 October 5, 2007 Issue # 12
There have been some big changes at UU Legislative Ministry, CA in the past couple of months. I feel very blessed that some new staff have joined the UULM team. Their talent, insights, and hard work will help UULM take the next steps toward deepening our relationships with our congregations, clergy, and justice leadership. Welcome Vivien and Suzanne! Suzanne Marsh is working half -time as our very first UULM Community Ministry Intern - organizing a UU Voices for Healthcare program, and reaching out to congregations in the SF Bay Area. She brings intelligence, energy, good humor, and a deep commitment to our cause. We are blessed to have her in this pioneering role, and hope that UULM can continue to serve as a training ground for UU ministers in formation. We are excited that someone with Vivien Hao’s experience is now serving part-time as our Director of Communications and Community Resources. A journalist and public relations professional for more than 20 years, as well as a fund developer and non-profit entrepreneur, Vivien brings many talents to our team. Thanks to the generous contribution of office space at Throop Church in Pasadena, and with some elbow grease from intrepid volunteers, Rev. Silvio Nardoni, Tera Little, Rev. Clyde Grubbs, and Mary Jane Holden, Vivien is opening up an LA area UULM office and helping us to establish a stronger presence in Southern California. Blessings, Rev. Lindi Ramsden Welcome to New UULM-CA Staffers, Suzanne and Vivien! New Community Ministry Intern 
Greetings from Suzanne Marsh I am very excited about the opportunity to serve UU Legislative Ministry, CA this year and am very much looking forward to working in collaboration with the staff: Lindi, Vivien, Jasmine, Christy, and Rachel. I also look forward to connecting with all the wonderful UULM board and volunteers. Together, I think we can accomplish much! I graduated from Pacific School of Religion in May 2007 and a member of First Unitarian of San Jose. My calling is to a community ministry that is in direct relationship with one or more UU congregations, as I loved the time I served in a parish setting and would like to be able to craft a ministry that blends social justice work with parish involvement. Among my goals is to organize more UUs to do social justice work in the San Francisco Bay area. I love to laugh and believe that humor and love in community provide us with the support and sustenance that we need to stay with the sometimes tiring-- and often daunting-- task of creating a peaceful and just world. New Director of Communications and Community Resources 
Greetings from Vivien Hao Joining the staff of UU Legislative Ministry, CA is the realization of my dream to apply my public relations skills to advance social justice causes. As a UU and racial justice advocate for more than a dozen years, I have a strong commitment to marriage equality, healthcare for all, caring for the earth, and returning democracy to the people. Since these are the priority areas of UU Legislative Ministry, CA, you can see why I feel it must have been a greater force that brought me to this wonderful organization. I am honored to work with such respected UU leaders such as Lindi, Ramon, Kathleen, and so many others of you around the state in our common quest toward a better California for all-- regardless of faith, gender, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, income, ability, or age. I will be focusing on organizing UUs in Southern California and developing new opportunities to get the word out about the issues that we support. I’m up for the challenges—and with your help—anticipate great successes! New Hours for UULM Executive Assistant Christy Baker Mon. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Seven Straight Nights For Equal Rights
UUs and other people of faith will join millions of straight allies of LGBT Americans in an unprecedented national event Oct. 7-13. UU Legislative Ministry is working with UU congregations across the state to organize Seven Straight Nights for Equal Rights—a wave of overnight vigils that will illuminate American towns and cities. Among the California UU congregations organizing vigils are Throop UU Church in Pasadena "As a Unitarian Universalist minister and as a human being, I deeply believe that fear, hatred and prejudice have no place in our laws, including the laws governing marriage," said Rev. Martha Hodges, minister the UU Church of Sacramento. "Our congregation includes about 30 percent LGBT people and I see everyday proof that sexual orientation need not divide us. Our goal in participating in Seven Straight Nights is to demonstrate to all that we are, in the words of our religious association, 'standing on the side of love.' " UUs In the News for Marriage Equality UUs Join Interfaith Clergy at Five News Conferences for Freedom to Marry
Unitarian Universalist clergy and lay leaders were out in force in Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, Sacramento and San Luis Obispo, as more than 100 faith leaders spoke eloquently and passionately about why their religious convictions called them to support the freedom of marry. For more information and photos, click here. Major articles across the state: “Friend-Raising” at San Jose House Party Adds New Donors & Volunteers in Silicon Valley/South Bay Area
Drawing UUs from as far away as Santa Cruz County, the event was highlighted by a visit by UUA President Bill Sinkford, who was in town for the launch of the Bay Area UU Marketing Campaign. A member of the First UU Church of San Jose spoke eloquently about the complications and frustration endured by his family when his grown children were no longer eligible for coverage under his employer's health insurance policy. "My wife and I spent hundreds of hours sorting things trying to get her insured-- we have got to find a better way for people to access quality health care," he said. Since that experience, he has been active working with UULM on health care reform issues. Other UUs also shared personal stories about why they support the work of UU Legislative Ministry as monthly donors. A special thanks to those who renewed their commitment to the work of UULM with donations and pledges at this event. UULM-CA - Annual Leadership Summit Key Leaders Strategize on Healthcare, Water Justice & Equal Marriage
In addition to learning about new tools and getting updates on the latest public policy and organizing issues, the group also took time to worship and enjoy delicious meals. Those who have been meeting on monthly conference calls had a chance to meet in person and strengthen friendships. "As a new board member of UULM, it was important for me to meet so many of the other people across the state who are working so hard on what I consider to be some of the most important issues facing UUs and all Californians," said Marla Sharf of San Jose. "I certainly learned a lot, but more importantly, I made real connections with people and that will help us work even more effectively in the future." In day-long workshops, work groups focusing on water justice, marriage equality, and healthcare reform developed strategic plans to engage and involve UUs from congregations across the state. If you or your congregation would like to be more engaged in UULM’s Marriage Equality, Climate Change & Water Justice, or Health Care Reform work, please contact our Executive Director, Rev. Lindi Ramsden. Next Generation of Board Presidents Moves UULM & Action Network Forward Ramon Urbano of Oakland and Rev. Kathleen Owens of San Diego have been named Presidents of UU Legislative Ministry, CA and UULM Action Network, respectively. As leaders of the two separate, but related, organizations, they will work with their boards and the many other UU leaders and volunteers statewide to advance common social justice causes. Message from Roman Ubano, President UU Legislative Ministry, California
After a long absence, working in many different locations in the US and Latin America, I am back to my roots in Northern California. During most of this time my wife, Karen, and I have been members of several UU churches and active in leadership roles there and at the district and national level. When I retired I wanted to become more involved in issues that affect California. I was raised on a farm and my working background has been in agricultural commodities. I hope to bring this input to this work as well as my Hispanic perspective. I wanted to become involved in a new and needed aspect of Unitarian Universalist efforts, which could start to make changes beyond our denomination. UU Legislative Ministry, CA could be a catalyst for a national UU perspective and sharing our values with the wider world. A Message from Rev. Kathleen Owens, President of the UULM Action Network
The founding and development of the UULM Action Network is an important part of building the capacity for UUs to lobbying on behalf of bills that support justice, the environment, religious freedom, and human rights. Other faith traditions have been organized to lobby on behalf of their values for years – it feels good that UUs are catching up with the reality that we need more than education, we also need direct action. More information about the UULM Action Network will come throughout the year as we more firmly establish this important and growing part of UULM. October 6 Download flyer for complete details October 7 October 7-13 November 10 November 16 Contacts: To contribute to the UULM Action Network CA and/or the UULM-CA, please visit our Donation pages. UULM Action Network, CA (non-tax deductible) UULM-CA (Tax deductible, for educational purposes). Monthly donors are vital to our work, and one time donations are also gratefully received. Our Privacy Policy |
“Powerful” and “moving” were words often used to describe the five interfaith events held in churches and synagogues on September 26 that marked the filing of the amicus briefs supporting marriage equality before the California Supreme Court.
Demonstrating their commitment and generosity, UUs from the San Jose area pledged more than $10,000 to UU Legislative Ministry, CA at a “friend-raising” house party hosted by the Massey family.
Three dozen key volunteer leaders of UU Legislative Ministry, CA gathered September 21 and 22 in Santa Monica to strategize about “next steps” for the UULM’s priority areas for the year.
I accepted this position because I strongly support UULM and its mission. The UULM Action Network is the non-tax-deductible arm of our work, giving us more leaway through which to organize support for specific ballot measures and legislation that is in keeping with our UU values. UU Legislative Ministry has been doing a good job with education and leadership development.