Volume 17, Number 8 – February 2016
We Are a Welcoming Congregation
President’s Report
By Bob Hanson
On Sunday, February 7, 2016, the membership of NUUF is asked to vote to approve the purchase of a new digital piano from surplus funds. To help everyone understand the origins of this proposal as well the process it has taken to reach this point, I will attempt to share its history with you.
I believe Joyce Barnes was the first to raise concerns about the quality of our current piano and urge consideration of the purchase of a piano of higher quality. Others since have spoken to members of the Music Committee (Patty Buehler, Mary Beth O'Halloran, Tom Sommerfeld and Bob Hanson) urging this consideration. Then another factor occurred, the malfunction of the existing organ. This spurred the Music Committee into action. After much consideration, they concluded that a single instrument with the capabilities of both a piano and organ should be sought. This would allow the elimination of our current large organ, and allow the existing piano to be moved downstairs to be used by children's R.E. as requested by Barbara Logan. Such an instrument was found in the Clavinova model being recommended. Made by Yamaha, it is well respected for its capabilities and high quality.
The Music Committee recommended its purchase to the Spirituality/Program Committee who unanimously recommended the proposal to the Board. Policy required that three quotes be sought for such a purchase which resulted in the saving of several hundred dollars. The lowest quote was from Mitchell Piano Works in Stevens Point. They will deliver the Clavinova and remove the organ for $3,175. After receiving the quotes, the Board voted to approve the proposal and to fund the purchase with "surplus" funds. Our cash operating fund has gradually improved to a level where this payment will not damage our ability to operate, and will not take funds from other earmarked or restricted areas.
All required policies and procedures have been followed by all involved. Much time has been spent in research, evaluation and consideration. We now follow the last step - to ask you if this is acceptable to you. Please vote on this proposal, in person or by proxy.
Upcoming Services
Sunday Feb 7th
Rev. Mary Beth O’Halloran
How Virtuous Are You?
Virtue Ethics offers a way to make ethical decisions that take account of all your personal life situations as well as more objective values and standards.
Sunday Feb 21st
Service Title: The Greatest Wisdom Is Kindness
Presenters: February Sky (Susan Urban & Phil Cooper)
As Unitarians Universalists, we affirm the inherent worth and dignity of every person. This principle forms a shared commitment to be kind to every one we meet and especially to those whom we share our beloved UU community. We believe that simple mindfulness is the key to living up to this principle as consistently as is humanly possible. This serviced will encourage that mindfulness.
SAVE THE DATES
NUUF Events at the Fellowship
Women’s Group Meeting will be held at the Fellowship, 10:00 AM. on Feb. 23rd. Call Mary Ann Fields at 715 385 2975 for more details
Men’s Group Meeting. The Men's Group will meet on Tuesday, Feb. 16, 6:00 PM. at the Fellowship. Topics of the evening lead by Frank Patin. Dave Foster will be our host and supply the main course. Others to bring a side dish and their beverage of choice. All are Welcome!
Adult Religious Education is on alternate Sundays at 10 AM. New topic is a National Geographic presentation entitled “Guns, Germs and Steel” based on the eponymous book.
MARTIN LUTHER KING DAY CELEBRATION - RECAP
NUUF members joined the Northwoods Interfaith Coalition to help clean and paint the Lakeland Food Pantry as a MLK service project. Our appreciation goes out to the hard work the Graft family, Nancy Junkerman, Judi Maloney, Erick Boustead and Candace Zahn Cain. Also if anyone who did not have the opportunity to sign up for the Exploring Whiteness Process after our MLK event, please contact Candace for more details on how to participate (czcain62@gmail.com)
FOOD PANTRY
Every Tuesday in February from 1:30 – 3:00 pm NUUF members will be alongside the LUHS special education students to clean the food pantry. Helpers can sign up for once a month or whatever works for you. Please contact Candace at czcain62@gmail.com.
COMMUNITY EVENTS
NATH 5th Anniversary and Fundraiser Saturday Feb 6th
Friends of NATH, We are writing to make you aware of an upcoming community event. NATH / Frederick Place will be celebrating five years in Rhinelander. The 5th Anniversary Celebration will be held on Saturday, February 6th, beginning at 5:30 p.m. at The Quality Inn of Rhinelander. It will include dinner, raffles and a live auction. As many of you know, NATH / Frederick Place relies upon community support. Over the last five years, we have provided emergency, temporary shelter to over 500 people. We are hoping you will supoort NATH / Frederick Place by either attending the dinner by purchasing one or more tickets, a group table sponsorship for family, friends or employees, or in the form of Event Sponsorship or the donation of an item. Please feel free to print the poster and / or email the poster and share with friends and family. NATH Board of Directors
Tom and I are planning to attend the NATH benefit dinner. Would you join us? It would be great if NUUF could have a table of 8. Ticket info is in the attached flier. If you're interested, please contact us at 715-385-2407 or esommerf@aol.com. Deadline to sign up as a group is Monday, February 1. Submitted by Elinore
Saturday February 13th Matt Watroba concert at Tara and Jerry Woolpy
Matt Watroba is first and foremost a community singer. He has the knack for picking the perfect songs and stories for the audience in front of him. In concert, at a festival, in a library, in a school, or in the park, you can count on a performance that will get you singing, make you laugh, and leave you feeling a little bit better about the world we live in. Matt also works with award winning performer Rev. Robert Jones,
presenting educational programs that celebrate diversity through the roots and branches of American folk music. The Detroit Free Press says of Matt: "This is what folk should be." Christine Lavin says: "Matt Watroba is one of those singer songwriters live for. He has terrific taste in music. possesses an outstanding voice and the ability to not only perform beautifully, but to teach audiences the songs as he sings them." One of his students at the Swannanoa Gathering says: "Matt is a perceptive and able teacher as well as a warm, supportive person. He showed us the how of community singing and the doing of it. Matt was adept at picking out teaching moments without any kind of judgement applied."
Many know Matt Watroba as the voice of folk music in Michigan for his work with WDET– Detroit Public Radio. As producer and host of the Folks Like Us program, and the nationally syndicated, Sing Out Radio Magazine and Folk Alley, Watroba has come in contact with many aspects of folk music and culture. This has helped shape a repertoire and presentation that is unique on stages across the state and country. He is committed to inspiring the world to sing-- one town at a time. See http://www.mattwatroba.net/bio
For reservations email jerryw@earlham.edu. Donations $10 to $15 per person all to the performer. Directions from Paul Bunyan’s in Minocqua. Take “Old Hwy 70” West to “Dr. Pink” on the left. Take “Pink” 0.8 mile south to “Woolpy Dr.” on the right. Take “Woolpy” 0.2 mile to the end at 8395. Call 715 356 6276 if lost. Sponsored by Tara’s publisher with books available at the concert, on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
REMINDER
If you have not checked out the NUUF Facebook page recently, many wonderful articles have been posted on the site. https://www.facebook.com/NorthwoodsUnitarianUniversalistFellowship/
As a friendly reminder, if you know someone who is interested in joining the Northwoods Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, please contact Candy Sorensen at: sorencan@yahoo.com or call 715-892-2997
Milestones
Bob Hanson 02-01
Mary Beth O'Halloran 02-02
Barbara Beutler 02-03
Myrle Wasko 02-03
Pam Thul-Immler 02-04
Cora Holt 02-04
Mark Bruhy 02-05
Andrea Billings 02-06
Jerry Buerer 02-07
Judith Maloney 02-12
John Viste 02-12
Catherine Parker 02-13
Wenda Sheard 02-13
Jim Rusak 02-14
Kate Egan Bruhy 02-14
Ron Reupert 02-16
Claire Polfus 02-17
Jack Haffner 02-21
Elaine Strite 02-21
Billy Hurlburt 02-22
Missy Young 02-23
Ardis White 02-25
NUUF GALLERY
Artwork Request
There is still space in the NUUF Gallery for more artwork. There is no AGE restriction on the artwork. Children’s work is also welcome. To display artwork in the NUUF Gallery or elsewhere in the building, you need to complete a waiver form. That way we can keep track of everyone’s work. For more information, please contact Sharon reillyhi@earthlink.net.
NUUF and NEWSLETTER INFORMATION - From the Newsletter Editor:
This is a friendly reminder that all NUUF newsletter items are due by the 27th of the month. If you have news about upcoming events in Oct, Nov & December please forward those to me as early as possible (reillyhi@earthlink.net)
For distribution of announcements between newsletters or email/address corrections, contact Candy Sorensen at sorencan@yahoo.com or Robert Hanson, President, president@nuuf.com
"Like" us--Northwoods Unitarian Universalist Fellowship--on Facebook (Our page link is https://www.facebook.com/groups/135173523266925/?ref=br_tf). We're posting pictures, reminders about upcoming events and more.
