Social Concerns Update #22 (11/10/09)
Next SC Meeting: 11/29/09 at 11:45 AM
Next Going Green Meeting: 11/15/09 at 11:45 AM
What is needed now?
Green Sanctuary Group: We need to have a short meeting (no more than 30') after the next Sunday service, 11/15/09 at 11:45 to discuss the Green Sanctuary certification. Marilyn Stewart did a great job & now we are looking for people to help put the missing parts (mainly documentation) in order to contact the UUA about certification before our next meeting (twenty days from now).
Church Coalition: Looking for interested folks to attend the church coalition dinner-meeting on Thursday, November 19, 6:00PM. The discussion concerns Thanksgiving Day dinner plans (12:30-3:30) & Christmas in the City along with news about the Hope Foundation. Contact Gary. We need to RSVP ahead of time. Here are the directions from the UUUS- http://maps.google.com/maps?daddr=263+King+St,+Oviedo+Fl+32765+@28.672794,-81.213169&geocode=;FRqDtQEdD8ko-w&dirflg=&saddr=Longwood,+FL&f=d&hl=en&sll=28.675039,-81.210895&sspn=0.013141,0.019827&ie=UTF8&t=h&z=13 See map...
Interested parties to pack sandwiches: Kathy Anderson has started a group to pack sandwiches for the homeless, see her for details. At this point she has 3 volunteers.
Interested parties to join in on a protest! CIW spoke on 11/1/09 to members who were shocked to hear about their slave conditions. Several of our members took part in an afternoon protest in front of a Publix. We followed up with updates on our website concerning their protests & upcoming one on December 6th where we are going to join forces with FUCO on a protest in Lakeland to improve conditions for these workers. For more info, see: http://www.interfaithact.org & http://www.interfaithact.org/floridatour, or Kimm Kavazanjian, Interfaith Action of Southwest Florida, kim@interfaithact.org, 239-986-0847. Let us know if you contact Publix in person, or write to them concerning their actions.
Thanksgiving Dinner: Joie Kohl is handling reservations for the UUUS to help feed the homeless on Thanksgiving at FUMCO. If you're interested, contact her. Or, if you'd like to help out Kathy Anderson & crew at the UUUS, volunteer or just sign up to take part at the UUUS Thanksgiving.
Employment Group: Susan Clary announced a startup group for this purpose with a signup sheet at the back of the sanctuary. If you'd like to get involved or want to help her in this endeavor, touch base with her.
New Items
11/01/09: SC suggested a volunteer talk note during the Sunday Service. Judith Minear (Programs) handled the scheduling while Joie Kohl spoke on her volunteer efforts with the public schools. We hope to have more of these to encourage our members to share what they're doing.
The next Coalition dinner will be this coming Thursday, Novemberr 19th at 6PM at the Oviedo United Methodist Church. Dinner is free.
After the Employment Brochure, several people mentioned the idea of a UUUS support group for those that are unemployed, underemployed or unhappy in their present work. Today, Susan Clary announced a startup group for this purpose with a signup sheet at the back of the sanctuary.
Completed Items
P2009-10-25: SC Gary Przyborski spoke to UUUS Adult RE concerning homeless & the major shifts occurring in our economy. Spirited discussion followed with their members seeking more information.
P2009-11-01: SC Kathy Anderson spoke on homelessness to UUUS Adult RE. Afterwards, Sylvia Friedman took it upon herself to invite Sadie from Sadie Shelter who spoke on 2009-11-08. Apparently, the Adult RE are getting involved in volunteering & the access to these speakers allows them to get more information.
P2009-11-01: Black Manatee connection forged by Dawn Foster & Marcilla Smith working with Chris Reid & the board.
P2009-11-09: Upgraded SC website again. A better look, new links to ongoing items & social justice items. Sections include Health Care Reform, Health (revised), Local Needs, SC Corner (previous SC Connection pieces), a Going Green section, & a Resource section with books, broadcasts, internet & movies of interest. This will be an ongoing effort to keep these pages current. If you have something of interest, send us an email on it.
P2009-11-16: GOOD TURNOUT- ABOUT 30 PEOPLE. Friday, October 16, Movie Showing @ the UUUS, 7-10 PM: The Orlando Chapter of the Zeitgeist movement are screening the movie “Zeitgeist: Addendum” that deals with social ills of today, uncovers possible underlying factors & offers alternatives. Everyone is invited. After the showing, there will be a Q&A session. There will be drinks & some light food.
Social Concerns Meeting Minutes, October 25, 2009
Attending: Aziza Brown, Wakil Lorenzo, Kathy Anderson, Dave Symonds, Joe Mendoza, Greg Pettengill, Kathy McAmbridge, Mike Christle
Thank you to Kathy Anderson for providing hospitality to the Zeitgeist Move Showing!
We discussed changing the Food Drive Box. The following are the group suggestions:
Decorate the box to show its purpose.
Joe Mendoza volunteered to get a new box. FOLLOWUP: Joe got some boxes & Dave Symonds brought in a wicker basket.
Make announcements every Sunday for the following week. FOLLOWUP: On going notes are being put in the Sunday bulletin & we are working on getting out the word.
Put the box outside on Sunday’s & leave it in the hallway during the week. FOLLOWUP: Done by Joe Mendoza.
Handout reminder flyers for people to place in conspicuous places at home. FOLLOWUP: Done by Dawn, flyer on the back table.
We discussed Marcilla’s suggestion of hosting the Black Manatee Collective’s free store on a trial basis. This has been approved by the board & the details are being worked on.
Gary requested someone else attend the Hope Foundation’s monthly dinner meetings. Joe, Aziza & Wakil expressed interest. Gary/Dawn will send out an email to confirm before the rsvp deadline. FOLLOWUP: Emailed several SC members & one in the general congregation who have shown interest. Also, here's directions from UUUS- http://maps.google.com/maps?daddr=263+King+St,+Oviedo+Fl+32765+@28.672794,-81.213169&geocode=;FRqDtQEdD8ko-w&dirflg=&saddr=Longwood,+FL&f=d&hl=en&sll=28.675039,-81.210895&sspn=0.013141,0.019827&ie=UTF8&t=h&z=13
Marilyn Stewart has agreed to take on the Green Sanctuary process. Kathy mentioned the need to involve the Children. It is possible the children have already done something that would qualify. It should be mentioned to Marilyn to speak to Happy. FOLLOWUP: Marilyn did a great job of determining where we are. Our next steps include getting some more information & then calling UUA Ministry of the Earth. We've scheduled a short meeting on 11/15/09 for those interested in the environment to help organize & do the few things to put this to bed.
Greg Pettengill had a conversation with Happy & John Amein regarding the children participating in the Garden. There would be a need to involve the parents/Adults. This led to discussion of gardening possibilities & tips, including the possibility of having a hands on educational workshop on gardening. We should discuss this further.
It was mentioned that energy/light consumption was cut from 90w to 16w on the workday.
Kathy Anderson is still waiting confirmation from the UUUS Congregation before committing to FUMCO’s Thanksgiving. There may also be an issue with the time difference between FUMCO’s Thanksgiving & Kathy’s.
Kathy McAmbridge mentioned a friend, Rob, who is homeless & living near Publix & CVS in Oviedo. Rob is wheelchair bound & Kathy was wondering if FUMCO or UUUS had someone who could transport Rob to Thanksgiving dinner. We will check into it. FOLLOWUP: Dawn took care of this & got the information to Kathy McCambridge..
We discussed the possibility of doing something social as a group either after a work day or on its own. The majority was not interested in doing anything social as they are very busy & would prefer to stick to just the monthly meetings & the causes. FOLLOWUP: GP contacted CITE via voicemail & email- no response. Currently, we are planning on holding off for now due to the closeness of the holidays but are thinking about a January time schedule.
Kathy Anderson reminded us of the November 7th growing congregations meeting.
