weekly announcements

Memorial Services – An Important Part of Fellowship Life, 8/11

Memorial Service Receptions give us opportunities not only to contribute to the receptions but also to visit with others—to build our relationships within the UUFC. Typical tasks associated with the reception include set-up and clean-up, contributing refreshments (some people simply contribute finger food), arranging it to serve, monitoring the refreshments, and attending the guest book if needed. We visit as we work and have a good time.

Services are announced ahead of time in Weekly Newsletters and include an invitation for you contact Sandy Piper to participate.

Questions? Contact Sandy.

I’m always willing to talk to you about our memorial receptions. The service and reception for Louise Ferrell, a long-time UUFC member, is August 11 at 2:00. If you would like to help with this reception, please contact Sandy. It would be great to have new people join us.

Contact Sandy Piper

Between Us, 7/28/24

Are you interested in stories about the Fellowship? About who first gathered, who built our buildings, how RE and justice work and music have been part of this congregation’s life? Do you ever try to imagine folks who came here before you – what brought them, what commitments they made, how they were supported in times of challenge and change? Do you know some of these stories because you are in them? Because the Fellowship has been part of your life, and you part of its life, for many years? I’m looking for a few people who’d like to help with a UUFC history project in the coming year. We have many stories to tell and to save, to pass on for those who come after us. We are making stories now, for the future.

The project may include recording oral histories, interviewing folks, writing down memories, creating a journal, and more.

Our theme for the coming year will be about past, present and future – ancestors, descendants and us. It will give us a chance to know more about our connectedness – what holds us together, what nurtures and strengthens us.

In the midst of the stories of our lives, being created every day, it may inspire us to know more about where we come from and where we aim to be going. I look forward to talking with you.

News from the Board of Directors

Greetings from the Board of Directors! The Board met July 16, 2024 and made great progress in adopting policies related to the accounting and distribution of our financial resources. Small revisions were made to the Reserves and Justice Outreach funds, and we established an Endowment fund to support the long-term vitality of the Fellowship. The principal of the Endowment will not be spent, and annual distributions from the Endowment fund will not exceed 90% of earned interest. If there is a negative return, no funds will be spent until the principal level of the year just prior to a negative return is reestablished. At least $600 of earnings will be drawn upon each year for the benefit of youth through the Ozretich memorial fund and remaining funds will be allocated by the Board in collaboration with the Endowment Team of the Financial Oversight Council. As of June 30, 2024, the Endowment fund totaled approximately $90,000.

In other work, the Board continued to discuss a new fundraising policy and adopted a revised 2024-2025 budget that reflects lower income from pledges than hoped for. Rather than hiring additional administrative help for 2024-2025, staff duties will be rearranged, and volunteers will be recruited to fill the administrative role. If you are new or are a procrastinator and have not pledged, it is never too late.

To donate or find out more, visit the “donate” page uucorvallis.org/donate.
Find out more about Board activities through our approved minutes, as well as the latest policies in our Governing Documents, visit the UUFC Filing Cabinet page.

Jackson Street Youth Services – School Supplies Needed

The Jackson Street Youth Services has a School Supply Drive for at-risk and homeless youth ages 10 and up.

Wish List:
Backpacks
Calculators
Notebooks
Flash drives
Planners (dated/undated
Sketchbooks
Headphones

Drive ends August 9. You can place in basket in Foyer marked Clothing or Staples in Albany during open hours, or Corvallis Tue-Wed, 10a-1p at 225 SW 4th St.

Questions: Ben email (ben.martens@jacksonstreet.org) or 541-760-5825 UUFC Secure Housing and Food for All team.

Sip & Snack – West Hills Vineyard, 7/28

We will leave after the service on Sunday, July 28th, about 11:45. Carpooling at your discretion. Drive time is about 40 minutes.

Based on participant input, we’re adding West Hills Vineyards to our schedule this month (Thanks Suzanne & Carolyn)!

West Hills Vineyard is an historical gathering place on the grounds of the 1858 home of Governor Ike. L. Patterson (18th governor). The website states, “as long-time locals, when the opportunity to acquire a piece of Polk County history presented itself, we couldn’t pass it by. As we embark on this historic landscape’s next chapter, our mission is to grow grapes with regenerative practices that restore and breathe new life into fields that were once over-farmed and left neglected for many years.”

The vineyard features a tasting room with classic wines and a chef prepared seasonal menu (no outside food). Those with the wine passport will get a tasting flight of 4 wines. The menu is very appealing for lunch with salads, sandwiches, etc. West Hills offers an array of red, white and rose wines with prices ranging from $28 to $70.

Please RSVP to Heather E if you want to attend. Heather will send a confirmation email to participants on Saturday.

Nice, relaxed way to get to know other UU’s.

Pop-up Parking Lot Rummage Sale – Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, 8/31

Clean out your closets and garage and bring your unwanted items to our UUFC parking lot rummage sale on Saturday, August 31 — 10 AM to 1 PM. We supply tables and a cashier. You clean your stuff, price it, display it, and stay and “sell” it. All proceeds benefit UUFC.

Questions? Contact Bonnie Morihara

Fellowship Planning – Buildings and Grounds, 8/24 and 9/14

In August we’ll begin a process of planning for the Fellowship — a visioning and prioritizing process, beginning with our grounds and buildings. Conversations around climate change, trees, energy use, building expansion and upkeep, the sustainability of the Fellowship as a community resource and more have led to a need for such a process, which will aim to help us prepare a 3-5 year comprehensive plan. If you are interested in this project – focusing first on our buildings and grounds – please plan now to join in one of two gatherings to share ideas – on either August 24, 9 – 11 AM or on September 14, 9-11 AM.

Ice Cream Social, 8/25

All ages are invited to join us for a cold treat on the Fellowship lawn on August 25th at 7 PM.

Find out what’s coming up in RE for adults, families, children, and youth in the year ahead. Meet members of the RE Council and special teams. Catch up with old friends and maybe even meet your new Fellowship bestie over a cold treat!

We’ll have gluten-free and vegan options available, as well as board games to share.

While registration at this link is not mandatory, it would be super helpful as we made purchasing decisions for this gathering!

See you there!

August Youth Event, 8/25

All Fellowship 7th-12th graders and their friends are invited to the annual youth river reunion, to collaborate as a team and connect deeply over some wild water fun. This event is the perfect time for our new youth to get to know their group and advisors for the year ahead, so we hope to see you there!

More details can be found on the event registration page. Please register by August 11th.

Beautiful Bouquet Sale, 7/28

7/28, 8/4, and 8/11

UUFC Parking Lot

Proceeds to benefit the Perla family from El Salvador. Brought to you by the Immigrant and Refugee Support Team. Sundays July 28, August 4 and 11 after the service in the parking lot.