President’s Letter - August 2010


Dear Members and Friends,

It’s been hot, hot, hot. It reminds me of my summers as a child in Lancaster, PA where the sun made the corn, tomatoes and fruit really sweet, and a breeze really welcome. While the summer always passes quickly, the heat slows you down a bit. So grab an iced tea and a good book and spend some time in the hammock, because September is coming very quickly.

Summer program services have had double digit participation. And no wonder… They have been great. Phyllis Tortora helped us learn about our Unitarian vocabulary, giving us some background on the words and symbols that we all love, but the sources of which we may not know. Ken Counselman, Marge Grimm and Gretchen Ostrander took us to this year’s UUA, giving us a front row seat at its many opportunities to meet UUs and to learn more about the GA plans. Amalia Connelly has us meditating and Jeanette Gould helped us learn how to be more caring about our communications with one another. That’s just what went on in July. There is still an entire month of programs that will enliven your summer including Peter Callaway’s “The Best of Jim (Covington).” I urge you to come.

July also gave us a beautiful, windy day on the river for our annual picnic. It was a lovely time to spend with each other in good conversation with good food.

Peggy Clarke, in addition to being our DRE, has become the Consulting Minister at Mohegan Lake. Peggy’s new ministerial experiences will contribute to the richness of her work with our RE program and give our Fellowship more opportunities to get to know our UU neighbors at Mohegan Lake.

The Board and the committees continued meeting over the summer to make plans for what will be a full new year of learning, transition and change. In October, Craig Hirshberg,Director of Ministerial Transition from the Metro District, will meet with the entire congregation to discuss our journey to our search for a new minister. Watch for the date and more information in the weekly bulletin. Just a reminder that the board meets monthly on the third Wednesday of every month at the Fellowship beginning in September. The dates are on the website calendar. You are welcome to come and see how we work together. Reach out to any of us at any time-Gerry Peet, vice president, Shahan Islam, secretary, Jeff Hass, treasurer, Rick Turner, Anne Pearl and Janet Englund.

Enjoy the rest of your summer. But come back on September 12 with a full pencil box and your pencils sharpened. We will have our water ceremony and our welcome back potluck in our B&G spiffed-up Fellowship. I look forward to a special and rewarding new year with all of you.

Best,
Nenette Kress, President
Board of Trustees