Since the deadline for submission of SAC’s annual report was before the Committee’s last meeting of the church year on May 15, 2024, updates were mentioned at the congregation’s 189th Annual Meeting. If you were unable to attend the May 19, 2024 meeting in person and would like a copy of the annual report let me know. In the meantime here, in writing, is how SAC is closing out the 2023-2024 year.
During announcements on the first Sunday of April, it was said that North Fork Environmental Council (NFEC) was the Share the Plate (STP) recipient for April and that Rural & Migrant Ministry (R&MM) was the May recipient. It was actually the other way around and the mix-up was corrected in the May Free Spirit, with my apology and an assurance that both organizations would receive the amount of the higher donation given. Therefore, checks for $ 175.00 are being mailed out to both R&MM and NFEC.
Working with R&MM over the last few years, we have been introduced to a new form of philanthropy called “impact investing” which has been shown to “help make people self-sufficient where traditional charity often fails.” An example of this is the Amandla Education Center’s annual toy store for the children of the over 1,700 rural and migrant farmworkers who live and work on the North Fork. In the January Free Spirit, I described, in depth, how R&MM has taken the process of “donating toys” a step further in order to support and strengthen the entire family . You can find out more about this new way of “giving” by checking out NY Times bestseller, The Blue Sweater, by Jacqueline Novogratz, a visionary “call to action that challenges us to grant dignity to the poor.”
Looking forward to moving into our new home, SAC has been rethinking the use of the monthly STP collection and our ways of “giving.” We still need to raise funds to fulfill our annual commitment to New York UU Justice (NYUUJ) by the end of October and will continue to solicit Board support to hold STP collections for emergency requests. However, we are discussing ways to utilize our new space to provide a long-term base of support and more meaningful relationships with our larger community as an alternative to offering charitable donations.
Speaking of emergency requests – through continued connection with R&MM, the Spanish Apostolate and the North Fork Unity Action Council, we were recently asked if we might assist some farmworkers who are leaving for work as early as 3:00 a.m. and are riding to work on bicycles. SAC purchased ten safety vests, one of our members purchased an additional ten, and all have been delivered to the workers. Perhaps one of our card/letter-writing campaigns this year could address bike lanes?¿!
The remainder of our 2023-2024 budget went to registering to participate in the North Fork Pride Parade 2024:
Date: Saturday, June 22, 2024
Place & Time: Greenport – 12noon-5pm, the parade is starting at the corner of Front & Main Streets, followed by the festival in Mitchell Park
We need: – marchers (and possibly banner holders)
– a truck and driver for parade participants in need of a ride, AND
– volunteers to be visible advocates for LGBTQIA rights and the Pride yard signs and Pride blankets we plan to sell at the 10’x10’ festival booth we “purchased.”.
You actually have to break out your walking shoes one week earlier because we have also registered to participate in the Juneteenth Parade & Community Celebration:
Date: Saturday, June 15, 2024 from 10:30am-6pm
Place & Time: Greenport – 10:30am-5pm, starting at the Clinton Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church with words from Pastor Natalie Wimberly and a blessing from the elders.
– 11am, the parade starts at the church and will move down Main Street to Mitchell Park to continue the celebration with speakers, musicians, dancers and more. There will also be food, activities, and
– 2pm screening at nearby North Fork Arts Center of the documentary, Juneteenth: Freedom and Faith, which explains the significance of this day followed by a panel discussion of its national importance.
– end of the day, everyone is invited to partake in a racial healing yoga practice in the park.
This is a free community event but there will probably be opportunities to donate funds to help cover costs AND the food will probably have a cost. More information available through Clinton Memorial AME Zion Church; Coming To The Table (CTTT); and, Southold Town Anti-Bias Task Force.
The Sunday, April 28, 2024 service gave an overview of the proposed Article II changes to the UUA bylaws. By the time you are reading this, you should have received an email follow-up to that service. Mary James and I have been elected as your 2024-2025 GA Delegates with Susan Johnson as the Alternate. They are seeking your views and opinions regarding these changes and are responsible for representing your intentions at General Assembly (GA) 2024. If you have not received the follow-up email; if you have concerns and opinions to express; or if you have questions, contact one of the delegates.
In the May Free Spirit, I thanked a number of people for their support of the North Fork Project presentation, all of whom could fall into Rev. Valerie’s category of “the usual suspects.” Since we are at the close of the year, I feel it appropriate to add four more thanks:
– Until struggling with health issues became too much for him to handle alone, Bill Funke supported the work of SAC. He always wants to know what we are doing about “x,y,z,” thinks there is more we could be doing, and that there are not enough people to get it done – AND he was and always will be right!
– When I was new to UU and had jumped in up to my neck in issues, about which I knew little, I relied upon Rev. Valerie and she was/is always “there.” Even when she said she “couldn’t be,” there is the question; the text; the idea; the resource that is posed/posted to examine; to reinforce; to spark the imagination; to quench the thirst for answers; or, to acknowledge that there are no answers.
– The last “usual suspect” was one of the first people to show up on a regular basis for SAC meetings and events and when we got involved in the 8th Principle he was not only at meetings, he would call me on the phone to test me, coach me, and, when I was particularly concerned that I might be overstepping my bounds, encourage me to “go for it” with a “what have you got to lose?” I am so glad that I told him how much that meant and that we told him more than once that we missed him when he “remembered” to join us via Zoom in this last year. We DID and we ARE sooo going to miss you – Ed Booth.
– To this entire “tiny but mighty” congregation. There have been a lot of naysayers and skeptics but, time and time again, you surprise (perhaps even yourselves) and make it happen. If there ever is a time you think you can’t, just take a look…at one another and “on the bend.”
More info about all the above will be available at our next meeting of SAC / 8th Principle Task Force
Date & time – 2nd Wednesday of the month. June 12 2024, from 4-5pm
Place – attend either IN PERSON at Southold Free Library in the 2nd floor meeting room OR via Zoom link. EVERYONE IS WELCOME!
With gratitude for your continued spirit,
Patte McManus (she, her, we) (631)997-9405 [email protected]