WUUC’s Recycling Task Force is beginning its work to get WUUC back to honoring our UU value of ministering to the earth and its resources. With a new program called “Refuse—Reduce—ReUse—Recycle—Rot” there will be more than just more trash and recycling cans in all the rooms of WUUC. The Task Force intends to focus on education, facilitation and reminders that there are so many other ways than “trashing it” to deal with our discards.
First, a process and some details: For each thing that comes our way for consumption, consider that we have options on how to deal with it.
Refuse: Just don’t buy new things. Do we really need so much stuff?
Reduce: Let’s all look for ways we can reduce waste here at WUUC. Bring food in reusable containers, don’t print every copy of that document!
ReUse:When we can, ReUse items (and use reusable items!) that would ordinarily be thrown away. If you need it, ask for it via wuuc@wuuc.org– it’s amazing how well The List works for wishes!
But also, don’t use throw-away plates and containers, or throw-away utensils. And save items at home for the Rummage Sale!
Recycle:Choose items for use that can be recycled when we no longer need them. Cardboard boxes instead of plastic bags, glass and metal containers instead of plastic.
You’ll note new waste cans in many locations in the church–one for recycling and one for Trash. Each week for a while a “Recycling Ambassador” will be available to help with which is which. In the restrooms, wet paper towels go in the “compost” bin.
Recycling Ambassadors will be in charge of helping with what goes where by being available for questions and also checking up on what’s in the bin before it goes to the outside bins. Composters will take compost home from WUUC each week. If you have a garden, here’s your chance at more compost! If not, it can go into your Food/Yard Waste bin for pick up at home. If you’d like to be a Recycling Ambassador and or Composter of the week, here’s a link to the sign up sheet
Look for more information from the Recycling Task Force coming soon.
A ‘Mission Possible’ Explained, in 5 easy Chapters
Introduction:
WUUC’s many programs, services and co-created events require a lot of ‘what, why, when, where and how’ components. These activities are created and implemented by WUUC volunteers, often overseen by a Committee or Team, with the support of the staff and leadership of our minister. Over the 30-year history of our church, we had not put into place a systematic sustainable process and infrastructure to keep our governance documents current, relevant and easily accessible by the congregation. Volunteers and leaders have gone through a long struggle of not having a current comprehensive library of the guides needed to do their work. So often a creative team, or committee had to make do with an old policy or set of directions that no longer apply to the here and now. Also, we did not have current Charters that describe the purpose and work of WUUC Committees and Teams, which would aid in the recruitment of new members.
In 2023 the WUC Board adopted an annual goal to: Organize, Update and Refine the WUUC Governance Document Infrastructure in a Sustainable Form. The Board appointed a Governance Document Team to spearhead the implementation of this Herculean multi-year goal.
Chapter 1 A board-appointed Governance Document start-up-Team was formed. The Team Lead, Trina Roulet took on a church document archeologist role in excavating through 30 years of historical governance documents to have a starting point for the team’s work. The Team then began the ‘mission possible’ task of communication with every church committee, team and group to request updated structures of operations; Bylaws, Charters, Policies and Other Documents, framed within a system of renewal. It was as though the whole WUUC community quietly turned itself into a beehive, co-creating a backbone of reliable protected Governance Documents.
Chapter 2 After the first full year, the library of updated and new Governance Documents: Bylaws, Charters, Policies and Other Documents began to take shape. The Governance Team had to create a new process for Board review & approval of these documents. The Governance Document Team and the Board engaged members from all corners of the WUUC community for help in creating or reviewing and updating the needed governance documents. Suspense grew in wondering where exactly WUUC’s backbone of cyber-secure documents would live?
Chapter 3 Marcia Sprang was nearby and happy to help with her operating knowledge of WUUC’s cyber-secure choices. REALM was clearly the reliable safe choice and Marcia helped in setting up the home-base location of WUUC’s cyber fortress. Marcia’s support was like having Zorro in disguise coming to save the day, but Zorro can’t be kept in one place for very long. How were all the updated governance documents going to get to their new safe home?
Chapter 4 A new leadership position was confirmed and added to the Governance Document Team: WUUC Governance Document Archivist, with Gregg Schiller appointed. Gregg is storing originals of recently Board-approved policies, charters, Bylaws in REALM. These are accessible for viewing by Church Leadership. Once our archivist, Gregg secures a document in the cyber-safe home a copy can be found in the Governance Documents section of the WUUC website and Secure Site.
Chapter 5 Current membership of the Governance Document Team: Trina Roulet, Lead; Gregg Schiller, WUUC Governance Document Archivist; Jan Radoslovich and Azure Forte (Blue), at large.
Oh, my! It’s August already! Summer is slipping away and school will soon start again. That means the Totes to Go program needs to get active. Totes provides food for kids who are at risk of missing meals on weekends, when school meals aren’t provided. We support 15 students at Maywood Hills elementary school in Bothell. WUUC has been part of the Totes program for more than 15 years. The school knows it can depend on us and we’ve made a difference for hundreds of kids! Many thanks to all of you who have supported this program!
We have a specific list of items that we collect and deliver to the school by the first weekend of the month. A number of our church members have signed up to buy particular items and bring them to the church soon after the 15th of each month. You could be one of these special donors! We are looking for volunteers to bring these items: 3 boxes (12 sleeves) of salt crackers, 15 cans of tuna, 30 snacks, 12 one-dish meals, or up to 60 granola bars or juice packs. Please contact Grace Simons if you would like to volunteer for one of these on a regular basis.
I put out an update late in the month, asking for folks to fill in any gaps remaining after the “regulars” have brought their items. Please look for those and help out as you are able. Again, thanks so much for your support of Totes. We are helping to see that kids are ready to learn, especially on Monday mornings!
Questions or concerns? Contact Grace Simons or John Hartman, co-coordinators.
The Northwest Abortion Access Fund is an abortion fund serving Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Alaska. Trained, compassionate volunteer advocates run our toll-free helpline. We help people pay for their abortion care by sending funding directly to the clinic. We also help people get to and from the clinic. And we make sure people traveling for care have a safe place to stay. 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 (July 20). Instructions for giving are posted during the service, and you can also donate anytime 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. Visit wuuc.org/collection.
After the worship service on June 15th, we are having a Congregational Meeting where we will vote on the proposed 2025-26 budget and for the candidates for the elected positions on the Board of Trustees, Endowment Committee, and Nominating Committee. The members of the Nominating Committee extend our gratitude to those completing their terms this year, and to the following members who have agreed to serve in the coming years. We propose the following slate of candidates:
Board of Trustees Candidates
Jeff Lu
Jeff is the current WUUC Board President, serving on the Board since 2022. Since joining WUUC in 2020, Jeff has been an active member, engaging in the Crossing Paths, Soul Matters, Circle Supers, BAG cleanups, Men’s breakfast and Men’s retreat. Jeff also volunteers on technology crew for the sound, video, lighting and Zoom for WUUC services and events.
Jeff is a retired executive, with a career focus on computing hardware technology and product development. Jeff spent a dozen years working in China and Taiwan, experiencing many cultures and faiths while visiting many countries in Asia.
Lane Owsley
Lane Owsley has been a member of WUUC for more than 20 years. He has served as an RE teacher and youth advisor. He was a longtime member of the Building and Grounds Committee, as well as the Membership Committee. He currently serves on the Safer Congregations Task Force and the Auction Team.
Endowment Candidates
Grace Simons
Rev Grace Simons is Minister Emerita of the UU Fellowship of Stanislaus County (CA), and also served High Country UU Fellowship in Frisco, CO. Before beginning her ministry, Grace was a Peace Corps Volunteer and long time Jr High Science teacher and track coach. Grace has served as a UU Ministers Association coach and as a member of the Pacific Northwest District’s Transition Team. She preaches occasionally and served the Evergreen UU Congregation during a period of crisis. She and her husband David have two adult children and four grandchildren. Grace coordinates the Totes to Go program here at the church, sings in the choir and generally tries to be helpful.
Nominating Committee Candidates
Tony Faraco-Hadlock
Tony and his wife Katie began attending WUUC in 2022. He is a member of the tech team (Zoomkeeping, Sound, and Camera) and as of recently is leading Gen XYZ. He really enjoys being a part of this vibrant community and is passionate about continuing to build a church community that is dedicated to improving our world and nurturing its members. He is honored to be nominated for the nominating committee and looks forward to giving back to the church through this work.
Join your WUUC friends for the 2025 Summer campout!
It’s that time again! July is the annual WUUC campout – Thursday July 24 to Sunday July 27, at Deception Pass State Park.
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.
Over 20 WUUC adults/families signed up when reservations opened back in October, BUT – if you didn’t get in on reserving a site, it still may be possible to add you in!
Additionally, Deception Pass is close enough that even if you’re not camping, we invite you to come up for the day. Saturday is the best day for doing that, as we have our evening potluck!
Please contact Jack Brand at jackbrand@gmail.com or 206 683-5149 if you are interested or have questions – or if you have decided you no longer can use a reserved site,
