The last two Octagon reports from the Board were written by individual Board members not by the Board President (even though my photo was attached).    I would like to thank Judy Wade for the first one which was about the September Board meeting  and Cindi Nohe for the second which was about the October Board meeting.  They wrote excellent reports of the items, issues and brainstorming activities conducted by the Board during those two Board meetings.  Look for future reports written by other Board leaders in the coming months.

Please take your turn as the host for the social hour after the service.   There is nothing to bring as supplies will be on hand, no coffee to perk, as that is done early by staff, and clean up is limited to putting left-overs away and washing out the punch bowl.     Please look for the sign up on the counter between the kitchen and the social hall.

Very important, sad to say, our UUC pledge income is quite a bit lower than it has been in past years.   Please  keep your pledge  up to date, so that we can continue the projects and programs for our congregation and the greater community.

Wishing you a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Susan Hegner, Board President

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.  Please invite a friend to join you.

I really love the way Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) asks their community of supporters to do there part and contribute what they can. Your membership and participation at UUC is appreciated greatly and as the Treasurer and a member of the board I wish to say we all count on each other's support and really need each one to do their part.

The first half of this fiscal year has not met the operating budgeted income. We are not able to meet the actual expenses with our current level of operating funds. We have not received the pledge income to date as was anticipated. We know that you understand that pledge support is how we pay our operating expenses. Your consistent and continued support is what makes this the vibrant and blessed community of which we all enjoy being a part.

As your Board of Trustee's Treasurer I am asking all of you supporting members to review your annual pledge amounts and determine if you are on track to have half of your pledge paid by the end of November. Pledge amounts can be paid in advance and any amount paid up till December 31, 2012 may be included with your tax exemptions for calendar year 2012. 

If you need clarification or assistance with any aspect of your support please contact me or call 727-735-8460. Thank you again for doing your part and your continued support of our Unitarian Universalist of Clearwater Congregation.

Sheila M. Knaust, BOT Treasurer

Are you a caregiver? Are you caring for a member of your family or extended family? An aging parent, or your spouse, or a sibling or child who needs extensive care? Perhaps in the area, or maybe from a distance, perhaps in your own home?

There are many in our congregation who are caregivers, who are making decisions about time and resources and care and trying to find balance in their lives.

Would you be interested in participating in a supportive group with other people who are also caregivers? This would be to build community and support for one another, in a group with specific focus on the caregiving role.

Please contact me if you might be interested. Together we can make our burdens lighter.

At a meeting on November 13th, at the Hispanic Council, two staff members from the RCS Foodbank and the Salvation Army Foodbank were comparing how low their food supplies were. Donations are down 20-30% from this time last year and demand is up. So this is a good time to get rid of those hurricane supplies you were keeping for emergencies. Bring them to church to the RCS Food Box this Sunday and help a severe situation. Or provide them with greens (the kind with a presidential portrait on it.)  Checks can be sent to: RCS Food Bank, 700 Druid Road, Clearwater, FL 33756 .

Once again the EJT will be collecting blankets for farm workers in Plant City. Bring your blankets to church this week through the beginning of December and we will take them to Plant City for the National Farm Workers Ministry Toy Distribution for Christmas. Questions:contact  Harriet Ha-Sidi.

Last Saturday Anne Burnham and Donna Polhamus attended the UU Southwest Cluster Meeting about the most effective ways to work with the Coalition of Imokolee Workers (CIW). The meeting was very inspiring (more about the meeting later) but the picture below shows the protest outside the Port Charlotte Publix that ended the day. 

A last reminder about the Sacrificial Soup Supper this coming Saturday, November 17 at 5:30 at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Clearwater, FL. Bring new socks and underwear for kids under 12 and warm blankets for folks of all ages to support the Farm Worker Christmas Project and enjoy homemade lentil soup and bread. The keynote speaker will be Dr. Raymond Arsenault, of the University of Southern Florida.

We will be carpooling at 5 PM from UUC. Please E-Mail Donna if you would like to carpool. And it would look nice if we all wore our UUC T-Shirt or Standing on the Side of Love T-Shirt.

If you would like to have a hand in the many projects the Economic Justice Team is undertaking, please  email Donna .

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.