Adult Spiritual Development
This group develops, implements and maintains a formalized, ongoing adult spirituality program that provides the opportunity for lifelong spiritual development for all USG members and friends. This group seeks to offer courses that provide understanding of our UU heritage, our UU beliefs as well as courses on spiritual growth based on a wide range of human knowledge and experience. The group seeks people who want to lead courses or who have ideas for curriculum. Chair: Andrea Parry, 215-381-0777 or Parry_andrea@yahoo.com
Artisans Fall Festival
A juried craft show held annually in early November. The show features a variety of finely-crafted items and artwork with a special place for UU artisans. The event includes a preview evening. On the day of the show, a luncheon is available. Chairperson: Gale Gibbons, 215-438-1723 or g_gibbons@verizon.net
Buddhist Meditation
Meets monthly (fourth Sunday) before the regular Sunday service for supporting the meditation and Buddhist practice of the participants. A secondary goal is to be a gate to Buddhism and meditation for Unitarian Universalists and to UU for Buddhists. Open to all. Jerry Lindauer, 215-635-6775 or gilindauer@comcast.net
Budget and Finance
Reviews financial aspects of projects, programs, and policies; helps to prepare the annual operating budget. Chair: Sarah West, 215-984-8359 or sarahwest@comcast.net
Building and Grounds
Inspects and supervises the church buildings and premises and recommends maintenance and improvements. Advises on and coordinates responses to safety, sound, housekeeping and long-range building use issues. Chair: Tom Schoonmaker, 215-844-2453 or schoonrt@verizon.net.
Caring Congregation
Acts as liaison to coordinate church community outreach to members in need, including visits, phone calls, cards and flowers, meals and other help. Chair: Sarah West, 215-984-8359 or sarahwest@comcast.net
Choir
The Choir works with the Minister and Music Director to plan choral music for church services and concerts and care for our musical instruments. It also sponsors fundraisers to support the music program and to benefit of the church in general. Open to all who love to sing and can rehearse most Thursday evenings from 7:30 to 9:30 pm. Chairs: Andrea Parry, 215-381-0777,
andrea.l.parry@gsk.com; Linda Smith, 215-334-2091, lsmith@accessgroup.org.
Committee on the Ministry
This Board-appointed committee of six members meets at least once a month with the minister, with at least one open session annually with congregational participation and feedback. The professional minister (and other staff) plays specialized roles of leadership within overall ministry, but everyone – lay and professional – is responsible for ministry. The Committee on Ministry observes both the minister’s and the congregation’s strengths and weaknesses in the achievement of ministerial success. Chairperson: Wendy Weber 215-635-6179 or weberdavitch@comcast.net
CommUUnicator
The CommUUnicator team, consisting of a coordinator, several rotating editors, specialty writers, a calendar creator, a publisher, proofreader, and mailers, produces 11 monthly newsletters each year for and about USG, its activities and events, and its members, friends, and visitors. Coordinator: Sue Couch, 215-242-0265 scouch@nmbe.org.
Development/Pledge
Coordinates and supports existing fund-raising efforts and considers the feasibility of new ones. Recruits leaders and committee members for fund-raising projects and supports their efforts. A sub-committee is the Pledge Committee, which formulates and carries out the annual pledge drive, the major source of donated income to the Society. In conjunction with the Board and the Budget and Finance Committee, it arrives at a financial goal, and prepares supporting material to send to the congregation to solicit pledges of financial support for the coming budget year. Chair: Kathy Bonanno, 215-885-7447 or poetrypug@netscape.com and Deb Kish Silver 215-884-2734 or deborahksilver@comcast.net.
Drumming Workshop Group
The USG spiritual drumming circle meets on the second Sunday of each month, from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. All are welcome. Bring drums and other percussion instruments if you have them. If you have any questions, please call Wally Moyer at 215-287-0046 or e-mail him at waltermoyer@thebottomlineinc.net.
Earth Honoring Traditions
With chanting, drumming, dancing, poetry and ritual we hold intergenerational celebrations honoring the cycles of nature throughout the year and our connection to our sacred world. We draw on the traditions of many cultures and times to foster healing relationships with our mother earth and all her children. Chair: Berdine Whedon Smith, 215-844-1714 or bwhedon@gmail.com
Ending Racism
Ending Racism engages in the on-going work to end racism in American society. This work includes confronting racism wherever we find it -- in ourselves, in our church, and in the institutions of our denomination and community. The committee accomplishes this work through reflection, study, education, and action concerning racism. Chair: Susan Zingale-Baird, 215-848-1382 or szbaird@msn.com.
Friday Morning Book Group
Reads and discusses books of significance at morning meetings, monthly, in homes. All interested persons are welcome. Contact: Cynthia Claus, 215-765-2682 or cclaus@verizon.net
Green Sanctuary Committee
The Green Sanctuary Committee provides a framework for congregational study and reflection, plus individual and collective action for responding to today's environmental challenges. We do so in spirit of and commitment to the Unitarian Universalists’’ 7th Principal: Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.
Chairs: Co-Chair: Joe Walsh, 215-836-9257 or joewalsh2@hotmail.com, Alan Windle, 215-848-6600 or awindle94@yahoo.com
Investment
Oversees the church’s Consolidated Investment Fund, which is comprised of restricted and unrestricted funds of the church, including the General Endowment Fund, Maintenance Reserve Fund, Miscellaneous Memorial Fund, Choir Fund, Scholarship Fund, Sullivan Assistance Fund, and Sullivan Library Fund. Recommends appropriate revisions as desirable in the investment objectives and policies, and reports to the Board periodically on the investment performance of the Fund. Membership on this committee requires board approval. Chair: Bill Morrow, 215-885-6195.
Just Neighbors
Just Neighbors has a number of exciting activities planned for 2007-2008. Consider helping with the Martin Luther King Day of Service, Spring hosting, advocacy work around poverty and homelessness, and possible work toward creating housing in the community. Check the Just Neighbors bulletin board for details. Other programs may be developed during the yearfeel free to give us your ideas! Please contact JN Steering Committee chair, Carla Campbell, at 215-885-6408 or at campbellc@pol.net for more information, to volunteer, or if you have some ideas for us.
Membership
Creates a welcoming atmosphere, to encourage participation of friends, regular visitors and new members. Maintains the Visitor’s Table and provides appropriate brochures at various places in the church for visitors and members. Maintains the membership book and works with the minister to welcome new members and involve them in the life of the congregation. Works closely with other groups in the church to promote growth of the congregation. Assists the minister in running orientation sessions, newcomer classes and special events for visitors and new members. Chair: Betsy Gabriel, 215-376-0417 or bsgabriel47@msn.com.
Memorial Funds
Keeps Book of Remembrances up-to-date; keeps spending record of the committee current; maintains record keeping system of incoming gifts and outgoing expenditures; acknowledges gifts to both donor and family of deceased; proposes projects for the use of memorial funds to the Board of Trustees; educates the congregation about the opportunity of making bequests and memorial gifts. Chairperson:
Memorial Garden
Provides an attractive site for members and friends to place granite stone blocks, with bronze plaques, as memorials to deceased loved ones. Maintains a memorial book. Chairperson: Tom Schoonmaker, 215-844-2453 or schoonrt@verizon.net
Men’s Group
The USG Men's Group is a monthly gathering that gives USG men the opportunity to share joys and sorrows, support each other on our personal and spiritual journeys, and create community together. The group is open to all and all are welcome! We meet on the third Tuesday of each month from 7:30 to 9 PM at a different member's home. For more information, contact Eric Wilden, 484-553-6631 or ewilden@riseup.net or Grant Fox, 215-771-2713 or grsfox@yahoo.com
Music Ministry
The Music Ministry works with the Minister and Music Director in planning non-choral music for church services and music for summer services. It also creates programming to minister to musical needs of all church members. Chair: Deanna Kemler, 215-844-1836 or deannakemler@yahoo.com
Needle Exchange
The Needle Exchange is for people who knit or do any other kind of needlework. We meet at 7:30 p.m. on the second Monday of each month.
Nicholas Bown Memorial Education Fund
Provides support for education of members and contributing friends. For information or to apply, call the chairperson. Chair: Ingrid Brown, 215-233-5511 or ingridbrown1@comcast.net
Personnel
Provides policy recommendations to the Board of Trustees in all matters of employee relations and welfare for all employees. The committee assists the minister in day-to-day personnel matters. Reviews and advises on job descriptions and letters of agreement. Membership on this committee requires board approval. Chair:
Publicity
Publicizes church activities through regular press releases to local papers and places paid advertisements in these publications within the budget, with the goal of increased visibility in the community; maintains and updates church brochure. Chair: Bonnie Libby, 267-708-0296 or libbysalvacion@aol.com.
Religious Education
Works with the Religious Education Director in developing a program of religious education consistent with UU philosophy, including the planning of curricula; provides support for teachers and the solution of practical problems. Ilene Klein: 215-849-7586 or iklein@psd.org
Small Group Ministries
Brings people together to share and reflect on their personal spiritual journeys, to deepen individuals’ sense of engagement with the church, and to facilitate significant and lasting relationships as our church grows. Groups of 8-12 people are formed and are guided by trained facilitators. The groups meet once a month, usually at the church, and follow a common curriculum. Facilitators meet regularly with the minister and a coordinating committee. USG Membership is not required to participate. Chair: Andi Bernstein, 215-327-7122 or bosphila@comcast.net
Social Action
Its mission is outreach, education, and witness. It provides information on environmental and social justice concerns, through programs and a social action table; supports programs of the UUSC and the UU United Nations Office, as well as those of local groups such as the Neighborhood Interfaith Movement (NIM). It encourages hands-on participation in the Lingelbach School, which the Society has adopted, and Northwest Philadelphia Interfaith Hospitality Network (NPIHN), a program for people who are homeless. Chairs: Dennis Brunn, 215-242-2099 or pdbrunn@comcast.net, Barbara Dowdall, 215-843-4475 or gtnbassoon@aol.com, Robert Anu, 215-219-7101 or oryla@yahoo.com and Jamie Preston, 215-848-1670 or jpreston915@aol.com
Sound
The Sound Committee provides sound amplification for all Sunday services and audio tapes of Sunday services at a nominal cost. Contact: Robert Munger, 215-242-2959 or trebor43regnum@hotmail.com
Tunitarians
An all-people, all-ages, family friendly music group that sings simple, satisfying songs and plays fun instruments each month after the monthly potluck. A childcare coordinator organizes activities for children who are not eating or singing: First Fridays. Potluck @ 6:30, singing begins around 7:15. Co-leaders: Deanna Kemler, 215-844-1836, deannakemler@yahoo.com; Carolyn Barschow, 917-207-9037, chb214@nyu.edu.
Ushers
Greet congregation as they enter on Sunday morning, receive offering, and render assistance when necessary. Ushers also provide ushers for memorial services and Christmas Eve. Chairs: Steve Conrad, 215-885-8659 or conrdse@aol.com and Lynne Kalish, 215-657-6837 or clk1406@msn.com.
UU Service Committee (for local support of a continental organization)
Supports self-help projects overseas, and promotes improved human rights through public policy and advocacy initiatives in the U.S. The Social Action Committee supports their work. Contact: Dennis Brunn, 215-242-2099 or pdbrunn@comcast.net
Web Site Committee
Updates and maintains an online presence of USG via the USG Web Site (www.usguu.org) to provide insights into our church to potential members and on-going information to members and friends. Includes the monthly newsletter (with Sunday services), UU principles, staff and board names, church history, list of committees, notice of special events, etc. Chair: Mary Lee Keane 215-242-4349 or Mary@samcooks.com
Worship Arts
This committee works cooperatively with the minister to set up the calendar of Sunday services, explores innovative worship experiences, schedules guest speakers, helps implement services, and evaluates them with input from the congregation. Membership on this committee requires board approval. Chair: Marny Walsh, 215-242-8857 or marny.walsh1@comcast.net
Writers Group
The Writers Group is currently inactive. When revived, the group will meet once a month for an hour and a half. The first 30 minutes will be a writing exercise, to get the creative juices flowing. For the remaining hour, members will read their works and receive friendly comments. Persons interested in reviving the group can contact Dennis Strain, shannon.dennis2@verizon.net or 215-247-3823.
