The Flaming Chalice

The Unitarian Universalist Church of Valdosta

July 1998

Jack Ford - Minister	Janet Andersen - R.E. Director
Steve Andersen - President	René Kerr - Treasurer
Charles Judah - Vice-president	Theresa Thompson - Secretary
Rhett Fraser - Youth Ambassador	Carol Stiles - Newsletter Ed.

What's going on....

Tues	June 30	11:00 AM	Break Bread Together meal delivery
Sun	July 5	9:30 AM 10:45 AM	R.E. - Youth and Adult Service - Matt Flumerfelt
Tues	July 7	7:00 PM	Women's Group at the church
Tues	July 7	11:00 AM	Break Bread Together meal delivery
Sun	July 12	9:30 AM 10:45 AM	R.E. - Youth and Adult Service - Hue Jacobs
Sun	July 19	9:30 AM 10:45 AM	R.E. - Youth and Adult Service - Dick Shelton, Politics, Liquor, and Women: A Reflection on the Lowndes Co. 1907 Prohibition Referendum
Tues	July 21	7:00 PM	Women's Group at the church
Sun	July 26	9:30 AM 10:45 AM	R.E. - Youth and Adult Service - Luana Goodwin and Dennis Bogyo, Daoist Tai Chi

News from the Board meeting, June 7, 1998

Members of the former and new Board and others, met to discuss many upcoming events and issues for the new fiscal year. Some of the highlights:

Decided to establish a committee to investigate the options for future ministry here at UU Valdosta. As Jack Ford moves toward completion of his internship in the next year, we have become aware of UUA guidelines that may preclude him from staying on as minister after his internship. This committee (which will be separate from the internship committee) will investigate our options, which may include continued support of current minister, requesting a new part-time or Extension minister, and/or other options. The committee will contact the Florida District and UUA regarding the possibility of financial support for an Extension minister, and gather input from the congregational members and friends regarding future ministry.
Discussed carrying out a membership survey for the overall program of UU Valdosta.
Discussed the Break Bread program and the need for someone to coordinate our participation, beginning this summer and fall
Discussed groups renting the building, payment of rent, and new telephone answering machine.
Discussed establishing campus ministry at Valdosta State University. Three VSU students are needed to be able to register as a campus group. This has been discussed further with Hue Jacobs who is interested in being involved in this group. Anyone who is interested in working with college students to get them involved in UU, should contact Hue, Jack Ford, or any officer for more information, so that this program can get underway as soon as students return in the fall.
Discussed the last coffee house, and made suggestions for future coffee houses.
Discussed the need for a couple of volunteers - one to attend the Ryan White/AIDS Consortium meetings, as a representative of UU-Valdosta, and secondly, a church archivist, to document our church history and organize papers, newsletters, photos, etc.; please let an officer know if you are interested in doing either of these.

July 4^th social event - at Doug and Molly's place!

Instead of Games night on July 4^th, we will gather at Doug and Molly's home, about 6:30 p.m. Bring an appetizer or salad to share, and whatever you wish to drink. Perhaps another musical outing will follow later that night? Call Molly and Doug or Carol for directions or more info. (And we can help them celebrate, too!)

Coordinator for Break Bread Together

We need someone to volunteer as coordinator for our participation in the Break Bread program!! We deliver the meals the 1^st and 5^th Tuesdays of each month beginning about 11:00 a.m. Actual delivery only takes about an hour of your time, and is rewarded by the appreciation of those receiving the meals. The coordinator will be responsible for making sure two people (or a family) volunteer for those days to pick up and deliver the meals. Dee Tait, Martha and Norman Horowitz have been very active in this program, and we thank them! If you would like to be coordinator for this very important social action program, please contact Carol Stiles.

Women's Group

Women's Group continues to meet this summer, the 1^stand 3^rd Tuesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. We gather for good food and company and sharing, in the presence of women, various activities such as reading a book (suggestions welcomed!) or writing activities. Currently we are planning to do some writing activities from the book, Writing Re-Creatively: A Spiritual Quest for Women, by Gail Collins-Ranadive. This book is put out by the UUA (Skinner House Books). Join us, July 7 and July 21, 7:00 p.m. (Please note that it is not necessary to share your writing with the group - that is up to you.....)

Religious Education news

R.E. classes continue to meet this summer. For more info, contact the following individuals:

Elementary and youth R.E. - Janet Andersen
Youth Group - Doug or Rhett Fraser
Laurel Hahlen
Adult R.E. - Hue Jacobs

Youth group meets at 10:00 a.m. every Sunday, and will be participating this summer in various activities such as helping deliver meals for the Break Bread program. Contact Jessica Soady, President, for more info.

Tai Chi

The Tai Chi group will have a new beginners' class starting in August. Contact Dennis Bogyo or Luana Goodwin, for more information and future schedule. Dennis and Luana will be speaking at the church on July 26 - come see what Tai Chi is all about!

Meditation Group

A group has gathered informally at the church a few times to meet for meditation. If you are interested in knowing more about this group, please call Ann Bennett.

Volunteer needed:

Looking for a way to become active in the community or church?? Here is yet another opportunity:

The Ryan White/AIDS Consortium is a grant-based educational and outreach program of the Department of Health, District Office, with participation from home health agencies, and others from the Valdosta community and region. The group meets to plan ways to provide support for people with AIDS and to provide AIDS education to various groups. Meetings are held about every two months, on Thursday mornings 9:00 a.m., at the VSU Education Center, Rm. 97, and by satellite at Cook Co., Tift Co., and Irwin Co. high schools (for those of you who don't live in Valdosta). The group carries out educational programs such as a recent HIV Workshop held on the campus of VSU, and are moving into such areas as investigating the availability of housing for people living with AIDS. We have been asked to provide a representative from the Unitarian Church to participate in this consortium. Remaining meeting dates for this year are July 9, September 10, and November 12. Please call Carol Stiles if you would like to participate, and for more info.

Sexism Discussion:

An informal group has been formed to discuss the topic of sexism from the perspectives of both men & women. The group will meet on Wednesday, July 8^th at 7:30 p.m. at the home of Pat & Ari Santas. For directions, please call. There will be a potluck dinner.

Recent and Upcoming

Birthdays

Chuck Cape 7/12
Andre Asbury 7/22
Charles Tatch 7/26

Deadline for August
newsletter issue: July 15

Contact:
Carol Stiles
c/o UU Church, 1951 E. Park Ave.,
Valdosta, GA 31602
e-mail: cranfun@peachnet.campus.mci.net

UU Activities and Announcements

Check the bulletin boards in the church and R.E. building for more announcements and information on the following events:

July 28 - Aug 1, 1998
Southeast Unitarian Universalist Summer Institute (SUUSI '98), Radford University, Radford, VA

August 28 - 30, 1998
Youth Advisor Training, Orlando, Fl

Sept 19
Northeast Cluster meeting, at UU Society of Daytona Beach, Ormond Beach, FL, 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. The topic is fundraising.

Oct 31 - Nov 7, 1998
The Florida Leadership School, Canterbury Retreat Center, near Orlando.

Going on now!! The General Assembly of the UUA is meeting in Rochester, NY, June 25-30. Check out the UUA website for the latest news: http://uua.org/ or stay tuned here for more info.

UU Committees

The following is a list of the different committees available for your involvement. With the new year coming up, let us know how you would like to participate in UU-Valdosta!

Program Committee Charles Judah, Chair Carol Stiles Betty Derrick Theresa Thompson	Religious Education Janet Andersen Jack Ford Julie Halter
Social Action Jack Ford	Fundraising and Canvassing Rene Kerr
Ministerial Internship Virginia Branan Rene Kerr Jim Ingram Josette Ingram Dave Gibson Jack Ford	Newsletter and Publicity Relations Carol Stiles Julie Halter Chuck Cape
Music Molly Scholz Doug Fraser	Caring Committee Janet Andersen Ann Bennett
Building and Grounds Jim Ingram Josette Ingram Martha Horowitz	Denominational Affairs Carol Stiles Jack Ford

SUUSI '98

Radford Univ., Radford, VA, July 28 - Aug. 1, 1998
The Southeast Unitarian Universalist Summer Institute (SUUSI) is in its 48th year as an intentional community of UU's and others who gather for a week in July to explore our interconnectedness, learn new ways of seeing our world and each other, delight in the joys of meeting old friends and making new ones, share outdoor adventures, dance, and sing. Contact: Rob Martin, E-mail: rmartin@uuf.org

(or see the newsletter editor for more info)

Florida District Youth Advisor Training

will be held Aug. 28-30, 1998 in Orlando. The Florida district asks that at least one trainee from every church attend this workshop, but all possible youth advisors are encouraged to attend. The leader is Sue Baskin, an advisor for the YRUU in Miami, member of the District Youth Council. This workshop is "the beginning of the comprehensive Advisor Training and network building to which the Florida District has committed itself in support of our youth." The workshop will be conducted in the style of a YRUU conference. Registration is $40 ($30 for additional members from the same church, if submitted by July 15). Send registration to Terry Duncan, or see the bulletin board or Carol Stiles for a registration form.

The Mountain

Retreat and Learning Center is an independent affiliate of the Unitarian Universalist Association, located atop Little Scaly Mountain near Highlands, NC, (about two hours from Atlanta).
The website address is: http://themountain.uua.org/mountain
See the April newsletter and the bulletin board for upcoming retreats and workshops.

UU in The Pines

will host an Intergenerational Elderhostel, July 12-17, 1998, for grandparents and grandchildren (or other young friends/relatives) ages 9-14. The course is "Exploring Florida's Ecosystems From The Water Up: Canoeing Three Rivers." For more info, contact Elderhostel at (617) 426-8056.

UU in the Pines is available for overnight stays for your family and friends as a personal retreat, a family getaway, a stop on the way if you're passing through. Call 352-796-4457 for more information.

Suzanne Goltz Gagan is the director.

UU in the Pines is a year round, rustic Conference Center in West Central Florida's rolling hills, 40 miles north of Tampa. Thirteen acres with towering oaks and pines houses sleeping, dining and workshop facilities. Home cooked meals, outdoor adventures, and quiet, rural atmosphere renew body, mind and spirit. Groups and individuals welcome.

Contact: 7029 Cedar Lane Brooksville FL 34601
uupines@pro-scat.cts.com

Newsletter questionnaire:

To better provide a helpful, informative, and entertaining newsletter, please complete the following questionnaire and return it to the newsletter editor - either in person, or by leaving it in the newsletter mailbox in the church office, or by mailing to Carol Stiles. Thanks for your input!! (P.S., this is really a test to see how many people actually read the whole newsletter! But, your individual response can be anonymous.... Please photocopy if more than one person per household wishes to respond.)

Please rank the following sections/features that have been included in the newsletter:

1 = most value to you, 3 = no opinion either way,

5 = least value (yes, you may use 2 and 4, too, and use all numbers as many times as you wish).

____ calendar of events/Sunday services

____ articles of current/upcoming events, e.g.

coffeehouse, etc.

____ President's column

____ Minister's column

____ letters from other members

____ "What's Your Viewpoint" (occasional column about various issues in UU and religious news)

____ committee reports/requests

____ R.E. news/announcements

____ UUA Activities and Announcements (Florida district and national events)

____ contact info/announcements for UU camps, retreats, and other affiliates

____ news from individuals (e.g., "travelling UU's)

____ poetry

____ birthday announcements

____ community announcements, related to social action concerns

____ other (please list: ____________________ )

Other comments:

1. Would you like to see more features on national issues, either UUA or other religious or social action issues?

2. Would you like to see profiles of individual members and friends?

3. Are you interested in having us make use of more electronic communication (e.g., expand the website, use e-mail more, etc.) (for those of you who have access to this)?

4. Suggestions for topics or other items you would like to see in future issues?

5. Would you be willing to write just one or two articles for the newsletter in the upcoming year? (If so, please let me know, separately from responding here).

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