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September 2009 UUCD Newsletter

Vision:  We will be a beacon of progressive religion in our region, inspiring positive change in the world.
Mission:  Caring for one another, growing spiritually, and working for justice.

Sunday Services and Religious Education for September 2009

One Service on Sunday September 6 at 9:30am:

September 6 – Who Will Walk With Us?   - Rev. Gail Lindsay Marriner
When the pilgrims left the old world they drafted a covenant to govern their new venture. That covenant began, "we do covenant to walk together …."  The Search for a new minister is a search for someone who will covenant to walk with you into a shared future.  Join Rev. Gail Lindsay Marriner and the members of the Search committee as we explore how you can walk together on your Search for a new minister to walk with you! 
Also on Sunday September 6:
11:00 Pride Service at Peace UCC
12:00 Pride Parade in Superior 

Our Fall Sunday Schedule: Two Services Beginning Sunday, September 13:

  • 9:30am Service
  • 10:30am Coffee or Tea and Social Hour
  • 11:30am Service

Nursery care is provided during the service for children up to 6 years old.
If we ever need to cancel services, the cancellation will be posted on our website and on the outgoing phone message from the office.

September 13 – Water Ceremony and Dedication of Pete's Room - Rev. Gail Lindsay Marriner

We return to two services this week (9:30 and 11:30) and splash ahead into our new church year.   At the end of the water ceremony last year we carried the water down into the garden to add it to the fountain. The little space there in the garden is known as Pete's room or the "irreverence room" and at the end of this year's water ceremony we will formally dedicate that space.  If you have wondered who Pete was  or why a faith community would have an "irreverence room" please bring your sense of reverence, your sense of humor and  a small jar of water from someplace you have spent time this summer, and join us!

September 20- "The Keystone in the Arch: an Exploration of Our Fourth Principle" - Rev. Gail Lindsay Marriner

Join us as we charge our religious education volunteers and mentors, learn about this year's religious education programming for children and youth and reflect on the place of the free and responsible search for truth and meaning in this congregation …

September 27 – "With Two Wings" - Rev. Gail Lindsay Marriner

A UU congregation is made of many pairs of opposites held in tension – individual and community, physical plant and programs, time spent caring for one another and time spent working for justice, time and resources dedicated to reflecting on our values and time and energy spent putting those values in action. In every case we need both halves of each pair to achieve our dreams - we need two wings to fly. Join us for a celebratory service launching our annual canvass.   

In Medias Res * 

Photo of Gail in her studyKids chase soccer balls in every available soccer field and lines of parents wait to buy school supplies for another year.  It's fall and in the midst of all of these other wonderful seasonal happenings we gather to launch a new church year as well.   It's your second full year at 835 West College Street, your third year of interim ministry and the year of your Search for a settled minister and there's so much to look forward to.  In addition to all of the fine and familiar programming  there's the Search, the Beyond Categorical Thinking Workshop, the Interfaith Thanksgiving Service, the creation of congregational covenant of right relations, and General Assembly in Minneapolis next June! 

As I start preparing for the water ceremony and thinking about the dedication ceremony for that little alcove in the indoor garden, I've been thinking quite a bit about reverence and irreverence.  Did you know that in the middle ages some pulpits had little side doors in them so that the king's fool could use a puppet to harangue the preacher during the sermon!   The little grotto in the garden has two names – "Pete's room" and the "irreverence room."  On the one hand, that space is intended to honor a congregational ancestor and benefactor, on the other it holds up irreverence as a value that is so important it needed to be built into the architecture – sort of a 21st century version of that little door in the side of the pulpit – a physical embodiment of the Unitarian notions of freedom of the pew and freedom of the pulpit.  What a fascinating tension – to simultaneously create a space that is both reverent and irreverent … beautiful in its design and at least a little in-your-face with its intent.  A serious reminder not to take ourselves too seriously.  A paradox.  I like a good paradox and I'm l discovering lots of interesting stuff about reverence and irreverence, and I'm running out of room here - so I'll share the rest with you in the sermon on September 13th.  (Don't forget – worship at 9:30 and 11:30 – bring water from some place (reverent or irreverent) you have spent time this summer.)

Blessings, Gail  

P.S. As part of our Sunday summer programming on Nature and Spirit I had placed two art books with the work of Andy Goldsworthy, a book on sacred trees of the world and a book showing photos of the world from space on the tables at the back of the sanctuary. They disappeared the weekend of the garage sale and have not reappeared. If you have borrowed them or moved them some place for safe keeping or have any sense of what happened to them, please let me know. All four have sentimental value for me as well as being beautiful books.   Thank you. Gail    

September 2009 Report From the Ministerial Search Committee

The committee has been meeting for two hours every Monday morning. We are following the procedures recommended by the UUA.  It is a very thorough process that involves defining what qualities we and more importantly what you would like in a settled minister.  One of the first steps toward this goal is the development of the congregational survey.  David Yount is our Survey Coordinator and Star Committee Member for September.  He has been hard at work designing the Congregational Survey. He is the leader on this project, but has had input from the committee, the minister and some congregants.  The following is from David.

Be On The Lookout For The Congregational Survey!

By the time you read this you may already have received an email message about the UUCD Congregational Survey for 2009.  The primary purpose of this survey is to gather information about ourselves so that we can do the best job possible in matching our congregation with candidates to be our next Settled Minister.  A secondary purpose is to help our Religious Education director, Board of Trustees, and others to be more responsive to the needs of UUCD.

We are trying something new—an online survey, called Survey Monkey.  The survey has been pre-tested on a small group and has been revised based on that test.  We hope that you will find this to be a pleasant experience.  When you receive a message from the Congregational Administrator's office you will see a link to the survey.  The message will explain that the completion of the survey will take approximately one hour, so be sure that you have at least an hour to complete it.  Once you start the survey you can go back and change your answers if you have second thoughts, but ONCE YOU EXIT THE SURVEY YOU CAN'T RETURN.

If you must leave the survey before completion, your answers to that point will be retained and included in the final analysis.  Your responses to the online survey will be anonymous.  In order to keep on schedule we must close the survey by September 30 so that we will have time to analyze and summarize the data and incorporate it into the congregational packet that goes to all interested ministerial candidates.

If you share an email address with another person, we urge you to open your own free email account with a service like Yahoo!Mail, Gmail, or AOL and use your new email address to let our Administrator, Kathy Stinnett, know about it uucduluth@gmail.com as soon as possible.  If you don't have access to the internet or feel uncomfortable using it, let Kathy Stinnett know this and we will send you a hard copy to fill out and return.  For the printed surveys we will also take measures to preserve your anonymity.  We are also making a computer available at UUCD during September for you to use to take the survey online.  Need help?  Just ask any Search Committee member.

IF YOU NEVER COMPLETE ANOTHER SURVEY, PLEASE DO THIS ONE!  We hope to get close to a 100% response rate.  It's important to us, the Search Committee; to you, the congregation; and to our new minister.  We need your voice!

Thank you, from the UUCD Settled Minister Search Committee.

In addition to the survey you are invited to attend a Cottage Meeting designed to gather more information about your wants and needs for our next minister.  Cottage Meetings held in UUCD Social Hall

  • September 15, dinner, 6:00 p.m.
  • September 18, desert, 7:00 p.m.
  • September 25, brunch at noon
  • Search Sunday Worship, September 6

This 9:30 Sunday service will be presented jointly by our minister, Gail Marriner and the Ministerial Search Committee.  The sermon is entitled "Who Will Walk With Us?"  The Search Committee will provide insight into our process and our progress. It will be an enlightening service.  Following the service at 11:00 we will hold a forum to continue discussing our search for a Settled Minister.

I encourage you to fill out the survey and participate in as many ways as possible.  The work we do is for all of us and as David said, "We need your voice!"

Barbara Kelly, SC Secretary

Report from UUCD President, Kathy Heltzer

Photo of Kathy HThis promises to be an historic year in the life of our congregation as we prepare to call our next "settled minister" in the Spring of 2010.  Come if you can to our service on Sunday, September 6th to hear from the Search Committee about this journey we will take together…yes, that is "Labor Day Weekend" but our Sunday schedule is so packed full of activities that this was the best time available for them to speak to the "rest of us" early in the process.

This next year will mark the 100th anniversary of our "old church" at 1802 E 1st Street, present Quaker Meeting House.  Our congregation built this historic place in 1910, 20 years after having formed on November 23, 1890. Perhaps you would like to join with that faith community in a joint recognition/celebration?  If so, we will likely be looking for a few folks to work on that.

The General Assembly of the Unitarian Universalist Association will be meeting in Minneapolis June 23-27, 2010. This is your chance to join thousands of other UU's from across the United States for wonderful worship, inspiring messages and glorious music (ok, I lifted this from the UUA web site).  In any case, GA will not be held any closer than this for years to come so do mark your calendars and plan to attend some, if not all, of the conference next summer.

As we complete our "interim" period it is more important than ever that we continue to "care for one another, grow spiritually, and work for justice"-sound familiar?  Hopefully our mission statement represents who we are and who we hope to be into the future!  Welcome to another "program year" here at UUCD.

Kathy

Board of Trustees 2009-2010

We welcome your input. Feel free to contact board members with questions, concerns, or compliments.

President: 

Board Members:   

Money Talks

Congratulations! The Building Fund appeal campaign is done. We raised ALL of the over $684,000 that was originally pledged, thus earning the maximum match from the Zeppa Family Foundation. We are grateful for the generosity of the Foundation and the many of you who made all this possible.

Our journey, though, is not done. We still have more than $700,000 to raise and/or finance by September 2010, and we need to meet our operating budget needs without the help of the Foundation. To help us with that effort, I am pleased to introduce John Wm. Gustafson (no relation to our former minister!) to the congregation. John will be helping us with our fall combined campaign.

John has twenty years of experience raising funds for arts and education non-profits within the region. He's worked with The Depot, Lake Superior Big Top Chautauqua in Washburn, Wisconsin, Northland College in Ashland, Wisconsin, and most recently as Director of Development of Marshall School here in Duluth. He and his spouse, Joan Weyandt, own a small farm just south of Duluth where they raise sheep and sell fleece to artists and hand spinners across the country.

John will be working with me and a handful of volunteers over the next few months to make our fall canvass a success.

Paul Borrmann, for the Finance Council

Unitarian Universalists Gather in Minneapolis in 2010!  Don't miss this!

Only 10 Months to General Assembly, June 23-27, 2010 in Minneapolis!   Mark your calendars, start planning, set aside vacation days, save up...whatever it takes to attend this event too close to home to miss out!  The Reverend Gail would like to see at least 1/4 of our congregation there.  Check out the UUA website, www.uua.org for further details.  

Help Wanted

Part –time
No Salary  $$$ - Great Benefits

Candidate must have interest in UUCD College Street building and systems.  Experience in building trades or facilities management helpful, but not necessary.  Will train and learn on the job.

We're organizing a UUCD building committee.  Join now and you can be on the "ground" floor of this new group responsible for the stewardship of our building.

Contact: Jim Lund at jlund@lakenet.com Kathy Stinnett at uucduluth@gmail.com or 724-0308

Newcomers Information Session Sunday, September 20 at 10:45am in the Library!

Newcomers' Information Sessions are held in the Library on the third Sunday of every month. All newcomers are encouraged to attend, and it's wonderful when a few "old timers" drop in, too. (Hint.  Hint.)

Newcomers' Information Sessions are an opportunity to meet other newcomers, congregation members, and our Interim Minister, Gail; as well as an opportunity to learn a little more about our congregation and about Unitarian Universalism, in general.

Snacks and childcare will be available, and you will receive a Newcomers' Packet chock full of good stuff.  For more information, call or e-mail Kathy S. at the UUCD Office, 724-0308 or uucduluth@gmail.com.

Rummage Sale Thank You

A grateful Thank You to each and every one of you who helped make this year's Rummage Sale a huge success.  This includes all who contributed items to put in the sale, all who bought items, and the 72, yes 72, people who worked before, during and after the sale.  With all your help, we made a record $6,500! 

Covenant Groups 

Looking for a way to meet and get to know some of our fascinating UUCD members?  Then perhaps it's time to join a Covenant Group.  Covenant Groups are small groups of six to ten people who meet regularly to share, explore spiritual wisdom, develop friendships and to come closer to the UU community.  It has been said of Covenant Groups that they are an active rather than a passive lesson in spirituality. 

September is sign up time.  There are several on-going groups and we will be offering new groups this fall.  Check the Covenant Group table in the Social Hall for information and sign-up sheets.

Spirit Valley Young Mothers Program

Many thanks to the UU knitters who donated the lovely pink and multi-colored baby sweaters and caps to the Spirit Valley Moms.  They are gorgeous!  The next baby girl will receive them as gifts at the mom's baby shower.  Thanks also for donations of health and personal hygiene products.  The moms are grateful.  Their incomes are limited, so any donations are very helpful.  If you have questions about the Spirit Valley Young Mothers Program, contact Carol Michealson at cmicheal@d.umn.edu.

Women's Moon Group

Moon logoWe are a gathering of women who meet on the new and full moon each month. We celebrate the seasons and months by having a ritual that involves, casting a circle, calling the directions, participating in a ritual, meditating, singing and/or making music, and at the end we open the circle and release the directions. The ritual lasts about an hour.  Afterwards we have social time and eat some simple snacks.
The Women's Moon Group and the Drumming Circle are going to join up for the full moon on September 4. Since they both fall on the same day, we thought this would be a unique opportunity for all involved.
If you have any questions or would like to know more about the Women's Moon Group, please contact Alisa DeRider at aderider@msn.com.

Event

Date

Time

Ritual Leader

UU Room

Full Moon

Fri, Sept 4

7:00-9:00 pm

Alisa & Julie

Social Hall

New Moon

Fri, Sept 18

7:00-8:30 pm

Leader needed

Library

Religious Education

Greetings UUCD Family and friends,

I have emailed registration forms to many of you. Please remember to bring filled-out forms in or fill them out at the RE table in the lobby.

We are gearing up for Fall programming.  Reverend Gail and the Worship Committee are planning our wonderful Water Communion Service for September 13th.  Please remember to collect water from where ever you are this summer (back yard puddle or the Pacific Ocean!) and bring to either our 9:30 or 11:30 service.  At the service, all of the water we bring is added to a large container on the chancel. The rejoining of many waters symbolizes the rejoining of our beloved community after summer travels.  I believe that Reverend Gail has some whimsy planned with squirty fish in our interior garden.  This is a service that you and your family will not want to miss!

Starting on September 20th, we will have a student orientation in the RE wing, explaining the nuts and bolts of our new rotational curriculum.  The following Sunday, September 27th, students will be learning about the lives and contributions of historical Unitarians.  Our Pre-K through 6th graders will be going on a nature treasure hunt with 
Henry David Thoreau, dipping candles with Abigail Adams, baking biscuits with Susan B. Anthony and dismantling phones with Alexander Graham Bell!

We are looking for donations of:

  • tin cans
  • old phones
  • bees wax
  • hand mixers (non-electric)
  • flour

We are still looking for stewards to escort kids from classroom to classroom and teachers starting in January.

Contact Carol Turner at cgeot1@gmail.com if you can contribute.  Thanks!

caring corner logo - heartsCaring Notes

Hi all,

I've been told that some of you may not know that my wife, Beth passed away on Friday July 31. For the past two years, Beth and I with the support and encouragement of many of you and some very good doctors, fought a very aggressive peritoneal cancer. The odds were never very good but, her overall health gave us hope.  It was not to be.

Years ago, I watched Beth take her father through the dying process. I was privileged to be there for her the same way. I've always been inspired by her comfort with, and curiosity about what's next. She never pretended to know and in the end, she looked forward to the next journey. I miss her.
There was a memorial service held for Beth on Aug 5 at the UUCD.
I thank you for your support through all of this.
Tom Betts

---------

Dear Beloved Community of UUCD,

I continue to be humbled and moved by the calls and conversations, cards and e-mails I receive from many of you regarding my departure as UUCD Choir Director in July, 2008.  I remain steadfast in my call for open communication between individuals and around the tables to allow for understanding and healing, through truth and reconciliation.
With love and faith in our principles,
Cyndi G. 

---------

Yruu News 

We have some exciting changes taking place in YRUU:

After several meetings with parents and youth we have decided to start offering youth group on Sunday mornings from 11:30am -1:00pm. This will allow for more participation from our busy youth and gives visiting youth a chance to take part (and meet our fab teenagers!!) In addition to Sunday morning meetings, youth will also have the opportunity to meet one Wednesday per month for various fun activites.

I, along with Youth Leader, Adam Moren, are excited to create positive youth programming for the upcoming year!

If you are interested in helping, please contact Tanya Moore, 715-394-4008.
Looking forward to an over-the-top-exciting-meaningful-fabulous year!!

Tanya Moore
Youth Program Coordinator 

Music Notes

music notes logo"All deep things are song.  It seems somehow the very central essence of us – song – as if all the rest were but wrappages and hulls!"  Thomas Carlyle

Did someone say "song"? What a concept bursting with potential!  Wow, does our UUCD community wrap up in song! August witnessed lovely songs during our "summer camp" Sunday worship with assistance from music volunteer pianists Molly Benson, Henry French and Amelia Volkman, vocalists Scott Schumacher and Melvin Magree plus drummer Indra Rani.  Many thanks to you all!  Worship music takes many forms within our tradition and if you have some music that you'd like to share please contact Music Director Karen Bauman or any of the Music Committee members! (Greg Moore/Geiger Yount/Paul Borrmann/Rebecca Volkman/Bonnie Keeling/Dan Burrows).

There is plenty of song coming as we swing into Autumn with the return of Chorale of the Month, a September singing opportunity for children (ages 5 – 14), and our vocal octet 8 VA busy with some lovely selections.

Chorale of the Month is open to any singer age 15 and older who enjoys exploring choral worship music. The group meets every Wednesday at 7 pm for an hour of rehearsal and sings usually the last Sunday of the month.  September offers children age 5 – 14 the opportunity to learn a song in conjunction with the Chorale. The children rehearse Wednesdays September 2nd/9th/16th at 6 pm for about 45 minutes.  On Wednesday September 23rd they rehearse with the Chorale starting at 7 pm and will then sing with the Chorale on Sunday September 27th during the 11:30 am service.  Music Director Karen Bauman kklgb4820@msn.com can try to answer any questions that you may have.

Karen spent a week during August attending UUA/UUMN (Unitarian Universalist Musician's Network) professional credentialing classes (the first of a 3 year process) and the annual conference. Classes on Multicultural Inclusion, Musician as Pastor, and Leading Congregational Singing plus workshops on Singing for Justice, We Sing - We Worship and numerous choral repertoire sessions were just part of the experience.  A new hymnal supplement was introduced at the conference.  This supplement contains many beautiful hymns for worship in Spanish and selections will be shared at UUCD in the future.  It is incredible to realize how many dedicated and gifted congregational musicians our denomination holds!

Becoming a UUA/UUMN credentialed professional musician involves lots of reading, paper writing, discussions with fellow students, professors and presenters plus quite a number of congregation based projects involving worship music.   Over the next 3 years Karen will be exploring what she is learning through ‘hands on' work during services and rehearsals. These experiences will be recorded for evaluation by the credentialing board so if you should see a tripod with a camcorder mounted on it during a service sometime you'll know what it's about!  There will be more shared about this process in newsletters yet to come so stay ‘tuned'.

Here is the September Rehearsal Schedule:

Kid Singers

  • Weds. Sept 2: 6 pm Sanctuary
  • Weds. Sept. 9: 6 pm  Sanctuary
  • Weds. Sept 16: 6 pm Sanctuary
  • Weds. Sept 23: 7 pm  Sanctuary
  • Sun. Sept 27: 10:45 Warm Up. 11:30  Sing!

Chorale of the Month

  • Weds, Sept 2: 7 pm Sanctuary
  • Weds. Sept 9: 7 pm  Sanctuary
  • Weds. Sept 16: 7 pm Sanctuary
  • Weds. Sept 23: 7 pm Sanctuary
  • Sun. Sept 27: 10:45  Warm Up; 11:30  Sing!Weds.
  • Sept 30: No Rehearsal

8 VA

  • Sun. Sept 6th: 8:30 am  Sanctuary
  • Sun. Sept 13: 10:45 am warm up; 11:30 am Sing!
  • Sun Sept 20: 8:30 am Rehearse
  • Sun. Sept 27: No Rehearsal

Membership Steering Committee Sets Lofty Goal For 2009-10 At Mini Retreat

After much diligent and thoughtful consideration, Membership Steering Committee has identified the following goal as its top priority for 2009-10:  To Catch Its Breath.

This goal has Implications For All Of You as UUCD congregation members and friends:

  • Will there ever be a better time to serve on a committee than when it is catching its breath?  
  • We will be working really hard at catching our breath, and we have goodwill and camaraderie to spare--and to share with any of you who join our committee.

The scope of Membership Steering Committee is broad; and folks with a variety of interests and skill sets are needed.  The following are a smattering of tasks/skills currently needing someone's energy:

  • assisting with new congregational directory
  • helping organize a Membership "B" team
  • figuring out how to get as many of us as possible to the UU General Assembly in the Twin Cities in June '10.

More ideas on ways to plug in will be listed in the Oct. newsletter.  

Any one of us would be overjoyed to answer questions or supply more information if you are thinking about coming on board:  Dodie Bertilson, Rhonda or Bruce Holmen, Jill Lakhan, Barbara Lund, Cheryl Sabot, or Molly Benson.

P. S.  Except for Bruce, we are all middle-aged to elderly females. So men and anyone under 50 are especially needed. 

book corner logo - picture of booksUU Pretty Good Book Group

The UU Pretty Good Book Group is open to everyone, not just members.  If you enjoy reading good books and discussing them why don't you join us?  Meetings are usually the third Tuesday of each month in the library at UUCD.

September Book Selection:  People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks

Tuesday September 15, 7:15 pm, Library at UUCD
People of the Book is an intricate, ambitious novel that traces the journey of a rare illuminated Hebrew manuscript from convivencia Spain to the ruins of Sarajevo, from the Silver Age of Venice to the sunburned rock faces of Australia.  "…enthralling historical mystery…Rich suspense based on a true-life literary puzzle…" --- Kirkus

October Book Selection: Loving Frank by Nancy Horan

Tuesday October 20, 7:15 pm, Library at UUCD
"I have been standing on the side of life, watching it float by.  I want to swim in the river.  I want to feel the current."  So writes Mamah Borthwick Cheney in her diary as she struggles to justify her clandestine love affair with Frank Lloyd Wright.  Four years earlier, in 1903, Mamah and her husband, Edwin, had commissioned the renowned architect to design a new home for them.  During the construction of the house, a powerful attraction developed between Mamah and Frank and in time the lovers, each married with children, embarked on a course that would shock Chicago society and forever change their lives.

picture of drumsDrum Circle

The monthly drum circle will meet on Friday, September 7 in the Social hall at UUCD.  This is an "in-the-moment" drum circle.  It is not a drum class nor do we attempt to play any ethnic specific rhythms.  What we do is play off each other.  This circle starts at 7:00 PM on the first Friday of the month and goes until 9:00 PM. Please try to arrive before 6:50.  If you don't have a drum, we generally have an extra.  Call Bruce Holmen for confirmation of dates.  Our September meeting will include the Moon Group as we celebrate the full moon.

Outdoor Sanctuary Weeding Parties Continue 

Thanks to all who have been hands-on pulling buckthorn, valerian, tansy and thistle.  New folks are welcome.  Contact Geiger 724-0652 or geigman@aol.com for more information and to arrange a brief training to recognize target plants.  Then set your own schedule, solo or small group, any time that suits you.  Wednesday weeding parties include 5:30PM social time with beverages and snacks – or the Connection Social.

Let's Start a Volleyball Team! 

Intermediate/power level.  Interested?  Call Caroline Woods.

Fall Feldenkrais classes

Taught by Ann Frett: begins September 14 in the narthex at UUCD (5:00-6:00pm) and September 16 at the Coppertop Church (5:30-6:30pm).  There will be a free demo class September 9 at 5:30pm at the Coppertop Church.  Contact Ann Frett for more information.

Zumba class

... is ongoing on Monday mornings at 9:30am in the narthex at UUCD.  These are a dance/exercise aerobic movement class led by Judy Gordon.  For more information please contact Judy Gordon

Letter to UUCD from the Truth and Reconciliation Group 

In the July 2009 UUCD Newsletter, Kathy Heltzer, President of the Board of Trustees, offered a summary of the ongoing issue of the status of Cyndi Gritzmacher as ex-Choir Director and the Lauth Report.  As members of the Truth and Reconciliation Group, we would like to share our understanding of the current status of the Lauth Report with you, fellow members of UUCD.

While Cyndi did technically resign, it was only after receiving a memo from the Board of Trustees stating ".......the Board has decided to terminate your employment as Choir Director.  Your termination will be effective on Friday, July 11, 2008" citing reasons having to do with lack of support for the current model. Subsequently she was offered the opportunity to resign.  She submitted her letter of resignation.  Throughout this personnel matter, Cyndi has consistently stated that: 1) she was originally supportive and willing to try and make the reporting structure work – until working conditions and relationships drastically changed; and  2) she was never told that her job was in jeopardy until she was terminated.

UUCD Board President, Kathy Heltzer, stated in the July 2009 UUCD Newsletter:  "The Board has now implemented all of the Lauth Report recommendations and its process is complete."  Mr. Lauth made four recommendations in his February 9, 2009 report.  Three of the four deal directly with concerns prior to and part of Cyndi's termination/resignation.  The fourth recommendation, quoted here in its entirety, addresses strained relationships within the Congregation that continue to suffer:

"Finally, I encourage members of the Board and the Reconciliation Group to meet as much and as often as is comfortable to rebuild their personal relationships.  Although they have differing views as to what should have been done in these circumstances, they share an obvious and genuine love for the congregation.  In that regard I have already encouraged members of the Reconciliation Group to consider serving on the Board as openings arise."

One (uncomfortable?) meeting on May 31, 2009, does not fulfill the Lauth recommendation quoted above.  We respectfully suggest that caring for one another, growing spiritually, and working for justice is inherently a Board concern, an every-member concern, and the very Mission of this congregation.  Truth and Reconciliation, individually and as a group, is committed to further working together toward forgiveness, understanding among people, and improved practices to assure justice within our congregation.  We recognize that a process such as this may be uncomfortable and difficult, yet it is essential for the sake of the integrity and health of our congregation.

Two members of Truth and Reconciliation Group applied for 2009 open Board positions. Neither name was put forward with the slate from the Nominating Committee for the Annual Meeting election.   In addition, two members of the Truth and Reconciliation Group volunteered to serve on the newly established Music Committee which is apparently not open to everyone who is interested in serving.  Of the two, the one who was most recently a music volunteer was not selected.  This seems to fall short of Lauth's intent for deeply caring members to hear each other.  This concern in no way suggests any objection to the names that were on the slates.  There is, however, an additional concern with the lack of timely communication to voting members who had no advance notice of nominees for Board and Minister Search Team.  Because our recently updated by-laws are sufficiently vague on how the Nominating Committee fulfills its responsibility there is technically, no misperformance of duty. There is an obvious need that our democratic process be improved.

Now to consider the other three recommendations from Lauth:

  • Affirmed the Board's responsibility to revise its prior personnel policies to provide internal grievance process and to provide for explicit warnings prior to any consideration of termination.
  • Suggested the Board or Personnel Committee meet with Cyndi to communicate [after the fact] as to all of the issues under discussion [that led to the termination/resignation action].  … .
  • Encouraged the Board, Minister, and others to continue their efforts to make Cyndi and her family feel welcomed and valued as members of UUCD.

The Lauth report includes the following language; "it need not have happened". This is a point that has united the Truth and Reconciliation Group.  We believe that UUCD leadership failed to treat Cyndi with dignity and respect by not doing enough investigation into the claims against her and by not exploring various alternatives to resolve the conflict within the Music Program. 

The Lauth report also gives ample documentation of many circumstances that occurred within UUCD during the time preceding Cyndi's termination/resignation citing:  "a prolonged and challenging state of transition for some time" [building construction, moving into College Street] and "different ministers with differing views on the importance of the reporting structure", to name a few.  By contrast the Lauth Report seems incomplete by omitting concerns for which "Cyndi declined a number of requests to meet with Karen [Bauman, her supervisor]… ."  We appreciate the efforts now underway to accomplish some direct conversations.

The "compassionate/nonviolent communication" process referred to by Board President Heltzer was hopefully the beginning of a healing process in our congregation.  Difficult communication needs to continue before full, compassionate healing can take place.  It is important for the future of UUCD to identify the lessons from this experience and to develop procedures and skills so we can handle conflict better in the future.

Signed By:

  • Barbara Akre
  • Chris Edwardson
  • Vince Senski
  • Susan Alexander
  • Cindy Edwardson
  • David Yount
  • Judyth Babst
  • Michele Fitzgerald
  • Geiger Yount
  • Scot Bol
  • Deb Johnson
  • Bev Berntson
  • Jerry Challman           
  • Louise Levy
  • Sue Dailey
  • Mary Melander

Response from the Board President:

A year ago a group of people voiced their concerns around the departure of our choir director. In response to concerns raised, the Board of Trustees hired a consultant David Lauth as recommended by our District Executive, Nancy Hegge.  Mr. Lauth was engaged to review all relevant materials, interview staff, clergy, former staff, and committee members involved in the process to determine if appropriate care was taken and appropriate process was followed. Copies of this report remain available in the UUCD office for anyone who wishes to read it. We encourage you to read the report in its entirety.

The Board accepted the Lauth Report.  We have implemented the recommendations of the report:

  • Personnel policies have been revised including the provision of an internal grievance procedure
  • Members of the Board and Personnel Committee have met with the former Choir Director and discussed the issues which led to her resignation
  • Efforts have been and will continue to be made to make the former Choir Director and her family feel welcomed and valued as members of UUCD
  • Members of the Board and Reconciliation Group have met in an attempt to "rebuild their personal relationships."

Additionally, the Board is in the process of convening a Bylaws Revision Team to address nominating procedures and a Congregation Covenant Ad hoc Committee to guide us through the process of creating a Congregational Covenant of Right Relations.  We regret that some members remain unsatisfied with our response.

As indicated in the July newsletter, this Board considers this process closed.

Opportunities at Sacred Heart Music Center

"Puzzle PEACE--Singing from the HEART"

Puzzle PEACE, the Northland Interfaith Youth Chorus (Cyndi Gritzmacher, director), is starting an exciting new season in connection with Sacred Heart Music Center!  Keep watching this space for information about the Open House on Oct. 4 and forthcoming rehearsals and performances, with a Spring Collaborative Concert at Sacred Heart.  Puzzle PEACE is open to ALL youth, ages preK-5th grade who love to sing.  EVERYONE fits in the PUZZLE!  EVERYONE has a HEART!  TOGETHER, we can change the world--piece by PEACE...
Call Cyndi Gritzmacher for information

Let your voice be heard through the power of MUSIC! 

"Many Strong & Beautiful Voices" is a newly forming intergenerational chorale for female voices, girls 4th grade and up (suggested) and women of all ages, in connection with Sacred Heart Music Center.  No-cut auditions will be given for voice placement and commitment.  Directors will include a collaborative of women maestras from our Northland communities.  Keep watching this space for information about the Open House on Oct. 4, along with rehearsal schedule and information about performances, including a Spring Collaborative Concert at Sacred Heart.  Call Cyndi Gritzmacher, coordinator for information.

Guidelines for Newsletter Submissions

The newsletter for the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Duluth is produced monthly and released by the first of each month.   It is available online at www.uuduluth.org.  The deadline for submissions is generally the 17th of the month preceding.  Submissions for the October 2009 newsletter must be received by September 17.

Priority will be given to items received on time (or early!); late submissions may not be included due to space constraints. Submissions should be directed to the Congregational Administrator at uucduluth@gmail.com.  If at all possible, please email newsletter submissions rather than handwriting them or leaving a print copy in the church office.  When emailing, please both embed and attach submissions in a .doc (Microsoft Word) format, and write "Newsletter" in the subject heading. Be sure to include a contact name and phone number.  Call Kathy at 724-0308 with questions, or email uucduluth@gmail.com.

If you would rather read the newsletter online at www.uuduluth.org, please send an email to uucduluth@gmail.com and ask to be removed from the paper mailing list.  You also may be added back to the paper mailing list on request at any time.

Contact UUCD Administrator