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Weekly Communicator
March 31, 2022
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We are honored to have Mr. Abdul’Haq Muhammed from the Quality Life Center as our speaker this week.
Join Lay Ministers Alberita Johnson and Mary Cline Golbitz as Mr. Muhammed shares the Message. He will speak to us about the Islamic holy time of Ramadan and the Islamic faith . We are grateful to Mr. Muhammed for his work at the Quality Life Center and we celebrate UUCFM’s long friendship with him.
Please join us on Sunday as we welcome Mr. Muhammed as our speaker.
Abdul’Haq Muhammed founded the Quality Life Center of Southwest Florida, 31 years ago in Fort Myers, Florida, to educate, develop and enhance the futures of children coming from low income and crime-ridden neighborhoods. Originally from Harlem, New York, Mr. Muhammed served in the Army, attended college, worked in South and North Africa, importing and exporting clothes, before settling in Fort Myers in 1990 and starting the QLC. Mr. Muhammed, says regarding hope in his efforts here in Fort Myers, “A big achievement is to help the citizens of Lee County/Fort Myers to better understand their neighbor. I think if we can understand our neighbor, regardless of what social economic level we are on, to be able to have genuine empathy that results in tangible and real results. Not throwing crumbs at the rich man’s gate, but genuinely recognize that I am my brother’s keeper, and let me do what I can to balance out society and give opportunity to people who didn’t have hope before.”
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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**
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WELCOME NEW MEMBER
DAVID HOLTON
David joined Feb. 27, 2022 and is a life-long UU. He and his wife,
Peggy, of 44 years, are "Snowbirds" from Illinois. As a teen, David
led his friends in a group they whimsically called the UTMOSTS
(Unitarian Teens Meeting of Serious Thinking Socinians). He began a connection to UUCFM in the 1990's when his Dad, Paul Holton, gave a 2.5 acre addition to our campus- known as the Eco-Preserve. David has been a leader at management and policymaking levels in both government and industry. His private life and his career have been focused on improving the health and welfare of children, youth, and the elderly. As a member of our UUCFM Futures Team, David wants tohelp us grow.
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Annual Members Meeting
Our annual meeting will be held Sunday, April 10 at 2pm ET and we’ll meet via Zoom again this year. We’ll use the same link as for worship services. To minimize our carbon footprint, the packet with instructions, necessary documents and your ballot is being sent via email instead of USPS. Please keep an eye on your inbox for it.
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Ukrainian Refugees Need These SWFL Shelters!
3.6 million Ukrainian refugees have fled Ukraine since the invasion began. The question on many of our minds in SWFL is: "What can we do to help these refugees"?
One Florida entrepreneur and UUCFM member is mobilizing his efforts to provide safe housing for refugees. Eleven years ago, Frank Schooley developed and patented a refugee shelter (Shelter In A Day) using a revolutionary flat panel construction joining method that creates a strong and durable joint for MDF (Medium Density Fiberboard sheets). Fitted with hurricane anchors, one Shelter has lived next to the UUCFM screen porch for 11 years and survived a direct hit from hurricane Irma with absolutely no damage!
Frank also developed a containerized manufacturing plant that fits within a 20 foot shipping container, so that Shelters In A Day can be produced wherever they are needed.
Please help Ukrainian refugee families by donating to this important non-profit SWFL campaign. Every penny of the money raised (100%) will be used to deliver these shelters to Ukrainian refugees. As a donor, you will receive a copy of the Foundation’s audited financial Statement and an IRS approved certificate of your donation from the PayPal Giving Fund. The You Disinfect It Foundation, a Naples Florida 501c3 has partnered with Frank to raise money and quickly deliver free refugee Shelters to Ukrainian Refugee families. A GoFundMe campaign with lots of photos and additional information has been set up by The You Disinfect It Foundation so that you can donate to this SWFL community project.
Frank Schooley terrapeg@gmail.com 239-823-0651
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This Saturday, still time to register! | |
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SWFL Pachamama Alliance Presents:
Awakening the Dreamer, Changing The Dream Symposium
All Faiths Unitarian Congregation.
Saturday, April 2nd, 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Facilitated by Gary Robbins and Joseph Bonasia
The program includes lunch.
For more information and to register click here.
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UUCFM 15+ GROUP MEETING
There will be a gathering of the UUCFM 15+ Group on Sunday, April 3, at noon, in the screened room. If you joined UUCFM in 2007 or earlier, you can be a member of this group. Many churches call a group like this The Elders! If you have any questions, contact Ellen Erickson, andy.ellen.erickson@gmail.com, 239-218-4789 or Suzanne Ziemer at suzanneziemer@gmail.com or 239-463-9020.
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Welcome to BLUU HavenHood a Black Lives of Unitarian Universalist initiative!
We received our official welcome letter as BLUU Haven Fort Myers, after a lengthy process on February 9, 2022.
The BLUU Haven Fort Myers group is established by and for Black UUs, and Black folx who share our values, to connect socially and to engage locally in organizing efforts together!
We gathered in February and March, and have brought together UU's from Charlotte, Lee and Collier counties.
Anyone who identifies as Black and or BIPOC is welcome. Allies and adjacent folks are welcome by reservation only to ensure balance and lower the risk of losing the BIPOC culture within the Haven.
For more information please email our BLUU Haven Fort Myers coordinator:Lay Minister, Alberita Johnson at bluuhavenfortmyers@gmail.com
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Maya Lunar New Year Ceremony at the UUCFM
To celebrate the Maya Lunar New Year on March 15, 2022, two Maya Timekeepers led a pre-dawn ceremony around the UUCFM fire circle. Marta Matías, a GRACE Project director, and Rosa Etelvina Garcia, a lawyer and Maya Spirit Guide from Guatemala, built the sacred altar, honored the Four Corners (East, South, West, North) and Heaven and Earth, and then called in the 20 Maya Energies or Nahuales. In the Maya Cosmovision, the Lunar Year lasts 260 days and the Solar Year lasts 365 days, and the Nahuales represent all aspects of Life.
All of the photographs below are generously provided by Lisette Morales McCabe.
| Figure 1: Rosa and Marta guide the Lunar New year Ceremony at the UUCFM on March 15. Photo by Lisette Morales McCabe. | Figure 2: The Maya sacred Altar made of offerings to Mother Earth, the Creator, and the 20 Nahuales. Photo by Lisette Morales McCabe. | |
Figure 1: Rosa and Marta guide the Lunar New year Ceremony at the UUCFM on March 15. Photo by Lisette Morales McCabe. | |
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A GRACE project workshop
In late March, the GRACE Project offered Workshops for over 100 women, both teachers and community leaders, in El Petén, Guatemala. Marta Matias was the GRACE Project co-teacher with Dr. Gloria Catalán, Director of the Ministry of Education of El Petén.
The workshops were titled "Conocer tu Poder de Mujer" (Know your power as a woman) and included instructions for the Reusable menstrual Kits and Fertility bracelets for natural family planning.
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Here’s what your UUCFM Ministry for Earth (MFE) team is up to in April
Join the Garden Guardians at UUCFM. We continue sprucing up both the Memorial Garden and the Sculpture Garden. What a delightful place to spend time with nature and to learn about Natural Gardening from others who love to garden. Scheduled work sessions happen the 3rd Saturday of every month from 9-11a.m. YOU are welcome to join the effort. Contact Patricia Linhoff at freckles345@comcast.net.
April 22 is Earth Day and RESET is having a party at UUCFM, 5-7pm. At 7:30 the Gulf Coast Chamber Orchestra will entertain. Discounts for the concert can be found at https://resetearthdayceleb.eventbrite.com. The Symphony will be using the grounds, and we want the area to sparkle.
Want to know what happens to your recycling? April 25th we are scheduled for a tour of the Lee County Recycling Facility. This is reputedly a very informative 2-hour tour; 9:30-11:30. Contact Patricia Linhoff for more info and to sign up freckles345@comcast.net. It’ll be a fun gathering.
The UUCFM MFE team members are Michele Bellinger, Karen Brown, Mary Cline Goblitz, Holley Rauen, and Patricia Linhoff. We welcome your interest and hope you will officially join us.
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Mark the date! RESET Center, UUCFM Ministry for Earth, and The GCS are partnering for this Celebration! | |
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Friday, April 22
5:00 Pm-7:00pm Concert starts at 7:30pm
Celebrate Earth Day and Care of Creation with music, art, poetry, great food, and community. Free Celebration! Join us for an SWFL RESET Board Members reception, a conversation with Joe Bonasia about the Right to Clean Water Constitutional Amendment. The Gulf Coast Chamber Orchestra will be presenting an Earth Day evening celebration, and those who attend the RESET event earlier in the evening will receive a discount on performance tickets.
Register here: https://resetearthdayceleb.eventbrite.com.
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Monday Book Group
On April 4, we’ll discuss Ch. 12 & 13 of Invisible Women: Data Bias in a World Designed for Men by C.C. Perez. For more info, click here to contact Mary Studer.
Mindfulness Opportunities
We have two online sitting practices each week for you. We practice mindfulness and discuss a reading. If you don’t have the books, you're still welcome to sit with us.
The Monday Sangha meets at 6:30-7:45 p.m. and begins discussing Thich Nhat Hanh’s Happiness: Essential Practices. Contact mstuder929@gmail.com for details.
The Wednesday sangha meets between 10:00-11:30 a.m. in coordination with Caloosahatchee Mindfulness. It’s discussing Say What You Mean: A Mindful Approach to Nonviolent Communication by Oren Jay Sofer. Contact Helen Leddy for more information: helen.leddy@gmail.com.
Social Issues Book Group
NEW DATE AND TIME: MEETING EVERY OTHER WEEK STARTING FRIDAY 3/25 FROM 3-4:30 P.M. Book is Our Time is Now by Stacey Abrams.
"Draws from extensive research from national organizations and renowned scholars, as well as from anecdotes from the author's life and those of others who have fought throughout our country's history to be heard."
Contact Helen Leddy helen.leddy@gmail.com or Helen Dixon helendixon9@gmail.com for more information.
Poetry Circle
We read and discuss in detail a variety of poems, often related to our UU experience, usually centered around a weekly theme. Members share their own work for discussion as well, if they want to, but you do not need to be a writer to join. We offer weekly prompts, although there is no obligation to follow them.
This is an ongoing Zoom group. New members can join at any time, and we really hope you will. Contact Judi Dettorre judidet84@gmail.com or Cat Pivetti joypivet@aol.com for more information.
We meet every other Tuesday. We will meet from 1pm to 3pm. This a change from the original time.
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60th Anniversary Pave the Way Fundraiser Update | Enjoy reading the 100+ donated commemorative bricks from the 50th and 60th Anniversary campaigns that line the walkways into our Sanctuary. A theater goer was overheard to remark, "These tell such a story!" Look for a form to give your personalized brick at the Sunday Information Table or Read More for more information. | | | |
The Bill Brewer Family Gardens | |
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UPDATE
The Bill Brewer Community Garden is happy to announce a new Volunteer, Jody Hahn. She will be coming Sunday mornings to assist with the transition to summer and efforts to use natural methods to regenerate our soil.
She has experience in gardening, including volunteer work with FGCU Food Forest.
We will also be starting to provide a table on Sundays for after service, which will include some items for sale to financially support the garden and also information, an Ask the Expert feature, to help those who grow plants, flowers, vegetables and herbs at home.
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Our Memorial Garden
What does this space mean to you? It is a place to go sit, meditate, and remember all those people who have gone before and helped make our campus and congregation what it is today. The plaques on the stone walls tell the story. Perhaps you want to be part of this story when you leave this life?
Many plaques have been preordered, engraved, and stored in the office ready to place on the stone walls.
For your name plate or a loved member's name plate to be engraved and added, please look for a form at the Information Table each Sunday or call the office to have a form sent to you, 239-561-2700.
The Garden Guardians are taking loving care of this special place.
They are proud to have a part in this ongoing history of UUCFM.
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60 Years - Holding Strong
Writing is underway for our 60th anniversary play, "Over 60 Years Holding Strong". It's been 60 years since June 20, 1961 when UUCFM received its Charter from the UUA. Reflection interviews are being collected by Hank Nash and Margaret Ramus. The more ideas and reflections the better. We are building on the 40th Anniversary Play produced in 2002. To be part of this effort, contact 60th Play Coordinator, Suzanne Ziemer, suzanneziemer@gmail.com, 239-463-9020.
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Volunteer of the Month from the Board of Trustees
Bill Petrarca - THANK YOU BILL
UUCFM could not survive without Bill's leadership and dedication. The words come from Jen Smith and Karen J. Brown.
Jen writes: He was the inspiration and designer of the gardens, served on the BOT as VP of Ops, has served on the Finance Council for 8 years. He has been involved with training and teaching and stewardship. He was instrumental in bringing the Gulf Coast Symphony Orchestra and RESET center to our campus which has enabled us to survive the pandemic. He has been the driver behind a lot of the energy saving projects around campus and is always looking for ways to live our UU values at UUCFM.
Karen writes: I have been attending this congregation for approximately 3+ years now. I worked with Bill on the Transition Team 2 years ago and found out how dedicated he was. I also agree with Jen that we may not have survived without Bill’s leadership and dedication to our congregation these past 2 years. He is a leader in the true sense of the word. Leadership is defined as the ability of an individual or group of individuals to influence and guide followers or other members of an organization. The Board of Trustees for the Congregation honors Bill Petrarca wholeheartedly and we thank him for all his expertise in many, many avenues of congregational life.
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LIFE NEHEMIAH ACTION
There is not enough low-cost rental housing in Fort Myers. People who serve all of us can’t find housing. This is a travesty.
LIFE’s solution is to increase the supply of low-cost housing using a local Affordable Housing Trust Fund. The City Council in January of 2022 unanimously approved an ordinance, now we have to keep fighting for the promised 1.5 million to put into the fund - without delay.
LIFE is asking for a revenue source of $3 million a year.
Money will go to creating affordable housing and also to help families pay their rent.
Let’s show up for LIFE. You can contact Helen Leddy and Marge Gonzalez for more information. You can contact me - Karen Brown. We are all needed at the Justice Table. To invest in LIFE text lifejustice to 4-4-3-2-1 to invest via credit card or bank account or mail your check to LIFE PO Box 62692, Fort Myers, FL 33906. LIFE for Justice! Justice for LIFE!
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The MACC
The Music and Arts Community Center
2021 - 2022
Season Tickets
The GCS comprises the Gulf Coast Symphony, the Gulf Coast Chamber Orchestra, the Gulf Coast Jazz Collective, and the Music & Arts Community Center (MACC). This year over 100 programs will be offered that present the best in classical music, jazz, world music, dance, opera, film and musical theater.
Ticket prices range from $24 - $44
As you know, there's not a bad seat in the house!
Tickets and seat choice can be purchased online or at the door.
For more info visit
gulfcoastsymphony.org
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