September, 2008 | Vol 26, Issue 2

communicator theTh e Ne w s l e tt e r o f Un i t a r i a n Un i v e r s a l i s t Wo m e n ’s Fe d e r a t i o n September, 2008 | Vol 26, Issue 2

First Cycle of the Telling a New Economic Story: Marjorie Bowens-Wheatley Real Wealth Depends on Caring & Sharing Scholarship Program Begins by Celeste M. Howard “Ministry is what we do Portland, OR together – clergy and the laity. It flows from a group of Oregonians, us- religious conviction that ing the name Real Wealth invites people to become of Portland (RWP), are more of themselves, more A changing the economic story in whole, as we give witness their community. They are put- to a vision of a world ting aside the conventional scarcity transformed by our care.” story of economics—based on – Marjorie Bowens-Wheatley empire, domination and control— January 2005 and taking up the true economic story of abundance, equality and The UU community lost an inspiring spiritual partnership which is so vital for our The original Real Wealth of Portland planning group formed in fall 2007 leader with the death of Rev. Marjorie interconnected web of life. included, from left to right, top row: Hafidha Acuay, Pat Osborn, Kim Bowens-Wheatley in late 2006. Among her Ford, Andrea Drury, Diana Richardson; bottom row: Marcia Meyers, Marty McCall. Since the picture the group has doubled in size. many accomplishments and contributions Inspiration for RWP arose in 2007 were her service on the UUWF board and as at a UUWF-sponsored General Assembly for The Real Wealth of Nations, wrote a study a member of our first Equity and Justice workshop in Portland called “The Caring Rev- guide (later adopted by Eisler as a companion Grants Panel. olution: Turning Economics Right Side Up!” to the book), created their own website www. Riane Eisler, who was receiving the UUWF realwealthpdx.com, and invited Eisler back to Marjorie was also a valued mentor of women Ministry to Women Award that year, talked to Portland in October, 2007, for a forum on real- preparing for our UU ministry, especially the workshop about her latest book, The Real wealth initiatives in the local community. those who identify as women of color, Latina, Wealth of Nations: Creating a Caring Economics. or Hispanic. In keeping with the spirit of this The RWP website headlines its aim “Support- aspect of Marjorie’s work, the new UUWF Portland UU activists had already been primed ing a more caring economy” and sees its efforts scholarship program named in her honor by hearing David Korten talk about “changing as “moving to an economy that fosters social will provide financial support to this same the stories we live by” at the two previous UUA and economic justice and peace.” All econo- population. General Assemblies, under sponsorship of Uni- mies, including our current “market economy,” tarian Universalists for a Just Economic Com- are dependent on life-sustaining, caring In addition to funds UUWF has budgeted munity (UUJEC). They had invited Korten to activities. However, the new economic story for this purpose, the program will also be talk at Portland’s First Unitarian Church about highlights this dependence by its new name, supported by donations made to the UUA his 2005 book, The Great Turning: From Empire “caring economics.” in Marjorie’s memory. We are grateful to her to Earth Community, which he dedicated to husband, Rev. Clyde Grubbs who, when con- Eisler because of her seminal book The Chalice Caring economics rejects money and its deriva- sulted by the UUA about an appropriate use and the Blade, published in 1987. tives (financial wealth, Gross Domestic Prod- for those funds, recommended our new schol- uct, etc.) as the only indicators of wealth and arship program. The first scholarships will be Marcia Meyers, co-chair of UUJEC, saw the success. Caring economics is based on values of awarded early in 2009, with $6,000 allocated powerful connection between Korten’s and a more equal society where human dependence for distribution this initial year. Eisler’s views. She and others realized the many on the earth, on one another, and on care-giv- ways in which Portland and its surrounding ing activities is acknowledged and counted. The A committee consisting of Rev. Danielle Di communities are already shifting to a new eco- health of the earth, of families and households, Bona, Rev. Rosemary Bray McNatt, and Rev. nomic story based on the partnership model. and of children and communities become the Leslie Takahashi Morris will select the scholar- correct indicators for valuable human systems. ship recipients. Applications are available from Supported by the Economic Justice Action the UUWF Office and on at www.uuwf.org. Group of the First Unitarian Church of Port- We need to talk more in value terms about The application deadline is November 1. land they created RWP to recognize, strengthen human care-giving activities and caring for the and celebrate this essential caring economy. environment. When we engage people in Meeting weekly, they organized study groups www.uuwf.org Co n t i n u e d o n Pa g e 5 Thanking Our Contributors We extend a heartfelt “thank you” to all those Bloomfield Hills, MI - Unitarian Alliance, who joined us in support of our mission with Birmingham Unitarian Church Advancing justice Chandler, AZ - Valley UUWF, their generous donations and pledges between Valley UU Church June 1, 2007 through May 31, 2008. Chicago, IL - Women’s Alliance, for women through Third Unitarian Church Susan B. Anthony Circle ($10,000+) College Station, TX - Woman’s Alliance, Edward A. Simmons, Hempstead, NY UU Church of the Brazos Valley education and advocacy Concord, MA - Women’s Parish Association, Jane Addams Circle ($5,000-$9,999) First Parish Linda McAffrey, Glencoe, MO Dedham, MA, Branch General Alliance, UUWF Board of Trustees First Church in Dedham Dorothea Dix Circle ($1,000-$2,499) East Lansing, MI - Women’s Fellowship, Dr. Halene Graves, Sheridan, WY UU Church of Greater Lansing President Mary Ella Holst, New York, NY Eugene, OR - Women’s Alliance, Linda Lu Burciaga, Newburyport, MA Verna Livingston, Port Washington, NY UU Church in Eugene Betty Sanders, Colleyville, TX Manhasset, NY - Women’s Group, [email protected] Nancy W. Van Dyke, Sea Cliff, NY UU Congregation at Shelter Rock Arlington, MA - Alliance of First Parish UU Milwaukee, WI - Womanspirit/Emerson Vice President/Development Minneapolis, MN - Association of Universalist Guild, First Unitarian Society Women, First Universalist Church Catherine Onyemelukwe, Westport, CT Pittsburgh, PA - Women’s Alliance, Santa Fe, NM, Chapter of UUWF - UU First Unitarian Church [email protected] Congregation of Santa Fe Plainfield, NJ - Women’s Alliance, Louisville, KY - Women’s Alliance, First First Unitarian Society Vice President/Communications Unitarian Church Plano, TX - Women’s Alliance, Community UU Church Rev. Marti Keller, Decatur, GA Maria Louise Baldwin Circle ($500-$999) Rancho Palos Verdes, CA - Women’s [email protected] Julia & Arnold Bradburd, Gwynedd, PA Federation, Pacific Unitarian Church Dr. Barbara W. Brown, Glencoe, MO Santa Monica, CA - Women’s Alliance, Treasurer/Clerk Linda Lu Burciaga, Newburyport,MA UU Community Church Donald V. Cavanaugh, Seattle, WA Wayzata, MN - UU Women West, Mary Mercier, Hanson, MA Margaret Corvini, Huntington, NY UU Church of Minnetonka Rev. Marti Keller, Decatur, GA Grants Panel Chair Arleen Kulin, Cambridge, MA Dr. Martha May Eliot Circle ($100-$249) Phyllis C. Rickter, Arlington, MA Luz Bravo-Gleicher, Providence, RI Susan I. Allen, Bellevue, WA Bellevue, WA - Women’s Perspective East Betsy Allis, Minneapolis, MN [email protected] Shore Unitarian Church Suzanne M. Ames, Tulsa, OK Brooklyn, NY - Women’s Alliance, Martha Baron, Greenville, SC First Unitarian Church Nancy Bartlett, Decatur, GA Detroit, MI - Women’s Alliance, Margaret Beck, Grosse Point Farms, MI First UU Church Rev. Eliza Blanchard, Westborough, MA The Communicator is published Honolulu, HI - Honolulu UUWF, Lynda Bluestein, Fairfield, CT by the Unitarian Universalist Women’s First Unitarian Church of Honolulu Luz Bravo-Gleicher, Providence, RI Federation and is distributed to Kansas City, MO – Demeters, All Souls Marina B. Brown, Ann Arbor, MI UU Church Marcia M. Bystrom, Muscle Shoals, AL members and other supporters in Littleton, MA, Branch Alliance, Catherine Carpenter, Arlington, MA the UU community. First Church Unitarian Beth Casebolt, St. Clairsville, OH Madison, WI - UU Alliance, Rev. Barbara Child, Nashville, IN First Unitarian Society Judith J. Clough, Schenectady, NY New York, NY - Women’s Alliance, Helen Lutton Cohen, Lexington, MA UUWF Office Unitarian Church of All Souls Frances Chase Courtsal, Pittsburgh, PA 25 Beacon Street Paramus, NJ - Women’s Alliance, Central Denny & Jerry Davidoff, Norwalk, CT Boston, MA 02108 Unitarian Church Phyllis Fairman, Bloomington, MN Salem, OR - UUWF Group, UU Martha Fay, Savannah, GA Congregation of Salem Carla Feldhamer, Carbondale, IL 617-948-4692 – tel San Diego, CA – UUWF, First UU Church Anna M Forbis, Clemson, SC [email protected] – email Schenectady, NY - Women’s Alliance First Joyce A. Gad, Cary, NC Unitarian Society www.uuwf.org – web Sharon Givens, Columbia, SC Stockton, CA - UU Alliance, Patricia Goldhammer, San Diego, CA First UU Church Jean Hellmuth, Carmichael, CA Ellen Spencer Swampscott, MA - UU Women of Greater Janet Holden, Oak Park, IL Executive Administrator Lynn, UU Church of Greater Lynn Linda Hudson, Westport, CT Judith A. Hunt, Petaluma, CA [email protected] Maria Mitchell Circle ()$250-$499 Arlene M. D. Johnson, Tulsa, OK Dr. Doris Hunter, Cambridge, MA Charlotte Jones-Carroll, Chevy Chase, MD Dr. Kirstie Lewis, Bellevue, WA Margaret Joseph, San Antonio, TX Catherine Onyemelukwe, Westport, CT Priscilla Ledbury, Denver, CO Rev. Shirley Ranck, Ph.D., Reno, NV Diane Lombardy, Great Neck, NY Carol J. Shapiro, Roslyn Heights, NY Marj Lynn, Ipswich, MA Rhoda Whitney, Denver, CO Dr. Kevyn Malloy, Washington Crossing, PA Akron, OH - UU Women’s Association, Sandra Manzella, Boston, MA UU Church of Akron Phyllis Marsh, Annapolis, MD

thecommunicator September, 2008 | Vol 26, Issue 2 2 Th e Ne w s l e tt e r o f Un i t a r i a n Un i v e r s a l i s t Wo m e n ’s Fe d e r a t i o n Eva Marx, Hingham, MA Margaret Braxton, Arlington, MA Eleanor Manire-Gatti, Amherst, MA Rosemary Matson, Carmel Valley, CA Joyce Brown, Azle, TX Theresa E. McCormick, Seattle, WA Rachel Maxwell, Mill Creek, WA Louise B. Brown, New York, NY Myrtle McMahan, Fort Worth, TX Kathryn McIntyre, Hamilton, ON Merilys P. Brown, Green Valley, AZ Suzanne McNamara, Pittsford, NY Marilyn Mehr, PhD, New York, NY Jean Burke, Norfolk, MA Kaye S. McSpadden, West Lafayette, IN Linda Melski, Marshfield, WI Lee Burke, Neenali, WI Alexandra Mezey, Newburyport, MA Rev. Alison Miller, Morristown, NJ Ann Butler, North Haven, CT Rev. Betty Jo Middleton, Alexandria, VA Beatrice Miller, Wellesley Hills, MA Susan Hardinge Caravello, Glen Cove, NY Patty Mogk, Grosse Pointe, MI Joan Moore, Nashville, TN Nuala Carpenter, Wayne, PA Jeanne Morrel-Franklin, St. Louis, MO Eugene Navias, Dorchester, MA Megan Casebolt, St. Clairsville, OH Paula Moulton, Kennebunk, ME Louise Noble, La Grange Park, IL Jeanne Casey, Green Valley, AZ Kerry Mueller, Fayetteville, AR Lucy Norton, San Antonio, TX Cathy Chang, Nashville, TN Sue Nichols, New York, NY Janet R. Nortrom, Shorewood, WI Judith Margo Clark, SantaFe, NM Jan Oen, Alamosa, CO Dorothy K. Powers, Atlanta, GA Vidal Clay, Westport, CT Wilma Oksendahl, Kailua, HI Barbara Prairie, Berea, KY Paula Copestick, Bonita Springs, FL Rev. Marcia Olsen, Brookings, OR Janet Prince, New Castle, NH Ruth Counts, West Roxbury, MA Betty L. Ortez, Sunnyvale, CA Patty Raines, Midland, MI Bonnie Craddick, San Leandro, CA Betsey Page, Seattle, WA Pearl Samples, Detroit, MI Betty McGarvie Crowley, Annapolis, MD Rev. Dr. Rebecca Ann Parker, Berkley, CA Ruth M. Shaw, Collinsville, IL Caroline Dillman, Menlo Park, CA Rose Pavlow, Warwick, RI Marcia Joslyn & Peter Sill, Seattle, WA Randy Diner, Albuquerque, NM Helen R. Pickett, Chatham, MA Marjorie Smith, Wilsonville, OR Virginia Dixon, Framingham, MA Edith Pierson, Eliot, ME Ellen Spencer, Brookline, MA Cornelia Do, Long Beach, NY Rev. Betty Pingel, Westminster, CO Dee Stegman, Cincinnati, OH Ellen Doerfer, Walnut Creek, CA Helen Popenoe, Bethesda, MD Lee Sullivan, Stamford, CT Rosemary Donahoe, Kingston, MA Anne Pratt, Framingham, MA Ellen Wehrle, Oak Park, IL Nancy R. Dott, Madison, WI Dorothy Prier, Royal Oak, MI Edwin F. Wilde, Gaffney, SC Melinda Drake, Canton, MI Eula Pritchard, Ephrata, WA Beth Williamson, Bedias, TX Sandra Eckert, Palmyra, PA Dorothy Prunhuber, Manhasset, NY Bellingham, WA - Women’s Alliance, Karen Edwards, Newton, MA Malinda Diane Pryde, Shoreline, WA Unitarian Fellowship Gwendolyn Essinger, Houston, TX Emily Ray, Olympia, WA Bloomington, MN - MVUUF Women’s Ruth D. Estey, Delmar, NY Ruth Reeves, Plandome, NY Group, Minnesota Valley UU Fellowship Elizabeth Fisher, Richmond, CA Rebekah K. Richardson, Nahant, MA Brewster, MA - Women’s Circle Alliance, Sandra Fisher, New York, NY Nancy Rieser, West Kingston, RI First Parish Jane L. Flueckiger, Oxford, OH Mary Rioux, Mystic, CT Chicago, IL - Women of the Castle, Beverly Anderson Forbes, Renton, WA Barbara D. Roberts, Woodbury, CT Beverly Unitarian Church Jewell Ford, Occidental, CA Sandra Lee Sanderson, Pendleton, SC Dallas, TX - Women’s Day Alliance, Joanne Fought, Peoria, IL Cathy Liu Scott, Shoreline, WA First Unitarian Church Diana Fraser, St. Petersburg, FL Evelyn Shepard, Honolulu, HI Denver, CO - Front Range Women’s David Friedman, Rochester, NY Pat Simon, Waltham, MA Spirituality Group Mary Gardner, Marblehead, MA Barbara Simonetti, Brookline, MA Hartford, CT - Unitarian Women’s Alliance, Lois Gilbert, El Sobrante, CA Patricia Skippon, Toronto, ON Unitarian Society of Hartford Margaret F. Goka, Sunnyvale, CA Dorothy Sonn, Stamford, CT Houston, TX - Women’s Alliance, Emerson Drane Gornell, Norcross,GA Marian Stanton, Concord, NH Unitarian Church Margaret Hall, Issaquah, WA Melva Steen, Pueblo, CO Memphis, TN - Women’s Alliance, Barbara Hanneman, Turner, OR Dorothy Stephens, Marblehead, MA First Unitarian Church of the River Sallee Hardy, DeLand, FL Elizabeth G. Stevens, San Diego, CA Minneapolis, MN - The Alliance, Susan M. Haskin, San Diego, CA Carol G. Straughn, Cordova, TN First Unitarian Society Carolyn Hayek, Kirkland, WA Lee Strickholm, Bloomington, IN Womensphere, Ballou Channing District Judith Hishikawa, Paramus, NJ Phyllis Thayer, Kalamazoo, MI Portsmouth, NH - South Church Women’s Linda Holloway, Reston, VA Mary W. Thomson, Little Rock, AR Web, South Church UU of Portsmouth Gwenyth Hooper, Arlington, MA Joan Tobin, Lake Ronkonkoma, NY Rochester, MN - Clara Barton Guild, Rosemary Hostetler, Bellingham, WA Penny Trunnell, San Pedro, CA First UU Church Louise Huddleston, Mitchellville, MD Cynthia Grant Tucker, Cordova, TN Santa Paula, CA - Mary Livermore Society, Mary Ippolito, Mahwah, NJ Justice Waidner, Tulsa, OK UU Church Joyce Irminger, Munster, IN Maralee Waidner, Tulsa, OK Stamford, CT - UU Women of Stamford, Alice Jackson, New York, NY Helen Walther, Ft. Myers, FL UU Society Nancy P. James, Concord, MA Elisabeth Weida, Oakland Gardens, NY Clarise Jefferson, Normal, IL Luan Wells, Racine, WI Other Contributors ($99 and Under) Bonnie Jensen, Santa Barbara, CA Blanche Wentworth, Encino, CA Ellie R. Anderla, Glendale, AZ Carie Johnson, Dennisport, MA Lois Wesener, Milwaukee, WI Rev. Meredith U. Anderson, Orwell, VT Joan S. Johnson, Louisville, KY Barbara Wheeler, Concord, MA Jean Andrews, Dearborn, MI Mary Johnston, Falls Church, VA Rev. Bets Wienecke, Carpinteria, CA Caroline C. Armstrong, Tucson, AZ Elizabeth Keddy, Shirley, MA Sylvia Wince, Dayton, OH Elizabeth Arnold, Wethersfield, CT Joan Kemble, Glastonbury, CT Anita Winchester, Bethlehem, CT Ruth Ashley, Sharon, MA Sandra C. King, Acton, MA Elizabeth Winder, Lansing, MI Dorothy Azouni, Brooklyn, NY Sally Koestler, College Station, TX Clare Shy Winter, Indio, CA Dori Bader, Kansas City, MO Margret Kolbjornsen, Peterborough, NH Leslie Woodward, Dayton, OH Joan S. Beal, Louisville, KY Barbara Starr Langhus, Tulsa, OK Carol Ann Yeaple, S. Yarmouth, MA Sara Beard, Avondale Estates, GA Barbara & Ivar Larsen, Friendswood, TX Nancy S. Young, Honolulu, HI Jeanne Millett Bell, Bernardston, MA Marie Laughlin, Cincinnati, OH Alton, IL - Anna D. Sparks Alliance, Francesca Benson, Princeton, NJ Corinne Le Bovit, Charlottesville, VA First Unitarian Church Sonya Berg, Rociada, NM Stephanie R. Leighton, Foxboro, MA Avon, IL - Federated Church Women, Eugenia Bialek, Providence, RI Donna Loveland, Salem, OR Federated Church John J. Blevins, Kansas City, MO Eleanor Lukazewski, Geneva, IL Orlando, FL - The Alliance, First Unitarian Marianna Bornholdt, Santa Fe, NM Pat Machmeier, Racine, WI Church Ann E. Boynton, Melrose, MA Cheryl MacNeill, St. Petersburg, FL Riverside, CA - Women’s Federation, Bonnie Brae, Santa Monica, CA Barbara J. Maitland, Salem, MA UU Church

September, 2008 | Vol 26, Issue 2 3 The Goals and Promise of the International Convocation of U*U Women by Laura Nagel, Administrator partnerships will grow, offering International Convocation ways for our respective communi- of U*U Women ties to work together.

(Editor’s Note: U*U is the interna- There are already successful pro- tional symbol used to designate the half grams underway in which U*U million Unitarians, Universalists and communities and congregations Unitarian Universalists located around work to enrich women’s lives. By the world in 22 countries.) highlighting elements of their success, we extend the work through- he dedicated planners of out our movement. the International Convocation of New programs make use of telecommunica- T U*U Women is focused on these tion and the Internet to allow individuals The Convocation recently received its third questions: what are the goals of the to have a direct impact. Kiva is one such grant from the UU Funding Program to Convocation, what outcomes do we hope Internet-based tool that allows individuals build an online community for the Con- for and what do we want to accomplish? to make loans for as little as $25, which vocation, including a database of model The answers depend on women attending are channeled to individuals through local, programs and partnerships. This will allow from around the world, speakers and plan- established micro-finance banks. Lenders those unable to travel to the Convocation to ners staying attuned to the issues, and fund- have a direct impact upon individual lives participate. Papers and other materials from raising efforts coming together to ensure by applying techniques developed by Mo- the Convocation will be published online. diverse representation at the Convocation. hammed Yunus, winner of the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize for his ground-breaking work in This online community will extend our A convocation is different from a confer- micro-lending through the Grameen Bank. Global Sisters Groups, small group meet- ence. “Convocation” comes from the Latin, ings planned for the Convocation, to be convocare, meaning to call forth or sum- Women constitute 70% of the world available to all. The database will highlight mon together, and vox, or voice. Unlike a population in extreme poverty, defined by model U*U programs and partnerships conference where the agenda is known, a the United Nations as living on less than $1 around the world. What do we mean by convocation calls forth the collective voice. a day. Women produce 75-90% of global successful programs and partnerships? This food crops, though seldom controlling land is part of what we hope to learn through re- We all ask, “What can I do?” Can we have or resources. Women around the world lack search conducted with the help of Rice Uni- a significant impact on the world? In this basic human rights when they cannot hold versity’s Center for the Study of Women, age, we can fly the globe, Skype friends a job, own land, go to school or vote. They Gender and Sexuality. 8,000 miles away, or send a text message by and their children are at risk. clicking a button, and yet we feel powerless An earlier grant from the UU Funding in the face of world issues and the vast in- The astounding rate at which women die Program was used to develop the Global stitutions that seem to run our lives. At our each year from relatively simple and treat- Literacy Project (GLP), a program helping Convocation, dedicated individuals will fly able complications from childbirth is a U.S. congregations prepare for the Convo- off to connect us with their visions, shape rallying cry. As New York Times columnist cation. It focuses on conditions in America, our world, and inspire us. Nicholas D. Kristof wrote this past June, as well as abroad, and asks participants to “In some African countries, a woman has examine their own culture while striving to more than a 1-in-10 lifetime risk of dying learn about others. in childbirth. If men were dying at such a Join Us! rate for fathering children, the G-8 would This year Southwest UU Women will Join us for the first international gather- be holding emergency summits.” celebrate our 22nd annual gathering. ing of U*U women and progressive Recently I learned that the Northeast women of faith. Convocation participants will learn the District women’s group has just celebrated positive message of the Millennium De- its 100th bi-annual gathering. UU women When: February 26-March 1, 2009 velopment Goals crafted at the turn of this are out there, meeting in district organiza- Where: Houston, Texas century when apocalyptic messages were tions across the country, through the UU Hilton of the Americas everywhere. This assembly, the largest ever Women’s Federation, in UU Women and Registration: $350 (incl. several meals). of world leaders, imparted a message of Religion, in Women’s Alliances and in small Scholarships are available. hope. They determined that eliminating covenant groups in our congregations. We extreme poverty was an achievable goal for need to work together to address the issues Visit www.icuuw.com for scholarship the world community. Convocation plan- facing women. We need to reach out to help applications, the registration form and ners are hopeful that new friendships and other up-to-date information. Co n t i n u e d o n Pa g e 5

September, 2008 | Vol 26, Issue 2 4 Would you like to help bring a UU Women’s Federation presence to a district, local, or congregational meeting? Thanks in part to a $5,000 mini-grant from the Veatch Program of the UU Congregation at Shelter Rock, Manhasset, NY, UUWF will soon have a tool to help you.

The key display elements of “UUWF in a Box” are pictured at left. The table throw is suitable for a standard 6 or 8 foot display table, or even a card table in a pinch. The standing sign is actually retractable: retracted it’s a compact tube, extended it stands on its own.

The kit will also contain: A supply of UUWF Equity and Justice, Margaret Fuller and Member- ship brochures, complete with a three-decked acrylic display holder Recent issues of the Communicator Business cards with contact information for our office & website, with a holder of its own (for people who don’t want to accumulate paper) Grant applications for both UUWF funding programs and for our Marjorie Bowens-Wheatley Scholarship Program

The “Box” comes with a binder containing set-up instructions (including suggested layouts for the display table; a script/talking points for a mini-presentation on UUWF; other background information and an evaluation form). The kit will reach volunteers in a box within a box. The inner container will be equipped with a pre-paid shipping sticker for ease of return.

Also in the works is a tote bag of informational materials on UUWF for meetings with no display area. If you are interested in representing UUWF at a meeting of any size, please contact Ellen Spencer at [email protected] or 617-948-4692.

Real Wealth, Co n t i n u e d f r o m Pa g e 1 such talk, we increase their awareness of our Through its partnership with Riane Eisler’s RWP and its partners continue to develop dependence on nature, on parents, volunteers, Center for Partnership Studies, RWP resources for making the way we think and teachers, first responders – caregivers, paid or developed a set of economic indicators ap- talk about economics reflect our true hu- unpaid – and in so doing, we help to make propriate for the new economic story. Sarah man priorities. All human communities are visible the part of our socioeconomic system Noyes, a Center graduate student interning profoundly dependent on caring and sharing that is now largely unverbalized and invisible. with RWP, collaborated with Alan Rosen- activities, most of which remain unacknowl- RWP has been finding ways to create new blith to develop indicators now available on edged and thus largely invisible. RWP looks economic language that supports partnership the Community Prosper website www.com- forward to sharing its experience and resources and fosters social/environmental responsibil- munityprosper.org. Although these indica- with other communities that want to change ity. One of these ways has been “Community tors were designed for use by businesses and how they tell the economic story. Commons: Ideas into Action,” a series of non-profit organizations in assessing their monthly gatherings facilitated by RWP. own progress toward ecological sustain- ability, community support and employee These gatherings use an “open space” model support, they can also be useful in refram- Convocation Co n t i n u e d f r o m Pa g e 4 to provide a safe, supportive environment for ing our talk about values in a new system of people to share their identities, ideas, hopes caring economics. our sisters whose basic human rights are being and dreams. Interactions have emerged here violated. And we need to act now! that strengthen our common values and RWP has also partnered with Commu- inspire new, creative ways of working together. nity Prosper to develop Community Way, We hope to take action as a Convocation – For example, one attendee made contact an innovative social networking program the first-ever international gathering of U*U with women that she was later able to feature that connects local businesses, charitable women. A 2005 survey of UU congrega- on her local community radio broadcast, organizations, and individuals in a mutually tions published in Faith Communities Today “Worldwide Women’s Day Celebration.” A beneficial three-way partnership. Commu- indicated that the majority (60-80%) of a community farm project advocate connected nity Way helps local businesses attract the congregation’s active participants are female. others with opportunities to share their skills loyalty of people who support charitable What woman power! If we work together is and available time in raising food locally. A organizations, provides those organizations there anything we could not do? Revisioning young woman with a strong background in with a powerful fund-raising tool, and our world to unleash the power of women to community organizing, grant writing, and makes it easy for citizens to support such heal the world and help their families is not international NGOs connected with a local organizations without losing any of their only a laudable goal but I believe an achiev- group focusing on labor rights. buying power. able goal for this Convocation.

thecommunicator September, 2008 | Vol 26, Issue 2 Th e Ne w s l e tt e r o f Un i t a r i a n Un i v e r s a l i s t Wo m e n ’s Fe d e r a t i o n thecommunicator Pr e s o r t e d Th e Ne w s l e tt e r o f Un i t a r i a n Un i v e r s a l i s t Wo m e n ’s Fe d e r a t i o n Fi r s t c l a s s U.S. Po s t a g e 25 Beacon Street, Boston MA 02108 617-948-4692 tel PAID Pe r m i t #1275 Mi l w a u k e e , WI

www.uuwf.org

Advancing justice for women through education and advocacy

Inside This Issue

Telling a New Economic Story: Real Wealth Depends on Caring & Sharing Page 1

First Cycle of the Marjorie Bowens-Wheatley Scholarship Program Begins Page 1

Thanking Our Contributors Page 2

The Goals and Promise of the International Convocation of U*U Women Page 4

UUWF in a Box Page 5

For other late-breaking news, Among the guests at our Leadership Breakfast at this year’ UUA General Assembly were all three of the women who have served as the UUWF Clara Barton Legislative Assistant/Intern for Women’s Issues, a position UUWF visit us online at www.uuwf.org. founded in the UUA’s Washington Office. Pictured (left to right) are UUWF President Linda Lu Burciaga; Meredith Schonfeld-Hicks (2006-07); Kierstin Homblette (2004-06); and Grace Garner, who currently holds the position.