about The Finance Committee gives the of you for your commitment to our next year. We added a capital campaign board a proposed budget in April. The Fellowship, and I hope each of you finds beyond the annual campaign. Businesses Board then comes up with a budget joy and comfort from your service and are hurting, people are hurting. The UUA proposal to present to the congregation your gifts to our congregation. has lowered its projections for this budget at its annual meeting in May. The — Mark Witherspoon March board highlights
S The board affirmed the membership of 24 new members who joined the Fellowship on Nov. 9 and March 8. Regarding membership, the board approved recommending to the congregation suggested changes to the bylaws, Article III — Membership, Section 2, pertaining to participation in and completion of orientation, as well as Section 3, pertaining to membership status becoming inactive. S The board approved other suggested changes to the bylaws regarding Board of Director meetings, the Executive Leadership Team, the Committee on Ministry, the Personnel Committee, the two Endowment committees, a new parliamentary authority, and the noncommercial educational radio station. All suggested changes to the bylaws will be put before the congregation to be voted up or down at the May 2009 annual meeting. S The board agreed to appoint a Green Sanctuary Steering Committee to be composed of representatives from all key elements of the Fellowship, who will coordinate and complete the UUFA’s application to the Unitarian Universalist Association for Green Sanctuary accreditation, the projects of which would be accomplished by June 2010. S The Building & Grounds Committee confirmed that the gutters are OK at this time and that, currently, it would take about $35,000 to redo the roof. The committee is getting estimates for the cost of removing the cottonwood tree along Hyland Avenue in preparation for moving the house and expanding the parking lot. S Erv Klaas, Janet Klaas, Mary Richards, Lynne Van Valin, Rich Van Valin, and Sam Wormley will be attending the Prairie Star District’s annual meeting as our nonministerial delegates. S The Social Justice Committee needs members. Please contact Greta Anderson to get involved. Complete minutes for the March board meeting will be available on the UUFA Web site after they have been approved by the board. The next board meeting is April 8, and Fellowship members are always welcome to attend. — Faith Winchester, secretary Page 16 Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Ames April 2009 Social Responsibility & AMOS April’s offering split recipient: Group to explore ideas Squaw Creek Watershed Coalition for social-justice action In honor of Earth Day, the recipient of April’s collection split is a local Want to spend $7,000? environmental organization highly recommended by Erv Klaas: the Squaw The Social Justice Committee is Creek Watershed Coalition. forming at the UUFA, and it has no The mission of this all-volunteer organization is to “provide leadership small task ahead of it: Figure out how in protecting and improving the environmental health of Squaw Creek to spend $7,000 for social justice on the watershed by involving urban congregation’s behalf. and rural residents in raising Water access and quality This sum comes from the bequest that public awareness and promoting is a key social justice issue educational programs and made our acquisition of the south property worldwide, and one of activities.” This includes efforts possible, and, one board member said, is a such as planting willow trees to the primary issues the nod to the kismet that brought that money improve the quality of our water, Unitarian Universalist to us when we most needed it. “Let’s give trash cleanup along stream beds, Service Committee works something back” is the idea. and advocating for legislation on. Regarding this broader Through the spring, the group will and local “best practices,” as well picture, the Skunk Creek devise a process by which ideas for as its main activity: monitoring Watershed Coalition’s Web this money can be solicited, evaluated, water contaminants. Every month, site recommends the 2008 developed, and presented to the coalition volunteers trained by award-winning documentary congregation. In addition, we will discuss Department of Natural Resources Flow, available at the Ames other ways the congregation can act on gather and record data on more Public Library. than 30 sites in the Squaw Creek social-justice issues. watershed. Stay tuned for news from the Social According to Erv, funds we collect will be used for a special sampling Justice Committee. If you want to listen in to be conducted in May. Two years ago, the DNR started a twice-a- more closely and share your ideas, we are year, snapshot program in which groups around the state coordinate likely to form a listserv. Better yet, attend a their sampling on the same dates, usually in May and October, and meeting, and get involved! send their samples to the state lab in Iowa City for analysis. Laboratory Meetings this month are set for 6 to analysis is more precise and consistent, improving the credibility of the 7:15 p.m. April 8 and 22. data. Because of funding cuts, the state lab cannot afford to conduct these — Greta Anderson analyses any more, and the continuation of the program will depend on the ability of individual water groups to raise funds for the analysis. “We have developed a mentality in this country that streams and March Collections rivers are there to dump our waste in,” Erv said. “Waste comes from both point and nonpoint sources and includes solid waste (old tires, bathtubs, beer cans, etc.), sediment from eroding soils, and chemicals (fertilizers, pesticides, oil, and salts). It can even include thermal pollution from hot- 21 water discharges or runoff from hot concrete parking lots in the summer. The city of Ames discharges treated wastewater into the Skunk River near Cambridge. This is a point source. Nonpoint sources include runoff from agricultural fields, city streets and parking lots through field tiles and + storm sewers. Overloaded septic systems sometimes can be a problem when a septic is connected to a field tile, storm sewer, or even just a road ditch. Monitoring is one way that citizens can find out for themselves how 36 good or bad the water is in our streams.” Visit www.squawcreekwatershed.org for more information. The Web site includes a collection of articles (including Tribune pieces by Erv and Dave Kraemer) that will help you be more informed about our watershed. = — Greta Anderson Each month, half the Sunday offerings not designated as pledge payments are given a big, warm thank you to a local, national, or international organization that serves disadvantaged people and communities or advances other goals. If you have an organization you feel deserves the from ACCESS! Fellowship’s support, please speak with Greta Anderson. April 2009 Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Ames Page 17
Archives corner UUFA architectural history takes a political twist Question: What do our Fellowship, the Oakwood Road Church, the Audubon Society, and George W. Bush have in common? Answer: David Heymann was their architect.
When David Heymann joined Michael Underhill and Laura Miller in the firm hired to design our long-awaited meeting hall in 1989, he had recently finished his Master of Architecture Degree at Harvard after working for I. M. Pei and Partners. That didn’t mean that he and his associates had an easy time meeting our demands. After extensive meetings, they drew up four plans for us, combining a meeting room with some additional space for religious education. All were rejected as being too expensive. (These plans are in the Building and Grounds File in the office — an object lesson in why we’re sometimes lucky when we don’t have enough money to do something.) In the end, we decided, because we had been meeting in the building foyer for 20 years while most of our building was devoted to religious education, that a meeting hall should be our priority and additional RE space could wait. The resulting Fellowship Hall, dedicated in 1992, won a design citation fromProgressive Architecture magazine in 1994. Ironically, David Heymann’s Wikipedia entry confuses this award with a later one for the much larger Oakwood Road Church outside of Ames. From an article you can reach by typing “Oakwood Church architecture” in Google, it is clear that even the online journal Church-Based Education News and BILD International identified the UUFA with Oakwood Road Church. Strange as that seems, its not as strange as two later commissions for David Heymann. After leaving Ames for the University of Texas, Heymann became identified as a leading green architect and was awarded a commission to design the Sabal Palm Audubon Center currently threatened by the border wall along the Mexican border. (Google “Sabal Palm Audubon Center,” and click “border wall update” on the home page.) Ironically, Heymann’s most famous green building was designed for a proponent of that wall, George W. Bush. For details of Prairie Chapel Ranch, also known as “The Western White House,” see the Wikipedia article for “David Heymann architect.” My apologies for the many references to online sources. Space was limited, but the information too interesting to ignore. — Susan Franzen
Afterthought: Since David Heymann is noted for his passive solar designs, maybe we should re-evaluate Fellowship Hall for its passive solar capacity as we seek Green Sanctuary status.
AMOS quiz What’s your score? (answers below)
1. What do the letters AMOS stand for? 2. What is the purpose of AMOS? 3. Who belongs to AMOS? 4. On what topics has AMOS been active in Ames?
If you got a perfect score on this little quiz, maybe you are ready to take a more active role on a team addressing a local problem. The organization’s success depends on people like you! Contact Mary Richards (292-8174), Ginny Huntington (296- 0248), or Kay Puttock (292-4578) And watch for announcements of activities as we prepare for a new round of determining focus topics next fall. — Mary Richards [1. A Mid-Iowa Organizing Strategy; 2. To seek social justice in problem areas determined by local residents; 3. Faith Communities in Ames and Des Moines; 4. Education, environmental concerns, health-care access , immigration] Page 18 Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Ames April 2009 UUFA Committee and Group News Art Exhibitions: Gallery in the Round April 7 Peggy Earnshaw basket for donations for the Coming The Gallery in the Round is April 14 Janie Lohnes of Age youth, who will help with the presenting drawings, prints, and April 21 Helen Gunderson meal, to use toward their Boston trip. sculptures by John Siblik. The exhibit April 28 David DenHaan & If history repeats, there will be plenty is called River Weaver. The willow Carolyn Myers of food, so, if it is inconvenient to branches are woven together, sometimes If you have any questions or would like contribute, don’t fret. Just join us to tied. John would float them down a to sign up for a meal, please contact savor the cuisine and camaraderie. river, but we don’t have a river, so they Chris White ([email protected], 233- Many hands make light work. In are sitting on the lawn. The front piece 2826) Carolyn Myers (cjmyerhaan@ addition, help from the COA youth, has been seeded with grasses as an gmail.com, 451-1794), or David we will need other volunteers for help environmental project. The back piece DenHaan ([email protected]). with such things as setting up tables with the hat has places to hang ribbons Or sign up on the clipboard on Sunday and chairs, supervising the buffet line, or other things anyone might like to let mornings. — Carolyn Myers greeting visitors, providing hospitality, blow in the wind or maybe set sail. A and washing dishes. That means a reception is being planned. Prairie Fire Young Adults Saturday night crew all the way through — Jean Hagert Dow Continuity, a young-adult (18-35) to a late kitchen crew on Sunday to con, is planned for April 24-27 at First relieve others. Caring Network Universalist Church in Minneapolis. We If interested, please contact Helen The Caring Network is hosting will carpool there. If you’re interested, Gunderson or other members of the a Fellowship-wide reflection and contact Jess Higgins or Ruth Appleton. planning group: Peggy Earnshaw, Kay brainstorming session at 7 p.m. Tuesday, — Jess Higgins Puttock, or Nancy Schroeder. Thanks. April 7. If you have caring concerns — Helen Gunderson related to yourself or others, contact English Country Dancing Trish Strah or Brenda Witherspoon, Come learn the English country dances, Flickers Film Group coordinators. circa 1600s to modern. The music dates Flickers will meet at 7 p.m. Tuesdays — Brenda Witherspoon from the same time period: Purcell, April 7 & 21 and May 5 in the Tower Vivaldi, O’Carolan, Morris, etc. No Room. Popcorn and liquid libations are Conscientious Knitters experience or partner necessary. Wear provided. NOTE: Conscientious Knitters will meet comfortable shoes. New dancers are April 7: Shower — A successful on a different date in April.Because our welcome; dances are taught and called. businessman is tricked into visiting his usual Second Sunday meeting time This is so fun. Please try it out. Cecil’s hometown by his mentally handicapped would fall on Easter this month, we’ll Harp will provide live music; musicians brother and, after staying a few days, postpone our get-together for the needle are welcome to join us. Spring dates develops a different perspective on arts until Sunday, April 19, from 4 are 3:30 p.m. first and third Sundays his father’s old-fashioned bathhouse to 5:30 p.m. in the Tower Room. All in Fellowship Hall: March 1 & 29, business; in Mandarin with English knitters, crocheters, embroiderers, etc. and April 5 & 19. If you would like subtitles. are cordially invited. We have several more information, please contact April 21: The Fall — A film stunt projects under way or just waiting for Linda Lieberman (292-8590) or Barbi man in 1920s Los Angeles breaks his you to start, to provide warm clothing Greenlaw (292-5317). back in a fall from a high railroad and warm thoughts to those who need — Barbi Greenlaw bridge. As he recuperates in a nursing both. Or you can work on a project of home operated by priests and nuns, your own while sharing conversation Fellowship Meals Group he befriends a 5-year-old and works and expertise. For more information, The Fellowship is again hosting a through his and her life stories by telling call Mary at 292-8174. spring brunch. It will be a potluck fantastic tales. — Mary Richards that begins at 12:30 p.m. on Easter, May 5: Frost/Nixon, the Original April 12 this year. UUFA members, Watergate Interviews — Newly released Emergency Residence Project friends, and visitors are welcome to on DVD after the theatrical Frost/ The Emergency Residence is needing attend. The Fellowship Meals Fund Nixon, these interviews are recognized people to sign up to provide meals will provide conscientiously raised as one of the great media events of the on Tuesday evenings. Volunteering ham from Audubon County Family 20th century. First broadcast in May for the meals at the shelter is a great Farms and homemade apple butter 1977, they drew the biggest worldwide way to reach out to members of our from local apples. Diners are invited audience for a news interview with 45 community who are in need. No fancy to bring a main dish, side dish, bread, million people watching in the United meal preparation required. Just add a dessert, beverage, or other food to share. States alone. If you missed it then or dash of kindness, and everyone will be There are no reservations nor required greatly appreciative. payments. However, there will be a Continued next page April 2009 Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Ames Page 19
Non-Violent Communication workshop in Ames
TITLE: Compassionate Communication: The Language of the Heart
DATES: 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, April 10, and 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturday, April 11
PARTICIPANTS: Open to all learning levels. Designed for people with no prior experience, as well as those with some background in non-violent communication.
DESCRIPTION: Discover a life-transforming communication practice that builds trust, transforms conflict, and creates harmony in your relationships. In this event, you will learn how to create a quality of connection between yourself and others where everyone’s needs, even in conflict situations, are held with care and compassion — without resorting to punishment, force, manipulation, blame, or other approaches that we end up paying for later.
LOCATION: Collegiate Presbyterian Church, 159 N. Sheldon Ave.
FACILITATOR: Jeff Brown of St. Louis, Certified Trainer with the Center for Nonviolent Communication
SPONSORED and HOSTED BY: Collegiate Presbyterian Church, Beyond Welfare and Jan Cook (708-2021).
COST: *$115 per person. For those who are not able to afford the fee requests after applying the discounts due to their financial situation, a few work-exchange opportunities are available. Contact Jeff ([email protected]) for details.
REGISTRATION and QUESTIONS: Contact Jennifer Warnick ([email protected], 608-554- 2038).
Continued from previous page Skadberg Science Circle or suggestions, contact Jane Johnson ([email protected], 233- were too young or nonexistent to view The Skadberg Science Circle meets the 4976) or Bobbi Warman (rbwarman@ it, here’s your chance. — Janet Klaas second and fourth Tuesdays (October through May) at the home of Susan and ghhome.com, 268-5206). — Jane Johnson Fourth Friday Family (LGBT Social) Fritz Franzen, 1216 Scott Ave. in Ames. As always, the Fourth Friday group On April 14, Fellowship member Steve Women’s Book Group will meet on the — fourth Friday! This Martens, also of PowerFilm Inc., will Our April selection is Gardens of Water month, that’s April 24. Potluck and speak about the solar-power industry, by Alan Drew. This Iowa Writer’s movie generally. Doors open around particularly thin-film, solar-panel Workshop author taught English 6, with meal around 6:30. Open to all technology. All are invited. literature in Turkey and was present for (including ISU students). If bringing — Fritz Franzen & Sam Wormley the devastating earthquake in 1999. His food isn’t convenient, just show up Small Potlucks story revolves around his experiences — plenty of ways to help with setup in the country and the cultural insights and cleanup to contribute! No charge, The Small Potlucks have concluded he gained living and working there. It just a way for the community to get for this spring. About 48 potlucks explores resilience, family connection, together for non-bar social time. All have been held since fall, with 6-12 cultural differences, and a Romeo-and- LGBTQQ and allies welcome. We’ve people attending each one. Potlucks will resume in September. A different Juliet-type love story. been having very good attendance with May 4, 1421: The Year China Discovered 35-40 people, so join us! — Joel Geske registration form for the 2009-2010 potlucks will be available in July/ America, by Gavin Menzies Mindfulness & Meditation August. Each participating household June 1, People of the Book, by Geraldine The M&M group continues to meet is asked to complete a new form, as a Brooks. regularly on Sundays from 6 to 7 p.m. different database will be developed. This group welcomes members. We are reading Genuine Happiness Many people indicated that they Please join us at 7 p.m. Monday, April by the Dalai Lama. Beginning and enjoyed the potlucks and consider 6. We have a wonderful time! Any experienced meditators welcome! this an excellent way to get better questions, please e-mail me or call (292- — Joel Geske acquainted in the Fellowship. Any ideas 5317). — Barbi Greenlaw Page 20 Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Ames April 2009 New members who joined in March From the minister Continued from Page 1 Kelly Cheney-Thornbrugh Kelly lives with her partner, Anthony Jeffries, at 112 S. Hyland, No. 4, in Ames. By spring break, I’d completed She enjoys Scrabble, games, movies, GLBT issues, and anthropology. my second evaluation with the seminary group and prepared the Andy and Christine Denison final draft of my doctoral paper Andy and Christine have a daughter, Ana (8), and have a son due April 1. for my faculty committee. The They live at 5405 Thackeray Drive in Ames. When Christine is not working as an committee and I will meet by phone accounting professor at Iowa State, she enjoys singing, Legos, crocheting, puzzles, April 23. If everything goes well with and crafts. Andy is a middle school science teacher. His hobbies are archery, disc golf, that meeting and the committee cooking, and video games. recommends me for graduation, I Sue Fairbanks will present my project to the faculty Sue lives with her daughter, Katie (6), at 1401 Jefferson St. in Ames. She is an and student body in Chicago on associate professor at Iowa State. Sue and Katie enjoy hiking, fishing, and camping, May 16 and graduate the next day. as well as baking, crafts, and theater. Along with the major component of my sabbatical, I Dave and Rilla (Marilla) Fox also had the opportunity to visit Dave and Rilla live at 2236 Ironwood Court in Ames. Rilla is a retired the congregation where I interned, psychologist. They have two married sons and two grandsons. Rilla’s hobbies include the Unitarian Universalist Church reading, studying Buddhism, writing, and snorkeling. Dave enjoys working for of White Bear Lake, and the Habitat for Humanity, Water for People, Golf, ISU sports, and reading. Unitarian Universalist Church of Miami. Speaking at both of these David Heart congregations was a lot of fun. David lives at 918 S. Dakota Ave. in Ames. He first attended the Fellowship in We were able to travel to Florida, the 1950s. He has always wanted to be part of a community such as the Fellowship. in part, because of an invitation He is a Goodwill coach. His hobbies are writing, jogging, reading, and hiking. from UUFA members Mark Kassis Emily Kapler and Terry Lowman, and the fact that Lisa had a conference scheduled Emily lives at Westbrook Terrace Apartments in Ames. Her family is Jeanne, Les, there. and Anne Kapler, as well as Ryan Taylor. She is an ISU graduate student and research Spring break found our family assistant. Her interests are plants, gaming, arts and crafts, and mysticism. in State College, Pennsylvania, on Coleen Nutty a college visit and a chance to catch Coleen, who is retired, lives at 2410 Hamilton Drive in Ames. Her husband is up with former UUFA members Sue deceased. She has three grown sons. Archaeology, bridge, art, and reading are her Haug, Shaun Keister, and Walter hobbies. Allen. Everyone was doing well and offered their greetings to the folks Claire Porter back in Ames. Home for Claire is 1105 Brookridge Ave. in Ames, with her husband, Stephen, As I’m reconnecting with the and children, Grace and Nicholas. She is an education administrator. Eating, Fellowship, please don’t hesitate to cooking, art history, tennis, and theater are her hobbies. give me a call. My office hours will be sketchy, as I’m trying to do a Bonnie Samuel number of visits and have several off- Bonnie lives in Somerset Village in Ames. She is a fiber artisan. Her hobbies are site meetings. That said, I will most art, genealogy, and history. reliably be in the office Tuesday, Melissa Thompson Wednesday, and Thursday mornings, Melissa lives south of Ames on an acreage with her husband, Eric. She works for with my door open and welcoming Mary Greeley Homeward as a nurse. Her interests are caring for the elderly, yoga, any interruptions! belly dancing, cooking, gardening, crafts, and her many animals. Thanks again for allowing me this opportunity to finish my Tracey Yates doctoral project. I hope that the th Tracey lives at 2244 120 St. in Story City with her husband, Ron, and benefits to me will be apparent to all children, Roland and Dorian. She works for Siemens PLM Software. During her free of you, as well. time she enjoys writing, her family, belly dancing, and horseback riding. — Brian April 2009 Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Ames Page 21 District & National UU News Ride-sharing to district conference in Duluth still possible
Sam Wormley is coordinating carpooling for the trek up and back from Ames to Duluth to Ames. More than 300 people are already signed up to attend the Prairie Star District Annual Conference and Meeting April 3-5, including 17 from our congregation. Don’t forget Linda Barnes and Mark Runquist are the keynote speakers, Brian is the piper for the banner parade, and singer/songwriter Peter Mayer is giving/singing the Arthur M Judy Lecture. My, what a fine conference, titledOur Blue Boat Home: Living the Seventh Principle, this is turning out to be! For more information, please see www.psduua.org/AnnualConference/AnnualConference. Live Streaming on Internet If you can’t attend the annual conference in person, we are planning to stream some events live on the Internet. We are using technology that hasn’t been perfected and are not sure how well it will work. We invite you to join us in this experiment. Events scheduled for live streaming:
Keynote Address: Linda Barnes and Mark Runquist, 7:45 to 9 p.m. Friday, April 3 Judy Memorial Lecture: Peter Mayer, 9 to 10:15 a.m. Saturday, April 4 UUA Presidential Candidates Forum: 1:30 to 2:45 p.m. Saturday, April 4
Go to www.ustream.tv/channel/psduua to see and hear these events. Note the times listed on the online schedule are Pacific Time. Central Time is two hours later. When a broadcast is in progress, you won’t need to do anything once you are at that Web site; the video will start automatically. These events will also be available for playback, and we hope to have higher- quality versions several days later on the PSD Web site, www.psduua.org. For more information about these events, see www.psduua.org/AnnualConference2009/ConferenceHighlights and www. psduua.org/AnnualConference2009/PresidentialForum
Now Online: Listen to the latest UUWorld
You can now listen to UUWorld in your home, in your car, or wherever you are. Audio recordings of the articles in the latest UU World are now available. You can hear Dick Hill, a UU and a professional audio-book reader who has won Golden Voice awards, read articles from the spring issue at www.uuworld.org/issues/audiorecordingsspring2009.shtml?n The recordings can be listened to in most browsers or downloaded to your computer for playback using an mp3 player. The audio version ofUUWorld is produced in cooperation with the UUA Office of Accessibility Concerns. Please drop a note to the UUWorld staff if you appreciate this resource.
Multigenerational Camp StarTrail accepting registrations for summer If you’re already dreaming about the you’d prefer to sit in a rocking chair and Photos of the camp are available warm, sunny days of summer, we invite read a good book, you’ll enjoy the quiet on the Prairie Star District Web site, you to consider attending a UU camp. of the woods, A PowerPoint www.psduua.org/CampStarTrail/ Camp StarTrail will be held lake, and sky. presentation about CampStarTrail. Aug. 2-7 near Omaha. Join us for a Costs are the camp is available We’re renting a Lutheran camp for multigenerational camp that celebrates comparable for checkout on CD the week. There’s a swimming pool, a and explores Unitarian Universalism to attending in the UUFA office. small lake for canoes and paddle boats, in the beautiful rolling hills of the Camp Unistar and excellent food. Platte River Valley. From the morning and much less than a trip to the Grand Registration will be open in celebration through the workshops, Canyon or Yellowstone. Additional February. Watch the District’s Web site evening vespers, and campfires, there options will include challenging ropes for more information. will be fun and good conversation. If courses or trips to nearby museums. — Nancy Heege, PSD executive Page 22 Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Ames April 2009
mother, Sonya April 2009 Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Ames Page 23 Poverty simulation April 30
If you could only walk a mile in my shoes … We cross paths every day with people who live in poverty. For some, the wear and tear is obvious; for others, it is a silent struggle. Find out what it would be like to be in their shoes.
We live in the nation’s breadbasket, yet Ames and Story County have a growing number of “invisible residents” who are food-insecure or live on the edge of poverty. At least 14 food pantries operate in Story County, including the Bethesda Community Food Pantry that distributes about 10 tons of emergency food each month to more than 400 families.
The Bethesda Community Food Pantry is hosting a poverty simulation on Thursday, April 30, in the Commons of Bethesda Lutheran Church, 1517 Northwestern Ave., in Ames. The simulation is designed to help us understand what it might be like to survive from month to month on a limited income.
The simulation was developed in Missouri and has been presented by Iowa State University more than 50 times since 1995. Evaluations show the simulation to be a powerful and heart-changing experience. The April 30 event will be the first time in several years that the simulation has been open to the generalAmes community.
A light meal of sandwiches will be served at 5:30 p.m.; the simulation will begin around 6 p.m.
Space is limited, so register as soon as possible. You can register by email to [email protected] or mail a registration form from the brochures in the church office. Call 232-6188 if you have any questions.
Partners with the food pantry in the poverty simulation include the AMOS Economic Justice Team and its supporting congregations: Bethesda Lutheran Church, Collegiate United Methodist Church, First Christian Church, St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Ames, and United Church of Christ Congregational. Other organizations supporting the event are Food At First, the Volunteer Center of Story County and United Way of Story County. Iowa State University Extension will facilitate the activity.
Perhaps the best reason to consider attending this event comes from past participants. Here’s a sample:
“I know there is a growing number of students in Ames in poverty. I know it’s hard, but today I saw how overwhelming it can really be.”
“I learned how difficult every week can be just to get by and that sometimes all the cards seem to be stacked against you. I learned to step back and not immediately judge people.”
“I learned how stressful and hopeless those in poverty must seem. I now have a better understanding of the difficult choices those families must make each day.” Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Ames Nonprofit Org. 1015 N. Hyland Ave. Address Service U.S. Postage Ames, IA 50014-4005 Requested Paid Permit No. 257 Phone: 515-292-5960 Ames, IA 50010 E-mail: [email protected] Web site: www.uufames.org April 2009
Our Mission We are a diverse community of caring individuals who come together to provide an environment that nurtures and educates our children, stimulates the study and practice of ethical and liberal religious ideals, supports the creative spirit in us all, and demonstrates concern for the environment and the broader community.
Minister: the Rev. Brian Eslinger ...... [email protected] – 515-292-8929 Director of Youth and Children’s Ministries: Lori Allen ...... [email protected] – 515-292-5960 Music Coordinator: Paul Ferrone...... [email protected] – 515-292-5960 Campus Group Coordinator: Karen Aderhold...... [email protected] – 515-292-5960 Office Administrator: Mary Reilly ...... [email protected] – 515-292-5960
Officers of the Board Board Members President Janet Klaas Joanne Barnes through 2010 Vice president Mark Witherspoon Fritz Franzen through 2009 Past president Dallas Thies Joel Geske through 2009 Secretary Faith Winchester Mark Harris through 2010 Treasurer Fritz Keinert Amy Slagell through 2009 Mimi Wagner through 2010 Next Board Meeting: Alex Askew youth representative 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 8 The UUFA office is generally open 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. weekdays, as well as during Sunday services.