Social Justice Meeting December 8

Dear MVUU Member:

As members of the MVUU ad hoc Justice Coordinating Committee, we invite you to attend a very important meeting on Sunday, December 8, at 12:30 in the Sanctuary. The purpose of the meeting will be as follows:

• To establish a permanent Justice Coordinating Committee that will replace our former Social Action Committee.  
• To begin the process of determining an all-congregational focus on a local social justice action for the 2014 calendar year. This local social justice action focus, which will be reviewed yearly, will be hands-on, "sandals on the ground" in nature, and must have a local avenue for involvement.  For example, Beacon UU in Flagstaff has chosen to direct their actions at the families of undocumented workers their local area.
• To begin this selection process, we're inviting our MVUU members to give 5-minute presentations on December 8 about what you strongly feel should become our local justice action focus for 2014. You could speak on behalf of one of our current charitable ministeries:  La Palma Prison ministry; Animal Rights ministry; Navajo Elders ministry; Interweave; TIHAN; Primavera Dinners; immigration education; or Private Prisons issues in Arizona.  

OR you could follow your passions to one of the following:  the Primavera Foundation; the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona (hunger and poverty in Pima County); Casa de los Niños; Casa María; the Emerge Center Against Domestic Abuse; or environmental impacts of the proposed Rosemont Mine. Any and all ideas you present at the meeting will be entertained! Please be sure that your presentation stresses active involvement by a significant number of MVUU members and friends, including but definitely not limited to monetary support.

• IMPORTANT NOTE:  Whatever action we all select for 2014 would by no means replace or compromise the many charitable ministries that groups of our members already support, as listed above.  Please bring a sack lunch to the meeting, which will be approximately two hours long.  Beverages will be provided. We hope to see you on December 8.

In peace,

Lara Brennan, Rev. Ron Phares, Debbie Gessaman, and Chuck Tatum

"Standing Your Ground" December 9

Understanding the Arizona law and what it means for you and our communities

Did the Zimmerman trial in Florida leave you with questions and concerns? How does Arizona's Stand Your Ground law ensure or complicate the safety and security of all of the residents in our state? The Mountain Vista Unitarian Universalist Congregation invites you to our 3 part panel discussion as an effort to build knowledge and relationships as the antidote to confusion and fear.

The second discussion takes place on December 9 and will have members of law enforcement informing the public on how the law is implemented. Panelists will be Tucson Police Department's Capt. Perry Tarrant and criminal defense attorney Louis Fidel.

The final discussion takes place on January 13, with the panel comprised of community leaders engaged with attendees on what we can do.

These events are free and open to the public. We welcome all perspectives and encourage dialogue as part of our mission to respect differences and celebrate diversity. All panel discussions take place from 7-9 pm at the Mountain Vista Unitarian Universalist Congregation.

Council Meeting December 14

The next Council meeting is scheduled for Saturday, December 14, from 9:00-12:00 in the Fireside room. All Committee chairpersons are expected to be present or sent a committee representative. All others are invited! If you have something you would like to see on the meeting's agenda, please let one of us know before December 7th.

Gwen Goodman, Administrative Council

Rev. Ron Phares, Ministry Council