February Board Meeting Highlights

• Heard feedback to proposal to change Lighted  Chalice schedule; editors recommend new  schedule on trial basis from June-December; still   requesting feedback from congregation.

• Members encouraged to attend Heartland District Conference April 7-9 in Indianapolis and UU General Assembly in St. Louis - June 21-25

• Finance committee suggests position reductions for 2006 budget deficit remediation.  Board asked committee to prepare other options for consideration.

• Internal audit committee preparing  report

• Board heard and discussed  summary of space options that are being investigated by the New Building Committee (NBC).

• Subcommittee findings will be discussed at next  NBC meeting March 6.

• The board will to hold a special board meeting Tuesday, March 7 6:30 to discuss building options findings.

• NBC options discussed with congregation March 12 after service.

• Volker Thomas will complete Janice Thiel’s term as  assistant treasurer

• Long range planning committee members needed

• Membership levels under consideration by  Bylaws committee

• Scheduled April 30 congregational meeting after service

Complete minutes can be found at https://uufolks.org/groups/board/minutes

—Dagmar Murray, UUC Board Secretary

 

 

District conference in Indianapolis offers many opportunities

The UU Heartland District will hold its 2006 Spring Conference & Annual Meeting in Indianapolis on April 7-9. The conference will feature keynote speaker Angela Merkert, UUA Congregational Consultant, workshops on various topics related to congregational life and other activities.

If you are planning to attend, please contact Board Co-Chair Dianna Poindexter so the Board can determine our delegate status. For complete information about the conference, see the brochure at the back of the sanctuary, or visit www.heartlanduu.org, or contact Denominational Connections Chair Kaye McSpadden at kaye7m@aol.com. If you register before Feb. 28 you’ll receive the  “early bird” registration discount!

 

 

Church SUPERMOUSE!

Keith Brown has been awarded this month’s Church Mouse.  Having received this award several times evelates him to SUPERMOUSE status!  Keith helps the church is countless ways in his quiet, efficient manner.  He often does printing for the church.  Recently, when the Congregational Self Assessment Team needed our Final Report in a format that could be presented to the congregation, it was simply handed it all to Keith, and he returned the box of printed reports a short time later!  Keith has provided the church his financial wisdom for many years.  He has been instrumental in running the movie group.  We greatly appreciate all he does for our congregation.

 

 

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Our not-so-trivial UU History Trivia

In December1951, our Jim Brewster recalls his first attendance at our “Unitarian Fellowship of West Lafayette, Indiana” in the home of Dorthea and Raymond Girton.  “Fourteen of us, several Purdue faculty, met every other week at various places. We had local speakers, book discussions and recorded sermons from well-known Unitarian ministers.  On off-weeks, those who wanted a little more religion would caravan to the All Souls Church in Indianapolis.  Dues were $1.00 per semester. The first annual treasury report had a balance of $5.24.”   

 —Lynn Richardson

 

Boa

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Special Congregational Meeting Sunday March 12

The New Building Committee (NBC) has been very busy and has information to share about our new space possibilities. The Board of Trustees has scheduled this special meeting for the congregation to focus on our options as we make decisions about our new space.

The NBC co-chairs, Steve Nelson and Alanna Steffen, along with the sub-committees, will present information about our options.   An open discussion will follow, allowing members and friends to share thoughts and ideas.  

Some of the options might require actions that will need a congregational vote during the meeting.   Come listen, learn, and share.

                                              —Dianna Poindexter, Board of Trustees Co-chair

 

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New Building Committee news and activities

 

 

During the February 6 New Building Committee meeting three sub-committees were organized. These include: 1) campus style setting at our current location, 2) the Union Street property, and 3) existing structures and/or new piece of land to build on. Several members toured the St. Andrew church on Feb 9.

NBC is currently working with the board to discuss the Red Cross Building and the possibility of obtaining the right of refusal or an option, a legally binding contract that would give us a chance to purchase the Red Cross building if the congregation decided on this.  The next meeting for NBC is Monday, March 6 at 7 PM in the sanctuary.  Please send any comments or questions to Steve Nelson and Alanna Steffen at uunewbuilding@insightbb.com.

 

 

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Movie Group

Friday, Feb. 24, 3:00 pm:  “Whale Rider” 2003.  101 Minutes.  VHS. Directed Niki Caro.  Keisha Castle-Hughes, Rawiri Paratene, Vicky Haughton.

“Contemporary retelling of an ancient Maori legend in which a young girl must go against all odds—and tradition—to prove to her grandfather that she is a natural leader.”

 

Monday, March 6, 7:00 pm:  “The Aviator”  2005.  170 Minutes.  VHS. Directed by Martin Scorsese.  Leonardo DiCaprio, Cate Blanchett, Alec Baldwin.  The life of Howard Hughes, billionaire, genius, and madman, focusing on the most prolific  period of his life, the mid 20s through the 1940s.

 

Movies are shown at 221 S. 7th Street, a large brick house up on three terraces on the east side of S. 7th Street just past the old railroad corridor three blocks south of the UU Church.   Parking up the driveway at the south end of the lot.

 

 

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Meditation Group considers schedule

The Meditation Group has been meeting on Tuesday at 5:45PM now for more than three years.  We also have set a time during the day to meditate on Fridays at 11:45PM, but I think very few people attend on a regular basis. We have a small but dedicated group of 2-7 people who come on Tuesdays.  But I am aware that there may be others for whom this time is not convenient. 

If you would like to develop a meditation practice with a larger group of people, but the current time on Tuesdays does not work for you, please get in touch with me and share other times that might work for you.  Also, if you would be interested in a longer (half day, full day) retreat, please let me know your interests. 

I bow to the Buddha in you. Mark Krivchenia

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UUS will participate  in Homeward Bound Walk

Join the Social Action committee and the Unitarian Universalist Symposium (UUS) as we participate in the Lafayette Homeward Bound Walk on Sunday, April 23rd at 2 PM at Riehle Plaza. The Homeward Bound Walk is a 5K walk-a-thon that benefits nine local homelessness prevention and affordable housing agencies.  Assist UUS and the Social Action committee in our goal of raising $1,000 for this very worthy event.

To make a donation, please contact Charles Coley.

Checks may be made payable to “Homeward Bound” and all contributions are tax deductible.

You may also donate online! Go to homelesswalks.org, select the Lafayette location, and click on “Sponsor Participant.” Then enter “Charles Coley” in the search box. From there you may make a donation or go to the Team Page where you can see everyone who is on the team.

Thank you for your support of the Homeward Bound Walk!

 

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Canoeing leads to unexpected donation for Headstart

While canoeing on the Wabash, Doug McKnight found a huge quantity of little basketballs with baseball team logos on them.  We don’t know if they were dumped deliberately or if they fell off a truck, but he gathered them into the canoe, and Sharon brought them to church. The WUUTs washed the balls in the church kitchen, re-inflated them, and Michelle carried them over to Headstart

in a big lawn and leaf bag.  The Headstart folks were delighted and said that if we have any other such donations to think of them first.  They said to express their thanks to eveyone!

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Spring Congregational Meeting Scheduled

The spring congregational meeting has been scheduled for Sunday April 30, following the service.  The agenda will include brief presentations about the 2005 Congregational Self Assessment recommendations along with information and discussion about the newsletter publishing schedule. 

 

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Social Responsibility Committee still collecting items, still busy!

Our news is about the same as last time: Caring cans, sugar free or low sugar items for the Food Pantry. Payless debit cards or bus tokens for the Katrina evacuees, deliver to the Red Cross.  Social Responsibility and Social Action Committees are also accepting stationery supplies and/or cleaning supplies if you prefer donating these items instead of debit cards.  Please place items in the collection boxes upstairs or under the coat rack downstairs.  The committee will sort your items.

Good news, Head Start has connected with some of the families and placing children at their Durgan School site. The Head Start staff thanks us for connecting them with Family Services to make this happen! FYI, LUM has helped over 200 individuals already with their taxes!

—Sue Robinson

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Religious Education Happenings 
 

RE Co- Directors Sarah Boulac and Michele Tomarelli

 

R.E. Happenings

Our Whole Lives (OWL) Sexuality Education Information!!!  We will be offering OWL to children in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grades this spring!  A parent orientation will take place at the church in room 4 on March 5 at 8:30.  Families registered in Religious Education should have received more information by mail.  If you did not receive this letter, please contact Sarah Boulac.  We will be offering OWL to children in 5th and 6th grade next fall (this year’s 4th and 5th graders).  OWL for 7th - 9th graders will also take place next year. Parents should look for more information toward the end of summer/early fall.

All families are asked to register their children in our Sunday morning RE Program.  This gives us basic information about your family, such as contact information, and also specific information such as food allergies or behavioral information about your children. Forms are available in the back of the sanctuary or in the RE hallway downstairs. See your child’s RE teacher or Sarah or Michele and we can get one for you!  Please help us keep our records up to date by completing one of these forms!

 

GAYT Update:  Thank you to all of the individuals and families who contributed to the Guest at Your Table program in support of the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (check out http://www.uusc.org/ia/gayt/index.html for more information).  Our congregation raised $266.15 this year!

 

Don’t just sit there, come and have fun!

As Sarah has said, we are in need of RE teachers at every level.  We need one or two more teachers and helpers for the kids’ classes, and “rovers” for the hallway.  We also need some folks with specific skills to teach to the WUUTs: someone who knows RPGs well enough to teach a suitable one, as well as someone who can make fimo beads.

We also need a raft of parents willing to accompany youth to conferences—some are coming up very soon.  The “Leprecon” March 5-6 is for the middle schoolers, and is being held in Ft. Wayne.

http://heartlanduu.org/news/leprecon_jr_high_conference.php#body  The other one is for the WUUTs, the Social Justice Con, April 21-23 in Bloomington. They should be a blast!

 

 

teacher schedule

February 26
Preschool Teacher:  TBD

Preschool Helper:   TBD

K-1 Class: B. Misner

2-4 Class:  K. Coder
 

March 5
Preschool Teacher:  C. Frye

Preschool Helper:   TBD

K-1 Class:   B. Misner

2-4 Class:  K. Schroth