Category: Community

Community social gatherirngs; mens and womens groups; covenant groups, neighbourhood groups and news from the communications, membership and care and concern committees.

Interested In Becoming a Member of UCV?

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March 31, 2019 we’re hosting breakfast at 9:30 am in the Fireside room. If you are ready to sign the membership book, this is for YOU!

Meet the leaders of groups and find out about activities and opportunities to get involved.

Email: Dianne Crosbie dcrosbie@uniserve.com or contact the office 604-261-7204 for more information.

If you were not able to attend the workshop, but feel ready to make the commitment of joining UCV, please do register and we’ll make sure you get orientated in some other way through our Connect and Engage team.

Our by-laws allow members who have joined 3 months prior to a general meeting to vote. Joining in March means you will be eligible to vote at our budget meeting in June.

While attendance at the New to UCV workshop is highly encouraged, we recognize people’s schedules sometimes do not allow it. According to our by-laws members can join at any time by having the minister or a board member sign them into the register of members.

Website Training: How Did It Go?

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How did it go? Well. It went well. The class on February 23 was the first in the series described in Carolyn Grant’s Website Training post. And it went well.

Kudos to RevealMax instructor Luke Zukowski, pictured, ably assisted by UCV volunteers Galen Elfert and John Henderson. The class progressed in a single session to the point where we each can create a post like this one, a news post – to use the term Mary Bennett suggests in the UCV Website Usage Guide.

The next class in the series is on March 16. The subject is how to create a post that describes what has yet to take place and so is termed an event. The embedded links in the Events List are to events.

Here is Mary Bennett on these terms:

When people ask me the difference between news post and event, I say simply: If it has a date, time, and a place, it’s an event.

Again, the February 23 class was on how to create a news post. This news post you are reading may change over the next several days to include feedback on the class from others who attended.

The workshop was well organized and clearly presented. I learned what I needed to create and edit news posts. Great and prompt attention to each person’s questions/needs. Thank you! —Rob (February 24)

It is great to have a group of people knowledgeable in WordPress, etc. Good questions and comments. —Randall (February 24)

I thought the teaching and backup were excellent. Thanks, I learned a lot! —Melody (February 25)

I thought the workshop was excellent. It was short and to the point. It gave me the facts that I needed. —Michael(  February 25)

The training was excellent. —Sheila L (February 28)

Women’s Groups Forming

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WANT TO ENRICH AND EMPOWER THE LIVES OF WOMEN? Thirteen women participated in a discussion group at the 4th Annual Women’s Gathering (http://vancouverunitarians.ca/events/annual-womens- gathering/) and decided to form not just one, but TWO NEW WOMEN’S GROUPS. One meets on the third Monday evening of the month, and the other meets on the first Friday afternoon of the month. Registration is required. Both groups are now full. Contact Sheila at sresels@gmail.com if you would like to be put on a wait list or to register for a third Women’s Group (date TBD).

Our intergenerational groups ranges in age from 26-78 yrs. old. Most are in their 30’s and 40’s.

Contact Sheila sresels@gmail.com if you are interested in participating.

Sheila has notes from the gathering and some proposed dates for the first meeting.

“I am delighted that we are a diverse group in terms of age and experiences. Should broaden my horizons.” – Bev

“I’m somewhat new to Vancouver and want to join a Women’s Group to get support from women.
I think it’s important to foster that for myself and for other women.”  – Cayla

“I thought forming a women’s group would present me with an opportunity to meet with others to construct a safe space to address concerns, challenges and tools for empowerment.
Truly, it is through shared experiences and stories that we grow, reflect and expand who we are. In life and in the context of this group we all shift through life through our interactions with others and thus we assume many roles that include: teachers, mentors, students and leaders.” – Naomi

They were asked:

  • Why do you want to join a women’s group?
  • What would a women’s group focus on? 

Here are some of the responses:

  • having a group that supports the 7 Unitarian principles
  • enriching and empowering the lives of women
  • increasing the sense of self-worth and self-confidence of women
  • finding out what current women’s issues are
  • Interested in change and with a group of women it’s easier to make change.
  • getting support from women and fostering that for myself and for other women
  • meeting others with different ideas, cultures, ages
  • empowering each other, e.g. equal salaries
  • receiving help and guidance from others re guidance with difficult, challenging situations both professionally and personally
  • sharing experiences from different cultures…learning about Canadian attitudes and sharing views my background
  • discussing: parenting concerns, relationships
  • how much sexism we have incorporated within ourselves (perhaps unconsciously)
  • how to have a women’s group that maintains an open attitude toward men (avoiding an us vs them attitude).
  • being solo in today’s society which doesn’t support being single; being childless in a society which doesn’t support being childless

Structures to consider

  • meet once a month
  • duration of the meeting: two hours
  • have one person in charge of administrative issues
  • rotate facilitation of group. Facilitator chooses a topic and facilitates discussion.
  • discuss the topic selected by facilitator
  • ensure confidentiality, respectful discourse, equal air time for everyone, etc.

Meet at UCV in Hewett Hall. Book the Fireside room (if available)

Some suggestions for logistics:

  • Size of the group: maximum 12 per group
  • invite other Unitarians and their friends through website, Order of Service, word of mouth
  • closed group once maximum number is reached
  • as people drop out of the group, it opens to new members

There’s lots going on by and for women. Check here for news and events.

Volunteer Reporters for Refugee Committee and Visual Arts

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UCV REPORTERS NEEDED – REFUGEE COMMITTEE AND VISUAL ARTS

The communications committee is looking for “reporters” (one or two) to write up news, collect/take photos and post on the website updates for the Refugee Committee and the Visual Arts committee.
This would involve talking with committee news, writing up an article, sending to the committee for any additions or corrections, asking for photos, taking some (with permission of course) or finding images online to illustrate the content. For the arts committee, the article could be in the style of a review and ideally interviewing and photographing that month’s artist. (You do not need to attend meetings but of course you could.) Most if not all of this work could be done from home with a phone and computer. You would need to take the Feb. 23 workshop on how to post an article to the website. Apply to communications@vancouverunitarians.ca

Intergenerational Activists Gathering. What Is This?!

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Above: Intergenerational Dinner at Hewett Centre, January 2017

On Friday March 15, the UCV Enviro Team is hosting its
Third Intergenerational Activists Gathering

What’s this “Intergenerational thing-a-ma-jig?” you wonder.

We’re glad you asked!

Aside from the somewhat unwieldy name, the “Intergen dinner” (short hand title) first arose in 2017 from a chance encounter that UCV member, Tamiko Suzuki, had with a group of young environmental activists in the community.

The young women were complaining of burnout, feeling isolated and unheard, and were wondering if their efforts were worth it.

Coincidentally, Tamiko had been hearing the same complaints from the UCV Environment Team as veterans of past campaigns such as Clayoquot sound, and the anti-nuclear and anti-war movements wondered who would take up the battle after them.

1st Dinner

Tamiko proposed inviting the young activists to share dinner and stories in Hewett Hall with the Environment Team and the first Intergenerational Activists Gathering was born.  Karl Perrin of the Environment Team, and Anjali Appadurai of West Coast Environmental Law, were the key note speakers.  The E Team put on the dinner, and guests were given a series of questions to discuss at their table and encouraged to ‘be brave’ and share emails.

2nd Dinner

At the second Intergen dinner in the fall of 2018, the definition of ‘activist’ was broadened to include supporters and anyone who cared deeply about the environment.  Millenial speakers from UBC (Andrew Sheroubi, Arman Mottaghi ) and the community (Nada Grocery) were invited who could share their stories of how they were working to solve environmental and social justice issues.  UBC Sprouts-Community Eats, which  focuses on food sustainability and food security issues, provided the food.

3rd Dinner

The third Intergen dinner, which will happen Friday March 15, will be different again, but promises to be just as fun and interesting! This time, four veterans will be speaking:

  • Dr Tara Cullis, president and co-founder of the David Suzuki Foundation
  • Dr David Steele, vice-president of Earthsave Canada
  • Quoc Nguyen, organizer Leadnow and director, Humanity Refugee Society
  • Lorimer Shenher, acclaimed author and advocate for marginalized people and police reform.

At this evening’s event, to contrast with the previous dinner which was about ‘success stories’, the topic will be: Lessons Learned When Things Went Wrong.

Failure, near failure, or simply when things don’t turn out as expected, can often teach us more than if everything worked out perfectly.

You won’t be sitting quietly and listening to the speakers all evening, however. During dinner, you will have a chance to meet and chat with your table companions, some of whom will hopefully be of a different generation from your usual friends.

After dessert, the keynote speakers will stand up and each give their 10 minute “elevator speech” on the evening’s topic. They will then move to sit at 4 different tables and the audience is invited to circulate among them. It will be a free flowing hour with everyone encouraged to move about, sit with the speaker for a while, ask questions, and share stories.

Once again UBC Sprouts/Community Eats will provide the food. Entry is by donation with proceeds to be shared between Community Eats and the Environment Committee Green Fund to further their projects.

To volunteer or if you have questions, contact: environment@vancouverunitarians.ca

As this event will be very popular, and seating is limited, it is recommended you reserve a seat through EventBrite.

Canadian Unitarian Universalist Women’s Association – CUUWA

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The Canadian Unitarian Universalist Women’s Association (CUUWA) cuuwa.org

Among the programs is a Meditative Poetry group that meets Saturdays and Sundays between 9 and 9:15 am Pacific time online.

We read a poem 3 times with some silence and sharing in between.

Sign in here: https://meet.google.com/jka-jkoh-cpi or through this shortlink: https://tinyurl.com/uu-poetry

 

 

Here is the 29-page package of writings and images to help women’s groups celebrate International Women’s Day. Of course the readings might be used at any other time as well.

The focus is on Journey and includes some “before and after” images and writing of the members of the CUUWA. You might like to write your own or share your stories in your women’s group.

Announcing the 2019 International Women’s Day Service Packet

Get RADICAL With The Environment Team

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With breathtaking cinematography, The RADICALS is a documentary film that follows four snowboarders and surfers driven to become social and environmental stewards through their connection with the environments in which they play.

At least 80 people braved our snowy Vancouver weather on Friday, Feb. 15 to come watch the incredible movie “The Radicals” – where environmentalism meets action sports. — The event introduced the audience to members of a new generation of activists in British Columbia.

The filmmaker and some of those involved in the film provided commentary and answered questions. Over $1200 was contributed to the three Indigenous groups featured in the film.

Another successful event from the Environment Team!

Success! 16 newly trained Our Whole Lives Facilitators!

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January 11th, eleven Unitarians from Vancouver Island, Washington, Alberta, and Saskatchewan joined four members from Vancouver Unitarians and a member of the Surrey Sikh community to learn the ins and outs of teaching sexuality education to teenage youth. Led by Reverends Samaya Oakley and Christopher Wulff it was an engaging weekend full of insights, questions, challenges, curiosity, laughter, and inspiration.

Nine out-of-town participants were hosted by Vancouver Unitarian members; dinners were provided, potluck style, by members along with the Saturday Messy Church multigen-family event.  The Our Whole Lives (O.W.L.) trainees remarked that they were so well taken care of, the weekend felt like a vacation—which means a lot when you are spending 20 hours in class!

Our Whole Lives?

Our Whole Lives sexuality education was written in the late 1990’s jointly between the Unitarian Universalist Association and the United Church of Christ. It is considered by some to be one of the best things we offer as a faith; an invaluable opportunity across the lifespan to reclaim what is sometimes cheapened, diminished, or abused as an integral and life-giving facet of our whole self. Workshop series have been written for children beginning at age 5, tweens, teens, young adults, adults, and older adults.

Oprah had this to say about the Adult workshop offerings back in 2009:

“With memories of mortifying class discussions led by the gym teacher, what grown-up
in her right mind would sign on for another round of sex ed? Turns out, lots of them!
Only this time, the lessons are intimate, the questions are provocative, and the
homework is electrifying.” Oprah about OWL program, July 2009.

I am so pleased that we were able to offer this training opportunity to continue the good work of complete and comprehensive sexuality education across Canada. The success of this event is a testimony to the warmth and hospitality of our members—thank you to everyone who contributed, large and small!

Current OWL Offerings

We are wrapping up registration this week for this Spring’s offering of the junior high O.W.L. workshop series, check out the details here on our website.

South Fraser Unitarians are offering the Adult O.W.L. aimed at ages 30-55 as a 3-workshop series one Saturday a month, beginning February 9th—check out their registration details here.

 

Wanted: Delegates for the CUC AGM 11 May 2019

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UCV FORUM: 17 Feb 2019 – 12:30 – 2:00 pm in Fireside Room.  Come to discuss feedback to send to Canadian Unitarian Council (CUC) on motions proposed for the 2019 AGM:
1) study group for a possible 8th principle on racism, based on a UUA draft motion;
2) bylaw amendment to facilitate regional representation;
3) bylaw amendment to clarify ministers’ eligibility to participate;
4) CUC strategic priorities for 2019-20;
5) application of CPI to Annual Program Contribution (APC);
6) new basis for APC using membership numbers and annual revenue.
And—discuss UCV’s process for picking delegates for the CUC AGM.

Discussion facilitated by Keith Wilkinson, Chair, UU Connections Committee and former CUC Board member.

About the CUC AGM

Vancouver Unitarians are entitled to 7 voting delegates at the Canadian Unitarian Council Annual General Meeting to be held online from UCV 9:30 AM – 1:00 PM Saturday 11 May 2019. The UCV board approves delegates from amongst members who express interest. Delegates are entrusted to study the proposed resolutions, consider the arguments presented, and then vote in whatever way they believe would be in the interests of UCV.

If you plan to be in Toronto on 11 May you can attend the AGM in person, whether a delegate or not, at the CUC’s office at the Centre for Social Innovation 192 Spadina Ave.

An orientation for UCV delegates will be arranged between February and May 2019. If you’re a UCV member and are interested in serving the church as a delegate to the meeting of our national body, please contact
Keith Wilkinson, Chair of the UCV UU Connections Committee  or
Leonie Armstrong, UCV Board President.

Here is more information regarding the CUC AGM.

About the 2019 CUC AGM

Specific information for being a delegate

Six resolutions/motions are scheduled for debate. The UCV Forum on 17 Feb 2019 (12:45 – 2:00 pm) will provide an opportunity for members to provide feedback on these resolutions which include:

  1. Study group to review the appropriateness of an eighth CUC principle on racial justice;
  2. New method of calculating the annual program contribution (APC) for the CUC.
    The proposed method would be based on membership numbers and annual church revenue.
  3. Four other motions including approval of strategic priorities for 2019-20.

Feedback from UCV members will be submitted to the motion originators before 28 Feb 2019.

Information about 2019 resolutions here.

There will be an online Plenary Session the evening prior to the CUC AGM. Plenaries are informal ways to discuss forthcoming resolutions or other issues of interest to members across Canada. They’re typically quite fun and relaxed. The 2019 Plenary is scheduled for 4-6 pm Pacific Time, Friday 10 May 2019 via zoom in a UCV room TBA, and possibly online from any location.

8 Feb 2019 Update 

Asha Philar, CUC Congregational Life Team – Youth and Young Adult Ministry Specialist advises as follows:

“After consultation and discussion with religious professionals, advisors, youth and parents, we have decided to change the age range of our national youth conference, CanUUdle, from 14-20 to 13-19. We feel that this is more in line with the age range of youth groups in our congregations and will allow more youth to participate. 2019 will be a pilot year, so we will evaluate the change after CanUUdle in May.

CanUUdle registration is open from February 15 to April 30 on the CUC website We hope you will promote this wonderful event to youth in your congregation!”

(This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA-NC and made available courtesy of UUYO Youngstown Ohio and used with thanks!)

 

Website Training

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Free Computer Training 

Learn how to use our wordpress website

All sessions held in Hewett Centre, UCV Saturdays from 1 – 4 pm.
February 23, 2019 – Topic: How to access our website and post news items.
March 16, 2019 – Topic: How to create events on the website.
June 1, 2019 – Topic: respond to needs expressed from those attending the first two sessions.
(Scroll down to the bottom of the page to find links to the events on the web.)
Learn the Basics: 1-3 pm with instructor and 3- 4 pm Practice with volunteer coaches.
For Intermediate Level: 3-4 pm in Biddle for experienced web users to ask questions and work on a project with instructor and volunteer support. Instruction with Luke 3-3:30 pm and practice with volunteer coach 3:30 .- 4 pm

Who is this aimed at? How many people from each group can attend?

The sessions are aimed at volunteers of UCV Committees/Teams/Groups who would like to be able to post their committee information and events to the website. Each group can designate a maximum of two persons from within their group to attend the workshops.  Computer knowledge level is basic but you must know how to log in to the UCV website. Before attending you will be given sign in access.

What must I bring?

Your own electronic device (laptop, tablet or smart phone). 
The text for something you’d like to post to the website. (You’ll likely post as a draft and can add to it later)
Your sign-in user name and password (This will be sent to you prior to the class).

What can I do to prepare?

Try signing in at home to make sure you have access. (Login button is at the very bottom on the right)
There are videos and instruction sheets on posting to the website.
If you have ever posted to wordpress before, these would be helpful to look at for a review.
If you are absolutely brand new, look over these materials and decide whether it’s worth your time or you’d rather wait for the in-person training.

Must I attend all three workshops in this series or can I sign up for workshops separately?

Preferable to sign up for all three sessions.

How and when can I register?  

Contact Aurora Eyolfson, Congregation Administrator, at 604-261-7204 or ca@vancouverunitarians.ca .
Registration is open now.
Priority for intermediate level will be given to those who are currently posting to the web and want additional training and practice.   
There is a maximum of 12 attendees per workshop.
Luke Zukowski, Computers Made Easy

Who will provide the instruction?

Instruction provided by Luke Zukowski of RevealMax.
John Henderson and Galen Elfert are volunteer assistants

Future sessions will include

  • Social Media Basics & Intermediate – dates tba
  • Web Posting Advanced (for those who have completed the basic sessions) – dates tba – likely late spring
  • Posters and Brochures – Basic and Intermediate – Marcus Hynes – dates tba. Likely basics in May and Intermediate in early fall. 
These workshops are funded by the Robert Koerner Fund.  

Links to upcoming computer skills events

No Events