What’s going on.... January 2000

January 2000 – After all the HYPE, it’s HERE! See the calendar above packed with various events! We’ll start the new year with a look at building a personal theology and our principle on democracy as well as have some fun with the Tallahassee UU’s and social events you won’t want to miss! We will be missing several familiar faces. Everyone else, please show up. Join us!!

Tallahassee UU In Valdosta!!

The Rev. Amy McKenzie Quinn will be formally installed as the settled minister of the Unitarian Universalist church of Tallahassee (2810 N. Meridian Road) with a special service on Sunday, Jan. 9, 7:00 p.m. at the Tallahassee church. Virginia Branan and Dee Tait plan to attend. Get in touch with them if you too would like to join this celebration.

Meet "Rev. Amy" and the Tallahassee UU Choir in Valdosta on Jan. 16. They will be our featured guests at our Sunday service that day.

New Year’s Eve Party –H L R Y - Ring out the 1900’s and ring in the ‘00’s with a bonfire at Julie and Sam Halter’s place, Friday, Dec. 31, 7 PM - until ?. Bring a sleeping bag and stay the night. Bring a snack and BYOB. What better place to be, if 2YK "kicks in," than with a bunch of UUer’s out in the woods with your own food, drinks and a sleeping bag! [Take your towel and the answer is 42-You Hitchhiker fans will understand.]

Women’s Group

Join us for good food and great company, the 1^st and 3^rd Tuesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. Bring a snack, ideas for discussion, or just yourself! Contact Julie Halter for more information.

Games Night!

Postponed to February

No games night in January. Regular players decided they would be recuperating from the bonfire party on the usual games night. Call René or Julie if you need further information. They say we’ll be back on a regular schedule next month.

Tallahassee Blues Outing

Ann Bennett and Paula McNeill are planning an outing for the MLK weekend to Daves CC Club in Tallahassee for some blues music. The group may rent some rooms to stay over after the late night out. The actual night for the outing is still under discussion. Call Ann or Paula if you are interested. Remember that we want a good attendance on Sunday morning of that weekend for the Tallahassee UU’s who will be doing the church service in Valdosta on the 16th.

Religious Education News

Youth R.E. – Year 2000 schedule

January 2 – 10 AM All parents and R.E. children are asked to meet to discuss curriculum and activities for January through May. Diane Holliman has agreed to take over the leadership of this program. Diane needs the help and support you have given Janet Andersen through the years to do this job. Thank you Janet for your hard work and thank you Diane for agreeing to serve.

(Please note this is a half hour later than the usual R.E. meeting time.)

Martin Luther King Birthday Weekend

January 14-17 – Watch the VSU calendar and the newspaper for local celebrations commemorating the work of this important twentieth century figure. This man from Atlanta has had a profound affect on our country and the world. His work for peaceful protest has special significance as we enter a new century with new possibilities.

Break Bread Together

Our date for meal deliveries with the Break Bread Together program is now the 2^nd Monday of each month. If you can deliver meals on this day beginning about 11:00 a.m., please contact Virginia.

VSU Interfaith Alliance

A new club at VSU has formed, the Interfaith Alliance headed by Adam Moats. This group is dedicated to promoting religious diversity on

campus, and will begin meeting regularly in January. A planning session was held in December. (Thanks to UUer’s Julie Armstrong, Tom Hallock and Rene Kerr for attending and supporting the student effort!). The group plans to kick off the year with an interdenominational discussion, led by local church leaders, on a chosen theme. Members of the VSU and Valdosta community are welcome to participate. Contact Adam Moats or Tom Hallock for further information.

Adult R.E. is having discussions of various topics, current issues, and so on. Contact Charles Judah for more information.

Gay-Straight Alliance

A diverse group of about sixteen people met at the UU church in December to organize a gay-straight alliance in Valdosta. Although members of the UU church have been important organizers for this effort, especially Carol Stiles, this is intended to be a community group. A name for the group is still under discussion. Let Ann Kasun, who will be coordinating the group know of your interest or ideas for a name. The group has an e-mail address: gsavaldsota@angelfire.com. A Holiday Potluck Social is planned for Wednesday, December 29 at 7:00 PM, probably at the UU church. Call Virginia Branan for further information. The next meeting of the group will be January 12 at 7:00 PM at the UU church. Macon Pride will visit to show and discuss the video "It’s Elementary." This video is intended to help educators deal with gay and lesbian issues in the schools. Everyone is welcome.

Treasurer’s Report

Another Great Month.
Rene' Kerr, Treasurer

Social Concerns

Laural Hahlen has been keeping those of us on her e-mail list well informed about local, state and national issues of social concern. Some of her recent mailings have included

environmental issues, issues related to the death penalty, and bible teaching in the

public schools. Locally Tom Hallock and others have been working on our stream be have adopted to keep clean. Carol Stiles and others have been involved in diversity issues in its broadest sense. Thanks to all of you of reminding us of our responsibilities as citizens.

At the Church-in-the-Woods:

A Course In Miracles,Wednesday evenings. Call Robert Dixon.

Cardio Karate - Tuesdays and Fridays, 7:00 - 8:15 pm. Call Albert and Delane Slone.

Tai Chi , Monday and Thursday evenings, Dennis Bogyo or Luana Goodwin. A new beginner’s class will start, in January. Watch the bulletin board at the church for details.

Good-Bye and Best Wishes

Member profiles last month focused on three members who have now left Valdosta for points west (Estes Park, CO), Janet and Steve Andersen and south (Gainesville, FL), Carol Stiles. We will be missing their faces on Sunday morning and their hard work too. As your new newsletter editor I’m am, as I write this, very much aware of one of those jobs that has been getting done for the rest of us. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU TO CAROL, JANET, AND STEVE! BEST WISHES FROM ALL OF US IN YOUR NEW VENTURES IN THE YEAR 2000. We hope to see you back visiting whenever you can do so. Look too for some of us on your door-step. I like Carol’s word from last month: "Think of this, not as a loss to the congregation, but as expanding our ever-interdependent web."

New newsletter team!

Editor: Betty Derrick

Production: Virginia Branan

Membership database: Doug Fraser

Website: Carol Stiles, Julie Halter, and Earl Daniels (now of Macon, GA)

January. 16, deadline for the February issue.

Issues of Note:

Good news! The Georgia State Board of Education did not pass the proposed curriculum which includes three courses that would cover the Bible in history and science. We have a program this month which will address this issue. Frances Patterson has been involved in formulating some the arguments with regard to this issue. Come join in a discussion of this important issue on January 23.

UU Activities and Announcements "Celebrate the Millenium" at UU in the Pines, Dec. 29 - Jan. 1 (Marianne Davis, 727-734-9136)

or at S.W.I.M.. (Southeast Winter Institute in Miami) Dec. 26 - Jan. 1, 2000 (contact Marty McAnulty, 954-785-6851).