POINTS OF NOTE
(This page contains
information about things that are not related to an upcoming event date, but are
points of interest. It is our policy not to provide
e-mail links or phone numbers unless specifically authorized by the persons involved.)
SPLINTERS
FROM THE BOARD (Message from our Board President)
A complete copy of the minutes is posted on the
bulletin board in the Social Hall; if anyone would like a copy, please call
AmyBeth Gibbs (215-343-0406).
Everyone is welcome at board
meetings, and we would like to see some of you attend. We meet on the second
Monday of each month.
Membership Updates (Notes from our Membership Coordinator)
Piano Concerns
Our baby-grand piano is an 88-year-old instrument that was rebuilt a little over 10 years ago. Unfortunately, even with that rebuild, several critical parts are starting to fail, including several cracks in the soundboard and bridges. A piano technician who inspected the piano this summer identified a number of these issues, including some important safety concerns. The problems also negatively affect the piano’s sound and tuning. In a detailed written report, she summarized by saying the piano is reaching the end of its useful life and is not worth the cost of repair. We are planning to have two other firms inspect the piano to confirm this sad conclusion. We are also working with the Board of Trustees to plan for the likely needed replacement of the piano.
In the meantime, we need to address the safety concerns by establishing the following rules:
• The piano will not be moved. One of the legs appears to be seriously cracked. We will stabilize it with a clamp, but we do not want to put additional stress on that leg.
• The piano lid will be kept in the closed position. With cracks in the bridge there is a possibility of a string failure, which would be particularly dangerous with an open lid.
If you would like more information, please talk to our accompanist, Carol Cotton.
Stewardship Made Easy
Are you tired of writing that monthly check to BuxMont and then forgetting to bring it with you to the fellowship? Would you like to have your pledge automatically paid each month so at the end of the year you know you have finished your commitment to BuxMont? There is an easy way for you to authorize direct payments to BuxMont. Just stop by the special Stewardship Information table during the month of August, after services in the social hall, and pick up an authorization agreement form to fill out. The forms can be handed in the next week. The sensitive information that these forms contain will be protected. The Stewardship team is hoping to get as many members and friends as possible to sign up.
Jerry Johnson
Stewardship Co-Chair
Meet Our New DRE!
“So, what are you excited about in going to BuxMont?” This was a question from a friend and colleague for me, a few weeks ago. My answer was, “I’m looking forward to finding out who they are there and what they want!” I hope you’ll be patient with me as I start to sort out who is who and how you all interrelate with each other this fall. And, I hope that you are looking forward to finding out who I am.
I am a third-generation UU. I grew up going to church every Sunday with my maternal grandparents at the UU Church of the Restoration in Philadelphia. Church was just what we did on Sunday: we’d go early, stay late, and as I grew up, I’d go back for youth group in the evening. I got involved in district and continental youth programming, too. In college I started a UU campus group and taught RE at the local church. I knew I wanted to do some kind of work that helped build community, and my best friend’s mom (who happens to be a Minister of Religious Education) encouraged me to apply for DRE jobs. I served Davies Memorial UU Church in Camp Springs, MD, as their DRE for 10 years, and for the past two years I have been Youth Ministry Coordinator for two congregations (All Souls in Washington, D.C., and UU Church of Silver Spring, MD). Along the way I earned the title of Credentialed Religious Educator from the UUA and have pursued a variety of professional growth and service opportunities. I believe religious education is part of everything that a congregation does, and that its purpose is to help people learn and grow and find meaning in their lives. I am interested in transformation; learning communities; and connections between people, communities, and the earth.
Who am I besides a UU and a DRE? My family is, of course, very important to me and I know you will welcome them to BuxMont as well. Matt, my husband of 12 years, is a photographer by profession, and my co-parent to Wolfy (son, age 6, a scientist and warrior), Robin (son, age 4, an outdoor adventurer), and Day (or “Daisy”, daughter, age 1, a total sweetheart). We have a dog (Old English and Sheep Dog mix), we home-school, and we have recently discovered that we enjoy going geo-caching. My “other” career is as a childbirth educator and doula (labor support person). I must read to feel sane, and in theory, when time allows, I enjoy cooking, quilting, knitting, and travel. I am delighted that coming to BuxMont is allowing me to move “home” to Southeastern Pennsylvania—my mother, my father and his wife, my three living grandparents, one of my uncles, and one of my brothers and his family all live nearby. But we haven’t sold our house in Maryland yet, so please send good thoughts and prayers for someone to buy it soon!
I maintain an online presence and you’re welcome to find out more about me that way if you’re curious: I have a website for birth-related work at www.largercircle.org, and a Facebook profile at http://www.facebook.com/dawnstarsarahsborchelt.
Looking forward to meeting you face to face!
UUA General Assembly 2010
The last week in June, more than 4,000 delegates from across the country converged on Minneapolis for the UUA’s General Assembly. Five delegates—Tom Thomas, Rik, Anna-Sara, and Markus Fire, and Mike Parry—represented our congregation. Also attending were Lori Schlosser and Patti Thomas. They attended workshops, joined in a GLBTQA Festival, and voted on important issues facing our denomination. In case you missed the service on July 18, here’s a recap of the resolutions passed at GA 2010. The General Assembly adopted a Statement of Conscience on Peacemaking that had been tabled at GA ‘09. The new wording affirms UU support for people in the military as well as conscientious objectors and other war resistors. It was the change to this more inclusive language that brought about passage.
Immigrant rights was the major issue for this year’s GA and the delegates took three significant actions in that area. First, they selected Immigration as the new Congregational Study/Action Issue for the next four years. Second, they adopted an Action of Immediate Witness (AIW) to oppose state-level anti-immigration legislation, calling on us to oppose such legislation if it is proposed in Pennsylvania. And third, they debated long and hard before passing a resolution NOT to move GA 2012 out of Phoenix in protest over Arizona's strict anti-immigrant law. Rather, the decision was made to suspend most regular workshops and meetings that year and hold a “Justice GA.” Only the most pressing business will be conducted. This reformatted GA will allow delegates time to work with local congregations and immigrant rights groups to monitor police behavior, protest the anti-immigrant law, assist with voter registration and support immigrants’ rights groups. This is the first time such an action has been taken.
In addition to the AIW opposing state-level anti-immigration legislation, the delegates approved two other Actions of Immediate Witness. One calls for cleaning up the Clean Energy Bill. The other calls for Gulf Coast environmental and economic justice. At the time of writing this article the US Senate has just taken up debate on this bill. See the Denominational Connections Bulletin Board in the social hall for details and suggestions of things you can do.
The delegates also passed a Responsive Resolution calling on UUs to be active for employment rights for GLBTA people. It calls on member congregations to promote employment equality and on individual UUs to contact their senators and representatives to support the Federal Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA).
The delegates made a number of significant governance changes. They changed the term of office for the President and Moderator from four years with the opportunity for a second term to six years with no opportunity to run again. They also changed the way people are nominated for these positions with the goal of opening the process up to people who previously would not have been able to run for these offices.
No action was taken on revising the Purposes and Principles or changing the format of GA. Both issues require action by the UUA Board of Trustees before they come before the General Assembly.
Lastly, the UUA showcased four “Breakthrough Congregations.” These congregations have shown significant growth in the last couple of years. A DVD of the profiles of these congregations will be available for viewing by the BuxMont Board of Trustees and individual members.
Important Reminder: FY2010 Pledges
The Finance Committee would like to remind those who have not satisfied their Fiscal Year 2010 pledge obligation to try to do so if you are able. Write Prior Year or FY2010 on your checks. Giving Statements were mailed in mid-July to those who have not yet met their pledge. The FY2011 budget allows the Congregation to give raises to the staff and to include the UUA and JPD dues. To achieve this we are counting on the pledges for FY2010 to be satisfied.
Announcement: September Newsletter
Due to a vacation schedule, Liberal Voice editors request that all submissions arrive promptly this month. The September newsletter articles will need to be edited and placed in the template before August 21. Submissions that arrive after the August 15 deadline may or may not be published in the September edition.
Becoming Women of Wisdom
Thirteen successful monthly meetings for 16 members of Becoming Women of Wisdom will end in October at BuxMont. A couple of women (suggested age 55 or older) have asked if the course will be repeated this fall. The four facilitators will be happy to share the course materials, plus our advice and experience from this past year, to any person/s who can lead the class for 2010–2011. Contact Nancy Bruce or Yvonne Marlier for information and encouragement!
An apology to Bets Ervin-Blankenheim who was one of our Women of Wisdom leaders this past year. I misidentified her in the July Liberal Voice in the list of Adult Education thank yous. Thanks again for your contributions, Bets!
Nancy Bruce
VOLUNTEER
JOB DESCRIPTIONS
If
you are interested in leadership opportunities at Buxmont, here are some job
descriptions of the various positions avaiable. These are elected
positions.
HOW
TO SPREAD THE NEWS
Here are the different ways to get information to BuxMonters.
Reporting
problems
If you notice anything at the Fellowship missing or not
working properly, please let our Administrator, AmyBeth Gibbs, know via an e-mail
message.
Leaving a note on the desk in the office doesn't always work because
notes can be lost, moved, or picked up accidentally.
Thanks for your help.
SUPPORT
BUXMONT FINANCIALLY WITHOUT SPENDING MORE MONEY!
Your pledge to the annual Canvass is and will always be the
most important source of income for the Fellowship, but did you know that you
can provide additional financial support for our liberal religious mission in
other ways, when you make purchases that you would be making anyway?
Merchant rebate programs have been around for years, but they
are becoming increasingly popular and easy to participate in. Here are three
ways that you can benefit BuxMont in your normal shopping, with the newest ones
listed first.
Register and shop online through
schoolcash.com
By registering with schoolcash.com, you can obtain merchant
rebates for BuxMont every time you shop at some of the most popular online
merchants. Once you are registered, the next time you want something from
amazon.com, instead of going directly to their web site, you instead log on to
www.schoolcash.com, follow the link on their site to amazon.com, and shop as you
normally would. Amazon.com will give 3% of what you spend to BuxMont! Their
competitor, Barnes & Noble, will give 3.5%! Here’s a partial list of other
participating merchants to give you an idea of how complete the coverage is, and
how much the donations are:
It’s easy – just go to www.schoolcash.com,
go to the registration page, and enter BuxMont in the school name field,
Warrington in the city field, and choose Pennsylvania from the drop down list of
states. A screen will then appear giving the complete name of BuxMont Unitarian
Universalist Fellowship for you to choose. Complete the registration by giving
your name, address, e-mail address and a password. Every time you log in to
schoolcash.com, it will remember who you are, and when you go to the merchant of
your choice through their link, the specified rebate will be made to BuxMont.
Register at eScrip.com for supermarket
and credit card shopping
Genuardi’s Family Markets will donate from 1 to 3% of your
purchase if you use your Genuardi’s Club card and register it with eScrip.com.
You don’t have to have a computer to participate, since you can register at
the customer service counter at any Genuardi’s.
You can also register your credit card(s) with eScrip.com, so
that in-store purchases also earn rebates for BuxMont. This must be done on
line, so if you don’t have a computer with an internet connection, AmyBeth Gibbs can help you register over the Fellowship’s computer.
After that, you don’t need the computer any more – just pay for your
purchase at a participating merchant with your credit card. Some of the same
merchants participate in both eScrip and schoolcash, but we don’t know if they
will give rebates through both on the same purchase. It will be interesting to
find out!
Buy Acme and Giant gift cards at BuxMont
If you shop at Acme or Giant supermarkets, you can buy gift
cards at BuxMont after every Sunday service.
BuxMont gets 5%, and you don’t spend any more than you would have if you paid
cash or used a check.
BUXMONT ON
Do you have
items up in your attic, or down in your basement, or hidden in some drawer, that
you think might be worth something?
Consider
donating to BuxMont for auction on eBay.
You will get a receipt for your tax-deductible donation, reflecting the
amount that the high bidder paid for it! And,
the Fellowship would gain an outside source of income, instead of having to do
fundraising only within our own congregation.
One item recently sold for $200! Contact
Howard Barkan for more info. (Click on
the eBay logo to see BuxMont auctions that are ongoing or ended in the last 30
days.)
BUXMONT
PHONE/E-MAIL
CHAIN
Bobbi
Penniman, Communications Chair,
has a BuxMont phone and e-mail chain. The purpose of this
is to be able to disseminate information of a timely or critical nature, for
which the usual Sunday announcements and/or Liberal Voice would not
suffice. However,
there are certainly many members and friends who have opted not to join this
list:
If you would like to be added to the phone or e-mail chain, please
contact
Bobbi. Also, if your
e-mail address has changed recently, please let Bobbi know. In case you think that you're on the e-mail list, but you
haven't received any BuxMont-wide e-mails in the last month or so, you're
probably not, or we have an old invalid e-mail address.
CARING
COMMITTEE
The Caring Committee will use the Fellowship e-mail
directory to request help for our members in time of need.
It works a lot faster than the "old-fashioned" telephone list.
If you don't have e-mail, don't check it often, or still want us to call
you personally, please give your telephone number to Kim Schubert or Deborah Sheesley. Thanks for all your
support.
