Limited space is stillavailable as UUCCSMmembers and friends head tobeautiful Camp de Benneville Pines, locatedin the San Bernardino Mountains just 100 miles east ofSanta Monica, for a fun-filled and relaxing weekendtogether. This year's annual retreat weekend is June 13through 15.

Singles, couples, and families young and old enjoyclean mountain air, lots of activities, great food and fellowship.Rustic heated cabins are clean and comfortable,with indoor plumbing and hot showers, for "roughingit, gently." Registration for the weekend (generallyunder $150/person with discounts for kids) includestwo nights lodging, meals Friday night through Sundaylunch, and all kinds of activities from archery to canoeing,yoga to mindfulness meditation, dam building tosing-a-longs, adult hot-tubbing and a pool with a lifeguard.Please contact Margot Page, de Benneville WeekendRegistrar, at (310) 821-5169 with any questions.

Do you have a skill or talent to share? We are lookingfor people to lead activities and workshops during theweekend. We would like to provide a variety of workshopsfor all ages and tastes, so please get in touch withus if you plan to attend the weekend and would be willingto lead an activity.

Want to sample the camp experience by DVD? Wehave a limited number of copies of a short film that capturesthe essence of our beloved camp.

Contact Jacki Weber, de Benneville Weekend ProgramDean orAmy Lacombe, Vice-Program Dean, or Margot Page. More information on de Bennevilleis at uucamp.org.

A Big Step Up for Disabled Members and Guests

People with physical disabilities will now find it easierto reach the chancel, thanks to the sturdy aluminumramp we have just purchased. People in wheelchairs ormotorized scooters, or anyone who just can't climbstairs, can now get from the sanctuary floor up to thechancel for choir performances, other music performances,lighting the chalice, or making announcements.

In order to leave passageways in the sanctuaryclear, the ramp is being stored on the floor to the rightof the doors into Forbes Hall. Since it takes two peopleto unfold it and set it up for each use, please notify thechurch office in advance if you will need it. Instructionsfor use will be placed with the ramp.

We've worked on this for a long time, and are gratefulto those who met, measured, discussed, designed,compared, e-mailed, and finally completed this project:Carol Agate, Melinda Ewen, S.J. Guidotti, JoeHardin, Karl Lisovsky, Ren Renshaw, Peggy Rhoads, andSara van Dyck. Pat Parkerton deserves special thanks asthe key, the person who came up with the solution.Church members should be proud that this is anotherstep toward making our services truly welcoming toeveryone.

- Sara van Dyckand members of the Disabilities Subcommittee

Thank You!

Pat Parkerton, who led two town hall meetings on thebuilding program last month. Pat has shown us how tocome together to hear each other's concerns and staytogether to build consensus. Our appreciation goes toher for her leadership skill, for the time she has given toour process, and for her contribution to our buildingprogram.

Guidelines for Sunday Announcements and Flyers and Tables in Forbes

Happily, our congregation isinvolved in many activities,which requires management of our spatial resources,especially on Sunday.

Melinda Ewen, director of administration, pointsout that there is limited space for announcements andflyers in the Sunday morning order of service. To makeit possible for the greatest number of requests for spaceto be met, Melinda often needs to edit text submittedfor announcements. Events held outside the church orby non-UUCCSM organizations can be submitted forthe "Opportunities Outside Our Church" announcementsection, which is e-mailed and posted on bulletinboards, but not printed in the order of service. There isa limit of two flyers (four sides) in each OOS, which mayrestrict flyer use to one time only. Deadline forannouncements and flyers is 8 a.m. every Thursday tooffice@uusm.org.

Melinda and our other office professionals, HollyNguyen and Rima Snyder, also assign floor space fortables and displays in Forbes Hall on Sunday. If youhave need for either publicity or a presence in Forbes,please call the church office staff, who will be pleased toassist you.

Why Attend the May 18 Annual Meeting?

To give your final OK so we can start building.

To elect the people who will appoint the committeeto find our next minister.

To decide where to spend and what to cutfrom next year's budget.

Need more reasons?See our president's column.

"Love, Sex and the Human Condition"

This is the title of a book written by Lex Crane,published just last June. It has been describedas "a penetrating account of the currenthuman condition, and of what it takes to befully alive and engaged today." It guides readersthrough the maze of influences on our livestoward a freedom rarely found. Price $16. Lexwill sign copies of the book after both servicesMarch 2.

Help Wanted

The personnel committee is short one member. Ifyou have some human resources experience - oreven if you don't - and would like to serve thechurch on this committee, please contact S.J.Guidotti.

Hear Ye! Hear Ye! Girl Scout Cookies are Coming

This year, threescouts from threedifferent troops willbe selling Girl ScoutCookies after both serviceson March 2,March 9, andperhaps afterthat.

We sell cooperativelywith the goal of benefitting all three troops,who make 75 cents per box to fund all of their activities:service, camping, and leadership work.

As in past years you may wish to buy cookies:

Each Month...

...the status of the capital campaign and the expenditures to date is posted on the new building bulletin board in the Forbes Hall alcove.

Office Update

We have yet another change to report among thechurch office staff. I regretfully accepted the resignationof Carmen Haley, our previous RE-OfficeAssistant, in December. The silver lining to thatcloud is that Rima Snyder, who is active in ourchoir and Music Committee, has agreed to fill infor that position temporarily, until the PersonnelCommittee can complete a real "search" for thisjob.We are thrilled to have Rima on board!

- Melinda Ewen,Director of Administration

Westside Shelter and HungerCoalition Seeks Support

The Westside Shelter and Hunger Coalitionwould like to ask again for your support of theWestside Winter Shelter Program. As you mayalready know, the Winter Shelter program is a seasonalproject that operates from Decemberthrough March and provides shelter to 310 homelesspeople each night at the West Los Angelesand Culver City Armories. This year EIMAGO (adivision of the Union Rescue Mission) is operatingthe project and has subcontracted with NewDirections, Inc., to provide the evening hot mealand sack lunch distributed each morning. Thisyear we are requesting your assistance in the followingways:

Spend Labor Day weekendat Camp de Benneville Pines

Janet James, director of Camp de Benneville Pines, reports that the groupthat had reserved the camp for Labor Day has cancelled. Therefore, this comingLabor Day weekend will be a district-wide Labor Day Celebration at de Benneville.It will be laid-back, with little programming and much rest, relaxation,and great food. We will probably have some crafts and yoga also. The cost of the weekend (for normalaccommodations) is $150, which is great for a three-day event.

This is not a UUCCSM event, but rather an event hosted by the camp itself, available to the entire district, and opento anyone who would like to attend - UU or not. If you are interested in a relaxing, low-cost, end-of-summer weekendin the mountains, check it out. Also, please pass information about this opportunity to anyone you know who might beinterested. Thanks.