Between Sundays March 27, 2024

GRATITUDE FOR GENEROSITY     

This April, we at UUCV remind everyone that we are grateful for the gifts of time, talent, and treasure that our members and friends give to our church home. It is pledge season, but that is not my focus, here. I do hope that you can pledge generously.

I first invite you, yes, any of you, to take five to ten minutes any time you are at the church campus just to do a little meditative weeding in our parking islands and especially around where our native wildflowers grow. We don’t want to have to mow those flowers down along with the weeds. (Spring has its shadow side!)

This 5-10 minute task, multiplied by our numbers, can make a lot of progress. Be a multiplier.

If you weed on a random day, feel free to put the weeds at the nearest curb. They will be picked up, be assured.

As I ask for your help, I also send gratitude to the volunteers who have been working diligently on keeping up with the grounds, They know who they are, and they need for all of us to pitch in to help, especially as we spiff up to host the Pacific Southwest Service Area Assembly, April 26-28. Think of this as a District Assembly. We come together with UUs from throughout the Southwest There are a lot of UUCV volunteers involved in helping to make this event a success. These are the ways that our community is supporting REGISTERED ATTENDEES. Register here.

– Don’t Fret, our house ukelele band, will provide background music and sing-along opportunities Friday evening.
– Michael Akseven and Susan Franzblau are coordinating home-stays for UUs who register.
– Susan Franzblau is also developing a list of hotels within a variety of price ranges for visitors.
– Martha Kazlo is especially interested in getting people signed up or being able to attend the Saturday entertainment from Emma’s Revolution.
– Michael Akseven and David Henkel are also coordinating the hospitality bars. Don’t forget that bottle donations are needed and very welcome. 
– Our coffee, tea, and bagel ministry is on board and ready to serve.
– Our Caring Committee has agreed to assist in preparation for the continental breakfasts, Saturday and Sunday Mornings.
– We will provide adventure! Kris Langabeer and Deb Menzies will lead an expedition to the Ventura Settling Ponds (birding and . . .) , Saturday afternoon.
– Someone named Kitty is working at making sure that technology works for this event, and she is coordinating with Brian Fortune (staff) and other volunteers to help make this happen.
– Our Director of Family Ministry, Lily Rappaport, is helping to coordinate a simultaneous Youth Con.
– Making this happen does not happen without the administrative skills of our Church Administrator, Jennifer Luce.
– The event is supported by folks from Chalice UU (Conejo Valley), especially former UUCV participant Bill Damerell.

A final note, just to clarify, DO I NEED TO REGISTER TO ATTEND IF I AM ALREADY A UUCV MEMBER? Yes, our church campus is a venue, but we are not the sponsors. The de Benneville Camp Board sponsors this event and has significant expenses to make this event available to UUs throughout the district. 

Sign up! Represent!
Jim Merrill, UUCV Board President