Jan-04
From Our Minister:
The Board of Trustees of the Unitarian Universalist Association has asked meto serve on a UUA funding panel, the Fund for Unitarian Universalism. I acceptedtheir invitation and will serve a two-year term, beginning this month.
The Fund for Unitarian Universalism is one of four panels that award fundsprovided by the UnitarianUniversalist Veatch Program at Shelter Rock, a generous UU benefactor. It makesgrants to strengthen UU institutions and community life. It distributes about$300,000 a year.
I am looking forward to reading proposals and learning what projects otherUnitarian Universalist congregations and groups are undertaking. The panel meetsin Boston twice a year and does some business at General Assembly, so I willalso be doing my part to strengthen our ties to our larger community. I am honoredto serve the larger UUA in this way and expectthat we will all benefit from my appointment.
-- Judith Meyer
Featured Articles:
Board Discusses Its Decision Regarding Morgan Bequest
There was a long discussion at the December board meeting about the use ofthe $480,000 Earl Morgan bequest recently left to the church, with Pat McGuireand Kathy Cook in attendance. See Pat’s letter in the November newsletterfor the points he made in urging that a portion of the money be given to aid“the poor, the environment, world peace.” Kathy Cook discussed thedecision process, saying an attempt should have been made to get congregationalinput on the disposition before a decision was made. She expressed concern thatthe board had rushed the decision and the only information about it was in theOctober board report in the November issue.
For purposes of discussion, Warren Mathews moved that a special meeting ofthe congregation be called to consider any proposals members may make for thedisposition of the funds. The motion was defeated unanimously, with with a boarddecision, and the board does not elect to reverse itself, the bylaws-approvedmethod of redress is by petition. It would be an error for the board to calla congregational meeting to question its own decision, but use of the petitionprocess is encouraged. The major argument in favor of the special meeting isthat it would be non-confrontational for the board to take the lead in settingit, as a petition- forced meeting might be perceived as confrontational.
The board had not considered the allocation of the bequest to be controversialso as to require a congregational meeting.
The congregation had approved the building program, and without the Morganbequest could not fully complete it. Redoing the sanctuary would have had tobe delayed. The congregation has clearly indicated in earlier meetings thatthe sanctuary is an important part of the building program. In addition, thenew building can contribute to the larger community by offering space to nonprofitorganizations. The board reasoned that it had been elected to make decisionssuch as this and it followed the bylaws in the process of making it. The bylawscommittee will consider a new provision on how to deal with future bequests.
With a Gift Annuity You Can Do Well by Doing Good
“You don’t have to be rich to give, only caring.” —Anonymous
“Enduring Gift” sure sounds like a very long time. The purposeof an enduring gift is to advance our efforts above and beyond the support receivedthrough the annual pledges. There are numerous ways to give your support toa Unitarian Universalist future. You may give through a cash gift, a will orbequest, a trust, a memorial gift, life insurance, an IRA or other retirementfund designation, or a gift annuity.
What is a gift annuity? It is a purchase of a tax-preferred financial instrument,and in exchange you will receive a lifetime guaranteed income. At your death,the remaining portion of the gift is paid to your named charitable beneficiaries.You may designate how your gift will be used. You may choose to have the satisfactionof knowing that you have added to the enduring mission and principles of ourchurch.
Here are the benefits:
• You receive a lifetime, guaranteed fixed dollar amount paid quarterly.A person beginning her or his annuity payment at the age of 70 would currentlyreceive 6.5 %. A 75-year-old person would receive 7.1 %. An 80- year-old personwould receive 8.0 %. You may begin the annuity payments any time you wish.
• Annuity payments are part tax-free, part ordinary income, and partcapital gains income.
• You may claim a one-time, charitable income tax deduction for a percentageof your contribution. Talk to your financial planner about the wisdom of givinga gift annuity to our church.
For further information contact Ron Crane or call the churchoffice at (310) 829-5436.
— Ron Crane, Chair, Planned Giving Committee
News & Announcements:
‘Undy Sunday’ is Coming; Bring Packs of Underwear
A woman taken from an abusive or dangerous situation with her children mustleave with the clothes on her back, and so must her children. A homeless personwho gets access to a shower may have to dress in the underwear that he or shejust removed.
“Undy Sunday” on January 4 and 11 is intended to meet at leastone of the needs of these people: new and clean underwear. Other social servicesgroups provide body soap, toothbrushes, toothpaste, and other toiletries. Thisis an attempt to meet a need that is just as vital to making these people feelthat their needs are valid and respected.
Many garments will be distributed through some agencies for the homeless ofall ages and both sexes, so warmth may also be a consideration for some purchases.The January sales will offer an opportunity to buy much more for the same amountof money. Here is a great chance to serve those less fortunate than we are.
On both January 4 and 11, we will be collecting new, packaged underwear inForbes Hall. Since the people we seek to serve come in all sizes and shapes,the underwear can be in any size for men, women, or children. Tops, bottomsand stockings are needed.
— Gerrie Lambson
The December Food Sort Set New Food Bank Records
Our December 10 Food Sort at the Westside Food Bank was a great success. Themen, women
and children set a new record for any food-sorting group: filling 29 palletswith 16,800 pounds of food,
surpassing last year’s record of filling 11 pallets with 14,400 pounds.The groceries go to 70 local social services
agencies feeding more than 50,000 people every month.
There’s Room for More Dining for Dollars Hosts
The following fellow church folks have felicitously favored us with fascinating,formidable offers for the next Dining for Dollars, bidding for which will beon February 22 and 29:
Nannini/ Bickford
Lisovsky/Goodwin/Wood/Van Ligten
Cranis
Voegtlen/Dietz/Levy
Goetz
Hallinan
Nyquist/Gates
Horan/Losh
Kory
Pulliam
Jain
Arnold/Prichard/Lane
Loran
Lim
Giffen
Kerr
Van den Beemt/McDonald/Ewen/Guidotti
Agate
church choir
Bickel
Chipman
Rendeiro/De Paul
Donahue/Murphy
Foster
Kernochan
Lambson
Mengert
Snyder/Nakajima
David Olson
Paddock/Patch
Poirier
Ward
Hanson
Jung
Levesque
Machnik
Kashmer-Stiebing/Malich/Ring
MacQueen
March/Clark
Nardoni
McGuire
Stone
Trutt
Bamford
Beckett
Berry
Bogart
Bleak/Smith
Bonacich
Boothe
Cadwell
Fels/Crane
Crawford
Wright/Frank
Anderson.
Additional offers are welcomed. Complete details will appear in the Februarynewsletter.
-- With gratitude from the Dining for Dollars Committee:
Helen Burns, Shirlee Frank, Peggy Kharraz, Sue Moore, Sandra Trutt
Building News:
Next Stop for Our Building is the City of Santa Monica
Many of you may have seen recent articles in the local Santa Monica papersabout complaints from local businesses about the slowness of the Santa Monicaplanning department. Well, that’s what we are waiting for and waitingand waiting.But we are making progress and have been told by the planners that we will “probably”get to the planning commission the end of January. The architectural reviewboard will follow.
The planning department continues to find issues we must address as we goalong, the latest being some changes they want in order to preserve the “historic”south façade facing 18th Street. We are continuing to work with the contractorto refine the cost estimates, which is hard to do at such an early stage ofdevelopment of the drawings. But soon we hope to be able to report back to thecongregation some more updated cost information. Ultimately, we will not knowthe exact cost until the final bids are in after completion of the working drawings,which will begin after the project is approved by the planning commission.
We are also starting to plan our presentation to the planning commission.We will let everyone know when that will take place, as we will need to havea good turnout of supporters. Come to the January 25 TownHall meeting for a complete update.
— Barbara Kernochan
Faith in Action News:
How would you like to support the Westside Shelter and Hunger Coalition, ourmajor partner in helping homeless adults, children, and families in our community,and have fun as well? Join our church’s team.
What: “SuperBowl-A-Thon VIII” event
Where: At the AMF Bay Shore Lanes
234 Pico Blvd., Santa Monica
When: Friday afternoon, January 30
How much: $20 each
Faith in Action has endorsed forming one or more five-person teams for theevent. The three available times for groups of five bowlers are: 1 to 2 p.m.or 2:30-3:30 p.m. or 4 to 5 p.m. There is a registration fee of $100 per teamof five bowlers. Please contact Charles Haskell for more information,or to sign up.
From the Archives:
Angie Forbes Found a Minister to Heal a Rift and Gave the First Money forForbes Hall
Everyone at the Unitarian church in Santa Monica called her Angie. She didnot want formality to stand in the way despite her proper appearance and eastcoast money. Angie Forbes was very much a part of the Unitarian Church in SantaMonica, and the social hall where much of our church life happens is named afterher.
Angeline Low Forbes came to Southern California in the 1950s, a widow,leaving her Massachusetts home to be with family that earlier came west. Shebought a house on Bonhill Road, north of Sunset, and sought out the UnitarianChurch in Santa Monica. She came from a Unitarian family and had been marriedto Dr. Roger Forbes, a Unitarian minister.
Angie’s story in the church really begins in the mid-'50s when the churchwas embroiled in controversy brought on by the fear and accusations of the McCarthywitch hunts. California had passed a law requiring a loyalty oath from non-profitorganizations and the church split almost evenly in half regarding the issue.It was a very tense and divisive time in our church’s history. The minister,Howard Matson, Angie, and some 80 other members wanted to get on with churchbusiness and signed the oath. The split in the church widened and Matson resigned.
Seventy members left and formed the West Los Angeles Unitarian church. Thoseremaining, including Angie, picked up the pieces.
A dark cloud hung over the church and many ministers, knowing the tensions,did not want the minister position. Angie Forbes was on the search committeeand in December, when she went to New England to be with family, she also visitedchurches to look for a new minister. One of her visits in January 1956 was tothe Unitarian Church in Albany, NY, where Ernie Pipes was minister. He had servedthere since graduating from Harvard Divinity School in 1952. After the service,Angie invited Ernie to lunch at her fancy hotel restaurant. She explained ingeneral terms the problems facing the Santa Monica church and that the churchneeded a healing ministry.
In August Ernie began his 35-year ministry at our church. After the Pipes familyhad settled in, Angie occasionally invited Ernie and Maggie to her house fordinner. They were served by a maid and enjoyed an Emily Post dining experience.
With a growing congregation in the late 50s (all churches grew during thosecomfortable Eisenhower years, says Ernie) the church needed more room. Angiewas on the building committee and put up the first money, which enabled thechurch to hire an architect and encouraged other contributions.
The construction included tearing down a small, unused parsonage at the westend of the church and tearing out the wall that separated the sanctuary fromthe kitchen and meeting rooms in the north side of the church. The huge beamreplaced the wall and opened up the sanctuary. The two-story addition at thewest end included a social hall, new kitchen, and upstairs classrooms.
Angie Forbes died before the new building was finished in 1960. The congregation,recognizing her contribution, voted to name the social hall Forbes Hall. Theycreated and hung a bronze plaque to honor her. Have you seen it? If so, youhave a picture of the woman who had a very significant role in the history ofour church. If not, see if you can find it. That’s a real
challenge.
— Nels Hanson
Splinters from the Board:
Most of the board meeting was spent discussing the issues surrounding the allocationof the money left to us by Earl Morgan. That issue is covered in this month'sFeatured Articles.
Warren Mathews reported that the church has $1,660,000 of liquid assets includingfunds received from the Morgan fund and the pay-off of the mortgage Judith Meyeris refinancing. Investment Committee Chair Ed Field reported that historicallythe church has invested its liquid assets in either cash or cash-equivalents(e.g. CD’s). He presented the committee’s proposal that we invest$300,000 with a five-year horizon to achieve a somewhat higher yield. Discussioncentered
on the level of risk the board was willing to consider socially conscious investmentsand that risk levels not exceed those described. The motion passed unanimously.
Marie Kashmer-Stiebing read the names of new and resigned members for thepast month. Current membership is 487.
Treasurer Carol Agate reported that many people appreciated the capital campaignindividual pledge status reports that went out this month. She also noted thatinvestment earnings were up in November due to Morgan funds, and that buildingmaintenance costs were running below expectations so far.
Carol Kerr reported that this year’s Christmas appeal will include aprovision that 25% of funds collected would be given to Hollygrove, a shelterfor abused children. This trial follows the positive model experience of theGenerous Congregation Sunday service donations, which has increased overalldonations.
Marie reported that the person who had been breaking into the building hasbeen arrested. She requested the formation of an ad hoc committee to study theproposals for increasing the security of our building. Carol Kerr volunteeredto participate.
S.J. Guidotti reported on the results of a survey about preferences for leadershiptraining. The Nominating Committee has neither the desire nor budget to spearheadthis effort. Carol Agate will look into ways the PSWD can help the congregationto present a workshop at our church.
Andy Stewart announced that Stefanie Etzbach-Dale’s mid-term evaluationwill be conducted in January. All members are invited to provide feedback forthe evaluation by emailing their experiences and perceptions to Andy.
Resolutions to reduce the number of persons authorized as signatories on ourchecking and savings/ investment accounts were approved.
RE News:
From the Desk of the DRE
January.
New beginning, new hope, new year. A time for looking forward, a time formaking plans. How many of us have made New Year’s resolutions?
And how many have made resolutions that we really expect to be able to keep?I gave up that hope a long time ago. My substitute ritual was borrowed fromRobert Fulghum. He wrote that rather than making resolutions for the year tocome, he backdated a list of things he had accomplished in the year as resolutionsfrom the previous January. I liked that suggestion so much that it’s turnedinto a family ritual – on New Year’s Eve, just before midnight,we’ll gather and share with one another our lists of resolutions, datedJanuary 1, 2003. All written in the previous several days. All things we’reproud of ourselves for having achieved.
What began as a joke has evolved into something quite different. No more listsof resolutions destined only to make me feel vaguely guilty at the end of theyear for having failed to realize them. Now, my family and I can celebrate oursuccesses in a way that encourages us to expect to accomplish great things inthe year to come. And that’s the way to begin a year. Why not tinker withtradition? Family rituals are powerful. And let’s not forget our familyof faith: UUCCSM’s New Year’s “RE”solutions, January1, 2003 (Yes, the year’s right – don’t forget to backdate!)
• Continue exploring Way Cool Sunday School philosophy, and create aprogram-wide curriculum resource from the ground up that focuses on the firstUU Principle: the Inherent Worth and Dignity of Every Person.
• Staff the RE program with more than 50 amazing volunteers.
• Engage kids and youth in celebrating “being you and being UU”with monthly Worship and Social Justice Sundays.
• Make Catherine feel welcome as our new DRE.
• Minister to our children and youth by providing meaningful classroomand intergenerational experiences.
• Put on a big, messy, silly, celebratory Holiday Pageant in December,replete with dragons, elephants, unicorns, three special babies, and a passelof Friendly Beasts.
•Spend the year laughing and learning and growing together.
(Add more of your own.)
That’s a 100% success ratio. Congratulations, UUCCSM!
— Catherine Farmer
Head Start Holiday Party Was a Huge Success
Thanks to the generosity of the RE students from UUCCSM and their families,the annual party for the Santa Monica Head Start Preschool for disadvantagedpreschoolers was a great success. Our RE students and their families purchasedtoys that the high school group wrapped. Our families, led by Gretchen Goetz,baked and decorated dozens of elaborate holiday cookies for the preschoolers.They gave each child a book in addition to the toys.
RE Director Catherine Farmer, Dagmar Schnauss, Lyn Armondo, Diana Spears,Marge Zifferblatt, and Marge’s friend Mary Stewart all contributed theirtalents to the party. The UUCCSM volunteers were treated to a charming programof entertainment put on by the Head Start students. The room was made doublyfestive by the giant piñata shaped like Clifford — the Big RedDog — donated by a member of our congregation.
— Marge Zifferblatt