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Newsletter for August, 2020

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Aug 2020
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Report from UUA GA: We Are the Ones We’ve Been Waiting For!
UUSM MEMBERS ATTEND GA!

 
 
By Haley Paddock
 
As a full-time student during the global pandemic, I hadn’t expected to be able to afford registration to General Assembly (GA). For one reason or another, I haven’t been to GA since 2007, when I attended it in lieu of my high school graduation. Thanks to the support of UU Santa Monica, I was able to apply for and receive a scholarship, and for that I say “Thank you!” As I hope you’ll conclude, I gained a great deal of knowledge and inspiration.
 
This year, the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) had the difficult task of hosting the 59th annual GA completely virtually. The theme of “Rooted, Inspired, and Ready” set the stage for a program that called us to root ourselves in our shared faith, while inspiring us to learn more about how we, both as individuals and collectively as congregations, can prepare for humanity’s hard work ahead.
 
We are living in unprecedented times that have led the world at large to reckon with our true history of colonialism and its lasting effects, in particular on Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) communities.
 
GA’s daily schedule consisted of a morning worship, one or two blocks with choices between 10 workshops, a lecture given by professionals in a given field, specialized worships such as Service of the Living Tradition, opportunities for reflection with other attendees, and some super fun choices on Friday for UU Fun Night! Throughout the five days of amazing programming, I was able to attend 18 sessions. I’d like to share with you those that truly inspired deep introspection for me.
 
The three broad topics that I focused on were: (1) the effect of colonialism on Indigenous populations; (2) Indigenous peoples’ valuable knowledge of our planet and how to sustainably care for it; and (3) the effects of white power/white nationalism and how to be an ally for change in and outside of our congregations.
 
The workshops I attended included Colonialism’s Impact on Palestinians and Indigenous North Americans, presented by Nidal Al-Azraq, Kia Bordner, Dina Gilio-Whitaker and Zainab Ramahi; Settler Colonialism and a History of Erasure and Exclusion, presented by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz; and the Fahs Lecture: Reflecting on Teachings about Indigenous Peoples, presented by Dr. Jean Mendoza and Dr. Natalie Martinez.
 
My biggest take-away from these three presentations was that the story Americans have been taught about the country’s founding strays far from the truth. This makes sense since “history is written by the victors.” Activist, writer, and historian Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz illustrated this point with the revisionist history she lays out so thoroughly in her book “An Indigenous Peoples’ History of the United States,” published by our own Beacon Press in 2014. I highly recommend this book, which my spouse is almost halfway through and can’t seem to put down. Without taking a hard look at history from the perspective of the oppressed, we are unable to to truly confront the situation we’ve inherited.
 
Having a deeper understanding of Indigenous history opens up a window into the vast knowledge these communities have about our world. To gain better insight, I attended Indigenous Knowledge in a Time of Coronavirus, presented by Dina Gilio-Whitaker, and Indigenous Resistance: NoDAPL Political Prisoners Create Climate Justice, presented by Leoyla Cowboy Giron, Little Feather Giron, and Rev. Karen Van Fossan. Little Feather Giron is a former political prisoner, only recently released. Of the four others arrested and imprisoned with him, one remains in prison today.
 
The latter workshop interrogated how  “colonialism criminalizes indigenous resistance.” Little Feather and his spouse Leoyla were left with few resources after his arrest, and were offered support by the UU community, including housing in the home of UU congregants, until they were able to afford rent on their own. Now they are working toward building their own dwelling on Indigenous land. Little Feather and Leoyla discussed deepening decolonizing work by returning land to Indigenous tribes from whom it was stolen.
 
While there were no hard and fast answers as to how to make such reparations, it is a critical conversation. A UU congregation went to the length of contacting a tribal council and paying a land tax to the tribe as a way to further the work of decolonization. I wonder, how can our congregation, built on Chumash/Tongva land, work toward this same goal? How can we lift up these subjugated voices? If you’d like to donate directly to Little Feather and Leoyla to support their efforts to lay the foundation for their dwelling, you can send a donation directly to them, as we did, via Venmo @Mike-Littlefeather, which handle was given and verified during the live workshop.
 
Finally, I explored the white power/white nationalism and allyship topic through the workshops Building Communities to Counter White Nationalism/White Power, presented by Rev. Chris Rothbaur, Fr. Sharon Welch and Andrew J. Mackay; Hospitality, Reparations and Our First Principle, presented by Cir L’Bert Jr, Rev. Keith Kron, Rev. Patrice Curtis, Minister Ari Merretazon and Woullard Lett; and Rooted in Repair, presented by Minister Ari Merretazon, Carl McCargo and Woullard Lett.  I also attended a lecture by Howard Bryant, author of the book “Full Dissidence: Notes from an Uneven Playing Field.”
 
I was terrified by what was presented regarding the rise of white nationalism/white power, and came to understand that there is a systematic way in which hate is being spread, especially among young people who identify as white. This is happening particularly on college campuses across the country, as these groups “utilize liberal language about free speech to gain a platform and propagate their message.” The presenters discussed the diligent work that must be done in identifying and dismantling white nationalism within our own communities.
 
Our first principle, the belief in the inherent worth and dignity of every person, cannot hold true without action. What do our congregations do to ensure that BIPOC individuals are not only welcomed, but also embraced and truly represented? Why is it that we have seen many BIPOC people walk through our doors and choose not to return? How can the UUA reckon with the Black Empowerment Controversy of 1967-70? Again, these are questions that take deep congregational introspection to answer. I have included a link to a presentation from GA 2009 at the end of this article if you are interested in learning more about demographic changes and other aspects that contributed to the 1967-70 UU controversy.
 
Needless to say, this General Assembly was as inspiring as any in-person event could have been. There are so many more events I attended about which I’d love to go into great detail — like the Rooted, Inspired, and Ready…For a UU Drag Show presentation for UU Fun Night! And award-winning journalist Naomi Klein’s Ware Lecture regarding the current climate crisis and the importance of passing a Green New Deal.
 
It truly was five days packed full of quality presentation accented by a powerful sense of community. As for what we will be doing on a personal level going forward, we are taking time to re-educate ourselves with books published by Beacon Press (I’ve shared our current reading list below). We are having important conversations with others who desire to revision history as a means to avoid repeating it. Here is an invitation to join the conversation, because we are the ones. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for.
 
Our self-curated reading list includes:
 
  • “Indigenous Peoples’ History of the United States,” by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz
  • “A Disability History of the United States,” by Kim E. Nielsen
  • “As Long As Grass Grows: The Indigenous Fight for Environmental Justice, From Colonization to Standing Rock,” by Dina Gilio-Whitaker
  • “A Queer History of the United States,” by Michael Bronski
  • “Lift Us Up, Don’t Push Us Out! Voices from the Front Lines of the Educational Justice Movement,” by Mark R. Warren.
  • “Full Dissidence: Notes from an Uneven Playing Field,” by Howard Bryant
  • It Happened the Way it Had to Happen: https://www.uua.org/ga/past/2009/happen

…and just for fun:

 
 

Report from UUA GA: Voting on Human Rights Resolution on Investment
UUSM MEMBERS ATTEND GA!

 
 
By Roberta Frye
 
In June, I was a delegate to this year’s UUA General Assembly. A casualty of COVID-19, GA was moved from Rhode Island to an all virtual assembly (which GA organizers produced without apparent glitches).
 
I was particularly interested in the only proposed business resolution, “Embodying Human Rights in Our Investment Decisions.” Earlier in the year, members of our Peace and Social Justice Committee had gathered ten signatures, the maximum number allowed from one congregation, to have the resolution considered at GA. The total number of nationwide signatures required to present the resolution was 250. The UUA had previously adopted a similar resolution, but this one would strengthen the human rights guidance used in corporate investment/divestment and shareholder advocacy. It also would develop formal mechanisms of communication between the UUA investment committees, UU social justice groups and UU’s more generally.
 
The UU groups co-sponsoring the resolution were UU’s for Justice in the Middle East, Black Lives of Unitarian Universalism, UU Peace Ministry Network, Unitarian Universalist Ministry for Earth and UU Refugee and Immigrant Services and Education. The Socially Responsible Investing Committee was in full support of the resolution.
 
I attended the business meeting at which the resolution was discussed, and, as I recall, no one spoke against it. The resolution passed with 95% voting in favor.
 
 
It was also heartening to see the adoption of the Actions of Immediate Witness, 400 Years of White Supremacist Colonialism (PDF) as well as Amen to Uprising (PDF).
 

UUSM 2020 Annual Meeting Report
HELD ON SUNDAY, JUNE 28, 2020

 
By Norman Richey
 
[30-minute read. Please feel free to grab a cup of coffee or tea and settle in!]
 
This year’s Annual Meeting presented us with many challenges given the COVID-19 pandemic and the need for physical distancing. For the safety of all church members, it was apparent that we could not have an in-person Annual Meeting, probably the first time in our congregation’s history. We could, instead, have a pre-recorded meeting on our UUSM Facebook page as we have done every Sunday Service for the past few months. View the Annual Meeting in full on YouTube.
 
Since we were not having an in-person meeting, the voting procedure had to change also. Voting this year was done in advance in one of two ways: vote by mail or vote electronically.
 
The Annual Meeting began with Rev. Jeremiah Kalendae lighting the chalice and giving a reflective message.
 
“We light this chalice with gratitude for the church year that is nearing its completion. May its light help us to live in the present moment aware of the many blessings born of beloved community. And may that light of wisdom and love help guide us into our brighter future. May it be so, amen, and blessed be.”
 
 
Call to Order and Remarks by President Jacki Weber
 
Jacki acknowledged officials of the meeting: Inspector of Elections, Ken Alexander; Mail-in paper ballot counters, Ken Alexander and Nurit Gordon; Parliamentarian, Lois Hutchinson; and to record and coordinate the Annual Meeting, Rev. Jeremiah and Director of Music Saunder Choi.
 
A Call to Covenant was then made by Jacki, and Beth Brownlie recited our Covenant. This was followed by the presentation of the minutes of the 2019 Annual Meeting by Jacki.
 
Resolution 1: The UUSM Congregation approved the minutes from the Annual Meeting on May 19, 2019.
 
Jacki commented that members overwhelmingly voted to approve the minutes. Jacki proceeded to acknowledge the 2019 – 2020 Board.
 
“Next, I want to thank our leadership on the Board of Directors and the Nominating Committee. I will be stepping down as President after this meeting and I am so pleased to be succeeded by Beth Brownlie, this year’s Vice President. Thank you to our Executive Committee members Norm Richey, Secretary, and Vilma Ortiz, Treasurer. Norm will be stepping down as Secretary to be a Member-at-Large so, he can devote his energies to the membership committee. Vilma, you are a treasure of a Treasurer… Thank you to our Board Members who will continue in this coming year: Eileen McCormack, who I’m delighted will become our Vice President; Larry Weiner, who we welcome as our Secretary; and Abby Arnold, who will continue as a Member-at-Large. And, finally, deep gratitude to Barbara Andres for her service. She leaves prematurely to undertake important academic work. And also, Past President Ron Crane, I am happy to follow in your footsteps. Our Nominating Committee has had the unenviable job of recruiting new leadership to the Board of Directors at a time when we need to rethink how exactly we develop leadership at this church. Nonetheless, they have put together a wonderful slate of candidates, and I know I speak on behalf of the congregation when I bow deeply to you. Nalani Santiago and Linda van Ligten will be rotating off the committee while Karl Lisovsky and Barbara Kernochan will continue their service. And Pat Gomez, you are an amazing chair of the Nominating Committee. Thank you all so much.”
 
Jacki then presented the slate of the Board of Directors candidates for the coming year: Beth Brownlie, President; Eileen McCormack, Vice President; Larry Weiner, Secretary; Vilma Ortiz, Treasurer; Norm Richey, Member-at-Large; Roberta Frye, Member-at-Large; and Mike Monte, Member-at-Large.
 
 
Jacki announced that the UUSM membership approved, by a preponderance of votes, the candidates for Board of Directors.
 
The Nominating Committee Slate — Pat Gomez, Chair, Sheila Cummins, Barbara Kernochan, Karl Lisovsky, Chela Metzger and Natalie Kahn — was presented. The Nominating Committee was also elected with a preponderance of votes. Jacki thanked the newly elected Nominating Committee in advance for their service in the coming year.
 
 
At this time during the Annual Meeting, Rev. Jeremiah Kalendae presented the Minister’s Report.
 
Excerpts from Rev. Jeremiah’s Annual Report
 
 
What a truly transformative church year we have been through together! We thrived as a congregation, continued important developmental work, and responded to a multitude of unprecedented challenges with courage, perseverance, and grace. I am so proud of this community and grateful to be able to serve alongside you in this developmental ministry.
 
When I arrived ten months ago, in my first report to the Board of Directors I shared what I believed were three additional dimensions to our ministry together that would be of critical importance in the years before us.
 
  • The first was prioritizing creating a culture of sustainability and regeneratively as a congregation
  • The second priority was a recognition that we would need to deepen our commitments to intersectional anti-racism and anti-oppression work.
  • The third priority was that we would need to practice hospitality in new and inclusive ways that invited us to appreciate the rich spiritual and philosophical diversity of our liberal religious tradition.
 
It is clear to me that 10 months later these priorities are more important than ever as we’ve had to constantly adapt to quickly changing circumstances in a global pandemic, have been summoned to respond to the calls for racial justice, and have to reimagine church and how we create an inclusive beloved community when physical distancing is necessary to protect everyone’s health and wellbeing.
 
Our Board of Directors, with the wise and determined leadership of Jacki Weber and Beth Brownlie, led us through the multitude of challenges this year brought to our doorstep. In addition to Jacki and Beth, I want to name Ron Crane, Vilma Ortiz, Norm Richey, Eileen McCormack, Abby Arnold, Barbara Andres, and Larry Weiner. I am so grateful to be serving alongside such a dedicated and truly wonderful group of congregational leaders. With their leadership, we developed a multi-year plan for developmental ministry, we embraced sustainability and regenerativity as practices for our time, we deepened our anti-racism and anti-oppression commitments, and launched a more intentional path to membership and a broader cultural embrace.
 
We continued to move towards optimal financial health and completed a very successful stewardship campaign in the midst of the pandemic. With the extraordinary financial leadership of our Treasurer, Vilma Ortiz, we prepared a modest budget that prioritized the wellbeing of our staff, essential investments in our community, and institutional financial health and sustainability.
 
We responded quickly and competently to the pandemic and transitioned our entire community, in every way possible, to online venues as we kept the church open even when we had to close the doors to our beloved sanctuary. I really want to uplift and celebrate these leaders of our congregation. I hope you feel blessed or at least know how lucky you are to have such amazing leaders at the helm of this congregation.
 
Ours is a shared ministry which means our success is dependent upon a multitude of staff and congregational leaders fulfilling their professional roles and ministries. I am so grateful for our staff and want to specifically lift up our senior members — Nurit Gordon, Cleo Anderson, and Saunder Choi — for the skill, resilience, flexibility, and commitment they each demonstrated in this unprecedented year.
 
Our members and friends are the foundational strength of this community. I would like to thank each of you for your contributions to our vibrant congregational life.
 
I also want to thank our amazing COVID-19 Steering Committee and Pastoral Task Force for their exemplary leadership in extremely complex and stressful times. Kikanza Nuri-Robins, Linda Van Ligten, and Bettye Barclay have marshaled our pastoral capacities like never before in the history of our community.
 
Additionally, our Healthy Congregations team, with the leadership of Audrey Lyness, helped transform this community from being not only a liberal religious congregation but also a beloved community where we practice “what it means to be human” with each other and the larger world.
 
One important ongoing congregational initiative of this past year was our reflection on the 8 Elements of Effective Congregational Ministries. We adopted this model to consider how we are all responsible for the ministries of this church.
 
These 8 Elements include: Spirituality, Fellowship, Religious Education, Pastoral Care, Leadership Development, Anti-Racism and Anti-Oppression / Social Justice, Invitation, and Stewardship.
 
If there was ever a time to really live into Unitarian Universalism as the “ministry of all the people” — this is it!
 
Our worship underwent significant evolutions this year. As an aspect of building community, we transitioned to one service and this allowed us to be together as one unified community for the first time in many years.
 
Some of the spiritual themes we considered together as a community this church year included: Wisdom, Liberation, Resilience, Thresholds, and Awe.
 
We are currently discussing how we might better bring anti-racist and anti-oppressive elements in our liturgy to honor the indigenous lands upon which we gather and the ongoing work to dismantle white supremacy culture and racism in our lives and in our society.
 
Our community also experienced many losses of beloved members and friends this year. I would like us to take a few moments to hold them and their families and friends in our hearts as we remember that mighty cloud of witnesses that surrounds and embraces this community. These beloved members and friends joined the ancestors in the last year:
 
  • Geralyn Lambson
  • James Morison
  • Carol Serling
  • Sheila Bjornlie
  • Joanne Brownlie
  • Dayla McDonald
  • Stuart Moore
 
Because they are remembered — they live.
 
 
Lastly, I would like to report not just on some of our many achievements but also chart a course for where we are headed in the new church year which begins in September. As we plan for the next church year, these are some of the broad goals for our ministry together:
 
  1. We will continue to create dynamic worship and interactivity on Sunday mornings. We are prepared to continue to create our virtual sanctuary as long as is necessary to protect the health of our members and staff and our COVID-19 Steering Committee will continue to discern when we can return to the sanctuary in the next church year.
  2. We will continue to center sustainability and regenerativity, intersectional anti-racism and anti-oppression commitments, and hospitality and inclusion as vital to our developmental work, membership growth, and spiritual wellbeing. We will be mindful that intersectional anti-racism/anti-oppression commitments include climate, water, and environmental justice.
  3. We will continue to build beloved community by attending to the social fabric of our congregational life while physically distanced through a new small groups ministry program and by continuing to create and support online forums and platforms for our togetherness.
  4. We will continue to expand our religious exploration and education opportunities all ages as we learn how best to meet emerging needs in new online contexts for lifespan religious learning.
  5. We will continue to develop and expand our pastoral care capacities to meet the needs of our community and provide more comprehensive pastoral coverage.
  6. We will enter into an intentional period of mission and vision discernment as we begin the process of modernizing our bylaws in the new year.
  7. We will continue to create a culture of abundance and gratitude where we celebrate the many gifts and resources of this community and we remember that we already have what it takes to create a bright future for all.
 
In my written annual report, I will include some more details around achievements of the past year, so I hope you’ll check that out when you receive it in the coming days. I wanted to hold this verbal report in a spirit of brevity, thankfulness, and hope. I love you and I hope our summers are rejuvenating and help us to prepare for the year to come.
 
 
This message was followed by a report from our Director of Religious Education, Cleo Anderson, who summarized the activities and work done during 2019. The written report will be available soon.
 
President’s Report by Jacki Weber
 
Good afternoon! I am pleased to deliver this report of your Board of Directors.
 
What a year! I hope this message finds you and your loved ones healthy and well. I hope that, in this quarantine season, you are finding space to discover something new for yourself — that you are able to make lemonade from lemons.
 
After last year’s annual meeting, we bade Reverend Greg Ward and DRE Kathleen Hogue farewell and began a new fiscal year anticipating tremendous change. In August, we would welcome a new minister and a new director of religious education and a host of new programs.
 
Fall came; Reverend Jeremiah Kalendae brought a new kind of leadership to the church — one that encouraged the congregation to nurture deeper connections to spirit, a stronger sense of shared leadership, and a full embrace of the anti-racist/anti-oppression work that we are called to undertake as Unitarian Universalists.
 
We began thinking in coalition, as everyone who makes Sunday so special worked together in partnership with a new Congregational Health and Safety Committee to coordinate Sunday worship in a welcoming and safe way.
 
A new membership program, Faith Forward, brought together the many aspects of the congregation to ground the community in Unitarian Universalist values and UUSM life.
 
Our stewardship and budget-building efforts produced a conservative budget for the coming fiscal year, with the smallest deficit budget in a very long time.
 
In March came coronavirus. We live streamed our very first online-only worship. A COVID-19 task force fashioned a pastoral care program appropriate to our new reality. And an amazing group of leaders pulled together in unprecedented ways.
 
Then came the eruption of the volcano of systemic racism and white supremacy in the form of the videos of the murders of Ahmaud Arbery and George Floyd.
 
What is evident today is that we are all called to active anti-racist work the likes we have not undertaken as a congregation in a generation. More on that later.
 
Here is where I will stop. And breathe.
 
I want to acknowledge the incredible commitment to progress, and effort to move forward together as a congregation over the last four years, and I want to bring to mind all of the exceptional people in this community who have walked in leadership through this year.
 
  • Our Board of Directors — helmed by the visionary Vice President Beth Brownlie, unflappable Secretary Norm Richey, and incredible Treasurer Vilma Ortiz. Deep gratitude to past-president Ron Crane for his wisdom, curiosity, and kind heart.
  • Our worship associates — who began the year creating transformative worship with Reverend Jeremiah and then upped their game when we went online in March.
  • The communications team that transformed its tech game to not only produce a great online newsletter but then helped bring our live streamed services to Facebook, YouTube, and our website, complete with virtual coffee hour.
  • Our Children and Youth RE leaders and volunteers.
  • Our Sunday hosts, like greeters, ushers, and coffee committee.
  • Members.
  • A membership committee continually trying new things to bring and hold our congregation members closer to the fold.
  • Leaders of small group ministries like Heart-to-Heart groups.
  • The Choir.
  • The Green Committee, Peace and Social Justice, Hunger Task Force, and the new UU Animal Ministry.
  • CARE-ring and Pastoral Care Associates.
  • The many administrative committees that do very unglamorous but important work to help the congregation run smoothly including the communications, finance, investment, nominating, and personnel committees.
  • Special thanks to Rev. Kikanza who aided last summer while we were in ministerial transition, and again this spring to support pastoral care.
  • And finally, thank you to an outstanding staff: Rev Jeremiah, DRE Cleo Anderson, Music Director Saunder Choi (who sings, conducts, arranges, and produces our videos!)
  • Also, Nurit Gordon, Cyndee Hayes, and Sibylla Nash.
 
We have accomplished so much, and as we have adopted the 8 Elements of Effective Congregational Ministry introduced by Rev. Jeremiah, hopefully we have had more fun doing it while growing our spirits and increasingly embodying the reality that we belong to each other.
 
Now we rest. It has been an honor and a privilege to serve as your president the past two years.
 
I am excited to welcome new leadership to the Board and the Nominating Committee at this meeting. I look forward to exploring what we can accomplish when we emerge from summer break rested and refreshed and ready to take on the next set of challenges in the coming year.
 
May it be so! Peace and blessings to you.
 
Treasurer’s Report by Vilma Ortiz
 
Vilma’s key points for the year:
 
  • First, the good news: we have savings, approximately $917,000 in the bank as of the end of May. These savings are allocated into various funds — deficit, emergency, catastrophe, etc.
  • We are fortunate to have an Endowment fund containing approximately $223,000.
  • Due to the cancellation of Dining for Dollars and lost revenue from rentals our income is about $64,000 lower.
  • Thus, our 2019 – 2020 Financial Status: Income is $488,000 and expenses $534,000 with an estimated deficit of $46,000.
  • The Church received $71,000 from the U.S. government — a forgivable loan from the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).
  • This leaves a carry-forward amount into next year of $25,000.
 
Vilma then turned her attention to next year. First, the income sources:
 
  • Pledge and other income sources are anticipated to be higher than last year.
  • We anticipate having fundraisers that will probably look different than previous years.
  • Rental income will be lower.
  • We have the carried forward amount of $25,000 and a Spirit Level Grant of $10,000.
  • Thus, our income for next year is expected to be $576,000.
 
On the expense side:
 
  • Ministerial and religious exploration costs are about the same as last year.
  • Music expenses are higher due to increased compensation to our Music Director and the Section Leaders.
  • The UUA fair share will increase to 75% of our fair share.
  • Some administrative costs will be higher due to an increase in payroll expenses.
  • The allocation for cleaning has increased due to the pandemic.
  • Overall, our expenses are projected to be about $613,000.
 
Vilma stated, “Putting together the income of $576,000 and Expenses of $613,000 leaves a deficit of about $26,000 for next year. The deficit will be covered by the deficit fund, which has in it $38,000. If, for some reason, the financial situation worsens and we spend everything in the deficit fund, we will then cover any additional deficit from the emergency fund that has $97.000.”
 
Vilma was then pleased to announce the results of the congregational vote on the annual budget.
 
Resolution 2: The UUSM Congregation approved the budget for the 2020-2021 fiscal year.
 
Installation of Officers and Members of the Board by Jacki Weber
 
Jacki Weber performed the installation of officers and members of the Board with these words:
 
“As the outgoing President of this congregation it is my honor and pleasure to welcome and install the duly elected members of the Board of Directors for the coming year: Beth Brownlie, President of the Congregation; Eileen McCormack, Vice President; Larry Weiner, Secretary; Vilma Ortiz, Treasurer; and Members-At-Large, Abby Arnold, Roberta Frye, Michael Monte and Norm Richey. Welcome.”
 
Jacki then invited the new President of the Board of Directors to share closing remarks and extinguish the chalice.
 
Closing Remarks by President Beth Brownlie
 
President Beth Brownlie extinguished the chalice with these words, “I extinguish the chalice here that it may glow gently in your hearts. May it light your path as you leave this space and guide your way until we are together again.” She then added her own closing remarks for the meeting:
 
“I would like to thank you all, our beloved community, for choosing me to lead you. I believe in collaborative leadership and in my six years on the Board, I have seen this starting to work. Our Congregation has made significant progress in how we relate to each other leading to more effective communication and collaboration. Our small community and the greater UU movement serve as a beacon to the world that we can change our ways and make an impact. Small changes lead to big changes. Our community’s work over the past five years with Community Services Unlimited, as one example, has helped meet the challenges of providing good nutrition and a healthy sustainable building in an underserved community. [This is] collaborative work with agents of change led by example on a path to meaningful equity. These relationships across cultural boundaries teach us how to be better white allies while working long term to address environmental injustices. I’m not sure exactly what the future will bring for us, but I know we will continue to hold each other with kindness and work together, siding with love and collective liberation.”
 
The Annual Meeting was then adjourned.
 
Please note: This virtual Annual Meeting is considered an “interim” business meeting. Election and voting results will be ratified at a future meeting when the congregation is able to come together once again and be physically present for one another.
 

The Call of Our Faith to Pass Proposition 15

 
Vote Yes on 15A corporate property tax loophole has been squeezing the life from local governments and school districts across California. Proposition 15, the Schools and Communities First initiative on the November ballot, aims to change that to benefit public school kids and communities of every stripe. 
 
As people of faith, we are called to work for laws and policies that will bring about a more equitable and just society. Proposition 15 is a step in the right direction. It will make corporate property holders pay their share of property taxes, just like the rest of us do. 
 
I invite you to join me and others involved in UUSM’s Peace and Social Justice efforts to help pass Proposition 15. There are so many ways to get involved:
 
  • Outreach to our UUSM fellows to get out the vote
  • “Yes on 15” phone banks between now and the end of September
  • Letter-writing to infrequent voters
 
I started doing this work recently, and this week I’m sitting in on the UU Justice Ministry of California’s Turning the Tides organizing summit (happening now through August 29, 2020). We are learning how to better involve UUs in the work of bringing more love and justice to communities across California. Check out the schedule here. 
 
Want to help bring UU values to the November election with me (and others)? It’s easy-peasy. Sign up here if you’d like someone from UUSM to call you. Of course you can always email justice@uusm.org. Our Seven Principles call us to recognize the inherent worth and dignity of every person and to work for justice, equity, and compassion in human relations. Join us, won’t you? It’s actually fun! (There’s a whole #UUtheVote effort that we can tell you more about. For now, let’s talk about Prop 15.
 
Background
 
The reality is that until the late ‘70s, corporations paid their fair share of taxes. Then, as with so many other areas of society, tax code changes and lobbying increasingly tipped the scale more and more to the benefit of the very wealthiest individuals and corporations, and to the detriment of the rest of us.
 
Income inequality has reached a crisis point here in California: public schools, affordable housing stock, and local services (e.g., fire and safety, libraries, and parks) are all in dire straits.
 
While local communities and community members face these hardships, many corporations benefit from tax loopholes that drain resources from the very workers and services that have proven absolutely essential at this critical time. Proposition 15 will close corporate tax loopholes to generate $12 billion every year for critical local services and schools. 
 
Smaller businesses are exempt. Smaller farms are exempt. Residential property is exempt. 
 
Who will pay the price? Research has shown that only 10% of the biggest, most expensive commercial and industrial properties would generate 92% of the new revenue—meaning a fraction of top corporations would finally pay their fair share.
 
Here’s an example from San Jose Spotlight: “The Walt Disney property in Burbank spans 43 acres that was assessed in 1975. Disney pays $5 per square foot while Burbank Studios [half a mile away] pays $180. If the studios were reassessed and taxed at current market value, they would be competing on the same plane and paying $3.5 million more in taxes each year.”
 
Now, back to #UUtheVote. Through #UUtheVote, we will be organizing between now and election day, November 3, to build thriving communities, fight the US carceral system that threatens the principles of democratic society, and get out the vote to #DefeatHate and #VoteLove in elections.
 
Please join us! Sign up to UU the Vote at UUSM. 
 
Jacki Weber,
Past President, UUSM Board of Directors
 
 
News & Announcements: 

August Generous Congregation Supports Camp de Benneville Pines
SAVE OUR CAMP!

 
 
Because of COVID-19, this year’s Santa Monica UU Family Retreat at Camp de Benneville Pines, slated to take place September 18-20, is canceled. The mid-September weekend has provided a moment for us to slow down and spend time together in the woods. But under today’s conditions of social distancing, church camp would just not work very well.
 
As a result, Camp de Benneville Pines is in serious financial trouble, and it is not clear if it will survive. We think about all the joy that we have found at our blessed retreat in the mountains and are motivated to help. Camp Director Janet James says that if the churches can raise the money that their members would have spent on coming to camp, then Camp de Benneville will survive.
 
As you consider, flash back to memories of last year’s UUSM sojourn up to the mountain.
 
Generous Congregation
 
Our practice here at UUSM is to dedicate half of our non-pledge Sunday offerings to organizations doing work in the world that advances our Unitarian Universalist principles; the other 50% of the offering is used to support the life of our church.
 
UUSM’s Generous Congregation program supports our church community. And together, we uplift the reach and impact of vital organizations doing work we could not do on our own. This month, half of our Sunday offerings will go to Camp de Benneville Pines. Your support will help keep our congregational home in the mountains afloat, and make sure it still serves as a UU gathering place and important youth camp in future, better times.
 
Please consider supporting the mission of our church, and Camp de Benneville. To give right now, text “$10 GCC” (or another amount) to 844-982-0209. (One-time-only credit card registration required.)
 
 
 
 
RE News: 

Still Life Drawing with Greg Wood
ANOTHER NEW ADULT PROGRAM

Still Life DrawingYou are cordially invited to participate in Greg Wood’s Still Life Drawing Class. It is scheduled for Thursday August 6, from 10 – 11:30 am on Zoom. Please RSVP for Zoom information: AdultRE@uusm.org.

Why is a skill in drawing important?

Drawing teaches you to perceive the world with critical eyes, and to be faithful to any item’s details: shadows, contours, and gentle nuances in shapes and proportions. Being able to carefully see the world through an artist’s eyes will allow you to see the world in a fresh way. A common item that you had inattentively passed by can become a fascinating world of its own. Ideas, perspectives, and insights are often nurtured by creative pursuits.

The Still Life Drawing Class is for anyone open and curious about how to draw. We will practice a common technique, like drawing lines from light to dark, drawing just shadows, and drawing contours. After five minutes of drawing, we will do a show and tell, with encouraging and insightful comments.

What do I need to start?

Any pencil will do for a beginning class. The best materials for a drawing class, however, are pencils of different hardness. To start, a single soft 2B professional graphite drawing pencil is the best. For optimal results, a set of three pencils of different hardnesses are recommended:  HB, 2B, and 4B. Another item you should choose is a handheld sharpener, and of course, a white eraser is a must. You will also need a small pad of drawing paper, or even spiral bound blank paper. All of these can be purchased at a local art store.

Since this is a still life class, have a few items ready – bottles, cups, cutlery, and fruit to start. Flowers are for advanced drawing and are not recommended for beginners.

Who is teaching the class?

Greg Wood will be leading the class. Greg is a professional artist, having a BA in Art from UCSC, and before he retired he was an architectural illustrator.

And why would a UU want to pick up a skill in drawing?

There is a growing recognition that everyone needs some creative output for a well-rounded and fulfilling life.

We hope to see you on August 6th!

Personal and Spiritual Exploration for Adults, August 2020

 
 
Learning and exploration are about the transformation of the individual, our community, and the larger society. Participation helps us grow in wisdom, compassion, and ethical living. See below our August activities, programs, and workshops for adults.
 
To contact the facilitator in regard to any offering, you may email AdultRE@UUSM.org with the title of the group in the subject line. Your email will be forwarded. Please note that currently, all offerings are facilitated through Zoom. Contact Teri Lucas for more information and the link to the Zoom meeting.
 
Do you have a passion or an expertise? Are you a chef or a gardener, a historian or an actor? Would you like to offer some help, support, or some frivolity to our UU community via Zoom? We’re seeking programming that is fun, informative, and engaging. Please let us know if there’s something you’d like to offer and the Adult RE Committee will help you to do it. Email the Adult RE Committee (AdultRE@UUSM.org) or Teri Lucas (uusmREassist@uusm.org) and we can work with you on presenting your ideas.
 
Limited Offerings
 
This is a drawing class for everyone. We will start with drawing simple shapes like fruit in a bowl, or maybe pens in a cup. We draw for 5 minutes, and then show and talk about the drawings for 5 minutes. Then I will introduce a new exercise for 5 minutes. The format is to do lots of quick exercises that stretch our visual muscles and maybe open our eyes to what is possible. Greg Wood has a BA in Art from UCSC. Before he retired, he worked as an architectural illustrator. This class shall meet through Zoom from 10:00 to 11:30 am on August 6. Contact: Greg Wood.
 
Tarot Meditation Workshop  - One extra Tuesday, August 4
The Tarot, it is said, is a symbolic picture of the universe in its many layers, from material to the spiritual and beyond. Currently, the Tarot has as its basis the mystical Jewish Qabalah, drawing into it various Medieval and Renaissance systems such as astrology, alchemy, numerology, sacred geometry and mathematics, world mythology, Theosophy, Hermeticism, Rosicrucianism, and even Freemasonry. In modern times, it acquired Jungian psychological commentary as well. The Tarot itself is a fascinating, intricate system of interconnecting pictorial symbolism that is meant to catalyze helpful transformations within ourselves and our psyches, affecting not just behaviors, but perhaps even granting serendipitous opportunities. Jonathan “Buudha” Quant has been a practitioner of Tarot meditation for over 20 years and is eager to introduce you to Tarot meditation. Whether you are new to Tarot, or believe you know much, you will certainly gain fresh insights. It is preferable that participants meet for the entire sequence, but it is not mandatory. All are welcome. This class will meet via Zoom from 7:00 to 8:30 pm. Contact: Jonathan Quant or Sarah Robson.
 
 
Community Building Through Personal Development:
 
We will come together again to appreciate the beauty and wonder of nature by contemplating, writing, and drawing. All that is required are pencil and paper and a few objects from nature. A lifelong lover of the outdoors, Dorothy Steinicke has more than twenty years experience introducing people to a love of the natural world. She leads hikes for children and for adults in Topanga Canyon, Ballona Wetlands, and Dockweiller State Beach. We will meet on Zoom from 2:30 – 4:00 pm. Please contact Dorothy Steinicke for more details.
 
Ukulele Strum Along - Saturday August 22
Come and play ukulele with us or join with another strumming instrument. We recommended a familiarity with the ukulele for this online format but all levels are welcome (beginner to advanced). Bring a ukulele to our Zoom meeting and chords and lyrics will be provided in advance with a few folks prepared to lead some songs. We will share tips and support each other, pulling from a wide range of music. This event is for ages 15 and up, or 10 and up if accompanied by a guardian. We will need your email contact information by August 20th, so that we can send you the music ahead of time. We will gather from 9:30 – 11:00 am. Contact: Kim Kalmanson.
 
Exploration of Ideas:
 
AAHS Freethinker Forum - Sunday, August 23
AAHS (Atheists, Agnostics, Humanists, and Secularists) is an open group that meets for a lively and engaging discussion on topics of politics, science, religion, and philosophy. We also host occasional guest speakers, films, and outings. We are a home base for non-believers and questioners, but everyone is welcome. For many, atheism/agnosticism is a first step; Humanism is the thousand steps that come after. We’ll meet from 12:00 noon to 1:30 pm via Zoom. Contact: James Witker.
 
We will discuss “The Glass Universe: How the Ladies of the Harvard Observatory Took the Measure of the Stars,” by Dava Sobel. Beginning in the mid-nineteenth century, women were hired by the observatory as “human computers” to interpret the telescopic observations of their male counterparts. Later they interpreted the glass photographic plates taken of the skies. They made some pretty important discoveries. To receive the link, you will want to be on the group email list. We meet from 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm. Contact: Rebecca Crawford, sci-nonfiction@uusm.org   All are welcome.
 
The Men’s Group offers a special opportunity to the men of the congregation and other like minded men to join our welcoming group in provocative and stimulating discussion and to get to know others with UU perspectives in a more meaningful way. We meet the first and third Thursdays of the month at 7:30 pm normally in the NE room of the Cottage, but while we are staying home we are meeting via Zoom.  The topic for August 6 is:  Knowing what you do now, what other career might you have chosen – or liked to have chosen?  The topic for August 20 is:  “How are you handling your aging? What are some of the advantages and disadvantages of growing older? Consider things like the evolving meaning of life, how you want to be remembered, and of course, how you and your mate are handling the usual aches and pains of aging that all couples encounter, and how you are handling that dark fact, “Everything has an expiration date?” For more information, contact: Richard Mathias.
 
Meditations:
 
An Enjoyable Dive into Who and What We Are  - Mondays,, August 3 and 17
Bill Blake will present an enjoyable dive into the “who and what” we are. This on-going, twice a month class on the 1st and 3rd Mondays is presented to help participants master specific meditation skills. We endeavor to answer the questions Who am I? (attitudes and beliefs) and What am I? (essence or true nature). This class will include meditations that explore participants’ spiritual goals. The monthly group meetings will also focus on insights gained throughout the month. It is expected that participants will develop and enjoy a regular meditation practice. The class meets from 7:30 to 9:00 pm. Contact: Bill Blake.
 
Open Meditation - Mondays, August 10, 24, 31
We gather twice a month to sit together quietly for 20 minutes, to walk with gentle awareness for seven minutes, and to explore the integration of meditation with ordinary life through reading and sharing. Anyone who senses they would benefit from 20 minutes of silent, non-guided sitting is welcome to join us. We have found that this time of quiet meditation and shared exploration can be deeply nourishing – a time of simply “being” amidst all the “doing” of our lives. We meet from 7:30 to 9:00 pm. Contacts: Bev Shoenberger or Carol Ring.
 
Open Meditation: Wellsprings - Wednesdays and Fridays
These are exceptional times. Taking this time for quiet meditation and sharing in the intimacy of having sat in silence together can help sustain and ground us during these difficult days. We trust each of you will use this group in the way that fits your needs. We listen to brief readings, sit together quietly for twenty minutes, journal and share with each other what’s on our hearts.  We simply sit together in our shared humanity. We call off the struggle to become other than we are. These are drop-in groups. You are welcome to join us when it feels right to you. If you come in late or need to leave early, just do so quietly. We meet every Wednesday and Friday afternoon from 12:00 to 1:00 pm online. Contact: Bev Shoenberger.