Minutes of Social Action Committee Meeting, Oct. 22, 2006

UU Church of Utica, NY

 

The meeting was called to order at 12:05 p.m. by Chairperson, Diane Stebbins.

Those in attendance include: Elaine Griswold, Doreen Markson, Jackie Leisos, Bill Gazitano, Harv and Phyllis Brockley, Peter Ogden, Barbara Brookes, Diane Stebbins, Cathy Raymond

 

  1. There was discussion and agreement that meetings will be called to order and adjourned, that minutes will be taken on a rotating basis, and that minutes will be disseminated via email and posted on the Social Action Committee bulletin board in the church hallway.
  2. There was a review of The Real Rules: Congregations and IRS Guideines on Advocacy, Lobbying and Elections, focusing on the total limit on partisan political activity by a congregation or by a person or group speaking in the name of the congregation.
  3. The possibility of having a “forum speaker” as the guest speaker at a few of the regular 10:30 a.m. worship services was introduced and discussed.  Elaine Griswold, Chairperson of the Worship Committee, and Doreen Markson who organizes the forums both gave input.  After much discussion, it was decided that the three committees would coordinate their efforts to find appropriate forum speakers to speak at one or two services in the winter and spring months.
  4. There was also discussion on the forums generally.  Plans are for forums to be held either before or after the Sunday Service on the 2nd Sunday of the month.  Cathy Raymond agreed to help Doreen with the forums.  Also agreed on was the need to send an announcement about the forums to the OD for the Saturday Religious Briefs section.
  5. Doreen Markson will take charge of the UUSC Nov. 19 Bread Sale with help from committee members.  The Guest at Your Table UUSC fundraiser will occur during December.  Barbara Brookes and Diane Stebbins will help Doreen with that.
  6. After some discussion, it was agreed to put on hold a survey of the congregation on social action/service interests.  First we will see if Dick Gilbert, from the St. Lawrence District, is available in the near future to speak to the congregation about social action, and then decide on the next steps.
  7. Cathy Raymond gave a brief report on The Social Justice Conference held on Oct. 21 at May Memorial UU Society in Syracuse.  She attended a workshop on Effective Social Action in the Local Congregation presented by Dick Gilbert and a workshop given by the Peace Advocacy Task Force from the UU Church in Rochester.  Involvement in local peace efforts was suggested.  The Quaker group from Clinton will be contacted to see if we might join with them.  It was asked if the Green Sanctuary Committee is linking with the Social Action committee.  Harv Brockley will follow thru on that.
  8. A sub committee of Barbara Brookes, Bill Gazitano, Phyllis Brockley and Diane Stebbins will formulate a social action committee mission statement for the new church handbook.
  9. Diane Stebbins gave a report on the hearing of Utica’s lawsuit against the railroad and NYRI.  Diane was interviewed by the Syracuse Post Standard.  The judge delayed a decision.
  10. The next two social action committee meetings will be held on Nov. 19 and Dec. 17 at noon.
  11. The meeting was adjourned  at 1:25 p.m.