January 27, 2008
For Minnesota congregations
The MUUSJA (Minnesota UU Social Justice Alliance) Winter meeting will be Sunday, January 27 from 3:00 to 5:00 pm. Location to be announced. Join UUs from across the metro and state for our annual meeting and annual celebration. For further information contact Ralph Wyman at rwmuusja@gmail.com.
January, 2008
For Nebraska and Western Iowa Congregations
The Nebraska Cluster meets quarterly. The agenda for the winter meeting will be to review pending bills in the Nebraska Legislature. January 13, 2008 at First Unitarian, Omaha, 3114 Harney Street.
For further information contact James Bennett at actuu@aol.com.
September 21-23, 2007
For Western Missouri and Kansas Congregations
The Southern Cluster retreat and camp-out will be September 21-23 at White Memorial Camp near Council Grove, Kansas.
The weekend is designed for congregations of all sizes in Kansas and western Missouri to meet in a relaxed family atmosphere, and share joys, concerns, progress and problems. This year the program will emphasize social justice issues that are directly affecting the churches and fellowships in our area. Immigration opposition, and the racism underlying it, is one concern. Another strong issue is the role of a ‘peace’ church in an area proud of its support of soldiers.
The final agenda for the weekend will focus on the issue which the Southern Cluster UU’s identify as most important to their continued development within the Cluster and District.
For further information contact Caron Wells at caronwells@aol.com.
October 20, 2007
For Iowa congregations
The Iowa Cluster Retreat will be Saturday, October 20, 2007, at TBD. All social justice representatives from congregations throughout Iowa are invited for a day of exploration of our work together.
October 27, 2007
Summary of Southern Minnesota and Western Wisconsin Meeting
Congregations in Southern Minnesota and Western Wisconsin met at the Unitarian Universalist Society of River Falls, Wisconsin on Saturday, October 27. Examples from Information Sharing Session:
Service to Community
Highway cleanup
Salvation Army bell-ringing
Ongoing food shelf collection
Assisting with community meals (served at area churches) for the needy
Habitat for Humanity support
Guest at Your Table collections
2nd Collections for social action purposes
Tree planting
Social justice movie nights
Service To Fellowship
Organize volunteer activities (one-time, short-term or extended) for adult and youth members covering interests of members in the congregation.
Establish social action film club, movie night, or book club to provide ongoing education. Provide a before or after service discussion group.
Offer social justice programming several Sundays a year.
Survey congregation to prioritize issues for congregation’s support and interest.
Organize subgroups so members with the same passion can do their own service.
Communicate through the newsletter, bulletin board, Sunday announcements. To be heard and get action, a message has to be repeated seven times.
Encourage members to lobby and write letters, participate in peace and anti-violence marches.
Acknowlege people as they do things, award them, give recognition.
Go Green
Encourage sustainable travel to worship.
Become a Green Sanctuary.
Work with local school districts to recycle/reuse/donate old textbooks and enclyclopedias.
Next Get Together
Fall 2008
More details here as they become available.
