The Voice

Message from the Prez….

February?  ALREADY??

As each one of us struggles with the daily difficulties of our lives, in many cases very large ones, that are ADDED to what we all have by way of global warming, let's remember we're in the same boat, on the same spaceship, together.  We are here for one another. It is in reaching to those around us that we find our inspirations, find the help we may not have realized we needed, and give the help we may not have realized we could give.

We're watching for the signal to dive into our exploration together of what our Fellowship is and does, what it means to us, and where we want it to go, beginning with a look at our Mission Statement. If you can volunteer to help steer us through the process, so much the better!  Call Sondra Dunkle at 232-7245 to ask when and where the steering committee is meeting.

If you need an up-to-date copy of our membership directory so that you can look up anyone's number at a glance, call Mary Eng at 238-0546.

Get in touch with Richard Feuerborn at 233-6404 if you'd like to see something that isn't currently on our web site at www.pocatellouu.org or if you'd like to help keep it updated.  Hint...we could have our OWN youth page there if you wanted it.

And speaking of youth, we are MOST grateful to the 7 folks who came together to talk about children's religious education activities after our last service!!  Mark Roberts, who so ably led the program in one of its last successful runs, is still here to help guide us in good directions. Visit with Mary Eng, 238-0546 or Terry Kaufmann, 232-2415 if you have children or would be able to help impart the wisdom of UU-ville to a group of children.  Picture their arms outstretched, welcoming you to their downstairs haven, as the service continues on and on upstairs.

Since November, I have heard no new suggestions for fundraising so that we can keep doing what we do.  This makes me (and your Directors) very sad, for it gives us the message, whether you meant it or not, that you just don't care.  If that's the case, well, we might as well all walk out the doors and go home.  If that's not what you meant to have us do, then it's time to put into words your ideas about what we ought to do instead, and how to fund it.  Maybe it is all so simple and straightforward that we don't NEED funding??  Please tell us!

Thank you all,

Ruth the president

APRIL FUNDRAISER-----

Start preparing your palate for our annual wine tasting event coming in April. The Fundraising Committee would like to recruit a couple more helpers to plan this fun event. Call Terry Kaufmann 232-2415, or Jim Mariani 233-2539 if you are interested!

PLEASE SUBMIT NEWSLETTER ITEMS by the 20^th of the month TO IRENE NAUTCH AT: renie1217@yahoo.com

ADULT RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

Spring 2007

New Study Group Forms

A new group is forming to read and discuss the book “Understanding the Bible: An Introduction for Skeptics, Seekers and Religious Liberals,” by John Buehrens. A New, Revised Standard edition of the Bible is recommended for reference. Sessions will begin sometime in February, and will meet on the second and fourth Sundays thereafter, at 4pm in the UCC church.

Of course, the ideal would be to attend all sessions. However, the curriculum is designed so that newcomers can join any time, and pick up on the studies from that point on. They would be asked to read the related assignment, prior to attending each session. This book is currently being studied at the UU church in Idaho Falls, with good reports.

No effort will be made to endorse or negate any religious perspective; rather we will respect the inherent worth and dignity of all participants, as we follow the UU Principle of seeking truth in all world religions, and supporting each other in an individual spiritual search.

Interested persons are asked to let their intentions be known by contacting Sondra Dunkle, 232-7245 or dunksone@msn.com Meanwhile, please order your books now, so you will be ready to join our group.

Look for the starting date announcement soon!

1^st Friday Coffeehouse

ELVIS HAS LEFT THE BUILDING

FEB. 5th 7:30p.m.

First Congregational UCC

309 N. Garfield

The February First Friday Coffeehouse features Elvis Has Left the Building. Join Greg, Angier, Cheryl, and Richard in the best listening environment in Pocatello for their original acoustic music. Homemade baked goods, coffee (leaded and unleaded), and teas round out a great hour+ show. Music generally goes from 7:30 to 9:00. Bring your friends, a card game, or whatever, and HEAR a great band in beautiful old town Pocatello. $4 per person at the door helps local non-profit organizations and First Friday music programming.

HOMELESS AWARENESS EVENT

Idaho Progressive Student Alliance is presenting "To the Streets: Homeless Awareness Night" Friday, March 30 on the ISU Quad. The PUUF Board has pledged the undesignated cash in the March 18 offering to this event. IPSA may use this money for expenses. However, if their solicitation of material donations is successful, all this money, along with other cash and noncash donations will be passed on to Aid for Friends. Additionally, the board will solicit PUUF members to cook a pot of chili for the cook-off at Homeless Awareness Night.

All community residents are invited to visit this event on the Quad. Speakers will speak, musicians will play and sing, and chili will be available to eat. The more adventurous are invited to spend the night on the quad, in whatever shelter you can get together. Entertainment and food will begin at 5 pm. Donations solicited for Aid for Friends include blankets, non-perishable food items, toiletries, feminine hygiene products, clothing, winter coats, phone cards, and, of course, money

Summary of January PUUF Board Meetings

January 7

Treasurer Mary Eng reported that we have received 60% of the pledges for the year.

The collection plate totals have been higher than budgeted by about $800 so far this year.

It was agreed to donate non-designated collection plate money to go to charitable causes as often as once a month.

Mary reported that she had ordered books to give to new members: “A Chosen Faith,” and “UU Pocket Guide.” She also ordered some UU coloring books for RE.

It was agreed that PUUF should join the Arbor Day Foundation, and get the small trees to be planted. We will ask 10 individuals to “foster” the trees in pots and care for them until they are large enough to plant outside.

Richard Feuerborn asked that we look into chartering a bus in June to take people to GA in Portland. We could ask the Idaho Falls and Twin Falls Fellowships if they would like to join in the venture. Jeff Shelton will work with Richard in coordinating.

Don Allen has been communicating with Judy Fjell about bringing her Vocal Empowerment workshop to Pocatello. It was agreed that it would be best to start now to plan to do it in the fall, so we could get the word out to other churches and musical groups. Don will continue to work on this.

January 21

Treasurer Mary Eng reported that she had “certified” our membership with UUA. We have 47 members, the same number as last year, though some have moved and some have joined.

Terry Kaufmann reported that Family Services Alliance would like to partner again on a wine-tasting fundraiser in late March or early April. Discussions are ongoing. The Fundraising Committee needs another couple of members.

We received a letter from the Salvation Army reporting that PUUF bell ringers had raised $990.00 for the Red Kettle campaign. PUUF’s participation was coordinated by Colleen Montgomery. The total collected was $46,000.

Don Allen reported that the Idaho Progressive Students Alliance (IPSA) is sponsoring a Homeless Awareness event the end of March. It was agreed that we will donate our collection on Sunday, March 18 to the group, either for their expenses, or for the Family Services Alliance, where the money they raise will go.

The ad hoc Children’s Religious Education Committee met after the last service and discussed some ideas for how to proceed to have a program. They agreed that it is important to the health of the Fellowship to have an RE program. Mark Roberts is willing to train teachers. We will need volunteer teachers and students.

We thank Irene Nautch for ensuring there was someone to baby-sit the small children.

We are continuing to plan for a Vocal Empowerment Workshop for next fall. We will need to get a lot of participation from our neighboring UU churches and from the community. Don will continue to investigate how to publicize, perhaps offering credit to teachers, etc.

Don has agreed to be the PUUF delegate to the Portneuf Valley Interfaith Fellowship.

There are a number of positions in the Fellowship that need to be filled. They include: 4 RE teachers; 3 members of the planning committee for the Wine Tasting; 2 members (at least) for the Long Range Planning Committee. Please contact President Ruth Moorhead or Committee Chairs if you would be interested in getting more involved in your Fellowship.

Children’s RE

It is time! It is time to get together a viable children's religious education (in UU circles, called "RE") program. An informal committee spearheaded by Ruth Moorhead (Yes, we needed a push here!) met on the first Sunday of the month of January to try and figure something out. The consensus was that we DESPERATELY need a program for the children both in our congregation now and who could become a part of our congregation if we had a program to offer.

To this end, we are sending out a call to participate in forming this program. If you can help plan, teach, or coordinate such program, please email, call, or otherwise inform Ruth Moorhead, Jim Mariani, Mark Roberts, Teri Kaufmann, Nyssa Haneveer, Don Allen, Mary Eng, Lillian Moore, or Laurie Harelson. Nyssa's email address is nhaneveer@yahoo.com; Ruth's is moorruth@isu.edu.

We need a pre-school RE teacher as well as a grade school RE teacher. Our long-term goal is to also have a director of children’s RE, and ultimately to include a teens' program. The director is a person who can help coordinate RE activities and events. If you are interested in any of these positions, or even have an inkling that you might be interested, please get involved! You will not be alone, as we have people with experience waiting to help you help the kids and the congregation. We have a format that you can learn and fit activities into. The children are our future. Let’s not let them down. Please help out if you can.

Thanks, Informal RE Programming Committee

The AARP Tax-Aide program has just completed training its tax preparers, and we look forward to another exciting and worthwhile season! Free tax returns will be offered by certified AARP Tax Counselors for the Elderly (TCE), beginning in February. Targeted clientele is low- to moderate- income and the elderly. TCE tax counselors are trained to prepare uncomplicated returns. A list of the type of forms and schedules which can be prepared will be listed on posters at the tax sites.

Sites in Pocatello are the Marshall Public Library and the Pocatello Senior Center. Tax returns will be prepared on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10am - 2:45 pm (holidays excepted).

We need volunteer Greeters to help at our sites. The Greeters will greet clients, help them to sign in, inform clients as to the types of returns that can be prepared at our sites (and what cannot be prepared), give clients intake forms to complete, and review with them what documentation and paperwork they will need in order to have their tax forms completed. This will allow clients to return home for any missing papers, and allow TCEs to continue working with clients who already have all necessary papers with them, thus expediting the process for all.

Greeters will be trained for this volunteer position. It is not necessary that they know how to complete tax returns, as this is NOT part of their job.

If you are interested in helping with this worthwhile and fulfilling project, please contact Sondra Dunkle (232-7245 or dunksone@msn.com ) or Pat Fernandez (226-2359 or PATF2@hotmail.com ) You will be helping many people.

Thank you

PEACE VILLAGE

The Children's Peace Village committee, which includes Rev. Janie Gebhardt and our own Glenn Harvey, are busying planning for the next annual PV with will be held at the UCC the last week in March. Janie has sent out a request for resources for the children to teach them about ethnic and racial diversity and about the cultures of the world. If you know creative people who enjoy teaching children the songs, games, dances, myths, legends, foods, instruments, traditions of other cultures please let Janie know. Lynn Leonard can also forward the information to her, or follow up on your suggestions to contact possible presenter/teachers.

WESTSIDE PLAYERS’ UPDATE

Don't forget that the Westside Players' next dinner theatre production, "The Twentieth Century" will run each Friday and Saturday in February starting Feb. 2. Directed by Jackie Czerepinski, this play is fun for Pocatello--the action takes place on the glamorous Twentieth Century Limited train that once ran between Chicago and New York City. It’s a nice warm break from the winter cold and from the cares of the day. For information and reservations call The Raven's Nest at 232-2232. This is the 21st Birthday season of SE Idaho's premier nonprofit community dinner theatre. Thanks, Lynn

HOMELESS AWARENESS EVENT

Idaho Progressive Student Alliance is presenting "To the Streets: Homeless Awareness Night" Friday, March 30 on the ISU Quad. The PUUF Board has pledged the undesignated cash in the March 18 offering to this event. IPSA may use this money for expenses. However, if their solicitation of material donations is successful, all this money, along with other cash and noncash donations will be passed on to Aid for Friends. Additionally, the board will solicit PUUF members to cook a pot of chili for the cookoff at Homeless Awareness Night.

All community residents are invited to visit this event on the Quad. Speakers will speak, musicians will play and sing, and chili will be available to eat. The more adventurous are invited to spend the night on the quad, in whatever shelter you can get together. Entertainment and food will begin at 5 pm.

Donations solicited for Aid for Friends include blankets, non-perishable food items, toiletries, feminine hygiene products, clothing, winter coats, phone cards, and, of course, money.

Community Building in Denver – Deadline Feb. 5th

Please join Unitarian Universalist leaders from all over the country for an exciting community-building opportunity coming up on

February 23-25, 2007 in Denver, Colorado.

Follow the links below for registration information and program schedule. In addition to group discounts for two or more from a single congregation, there are still available a limited number of generous need-based participation grants to help with travel and lodging. Register early - space is limited!

Each of us carries a part of the solution. We gather to nurture the skills needed for the journey we are called to as progressive people of faith. Won't you join us?

Hosted by 1st Unitarian Society of Denver and sponsored by the Urban Disciples (Veatch Program on UU Urban Social Justice Ministry) and the UU Society for Community Ministries (SCM). Event details including information on registration and program schedule for Turning To One Another II at www.urbandisciples.org or www.uuscm.org.
Questions? Contact Rev. Deborah Holder, (505) 231-7724. This event made possible by a generous grant from the UU Veatch Program at Shelter Rock. Deadline is Feb. 5^th.

Rev.Deborah Holder, Urban Disciples Coord. Consultant Mountain Desert District Justice Ministries, 1311 Acequia Borrada,

Santa Fe, NM 87507
(505) 231-7724
deborahholder@mindspring.com

HELP NEEDED!

Volunteers are needed to serve on the newly formed PUUF Long-Range Planning Committee. This is a vital committee, which will be surveying members and church friends regarding our Mission Statement, our church goals, future direction, future plans, etc. To date only one person has come forward to help, and more are needed.

Please contact Sondra Dunkle, Chair, at dunksone@msn.com or 232-7245. Your help will be greatly appreciated.

ALL

IN THE

FAMILY

After spending a month long internship working with doctors in India, Blythe Belzer (parents Terry Kauffmann and Fred Belzer) has decided that medicine is her calling. She is in Bozeman getting her science prerequisites met so she can take the tests required to get into med school. Meanwhile, Laura Belzer is finishing her last year at Western Washington University. She will graduate in August.

Don Allen’s Birthday Adventure

Three years ago Contra dancers from Bozeman invited me to the annual Wintergreen Dance Festival. This year I decided to attend the festival as a birthday treat for myself. I drove north in the evening of January 26 after completing my Friday obligations. A lovely gibbous moon illuminated the landscape.

Ten miles north of West Yellowstone, Montana, I lost control on an icy curve. My little Honda Civic skidded nose-first into a snow covered guardrail. Viewing the marks in the snow later, I could see that the car slid along the top of the rail, then spun back down the snowbank onto the road. When I gathered my wits, I started the car and inched it over to the proper side of the road. I stepped out to take inventory and found a flat tire and a radiator leak.

The next vehicle down the road was a semi whose driver stopped alongside my car to ask what help I needed. The second vehicle was a faster semi which had no room to pass with the other truck stopped beside me. I watched in the rearview mirror anxiously while the rooster tail of snow flared up from the right side of the second truck as the driver used the edge of the snowbank to stop his truck before rolling over the top of my car. I promptly restarted my car and drove, flat tire, leaking radiator and all, a quarter mile to a place I could park out of the traffic lane, with the first semi protecting me from behind.

The second semi stopped at the same wide spot to check that his truck had not developed any fuel leaks from using snowbank and guardrail to stop. He called the first semi, whose driver called 911. A very nice Gallatin County Sheriff’s deputy with a warm vehicle drove out to investigate. He called a tow truck, whose driver dropped me at a warm motel down the block from the repair shop.

I expected to be stiff and sore the next morning, but I felt no physical effects from the accident at all. I did not even feel any seat belt bruises. Whatever safety features my car has worked just right.

Saturday morning I loaded all my stuff, including skis, from the Honda into a rental car and continued north to Bozeman. I arrived at the dance in time for lunch. I had a marvelous afternoon, evening and Sunday morning of dancing. Sunday afternoon my ex-wife and her husband from Idaho Falls met me in West Yellowstone to give me a ride back to Pocatello and a birthday greeting.

All in all, I feel very fortunate to have been able to dance on my 52nd birthday and to be back safe and sound at home today. The fate of my trusty car remains unresolved as I write this.

Don Allen

(Don is on the PUUF board)

DANCES OF UNIVERSAL PEACE!
These inspiring and uplifting moving meditations will be returning this winter. Come join us as we build community and hopefulness amid “everything else.”

Feb. 17
7-9:30PM
303 N. 12th Ave.
donation
Contact Carol at: 232-3464

TheVoice of our Fellowship

February 2007 – On Line Version

Services

Board of Directors

Unitarian Universalist Principles