Berkelly's Blog

UUP member Berkley Sturgeon and UUP friend and speaker Kelley Brisbois have started a wonderful blog, "Berkelly's Blog" (click the title above to visit), focusing on the use of locally grown and produced foods to prepare wonderful meals. This is right in line with the topic of yesterday's worship service: "Food For Thought: UU Values and Eating to Care for the World."

UUP Member Joyce Tischler Honored

Worship Committee member and active UUP member Joyce Tischler has been recognized by the American Bar Association with an the "Excellence in the Advancement of Animal Law Award."

Her colleagues in the Animal Legal Defense Fund, which she founded, characterize her as "the Mother of Animal Law." The article on the ALDF website says

It is not characteristic of Joyce to make much of her role in building this movement. Indeed, one of the things that define Joyce to anyone who knows her is her combination of strength and humility. But her persistent advocacy and clear leadership has been a force for change that would not be denied. It is my honor to say both congratulations and thank you from myself and everyone at ALDF and, most importantly, for the animals whose voices have been heard clearly and without fail through the voice of the Mother of Animal Law.

Congratulations, Joyce, and thank you for all the great work you do on behalf of animals, and on behalf of UUP.

UUP Member and Animal Legal Defense Fund Founder In Oprah!

Joyce Tischler, a UUP member, worship leader, and an attorney who founded the Animal Legal Defense Fund, is featured in Oprah! magazine's June 2009 issue. The Oprah website is also hosting some video footage, including an interview with Joyce. (Click the title to this post to see the ALDF website's information on the Oprah story.)

Congratulations to ALDF and to Joyce for her incredible work.

Therese Stewart in the News

UUP member Hope Stewart's daughter, Therese Stewart, is the cover story in this week's issue of the Pacific Sun--click on the title of this post to read the whole story.

Therese spoke at UUP last year. She successfully argued the case for same-sex marriage before the California Supreme Court, then saw that work reversed by Proposition 8. This week's story in the Pacific Sun is titled "Behind the 8 Ball," and includes an interview with Therese on her work to challenge the proposition in court.

Hurray, Therese!

UUP Martin Luther King Day Community Cleanup

Around 25 UUP members and friends spent the morning of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day cleaning up downtown Petaluma and distributing low-energy light bulbs to low-income families. It was a great morning! More pictures soon...

Religious Education Update: November 30, 2008

Growing Up UU
One of the primary tasks of a religious community is to transmit its values from one generation to the next. Our congregation does this in all we do, from sharing our blessings in the Guest at Your Table program, to giving service, as the children did at last Sunday’s Stone Soup lunch, which they lovingly prepared for all of you.

The result of our congregation’s love and support (plus some pretty terrific parenting in our homes) is young people like our very own Kimmy West. Kimmy, the 16 year old daughter of Steve and Carol, is a highly successful young businesswoman, in addition to being an excellent student at Petaluma High School. Kimmy is the founder and creator of a website, His Golden Eyes, which provides news and entertainment for fans of the Twilight book series and the recently released hit movie, "Twilight." Kimmy’s website often has 600 or 700 visitors at a time, and currently has about 30,000 hits per day. She has sponsored links on her site, which generate income.

I recently asked Kimmy if she is treated as a celebrity at Petaluma High. She responded that she’s not, that only her friends even know about this career which occupies most of Kimmy’s free time. This past August, she was interviewed by the Washington Post. Kimmy told the reporter, “Running a fansite takes a lot of work but I find it very fun. I actually spend way too much time on the computer now...but it's because I want to. Basically though, you can create a fansite at any age, and if you put your heart into it, and a LOT of time, you can make it great.” Recently, Kimmy had the opportunity to fly to Los Angeles to personally meet and ask questions of the stars of the Twilight movie. In the video she took on her trip, our normally reserved Kimmy was happy and excited and having a great time.

I think UUP should be very proud of Kimmy, for her strong work ethic, her enthusiasm for her work, and for her ability to remain herself while experiencing exceptional success at a very young age.

Marlene Abel
Director of Religious Education

No on Proposition 8 Action

No on Proposition 8 Action
Originally uploaded by Unitarian Universalists of Petaluma

15 UUP members joined a visibility action on East Washington yesterday afternoon, enjoying the sense of community with others who oppose Proposition 8.

UUP Member Sharron Belson Reads Her Poetry

Our own Sharron Belson will participate in the Marin Poetry Center's Traveling Show tonight (Tuesday, August 5) at the Mill Valley Library at 7:30 p.m.

Sharron will be reading along with several other poets: Bill Eichhorn, Charlotte Melleno, Briana Rose, and Bruce Sams.

Yay, Sharron!

Marlene Abel Speaks Up at Immigration Forum

UUP's Director of Religious Education, Marlene Abel, was quoted in a recent article in the Santa Rosa Press Democrat. Marlene was attending a forum on immigration issues held at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Santa Rosa.

It's good to have Marlene giving voice in the wider community on issues that affect our young people.

Petaluma "Going Green Expo" a Success

UUP Board Member Phil Boyle, who works for the City of Petaluma in the planning department, is extremely active and committed in his work on the City's "Green Team," and he headed up a very well-attended and successful "Going Green Expo" event last weekend at Lucchesi Park.

The Argus-Courier ran an article in advance of the event.

UUP Members in the Community! Virginia Hotz Steenhoven

KC Greaney wrote to let me know that Virginia was named as Santa Rosa Junior College's Employee of the Month for June. She works there as the Intake/Service Facilitator for the Disability Resources Department on the Petaluma Campus.

There's a great article about her on page 6 of the August issue of college staff newsletter, the Insider, which mentions her membership in UUP.

Congratulations, Virginia!

UUP Members in the Community! Earl Cruser

Among Earl's many talents, which include preaching at UUP on occasion, as well as leading our adult book discussion groups, is his role as a member of the Dixieland Jazz Band, The Turning Basin Crew.

They'll be playing outside the Petaluma History Museum (the old Carnegie Library) on Saturday, August 11, from 1-3 pm, as part of the quilt show. Take a listen--they're great!

UUPer Phil Boyle on City of Petaluma's Green Tem

Our own UUP Board member Phil Boyle, a City Planner, is a member of Petaluma's new "Green Team," as featured in a recent issue of the Argus Courier.

The group will take on many issues around encouraging environmentally responsible development and practices in Petaluma, and includes City staff and community members. The team will begin a series of regular columns in the Argus Courier on green living and sustainability.

As the Argus Courier article says:

The Green Team is currently developing its vision for 2007 and beyond. This vision includes a series of educational workshops for homeowners, renters, and business owners which will cover a variety of topics, from how to remodel your kitchen and bath using green building principles, to choosing alternative household products, to greening your home, garden and office. The workshops will begin in the spring of 2007 and will include tours of sites currently implementing green practices. Stay tuned for more information!

Also on the team is Trathen Heckman, director of Daily Acts, who spoke at UUP a while back.

Mother's Club Coordinates "Project Night Night"

UUP member Adee Swanson forwarded this item for us to consider helping with:

From October 24 – November 7, The Petaluma Mother's Club will conduct a product drive to collect the following “like new” and new items on behalf of Project Night Night, a Northern California-based nonprofit organization:

Children's books
blankets
stuffed animals
combs
brushes
lip balm
girls hair bands or clips
toothbrushes
small toothpaste
small flashlights
writing journals with pen or pencil
slipper socks

Project Night Night is dedicated to improving the lives of homeless children, one sweet dream at a time. To that end, Project Night Night donates individual tote bags, each filled with an age-appropriate book, a baby blanket, a stuffed animal, and other items in an effort to help homeless children sleep better while in the shelter system.

You can drop off items at the following locations:

Fruit in Motion - 3 4th St
Petaluma Market – 210 Western Avenue
24 Hour Fitness - 6 Petaluma Blvd N
Petaluma Police Dept. - 969 Petaluma Blvd N

At the conclusion of the product drive, The Petaluma Mother's Club will assemble the items into Night Night Packages for distribution to homeless children in Petaluma area shelters.

Project Night Night believes that every child deserves to have his or her nighttime needs met. By providing objects of reliable comfort, Project Night Night seeks to advance the emotional and cognitive well-being of each child it helps. Their Night Night Packages contain the fundamental items of childhood. Every child who receives a Night Night Packages leaves the shelter with a book which encourages reading and family bonding, a security blanket which can be cuddled, and a stuffed animal which can become a cherished friend.

To learn more about the Petaluma Mother's Club, please visit our website at www.petalumamothersclub.org

To learn more about Project Night Night, please visit their website at www.ProjectNightNight.org.

Project Night Night is a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation.
Federal Tax Identification number: 20-2877016