May 2009 Newsletter of the Keweenaw Unitarian Universalist Fellowship We respect the interdependent web of all existence, of which we are a part.
________________________________________________________________________
Sunday Mornings at 10:30
May 3: The Reverend Karen Gustafson, minister of the First UU Society, Madison Wisconsin and formerly minister in Duluth, Minnesota, will conduct our service. Hospitality Team Maple. May 10: Forum: John Johnson "How to cut U.S. fuel consumption in cars and trucks.” Hospitality Team Birch. May 17: David Pyle, the well-received student minister who presented a sermon here earlier this year, will lead our service. His sermon topic: Embedded War. Hospitality Team Oak (potluck). May 24: Forum Leader: Betzi Praeger. Topic: Theodicy. Hospitality Team Cedar. May 31: Will Cantrell will read "Guidelines for a Constructive Church", a sermon Martin Luther King delivered at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta on June 5 of 1966. Hospitality Team Maple. Children's Religious Education: May 3, 17, 24 and 31. Childcare is available every Sunday. Our minister, The Reverend Sydney A. Morris, ph. 370-3927, samorris@uuma.org., will return from Sabbatical June 1. We need a volunteer to set up an online discussion group (via Google, Yahoo or
etc.) for members and friends to share interesting articles, calls to action on social justice issues, announcements of community events, etc. The list moderator just needs to set it up and instruct us how to use the list and give access to those members and friends wishing to participate. If you are tech savvy enough to provide this service please speak to Bill Leder or a board member. (The KUUF email list will be reserved for matters related to the operation of the Fellowship and UUA and CMwD.) # May birthdays: 2nd, Jan Dalquist; 7th, Betty Haro; 16th, Cindy Harrison; 20th, Elen Maurer; 22nd, William Shapton; 24th, Dan Arkin, Pam Dobbs, Leander Wheeler; 25th, Keith Baldwin; 27th, Ellen Bornhorst, Marty Smith; 28th, Craig Waddell; 30th, Dustin Ensing. If you know anyone who is missing from this, or any birthday list, please let Dorothy Love know. # Thoughts from Our President: Our Onward and Upward in ‘09 canvass kicked off during our service on April 19. It is KUUF tradition to ask the Board and Finance Committee members to pledge early, in a show of leadership. I’m pleased that we announced an initial result of $35,111 toward our goal of $80,000. No doubt by the time you read this, the total will be considerably higher. I’ll be giving weekly updates on Sunday mornings through May 20. You should have received a canvass brochure and pledge form in the mail by now. If you did not, or
if you have any questions, please let me know. The draft budget for our next fiscal year, beginning June 1, was prepared by the Finance Committee and approved by the Board. You can find it, along with the current year’s budget, on the password protected section of our website. We invite your comments about how we plan to allocate your money to carry out our RISES Ministries. In early June the Finance Committee and Board will meet to make adjustments to the proposed budget, as necessary, to match the results of the canvass. We will present a proposed balanced budget to the Congregation on June 14 during the Annual Meeting for your consideration. Discussion and possible changes during the meeting are encouraged, so I ask you to mark your calendars for June 14, an important day in the governance of KUUF. I know that this message is heavy on process. It is my belief that if the process is well defined, there will be more time and energy available for substantive conversation of how we define ourselves through our time, talent, and – yes -money. It takes all three to accomplish our Mission and Vision. Onward and Upward, dear friends! --- Bill Leder #
Keweenaw, and the U.P. Environmental Coalition are sponsoring a meeting about creating sustainable communities in the Keweenaw. Speakers Mary Rehwald, city councilor in Ashland, WI, and Irene Blakeley, former mayor of Washburn, WI, will speak about their region's experience with a plan developed in northern communities of Sweden. The ideas are particularly adaptable to our region. Many of you donated to bring this program to our area in a special Sunday collection and KUUF is donating Fair Trade coffee for the event. Thank you all for your support. We hope you can join us on May 6. For more information or to volunteer to help, contact Sherry Zoars at or 906-358-1110. It's always a pleasure to welcome new members to our Fellowship. Our most recent members are Missy Ross, Cory McDonald and Rachel Tarpe. Missy is the mother of Frank, who is in our Religious Education program. Cory and Rachel have already plunged into participation by teaching one of the children's RE classes this winter. – Alice Boyce # The UUA Bookstore, 25 Beacon Street Boston, Ma 02108, www.uuabookstore.org, is offering free shipping on all orders received by May 4. # CN Donates $250,000 to Rail Transportation Program at MTU. by Jennifer Donovan, MTU public relations director CN, one of the largest railroads in North America, announced Tuesday that it has donated $250,000 to Michigan Tech's Rail Transportation Program to create the CN Rail Transportation Education Center (CN RTEC). The 18-month-old Rail Transportation Program (RTP), directed by Pasi Lautala, is designed to attract university students to rail industry careers.
The Youth Group will be planting trees on Saturday, May 2, at a location along the Pilgrim River. Time to be determined, but we will meet at BHK to carpool to the site. – Dave Watkins # Building a Sustainable Keweenaw On Wednesday, May 6, at 7:00 pm at the Finish American Heritage Center at Finlandia University in Hancock, the League of Women Voters of the Copper Country, Friends of the Land of the
The CN RTEC will open in fall 2009 and function as a central location for student, faculty and industry collaboration. It will also provide education and research facilities for the Rail Transportation Program, including computer workstations with rail applications, a reference library and online learning technologies. "CN's decision to support the CN Rail Transportation Education Center is an integral part of the development of this program and has helped ensure its future success. It is a pleasure to be able to share with CN the excitement we have for the Rail Transportation Program," said President Glenn D. Mroz. Jim Vena, CN's senior vice president, Southern Region, said, "We are very pleased that our donation will help today's youth become tomorrow's railroaders--the people who will shape the future success of our company and the North American economy. Few universities in the United States can produce students with such high-caliber education, specifically in railroad transportation, as Michigan Tech does. Michigan Tech engineering graduates arrive at CN well equipped to start working for the railroad." "CN's generous donation is a strong indication of their ongoing commitment to education and truly gives identity to the rail transportation activities at Michigan Tech," said Lautala. "Railroads are an integral part of transportation in North America, and we want to assist our partners in developing the system and people that can meet the future demand. The RTP has great momentum right now, and CN participation is an enormous step for us as we continue to strengthen and expand our program." Michigan Tech's RTP attracts students from a wide range of degree programs and includes courses about rail transportation and engineering, as well as urban rail
transit. The program currently offers three rail-related courses. Through its innovative Summer in Finland program, it is the first rail transportation education program to integrate a strong international study component into a multidisciplinary thrust in rail education. The RTP has started an initiative to establish a multidisciplinary certificate in rail transportation and engineering. The University is also working with its industry partners to expand opportunities for student and faculty participation in real-world rail development through sponsored projects and research. Lautala added, "The CN Rail Transportation Education Center will be a tremendous resource as Michigan Tech's Rail Transportation Program continues to expand. With support, technical experience and training inspired by corporate leaders like CN, Michigan Tech graduates will be prepared to meet the needs of the rail industry for the 21st century." Through the CN Stronger Communities Fund, CN supports health and safety programs for young people, transportation education, the CN Railroaders in the Community employee volunteer grant program and United Way. As an Imagine Caring Company, CN is committed to contributing 1 percent of pre-tax profit to registered, nonprofit organizations in communities where its employees work and where it operates its business. CN--Canadian National Railway Company and its operating railway subsidiaries-spans Canada and mid-America, from the Atlantic and Pacific oceans to the Gulf of Mexico, serving the ports of Vancouver, Prince Rupert, B.C., Montreal, Halifax, New Orleans, and Mobile, Ala., and the key metropolitan areas of Toronto, Buffalo, Chicago, Detroit, Duluth, Minn./Superior, Wis., Green Bay, Wis.,
Minneapolis/St. Paul, Memphis, and Jackson, Miss., with connections to all points in North America. # We pay dues to the Central Midwest District of the UUA and to the UUA national headquarters in Boston. The dues to the District are $21 for each KUUF member. The national dues are $53 for each of our members. The total dues expense for 2009/10 will be $6,660. #
There are photos and information about KUUF activities on our web site: kuuf.net. Please submit items for the June newsletter by May 26 to Ken Kraft. My email is: kkraft2@earthlink.net.
The Keweenaw Unitarian Universalist Fellowship P.O. Box 276 Houghton, MI 49931