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Minnesota Valley Unitarian
Universalist Fellowship
A liberal religious congregation in the Minneapolis area If the Menu on the Left Hasn't Appeared |
| FELLOWSHIP NEWS Home | Calendar Updated February 22 2010 |
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Definitions and distinctions can be tricky, but the difference between “religion” and “spirituality” is important since the distinction gets thrown around quite a bit. “Spirituality,” as I see it, is the impulse to awe and wonder. We do lots of things with this impulse, including art, philosophy, dancing, and hiking. Anything that pushes our impulse of awe and wonder toward what we call transcendence—toward getting outside our autopilot selves—is “spiritual.” “Religion” is another matter. A particular religion proposes (and sometimes requires) a particular set of actions and beliefs that the religion has developed over time. For example, Hatha Yoga in Hindu practice leads to “yoking” with the divine. Union with the divine is also the aim of sacraments practiced in Christian traditions. In religions, the spiritual impulse is harnessed, if you will, to a set of predetermined practices. The end is the same, however: turning off the autopilot. Getting outside yourself. Spirituality is the impulse; religion is the technique. So, when someone says, “I’m spiritual but not religious,” chances are that person likes to paint, dance, play kazoo, hike, or what-have-you, to find the sense of awe and wonder that leads to transcendence. Or perhaps the person mixes two or three or more religious traditions. A logical next question is: “Well, then, is Unitarian Universalism a religion?” That’s a difficult question. Unitarian Universalism is both / and in the above definition. As an “umbrella” tradition, we respect both hiking and Hinduism as forms of spiritual practice. We also practice the arts, garden, and work for justice. Unitarian Universalism is an umbrella. It is also a religion based on the two sides of the family before the 1961 merger, Universalism and Unitarianism. As I see it, Unitarian Universalism is both / and, with some of us practicing the traditions inherent in the religion, others practicing other religious traditions, and some being “spiritual,” following our own paths. That’s what I find fun about Unitarian Universalism! Top of Page |
Information on Minister Office Hours - Minister Links to Minister's Sermons MVUUF Book Discussion Blog |
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We belong basically on two levels, one is the identification with Unitarian Universalism and the other is belonging specifically to our Fellowship. McMillan & Chavis assert that the shared emotional connection is the definitive element for true community. How do we make that emotional connection week after week? We are Unitarian Universalists who have a common understanding of what that means. We respect each other, offer fairness and kindness to all, yearn to learn, grow in our beliefs and ideas, believe that we can make a difference and act on it, insist on freedom and peace for all and value the interdependent web of life. These are the common Unitarian Universalist principles that we explore every week in our religious education classes. As the children get older we explore what these mean in ever more depth and detail. It is essential that we continue to explore through our teens and adulthood. We also have a commitment to our Fellowship. Week after week we meet together here, a very special place, and explore what that means to us specifically. How do we carry this out in our everyday lives and within this Fellowship? How do others view this? What do we do that is specific to our Fellowship? We learn by sharing what we do and what we value. The children and youth learn about this in our classes, ingatherings and connections with the service upstairs. Then there is a commitment to be together in order to meet the member’s needs. It is only through this commitment that we can fully realize our sense of community. It is that shared emotional connection that completes our sense of community. Every once in a while we need to dash in and dash out – yes, our lives are busy, but it is our willingness to stay, to become involved in some part of the Fellowship and yes, our very mindful presence that allows us to make that necessary emotional connection Top of Page Pennies for Peace is a program of Central Asia Institute (CAI), founded by Greg Mortenson-author of the #1 New York Times best seller, Three Cups of Tea. CAI is a nonprofit organization that promotes and provides community- based education and literacy programs, especially for girls, in remote mountain regions of Central Asia. CAI has built nearly 100 schools in Afghanistan and Pakistan, which serves more than 28,000 students. How can a penny bring peace? It doesn’t buy much in our community. However, in the villages of Pakistan and Afghanistan, a penny can buy a pencil, start an education, and transform a life. The Pennies for Peace program goal is to encourage our children to learn the value of giving by collecting pennies for global peace. Anyone can bring in pennies anytime and add them to our penny jar! Top of Page |
DRE Biography DRE Office Hours Pennies for Peace Jug downstairs on the counter.  |
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MVUUF VISION STATEMENTS Within
MVUUF is a place where people of all ages find what they need to grow into their wholeness through:
Among
MVUUF is a place where people feel they belong by:
Beyond
MVUUF is a place where people live their liberal and religious values
in the world by:
A Personnel Policy Manual drafted by Tom Traub, Personnel committee chair, and approved by the Board of Trustees is now in place and available from the Office Manager for anyone hiring staff at MVUUF. An extensive Policies, Procedures and Governance Handbook is available from the office manager or from the MVUUF website. Bylaws, Board approved policies, governance information, Committee Purpose and Responsibilities are now all in one convenient location for new or existing members, leadership and the public to view. Many thanks to those who helped pull this together with a special thanks to Kathy Park Top of Page |
MVUUF Board of Trustees - Who, What Board of Trustees Meetings .. |
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Also, coming up in March is a performance of choral music by local and internationally acclaimed composer, Elizabeth Alexander. Unity-Unitarian Church is hosting it at 7:30 p.m., March 27 and three UU churches/fellowships will participate: MVUUF, Rochester’s Walden Hill Vocal Ensemble, and the Unity Choir and Unity Singers. The MVUUF Choir will sing a German folk/protest song, “Die Gedanken Sind Frei” (My thoughts are free), a lively tune with new words and arrangement by Elizabeth. I’m hoping to add a few members of the Women’s Chorale and, if you would like to join us for this one time performance, simply show up for rehearsals, Wednesdays – 6:30 p.m. – and Sundays – 9:15 a.m. We have three new choir members, Barbara Tolkkinen, Lonaeja Stein and Kellen Kautzman. Lonaeja and Kellen plan to marry at MVUUF this spring. Welcome to all three! C’mon, Spring! Top of Page |
Minister of Music Biography To Music Page Minister of Music Celebration Music Committee |
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Come and join us for our Path to Membership Series (formerly called the Newcomer Orientation Series) if you are interested in membership or you are already a member and are interested in the topic. Involvement at MVUUF – Do you want to meet new people? Do you want to know what else goes on here at MVUUF? Are you interested in opportunities for discussion and learning? There is a YELLOW pamphlet titled On-Going Regular Activities at MVUU” on the counter downstairs that might help you with those questions. Or go to our Meetings and Events Page. Plus, joining a committee or two would provide some of those opportunities. Ushers, Greeters and Refreshments – One of the easiest ways to help at the Fellowship is to take a turn at ushering, greeting or bringing treats for a Sunday service. There are many Sundays with openings. Check the signup sheets downstairs at the Fellowship. Instructions are also on the clipboards. (Many, many thanks to those who fill in at the last minute.) UU Books for Sale Thanks to a donation from our MVUUF Women’s Group, we are starting a small Book Table (book store) here at MVUUF with books relating to our liberal religion. Some of the books are written with children in mind. We plan to expand the selection as we go along. So, if you are looking for more information on Unitarian Universalism (UU), or you are looking for help in articulating to others what Unitarian Universalism is or means to you, we currently have these four choices:
Top of Page Name Tags / Badges – Please wear your name badges when you are at the Fellowship. They also have your town listed. See if you can find others who live in your town and/or near you. If we do not have a name badge for you on the rack by the elevator, please request one on the clipboard downstairs. If your children would like a name badge like yours, also sign them up for one. For safety reasons, we will not print their town on the badge. Welcome Our Visitors Typically, when visitors come to MVUUF, they are greeted at the table in the entryway as they come in, asked to sign a visitor card and given a generic nametag. Also, visitors are encouraged to introduce themselves during the service. Please introduce yourselves to them and make them feel welcomed! We sometimes get newcomers who bypass the table and / or don’t feel comfortable standing during the service to introduce themselves. If you become aware and recognize that someone is a newcomer and you have made them feel welcomed, please point them out to the Membership Committee as we are eager to touch base with them and build on the positive impression you’ve already created. Top of Page |
If Your Postal or Email Address Has Changed. HOSPITALITY Some Easy Ways To Get Involved At MVUUF |
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The MVUUF library has recently received some very generous donations from members. Of particular interest are the many religious reference books Scott Werdal gave us as a permanent loan. These include a fabulous collection of nearly all of existentialist Paul Tillich's books! Scott also donated the Interpreter's Dictionary of the Bible. & IDB Concordance as well as A History of Lutherans and Religion. Thanks, Scott! We also have a donation of several books including ones on the Druids, Earthway: A Native American Visionary's Path to Total Mind, Body, and Spirit Health by Mary Summer Rain and the Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. The books in the MVUUF library are available for loan. Just sign the book out and return it within a week or two. (03/07) A film series Nonviolent Conflict: A Force More Powerful" is available in our fellowship library. It was purchased for a just completed Adult Religious Education class to study Strategic Nonviolent Action. The class concluded that SNVA isn't appropriate for every conflict, but it has the potential to be successful in more situations than we had previously realized. The two tapes contain six 30-minute segments on the use of strategic nonviolent conflict in the American civil rights struggles of the 1960's; the independence struggles of Gandhi and his followers in India in the 1930's; the struggles against apartheid in South Africa in the 1980's; the resistance movement during the German occupation of Denmark in the 1940's; the Polish Solidarity movement in the 1980's; and the nonviolent overthrow of Augusto Pinochet in Chile in 1988. The tapes are appropriate family viewing for teenagers and their parents. For more information on the tapes and on strategic nonviolent action in the 21st century see A Force More Powerful, The Albert Einstein Institution, and International Center on Nonviolent Conflict. New Books in the Library 10/06: Marilyn Boe has donated a compilation of her poetry to our library. The MVUUF library has received two new book donations that are sure to be wonderful additions. The first is Living with Chronic Pain: the complete health guide to the causes and treatment of chronic pain by noted pain specialist Jennifer P. Schneider, M.D., Ph.D. It offers expert advice and guidance in everyday language on symptoms, causes, and treatments. The second book is The Gifts of Caregiving: stories of hardship, hope, and healing by Connie Goldman. This book has conversations with more than thirty caregivers, including Dana Reeve (wife of actor Christopher Reeve) and Rosalynn Carter. Please stop by the library shelves in the Fellowship Hall to check out one of our new books. Books in lending library:
Video tapes, all with printed study guides. Many thanks to Floyd Olson for giving us the following .
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MVUUF Social Justice Library |
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Carol left the graphic design profession in 2000 to discover energy work, which has become her passion. Her paintings are a continuation of that work, done with the intent of providing a healing effect. INTERESTED IN VOLUNTEERING? We are looking for several individuals to help once/month making sure there are candles in the chalice, flowers are on their stand and the chairs in the lobby look neat. Although the time commitment is very short, the significance is not to be underrated. See Karen Olson or Leslie Swenson. Aesthetics Committee: aka MVUUF Style Police? The MVUUF Aesthetics Committee does many jobs around the church building. The most enjoyable are hanging artwork, decorating for the holidays and arranging flowers. The hardest job is making sure our building is attractive. The Aesthetics Committee has been charged by the Steering Committee to choose or approve all furnishings for the entire building (excluding the RE classrooms.) Simply put, when anything comes into the building that will be put up for display (excluding bulletin board items) or will be a permanent addition, the Aesthetics Committee should be consulted. Although we’d prefer not to be known as MVUUF Style Police, our goal is to try to keep the building looking good and at the same time, help committees promote their projects. On January 21, 2004, the Aesthetics Committee recommended to the Steering Committee that no sales or promotions take place in the entry level of the building. This recommendation came after many voiced their dismay at the appearance of the entry. The Steering Committee authorized the Aesthetics Committee to set the policy. This policy was not widely publicized outside of the Steering Committee, but as our MVUUF population grows and becomes more active, our members need to know about how to best promote their projects. Prior to that decision, the entry often became congested with sales tables and sign ups. There was the concern that newcomers and visitors would feel as though they had walked into K-Mart! This has not always been a popular decision - MVUUF committees are passionate about their causes and want to share their enthusiasm with everyone. Committees often feel that the best way to promote a cause is for people to see it as soon as they enter the building; there is concern that the impact of their ideas will be lost in the congestion of the lower level. The Aesthetics Committee, then, tries to balance requests for displays upstairs and down. The white board was purchased to direct members to sales, displays and committee projects. We try to maintain safe exits and prevent congestion. We try to give equal space to committee projects both upstairs and down. We try to respect the dignity of the space outside the sanctuary - it can get to be a juggling act! This article was written to thank committees that check with the Aesthetics Committee before putting up a display and as a reminder that there is a policy regarding placement of tables, easels, posters, items for sale and art work at MVUUF. So far, the MVUUF Style Police has not had to write any citations this year and we’d like to keep it that way! Top of Page |
Flowers for Sunday Morning Services |
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Reminder: The laity caring network matches members and friends of the fellowship who have a need or a request in difficult times with members and friends of the fellowship who have volunteered to help fill specific needs or requests. If you’re in need of assistance from the laity caring network, please contact Kathy Allen or Lorene Richards. "My religion is very simple. My religion is kindness." The Dalai Lama The Experiment (continues....) Have you had a chance to check the map and list of circles downstairs by the coffee? Have you been checking zip codes on other members’ nametags? Have you found anyone who lives in your neighborhood that you didn't know about? In order to make it easier, we're planning to put colored dots on all nametags - colors and dots that correspond with the other folks in your "circle". Please let us know if you'd rather not have a "dot". Otherwise, we'll start dotting nametags at the end of the month. Be sure to stop us with questions. Nancy Buckman, Kathy Allen and Lorene Richards. The Membership and Laity Caring committees would like to propose an experiment for this church year. It has to do with getting to know folks in the fellowship that we might not have met or interacted with before, working our way towards being a better community of caring, becoming more intergenerational and…..the best part….it’s not a committee and it doesn’t involve any extra work….other than maybe being a little more aware of each other.... Please look for the flier that will be in the bulletins on Sunday, September 27 and on the membership table in the weeks to come for more information. We’ll also be posting more information here shortly. We’re all very excited about our proposal and hope you will be too! Micro-Loan Program and Minister's Discretionary Fund MVUUF has two funding programs available for its members. The first is the Micro-Loan Program. Under the supervision of the minister and with assistance from the chair of the Laity Caring Committee, the maximum amount for the program is $75.00, with no restrictions on how the funds are used. (The request for the loan is made to the minister and is completely confidential.) While there is a clear expectation that members pay back the loan, no specific time table or deadline is assigned. (We recognize these loans are for a small amount, but may help offset emergency needs.) In addition, MVUUF members may make donations to the micro-loan program. For further information on donating funds, please see either Don or Kathy Allen. The minister also has at his disposal a discretionary fund, which allows him to issue emergency funds to members. No repayment of these funds is expected. The minister may work with the member to seek out other possible solutions and/or resources prior to issuing the funds. See . Don Rollins with questions or requests. Top of Page |
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We have a new Archive co-chair: Kathy Eager. Kathy has been active with various archive activities, including our 40th Anniversary History Book, for many years. She brings artistic expertise as well as Fellowship knowledge, having been a member since 1984, and has now agreed to formally participate in the actions of the MVUUF Archive Committee. Carol Hobart has interviewed two of our MVUUF World War II vets and will continue interviews upon her return from winter travels in the spring. Carol is a retired journalist who says this project is particularly interesting and important. And Donna Kopnick, who has been conducting our Oral Histories, is turning over this project to new member, Theresa Zingery, who has an out-going personality and is genuinely interested in the stories people have to tell. This makes her especially suited for this significant undertaking. Thank you, Donna, & WELCOME: KATHY, CAROL and THERESA! AUDIO TAPES – Sunday Services Tapes of Sunday services may be borrowed for a short time from the church office. . Be sure to sign your name to a slip of paper when you borrow a tape. They are kept in the Archives for the future. Top of Page |
 Frank and Mary Helen Lutes |
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Upcoming Activities: Top of Page |
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Pictures from Freedom to Marry Day at
Minnesota Capitol February 11, 2010 (photos by
Delores Roeder)
March 3, 2010 MUUSJA working group UU's Out for Marriage. Come see what this group does. MVUUF at 7:00 pm April 21,2010 JustFair Lobby Day- Talk with your Legislators about justice and equality under the law. Registration information below. June 27, 2010 Gay Pride Parade March with UU's behind their float carrying our ministers and help assemble the float a few days before.  Register
and Recruit Your Friends for
OutFront Minnesota's justFair
Lobby Day Wednesday, April 21, 2010 - Minnesota State Capitol Each spring during the legislative session OutFront Minnesota brings thousands of fair-minded Minnesotans together at the Minnesota Capitol to rally against the discrimination and inequality faced by GLBT Minnesotans and lobby their elected representatives to support change Welcoming Congregation Committee Supports Post Card Campaign to President Obama President Obama, while campaigning for office said," When I am President of the United States, gays and lesbians will have somebody who will fight for equal rights for them, because they are our brothers and they are our sisters". On February 14th and 21st, MVUUF will hold their postcard campaign to hold the President to his pledge to reverse " Don't Ask, Don't Tell" and to support same sex civil marriages. This is an interfaith campaign supported by the Minnesota UU Social Justice Alliance. Top of Page |
Welcoming Congregation Page Informational Links UUA video which makes clear the support of people of faith for marriage equality. We have two pictures in the video. Can you spot them? |
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This is the theme of our 2010-2011 Pledge Drive that kicks off on Sunday, March 7th. Watch for information in your mailbox. Please contact me if you have any questions. Did you know…
Upon your written authorization, Vanco will automatically transfer the amount you specify from your account to an MVUUF account on the 15th of each month. Once you have completed your authorization for the year, it’s completely automatic.
As we enter the holiday season, I’d like to remind you to use GoodSearch instead of Google or Bing for your Internet searches. Use GoodShop for your online purchases including services and travel.Top of Page Key Dates for 2010-2011 Budget Development Following the winter holidays, another season begins - the budget season.
Sunday, February 7, 2010 • Budget requests are due - put in Lorry Lundborg’s mailbox or email them to lalundborg@hotmail.com. • The Finance Committee will be available in the Fireside Room before and after services for oral presentations. Tuesday, February 9, 2010 • The Finance Committee develops the initial budget based on Committee and Staff input. Wednesday, February 10, 2010 • The Finance Committee presents the initial budget to the Board of Trustees for their review and approval. Thursday, February 18, 2010 • The initial budget is reviewed at the Program Council. March 7, 2010 • Pledge drive kickoff with “Generous Giving” sermon by Rev. Breeden and pledge cards in mailboxes. March 29, 2010 • Pledge cards are due. • Between March 30 and April 12 the Finance Committee will contact members who have not yet pledged. April 14, 2010 • Preliminary budget presented to Board of Trustees for approval. This is the budget based on Committee requests and pledges. April 15, 2010 • Review preliminary budget at the Program Council meeting. May 12, 2010 • Present final budget to Board of Trustees for approval. • The Finance Committee will send the final budget to the Program Council. • Present the final budget at the Annual Meeting (May 16, 2009) for approval. Top of Page Automatic Pledge Payments Next year you won’t have to remember to bring your check book to church or write out that monthly check to MVUUF. Several members have asked for a service like this. MVUUF has entered into an agreement with Vanco Services for direct payments. Upon your written authorization, Vanco will on the 15th of each month automatically transfer the amount you specify from your account into an MVUUF account. Once you have completed your authorization for the year, it’s completely automatic. Vanco is a local company that provides this service at a very reasonable cost to many UU churches throughout the U.S. Churches using it have generally found that it smoothes out their cash flow and increases the amount that they receive. If you are interested in using this service for your 2009-10 pledge, please see Treasurer Jerry Gilliand. Top of Page Fund Raising for MVUUF Don’t forget that there are two ways you can raise funds for MVUUF without much effort. First, remember to use GoodSearch and GoodShop for your internet searches and online purchases including travel. Complete information about how to do that is at GoodSearch and GoodShop. Second, once you’ve made those travel plans using GoodShop, don’t forget to use the MVUUF chauffer service to get to the airport. There are volunteers in each area served by MVUUF who will be happy to give you a ride. See the list of drivers. Taxis are expensive, and giving a donation to MVUUF for the amount you would have spent on the taxi is a great way to help the Fellowship and have a pleasant conversation on the way to the airport. Top of Page Top of Page Minimum Contribution for Membership The bylaws of the Fellowship state that qualifications for membership include “making the minimum contribution of record to the current operating budget by January 1st of each year.” The Board of Trustees has determined that this minimum contribution of record is $100 per member. Although the total cost of operating the Fellowship is approximately $1,000 per member, this minimum amount is intended to reflect the incremental, out-of-pocket cost for each person on the membership role. It includes the amounts we pay to Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations and the Prairie Star District for each member as well as administrative expenses such as mail boxes, copying, mailing and so forth. It does not include costs such as salaries, religious education, program, and building expenses which comprise the majority of our expenditures. Top of Page |
FUNDRAISERS Airport Chauffeur Service  |
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The idea behind the Book is easy: take a book that interests you and replace it with one you're done with. Help the fellowship's book lovers by donating your old books! Just drop them off on the Book shelves. We currently have fiction and non-fiction books but very few children's books. Top of Page |
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What does RE mean? Or DRE? Or UU? Or Board? Who is David? Who is Janet? If you've been around for a while, you may think, "Well, everybody knows that!" . BUT, remember that we have lots of new people coming through our doors. All they hear or see is the acronym, and acronyms make people feel like outsiders. When you address the congregation in any venue – Sunday service, the Uni-Sun (our newsletter), articles on the website, silent announcements, sign-up sheets downstairs, etc., please say or write the following: Religious Education. Director of Religious Education. Unitarian Universalist. Board of Trustees. Rev. David Breeden. Our office manager Janet Stevens. The extra syllables are worth it to make visitors feel welcome. Now You Can Search the MVUUF Website Have you found it frustrating to find a particular item on the MVUUF website (www.mnvalleyuu.org) these days? Check out the new search capability available from the Home page. Try some searches and send comments and questions to webmaster@mnvalleyuu.org. I would especially like to hear from 1) those who find the capability useful and 2) those who have problems with it. Searching was added in response to requests from members. Although right now it can only be done from the Home page, if I hear that people find it useful, the search box will be added to other pages, and the feature will be enhanced. Keep Your Email Address Up-to-Date MVUUF is communicating to members more and more by email including important information on the business of the Fellowship. Email is quick and convenient, and it saves us money. Please be sure the email address you've given MVUUF is one that you check often. If you need to change the email address that MVUUF uses, send the new address to our office manager, Janet Stevens, at office@mnvalleyuu.org. MVUUF Facebook Account For members of the congregation who are into online social networking Bill Balcziak has started an MVUUF group on Facebook to connect members and friends of the MVUUF community. He hopes that it becomes an active, interesting group where people can interact with others and help spread the word about this amazing congregation. You need a free Facebook account to join this online group; get the account at Facebook. Then sign in to Facebook and type “MVUUF” in the Search box to find the group and join it. For additional information e-mail Bill. Top of Page |
Tips for Communicating at MVUUF |
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Many thanks go to Eva Mach and Metro Communication, the company she runs, for our improved sound system. Eva donated equipment and expert personnel from her company. Thanks to her generosity, we now have a greatly improved sound system! --Jerry, “The Sound Man,” Gilliand Top of Page |
MVUUF Energy Audit (PDF) |
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Youth Coordinator Biography |
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Minister of Music |
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 For the past eight years, MVUUF’s garden has been a work in progress. In 1999, landscape designer Ginny Christiansen laid out the original plan, one that reflected her love of Minnesota prairies. Then Ginny moved east, leaving development of her plan to Becky McPeek and Beth Smith who, she says, expanded and enriched it, adding primarily native shrubs and perennials to create a colorful frame for the building. Other MVUUF members have gotten involved, donating benches, sometimes watering and dedicating memorials to help the garden grow. Becky McPeek, a University of Minnesota Extension Master Gardener, began working with the garden in 2002. “I was interested in having a peace pole. I wanted it to be part of something spectacular,” she said. So the first year, Becky and Beth focused on plantings around the peace pole and a welcoming congregation sign. The second year, they added more plants to attract birds and butterflies, creating an official Monarch butterfly waystation financed in part by the MVUUF women’s group. The third year, Becky built a labyrinth behind the building. By year four, the garden had matured enough to require only occasional watering or weeding or the replacement or addition of a plant here and there. Last year, the congregation planted a Pagoda Dogwood tree in the garden to commemorate MVUUF’s 40th anniversary. A lovely magnolia planted by the front entry last fall bloomed for the first time this spring. “Beth’s a meadow person,” says Becky. “I like more open spaces.” Evidence of both styles can be seen in the garden. The strip along Zenith Ave. is filled with plants, many of them from Beth’s home garden. Plants multiply and reseed, needing only occasional dividing or weeding to stay beautiful. The labyrinth laid out in the back of the church is Becky’s work. Spiraling pavers are edged with Lemon thyme. This peaceful shady area includes a bench for quiet meditation. In 2006, Ginny returned to Minnesota. She was thrilled to return to the fellowship and to see the garden she envisioned had been planted and expanded. Today, the garden blooms with hydrangeas, phlox, monarda, daisies, delphinium, butterfly weed, hollyhocks and baby’s breath. Birds and butterflies visit the garden regularly. Thanks to an application filed by Alicia Williams, the garden is an official Audubon reserve. It’s a wonderful place to recharge spiritual batteries until the congregation gathers again in the fall. Top of Page |
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Lifetime Income – A meaningful gift You can establish a GIFT ANNUITY by donating just $5,000 or more to MVUUF(through the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations.) In return you’ll receive a fixed payment each year, quarter or month for the rest of your life. You may choose to receive payments immediately or receive a higher fixed rate by deferring them to a later date. The payments can be made for one person’s life or multiple people. Reduced Taxes A portion of your donation is eligible for an immediate income-tax deduction, and part of the annuity payments are tax free. Plus, you can reduce or defer capital gains taxes by donating appreciated securities. You get peace of mind and a fixed-rate income for life and create a legacy for the future health of our beloved fellowship. Remember, leaving a legacy that perpetuates our UU values will help ensure that future generations have the same opportunities we have enjoyed. What could be better than getting a tax break and partially tax-free income for paying it forward? For more information about Gift Annuities and other ways you can create your legacy to MVUUF, please reach out to any member of the Endowment Committee including Bob Boucher, Steve Danko and Marv Gish. IRA Charitable Rollover Renewed Through 2009 Did you know that if you are age 70.5 or above, you can now make gifts to your congregation, the UUA, or other UU entities directly from your IRA – without including the IRA withdrawal in your taxable income? This timely provision will be in effect through December 31, 2009. To make a tax-free distribution, simply send a letter to your IRA custodian requesting a transfer directly from your IRA to the organization of your choice. --Jerry Gilliand, Treasurer MVUUF Endowment Fund Purpose The Fund is a savings/investment account separate from the MVUUF budget. The purpose of the Fund is to enhance the mission of MVUUF apart from the general operation of the congregation and in general no portion of the principal or income from the Fund is to be used for the annual operating budget. Programs for support may include:
While almost any gift to the Endowment Fund will ultimately achieve income or estate tax benefit, certain forms of gifts are favored by tax laws with immediate tax benefits, while also later reducing the taxable estate. Since these rules are complex and may change from time to time, consult your tax advisor to confirm the tax effect in your situation. More Information As part of the Endowment Committee’s plan this year to provide information to the congregation and also receive information from the congregation, we will be doing a survey which will include providing contacts for individual members to discuss their specific situations as well as offering a seminar where endowment fund opportunities would be discussed in greater detail. Also we will be interested in hearing your ideas as to what projects you would like to see Endowment assets support. Top of Page |
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Overall Kitchen Committee duties
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The Software Evaluation Team has been charged by the Board of Trustees with finding an affordable computer system that will meet the needs of the Fellowship to integrate membership and financial information and to provide more complete reporting. Last year an extensive analysis of our needs was conducted, and the results of that study can be found on the MVUUF web site. This year we are looking at specific systems that are available for purchase or lease. We have determined that our needs will be best met by a web browser-based system so that it can be accessed from any location. There are a lot of systems to choose from. In fact we have identified 62 such systems. We have rejected 44 of these because they didn’t meet one or more of our critical needs. The other 18 are under investigation with the goal of reducing the list to 3 to 5 systems that will be studied in detail. Once we have identified some favorites, we will ask members of the Fellowship for help in evaluating their ease of use and overall suitability. We expect to have a recommendation to the board by the end of the year. Dale Lewellyn, Software Evaluation Team Top of Page |
Needs Analysis Proposal Needs Analysis Summary of Findings |
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Home hospitality during 2010 General Assembly(GA) As you may know, the big Unitarian Universalist(UU) get-together in 2010 is right here in Minneapolis. Some out of the area UUs prefer to stay in private homes instead of the conference hotels. If you would like to host someone during GA and arrange transportation to downtown Mpls, a moneymaking opportunity may exist. You would set your own rates. Your name would be on a list providing hospitality which is given to people registering for GA. To register or learn more contact David Lauth, the district GA Coordinator at david.lauth@gmail.com by December 1st. Top of Page |
Peacemaking: A Draft Unitarian Universalist Statement of Conscience UUA General Assembly 2010 |
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Because the role of the COM is defined in our bylaws, those bylaws will need to be changed. At our Annual Meeting in May, members will vote on these changes. In order to ensure that members are fully informed about the COSM proposal, we will be hosting several Q&A sessions at which we can go into detail about how this expanded committee will work. The first session was held after the Shared Ministry Sunday service on January 17. The next scheduled session is on January 31 at 9:00 before the service. We will be announcing future sessions as they are organized. As always, please feel free to ask questions of any COM member. Top of Page |
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MVUUF has grown numerically, programmatically, culturally, and spiritually since its beginning in 1966. Growth and change have blessed our congregation with vitality and purpose and careful planning guided our course. It’s time now to take the next step. During the next few months you’ll have opportunities to share your thoughts on growth and tell us why MVUUF is important in your life. Our goal is to get a good sense of how we got to where we are, understand what we believe we should be doing, imagine where we want to be in the future, and design a successful plan to get there – in three years, five years, and even to dream about what our church will be in ten years. MVUUF members and friends are encouraged to speak up and be heard. There will be congregational meetings, group discussions, and a variety of ways to join the conversation. The planning team’s job is to listen, pull your ideas together, and reflect them in a living plan – NOT to make decisions. This church’s mission is clear and our values are strong. The collective task now is to lay out specific goals and targets, design ways to measure success, and create a strategy to meet MVUUF’s remarkable potential. The Board of Trustees believes it’s timely that we undertake this holy task, to continue to do the right thing, to do things right, and to make a difference. Opportunity knocks; the door is open; let’s walk through it together. Top of Page |
