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: Athens-Oconee CASA

During April Athens-Oconee Court-Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), a local non-profit, volunteer organization that provides advocacy for children in foster care, will receive one half of all undesignated offerings. For details contact justice@uuathensga.org


Help with Food Insecurity through April CANtributions

Please continue to bring non-perishable food items to Fellowship Hall’s wicker baskets. While all CANtributions are appreciated, in April the Athens Area Emergency Food Bank is especially in need of canned meats (canned chicken, beef stew, chicken and dumplings, spam), tomatoes (the chunky version such as whole, stewed or diced), and snacks (chips, nuts, granola bars, snack crackers). 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 Hosts End School-to-Prison Pipeline (ESTPP) Advocates Training

The Athens Anti-Discrimination Movement offers this April 11 hands-on workshop to equip individuals with the confidence, knowledge, and leadership skills needed to navigate school systems, avoid the pipeline, and create meaningful change in their communities. The 10 am to noon event is set for the Oconee Street United Methodist Church. 

Athens Immigrant Rights Coalition (AIRC) Meeting

All are welcome to attend the next meeting of the Athens Immigrant Rights Coalition on April 17 from 5:30 to 7 pm at the Oconee Street United Methodist Church. For more information contact justice@uuathensga.org