by Jack Brand Summer may seem a long way off, but it’s time to make reservations for the 2024 WUUC annual campout! The campout will be Thursday July 25 to Sunday July 28, at Deception Pass State Park. Reservations open 9 months ahead, so on Thursday October 26 at 7AM we can reserve our preferred spots, which go very quickly.
The campout is the longest-running activity at WUUC. It’s a great weekend getaway, for people and families of all stripes, and includes campfires, a potluck, games, hikes, music, swimming, beach walks, and of course lots of informal hang-out time with your WUUC campers, in one of the most beautiful state parks in Washington.
We especially welcome newcomers and first-time campers – it’s a great way to get to know our church community, and there’s lots of sharing and support for your camping experience.
For questions or more information, please contact Jack Brand at jackbrand@gmail.com . We will be coordinating reservations prior to October 26, via the “WUUC Camping” email list. Contact Brad Hull at bkhull@gmail.com to join that list.
We we are welcoming an exceptional group of people as our members who are already very much a part of our community. Amongst this group, we have folks who are participating on the board, on BAG, in the choir, on the RE team, on the worship team, and apart of MarCom team for our communication to the congregation. We are excited to honor them as our new members, get to know them by reading the bios below!
From left to right: Revanth (Rev) Rameshkumar, Barbara Brachtl, Alec Akers, Laura Akers, Susan McBain, Steve Jung, Marylen Haines, and Jeff Anderson
Jeff Anderson
Jeff is a 62 year old fresh retiree who lives in Marysville and has lived in Snohomish County for 30 years with his wife Kim. He previously worked in the field of geographic information systems (GIS) as a “Digital Office Geographer” for Snohomish County Sound Transit, and Community Transit. For the last five years he traversed the country commercially driving 18-wheeler semi-trucks as what he calls a “Mobile Transportation Geographer”. He’s been a UU in some form for about 20 years. He enjoys scuba diving and traveling and taking care of his home with his wife and their schipperke dog Cerci. Together, Kim and he have 4 grown children (a daughter, son, foster daughter, and Godson) that they stay connected to in the best way that they can.
Susan McBain and Steve Jung
Susan and Steve lived on Orcas Island for 12 years after living in the Bay Area for 40 years. They now live in senior housing in Woodinville, and they have two adult children, one living in Seattle and the other still on Orcas. Susan spent 30 years as a writer and editor for nonprofit scientific research firms. Steve is retired chief audit and compliance executive at Stanford University. He enjoys travel, walking, volunteering for nonprofit organizations.
Barbara Brachtl
Barbara is a mother of two, grandmother of four, 81 years old, and shorter than she used to be! She retired from newspaper and freelance writing work and also working for LWSD and Gray Barn Nursery. She lived at Trilogy for almost 10 years, then moved to Silver Glen, an over-55 co-op in Bellevue, where she lived until a few weeks ago, when she moved to the SHAG community in Bothell. Barbara left WUUC when she moved to Bellevue but reaffiliated during the pandemic, when distance was no obstacle because ZOOM was everywhere. Barbara has even participated in a couple of live work parties when she decided this fall that she should affiliate with Eastshore, seeing as how perhaps 20 of Silver Glen’s 160-some members go there and she could ride to choir practice with a fellow board member. But now that she is living in Bothell, Barbara feels the pull of WUUC, where her heart always has been.
Revanth Rameshkumar
Rev was born in India, grew up in Georgia, and now lives in Woodinville with his partner Anne and their wonderful animal friends. He is currently pursuing his research interests in artificial intelligence and linguistics, focusing on semantics and reasoning. He also loves woodworking, gardening, exercising, and music of all kinds. You can usually find him at Sidekick Coffee with his dog Ranger, or running up and down the Sammamish River Trail…also with Ranger!
Marylen Haines
Marylen has been widowed for over 40 years – she raised her daughters by herself. She started over in college in her late 30s and started teaching at-risk teenagers in her early 40s. Retired at age 70 and moved up to Washington 3 years ago. She lives in a senior community in south Bothell.
Laura & Alec Akers
Laura is a lifelong educator, having taught her first classes in AppleBasic to 2-3rd graders at age 14, English and American literature in the US and Europe, and now working in corporate training. She loves virtually all things geek, and regularly writes for geek media outlets doing analysis of TV and film, focusing on all the things you aren’t supposed to talk about in polite company. Laura is blessed that she was able to become a mother late in life to Alec. Being his mom is such a daily source of wonder and joy and adventure.
As we start October, ”Totes”, our program to help ensure that kids don’t go hungry over weekends, is in full swing. We had a great response to the idea of signing up to make a specified donation every month. Twelve WUUCies have committed to these monthly contributions. Fabulous! Thanks SO much! If you are interested in being a “scheduled” donor, just ask! Opportunities still await you!
And for those who would rather be ad hoc contributors, we always have gaps that need to be filled. Watch for messages on the chat that explain what is still needed for the current month. Those last few items save a lot of last-minute stress.
As always, please leave your contributions in the baskets across from the kitchen. Questions and concerns? Contact John Hartman or Grace Simons.
In October our Special Collection sponsored by Advocates for Social Justice (ASJ) will replenish WUUC’s Black Student and Families Fund (BSAFF). This money, along with WUUC volunteers, assists families of students (especially those living at Greenleaf, a subsidized housing community) with a variety of needs – from essentials like education fees and supplies, food, monthly bills, and support for future dreams including college and career development. Your contributions will fund programs and services with the goal of providing a safe environment for students to explore and express their identity as they navigate the racial constructs of their world. Most recently the BSAFF program has helped with education fees, technology for a new college student, moving appliances, and supporting Root of Our Youth events.
The ASJ Committee thanks WUUC members and friends for their generous support of our monthly special collections, which take place during services on the third Sunday of every month. Instructions for giving are posted during the service, and you can also donate anytime the following week at https://onrealm.org/wuuc/-/give/now, or by sending a check to WUUC at P.O. Box 111, Woodinville, WA 98072. Please make checks out to WUUC and write “ASJ Special Collection” in the notes.
What does it look like to live our values through action? Imagine what we could accomplish working together as a community to make the world a better place. Got ideas? Environmental, Economic, Racial, Reproductive, Indigenous, LBGTQ+, Legislative? We want to hear from you at our next ASJ meeting on Sunday Oct 15th from 5-6:30 at the church and online. Save the date if you are interested in joining us and sharing your passions or learning more. Stay tuned for more information about opportunities to participate in upcoming justice and service work at WUUC.
Thank you so very much for hosting yet another series of blood drives in September! We are thankful to you for opening your doors and sharing your space with the Woodinville community. Another three days of sleeves being rolled up in the name of saving lives! Below are the results of our collaboration, and we look forward to working together with you again.
Thank You for Your Support! You are always appreciated.
Blood Drive Results for: Woodinville Unitarian Universalist Church
For the September 11-13, 2023 blood drive, you had a total of 115 people check in to donate blood, and 104 units were successfully collected. We welcomed 7 first-time-donors to Bloodworks Northwest – we hope it was a positive experience, and that they will consider giving again. And, looking further into the year, we already have 81 donors booked with appointments for your November 13-15 events!
The blood that was collected at your event will go to local hospitals, impacting and saving lives of patients throughout the Pacific Northwest. This blood is critical to maintain a stable blood supply for surgeries, medical emergencies, and for supporting patients battling life-threatening illnesses like leukemia and other cancers.
We thank all of the donors for taking time out of their day to give their gift of blood, and we thank you for the extra time and support you put into coordinating the logistics, that made the blood drive possible. On behalf of patients in our community’s hospitals, I wish to extend our thanks. Bloodworks Northwest is the primary supplier for over 90 hospitals in the Pacific Northwest.
We do this because, Someone’s Tomorrow Needs a Blood Donor Today! Check out the Bloodworks Northwest Blog for patient stories and more.
Those who donated at this blood drive will be eligible to give again in 56 Days!
Thank You,
Karen Chernotsky Community Engagement Liaison
Bloodworks Northwest 19723 Hwy. 99 #F Lynnwood, WA 98036 BloodworksNW.org
