In my world, people don’t stand in line looking for any opportunity to attend more meetings! When I accepted the nominating committee request to serve as Vice-President/President Elect it took some thought and convincing. I had served as President of UUFH in 1999. We had a membership not much smaller than today. At that time governance of UUFH was simpler. We enjoyed our services, the fellowship, and the service outreach we provided the community. Today’s UUFH is more structured, more diverse in its membership and interests. Governance is a bit more complex, but not overwhelming. This is because of the willingness to share and step up when things are needed.
What I am getting at is that Uncle UU needs YOU. As in any organization, a small corps of folks shares the leadership roles, sometimes over and over. It is time for a new generation to step into the breach. Please get involved in some way so you can prepare yourself to take a larger role in the future. Volunteer for a committee. A wonderful example of this is Paul Shoemaker offering to restart Sharing Suppers. These once were a major way to learn about our fellow UUs, and many solid friendships can be attributed to those dinners. Please consider signing up when the opportunity comes about.
Liz Snively has served as Membership Chair for many years and has done a wonderful job. She is now ready to step down. Liz has developed a description of duties (see page 6). I hope someone will step forward. As with any task in this Fellowship you will find plenty of people willing to help. Fear of taking on a new task is understandable. If you volunteer and tackle that new task, you will find it easier than you thought, and quite rewarding.
Our Nominating Committee must have a list of candidates ready for our annual meeting on June 5. Please ask Joe Robustelli or Chuck Elston what opportunities might be available for you.
On another note, as our 2016-17 Pledge Campaign winds down, keep in mind that we must also accept a budget on June 5. That budget depends largely on commitments of giving from you. If you have not yet done so, please submit your pledge. If you still have some outstanding commitment from the 2015-16 pledge, please recognize that our current budget depends on that income. We have just 60 days remaining in that cycle.
Sorry to be pushy about filling positions and getting financial support, but these things are necessary to keep liberal religion alive in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, y’all.
The New Yorker magazine of April 18 published a cartoon showing God standing on a cloud while looking down at earth with an angel at his side. He muses, “I’m starting to prefer the ones who don’t believe in me.” Hmmm!
Keith Dalbec, President