UUCSC News and Updates
Weekly on Fridays

Volume III * Issue 13 * August 26, 2022

Unitarian Universalist Congregation of South County, RI
All are welcome!
Reverend Denis Letourneau Paul, Minister

This Sunday, August 28, 2022

In Person 10:00 am, Zoom 11:30

"The Art of the Tie"

Rev. Denis Letourneau Paul 


August 28 is National Bow Tie Day. It’s not a real holiday per se, but it’s fun opportunity to think about bow ties and all the other ways people have of expressing their style and even the way they think about masculinity. Like so many sartorial choices, that little strip of fabric, worn just so, can say a lot about a person’s place in the world.  

ORDER OF SERVICE


Click HERE to join Zoom service at 11:30 AM.

DONATE

From the President

Our first in-person service since early July was held this past Sunday and was very well attended. It was wonderful to see so many familiar faces—some I hadn’t seen since the start of the Pandemic. In-person services will be continuing and I hope you plan to be there.

 

The Board of Directors is looking forward to the upcoming Congregational Meeting. We are excited to be engaging in this conversation with everyone in the congregation. We want to know what is important to you. 


Consider these questions:

  • Why did you come to this congregation?
  • Why do you stay?
  • What do you value most at UUCSC?
  • How has being a member impacted your life? 


Rev. Denis, our President (me) and our DRE, Lee Cowan, will be facilitating the meeting on September 17. The time has been set at 10:00am to noon followed by a lunch that will be provided for all attendees. More info to come as we get closer to the date.

 

Summer is winding down, but we still have an all-ages swim picnic scheduled for next Sunday and one more BYOE picnic on next Wednesday. Check elsewhere in newsletter for details. Every summer I do imagine that I am storing sunshine and warmth to keep me cozy through the winter. It makes it hard to stay inside on a sunny day.

 

Enjoy the summer light,

Elizabeth

Save the Date--Congregational Meeting

Saturday, September 17, 2022

10 AM to Noon, with lunch to follow

Join in this very important meeting to envision the future of UUCSC.

Meetups for All Ages

BYOEverything Picnic

Wednesday, August 31, 5pm

UUCSC Backyard at Lily Pads

 

Bring your dinner, a beverage, a chair, bug spray and whatever else you might need for a few minutes or a couple of hours of conversation. Cancelled if it threatens to rain. Contact Elizabeth Donovan at 401-783-1362 with questions.

Swim PicnicThis Sunday!

August 28, 2022, 3PM 

URI's Bay Campus


Contact Bethany Sorrentino for more info: bethanysorrentino@uri.edu

D4$ Poetry Event

There is still Room in this Dining 4$$ event!!


"For the Love of Poetry!"

Betty Bogutt and Elizabeth Donovan 

Wednesday, September 7, at 2pm 

32 Azalea Rd, Narragansett 


Betty will read selections from some of her favorite contemporary poets and we'll have some lively discussion as we share our impressions. Feel free to bring a poem that is special to you and we'll discuss that too!

We'll be having some savory nibbles and sweet treats along with wine or other beverages.

Call Elizabeth at 783-1362 if you'd like to join us. $30


Submitted by Elizabeth Donovan

Native American News

Tomaquag Museum Celebration

It is truly a blessing that the Native American peoples with whom Rhode Island residents have livedand on whose lands they have built their homes and institutions—have survived to share their stories, traditions, ceremonies and celebrations with us. So it was on August 18, at the Tomaquag Museum’s Annual Honoring and Cultural Celebration. 

 

Eight UUCSC folks enjoyed presentations of Native American stories, dance and music. In addition, we learned much about the six honorees (from all over New England) and about Tomaquag’s ongoing activities. We appreciated our long-standing connection to the guest speakers we’ve hosted at UUCSC: Lorén Spears, Silvermoon LaRose, Annawon Weeden and Thawn Harris; plus, the contribution of $93,000 to Tomaquag, from the 2019 UUA General Assembly’s Sunday morning donation, secured by a grant written by Jean Bowen and the late Carolyn Hurdis. 

Focus on Indigenous Women

This year, Women’s Media Center Live with Robin Morgan is airing a series of episodes focusing on the lives and perspectives of the Indigenous women of North America. The first episode was an interview with condoled Bear Clan mother for the Mohawk National Council. The second episode focused on the under- and misrepresentation of Native people in media. The third episode features an interview with Cristina Azocar, a citizen of the Upper Mattaponi Tribe and a professor of journalism at San Francisco State University. View all three episodes here.

 submitted by Johnette Rodriguez

Memorial Service

There will be a memorial service for Laura French at Westminster Unitarian Universalist Church in East Greenwich on September 10 at 11:00 a.m, with a lunch afterward in Smith Hall on the church campus. The service and luncheon are being planned by Laura’s long-time friend, Elaine MacLean. Elaine is requesting that attendees that intend to stay for lunch send her an RSVP by September 1, if at all possible, to facilitate her lunch planning with the caterer. Elaine’s email address is maccom1@cox.net.

Community Connection

Women's Equality Day Celebration

TONIGHT!

Make it a Girls' Night Out or better yet, bring your daughters and granddaughters.  It's a chance to bond in our history as we reflect on our journey to be treated as equals under the law. Don't miss this chance to help our young daughters and granddaughters, who are benefitting every day, to appreciate the struggle and understand that it is not over.

View trailer and purchase advance tickets HERE.

LWVSC will offer voter information and voter registration.

A short discussion will follow viewing.


Be Informed When You Vote

Voter pitfall to avoid: Voting for someone you know almost nothing about. A little bit of research will help you feel more confident when you cast your ballot.

  1. Start by accessing your ballot now to see who is running for what at the RI Voter Information Center.
  2. Read ACLU RI Primary Candidate Survey. (Outstanding Source)
  3. Read multiple sources, not just political signs and media ads.
  4. Providence Journal is publishing in-depth stories on candidates running for state offices.
  5. Visit candidate websites.
  6. Search social media/YouTube/Google.
  7. Attend candidate forums, if possible. Note who is sponsoring the forum.
  8. Check out Ballotpedia - what candidates say about themselves, or not.
  9. Take notes - you may take notes into the voting booth.
  10. Draw your own conclusions, based on available info about the candidates


In a hurry? Start at the bottom of the ballot - local offices and issues can have the most immediate impact on your daily life.

Submitted by Etta Zasloff

Reminders...
Update your online membership directory entry here! Hard copies of the directory will be available soon.

Upcoming Gubernatorial Forum


Women’s Fund RI - Gubernatorial Forum: Creating Equity

August 30 , 2022 - 5:30pm

Roger Williams University Law School

Bristol, RI

Registration and details link. 

This war rages on...
The UUCSC Share the Plate committee recommends one of these four organizations that are providing support to Ukrainians in crisis.
Bethany Sorrentino, Helping Hands Coordinator
bethanysorrentino@uri.edu or 401-451-4104. 
Don't be afraid to ask for help - helping hands are here! 
Helping hand volunteers are also needed.

UUCSC Committees always need help and new ideas.
Membership Committee is vacant. Facility opening and closing is vacant. Please contact President Elizabeth Donovan at elizdn342@gmail.com.
List of Black owned businesses from RI Monthly magazine. Patronize these businesses all year long. This small effort can help undo racism. Please send pics and reviews to Etta for sharing here and on website.
Important Links
How to Submit Info to This Newsletter
Send announcements and news with Newsletter Item in the subject line to Etta Zasloff*, Editor, at zasloff.etta@gmail.com and Sara Kaplow, Congregational Administrator, at uucscri@gmail.com by Tuesday Noon
to assure publication by Friday of that week.