UUCSF Peace & Social Justice

Memorial Day Events

2008-05-20T04:34:00.000-07:00

MEMORIAL DAYOn the Plaza Monday, May 26, 2008

Iraq/Afghanistan Memorial Installation
Series of 93 banners (900 feet) with the names, faces andbrief military biographies of those killed in these wars.

"Eyes Wide Open"

Military boots representing the New Mexico fallen and a collection of civilian shoes symbolizing the many deaths of Iraqis. A project of the American Friends Service Committee

2:00 Spiritual Perspectives with Interfaith Speakers at the Plaza

GazeboSpeakers from various faith communities withbrief reminders of the relevance of the day.
3:00 Solemn Procession from the Plaza
to the National CemeteryTo pay respects to the fallen

7:30 "Body of War"Documentary of the human face of war.

CCA, Old Pecos Trail

Sponsored by Veterans for PeaceJoan Duffy Chapter, Santa Fe, NM

Mother's Day Rally

2008-05-10T04:55:00.000-07:00

These people will be on the Plaza tomorrow rallying for Peace. Where will you be?

Kumusha Marimba Ensemble
Bonnie Greathouse, singer
Bea Duran, artist
Bernadette Vadurro, author
Conseulo Luz, singer
Tubes and Tentacles, band
Louise Diamond, author
Warehouse 21 Poets
The Raging Grannies, singers
Craig Barnes, author
Virginia Miller, activist
Marcela Diaz, activist
Imam Aziz Eddabbarh
Rabbi Marvin Schwab
City Councillor Patti Bushee

Music by Kumusha at 1pm. Formal Program at 2pm. On the Plaza. Be there!

Trigo Fire Victims - FYI

2008-05-08T05:05:00.000-07:00

One of our artists at the Santa Fe Artist Market works with the Red Cross. If anyone has any clothes, blankets or canned food they would like to donate they will be accepting them at the Artist Market on Saturday (Casa Solana Shopping Center 10am-3pm). If that is not convenient, you can drop them off in my office and I will make sure that they get there.
Thanks.

Patty EveredController-Hilton of Santa Fe
505-986-6433 (Direct Telephone)
505-989-5319 (Fax)

Health Care Meeting

2008-05-01T15:48:00.000-07:00

Health Security for New MexicansDana Millen MPH Education and Outreach Coordinator campaign office505-987-1803www.nmhealthsecurity.org

Please come to our SF Local Organizing Committee meeting:Thursday, May 8, l0:00amSanta Fe Public Library145 Washington StreetSanta Fe, NM 87501(505) 955-6780We will meet in the community room. I will have an agenda to get usstarted. Will you be able to make it? Please let me know. Thanks!.

Best,
Dana

Please Spend Mother's Day on the Plaza

2008-04-27T05:25:00.000-07:00

The UUCSF Social Justice committee, along with dozens of other local groups, will be sponsoring a peace rally on Mother's Day on the Plaza. There will be marimba music starting at 1pm and the formal program will commence at 2pm. The Plaza will be filled with lively music, stirrring speeches, flowers and poetry. Several UUCSF members and friends have been involved in the planning and implementation of the program and it would be wonderful to have our congregation well-represented that afternoon as we celebrate one another and call for an end to the war in Iraq, the cessation of torture and the abandonment of any plans to attack Iran.

Stand Against Torture

2008-04-14T05:32:00.000-07:00

At its April meeting, the Social Justice Committee agreed that the committee would a become co-sponsor of the National Religious Campaign Against Torture (NRCAT). This is in keeping with the Action of Immediate Witness passed at the 2007 General Assembly which reads in part:

Therefore, be it resolved that the 2007 General Assembly reject roture by anyone for any purpose under any circumstances without exception. Be it resolved that the that the 2007 General Assemby stand in opposition to all U.S. sponsored torture, secret prisons, and rendition for torture …

The committee will be bringing more information about this issue to the congregation in the coming months and the stopping of torture is an important focus of the Mothers’ Day Peace Rally.

We are looking for volunteers to help staff a table at the Rally. To volunteer or to comment on the UUCSFSJC co-sponsorship of NRCAT, email uucsfsjc@gmail.com.

For more information about the National Religious Campaign Against Torture, check out www.nrcat.org.

Forum co-sponsors activist training

2008-03-27T04:54:00.000-07:00

This is an important training for activists who want to affect theupcoming elections.Its taking place at UUCSF co sponsored by Forum committee.
Sat Apr 5th. Bird-Dogging in New Mexico - In these upcoming elections we can have a great effect on our localand national political landscape. According to the Friends Committeeon National Legislation, ALL EYES WILL BE ON NEW MEXICO IN 2008.

We are a presidential swing state with four congressional seats up forelection. Special interest groups, personnel and money are flowing in. We the people need to be the ones who will bring the important NewMexico issues to the forefront. TO MAKE SURE OUR ISSUES ARE FRONT AND CENTER ON ELECTION DAY – WE NEEDTO LEARN HOW TO EFFECTIVELY "BIRD-DOG".

Arnie Alpert from the AmericanFriends Service Committee will be coming to New Mexico to give training events.

Santa Fe:Saturday, April 5th Registration at 2:00 PM and closes at 5:00 PM Santa Fe Unitarian Universalist Church on Barcelona

Albuquerque:Sunday, April 6th Albuquerque Peace and Justice Center 202 Harvard Southeast Registration at 5:00 PM and closes at 7:30PM

Suggested donation - $10

Habitat for Humanity -- New Date!

2008-03-12T08:43:00.000-07:00

UUCSF has been scheduled to volunteer for Habit for Humanity on Saturday April, 12. More details will be available later -- so check back. If you'd like to sign up, drop an email to uucsfsjc@gmail.com.

UUCSF in Action - Update and Thanks

2008-03-02T08:14:00.001-08:00

Thanks to all of you who participated in the February UUCSF in action events. And an even more special thanks to those who stepped up to coordinate and to videotape. We also applaud the staff who helped in so many ways. We hope to reschedule the two events that had to be postponed at a later time.

Our blood drive was very successful. Over twenty of us volunteered to donate and we collected 18 pints of blood -- enough to help 54 patients! With the help of the RE kids we collected $118 to co-sponsor the peace rally on Mothers' Day. Be sure to save the date - May 11 - so that we have a big UUCSF presence that afternoon.

Our earlier activities: health care advocacy, the Bienvenidos food drive, and assistance with eye screenings at DeVargas were quite successful also.

We learned a lot during this process and we look forward to creativity and efforts to keep social justice a major focus here at UUCSF.

Habitat for Humanity Event Postponed

2008-02-16T05:09:00.000-08:00

Today's volunteer effort for Habitat for Humanity has been postponed. The ground has been too wet to lay a slab, so the event will be rescheduled later.

Thanks so much to all who volunteered and to Mariana Bornholdt for coordinating this effort.

UUCSFSJC Update

2008-02-12T06:24:00.000-08:00

Many, many thanks to Pattie Ravenheart and Sherry Sandlin for coordinating the Bienvenidos Food Drive and many thanks to all of you who contributed.

We still have a couple openings for the Habitat for Humanity event this Saturday from 8:15-4:30.

Thanks to all who stepped up and volunteered to give blood on Sunday the 24th at UUCSF. We could still use a couple more.

To sign up for these, please email us at uucsfsjc@gmail.com.

This Sunday is "Bring A Buck for Peace" day to help with UUCSF's co-sponsorship of a Mother's Day Rally on the Plaza. This looks like an exciting event and we'll share details as they become available.

Sad news. HB9, The Domestic Partnership Rights and Responsibilites Act, did not make it out of the Senate Judiciary Committee. We will have to keep on fighting until all of us have equal rights.

Miscellaneous Issues

2008-02-07T05:04:00.000-08:00

Due to the bad weather, we did not have a quorum for our February 4th meeting. John Otter made a presentation regarding some good governance issues that will be on the Santa Fe Ballot in March. The members who were present, agreed to ask the full committee to support two of the measures: public financing for campaigns and ranked-choice voting.

We still need several volunteers to give blood on Sunday, February 24 between 10:00-1:30pm.
If you can't donate blood yourself, please try to recruit someone you know. Email uucsfsjc@gmail.com if you can help. Thanks!

Off and Running

2008-02-03T14:21:00.000-08:00

UUCSF in Action got off to a great start today, despite the ice and snow. Charlotte Roybal updated members on the state of health care legislation and answered questions about HB147 and SB225. Charlotte, who represented the point of view of Health Care for All New Mexico, felt that the formation of a health care authority was the next critical step to health care reform and universal access to health care. You can learn more by going to Health Action New Mexico's website.

After the presentation, members signed petitions and wrote letters to legislators. Marion Seymour will hand deliver the letters to the Roundhouse. Kitty Sherlock did a great job of putting this event together and Ralph Bruening videotaped the discussion.

A number of people have signed up to help with health care screening at DeVargas tomorrow, and next Sunday we will be collecting high-protein foods for Beinvenidos. Check the posts below for more information on what to bring and about what events are coming up.

UUCSF IN ACTION

2008-02-01T16:55:00.000-08:00

It is February! Time to swing into action. Our first event will be this Sunday. At 9:00am Charlotte Roybal will be at UUCSF to update us all on what is going on in the legislature with regard to health care. Between services we will write letters to our legislature expressing our views on this important issue. We will provide note cards, talking points and contact information. Take a few minutes to help move New Mexico to the forefront on this important issue.

If you can help with vision screenings at DeVargas on Monday the fourth, let us know right away.

Next Sunday, Feb. 10, we will be conducting a food drive for Bienvenidos. Please be generous. They are seeking the following items: Peanut butter, large jars, smooth or crunchy; Jam or jelly, large jars; Canned beef stew; Canned soup and beans; Boxes of macaroni and cheese; Dried beans; Large boxes of breakfast cereal.

We still have room for a few volunteers for Habitat for Humanity on Saturday Feb. 16. We need at least 10 more people to sign up for the blood drive on Sunday Feb. 24 in order to make that a go! And on Sunday Feb. 17 remember to “Bring a Buck” for peace, to support UUCSF’s commitment to co-sponsor a Mothers Day Peace Rally on the Plaza. We will wrap up the month by sorting toys at Alice King Center on the 27th.

Drop a note a uucsfsjc@gmail.com to sign up for any of the events.

A "Capitol" Day

2008-01-27T14:12:00.001-08:00

The weather was warm -- for January. Spirits were high. Members of our Congregation gathered on the east side of the Roundhouse to show support for HB9, the Domestic Partners Rights and Responsibilities bill. It was a time of prayer and a time to witness. It was a time of song -- more enthusiastic than tuneful. It was a time of inspired words from Steven Furrer. We were there in determination and we were there in solidarity to show that we believe in justice for all people. We were standing on the side of love.

A Way to Support the Troops

2008-01-25T05:04:00.000-08:00

Support the launching of a GI Rights Hotline in NM! If Senators won't stop the wars, maybe soldiers will!

The Mission of the New Mexico GI Rights Hotline is to provide information, referrals and support to members of the military and their families regarding discharges, grievances, and other civil rights issues. The Hotline will provide information about military life and war to individuals and families affected by military service, conscription, and recruitment.

The target date to open the hotline is February 15, 2008.

There will be two NM GI Rights Hotline fundraising events:

Saturday, January 26
Santa Fe
St. Bedes Episcopal Church-Common room
1601 S Saint Francis Dr.
(505) 982-1133
6:30-9:30 pm

and

Sunday, January 27
Albuquerque
Guild Cinema
3405 Central NE
(505) 255-1848
1:00-4:00 pm

See selected clips from the moving film Arlington West and learn through first-hand accounts why every community needs a GI Hotline. Speakers will include:Jorge Arroyo Conscientious Objector to the Iraq War; Tony Garcia, Native New Mexican Iraq Veteran; and Dahlia Wasfi, MD, Iraqi-American.

Jorge Arroyo is an Iraq War Veteran and Conscientious Objector to War. Jorge had the support of the GI Rights Hotline Network as he successfully went through the process of receiving a Conscientious Objector discharge from the military in 2007.

Tony Garcia, a 24-year Navy Veteran, was part of the First Marine Expeditionary Unit--"the tip of the spear"--in the US invasion of Iraq. Since retiring from the military in resistance to the Iraq War, Tony has suffered from PTSD, but has turned his trauma into healing, speaking about his experiences with young people around New Mexico and supporting the creation of NM GI Rights Hotline.

Dr. Dahlia Wasfi spent her childhood in Saddam Hussein's Iraq. In 2004, after years of separation, Dahlia visited Iraq to see family in Basrah and Baghdad. She went again for a 3-month visit in 2006. Dahlia speaks out against the negative impact of the US invasion on the Iraqi people and the need to end the occupation. Dahlia has been a guest on Alternative Radio and Democracy Now!

Refreshments! Door Prizes!
Suggested donation: $15
Help get the NM GI Rights Hotline up and running.

For information, call (505) 410-7657.

School of Americas Protester

2008-01-21T11:22:00.000-08:00

Chris Liberman, co-pastor of Immanual Presbyterian Church in Albuquerque will speak at a breakfast at Westminster Presbyterian Church on the 15th of Feb at 8:30. Chris crossed ‘the line’ at the School of Americas this last November. He will be sentenced on the 28th to a federal prison for at least two months.
He will share his experiences before he enters prison.

UUCSF Supports HB9

2008-01-21T05:26:00.001-08:00

As announced by Rev. Furrer yesterday, UUCSF will be holding its 11:30 service on Sunday, January 27 on the east side of the Roundhouse in support of HB9, the Domestic Partner Rights and Responsibilities Act. As a welcoming community it is important that we show our reverence for love and our willingness to speak out against discrimination. We suggest carpooling from UUCSF.

Opposition to this bill is mounting and you can help counter that by contacting your legislators in support of HB9. If you are not sure who your representatives are you can find out
here. You can find contact numbers on the right side of this blog.

The House Judiciary Committee is expected to hear the bill this afternoon at 1:30pm. Please show up in person if you can, as the legislature needs to see that there is strong and broad support for this bill. If you would like to testify, contact Equality New Mexico at 505.224.2766

You can read the proposed legislation here.

UUCSF In Action - The latest

2008-01-20T06:44:00.000-08:00

Here is the list of activities for our February of community outreach. We need volunteers. We need people to help coordinate the activities. We need you. Send an email to uucsfsjc@gmail.com to let us know what you would like to work on!

Sunday, February 3:
____ Attend a presentation about health care initiatives at 9am.
____ Write letters to legislators regarding health care between services.

Monday, February 4:
____ Help school nurse at DeVargas conduct vision screenings. 8:30-10:30
____ Help school nurse at DeVargas conduct vision screenings. 12:30-3:30

Sunday, February 10
____ Bring high-protein, non-perishable food for Bienvenidos.

Saturday, February 16:
____ Volunteer for Habitat for Humanity. 8:30a-4:30p

Sunday, February 17:
____ Bring a buck for peace. Donate $1 to help co-sponsor a Mothers Day peace rally.

Sunday, February 24:
____Donate Blood at UUCSF between 10a and 1:30p.

Wednesday, February 27:
____Sort toys for kids of inmates at Alice King Center 9:30a-2:30p

What is the Legislature Doing and What Can You Do?

2008-01-18T05:01:00.000-08:00

This just in from Marion Seymour:

The Human Needs Coordinating Council will be meeting at noon every Wednesday during the legislative session. By attending the meeting you can learn about issues relating to hunger/poverty and health and hear about proposed legislation. The meetings are held at First Christian Church on Weber St, which is in walking distance of the Roundhouse. Marion will be parking at UUCSF and suggests carpooling from there. Any questions, call Marion. 438-9693.

UUCSF in Action!

2008-01-16T06:22:00.000-08:00

Imagine our whole congregation engaged together in a variety of fun, meaningful community outreach activities during the month of February. Imagine capturing it all on video. Now imagine UU congregations all across the Mountain Desert District doing the same thing this spring, after which the videos will be professionally edited and presented at the 2009 GA.

You don’t have to imagine! The Social Justice Committee invites you to join together in one or more of the wide- variety of activities we have planned. At the January 20 service, comittee members will be presenting you with a menu of activites and asking you to sign up.

This is going to be amazing, and you won’t want to be left out!

Rescheduled Meeting

2008-01-08T16:00:00.000-08:00

The rescheduled meeting will take place on Tuesday, January 7. Same agenda.

Meeting Cancelled

2008-01-08T04:59:00.000-08:00

The January 7 meeting was cancelled due to bad weather. Check back to find out the rescheduled date.

January 7 Meeting Agenda

2008-01-06T16:45:00.000-08:00

UUCSF – Social Justice Committee Meeting
Monday, January 7, 2008
7:00 PM – No later than 8:30 PM

A. Opening “Meet and Greet” ...(10 Minutes)
B. Lighting of the Chalice & a Reading …(5 Minutes)
C. Approve/Modify the agenda …(5 Minutes)
D. Dec. 3, 2007, minutes. Approve/Modify …(5 Minutes)

E. Guest Presentation
a) John Otter Santa Fe City Charter …(5 Minutes)
b) Discussion ...(10 Minutes)

F. Reports
a) Lobby Display ..(10 Minutes)
i) Joel Nicholas
b) Mother’s Day Peace Rally . ..(15 Minutes)
i) Fran Martone – Report & Discussion
c) MDD Fair January and February Activities ...(20 Minutes)
i) Rev. Furrer

G. First Sunday Giving (5 Minutes)
a) Evelyn

H. Hand Outs

Next meeting February 4, 2008

December 3 Meeting Agenda

2007-11-30T05:30:00.000-08:00

UUCSF – Social Justice Committee Meeting
Monday, December 3, 2007
7:00 PM – No later than 8:30 PM

A. Opening “Meet and Greet” ...(10 Minutes)
B. Evelyn Cole Lighting of the Chalice & a Reading …(5 Minutes)
C. Approve/Modify the agenda …(5 Minutes)
D. Nov. 5, 2007, minutes. Approve/Modify (3 Minutes)
E. Guidelines of October 28, Work Session. Approve/Modify …(3 Minutes)

F. Old Business
a) UUCSF Council Chair Report Budget Request $2,500. ...(2 Minutes)
b) 1st Sunday Giving Recommendations ...(10 Minutes)
i) Approve/Modify recommendations
c) Fran Martone Report Publicity & Communications ...(10 Minutes)
i) Approve/Modify recommendations

G. New Business
a) SJC focus(s) for the coming year, Nov. 2007 – October 2008 ...(15 Minutes)
i) Survey of the Sunday Service Attendance
(1) December 17. El Centinela deadline & mails 12/21
(2) Service Date (Sometime in Jan. 2008 would be soonest.)
ii) Probably a follow on mailer, or SJC “fair/mixer” to gather information on UUCSF membership commitments to participation in SJC activities, etc.
iii) Do we have some volunteers to work with Fran?

b) Expand “Points of Entry” to social justice activities by SJC members beyond steering committee membership. ...(15 minutes)
i) A type of action, probably driven by a commitment to address a specific interest, but not necessarily at the Task Force Level of activity.
c) Mother’s Day Peace Rally …(5 Minutes)
i) Is there interest?
ii) Is there an SJC subgroup who wants to champion this ministry?
H. Hand Outs (Also attached to this email) Look these over before the meeting.
a) Notes from Publicity and Communications
b) Notes from 1st Sunday Giving
c) Update Membership List
d) Mother’s Day Peace Rally
e) Issues Definitions

SJC Work Group Minutes from October 28

2007-11-25T14:54:00.000-08:00

UUCSF SJC WORK SESSION RESULTS
October 28, 2007
Revised November 5, 2007

TASK FORCE
A minimum of 4 “Champions” will be required to establish a TASK FORCE.
Each TASK FORCE will require annual authorization/reauthorization from the congregation.
What are the advantages of being an SJC TASK FORCE? (Rather than an ad hoc group.) Each Task Force will

i. Eligible for potential UUCSF funding support
ii. A sanctioned UUCSF representative
iii. Part of a larger organization
iv. Integral to the fulfillment of the UUCSF mission
v. Reinforced with congregational buy-in
vi. Part of the feedback, support of/and participation loop of the UUA Social Justice policy.

FIRST SUNDAY GIVING
To whom will First Sunday Giving be awarded? The overall criteria are:
i. Not-For-Profit Organizations
ii. Local, or
iii. Local Chapters of broader organizations
iv. Smaller budget organizations (Historically +/-$100,000)
v. The project/program must be aligned with SJC in one or more ways:
1. Mission
2. Goals
3. Task Forces
4. UUA SJC recommended, and/or
5. Minister’s Discretionary Fund

Who decides on the beneficiaries?
i. Interim – First Sunday Giving (FSG)Liaison
ii. Long-term – SJC (SJC ratifies the FSG Liaison’s selection.)

Recommendations for giving originate from:
i. First Sunday Giving Liaison
ii. SJC
iii. Task Force
iv. Congregation

UUCSF SJC WORK SESSION RESULTS
October 28, 2007
Revised November 5, 2007
Page 2

SJC LEADERSHIP SELECTION PROCESS, RESPONSIBILITIES & TERMS
Chair - Nominated for vote by congregation at semi-annual meeting
i. Term – 2 year. Maximum of 4 years (i.e., 2 sequential terms for 2 years each).
ii. Responsibilities
1. Coordinates the SJC
2. Proposes agendas
3. Convenes and conducts meetings
4. Speaks for UUCSF Social Justice when authorized by the SJC
5. May designate other SJC members to facilitate meetings/
work sessions.
Vice Chair - Nominated for consensus/vote by SJC at November meeting.
i. Term – 1 year, renewable
ii. Responsibilities
1. Acts in the absence of the Chair.
Secretary - Nominated for consensus/vote by SJC at November meeting
i. Term – 1 year, renewable
ii. Responsibilities
1. Records meetings
2. Distributes draft and approved final minutes to SJC and others, as appropriate by email and by hard copy as agreed upon
Treasurer - Nominated for consensus/vote by SJC at November meeting
i. Term – 1 year. Maximum of 2 sequential years.
ii. Responsibilities
1. Liaison – First Sunday Giving & Change for Change programs
2. Keeps SJC financial records
3. Reports financial status monthly to the SJC, and to the UUCSF Board and auditor as needed.

Those in attendance at the original Work Session were: Dennis Bianchi, Evelyn Cole, Helen Mooney, Deborah Holder, Rev. Furrer, Fran Martone, and Karolyn Eisenstein.

END OF WORK SESSION UPDATE

Welcome

2007-11-23T07:34:00.001-08:00

We are testing this blog and will be making adjustments to best suit our mission and the needs of our users. We look forward to working with you on social justice issues.