View this email in your browser

Friday Update

On Sunday afternoon May 19, 3pm, there will be an informal afternoon coffee to meet candidate for 17th Circuit Judge, Nick Meyers.  Wendy Bennett is hosting the event.  This will be an opportunity to talk to the candidate and learn about his background and approach to the law.  Circuit Judge is a crucial position in our local court system.  I hope you will attend.  Everyone is welcome.  An RSVP would be appreciated.

The Nominating Panel is pleased to announce the slate of candidates to be approved at the Annual Meeting on June 9th, 2024.  

For the Board:
For President: Matt Menze (1-year term)
For Vice-President: Wendy Bennett (1-year term)
For Treasurer: Bob Spleman (1-year term)
For Clerk: Kim Lowman Volmer (1-year term)
For At-Large: Neita Webster (3-year term)
Note: Rebecca Beneditz and Clark Logemann continue as at-large Trustees.

For Covenant and Safety Team:
Alexis Simmons (3-year term)
Note: Matt Menze and Amy Brandon continue as members of the Covenant and Safety Team

For the Nominating Panel:
Spitty Tata (2-year term)
Katy Conrad (2-year term)
Reene Mealey (2-year term)
TBD (1-year term)
Note: Gary Lawrence continues as a member of the Nominating Panel.

We thank all those who have agreed to serve!

Get your Side of Love T-Shirt Before Pride!

We’ll be marching in Rockford’s first Pride Parade on June 1st.  We encourage folks to consider buying and wearing a Yellow “Side of Love” t-shirt.  UUs across the nation wear these and we are often known as “the yellow shirt people” – or, even better, the “side with love” people.  You can get yours here: https://www.uuabookstore.org/Side-with-Love-Adult-T-Shirt-P18300.aspx.  If you’d like one, but can’t afford the price, let Rev. Matthew know your size and we’ll order one for you. Do it soon so you have your shirt in time for June 1st!

In faith,
Matthew

Stewardship Update: As of Monday at 2pm, 65 households have told us their pledge for next year.  Those 65 households have increased their gifts by an average of $22/month.  This is fantastic, and if we can keep up that average we’ll reach our goals.  Our goals, remember, are to pay our staff well and be good partners to the work of the UUA nationally.

Please, if you haven’t already filled out your form for the coming year, do so today.  Go to www.uurockford.org and click on the bright yellow banner on the top.  Or click here to open the form directly: https://uurockford.churchcenter.com/people/forms/706108. 

Please do so today!

Who Makes a Difference in Our Community?

The Social Justice Team is seeking nominees for the Connolly Community Service Awards for 2023. A bit of history of the awards and the nomination procedures follow. If you know someone – or a group of people — you think should receive one of these awards, please turn in nominations to the church office.

History: In 1993 the church initiated a community service award to recognize a member of the congregation for significant contributions to the community. The award was named for Dr. Charles Parker Connolly, minister of our congregation from 1913 to 1942, and a recognized community leader.

To date the award has been presented to the following individuals: Walt Lewis, Mary Caskey, Martha Logemann, Pat Tollefsrud, Sandra Locke, David Weissbard, Lynn Liston, Pat Lewis, Jon McGinty, JoAnn Shaheen, Leigh Lakey, Roger Oehlke, Lola Gustafson, Allen Penticoff, Colleen McDonald, Jackie Dehler, Bob Arevalo, Dave Black, Myrna Lake, Dave Lantz, Barb Giolitto, Duane Wilke, Ellyn Ahmer, Dale Dunnigan, Nikki Ticknor, Bob Babcock, Shiraz Tata, Allyson Rosemore & Rebecca Beneditz. 

More recently an award was established to recognize a young person, 8th grade through high school, for service to the church and community. Recipients to date are Emma Stocker, Katie Whitworth, Sandra Hill, Jackie Whitworth, Emily Pfleiderer, Max Freund, and Ari Almonaci.

The Social Justice Council has decided to have a “group” award.  This award will be for a group of people, formally or informally organized, who have done the work of justice in our community. Two years ago the award went to the Cornucopia Group.

The awards are presented at the annual meeting of the congregation.

The nominations should include:

 A detailed description of volunteer and/or professional involvement and accomplishments, tasks, performed and issues addressed impact on others, and other relevant information.

 A signed statement that the nominee is willing to be nominated.

A nomination should include the name of the nominator and is due in the office (Send to Autumn uurockford@gmail.com) by June 3rd. The nominations will be reviewed and a selection made by the Social Justice Team before the annual meeting.

The Board of Trustees: 
President: Spitty Tata 
Clerk: Kim Lowman Vollmer
Vice-President: Matt Menze
Treasurer: Steve Blomgren
Trustees: Clark Logemann, Sarah Greer, & Rebecca Beneditz