Sunday Worship in August: Humanism
Service at 10:30 am Sundays in the Miller Sanctuary
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Community Sharing in August: Literacy Council Gulf Coast
Literacy Council Gulf Coast is committed to improving English language and reading skills of adults and children throughout Southwest Florida. The Literacy Council Gulf Coast provides free instruction for adults in reading and writing, and in English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL). They offer Moms and Tots Family Literacy for mothers and their young children and Kids + Lifelong Learning for parents in Title I schools. Additionally, they offer work-site literacy programs at local golf/gated communities. Their program serves residents of Bonita Springs, San Carlos Park, Estero, Fort Myers, Lehigh Acres, Cape Coral, Sanibel & Naples.
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Humanist Forum
The Humanist Forum meets every Sunday at 9:15 am in Hobart Hall. All are welcome to attend.
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Coffee Hour
Sunday's Coffee Hour happens after church every week and is provided by volunteers from the Women's Circle on the first Sunday, CUUPS on the second Sunday, Humanist Forum on the third Sunday, Men's Group on the fourth Sunday and if there is a fifth Sunday, it is All Church. Any donations of food, snacks or cash are welcome.
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BURN, our High School Youth Group meets on Sundays at noon in Room 4. All youth, ages 14-18, are welcome! Contact Director of Religious Education, Jenn Blosser:
dre@uucfm.org
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IGNITE
, our junior youth group for ages 10-13, meets weekly from 12-1 pm in Room 3. Come join us for community, conversation, and finding your call to action! Questions about the group? Reach out to Stephanie Hoffman:
stephgator7@yahoo.com
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SPARK
is now forming! Exclusively for children ages five to nine, Spark will meet weekly from 12-1 in Room 2 to explore Unitarian Universalism and learn more about our church and each other.
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Hearing Loop Assistive Listening System
A Hearing Loop system will be available in the sanctuary starting Sunday, August 26 to assist those with hearing loss to hear more clearly during services. A Hearing Loop is an assistive listening system that transmits sound directly into one’s hearing aids or cochlear implants rather than depending on sound coming from the loudspeakers. To receive the Loop signal and hear more clearly, you will need to manually activate your T-coil or “telephone” setting on your hearing aid or cochlear implant. If you don’t know if you have a T-coil or whether yours is properly programmed, consult with your audiologist or hearing aid professional. If you don’t wear hearing aids, ask to use a Loop receiver to receive the sound. If you have further questions about Looping, please contact the installation company, Complete Hearing Solutions at
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From the Minister
10 Years and Counting
What a gift, what a joy it is to say I have served you for ten years as your minister. My first act of service to this congregation in an official capacity was a memorial vigil after the deathly shootings at our sibling congregation in Knoxville Tennessee, also my mother's home congregation, the
Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church
. While I'm still only at the beginning of my career, I do know the one thing that Ministry has taught me, is that we try to show up and gather together during life's most challenging times. And, it is important that we also gather to celebrate. This February will be the 10-year anniversary of my installation and also of my ordination. In our Unitarian Universalist tradition, it is the congregation that has the power to ordain ministers. I answered the call to this congregation without the title of Reverend, so that this congregation, my first call, would be the one to ordain me with a title I will treasure and hold humbly for the rest of my life.
If you are interested in helping organize any of the festivities that celebrate our 10 years of shared Ministry together, please email me at
minister@uucfm.org
.
With great rejoicing!
Rev. Allison Farnum
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Music Notes
The UUCFM Choir would like to extend a gracious "Thank you!" to members for helping with the purchase of the large print teal hymnals for all musicians. We currently have half of the total books needed (24) sponsored by the UUCFM congregation. If you are interested in helping to purchase the remaining 12 books, please email Suellen, the Acting Director of Music or Jill Carville, Office Manager.
The UUCFM Choir would like to share the lyrics to our version of the Pete Seeger song, "My Dirty Stream" as re-written by the UUCFM Choir and performed for our worship service on Sunday, August 19th.
My Dirty Stream
Pete Seeger April 1998
Rewrites by the UUCFM Choir August 2018
Verse 1:
Sailing down my dirty stream
Still I love it, and I’ll keep the dream
That someday, though maybe not this year
My Caloosahatchee will once again run clear.
It starts in Tallahassee, way up north
Pollutes Lake ‘O and then it rushes forth
Where green algae joins with the red tide
Killing dear sea life while poisoning the Gulf.
Verse 2:
In the great ocean the water is clear
But on the Gulf coast, disaster’s flowing here.
Cradled between the river and the sea
Tacking back and forth, this thought returns to me
Sailing down my dirty stream
Still I love it and I’ll keep the dream
That someday, though maybe not this year
My Caloosahatchee will once again run clear.
My Caloosahatchee and My Country will run clear.
The UUCFM Choir
rehearses most Wednesday nights from 6:45-8:15 pm, and on Sunday mornings from 9-10 am in the sanctuary. It's free and there are no auditions. Come join us in singing!
The UUCFM Band
rehearses most Wednesday nights from 6:00-6:45 pm, and on Sunday mornings from 9-10 am in the Sanctuary. If you would like to play your instrument during a Sunday service, please email me to coordinate the details.
Come join us in making music together!
Suellen Kipp, Acting Director of Music
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From the Office
How to Reserve Church Facilities (for church members)
Any Ministry Leader, Committee Leader, or church member may request a room for church business at any time for no charge. We will do our best to schedule you for the room you want, when you want it. If a church member wants to use a room for a private event- birthday party, shower, or other event, the cost is $50. Be aware that requested days and times may be already booked. The earlier you reserve, the better chance you have to get the room/rooms you would like. The easiest way to reserve is to email the Office Manager with 1. your preferred date 2. beginning and ending time. (Also let us know about any set up/break down time needed. 3. name of group and contact person. The Office Manager will get back to you to confirm and make key/code arrangements. You can also call the office at 239-561-2700 to reserve a room or ask questions.
Jill Carville, Office Manager
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UUs Dying to Make a Difference
C
hallenge Update 1: Since the publication of the Communicator article below, $110,000 in UUCFM Legacy Giving bequests have been made in members’ wills and trusts. Future congregations will share in the generosity of today’s members Legacy Giving. Additionally, our current congregation will receive grants from the UU Congregation at Shelter Rock amounting to $11,000 in 2019/2020 from these UUCFM Legacy gifts, so far!
Challenge Update 2: With the preliminary success of the “Wake Now Our Vision” (WNOV) challenge, the UUCFM Board of Trustees wishes to show its gratitude to members who step-up to the challenge by reimbursing members for associated legal expenses up to $300.00/family for modifying their wills or trusts with the appropriate verbiage for WNOV. Reimbursements will be made for qualifying member legal fees as soon as we receive the grant moneys from the WNOV campaign for your Legacy Gift, either in the 2019 or 2020 year depending on the date your WNOV pledge form is approved by WNOV.
Original Article:
You may have heard a fellow church member talk about the new UUA Collaborative Campaign called “Wake Now Our Vision” which challenges us to make a legacy gift to make a difference both now and in the future. Please read on to better understand how this is such a rare and profound opportunity for UUCFM today and for our future congregations.
I wanted to share my experience with this Campaign because, like me, you may be having a reaction to it that is based on a few misunderstandings, causing you and UUCFM to miss-out on a truly congregation-changing, community-changing opportunity for making a difference.
At first, I felt that this was all about leaving a chunk of money to the UUA; not that that is unimportant, but our priorities right now are a little closer to home. After talking with Jen Smith, our UUCFM Treasurer, she pointed out to me that (1) UUCFM gets a matching donation of 10% (up to $10,000) RIGHT NOW!, and (2) you don’t have to gift to the UUA for your legacy gift to qualify. (The matching donation actually comes from the UU Congregation at Shelter Rock.)
Many years ago, Jane and I had our legal counsel prepare our wills documenting our gift intentions for our beneficiaries. Since our joining the church, I had intended to provide for a legacy gift in our wills but had not done so yet. After understanding what the UUA Collaborative Campaign was offering and how UUCFM could benefit NOW by our doing so, we contacted our lawyers and asked them what it would cost to add this amendment to our trust declarations. It was clear that for a small legal expense, we could deliver a significant sum to the church now, as well as upon our deaths. This was a “no brainer.”
We filled out the “Wake Now Our Vision” form and mailed it in along with a copy of our new trust amendments. (We chose to gift only to UUCFM, and no other UUA institutions. You may choose otherwise.) Shortly, UUCFM will get its 10% matching donation from the Campaign. I encourage all members to consider participating in this Campaign (after checking with your legal advisor) at your earliest convenience before the Campaign is over. It’s a great way to make a personal difference in our community by amplifying our UU values through our current congregation as well as future congregations.
The Campaign goes until June 30, 2019, but don’t wait too long because the legal documentation may take nearly 3 or 4 months to complete.
Bill Petrarca
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Community Sharing Volunteer Opportunities
Here are the ways the congregation can volunteer with or support our
Community Sharing Sunday (CSS) partners:
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GRACE Wish List 2018-2019
Supplies for Fertility Bracelets and Menstrual Kits
1. Cord of up to ¼” in diameter, for drawstring bags, any color,
2. Yardage of dark flannel,
3. Girls’ size 14 cotton underwear, not white,
4. Large safety pins (grouping Bracelets),
5. Bobby pins (for marking the days on the Bracelets),
6. Pony beads in ratio of 2 Green: 3 Purple (12 fertile days, 18 not fertile),
7. Solar lamps for working and studying at night. Any size.
School Supplies
GRACE seeks useful, durable teaching and student materials, such as:
1. Rulers, must include metric,
2. Scissors, all sizes, used OK,
3. Solar calculators,
4. Pencil sharpeners,
5. Pencils, erasers, pens, highlighters, permanent markers,
6. Rubber bands (sold individually in stores in Gt.), tacks, paper clips,
7. Puzzles, children to teen,
8. Maps of the world, science themes, educational charts (English OK),
9. Magnifying glasses,
10. Again, Solar lamps for working and studying at night.
Muchismas Gracias!
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Pachamama Alliance Game Changer Gathering
Our Toxic Water: Hacking at the Root Causes for the Long Haul
with Rae Ann Wessel
Thursday, September 6th
6:30 pm Potluck desserts
Meet our esteemed guest speaker, Rae Ann Wessel. Rae Ann is a limnologist and marine scientist with 40 years of experience working in corporate, government, private and nonprofit sectors in South Florida. For the past 12 years she's served as the Natural Resource Policy Director for SCCF, the
Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation.
Her policy, advocacy and outreach work brings sound scientific grounding to policy development, protection and restoration of water resources, critical habitats, land management, and fish and wildlife conservation at the local, regional, statewide and federal policy levels.
Rae Ann has been actively engaged in Everglades and Caloosahatchee restoration issues for the past 24 years. In that time, she has been researching and identifying critical Caloosahatchee issues and building support for sustainable solutions. She is involved in oxbow research, historical documentation and education projects and guides river tours on the Caloosahatchee and its estuary.
Rae Ann serves as a: Commission appointee to the Conservation 2020 Conservation Lands Acquisition and Stewardship Committee (CLASAC) and Lee County Historic Preservation Board. She is a board member for the Everglades Coalition, representative to the Environmental Advisory Council for the Everglades Foundation, past appointee to Lee County's Local Planning Agency and a 1992 graduate of Leadership Lee County.
AND:
Mark your Calendar for our next
Awakening the Dreamer Symposium at FGCU o
n September 22nd, followed by
Peace Day in the Park September 23rd.
Click here
for more information and to register for this life changing event!
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Reflections on Hurricane Irma
- Art Quilters Unlimited Exhibit
Miller Sanctuary Narthex
August 6-September 29, 2018
Art quilters create fine art wall hangings based on their experiences, imagery and ideas, rather than on traditional patterns. Art Quilters Unlimited is a group of fiber artists interested in expanding their knowledge and pushing the boundaries of their creativity. Our very own, Rev. Margaret L. Beard is a member of this group!
To confirm access to the exhibit, please call the Church Office at (239) 561-2700. For more info, check out the public event page
here
.
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Join the FUUn BUUnch for Dinner!
Saturday, August 25, at 6:30 pm
LaGrotta
9520 Marketplace Road
Ft Myers 33912
Directions: Drive E/W on Daniels Parkway toward 75. Turn North on Danport Way (Just east of Denny’s). Turn Right (East) on Marketplace Road (first road). La Grotta is on the right across from the Marriott. If you miss it, go round the circle, headwest. La Grotta is 500’ west of the circle on the left.
Please call John E. Fischer, 1-267-992 -6566 or email
SilverFischStudios@gmail.com by Wednesday, August 22nd to reserve your place. Management needs exact numbers to schedule staffing.
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UU Women's Retreat
Celebrating Sacred Places
9th Annual Florida Unitarian Universalist
Women’s Retreat
April 5-7, 2019
DaySpring Episcopal Conference Center Ellenton Flo The retreat begins Friday at 5:00pm and ends Sunday.
DaySpring Conference Center is conveniently located off I-75 just north of Sarasota on Florida’s West Coast. The beautiful campus nestled under ancient oaks and located on a cove of the Manatee River offers a serene setting for our annual retreat. Take a look.
$220 per person covers expenses for a semi-private room and meals. 8 women share a cozy cottage with 4 bedrooms and 4 baths, a screened porch and common area. A limited number of single rooms are available at $292 each.
$5 Discounts Available for Registration before September 15, 2018.
A non-refundable deposit of $15 for a semi-private room or $25 for a private room will reserve your place. Final payment is due January 15, 2019. Come join us for an enriching and memorable weekend. Any questions? Contact Helen Leddy
helen.leddy@gmail.com
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Book Study
Come to the Book Study on Wednesdays at 1:00 pm. We are reading
Play
by Stuart Brown and Christopher Vaughan.
"From a leading expert, a groundbreaking book on the science of play, and its essential role in fueling our happiness and intelligence throughout our lives
We've all seen the happiness on the face of a child while playing in the school yard. Or the blissful abandon of a golden retriever racing across a lawn. This is the joy of play. By definition, play is purposeless, all-consuming, and fun. But as Dr. Stuart Brown illustrates, play is anything but trivial. It is a biological drive as integral to our health as sleep or nutrition. We are designed by nature to flourish through play.
Dr. Brown has spent his career studying animal behavior and conducting more than six-thousand "play histories" of humans from all walks of life-from serial murderers to Nobel Prize winners. Backed by the latest research,
Play
(20,000 copies in print) explains why play is essential to our social skills, adaptability, intelligence, creativity, ability to problem solve and more. Particularly in tough times, we need to play more than ever, as it's the very means by which we prepare for the unexpected, search out new solutions, and remain optimistic. A fascinating blend of cutting-edge neuroscience, biology, psychology, social science, and inspiring human stories of the transformative power of play, this book proves why play just might be the most important work we can ever do.
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Mindfulness Meditation
Join us on Monday evenings to explore the very simple and satisfying practices of mindfulness and meditation. You don’t need experience with meditation, nor do you have to be a Buddhist. Do please bring an intention to quiet the mind and the body in a supportive group of UU members and friends with a similar intention - people who want to carry mindfulness into their daily lives.
We meet Mondays from 6:30-8:00p in the Sanctuary. If you have any questions, please contact Gary Robbins at
pachamamaelder@gmail.com
.
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UUCFM Gaming Group
The UUCFM Gaming Group is the club for you. We do our best to meet in Room 7 on Sundays after church from 2:00-4:00 pm. Those of us with children can't always make it so please check the Facebook group page (
UUCFM Gaming Group
) to see if games are scheduled.
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Rissho Kosei-kai Buddhist Group
The Rissho Kosei-kai Buddhist group meets Sundays at 1:45p in Room 1. All are welcome to join us.
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Community Wednesday
Activities for August:
6:00-6:45
Band Rehearsal in Sanctuary
6:45-8:00
Choir Rehearsal in Sanctuary
Community Dinners are on hiatus until September. Enjoy your summer! Rehearsals and Events will continue through summer.
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Social Justice and Outreach Ministry Meeting
There is a Social Justice/Outreach Ministry meeting on September 2nd at 12:15 pm in classroom 1. All Welcome!
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Preventing Youth Violence: United Way Collaborative with UUCFM
UUCFM, in collaboration with United Way of Lee County, is excited to announce the launch of the Preventing Youth Violence: United Way Collaborative (PYV), a community funding initiative to encourage the youth of Lee County and SW Florida to develop and conduct initiatives that will reduce youth violence and the risk factors that contribute to it. We are taking this action in support of the students at Douglas High School in Parkland FL and all our students who are victims of youth violence.
Modeled on the STRYVE vision of the CDC, the PYV collaborative is a youth-based funding vehicle where multiple funding sources leverage their impact on SW Florida youth violence prevention. PYV focuses on grants to local youth-centric organizations or communities who propose youth violence prevention initiatives with clear and measurable objectives based on evidence of impact on victimization, perpetration, and risk or protective factors for youth violence.
Youth violence is a leading cause of death and nonfatal injuries in the United States. Homicide is the second leading cause of death among persons aged 10 to 24 years in Lee County. The majority of these homicides are from firearm violence. In 2016, 84% of homicides in ages 10 – 24 in Lee County were due to firearms discharge.
PYV will foster strategies and approaches intended to work in combination and to reinforce each other to prevent youth violence in a comprehensive and long-term way, such as:
Promoting family environments that support healthy development
Providing quality education early in life
Strengthening youth’s skills
Connecting youth to caring adults and activities
Creating protective community environments
Intervening to lessen harms and prevent future risk.
While research has demonstrated the preventive effects of many youth skill development programs to be important, approaches addressing relationships with parents, peers, and other caring adults as well as approaches that influence school and community environments are equally important to have the greatest public health impact.
A PYV review committee will be established based on community inputs; historically marginalized groups and student representation will be integral to the make-up of the committee. Through the United Way offices, proposals will be accepted based on established criteria focusing on strategies and approaches as outlined above. All grant applications will require matching funds by sponsoring organizations. Once awarded, grant recipients will be expected to document the effectiveness of their initiative. All accepted initiatives will require youth participation throughout the course of the initiative period. Completed initiatives will be presented by the grantees to community gatherings for acknowledgement and subsequent actions.
Consistent with our social justice history, UUCFM is expanding its community outreach through this prideful initiative, made possible by the love and generosity of our congregation. The Board of Trustees voted to fund this United Way collaborative with an amount of $25,000 (out of the proceeds from the sale of our cell tower lease) as an investment in the safety of our youth and in solidarity with those in the “March for Our Lives” movement. Other organizations in SW Florida will be approached to expand the initial UUCFM funding to help prevent youth violence. The PYV is intended to be an ongoing endeavor with UUCFM being at the center of the collaborative’s community impact. Please join the Outreach Ministry in celebrating UUCFM’s community engagement activism.
Holley Rauen & Gary Robbins, Outreach Ministry Team Leaders
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New Social Justice T-Shirts are Here!
The new Social Justice T-shirts still have the same message but are a brighter green, a lighter material, and have a V neck. These are changes to make them cooler for you in the face of global warming. We suggest wearing them at activities, gatherings and demonstrations where we want it known that we are from UUCFM. They are on sale at the Social Justice Table in Hobart Hall. The good news is the price did not change. They are still $20. Stop by the Social Justice table during coffee hour and take a look.
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Changes to the Food Pantry re: Donations
The support that UUCFM has shown to our pantry over the years is greatly appreciated and along with other coalition members' support it has helped the South Fort Myers Food Pantry (FMFP) to feed 23,000 people in need during 2017. The Harry Chapin Food Bank is vital to our mission, to feed the needy of South Fort Myers, at a very modest cost. They are however, making some changes at Harry Chapin.
In the past, members of our congregation have financially supported the pantry by donating directly to the pantry or by sending checks to the Harry Chapin Food Bank with the stipulation the funds were to support the SFMFP. The Food Bank would then place the funds in a "Designated Grant" account for our use to purchase food. They are eliminating these accounts. As of August 1, 2018 any checks they receive in support of one particular pantry will be returned to the sender. Therefore, our pantry is requesting that any monetary donations be sent directly to and made out to:
The South Fort Myers Food Pantry
If you feel strongly about your donation being only for food and not for operating expenses, write "for food only" on the memo line. The pantry relies on the support of the coalition churches for the funds and the volunteers needed. There are no paid positions and it takes hundreds of volunteer hours and thousands of dollars each month to accomplish our mission. If you have questions call Fran Rose and leave a message at 617-750-0470 and I will return your call.
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LIFE News
Big things are happening! We asked the commission to form a children's service council and while they are still refusing to even allow it on the ballot- they have increased the budget for children's services by $1.7 million. Should this budget pass we will be able to celebrate dental care for thousands of more children as well as hundreds of children getting access to full day preschool. It is still not a victory but it is a sign that work for justice is never done in vain.
2018-2019 Dates. See below for the newly announced dates for the upcoming year.
Annual Assembly
Monday, October 29, 2018
Rally
Tuesday, March 26, 2019
Nehemiah Action
Tuesday, April 9, 2019
Celebration
Tuesday, May 14, 2019 Community Forum
LIFE members were invited to a community forum to help the county health department decide on a focus for the upcoming few years. If you wish to participate see below:
What: Department of Health in Lee County Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) Town Hall Meeting
When: July 2, 2018
Time: 6:30p – 8:30p
Where: Department of Health Lee County
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Worden Farm Boxes
If enough folks in our congregation and in the area sign up, our church can once again be a pick up location for Worden Farm. They have a new small box available this season. It’s just a half bushel — fits easily in a standard fridge and is the perfect size for one person. Click on "organic veggie box" for more details.
Enrollment is now OPEN for the upcoming season.
Fresh, local, organic, and affordable!
Choose from our 3 types of CSA farm membership:
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Do you have something to offer, trade, or sell? Are you looking for something? Free ad space here for personal items only. Will run ad for 4 weeks. Email
uuchurch@uucfm.org
*ACER 23" Computer Monitor. Like New. FREE! Contact Mary Richey 239.939.7738
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If you are a UUCFM Community Sharing Partner, a regular Facility User, or have UU related news to share, you are welcome to submit announcements for publication in our Greater Community section of the newsletter. Please send announcements in by Wednesday for publication in the Thursday E-news.
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Special Scout Invitation
Our Boy Scout Troop 3300 has invited us to share in a mass
Flag Retirement Ceremony
they will be holding on Monday, August 27th during Scout meeting time-7:00-8:30 pm.
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Lee County Election Deadlines
The following deadlines apply for the General Election on Nov. 6, 2018:
- Register to vote – Tuesday, Oct. 9, 2018
- Request Vote-By-Mail Ballot – Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018
Early voting will occur as follows:
- Primary – Aug. 18 thru 25, 2018
- General – Oct. 22 thru Nov. 3, 2018
If you are voting by mail and you will not be at the address provided, contact Lee County Elections. Your ballot will not be forwarded to a different address. For more information call 239-533-8683 or on-line at
www.Lee.Vote
.
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Aug 24 Patricia Vivier-Naidl
Aug 25 John Swank
Aug 28 Kathy Ford
Aug 28 Ellen Kelly
Aug 28 Mary Wickes
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Board of Trustees
President
Matt Hoffman 239-222-4836
mwaters106@yahoo.com
President Elect
Secretary
Alison Carville 239-634-0487
alisoncarville@gmail.com
Treasurer
VP Finance
VP Programming
Cathy Snow 239-896-3693 cm
snow23@gmail.com
VP Ministerial Services
Lesley Peterson 239-839-4434
unicorn@cyberstreet.com
VP Operations
Mary Alice Pierce 239-267-4429
piercemaryalice@gmail.com
Member at Large
Don Ehat 239-947-8143
don.ehat@gmail.com
Staff
Minister
Acting Director of Music
Director of RE
Office Manager
Building Supervisor
Nursery Supervisor
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