Mar-08
From Our Minister:
We have been so fortunate this year to havethe volunteer services of Marsha Smith,co-chair of the Membership and LeadershipCommittee. Marsha offered to work eighthours a week to support membership development.Now more than half way into her commitmentto us, we've learned that 1) Marsha gives us alot more than eight hours a week; and 2) her efforthas created a strong new foundation that will benefitus for years to come.
Using her formidable computer skills, analyticalmind, and attention to people as well as detail,Marsha has streamlined our membership informationsystem. She has also taken a close look at howto welcome, enroll, and involve newcomers intoour community. We have already begun to implementher ideas.
Marsha has supported popular community-buildingactivities like Courtyard Connections andFriendship Dinners, recruited Greeters and otherkey volunteers, and generated new and updatedmaterial (in print and on our website) about membershipand getting involved in church activities.She and Membership and Leadership co-chair LaurelBleak have taken on the role of hosting ourmonthly Newcomer Orientation gatherings, succeedingOfelia Lachtman after her 14 years of dedicatedservice.
It's amazing how much Marsha has accomplishedalready. We are honored to work withsomeone who has so much to give. I thank her andlook forward to a few more months with our outstandingvolunteer.
- Judith Meyer
From Our President:
Transparency and Building
We plan to start building this summer.
In the interim, information will be cascading over us sothat we can make decisions about what we build. The finaldecision will be made at a Congregational Meeting onMarch 30 after the second service.
The Congregational Concerns Committee is schedulinginformation, question, and input meetings. These meetingswill be on Sunday, March 9, at 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. in theMathews Library.
Announcements will appear regularly in the newsletterand the order of service.
Until it disappears, the bulletin board on the south wallof Forbes Hall will provide announcements, meeting notes,financial data, and current plans. Members of the NewBuilding Committee will be available to answer questionsand take your comments.
You may also join the Board of Directors e-mail list onwhich information passes and discussion ensues. To subscribe,contact Carol Agate.
One part of democracy is the transparency of processand information; the other part is working to be informed.I invite you to do your part: Work to keep yourselfinformed. Informed voting is the foundation of good democraticprocess.
When we unite as a community to achieve a goal, weare a capable and formidable group. Join in now.
With appreciation for what we are and for what we willbecome,
- Ron Crane
Featured Articles:
Dear Editor,After hearing the discussionabout changing our church name onJanuary 20, I realized that I am stillfree to call my "church" by any nameI want.From now on I will tell myfriends and family that I belong tothe UU Congregation in Santa Monicaor that I am going to an activitywith the Unitarian Universalists( Thanks, Katie) of Santa Monica.Oh joy, oh rapture, I'm free.
- Sandra Trutt
M & L Events and Programs
The Membership and Leadership Committee isproud to sponsor these events and programs:
Friendship Dinners - a series of hostedpotlucks in an adult or family format where members,friends or visitors to our church can get to know eachother and our community. Please contact: MarjorieAnnapav or Farrokh Allen.
Courtyard Connections - our friendly socialsafter each service are coming back on Sunday, March16. Join us for an organic continental breakfast after the9 a.m. service, hosted by the Green Committee. Thenafter the 11 a.m. service, Chef Julie Nyquist and herband of happy volunteers will host a lunch. ALL arewelcome. No signups are necessary; just pick up yourticket at the check-in table the morning of the event. Ifyou are visiting us on that day, please come as ourguest.
New Brochures - two new brochures, GettingInvolved and Welcome to the Santa Monica Church, areavailable at the Greeter table in Forbes Hall during coffeehour. Where other informational brochures focuson the broader Unitarian Universalist church, these areall about us locally - who we are, what we do, and howwe share our values through action within the community.Please stop by and pick up your copy and take aminute to chat with us about the many different waysyou can become involved and connected through ourchurch programs.
New Member Reception - our hosted wine andhors d'oeuvres membership reception will be on Friday,April 11, at 7:30 p.m. If you are an existing memberwho wants to be part of welcoming our newest members,please RSVP to Marsha Smith and she will let you know what is needed. Good music,food, and fun await you, and it is a wonderful way toget to know each other better and let our newest membersknow how much it means to us to have them joinour community.
Visitor Name Tags - tired of filling out a nametag every Sunday? We have created name tags for ourcontinuing visitors and they will be at the Greeter tableout front starting in March. If you leave your name tagin the basket at the coffee bar, it will be waiting for youat the Greeter table on your return each Sunday. If youare a continuing visitor and your name tag is not there,please let the Greeters know that you would like a permanentname tag and it will be waiting for you the nextweek when you arrive. And a gentle reminder to ourmembers: it is a very welcoming gesture to wear yourname tag.
Introducing Michael Gober Sunday Sexton
You see Michael around every other Sunday-thecool clothes, the dreadlocks. He's setting up tables andchairs, opening rooms, making sure everything is readyfor church services and meetings. His work is an essentialpart of our Sunday.
You feel the quietness that surrounds him. Thereseems to be a shyness. But you also feel his head maybe somewhere else, like maybe into his music, hearingrhymes, making beats. Music is his love, and he isa DJ, spending a lot of time with music to make ithappen.
When you engage Michael in a discussion abouthis favorite jazzmusicians, orart films, youwill feel, justbelow the surface,the energythat's drivinghim. Talk to himabout his vinyljazz collection,Coltrane andDavis, the jazzband StarkReality, or review films like "Clockwork Orange," "Fearand Loathing in Las Vegas," "Sin City," or "City of God,"and you feel one creative mind exploring the creativeminds of others.
You can also talk with Michael about the creativeenergy he finds in our church, the music programs andthe art wall and the UU mural in our classroom. Or talkabout the energy he finds in Los Angeles and that"slower cities break me down."Say hello to Michael. Welcome him to our churchand when you have time, talk with him about the creativeenergy that flows through our city.
News & Announcements:
"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:
From the Archives:
The Long and Winding Road
As we're settling into the beautifully renovated andrestored cottage next door, we should appreciate thelong and winding road we've traveled so far in ourbuilding program. Keep in mind that focus groupmeetings for a building program took place in 1997,planning for the Capital Campaign began in 2000 andthe initial Capital Campaign of 2002-2004 wasextended to 2005-2007 after the lot next door becameunexpectedly available. After escrow closed on March30, 2004, and UUCCSM became the owner of two contiguouslots, it took a little over three years of planning,obtaining approvals, moving, renovating, and restoringthe cottage before a Certificate of Occupancy wasapproved on November 15, 2007. But taking a longerview, don't forget that before a "For Sale" was plantednext door, building plans for the 17th Street lot - purchasedin 1966 - had been approved by the congregationand the city, and we were about to break ground.And now, Forbes Hall - built in 1960 - is set to berebuilt and expanded beginning next summer withcompletion in late 2009 or early 2010. Thereafter,expanding our sanctuary into a symmetrical space willbe the final step on a long and winding road that's ametaphor for our determination to improve access toand the quality of where we worship, hold meetings,educate our children, and host visitors.
- Rob BrinerUUCCSM historian/archivist
Green Living Committee:
Tree People Events
Tree People has many planting andtree care events every week. They arealso part of Million Trees L.A., joiningthe Department of Recreation andParks to help plant 300,000 trees incity parks over the next several years.Visit www.treepeople.org for moreinformation or call (818) 753-4600.
A tree care event will occur onSaturday, March 15, in downtownL.A. Teams will care for young pinktrumpet trees. To register, contactLisa Sotelo at volunteer@treepeople.org or (818) 623-4879. Let meknow if you want to carpool togetherfrom church.
- Sandra Trutt
Reducing Carbon Emissions by Diet
Lester Brown, in his new book, "Plan B3.0: Mobilizing to Save Civilization,"writes that we can also reduce carbonemissions by moving down thefood chain. The energy used to providethe typical American diet andthat used for personal transportationare roughly equal. A plantbaseddiet requires about onefourthas much energy as a dietrich in red meat. The reduction incarbon emissions in shifting froma red-meat-rich diet to a plantbaseddiet is about the same as thatin shifting from a Chevrolet SuburbanSUV to a Toyota Prius hybrid car.
- Sandra Trutt
Eco Secrets in the Home
We all take actions at home that are good for theenvironment. In asking others to share what thingsthey do at home, I got a surprising variety and numberof useful ways to save energy and water andto have less impact on the world.Here in their own words aresome eco secrets of ourmembers and friends.
"Instead of heatingthe bedroom, I use anelectric mattress pad towarm the bed beforegetting into it at night. Iturn it on for about 20minutes before bedtime,then turn it off when I retire forthe evening. This saves the energy that would beneeded to heat the mostly unused bedroom."
- Catherine Farmer"I keep a pail by the shower tocollect cold water wasted before thewater gets hot. This saved water isused to flush the toilet. In thekitchen, the saved water is takenout to use in the garden."
- Diana Spears"I boycott Kleenex brand tissues asthe company refuses to use any recycledpaper in its products. All their products are madefrom virgin paper. I use 100% recycled tissueinstead."
- Lyndon Hallows"We as a household run no heat at allthroughout any part of the home.Webuild a fire in the room we spend mosttime in and wear whatever extra clothingis necessary to stay warm. Often weare in jackets throughout the night. In thesummer, we keep only the same one roomcooled. In the bedroom, we run ceiling fansduring sleep and keep all windows covered withheavy, heat resistant shades.We are hoping to usemore of Alison Kendall's ideas for future savings."
- Diane Ludowitz"I use L.A. Times plastic covers for garbage going tothe city dump."
- Eleanor Eagan
Janie Spencer sent in these practices:
I wash out resealable plastic bags (except for thoseused to store meat) and hang them to dry on chopsticksin a plant on the window sill above my sink, so that Ican reuse them.
I gave my nearest neighbors a basket to put theircans and bottles in and collect them and takethem to the recycling center alongwith mine. The money goes in apiggy bank and is used for"mad money."
I hang my clothes todry, instead of usingthe dryer.
I buy pre-ownedclothing from re-saleshops.
To avoid using energyto cook, I eat more raw foodsand one-dish meals.
Most important, I use all green householdproducts, which I buy from a wholesaleclub, so they are less expensive than toxic ones.
Leslie Reuter shares:
Close off unused rooms so theyaren't heated.
Keep the house temperature lowand use an Energy-Star-rated space heaterto heat only the room you are in.
Instead of using air conditioning, use afan and open the windows in the eveningwhen it is cooler outside.
When buying something, think: Do Ineed it? Can I buy it used instead of new?Can I buy it with less packaging (buy inbulk)? Can I buy it in a natural materialinstead of a synthetic material? Can I buy aversion that doesn't consume energy (handoperatedcan opener instead of electric)?
Wash clothes in cold water.
Run full loads in the washer and dishwasher.
To the contributors above, thank you for giving us alook into your home and lifestyle and for inspiring uswith these thoughtful, heartfelt actions. More to comenext month.
- Sandra Trutt,Co-Chair, Green Committee
Splinters from the Board:
At the board meeting on February 12, Jacki Weberreported for the Stewardship Drive thatalthough there was the greatest participation inthe pledge drive in years, the dollar amount was notwhat was desired. Factors influencing that were thatthe economy has tightened, people feel tapped out bythe building project, and family instability may lead toreduced pledges. These factors might produce reducedfinancial expectations for next year, especially becausemembership is flat to down, and the economic outlookis not optimistic.
Marsha Smith and Laurel Bleak reported for theMembership and Leadership Committee that muchhas been accomplished to make it possible to follow upwith visitors and to track the follow-up within the computersystem. Documents describing our church andour activities were exhibited including a new "Welcome"document and updated "Getting Involved"booklets. Laurel and Marsha requested that their committeehave official bylaws status. The board referredthe request to the Bylaws and Policies Committee.
Melinda Ewen, Director of Administration,reported a decline in membership since the death ofJames McEmell; the relocation of Alice LeFebvre, JamesFrohna, Diana Kunce, Kyle Ludowitz, and KristenHolmquist; the resignation of Emmy Podunovich andShaee Katapoush; and the lapse of 24 membershipsbecause they made no financial contribution of recordduring 2007. Current membership now stands at 410.
Melinda also presented a new job description for apart-time Administrative Assistant prepared by the PersonnelCommittee. Should the building program moveforward, there will be additional work for the OfficeAssistant, which this provides. The board approved.
The board discussed ways to keep the congregationinformed about the building program. Charles Haskellfollowed up his comments at the February 10 meetingwith a plan to eliminate the classroom building behindthe cottage and expansion of the sanctuary. Opportunitiesfor sharing information with the congregationbefore the Congregational Meeting on March 30 areplanned.
Melinda reported a deficit of about $11,000 in theoperating budget at the end of January. This is only 2%of the total budget.
Rebecca Crawford, chair of the Finance Committee,reported on the internal financial review conductedby Karen Patch, Melanie Sharp, and herself. Thecommittee worked with Melinda to review proceduresin financial management. No irregularities were found,but there is a need for additional volunteer help toassist with counting the money we receive, to createappropriate separation of duties, and to ensure allincome is accounted for.
Ren Renshaw reported for the ad hoc NameChange Committee. There was extensive discussion inthe newsletter and 80 people attended the Town Hall todiscuss the issue. The bylaws require a two-thirds voteto change the name of the church. At the end of themeeting it was evident that such a majority does notexist, so the committee recommends that the issue betabled.
The Rev. Judith Meyer reported that she is taking a21-hour Grief Certificate Training Program on February27 through 29.
Catherine Farmer, Director of Religious Education,announced that we have hired Wendy Wegner as thepre-school teacher for six hours each week.
- Geralyn Lambson
Other UU News & Events:
On Saturday, April 12, the Southern Californiabranch of the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee(UUSC) is holding a forum at Throop MemorialChurch, 300 S. Los Robles Ave., in Pasadena. Issuesinclude globalization, immigration, and poverty.
The keynote speaker is Steve Spanier, ExecutiveDirector of ReclaimDemocracy.org. Other speakersinclude Anabella Trujillo, daughter of YolandaMorales, whose talk "Living in Sanctuary," will be followedby Lucia Munoz, Organizer of Southern CaliforniaUUSC, speaking on "The New SanctuaryMovement," and Rochelle McAdam who will speakon "Bonding Out." Afternoon action workshops willbe with Steve Spanier, Bonding Out representatives,and New Sanctuary Representatives.
The conference will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.with registration at 9:30 a.m. The suggested donationof $20 paid with pre-registration (or $25 at the door)includes a vegetarian lunch for the first 200 registrants.No one will be turned away for lack of funds.
New UU Music Concert
Dana Decker,Director ofContemporaryMusic at theSepulveda UnitarianUniversalistSociety ("TheOnion"), has beenhard at work creatingsome new and exciting music for Unitarian Universalists.Dana is the leader of the church's very successfulSoulful Sunday services. On March 16 you are in fora different treat.
Dana is presenting an entire concert comprised ofhis original music, backed by some of the best musiciansin Los Angeles. His music brings his own love forcontemporary secular music to the UU faith with songswritten in the pop, rock, funk vernacular. It will be awonderful afternoon of inspirational music and a timefor singing, dancing, and joining together in our liberalreligious faith. This is a great opportunity to experiencethe future of contemporary Unitarian Universalistmusic.
Sunday, March 16 at 3 p.m.Sepulveda UU Society (the Onion)9550 Haskell Ave., North Hills, CA, www.valleyonion.org General admission $15; seniors 62+ and students $10;children 12 and under free
RE News:
Our Whole Lives (OWL) Sexuality Education for K-1st Grades
This spring we will be offering the Kindergarten-1stgrade level of our church's comprehensive human sexualityeducation program, Our Whole Lives. OWL is apositive, age-appropriate curriculum whose four primarygoals are: to provide accurate, developmentallyappropriate information; to increase self-esteem andunderstand relationships with and responsibilitiestoward others; to develop interpersonal skills includingcommunication, decision making, and problem solving,and to teach responsibility for personal health andsafety. The OWL Grades K