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Weekly Communicator
April 7, 2022
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Please join us on Sunday as we celebrate Passover. | |
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Please send all newsletter articles by
12pm Wednesday for publication in Thursday's newsletter.
Send articles to newsletter@uucfm.org
**Please do not send requests to the office manager email**
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WELCOME NEW MEMBER
MARY STUDER
Mary joined in membership on June 7, 2020 and was active at UUCFM before that. A former "Snowbird", she had called Ft. Myers home for 9 years. With a degree in theology, she's been an active atheist and practicing Buddhist for over 20 years. She's always enjoyed a rich spiritual life and finds UU to be the perfect environment to support that. Mary manages the Book Club Rev. Allison began, co-facilitates both the Monday evening mindfulness sangha and the Sunday UU Dialogues. Mary is the incoming President of our Board of Trustees. She says she looks forward to being in a management role again. We
thank Mary for her willingness to be our next President.
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Annual Members Meeting
Our annual meeting will be held Sunday, April 10 at 2pm ET and we’ll meet via Zoom again this year. We’ll use the same link as for worship services. To minimize our carbon footprint, the packet with instructions, necessary documents and your ballot was sent via email April 1. Please remember to vote!
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Ukrainian Refugees Need These SWFL Shelters!
3.6 million Ukrainian refugees have fled Ukraine since the invasion began. The question on many of our minds in SWFL is: "What can we do to help these refugees"?
One Florida entrepreneur and UUCFM member is mobilizing his efforts to provide safe housing for refugees. Eleven years ago, Frank Schooley developed and patented a refugee shelter (Shelter In A Day) using a revolutionary flat panel construction joining method that creates a strong and durable joint for MDF (Medium Density Fiberboard sheets). Fitted with hurricane anchors, one Shelter has lived next to the UUCFM screen porch for 11 years and survived a direct hit from hurricane Irma with absolutely no damage!
Frank also developed a containerized manufacturing plant that fits within a 20 foot shipping container, so that Shelters In A Day can be produced wherever they are needed.
Please help Ukrainian refugee families by donating to this important non-profit SWFL campaign. Every penny of the money raised (100%) will be used to deliver these shelters to Ukrainian refugees. As a donor, you will receive a copy of the Foundation’s audited financial Statement and an IRS approved certificate of your donation from the PayPal Giving Fund. The You Disinfect It Foundation, a Naples Florida 501c3 has partnered with Frank to raise money and quickly deliver free refugee Shelters to Ukrainian Refugee families. A GoFundMe campaign with lots of photos and additional information has been set up by The You Disinfect It Foundation so that you can donate to this SWFL community project.
Frank Schooley terrapeg@gmail.com 239-823-0651
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Welcome to BLUU HavenHood a Black Lives of Unitarian Universalist initiative!
We received our official welcome letter as BLUU Haven Fort Myers, after a lengthy process on February 9, 2022.
The BLUU Haven Fort Myers group is established by and for Black UUs, and Black folx who share our values, to connect socially and to engage locally in organizing efforts together!
We gathered in February and March, and have brought together UU's from Charlotte, Lee and Collier counties.
Anyone who identifies as Black and or BIPOC is welcome. Allies and adjacent folks are welcome by reservation only to ensure balance and lower the risk of losing the BIPOC culture within the Haven.
For more information please email our BLUU Haven Fort Myers coordinator: Lay Minister, Alberita Johnson at bluuhavenfortmyers@gmail.com
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A GRACE project workshop
In late March, the GRACE Project offered Workshops for over 100 women, both teachers and community leaders, in El Petén, Guatemala. Marta Matias was the GRACE Project co-teacher with Dr. Gloria Catalán, Director of the Ministry of Education of El Petén.
The workshops were titled "Conocer tu Poder de Mujer" (Know your power as a woman) and included instructions for the Reusable menstrual Kits and Fertility bracelets for natural family planning.
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Here’s what your UUCFM Ministry for Earth (MFE) team is up to in April
Join the Garden Guardians at UUCFM. We continue sprucing up both the Memorial Garden and the Sculpture Garden. What a delightful place to spend time with nature and to learn about Natural Gardening from others who love to garden. Scheduled work sessions happen the 3rd Saturday of every month from 9-11a.m. YOU are welcome to join the effort. Contact Patricia Linhoff at freckles345@comcast.net.
April 22 is Earth Day and RESET is having a party at UUCFM, 5-7pm. At 7:30 the Gulf Coast Chamber Orchestra will entertain. Discounts for the concert can be found at https://resetearthdayceleb.eventbrite.com. The Symphony will be using the grounds, and we want the area to sparkle. If you would like to volunteer, contact RESET Holley.
Want to know what happens to your recycling? April 25th we are scheduled for a tour of the Lee County Recycling Facility. This is reputedly a very informative 2-hour tour; 9:30-11:30. Contact Patricia Linhoff for more info and to sign up freckles345@comcast.net. It’ll be a fun gathering.
The UUCFM MFE team members are Michele Bellinger, Karen Brown, Mary Cline Goblitz, Holley Rauen, and Patricia Linhoff. We welcome your interest and hope you will officially join us.
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Mark the date! RESET Center, UUCFM Ministry for Earth, and The GCS are partnering for this Celebration! | |
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Friday, April 22
5:00 Pm-7:00pm Concert starts at 7:30pm
Celebrate Earth Day and Care of Creation with music, art, poetry, great food, and community. Free Celebration! Join us for an SWFL RESET Board Members reception, a conversation with Joe Bonasia about the Right to Clean Water Constitutional Amendment. The Gulf Coast Chamber Orchestra will be presenting an Earth Day evening celebration, and those who attend the RESET event earlier in the evening will receive a discount on performance tickets.
Register here: https://resetearthdayceleb.eventbrite.com.
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LEE COUNTY RECYCLES!
And you are invited to tour the Resource Recovery Facility in Buckingham.
UUCFM Ministry for Earth will be visiting the facility on Monday, April 25, 9:30 a.m. for a 2 hour tour. What a great activity to wind down our Earth Day.
The tour is free and will cover both the recycling plant (MRF) and the waste to energy plant (WTE). Details will be sent to you when you sign up.
Contact Patricia Linhoff for information and reservations freckles345@comcast.net
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Monday Book Group
On April 11, we’ll discuss Ch. 14, 15 & 16 of Invisible Women: Data Bias in a World Designed for Men by C.C. Perez. For more info, click here to contact Mary Studer.
Mindfulness Opportunities
We have two online sitting practices each week for you. We practice mindfulness and discuss a reading. If you don’t have the books, you're still welcome to sit with us.
The Monday Sangha meets at 6:30-7:45 p.m. and begins discussing Thich Nhat Hanh’s Happiness: Essential Practices. Contact mstuder929@gmail.com for details.
The Wednesday sangha meets between 10:00-11:30 a.m. in coordination with Caloosahatchee Mindfulness. It’s discussing After the Ecstacy by Jack Kornfield. Contact Helen Leddy for more information: helen.leddy@gmail.com.
Social Issues Book Group
NEW DATE AND TIME: MEETING EVERY OTHER WEEK STARTING FRIDAY 3/25 FROM 3-4:30 P.M. Book is Our Time is Now by Stacey Abrams.
"Draws from extensive research from national organizations and renowned scholars, as well as from anecdotes from the author's life and those of others who have fought throughout our country's history to be heard."
Contact Helen Leddy helen.leddy@gmail.com or Helen Dixon helendixon9@gmail.com for more information.
Poetry Circle
We read and discuss in detail a variety of poems, often related to our UU experience, usually centered around a weekly theme. Members share their own work for discussion as well, if they want to, but you do not need to be a writer to join. We offer weekly prompts, although there is no obligation to follow them.
This is an ongoing Zoom group. New members can join at any time, and we really hope you will. Contact Judi Dettorre judidet84@gmail.com or Cat Pivetti joypivet@aol.com for more information.
We meet every other Tuesday. We will meet from 1pm to 3pm. This a change from the original time.
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60th Anniversary Pave the Way Fundraiser Update | Enjoy reading the 100+ donated commemorative bricks from the 50th and 60th Anniversary campaigns that line the walkways into our Sanctuary. A theater goer was overheard to remark, "These tell such a story!" Look for a form to give your personalized brick at the Sunday Information Table or Read More for more information. | | | |
The Bill Brewer Family Gardens | |
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UPDATE
The Bill Brewer Family Gardens are pleased to announce that we have donated a total of 1038 pounds of produce this season to two local food bank recipients, the St. Martin de Porres Outreach on Palm Beach Blvd in Tice that feeds meals to 150 people every week night and hands out groceries on Friday, and to the Cypress Lake Presbyterian Food Bank that provides groceries on Monday to people in that area.
Our season is gearing down and we are preparing beds for summer. The spring in Florida is dry, so this process will be gradual. This summer, we plan to plant several beds in cover crops that will enrich the soil for next season. More is in the planning works.
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Our Memorial Garden
What does this space mean to you? It is a place to go sit, meditate, and remember all those people who have gone before and helped make our campus and congregation what it is today. The plaques on the stone walls tell the story. Perhaps you want to be part of this story when you leave this life?
Many plaques have been preordered, engraved, and stored in the office ready to place on the stone walls.
For your name plate or a loved member's name plate to be engraved and added, please look for a form at the Information Table each Sunday or call the office to have a form sent to you, 239-561-2700.
The Garden Guardians are taking loving care of this special place.
They are proud to have a part in this ongoing history of UUCFM.
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60 Years - Holding Strong
Writing is underway for our 60th anniversary play, "Over 60 Years Holding Strong". It's been 60 years since June 20, 1961 when UUCFM received its Charter from the UUA. Reflection interviews are being collected by Hank Nash and Margaret Ramus. The more ideas and reflections the better. We are building on the 40th Anniversary Play produced in 2002. To be part of this effort, contact 60th Play Coordinator, Suzanne Ziemer, suzanneziemer@gmail.com, 239-463-9020.
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LIFE NEHEMIAH ACTION
There is not enough low-cost rental housing in Fort Myers. People who serve all of us can’t find housing. This is a travesty.
LIFE’s solution is to increase the supply of low-cost housing using a local Affordable Housing Trust Fund. The City Council in January of 2022 unanimously approved an ordinance, now we have to keep fighting for the promised 1.5 million to put into the fund - without delay.
LIFE is asking for a revenue source of $3 million a year.
Money will go to creating affordable housing and also to help families pay their rent.
Let’s show up for LIFE. You can contact Helen Leddy and Marge Gonzalez for more information. You can contact me - Karen Brown. We are all needed at the Justice Table. To invest in LIFE text lifejustice to 4-4-3-2-1 to invest via credit card or bank account or mail your check to LIFE PO Box 62692, Fort Myers, FL 33906. LIFE for Justice! Justice for LIFE!
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The MACC
The Music and Arts Community Center
2021 - 2022
Season Tickets
The GCS comprises the Gulf Coast Symphony, the Gulf Coast Chamber Orchestra, the Gulf Coast Jazz Collective, and the Music & Arts Community Center (MACC). This year over 100 programs will be offered that present the best in classical music, jazz, world music, dance, opera, film and musical theater.
Ticket prices range from $24 - $44
As you know, there's not a bad seat in the house!
Tickets and seat choice can be purchased online or at the door.
For more info visit
gulfcoastsymphony.org
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