Weekly Communicator

Weekly Communicator

May 4, 2023

Sunday Service

Join us this Sunday at 10:30am in the Sanctuary or via Zoom

https://zoom.us/j/5264858673

Minister's Musings

Time goes on. This Sunday we will celebrate May Day (with its many meanings). I am looking forward to being with you in person for the next two Sundays. After the service we will have a potluck lunch and also have a chance to dance around the Maypole. Join us!

Next Sunday, the 14th will be a very special Sunday. We will be commissioning Mary Cline Golbitz as a Lay Minister. Please plan to join us for this joyful celebration.

revsue@uucfm.org

WhatsApp call or message: +506 8891 2847

Facebook Messenger: Sue Gabrielson

Skype: suegabes

Please send all newsletter articles by

12pm Wednesday for publication in Thursday's newsletter.

Send articles to newsletter@uucfm.org

**Please do not send requests to the office manager email**

Your UUCFM Tech Team would like to share a few Zoom 101 reminders:

Please make sure your Zoom Name is your name. This helps our tech team know the human behind the screen before admitting you into the meeting. If we feel that a name might be suspicious, we will message you in the Waiting Room and ask you to rename yourself. We can also do this for you if you are having technological difficulties.

To do this while you are in the Waiting Room or in the meeting for Worship Service, go to the Participants button at the bottom of your screen. Go to the right of your name and select “More.”

Then, click “Rename.” A box will pop up with your current name, and you will be able to type in a new name there. Click “Rename” in that box after you have edited your name.

If you are not speaking, please remember to stay muted. Make sure the Microphone icon on the bottom left of the black screen in the meeting has a red diagonal line through it.

Remember that you are always on camera. Need to yawn, sneeze, blow your nose, or something you don’t want us all to see? Stop your video for a moment. You can do this by clicking on the video icon in the bottom left corner.

Please be fully dressed. Any nudity will not be tolerated, and you will be removed immediately, and not allowed back in.

Community Sharing for May

Our Community Sharing partner this month is Alliance for Fair Food. The Alliance for Fair Food (AFF) is the vibrant, diverse ally network of the Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW), the internationally-acclaimed farmworker organization transforming human rights in the U.S. agricultural industry. The principal focus of the Alliance for Fair Food is the Campaign for Fair Food, a farmworker-led, community-powered movement that successfully holds major food retailers accountable to the highest human rights standards in their produce supply chains.

www.allianceforfairfood.org

If you cannot attend in person, you can still donate by mailing a check to the office with "community sharing" in the subject line, or by using the "donate" button on the website and marking it "community sharing".

Gather in the Gardens

Saturday, 9-11am or whatever part of the time you can come. We’ll water and weed and chat about Summer gatherings. See you on Saturday. Patricia 612 382 5927.

Potluck

We will have a potluck after service on Sunday. Please bring a delicious food to share with all.

Monday Book Group

The Monday book group meets from 1:00-2:30 on Zoom. This week we'll read Chapters 11-13 in How the Other Half Eats, by Priya Fielding-Singh. For more information, contact Judi Dettorre.

Pat Parker

Jewell Gomez

Queer and Transgender Poets of Color:

Speaking Out Against Oppression, Speaking Out for Love

This Tuesday, May 9, as many may still be reeling from this year's legislative sessions, and as we look forward to May 17, the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia, we will look at poems published in the '70s by Pat Parker as well as more recent work by trans writers. The Poetry Group meets from 1:00-3:00 via Zoom, and we are always thrilled to see new faces. Contact Cat Pivetti for more information.

Next RESET Conversation

Red tide is a serious issue plaguing the beaches of Florida that kills marine life, causes respiratory issues in humans, and damages our state’s economy. Mike Young, CEO of aPlantBasedDiet.org, a non-profit dedicated to using healthy food as medicine, joins us on May 9th at 6pm via Zoom to illustrate how a plant-based diet can actually eliminate red tide, and help people live healthier, longer lives in the process.

ABOUT aPlantBasedDiet.org : Young’s remarkable organization provides worldwide education on best practice eating habits for humans through the internet and other methods that also improve the health of our planet. aPlantBasedDiet.org creates Veg Fests across the nation, focusing solely on vegan vendors and informative speakers, these events show others how to grow their own food as well as how to cook it. aPlantBasedDiet.org also provides free healthy food to those in need. You’ll leave this discussion with a better understanding of how a plant-based diet solves many ills of our planet, how specific foods act as medicine for a variety of health issues and diseases and get practical steps on how you can embark on a plant-based diet, as well as grow and prepare your own food. aPlantBasedDiet.org has a website full of food and recipe resources, a YouTube Channel, local community groups, and live in-person outdoor festival events up and down the US East Coast.

Adopt a Banned Book

OPEN, Our Purpose, Exclude Nobody

Invites you to purchase and circulate

Lee County Banned Books

What do I do?

Come to our table in Hobart Hall Sunday May 14 (or subsequent Sundays) and select a title from the list of 30 Lee County banned or threatened books
Go home and find a way to purchase that book. Then read it and comment on it. Many of these books are for kids, but there are also several works targeted for adults. Take your pick.
Bring the book back to our table for circulation. And borrow another book.

Eventually, these books will be contributed to our own library. Stay tuned, it’s going to be an exciting place.

How can We be Supporters and Advocates for Transpeople in Florida?

ON Zoom, Saturday, May 20, at 1:00 pm

The Sunshine Cluster prepared months ago for a Legislative Follow-up program. Equality Florida staff will discuss transgender life through trans eyes, offer a legislative update and address protections and issues currently facing LGBTQ+ and trans youth.

All are welcome to attend this free program by the Sunshine Cluster (formerly the SE Florida UU Cluster). To register, email seuucluster @gmail.com for Zoom link. The two speakers from Equality Florida are Nikole Parker, Director of Transgender Equality and Geanny Joseph Ruiz, Statewide Safe and Healthy Schools Manager.

In case you have been traveling and missed news coverage of the trans discussion at the Capitol, link here to a Human Rights Campaign discussion held recently in Tallahassee.

Diversity OPEN Committee: An Update

Since February 18, a small group of individuals has invited a few Congregation members to meet with them to discuss the frightening, extreme, oppressive, and apparently autocratic actions taking place in Tallahassee. After a few Zoom meetings with interested organizations and community leaders, the

Floridians for Democracy network has been formed as a statewide “network of social justice advocates

dedicated to preserving democracy by helping link individuals and organizations to achieve shared goals, create connections throughout a wide community, and speak with a louder voice.”

The five goals of the new network are:

Partner to save Democracy in Florida. The network will be a conveyor of and possibly a conveyor for many varied missions and initiatives.
Educate ourselves and others on the impact on our true freedoms that are being taken or are at risk. Few Floridians may be aware of all that will become law as of July 1. There will be a rude awakening and public outcry upon learning of the loss of so many more freedoms.
Enhance networking of organizations that help Get Out the Vote. Go after every Florida Democrat, NPA, and Republican who does not want to see democracy destroyed. (Note: 2.6 million registered Florida Democrats did not vote in the 2022 elections! Additionally, millions of registered Florida NPAs did not vote in the 2022 elections!)
Develop a communications system: newsletters, “Committees of Correspondence,” social media, “talk backs,” Zoom meetings, in-person events, etc. This is how we develop our louder voice.
Fund a part-time employee with a staff of volunteers to oversee the communications system.

Case in Point: A bill is being approved by the majority in Tallahassee to prevent public universities from teaching courses or curriculum "based on theories that systemic racism, sexism, oppression, and privilege are inherent in the institutions of the United States and were created to maintain social, political, and economic inequalities". They do this while they pass bills based on racism, sexism, oppression, and privilege to maintain social, political, and economic inequalities.

More to come. Let me know if you want to be included in the next Zoom meeting.

Bill Petrarca

LIFE

Rev. Glover, of Mount Hermon Ministries, inspired us at the LIFE Celebration of all this Interfaith organization has achieved, most recently in providing affordable housing.

Look for their House Meetings in the fall when the process of selecting their new cause begins!

Become a Quality Life Center Summer Camp Champ

Donate money, become a volunteer, or be a guest speaker. Scan the QR code above for more details.

Area Events of Interest

Golden Passion Concert

Saturday May 6, 7pm at All Faiths Unitarian Congregation. Tickets are $20 at the door.

PACE Center for Girls Funky Florida Fashion Show

The FUNky Fashion Show is your chance to observe the creativity of Southwest Florida as local businesses and artists recycle and repurpose materials to create one-of-a-kind fashion wear in hopes of claiming the prized Funky Fashion trophy.

The return of the Funky Fashion Show will kick off at 6:00pm at Moose Lodge #2199 in Cape Coral located at 155 Santa Barbara Blvd North. In addition to dinner and the fashion show, there will also be a silent auction and raffle prizes. Tables of four or eight are available, as well as VIP tables with dedicated celebrity waiters. Follow this link to reserve your table now or use the QR code below.

Razzle Dazzle Boutique will also be sharing their latest ready-to-wear clothing!

Pace provides girls and young women an opportunity for a better future through education, counseling, training, and advocacy.