News from UUCNWT

The Mountain View Youth Art Exhibit will run through June 25. Our talented young artists have used their imaginations and skills in a variety of techniques and media. The artists are: Clarissa Ballesteros, age 17 (16 when did the art); Steven Ballesteros, age 14 (almost 15); Janan Power, age 11; Shaylor Brennan, age 9; and, Robyn Pratt, age 11.

Anne Leonard

anne@alartworks.com

Volunteer Opportunities

What you give comes back to you in multiple ways. Your involvement in our congregation helps you connect with others and enhances your experience with MVUU. There are many ways you can offer your talents. Whenever a need arises, we will offer ways to become involved. Please step forward to help us fulfill our mission and to enrich your own spiritual journey.

SIGN PLACER

Tasks: Place2 signs at the end of our street every Sunday morning before the service and bring them back afterward. This task could be shared by two or more people.

PUBLIC RELATIONS LIAISON PERSON

Tasks: Receive announcements from congregation members, edit for length and clarity, and send out to identified local media via e-mail. Also post on Facebook.

Time involved: Takes about an hour several times a month. Elizabeth Reed will help you get started.

Contact: Larry Jagnow to apply. 544-6094 or aljagnow@msn.com

Congregational Meeting Results

Fifty-six MVUU members were present for the June 12 Congregational Meeting, counting 11 absentee ballots. A quorum of 42 was required to pass on the following: Board of Trustees officers for 2011-2012; nominees for the Nominating Committee; nominees for the Endowment Committee; approval of the Covenant of Right Relations; and the Fiscal Year 2011-2012 Budget. All of the above passed unanimously except the Budget, to which there were eight objections; therefore, the Budget stands as proposed by the Board of Trustees, approved by all but eight people, and unmodified from the floor.

In addition, Meg Kidwell proposed, and President Conrad Paul accepted, an action item for the incoming Board, that there be a policy developed that would provide guidelines for undesignated bequest monies.

This information was furnished to me, absentee Board Secretary, by Betty Meikle, who assisted Meg Kidwell in checking in MVUU members. Much thanks to Betty and Meg for doing so in my absence.

Yours, Deborah C. Gessaman

Board

President: Conrad Paul
1st Vice President & Chair of Congregational Life Council: Chuck Tatum
2nd Vice President & Chair of Administrative Council:
Larry Jagnow
Secretary: Elizabeth Reed
Treasurer: Bill Casey
Trustee at large: Lisa Ponder-Gilby
Trustee at large: Jim Gessaman

Nominating Committee

Meg Kidwell
Debbie Gessaman
TBD

Endowment Committee

Jan Anderson
Ann Ellsworth
David Hatunen
Anne Tatum
Clare Toth

Activities and Events

Green Speaker June 26

The final talk for this year's Green Speaker Series will be on June 26th following a summer salad luncheon in the Fireside Room. The talk will begin at 12:30. The speaker is Josh Gormally, and the title is What Effluent Means to the Santa Cruz River.

The lower Santa Cruz River first received effluent in the late 1970's. This has led to a unique and diverse plant ecosystem and a partial river restoration. Josh will present the results of his original scientific study looking at the effects of the release of effluent on vegetation and discuss more sustainable uses of effluent, as well as the sustainability of river "restoration" projects in the region.

Bookaholics Unanimous June 29

Author Jane Hamilton is our focus for the month of June. Instead of reading just one of her books, we've decided to combine our thoughts about anything of hers we've read. Hamilton's books are pure pleasure reading. She tackles big thighs, war, families, fairness...all those things that go through our minds as we live our daily lives. When you've finished one of her books, you're glad you spent your time with her. Come tell us what books you've read: June 29th at 6:45 pm in the Fireside Room. Then start on the next good read: July 27th--The Lake of Dead Languages by Carol Goodman; August 31st--The Snow Leopard by Peter Matthiessen; September 28th--A Girls' Guide to Hunting and Fishing by Melissa Bank. Good summer reading.

Contact: Elaine Harris azbooklover@comcast.net

290-1026

Religious Education News

Sunday, June 12th was the Kick-off of the RE Summer Program, "Share Your Passions"

Each Sunday, a member of the congregation will meet with the children to share a hobby/topic they are passionate about. Topics will include drumming, jewelry-making, birding, cooking, and more.

The Tigers and TAMS will meet together in the large RE Room. On the 1st and 3rd Sundays of the month, the students will start off in the sanctuary for a "Story for All Ages".

Wish List

* Canisters of powdered lemonade mix.

* Teachers for the 2011-2012 school year (No experience necessary! Please see Donna for more info.)

Save these Dates

September 23-25 OWL facilitator training in California. We need more MEN. Come on guys, the kids will appreciate you. See Donna or Margaret for more information.

September 30-Nov. 19 OWL program here for youth in grades 7-9. There will be 3 overnights and 4 Sunday afternoon sessions. For more information contact Sybelle van Erven.

October 14-16 Lunitarian Weekend in Rocky Point

October 29 All-Congregation Halloween Party.

Focus on Immigration

The Gateway Project has completed its year-long activities, although the $5,000 challenge grant has been extended until the end of the year. The hardware and software is all set up. With the help of the 22^nd St. congregation and some other fund-raising on our side, we have come up with $500 that will be matched by the UU Funding Program. The money will be used to promote Unitarian Universalism and some of the congregation's specific activities.

Now that we have the mechanisms in place--setting up conferencing and presentation systems--we will be using them to promote the topic of immigration statewide. Our congregation will provide the template for other congregations in Arizona to use to express our collective voice.

Here are some of the other ways we will be preparing for the Justice GA to be held in Phoenix in 2012.

Adult R.E.

"Immigration as a Moral Issue" This is a UUA course, which has already been given in several Arizona congregations. There will be six sessions, meeting once a week from November 7 through December 12.

Youth R.E.

"Crossing the Line," a year-long curriculum for teens. Information, role-playing, drama, and discussion about border-crossing issues. Begins September 18.

Special Project

Financed by a Lifespan Faith Development Grant. Production of a documentary video by youth on the topic of immigration. Includes instruction in video recording, interviewing, organizing, and editing, as well as information about border-crossing issues. Youth will interview such persons as Border Patrol agents, politicians, ranchers, immigrants-both documented and undocumented-and members of humanitarian organizations. The finished video will be uploaded onto YouTube.

Anyone interested in participating in the video project, please contact Steven Ballesteros or John Fleming.

New Website

The new website authorized by the Management Committee is now developed to the point of being usable by the congregation, although there is still additional information to be added and fine-tuning to be done. Workshops are being set up for congregational leaders to learn how to edit their own sections. This is a very user-friendly software, so the transition should be easy. To view the new site, click here or go to http://mountainvista.squarespace.com.

New Adult R. E. Course

The Way of Mastery

Jesus, or Jeshua as I know him, stands waiting for you to look his way.
He beckons you to come closer, so that he can tell you his life story, a story, for the most part, that you have never heard.
Listen to him, as he tells you in his own words,how he grew from being as human as you and I, to be The Master.

He will explain the real meaning of our journeys and the lessons he learned, which you each also can learn, growing toward your own Mastery.

We will meet once each week for 6 weeks, studying the material in the book, The Way of Mastery. This is a book you will treasure for your life time. All you require is an open heart and open mind.

The course will meet on Wednesdays at 7:00 pm, beginning October 12. Let me know of your interest. There is a nice $5 discount per book for a group purchase of 5 or more books. Books can be ordered from Shanti Christo.

Jolie Hoskkin 520-303-6705 jhoskkin@msn.com

Welcome Our Newest New Members

Martha and Larry Castriotta

Martha grew up in Gainesville Florida and graduated from Brenau College in Gainesville, Georgia. She has been an elementary school teacher, a speech therapist, and an Early Childhood Education teacher. She specialized in working with autistic children from birth to 6 years.

Her hobbies include horses, hiking, and biking. She has hiked all over the world, including in Peru, Ecuador, and most countries in Europe. She has lived in the Philippines, where she adopted two children. She and her husband Larry taught English in Prague and Seville.

Larry grew up in Rhode Island and earned his undergraduate degree from Boston University then an MBA from Harvard. His career has taken him from New England to Chicago and Minneapolis. Larry's primary interest included retailing and marketing. He worked in merchandising for Osco Drugs and then for Dayton Hudson (now Target) Corporation. In 1980, Larry decided to focus the balance of his career working in small and midsize businesses. These included startups, turnarounds, mergers, and acquisitions. He was involved with a variety of products including toys, consumer electronics, gourmet potato chips, and horse trailers.

Larry enjoys reading, golf, and barbershop singing.

Martha and Larry have just returned from living over four years in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico They now can be found in their full-time home in Oro Valley--except for the time they expect to spend on the road in their new motor home.

Sunday Services for June

June 19, 2011

Father's Day Service

"Our Fathers, Ourselves"

Rev. Joy Atkinson

The service will explore Father's Day and the role of fathers in our lives. Romy Fouad is Worship Associate.

June 26, 2011

"UUs and Other Heretics"

Galina DeRoeck

Did you know that Arius, our proto-ancestor of Unitarianism, was a Libyan Berber? We'll review some interesting "heretics" and discuss the meaning of heresy then and now. Margaret Fleming is Worship Associate. Special music will be provided by the Raging Grannies.