| Greetings!
Welcome to 2009! Much work is under way among MUUSJA's working groups, our UU congregations and denomination, and our allies in justice.
As always, we invite you to browse through The Connection to find events and issues that speak to you -- and then get connected! We are also very excited to announce a new effort of MUUSJA. We are launching a series of state-wide conference calls in an effort to better connect all of us who are doing the work of justice here in Minnesota. Our first topic will be EcoMinds and the challenges of global climate change. This first call will be Sunday, February 1st, at 7 pm. Information about the call is below - some details (such as the call-in number) will be announced soon, so watch your in-box for more on this intriguing experiment in getting us more connected. We also extend a warm invitation to a special MUUSJA Game Night. Come enjoy an evening of cozy camaradarie, friendly games, and tasty food. The evening will include a chance to learn more about MUUSJA's plans and how you can support and engage in our work. We hope to see you there. In faith, Ralph Wyman
MUUSJA Director/Organizer
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| MUUSJA Action News: |
AUW/MUUSJA Reproductive Rights/Sacred Choices
Saturday, January 31, 2009
10 am - Noon
(Scones and social time at 9:30)
First Universalist Church Library
3400 Dupont Ave S, Minneapolis
Work on "Shelby Knox" special event (March 6th, 7pm. Save the date, details in the next Connection!). Get study/discussion guide ready, finalize logistics, update on outreach and contacts to area UU congregations. FFI Sara mckru@comcast.net UUs Out 4 MarriageMonday, February 2 7 - 9 pm Unity Church Unitarian Center room (1st floor, near Holly St. entrance) 732 Holly Ave, St. Paul 55104  Join other UUs as we examine the prospects for marriage equality for LGBTQs in Minnesota and how UUs can take action. UUO4M worked extensively on the 2006 constitutional amendment campaign. This meeting
will bring the group back together in an effort to achieve marriage rights in
Minnesota. Senator Marty has introduced a marriage equality bill this session! [SF 0120] All are welcome to attend! FFI Ralph rwmuusja@gmail.com 612-998-6624 
MUUSJA Game Night
Saturday, February 7
6 - 10 pm
492 Montrose Lane
St Paul, MN 55116
Come to Lois Hamilton's house for Foosball, Mah Jong, Wii Rock Band, and more. Homemade dinner for vegetarians and omnivores served at 6:15. A fun way to get to know MUUSJA and see how you can plug in!
To RSVP or for details, please contact Co-Host Kathleen Hollinger: 612-701-4643 or hollinger_kathleen@hotmail.com.
MUUSJA EcoMinds
Tuesday, February 10
7-9 pm
First Universalist Church
3400 Dupont Ave S, Minneapolis
Work on Clean Cars legislation & postcard campaign, track other legislative objectives and strategize responses. De-brief EcoMinds
state-wide conference call. Prep for PSD conference. FFI contact EcoMinds
Chair Sammy at samanthaschutz@gmail.com
MUUSJA Board MeetingThursday, February 12
7 - 9 pm
Unity Church Unitarian
732 Holly Ave, St. Paul 55104
All are welcome to attend and to join in conversation at our monthly board meeting. Contact Ralph at 612-998-6624 or rwmuusja@gmail.com for more information or to request an agenda.
AUW/MUUSJA Voter RightsSaturday, February 21 1 - 3 pm First Universalist Church, Cummins Room 3400 Dupont Ave S, Minneapolis Work on the Voter Rights proposed Action of Immediate Witness (AIW) for GA 2009 in Salt Lake. Several federal bills on election integrity have been introduced and need the support of UUs across the nation. An AIW is a great way to build national UU interest. Also: prep for GA workshop and collaboration with UUA on their voter-related workshop. FFI Jenny Thomas jjthomas@skypoint.com or Carol Johnson 612-825-3322.
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UU & Allied Social Justice Events
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Anyone and Everyone: Film event at UU Society of River Falls
Sunday, January 18
12:30 pm
UUSRF, N8010
State Highway 65, 1.6 miles south of the 65/29 Junction
Anyone and Everyone includes families from all walks of life, from origins as diverse as Japanese,
Bolivian and Cherokee, and religions such as Mormon, Catholic, and Hindu. Families share accounts of how their
children came out, discuss their responses, and struggle with the pain of non-acceptance by relatives or
friends, and ostracizing by religious congregations. An open-minded discussion will follow the
film. PFLAG will speak at the regular UURF service time of 10:30. Fundraising lunch at noon.
Green Housing Design Exhibit
Now-March 8
8 am - 6 pm
A Rapson Hall Exhibit
HGA Gallery, 89 Church St., Minneapolis, MN 55455
612-624-7434
The National Building Museum's acclaimed exhibition 'The Green House: New
Directions in Sustainable Architecture and Design' is the first to explore the field of green
residential design as it reaches a turning point of acceptance by both home builders and
the general public.
Welcoming Party for new Out Front E.D. Amy Johnson
Thursday, January 29
5:30 - 8 pm
Azia Restaurant in the Caterpillar Lounge
2550 Nicollet Ave. S., Minneapolis
612-813-1200
Come meet and talk with
OutFront Minnesota's new Executive Director Amy Johnson! It'll be a
great opportunity to ask Amy all the questions you have, as well as
express your dreams and desires for how our movement is moving forward. Free. Light snacks provided.
 Debra Davis "Transgender
101"
January 31, 2009
6:30-8:30pm
Minnesota Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship
10715 Zenith Avenue South
Bloomington, MN 55431
952-884-8956
Come and hear Debra Davis' story and take part in the discussion after.
Do you want to know how a person transcends gender? Would you like greater
understanding of transgender persons and to find out how questions of faith are
answered? Debra Davis was a teacher when she transgendered. Her story is gently
portrayed. Everyone is welcome.
What Would Darwin Do: the struggle for
comprehensive sex education in Minnesota
Sunday, February 8
9:30 - 10:20 am
First Unitarian Society
900 Mount Curve, Minneapolis
Speaker: Lorie Alveshere, Policy Director,
Minnesota Organization on Adolescent Pregnancy
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Prairie Star District Annual Conference
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Our Blue Boat Home: Living the Seventh Tradition
April 3-5, 2009
Duluth, Minnesota
Just a short trip from most anywhere in Minnesota, make plans soon to attend the PSD Annual Conference! Conference Information is now available on the PSD web site.
MUUSJA works closely with the Prairie Star District Social Justice Network (PSD-SJN) to help sponsor and promote the annual Pre-Conference Social Justice Training. This year's topic is Successful Strategies for Environmental Justice. Pre-conference training is Friday afternoon, April 3rd, and ends in plenty of time to attend the evening's activities of the Annual Conference. This training is only $5 if you are attending the Annual Conference!
MUUSJA's EcoMinds, together with UU Congregation Duluth, and MUUSJA/AUW's Reproductive Rights/Sacred Choices each have a workshop offered during the Saturday sessions of the Annual Conference! And MUUSJA and PSD-SJN will be offering a workshop as well. Details are here and here, and will be highlighted in future issues of The Connection.
Congratulations to our Working Group volunteers for having two workshops accepted for the 2009 conference!
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Interested in our Web Site?
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www.MUUSJA.org can become a great tool to communicate all of the excellent work that MUUSJA is doing across Minnesota.
Our site got a nice upgrade about a year and a half ago--but now it needs to be refreshed and have new functions added. We have a few key upgrades scheduled to go live soon, but more work would really spruce up our web presence!
If basic web design and maintenance is an area you have experience in, MUUSJA is seeking volunteers to join our web site committee!
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We have new energy and volunteer leadership ready to design and implement improvements. Join with us as we bring MUUSJA to the next level of on-line communications.
FFI about our first web site committee meeting, contact Ralph at 612-998-6624 or rwmuusja@gmail.com.
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Click Activism!!
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Two easy actions to support the work that UUs are doing across Minnesota and the US!
First, the UUA is asking everyone to take action on a 2008 GA Action of Immediate Witness: A living wage campaign of $10 by 2010.
You can support this effort by sending a letter to your US Representative via UUA partner Let Justice Roll. <--Click to take action now!
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Second: help green the economic stimulus. UUA ally Green For All, Van Jone's campaign to build an inclusive green economy, needs your help to include real money for training low wage workers into higher paying "green collar" jobs.
Click now to visit Green For All and tell your US Rep to Green the Stimulus!
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| Thank You! |
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We rely on YOU, our members and friends for at least one third of all our operating funds.
Help make MUUSJA a STRONG moral voice for justice in Minnesota.
To make a contribution to MUUSJA, download this form to mail your donation. Or call Ralph at 612-998-6624 for more information on memberships and giving. MUUSJA wishes to thank our funders. We are supported in part by the UUSC, and the First Universalist Foundation. The Prairie Star District of the UUA acts as our fiscal sponsor. We are grateful for the support and assistance. | |
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