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Unitarian Universalist

Fellowship of Athens

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What’s Up With the UUFA Board

New President, Iva King’s first presiding meeting was multi-platform, with Susie Weller and Vivian Preston Sellers attending via Zoom and the rest in person. After her opening words, Iva then made a video for Rev. Pippin of Board members introducing themselves.

Board assignments:

  • Vivian Sellers and Sarah Cook will continue to be Board representatives on the COVID task force
  • Marguerite Holmes will replace Susan Curtis as the Board liaison to the Communications team.
  • Jane Mayer was unanimously elected as Board of Trustees Vice President for 2022-2023.

The Board confirmed the following membership of the Finance Committee: Vivian Preston Sellers, chair; Lyndall Tunnell, Thrane Jenson, Peter Gillis, Barb Schell, Iva King, and Jane Mayer.

Lyndall Tunnell gave the state of the 2021-2011 budget and pledges. 94% of the pledged amount has come in which is normal for this congregation. Lyndall did express concern about UUFA’s low reserve funds.

The Big Picture Discussion for July focused on Board use of Google Docs. This will be revisited once Rev. Pippen is here.

Among the choices given for the Board of Trustees retreat, the group prefers August 21 in the afternoon.

Coming up:

  • On August 7, Rev. Pippin will install the Board of Trustees during the regular Sunday service.
  • The Art Gallery naming committee, chaired by Clela Reed, expects to have a proposal for the Board in September or October.
  • Penny Oldfather is forming a committee to develop guidelines for displaying signage and banners on our grounds.

DID YOU KNOW? The Board members rotate responsibilities for these 6 categories for each meeting:  1) Opening words (relevant to monthly theme) 2) Timekeeper, 3) Action Item Keeper, 4) Hand Watcher, 5) Bulldogger, 6) monthly Tapestry article. If you can’t guess what some of these duties are about then ask one of our nine friendly Board of Trustees members: Iva King, Jane Meyer, Lyndall Tunnel, Penny Oldfather, Sarah Cook, Marguerite Holmes, Marco Messori, Vivian Sellers, Susie Weller. 

The next scheduled Board meeting is Aug. 9. Visitors are welcome to attend. Please check with the Board Secretary, Sarah Cook, before the meeting.

Happenings in a List!

Non-regularly recurring special events are indicated in bold italic below, for details of these and the many recurring committee/team meeting details, check the “This Month & Beyond” page (to the left or at uuathensga.org/UUFA and make sure to join your groups on Realm/Connect.so You can communicate with other group members there, as well as finding easy access to zoom links for virtual happenings. 

Information on justice-focused meetings, events, and teams is available “This Month & Beyond”, but to see only justice meetings, you can find visuals announcements here & the UUFA Justice Calendar here

Need help with Realm/Connect!? Contact Meredyth@uuathensga.org

January

All Month — Winter Clothing Drive

  •  4   Abundance Table First Sundays
  •  4   Conversation Cafe First & Third Sundays
  •  4   Social Action Justice Team First Sundays
  •  4   Historical Jesus Book Discussion First & Third Sundays
  •  8   Racial Justice Team Second Thursdays
  • 11  Getting to Know You Second Sundays
  • 11  Book Talks Second Sundays
  • 13  Second Lookers Second Tuesdays
  • 13  Adult RE (Religious Exploration) Opportunity:  Are We Too Violent?
  • 15  Justice Partner event:  AADM Social Justice Awards and Gala 2026
  • 17  Martin Luther King, Jr. Awards Banquet (sponsored by the Athens Area Human Relations Council), 4 p.m., Classic Center.
  • 18  Forum: A River Runs Through It: The Oconee River Land Trust Third Sundays
  • 18  Conversation Cafe First & Third Sundays
  • 18  Hiking Our Values
  • 18  Historical Jesus Book Discussion First & Third Sundays
  • 18  Singing Meditation
  • 18  Poster making for the MLK Day Parade
  • 18  Hiking Our Values
  • 19  MLK Day Parade (3 p.m., Washington & Hull)
  • 24  West African Drum Workshop
  • 25  Worship Transformation- An Invitation for Spiritual Stewards of the Congregation
  • 25  Alphabet Family Fourth Sundays
  • 26  Earth Ministry Team Fourth Mondays
  • 27  Adult RE (Religious Exploration) Opportunity: Are We Too Violent?
  • 29  Hiking Our Values

Scroll on for future months. 

Share the Plate Cause of the Month

The Athens Anti-Discrimination Movement (AADM) is this month’s Share-the-Plate Cause of the Month.

During January, this organization will receive one half of all undesignated offerings.

The Athens Anti-Discrimination Movement (AADM) i s a grassroots organization that advocates against systemic discrimination and racial injustices through education, advocacy, and direct action.

From the 2025-26 program year (July 1 through June 30),  $12,854.53 has been given to five different Share-the-Plate Cause of the Month organizations because of the generosity of members and friends of UUFA.  Thank you.

January CANtributions

You can help with food insecurity in our community. Bring non-perishable food items to be donated to the Athens Area Emergency Food Bank (AAEFB) on Sunday mornings. Special requests for January are pork and beans, saltines, and rice (one-pound bags)

Want to contribute financially?  Visit uuathensga.org/give and look for “Charitable Giving”. To give by check:  Make the check out to UUFA and put “CANtributions 1-8016” in the memo line. You may also contribute to the Athens Area Emergency Foodbank directly through their website: athensfoodbank.org. For further information:  justice@uuathensga.org. 

If you are experiencing food insecurity or know someone in our UUFA community who is, please contact Rev. Pippin (revpippin@uuathensga.org).

UUFA Justice Partner Highlights

You are encouraged to visit the websites of this year’s Justice Partners to learn more about how you can support them in their important work in the Athens community. While you’re there, sign up for their individual newsletters so you can stay informed. 

Here are highlights of some of their activities in January:

AADM Hosts Social Justice Awards and Gala 2026

The Athens Anti-Discrimination Movement (AADM), a UUFA Justice Partner, invites everyone to their Social Justice Awards and Gala 2026 on January 15 from 6 to 9 pm at Hotel Indigo to honor the organization’s past, uplift today’s champions, and build momentum for the next generation of justice leaders. For ticket and other information, click https://www.aadmovement.org/events/39584 

Martin Luther King, Jr. Awards Banquet 

The 47th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Awards Banquet, hosted by the Athens Area Human Relations Council, will be held on January 17 beginning at 4 pm at the Classic Center. For more information about this event for which the UUFA Social Justice Action Team is a sponsor, visit www.humanrelationscouncil.org/mlk-awards-banquet.

AADM Celebrates MLK Jr Day with a Parade and Music Fest

Join the Athens Anti-Discrimination Movement on January 19 from noon to 6:00 pm for their 10th Annual Athens MLK Jr. Parade & Music Fest as the streets of downtown Athens come alive with one of the largest gatherings of unity, music, and cultural pride in Northeast Georgia. For details click https://givebutter.com/athensmlkparade2026 AADM is the Fellowship’s January Cause of the Month.

Looking Ahead

February 

  •   1  Abundance Table First Sundays
  •   1  Conversation Cafe First & Third Sundays
  •   1  Social Action Justice Team First Sundays
  •   1  Historical Jesus Book Discussion First & Third Sundays
  •   7  Lead with Love (UUA Virtual Only)
  •   8  Nominations Open for 2026-27 Share the Plate Cause-of-the Month Organizations
  •   8  Getting to Know You Second Sundays
  •   8  Book Talks Second Sundays
  • 10  Second Lookers Second Tuesdays
  • 10  Adult RE (Religious Exploration) Opportunity:  Are We Too Violent?
  • 12  Racial Justice Team Second Thursdays
  • 15  Conversation Cafe First & Third Sundays
  • 15  Historical Jesus Book Discussion First & Third Sundays
  • 19  Board of Trustees Meeting Third Thursdays
  • 22  Nominations Close for 2026-27 Share the Plate Cause-of-the Month Organizations
  • 23  Earth Ministry Team Fourth Mondays

March

Diaper Drive All Month

  •   1   Abundance Table First Sundays
  •   1   Conversation Cafe First & Third Sundays
  •   1   Social Action Justice Team First Sundays
  •  1  Historical Jesus Book Discussion First & Third Sundays
  •   8   Singing Meditation
  •   8   Getting to Know UUFA Second Sundays
  •   8   Book Talks Second Sundays
  • 10   Second Lookers Second Tuesdays
  • 11   Simple Suppers Second Wednesdays
  • 12   Racial Justice Team Second Thursdays
  • 15   Conversation Cafe First & Third Sundays
  • 15   Historical Jesus Book Discussion First & Third Sundays
  • 19   Board of Trustees Meeting Third Thursdays
  • 22   Worship Transformation- An Invitation for Spiritual Stewards of the Congregation
  • 22   Alphabet Family Fourth Sundays
  • 23   Earth Ministry Team  Fourth Mondays
  • 29   Justice Action Collaborative Fifth Sundays

Rather see this as a calendar grid?  Visit uuathensga.org/calendar.