UUFA News

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.

Share the Plate / Cause-of-the-Month: Dignidad Inmigrante en Athens (DIA)

During May Dignidad Inmigrante en Athens (DIA), an Athens organization with a mission to create and promote spaces for the liberation of undocumented immigrants in the United States, will receive one half of all undesignated offerings. For details contact justice@uuathensga.org


Help with Food Insecurity

Please continue to bring non-perishable food items to Fellowship Hall’s wicker baskets. While all CANtributions are appreciated, in May the Athens Area Emergency Food Bank is especially in need of white rice, Hamburger Helper, and dried pinto beans. To give by credit card, 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. To learn more, contact  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

AADM Workplace Rights & Career Lab

AADM invites you to May 9’s Saturday School in partnership with Patrick Ihejirika and Pathwise NYC, a nonprofit dedicated to helping individuals become more competitive for the careers they want. This free session will cover workplace rights and career development, helping you understand fair pay, safe working conditions, and how to advocate for yourself on the job. Participants will also take part in hands-on resume workshops and gain access to Pathwise’s career tools to strengthen resumes, identify skill gaps, build clear career plans, and stay organized throughout the job search process. Register here for the 10 to 11:30 am sessionat Oconee Street United Methodist Church: https://www.aadmovement.org/events/may2026-saturday-school


Athens Immigrant Rights Coalition (AIRC) Meeting

All are welcome to attend the next meeting of the Athens Immigrant Rights Coalition on May 15 from 5:30 to 7 pm at the Oconee Street United Methodist Church. For more information contact justice@uuathensga.org.