*Classes: No classes at this time
*Monthly Steering Committee meetings (open to all) are held on (most) second Sundays @ 12:30.
*SOCIAL CONCERNS COMMITTEE NEWS
The UUCM Social Concerns Committee has joined the Marin Interfaith Council, Marin business executives, clergy, County Supervisors , Mayors, social services leaders, and Chamber of Commerce executives in a county-wide initiative to end the genocide in Darfur. Each of us can be part of this humanitarian effort. We know the Darfur genocide, carried out and funded by the Government of Sudan, is now in its fifth year. But did we know that millions of American investors' savings are invested in companies that help fund genocide in Darfur?
What you can do:
* The "Dear Darfur, Love Marin" project asks us to urge these companies to Divest for Darfur by signing a petition.
.* Sign up for the four-session Small Group Ministry module about Darfur designed by the UU Service Committee at smallgroup@uumarin.org.
* Act on groupemail alerts regarding specific activities.
* Sign up as a UUCM Social Advocate to receive action alerts from time to time on various issues. (Contact Dick Park.)
*Who Social Concerns supports:
Each year UUCM supports Marin and Bay Area organizations and a few UUA affiliated programs. All of them provide advocacy and services which reflect our values. This year we have contributed memberships totaling $900 out of separate nonbudget funds: Marin Interfaith Council, Ecumenical Association for Housing, Marin AIDS Interfaith Network, Spectrum, Death Penalty Focus, United Farm Workers, CA UU Legislative Ministry, UUs Against the Death Penalty, UU-UN and The Interfaith Alliance.
*Social Advocate E-mail Lists
The Social Concerns Committee provides a synopsis of e-mail requests from our UUA Washington Office and UU Service Committee to contact national leaders about legislation or policy issues of interest to religious liberals. Sample letters and contact information are provided. (Usually 3 or 4 requests per month.)
A second group, CA Social Advocates, does the same for action requests from our CA UU Legislative Ministry in Sacramento. (1 or 2 per month.)
To join either of these lists, contact Dick Park
*Basket Shares 2007-2008
Basket Share Offerings are generally held on the second Sunday of each month. Eligible Basket Share recipients are advocacy or charitable organizations that are "local" in scope (broadly interpreted to include other parts of the Bay Area). Please send information about Basket Share suggestions to Sally or leave them in the Social Concerns box.
Recipient organizations should hold specific value for the one or more UUCM members who bring it to the attention of the Social Concerns Committee, and who might act as the agency's spokesperson at UUCM.
2008 Basket Shares:
2/10 - Dedication to Special Education - Suzi Musgrove
3/9 - Head Start - Bill Ashley
5/11 - LITA (Love is the Answer) - Susan Pryor
6/8 - Guide Dogs for the Blind - Lisa Presley
Note: There is no basket share in April - pledge month.
Basket Share for our 2008-09 Church Year
Please think of a service or advocacy organization - local or global - that you would like to sponsor for basket share next year. It may be any cause that you are personally committed to. Please leave a memo in the social concerns box in the community room, or send an email to sallyrschroeder@comcast.net, with the following information: your name, the date, the name, address and mission of the organization, and a brief explanation of your involvement. Thank you!
*Social Action Table:
The Social Concerns Committee maintains a regular information and action table during coffee hour after Sunday Services. To bring an approved social justice related project to the attention of the congregation, check with Joan to make the table your "soap box" for a particular Sunday.
*Hands on Ministry: Volunteer to help the Social Concerns Committee with one
of its hands-on ministries in Marin. Sign up with June to prepare a dish to bring to the Sunday service on the first Sunday of any month. She will deliver it to the Mill Street Emergency Shelter for you.
Or sign up with Joan or Carol to go, in person, to serve and dine with the homeless people at one of the Tuesday evening Wellness Dinners (6 times a year) sponsored by the Marin Interfaith Street Chaplaincy whose goal is “to nurture a spiritual presence on the streets of Marin”.You will be glad you did!
Next Dinner date - May 20
Homeward Bound Wish List includes: Bedding, Covered Electric Skillets, Crock Pots, Daily Planners and Calendars, Disposable Dishes and Cutlery, Dressers, lamps, Cold Medicine for Kids, Toothpaste and Brushes, Alarm Clocks...........For more needs, see green list on Social Concerns Bulletin Board or contact June and Joan.
*An ongoing fundraiser is the Fair Trade (Coffee, Tea, Chocolate) Project ordered through the Fair Trade Coffee Company by Joan. Every time you purchase 1 lb. (ground to your precise specifications) a portion of the profits goes directly to the coffee farmers and their communities. Another portion ($3) goes directly to UUCM!
