| Greetings!
The next few weeks will be busier than usual for a late August in Minnesota.
While of course MUUSJA will not have any partisan participation relating to the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, we will be encouraging participation in issue-based actions and events which connect to our mission and our UU principles during this period of heightened national attention.
MUUSJA's EcoMinds continues to have a significant role in Congregations Caring for Creation's booth inside the EcoExperience at the State Fair. Opportunities to volunteer are still available, or just be sure to visit this wonderful addition to the Great Minnesota Get-Together!
Plans are bubbling along for a year ahead of Action, Reflection and Collaboration as our issue working groups firm up goals and plans ahead of MUUSJA's Oct. 19th Fall General Meeting. Also mark your calendars now for a major event on Building a UU Movement for Justice -- Saturday, November 15th. Details for these two dates will be featured in upcoming issues of The Connection!
Remember, you can E-mail suggested news and calendar items to me at rwmuusja@gmail.com. Thanks! MUUSJA Director/Organizer |
| MUUSJA & UU Action News: |
 EcoMinds at the State Fair!
August 21-Sept 1 9:00 am-9:00 pm
Progress Center Building
Cosgrove @ Randall
State Fairgrounds, St. Paul, MN
Volunteers needed to staff the C3 energy efficiency display inside the EcoExperience. Last year over 350,000 people visited the EcoExperience & EcoMinds contributed greatly to the fun and success. Several UU congregations have committed to providing volunteers this year. Four hour shifts preferred. Training available! Contact Marcy Leussler mleussler@hotmail.com or 612-824-3240
 MUUSJA/AUW Voter Rights Invites you to see STEALING AMERICA: Vote by Vote
Fri-Mon August 22-25
7:00 pm only!
Oak Street Cinema
309 Oak Street in Minneapolis
Emmy-winning, Oscar-nominated filmmaker, Dorothy Fadiman, will host a discussion immediately following the Screenings on Friday, Saturday and Sunday For more than 20 years, exit polls accurately predicted U.S. election results. Over the last 10 years, that reliability has progressively disappeared. What's going on? Stealing America: Vote by Vote brings together behind-the-scenes perspectives from the U.S. presidential election of 2004 - plus startling stories from key races in 1996, 2000, 2002 and 2006. Unbiased and nonpartisan, the film sheds light on a decade of vote counts that don't match votes cast - uncounted ballots, vote switching, under-votes and many other examples of election totals that warrant serious investigation. UU Voter Rights will have an info table at all screenings. Volunteers still needed! FFI jjthomas@skypoint.com  First Universalist Sesquicentennial Series presents: Author/Columnist Thomas Frank
Thursday, August 28
7:30 p.m.
3400 Dupont Ave S., Minneapolis
612-825-1701
Thomas Frank, author of What's the Matter with Kansas?, discusses his new book The Wrecking Crew. The founding editor of The Baffler and a contributing editor at Harper's, Frank has received a Lannan award and been a guest columnist for The New York Times and the Wall Street Journal. He lives in Washington, D.C.
Lecture: Former UN Inspector Scott Ritter
Sunday, August 31 7:00 pm 900 Mount Curve, Minneapolis
612.377.6608
Join former UN weapons inspector Scott Ritter and special guests for a lively discussion about the "War on Terror." Find out why Ritter, who visited Iran on a fact-finding mission, commented, "We are seeing history repeat itself." Ritter, author of Target Iran, Waging Peace and Iraq Confidential, was one of UNSCOM's most senior weapons inspectors in Iraq between 1991 and 1998, after having served for eight years as an intelligence officer in the U.S. Marine Corps.
Suggested donation: $10 (no one turned away)
A book signing will follow the discussion.
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| Allied Social Justice News |
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Peace March!! End the war in Iraq/Stop war with Iran
 Monday, September 1 11:00 am Rally on Capitol Steps
1:00 pm March begins
Click on map to see bus, parking and route info.
On September 1, 2008, we all have an opportunity to step onto the stage of history. Media attention focused on St. Paul will give an excellent opportunity for voices for peace to be heard. Let's take to the streets of St. Paul to raise our voices against the war and the occupation of Iraq!
UUs are encouraged to wear royal blue shirts/hats, especially any UU or congregation logoed items!
Revolutionary Love 2: I Am Your Best Fantasy
A public performance
Monday, September 1
3:30 pm
State Capitol Grounds (exact site TBA)
This is the second in a two-part project by Sharon Hayes taking place at both the Democratic and Republican National Conventions. The first performance, which will take place at the DNC, is titled Revolutionary Love 1: I Am Your Worst Fear. Revolutionary Love 2 is presented by Creative Time with the Walker Art Center and the UnConvention as part of Creative Time's 2008 national public art initiative Democracy in America: The National Campaign.
 Ripple EffectTuesday, September 2
12:20 pm - 7 pm
Capitol Lawn, St. Paul
Come hear polar explorer Will Steger, Native American activist Winona LaDuke, and a broad array of live music at this event which is "propelling a new wave of progressive action."
OutFront MN, The Steger Foundation, CODEPINK, Friends of the Boundary Waters and many, many others are co-sponsors. There is no specific admission charge, but organizers are asking for a $20 donation. Can be pre-paid online at Ripple Effect. |
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| 3rd Anniversary of Katrina: a Full & Fair Recovery? |
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August 29, 2008 will mark the third anniversary of devastating flooding and massive damage to the US Gulf Coast. This disaster started with hurricane Katrina but continued due to failures at many levels of government.
Three years later, recovery is not complete and yet national attention is moving on. But not the attention of the UUA, the UUSC, MUUSJA and others in faith communities.
The UUA today released a story about ongoing efforts to maintain a focus on Gulf Coast recovery. "It's not over yet" says Derrick Evans (above), who will be bringing a former FEMA trailer to both Denver and the Twin Cities later this month to promote awareness of unfinished work.
Evans is the founder of the Turkey Creek Community Initiatives, a community development non-profit engaged in revitalizing a portion of coastal Mississippi.
MUUSJA is collaborating with many partners to support the visit to St. Paul, Minneapolis and surroundings.
Stops for the FEMA trailer in the Twin Cities are still being planned -- its portability means it can cover many events in a day -- and the following schedule is partial and subject to change:
Sunday, August 31
9:30 am - Zion Baptist Church, 621 Elmwood, Minneapolis
11:00 am - Park Plaza Housing, Humboldt Ave, Minneapolis 1:30 pm - Greater Friendship Missionary Baptist, 2800 38th Ave S, Minneapolis
5:30 pm - First Universalist Church, 3400 Dupont S, Mpls.
Monday, September 1
2:00 pm - near the SEIU labor festival, Harriet Island, St. Paul
7:00 pm - National Truth Commission on Human Rights, Location TBA
Tuesday, September 2
12:30 pm - Ripple Effect, MN Capitol, St. Paul
4:00 pm - March for Our Lives, St. Paul
Wednesday, September 3
11:00 am - film festival at Landmark Center, St. Paul
Other events will be added, the above may change! Check your in box for an updated schedule late next week.
If you have location/event suggestions, e-mail Rev. Meg Riley at revmeg@aol.com. |
| Thanks to our Funders and Friends! |
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MUUSJA wishes to thank our Funders. We are supported in part by the UU Service Committee, the UU Funding Program, and First Universalist Foundation.
Support the UUSC
Learn about the UUFP
We are sustained by our memberships, gifts and by congregational giving. For membership, gift and congregational giving information, please contact Ralph Wyman at 612-998-6624 or ralph@muusja.org.
The Prairie Star District of the UUA acts as our fiscal sponsor. We are grateful for their support and assistance. | |
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