This Sunday’s Program May 20 – Our Fifth Principle in Action – Congregational Meeting and Elections,
Membership Committee
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Universalism for Our Time:
2012 Universalist Convocation
at
Murray Grove Retreat and Renewal Center
“Where Universalism traditionally began”
May 18-20, 2012
To explore and draw from
the heritage of Universalist experience and faith
to inform Unitarian Universalism today
and help light its way toward the future.
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We are very excited to announce that the 2012 Universalist Convocation will take place from May 18th to May 20th, at the Murray Grove Retreat and Renewal Center in Lanoka Harbor, NJ – where Universalism in America is traditionally said to have begun.
This year’s theme is Universalism for Our Time. The keynote speaker will be Rev. Richard “Dick” Gilbert, speaking on the topic, “Love That Won’t Let Us Go – Or Off.” Additional presentations will be brought by Rev. Kalen Fristad of the Christian Universalist Association, and Rev. Rosemary Bray McNatt of the Fourth Universalist Society of New York. A new event will be an interfaith panel of contemporary universalists speaking from Jewish, Quaker, Buddhist, Hindu, and Unitarian Unversalist perspectives. As always, there will be worship, fellowship and entertainment, as well.
Here are links to our flyer and theregistration form for the 2012 Convocation, and a membership form for the Universalist Convocations. Please note that Convocation members may take advantage of an extended “early bird” discounted registration period. On-site lodging is limited, however, so please don’t wait too long!
We look forward to having you join us!
The 2012 Universalist Convocation Planning Team:
Ann Malpass, Carol Haag, Louise Ille, Rich Koster
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Murray Grove Retreat and Renewal Center | PO Box 246 | 431 US Highway 9 | Lanoka Harbor | NJ | 08734
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Living History Event: Rachel Carson, Fannie Farmer and Others to Visit Chestertown
The Unitarian Universalists of the Chester River will welcome conservationist Rachel Carson and American culinary expert Fannie Farmerto a “ Celebrity Coffee House,” where they will reflect upon their life achievements and religious beliefs. The public is invited to meet these distinguished Unitarian Universalist notables on Sunday March 11, 3:00 PM. at the home of the Unitarian Universalists of the Chester River, 914 Gateway Drive, Chestertown.
Also visiting will be Dorothea Dix, an activist for the mentally ill, Theodore Parker, American Transcendentalist and abolitionist, poet e.e. cummings, writer Lillian Steichen Sandburg and two other surprise guests.
This event is free of charge; all are invited to join these luminaries for coffee, conversation, and dessert. Driving Directions: From northbound Route #213, turn left into the Crestview subdivision onto Southgate Drive, then right onto Gateway Drive; UUCR is the first building on the left. For additional information or to reserve a space, please call 410-778-3440 or 410-639-7811.
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Unlabeled. Untested. Unsafe. Walmart, don’t sell Monsanto’s GMO sweet corn!
This spring, Monsanto’s GMO sweet corn — their first product for direct human consumption — will be getting planted for the first time.
Then it will be sold, unlabeled, in a grocery store near you.
What would it take to stop it? It would take the largest food retailer in the country rejecting Monsanto’s untested, potentially toxic corn.
Tell Walmart: Don’t carry Monsanto’s GMO sweet corn! Click here to automatically sign the petition.
In response to pressure from more than 250,000 CREDO Activists and others last fall, Trader Joes, Whole Foods and General Mills all committed not to sell Monsanto’s sweet corn.1
But not Walmart.
Walmart, wrote to us that “nothing is more important than the safety and satisfaction of our customers.” But that’s just not consistent with selling this unlabeled GMO sweet corn, which contains three genetic modifications — including the insecticide Bt — and hasn’t been tested to prove it is safe for humans to eat.2
Walmart could make a powerful statement for consumer safety by rejecting Monsanto’s GMO sweet corn, but they won’t do it unless we put very public pressure on the company.
Tell Walmart: Don’t carry Monsanto’s GMO sweet corn! Click here to automatically sign the petition.
This corn is Monsanto’s first foray into designing GMO foods that could wind up whole on your plate. If it’s successful, we can be sure that it will just be the beginning for Monsanto, who already produces roughly 90% of GMO seeds around the globe.
As the largest food retailer, and even the largest seller of organic foods, Walmart can set an important precedent that could keep Monsanto’s GMO sweet corn, and any future GMO foods, from taking root.
If Walmart really means that nothing is more important than their customers safety then they need to take a stand now.
Click below to automatically sign the petition:
http://act.credoaction.com/r/?r=5535403&id=35505-4060899-WRhKA1x&t=10
Thanks for fighting for safe and healthy food.
Elijah Zarlin, Campaign Manager
CREDO Action from Working Assets
1. “Food companies petitioned to ban new Monsanto GMO corn,” Reuters, 10/27/11
2. “Monsanto’s GMO Corn Linked To Organ Failure, Study Reveals,” Huffington Post, 3/18/10
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Dear Friend,
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Binita Rai, a tea farmer for Sanjukta Vikas Tea Coop. |
UUSC supporters have been at the forefront of the movement to purchase goods that promote a just economy. That’s why I’m writing you today about a threat to fair trade and asking you to take action to save fair trade.
Fair Trade USA (previously Transfair USA), a fair-trade certifier, is moving to allow coffee and cacao grown on large plantations into the fair-trade system. This imperils small farmers by forcing them to compete with large plantations. Take action today in support of small farmers around the world; sign the statement opposing Fair Trade USA’s move to lower the standards for products labeled as fair trade.
Small farmer cooperatives strengthen farming communities worldwide, protect the environment, and build a just and sustainable food system for all. When coffee, tea, cacao, and other goods are sourced from small-farmer cooperatives, co-op members earn a fair price for their crops. This allows them to better meet their families’ needs for food, education, health care, and long-term security. In addition, fair trade focused on small-farmer cooperatives helps farmers own their land and run democratic businesses.
The statement is being distributed in collaboration with Equal Exchange, a worker-owned cooperative that sells 100-percent fairly traded products to support small farmers. Equal Exchange sources coffee, tea, cacao, and other goods directly from small-farmer cooperatives and partners with us — and more than 600 UU congregations — on the UUSC Coffee Project.
Stand in solidarity with the small farmers who are at the heart of the fair-trade movement. Sign the statement of support today.
Thank you for choosing compassionate consumption!
Sincerely,
Kara Smith
Associate for Grassroots Mobilization
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689 Massachusetts Ave.
Cambridge, MA 02139-3302
Ph: 617-868-6600 Fax: 617-868-7102
Copyright © 2011-2013 All rights reserved. |
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SPANISH FOR SOCIAL WORK AND OUTREACH – APRIL 16 AND 18, 2012
Spanish for Social Work and Outreach is 8 hours of fast-paced learning for individuals working with Hispanic clients or families. Participants will gain an understanding of vocabulary and phrases useful for any of the helping professions as well as cultural understanding important when working with this population.
Taught by a native-speaking instructor in a state-of-the-art language learning classroom on the campus of UMES, Spanish for Social Work and Outreach is ideal for persons with little or no knowledge of Spanish. The fee is $149; all materials are included. Register at http://www.umes.edu/FLIC or call 410-651-6543.
Looking for something else? Let us customize a language training course to meet your organization’s needs. Give us a call at410-651-6543.
Tammy Gharbi, M.Ed.
Acting Program Coordinator
Foreign Language Instructional Center featuring 
Department of English and Modern Languages
University of Maryland Eastern Shore
Princess Anne, MD 21853
Phone: 410-651-6543
tsgharbi@umes.edu
www.umes.edu/flic
CELEBRATING THE JOURNEY: 125 YEARS
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| Radical Hospitality: Creating Beloved Community for All Children |
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Where:
Unitarian Fellowship of West Chester
501 South High Street
West Chester, PA 19382
Driving Directions
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| Greetings!The inclusion of children and adults with special needs in our Unitarian Universalist congregations is not only a matter of pragmatism. It is also the right thing to do. On May 19th, the author and advocate Sally Patton will present a one day workshop entitled Radical Hospitality: Creating Beloved Community for All Children. It’s designed for religious educators, parents and anyone else who is interested in the inclusion of everyone in our spiritual communities. I invite you to register and join us for this very special day.
Cost: $40. Parents: $30. Teams of three of more: $30 per person. Includes morning refreshments and lunch. Limited scholarships are available.
Mark Bernstein
Regional Growth Development Consultant
Central East Region of the UUA
610-639-3389
mbernstein@uua.org
www.cerguua.org
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Take Five Minutes………
And Help Pass Marriage Equality
The Civil Marriage Protection Act of 2012
Senate Bill 241/House Bill 438
Please take five minutes to contact your delegates and senator immediately and ask them to vote YES on House Bill 438 or Senate Bill 241.
Several suggestions are below. The first two suggestions are crucial to include and the others can be added, if appropriate or feasible by phone or email.
Give your name and address and that you are in his/her district.
Ask your delegate or senator to support SB 241 or HB 438, The Civil Marriage Protection Act of 2012.
Include that you are a Unitarian Universalist.
Mention any personal connections you have with them.
Give your personal reasons for supporting the bill.
Thank them if they are a co-sponsor or if they have voted yes this year. (See the lists below and in the sidebar.)
You can find a link to legislators’ email addresses here. You can determine who your legislators are by clicking here. You can also call 410-946-5400 or 301-970-5400 and ask to be connected.
Please ask your friends, co-workers and relatives to contact their legislators, also. This is the crucial time to mobilize all supporters to communicate with their elected officials. Opponents are busy contacting legislators!
Background on the Bill
HB 438 was voted on last night (Tuesday, February 15th) by the House Judiciary and the House Health and Government Operations Committees after a 10 1/2 hour hearing on Friday. The joint committees voted 25 Yea, 18 Nay, 1 Abstain, and 1 Absent. The bill was brought to the floor of the House today and held over for a vote, probably this week, possibly as early as tomorrow. The Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee had a hearing on January 31, but no further action has taken place.
Joint February 14, 2012 vote on HB 438 by the House Judiciary and Health and Government Operations Committees
Members of House Health & Government
Operations Committee
YEA Votes: Chair Peter A. Hammen (D-46), Vice Chair Shane Pendergrass (D-13), Eric M. Bromwell (D-8), Robert A. Costa (R-33B), Dan K. Morhaim (D-11), Bonnie Cullison (D-19), Peter F. Murphy (D-28), Shirley Nathan-Pulliam (D-10), Nathaniel T. Oaks (D-41), Joseline Pena-Melnyk (D-21), James W. Hubbard, (D-23A), Kirill Resnik (D39), Ariana Kelly (D-16), Shawn Z. Tarrant (D-40), Veronica L. Turner (D-26).
NAY Votes: John P. Donoghue (D-2C), Donald E. Elliott (R-4B), William J. Frank (R-42) Justin Ready(R-5A), A. Wade Kach (R-5B), Nicholaus R. Kipke (R-31).
ABSENT: Patrick L. McDonough (R-7)
Members of the House Judiciary Committee
YEA Votes: Vice Chair Kathleen Dumais (D-15), Susan C. Lee (D-16), Jill P. Carter (D-41), Keiffer Mitchell, Jr. (D-44), Luke Clippinger (D-46), Curtis S. Anderson (D-43), Luiz Simmons (D-17), Frank Conaway, Jr. (D-40), Kris Valderrama (D-26), Kevin Kelly (D-1B), Jeffrey Waldstreicher (D-18).
NAY Votes: Chair Joseph F. Vallario, Jr. (D-27A), Tiffany Alston (D-24), Michael McDermott (R-38B), Neil Parrott (R-2B), John Cluster, Jr. (R-8), Susan K. McComas (R-35), Michael Smigiel, Sr. (R-36), Donald H. Dwyer, Jr. (R-31), Michael J. Hough (R-3B), Susan Krebs (R-9B), Geraldine Valentino-Smith (D23A).
ABSTAIN: Sam Arora (D-19)
UULM-MD is part of the Marylanders for Marriage Equality (MFME) Coalition, which includes the NAACP-Baltimore Chapter, 1199 SEIU, SEIU Local 500, ACLU-Maryland, Progressive Maryland, Equality Maryland, Human Rights Campaign, National Black Justice Coalition, National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, Family Equality Council, Catholics for Equality, Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington, Maryland Faith for Equality, Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gay (PFLAG), Maryland National Organization for Women (NOW), Baltimore Black Pride Inc., National Center for Lesbian Rights, SEIU MD/DC State Council, CASA de Maryland and the Leaque of Women Voters.
THANK YOU! Thousands of UULM-MD valentines were delivered to legislators and hundreds of UUs attended the Rally for Marriage Equality on Monday night. You are making a difference!
Please forward this email to others! Our legislators need to hear from as many supporters as possible!
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The Unitarian Universalist Legislative Ministry of Maryland is funded in part by the Fund for UU Social Responsibility.
The Unitarian Universalist Legislative Ministry of Maryland
c/o UU Church of Annapolis
333 Dubois Road Annapolis, MD 21401
410-266-8044, ext. 111
info@uulmmd.org www.uulmmd.org
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