Spiritually Open, Intentionally Inclusive since 1958
510 N Leroux
Flagstaff, AZ 86001
928-779-4492e
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E-News for September 22nd - 29th, 2022 | |
~ SUNDAYS AT BEACON ~
WE’RE BACK IN THE SANCTUARY FOR WORSHIP! PLEASE JOIN US.
Masks are optional. (Special seating area for mask wearers is available.)
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SERVICE FOR SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 25TH, 2022, AT 10 A.M.
“The Possum Experiment and the Choice to be Good”
ALL ARE WELCOME! You BELONG at Beacon. Spiritually open and intentionally inclusive since 1958.
During the Days of Awe, the Jewish High Holidays that begin with Rosh Hashanah on September 26 and end with Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement) on October 5, the Book of Life is open as we are asked to consider our behavior, our transgressions and how to turn towards reconciliation. Are we born to be mild? If so, what turns us towards unkindness? If not, what motivates us to be good and what entices us to be cruel? Has a coarsened society set our gremlins loose on our better angels? Rev. Robin Landerman Zucker, preaching with Worship Associate Pia Driessen-Knittle and music from Austin Shaw and the Beacon Choir, under the direction of Andrez Alcazar.
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Our beloved Dora is moving to Florida!
Come celebrate all she has meant to us
after the service.
We’ll have light refreshments and share our favorite stories of Dora!!
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KIDS AT BEACON - ALL ARE WELCOME!
Children and youth are always welcome in worship! There will be activity packets available for children during the service.
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Beacon UU – YouTube sensation! 15 months, 63 recorded and edited worship services that you can tune into anytime you’d like for a first viewing or a re-viewing. Share our channel with friends you’d like to introduce to Beacon. See our virtual service history on the "Beacon UUC" Youtube Channel You can also view past sermon descriptions and PDFs on our website here.
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MAKING MUSIC AT BEACON
Lift up your voice…It's going to be a fabulous year for music at Beacon! All are welcome to join the choir. And it’s a great way to introduce friends who like to sing to Beacon.
Choir Rehearsals will be held on TUESDAY nights at 7 p.m.
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THE BEACON AUCTION IS BACK!
SAVE THE DATE: NOVEMBER 12, 2022
After a two-year break during Covid, the Beacon Auction Team is happy to announce that we will be holding our annual fundraiser auction this year! Mark your calendars for Saturday, November 12. And for the first time, we will hold the auction at Beacon now that we have the space to do so. We'll have both our live and silent auctions, along with raffle and door prizes. It's not too early to start thinking about what you'd like to offer for the auction. If you're interested in volunteering, please email the Auction Team at [email protected]
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BEACON SPOTLIGHT:
CONGREGATION SURVEY
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Dear Members and Friends at Beacon,
The Search Committee is asking for your help in determining what qualities the congregation is looking for in our next settled minister. This brief survey will help the Search Committee better understand the needs of the congregation and what the congregation wants Beacon to look like in the future.
The information we collect will be completely anonymous. The Search Committee would like you to provide as much information as possible, even the demographic information is highly useful as it gives potential candidates a window into the makeup of our congregation. The Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) would like to see at least 60% participation in the Congregational Survey. As such, your participation is greatly appreciated and important to our work. The survey will end on September 26, 2022.
Thank you for taking the time to provide the Search Committee with valuable feedback. The survey link will be sent to you in a separate email. If you have any questions or concerns about the survey, you are welcome to contact Collin Weller at [email protected] or lore m. dickey at (318) 265-4287.
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SPLINTERS FROM THE BOARD: THE 8TH PRINCIPLE | |
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1n 1997, the General Assembly voted to commit to intentionally becoming an anti-racist, anti-oppressive, multicultural institution. Yet, 25 years later, we continue to fall short of our commitments and promises. Since 2013, a group of Unitarian Universalists advocated, to more specifically address racism and oppression, for the adoption of an 8th Principle, which states as follows:
We, the member congregations of the Unitarian Universalist Association, covenant to affirm and promote: journeying toward spiritual wholeness by working to build a diverse multicultural Beloved Community by our actions that accountably dismantle racism and other oppressions in ourselves and our institutions.
In 2017, the UU Church of Mt. Airy, of Philadelphia was the first to adopt the 8th Principle, at its annual meeting, and today, over 200 churches have done so. The 8th principle is calling us to do deeper work within all areas of congregational life. It’s not a social justice project, it’s a call to think about the ways we become the beloved community we dream about.
Beacon’s Board began discussion of the 8th Principle and has chosen to move forward with its adoption:
On Sunday, October 9th, Rev. Robin will reintroduce the Principle in her message.
On Sunday, October 23rd, we will conduct a forum with discussion on the 8th Principle.
On Sunday, November 13th, a Congregational Meeting will be held to vote on its adoption. This meeting will require a quorum.
With Rev. Robin’s talk and the forum, we hope to address your questions and concerns.
A formal notice of the Congregational Meeting will go out at least 15 days prior to the meeting. For those who want to explore on their own, further information from the UUA can be found here.
In covenant,
Lynda L. Dorweiler, Board President
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The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly (GBU):
RE for 5th grade through high school youth
Hi, RE Families!
Steph and I certainly enjoyed our first GBU class this past Sunday!
GBU will meet on the first and third Sundays of each month. Our October GBU classes will be held on Oct. 2nd and 16th at 11:15 a.m.
Please join us by connecting to this Zoom link.
Meeting ID: 865 1117 5263
Passcode: beacon510
See you soon,
Dru Monroe
Steph van Belle
Click here to check out our RE programs from years past.
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RELIGIOUS EXPLORATION FOR ADULTS
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R U a UU?
One Sunday a month – Just after the service. Have you been one without even knowing it? So many questions?! Grab a coffee and meet with Rev. Robin after the service on the following Sundays for a one-hour conversation about Unitarian Universalism and your own spiritual journeys to the door of Beacon.
The next RU a UU? session will be held on Sunday, October 16th.
Please stay tuned for notices about future adult education offerings.
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Please note: We recommend that you donate to Vanco directly from a bank account to save us the fees associated with credit card donations. More for us to sustain our congregation.
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When you make donations by check or cash to Beacon, please be sure to designate whether the donation is PLEDGE or PLATE. Thank you for your continued support! | |
SHARE YOUR JOYS AND SORROWS - CHIME IN!
One way we can sustain connection during this time apart is by sharing our personal joys and sorrows. These can be small things or large things that effect your life. These are spoken during service every Sunday, or you can send them to Rev. Robin by Saturday night each week at [email protected] to be shared.
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JOYS AND SORROWS FROM SEPTEMBER 18TH
Joan shared her concern for the people on the west coast of Alaska as they face strong winds and waves from a typhoon; many have substandard housing.
Roz was thankful for Beacon representation at the recent NAIC Candidate Forum.
Becky is elated and honored to have been invited to a Hopi dance, a truly once-in-a-lifetime experience.
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The next Cheap Lunch Bunch get together will be at Beacon U.U., on Wednesday, October 5, 2022, at 11:30 a.m. Bring your bag or takeout lunch, heat it in the microwave if necessary, and if the weather is beautiful, we can picnic in the back yard, and if it's not, we can meet in the Social Room or The Rainbow Space. ALL ARE WELCOME!
Please plan on doing a bag lunch on the first Wednesday of each month and then having lunch at a local restaurant on the third Wednesday. Doing this at standardized times should make it easier on everyone's calendars, and only doing a restaurant once a month should make it easier on our pockets.
To opine on the time and location of future gatherings and to be included in all the group's emails, please email Anne at [email protected].
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JULY-SEPTEMBER 2022 SHARE THE PLATE PARTNER
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Beacon’s community partner for July-September 2022 is
Northern Arizona Interfaith Council/Northern Arizona Interfaith Institutions for Community Leadership (NAIC/NAICL).
For July-September 2022, Beacon UU will Share the Plate with Northern Arizona Interfaith Council/Northern Arizona Interfaith Institutions for Community Leadership (NAIC/NAICL). More information can be found here.
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BEACON'S ENDOWMENT PLAN APPROVED
The Board was very pleased to see so many of our members in attendance at the congregational meeting on April 24, 2022, where we discussed and approved Beacon's new Endowment Plan. This plan was developed by Rich Clark, Mary Poore, and Holly Taylor. It was then circulated to all our members and revised in response to their comments. In spring 2022, it was reviewed and enthusiastically approved by Beacon’s Board. Forty-eight members attended the congregational meeting, far exceeding the quorum of 23 members that is currently required for Beacon to conduct official business. Rich Clark presented the Endowment Plan, and Mary Poore and Holly Taylor answered questions. Carl Taylor proposed two minor changes in the wording of the plan which were immediately accepted by the Endowment Committee. The plan was then approved unanimously, with all 48 members voting in favor. The Endowment’s Board of Governors: Rich Clark, Mary Poore, Holly Taylor, Barry Brenneman, and Steve Zeldes, was then unanimously approved, thus marking an important step to ensure that Beacon remains a strong and vibrant congregation in the years to come.
The amendment, as approved, can be found here.
A summary of the Endowment Fund amendment can be found here.
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LEGACY GIVING TIP – DID YOU KNOW?
You don’t have to confess your age, but if you are 72 or older, you may be required to pay federal taxes on the RMDs, “required minimum distributions,” that you now must take from certain types of your invested retirement funds. Did you know that you may be able to reduce your tax bill by contributing to Beacon’s stewardship campaign or to Beacon’s new Endowment Fund? See your tax consultant for more specific individual advice about whether you could benefit both Beacon and yourself by adopting this tax strategy.
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ACTIVATE AT BEACON WITH SOCIAL JUSTICE ALLIES! | |
The Social Justice Allies meet monthly on Zoom to discuss issues and actions. If you wish to join them, contact the convener Paul Beier. p[email protected]
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WEAR IT ON YOUR SLEEVE
Social Justice Spotlight
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Midterm elections are all about turnout, and handwritten letters have proven to be an effective way to encourage voters to participate in our democracy. We're writing voter turnout letters now to send to voters in October.
Getting started with Vote Forward is easy:
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Visit votefwd.org/dashboard to complete your Vote Forward registration. If you need help, take a look at our instructions.
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When your account is approved, log in at votefwd.org.
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Choose a key state or district letter writing campaign, and “adopt” voters on your Vote Forward dashboard.
- Download, print, and prepare your letters.
- Keep your finished letters somewhere safe.
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Mail your letters on October 29—right before Election Day when they’ll have the greatest impact.
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VOLUNTEERS NEEDED A.S.A.P.
FOR AN ELECTION FORUM FOR CITY COUNCIL CANDIDATES
Just a reminder that Friends of Flagstaff’s Future needs 20 volunteers to serve as facilitators at a forum for the 10 candidates for four open seats on Flagstaff City Council.
What issues are important to you? Flagstaff’s first-ever Affordable housing plan (Feb 2022)? Flagstaff’s first-ever Carbon neutrality plan (June 2021)? Flagstaff’s first-ever Active transportation management plan (September 2021)? Planning for the last 2,000 acres of developable land in the City? Wildfires & floods? Something else? Whatever your priorities, the 4 winners of this election will be 2/3 of the votes needed to make progress on your issues.
The forum will be held on Saturday, October 1, 2022 from 9 a.m. until noon. To serve as a facilitator, you must attend a 1-hour training session on either Tuesday, September 20th at 5 p.m. or Wednesday, September 21st at 10 a.m. Do you want to help Flagstaff citizens make the best choices for City Council? Can you commit to the aforementioned hours? If so, sign up here. Flagstaff thanks you.
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ISSUES + ACTION DAY 2022
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22ND, 9am - 5pm
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Join us to celebrate at our BIG annual statewide event…back in person for the first time since 2019! Issues + Action Day brings us together as UUs from across Arizona, along with folks from our partner organizations, and visits from national UU guest speakers, in order to grow our movement for social justice, and put our faith into action.
Reserve your early-bird tickets by October 1st here.
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MICHAEL SERVETUS/
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE AGAINST RACISM (MS/INCAR)
OCTOBER 28TH THRU 30TH, 2022
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You are cordially invited to participate in the Unitarian Universalist Multiracial Unity Action Council of Chicago's Michael Servetus/InterNational Conference Against Racism, a hybrid event--in person in Geneva, Switzerland, and via Zoom--from Friday, October 28th through Sunday, October 30th. The event's theme is "the vital role which Multiracial Unitarian Universalism as an embodiment of the Seven Principles of the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations, especially the Fourth Principle, can play in the struggle against racism in all its forms from Afghanistan to Zambia." Registration is $150 per person. More information can be found here as well as on the UUMUAC website. | |
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Our social justice work centers putting our UU values into action… but what do UUs value? In 2020, the UUA commissioned a team to study the principles, sources, purpose, and values of Unitarian Universalism in order to suggest changes to the principles and sources (Article 2) in summer 2023. UUJAZ has been following the proposed changes, and we want to hold space for a weekly conversation to explore our individual and collective values. Learn more about the Article 2 Study commission here. To register for the conversation with Rev. Anthony Johnson in Sedona on Wednesdays Nov 9th - December 14th, 10:30am - 12pm, click here.
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Volunteer At Flagstaff Food Center With Beacon!
VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED FOR SEPTEMBER 28TH.
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The Flagstaff Food Center utilizes small groups of volunteers for their dinner service. Beacon is looking for a group of five (5) to seven (7) volunteers for the 4th & 5th Wednesdays of every month, from 3 p.m. - 6 p.m. The dinner service is at the FFFC Kitchen (1903 N 2nd Street) and is a hybrid operation with To-Go meals and Dine-in service.
Beacon's next volunteer date is Wednesday, September 28th from 3:00-6:00 p.m. If dinnertime service does not interest you, please consider helping with prep from 10 a.m. until noon or pitching in at the warehouse on Huntington.
Volunteer Safety: Volunteers are required to wear a mask, closed-toe shoes, and long pants; regularly wash or sanitize their hands; and practice six feet of social distancing whenever possible. Gloves for food preparation and distribution will be provided at the kitchen to each volunteer. Plexiglass has been installed at the walk-up window as a safeguard against COVID-19. The center has enhanced cleaning protocols.
Sue Strobel is organizing monthly teams of Beacon UU volunteers. If you're interested in volunteering, please contact Sue at 928 522-3284 (cell) or 928-526-5156 (home).
More summer volunteer opportunities can be found here.
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SONG OF LIGHT WITH VOX LUMINA
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 6TH AT 7 P.M.
HERE AT BEACON U.U.
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Song of Light is a beautiful performance ritual featuring nine “dreamsongs” woven throughout Vox’s soulful and poetic narrative re-telling the rich ancestry of her land and people and invoking a collective re-connection to the natural world. This ancient story, told by Vox Lumina (Queen of Orga, Land of Organically Generated Sound, Time & Form) takes us back to the beginning of Orga’n time, and tells of the origin of the elements as Sky, Earth, Sun, Moon, and River. Brooke Smokelin aka Vox Lumina is currently on a cross-country tour making and carrying vibrational medicine for bodies of water, especially the Snake River in Idaho, the 2nd most endangered river in the US and home of a native salmon population nearing extinction. Our rivers need our support! Learn more about Brooke’s healing practices and performances here.
suggested donation $15/no one turned away/all ages welcome
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The Arizona Faith Network offers many opportunities to enroll in free webinars and sign on to many actions and initiatives across the spectrum of social justice issues.
Events include programs on “Empathy, Exhaustion and Social Change,” Circles of Hope, Healing and Humanity, and meetings of various teams addressing voting rights, criminal reform, hunger issues, racial justice, and indigenous rights. Find out more: https://www.arizonafaithnetwork.org/
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YA New Series – Becoming S.A.G.E. – Spiritual Activists for the Earth
Arizona Interfaith Power and Light is excited to announce the launch of a new interview series called “Becoming S.A.G.E. – Spirited Activists Greening the Earth.” We interview the Sages among us who are engaging in faithful advocacy living out AZIPL’s mission to mobilize people of faith and conscience to care for our common home and work for climate justice. Find out more (including YouTube links) at http://www.azipl.org
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Lifespan Religious Exploration Resources for Learning About and Responding to Racism | |
This painful moment in time calls us to focus our learning and reflection on allyship to people of color, understanding white privilege, and reflecting on how we can part of a systemic sea change and solution in our society.
Beacon has provided resources for all ages addressing how we as individuals and as communities can learn about and respond to racism. For the full list of resources, activities and community meetings, visit Beacon's Religious Exploration pages.
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WORSHIP SERVICE
Sunday, September 25th, 2022, at 10:00 a.m.
“The Possum Experiment and the Choice to be Good”
in the Beacon Sanctuary
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You can keep up with future Beacon events by checking out the Beacon calendar!
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EVERYDAY WAYS TO SUPPORT BEACON | |
1. If you shop at all at Fry's grocery, you can either sign up for your own VIP account (identifying Beacon UUC FE392 as your beneficiary) or use the church phone number (928-779-4492) to get any available discounts AND earn some money for Beacon. Currently, there are 8 households signed up, and Beacon earned $15.30 for this quarter.
If you want to take advantage of Fry's gasoline discounts, you'll want your own VIP account. You can create or edit an existing individual account at www.frysfood.com/account/create/ (Alt ID is typically your phone number.) Within your account settings, just click on Community Rewards and search for FE392 (Flagstaff's Beacon UU) to set Beacon as your beneficiary.
2. If you shop on Amazon, please use "Amazon Smile" and choose Beacon Unitarian Universalist Congregation (do not abbreviate UU) as your recipient. We will receive a 0.5% for every purchase and that can add up! Remember that you have to start each shopping session at smile.amazon.com for us to receive the donation.
3. Until September 30th, 2022, iGive.com has a New Member promotion: For each new Beacon iGive member who signs up by September 30th and makes a purchase through iGive within 45 days, Beacon earns an additional $15 donation! After creating your own account with a user name and password, select settings and "my cause" and type in Beacon Unitarian Universalist Congregation (do not abbreviate UU). You can order from any of the over 2,300 stores listed under iGive with a portion of your purchase being donated to Beacon. iGive.com also has coupons you can use for additional savings.
4. Basha's has a special debit card that you can charge up before shopping, and a portion of what goes through the debit card gets donated to Beacon because that card is tied to Beacon. Ask Anne Wittke for further information.
Have other ideas for our income incubator? Please leave them on a card in the bin in the lobby, or send them to Rev. Robin.
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~ BEACON OFFICE HOURS AND CONTACTS~
Office Phone (928) 779-4492
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Minister,
Rev. Robin Zucker
she/her/hers
Mon: 10:00 am - 3:00 pm
Wed: 10:00 am - 3:00 pm
Thurs: 10:00 am - 3:00 pm
Or by appointment:
978-505-7245 - talk and text (confidential line)
Get to know Rev. Robin at
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RE Team
We have an incredibly strong team leading our RE this year. You can direct your RE questions to Linda: [email protected]
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Office Manager
Paula Czernicki
she/her/hers
Mon: 9:00 am - 2:00 pm
Wed: 9:00 am - 2:00 pm
Thurs: 9:00 am - 2:00 pm
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~ UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST SEVEN PRINCIPLES ~
Unitarian Universalist congregations affirm and promote seven Principles, which we hold as strong values and moral guides. We live out these Principles within a "living tradition" of wisdom and spirituality, drawn from sources as diverse as science, poetry, scripture, and personal experience. Learn more at beaconuu.com!
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Emails have been received from a false address pretending to be Rev. Robin.
These are not from her! The emails received ask the recipient to purchase gift cards. Please do not respond to or act on these emails. Rev. Robin will only email you from [email protected] or [email protected].
As a personal habit, always check the sender's email address before responding.
Avoid this scam!
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If you are not a member of Beacon's dedicated Google group, you are missing out on an important communications link within our congregation. The BeaconUU Group is useful for sharing information about goings-on in Flagstaff, especially social justice events; offering an item for sale or to give away; expressing enthusiasm about a book or movie; requesting information or recommendations -- and more! It's simple to sign up:
Email [email protected] or Visit here.
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Contribute to Beacon's Weekly News
Newsletter submissions must be submitted by Wednesday at 4:00 pm
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