In our continuing effort to foster congregational involvement, this is the second message from the Board. As the first installment explained the fundamentals of UUC board meetings, this article will focus on new and continuing agenda items and scheduled reports from committees.

Read the rest of the article.

At our fund-raising auction we are going to prepare a wonderful and creative meal to serve 200 people.  It's going to take a lot of work and we need as much community support as possible.  There are a variety of unique and exciting opportunities to participate, ranging all the way from fun cooking parties, to simply storing food in your refrigerator. The cooking parties will take place either at the home of Ann Myers (near UUC in Clearwater) or that of Joe Weinstein and John Ferguson in Safety Harbor.

More information, contacts, and schedule

Rabbi Danielle Upbin of Congregation Beth Shalom will be presenting songs from her new CD "Reveal the Light"; Hindu Bhajans (devotional songs) by Christine Ghezzo; South Indian Classical Music by Jayash and Manash Ramanathan; and music by international jazz musician, Fred Johnson.

The Humane Society of Pinellas, Inc. has been selected as our October 28th Share the Plate recipient.  The Humane Society of Pinellas, Inc is a nonprofit animal shelter providing lifesaving services to our community's sick, injured, abused and abandoned pets and wildlife. The Humane Society of Pinellas, Inc. is located in Clearwater and does not use professional solicitors.  Consistent with our 7th Principle we encourage you to be generous with your donations.  For additional information go to www.humanesocietyofpinellas.org.

On Sunday I had the opportunity to provide the Words for All Ages during the service.  We talked about spiders, but more importantly, we talked about the wisdom that is present in life - that each of us has something to learn, and something to teach.  I also sat in on the class for middle school students, who were learning about Buddhism.  

Read the rest of Rachel's experience.

On Friday, October 26 we will continue discussing The Lemon Tree: An Arab, a Jew, and the Heart of the Middle East by Sandy Tolan. 

Before attending the October 26th session, please read to the start of chapter 10 of The Lemon Tree, the chapter entitled 'Explosion'.

Reader's Forum is led by Catherine and John Conover. We meet every Friday from 10 to 11:30 AM in the Chorale Room. There is no fee. A donation for coffee is requested whenever we start a new book.

Rides to the Polls on Election Day, November 6

Can you drive others to their polling place to vote? Do you need a ride?

Please email Sandy Hoover and let her know. In your email, please include your name and phone number and your preferred time - morning or afternoon.

There will also be a sign-up sheet at the Social Justice table after the service on Oct. 28 and Nov. 4. Every vote counts!

Despite the early hour (7:30 AM) about two dozen UUC members and friends joined to have a peaceful protest presence as Publix opened their newest store in Dunedin. A farmworker from the Coalition Imokolee Workers was present and explained CIW's position to the two different TV news stations who carried the event. The Campaign for Fair Food seeks to improve wages and working conditions for Florida tomato pickers by calling on major buyers of tomatoes to pay a premium of one penny more per pound for their tomatoes, ensure that this penny is passed down directly to farmworkers, and work together with the CIW to establish and implement a code of conduct in their supply chains. For more information about the farmworkers Campaign for Fair Food and the Publix intransigence go to http://www.ciw-online.org/101.html.

It has become a custom for UUC to donate beans and rice for farmworkers at this time of year. Farmworkers are in need of beans and rice especially this year as the apple crops that they normally harvest at this time of year failed and they have come to work here early. Sunday, Oct 28th, is the final day of the collection.  Please bring rice and beans with you to service or make a monetary donation at the Social Justice table following service. (We are also collecting gently used childrens' books-- they were a huge hit last year and we'd like to have enough to go around).

PUBLICATION DEADLINES

OCTAGRAM - WEEKLY EVERY THURSDAY

The Octagram is intended to focus on activities taking place at UUC or those of interest to UUC members and friends. Send items in brief with a link to more information to Octagram.

PLEASE DO NOT SEND INFORMATION FORMATTED, OR IN A FLIER.

Provide text in an email, or as an attached Word file with any pictures/graphics attached to the email.

Deadline is 10 a.m. every Wednesday.

Prepared by Barbara Bird.

ORDER OF SERVICE/ANNOUNCEMENTS - WEEKLY EVERY SUNDAY SERVICE:

Deadline is 6 p.m. every Wednesday. Send appropriate items to Order of Service/Announcements.  

Prepared by Pat St. Clair.

ITEMS RECEIVED AFTER THE DEADLINES WILL BE INCLUDED IN THE FOLLOWING PUBLICATION, IF APPLICABLE.