First Unitarian Society
Committees
Committees plan and carry out the essential functions of the First Unitarian Society. Chairpersons must be members of FUS, but participation in committee work is open to anyone interested.
Alliance
Group meets bi-monthly, 1st & 3rd Wednesday each month in the Dietrich Room and Library, 11:00 program 12:00 lunch
Contacts: Ruth Agar, Claire Olson, or Clara AspArt in the Gallery
Projects include the scheduling and hanging of art in the Society's Gallery. The exhibits are displayed for six weeks, from Sep. through Jun. They include the work of professional artists from the community as well as Society members and friends. The Art Committee makes final judgments about the works to be shown. The Committee meets formally one to two times per year and informally as needed, and through phone contact.
Contacts: Helen Rice Walker, walke010@tc.umn.edu; Gretchen ClemenceBookstore
FUS has a new bookstore that carries UU and Humanist
items, such as books, periodicals, and gifts (e.g., greeting cards and
chalice jewelry). The bookstore makes obtaining hard-to-find
items of UU interest easy and convenient and provides visitors with
introductory material on Unitarian Universalism. We are also devoting space to display and sell the
work of FUS member artists. We want our inventory to reflect UU
principles and the diverse interests of our congregation. Join us to
help shape a new part of the Society's public face. Our group meets about every six weeks.
Store is open on Sundays 9:00am-10:30, 11:30-1:00pm
Building and Grounds Committee
A small group of people who have a strong interest in caring for the FUS facility will serve as a focal point for reviewing, evaluating and prioritizing work to be done on the facilitiy. This committee will work closely with the Long Range Planning Committee, Finance Committee, and the Facility Manager to develop short- and long-range plans for work to be done. This committee will recommend action plans to the Board of Trustees. The committee will actively seek to involve members of the congregation who have interests and skills related to design, cost estimating, construction, and maintenance. This committee will also solicit fundraising ideas and sources as may be needed to carry out the plans. It is expected that the committee will meet monthly with additional meetings as needed to communicate with other parts of the FUS organization. Members of the committee will be asked to take on individual tasks or may work in small groups to complete specific tasks. We welcome all members who would like to participate in this ongoing effort.
Contact: George Hutchinson, ghutch@isd.netCaring Circles Committee
Formerly known as the Lay Ministry Committee, then renamed the Partners in Caring Committee, before settling on being designated as the Caring Circles Committee, we remain a cadre of approximately a dozen persons who strive to be sensitive to and supportive of FUS members and friends who are experiencing serious illness or infirmities, destabilizing events or conditions, or adverse circumstances which may challenge their ability to cope. In this endeavor we act in collaboration and coordination with our Minister and the Membership Director. We hope to put our beliefs into action as pertains to social concerns for members and friends in our congregation, thus contributing to the realization of this Society's vision of ourselves as a vital and caring community.
We urge you to 1) notify the FUS office about individuals who may be needful of our attention; and 2) realize that you are welcome to join in our efforts by becoming a member of this committee.As of Winter 2005, we will be having two groups who meet at different times of day to support each other and share information. The First Circle meets in the afternoon, usually on a Friday. The Second Circle will meet in the evening. Orientation and training is available for all interested persons.
Day Meeting Contact: Thue Rasmussen, trasmus@core.com
The following regular attending, core committee members may also be contacted (see Membership Directory for phone numbers): Ruth Agar, Jean Moede, Uttara Rasmussen, Olive & Chuck Sarkinen, and Ray & Lee Schreurs.
Evening Meeting Contact: Carol Koepp
Circles (Young Adults 18 to 30 somethings)
Group meets weekly for a variety of activities, usually Sunday evening FUS Dietrich Room (or meet at front door and go out for activities). See the FUS Monthly Newsletter 'The First Unitarian' for details on upcoming activites. Members are from all over the Twin Cities (UU Churches and religious liberals who aren't members of UU churches).
Contact: Lilly Bubser at FUS or Ben Stallings (from First Universalist)Denominational Affairs Committee
A primary goal is to make the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) and the Prairie Star District (PSD) more visible within our congregation. We need to establish this Society's commitment to the denomination as a whole, acknowledging our connection with the national, regional, and local UU communities. Awareness of what others are doing allows us to benefit from the resources of the larger groups as well as to express our humanist perspectives. We need delegates to denominational meetings such as the UUA General Assembly (GA) and the PSD Annual Meeting who are interested in other denominational organizations, wish to study GA resolutions, and are committed to FUS's financial support of the UUA and PSD.
Contact: Libby StarlingFinance Committee
Financial policy review and budget planning. Meet first Monday of each month, Dietrich Room.
Contact: Lois DueltgenForum Committee
The Forum provides stimulating and interactive programs of interest to both FUS members and persons throughout the community who share our concerns. Committee members brainstorm program topics, invite speakers and moderate the Forums. This committee needs you if you would like to contribute ideas and have a desire to bring issues to the attention of our community.
Contact: Bruce Nelson, bruce.d.nelson-1@tc.umn.eduHistory Committee
This committee documents the history of the Society. It gathers and organizes information on FUS through the preservation of written materials as well as tape recordings of the observations of long-time members. The committee is working to consolidate all written, visual and taped materials in order to safeguard this information and to give members access to historical materials. Information continues to be added to the files of the Minnesota Historical Society. New committee members are welcome.
Contact: Ray SchreursLibrary Committee
All have an opportunity to meet members and friends, browse, have
coffee and read in a pleasant and informal setting on Sunday mornings
in our Library and adjoining Heritage Room. The FUS Library provides a
wide variety of books, magazines and periodicals.
Volunteers' duties
include selling and lending books, keeping shelves in order and taking
inventory. Volunteers alternate at least once a month and are in the
Library a half hour before the Forum.
Membership Committee
The Membership Committee of the First Unitarian Society of Minneapolis seeks to promote growth in the membership by implementing ways to attract new members, making visitors and new members feel welcome and encouraging the entire membership to be actively involved in the life of the community through participation in its programs and activities. This committee meets monthly. Along with other membership-related functions, it plans and coordinates new member functions such as Orientations and New Member Celebration Sundays. Membership committee members staff the Membership/Visitor Information Table in the Lower Assembly Hall during Social Hour, help with orientations, New Member Sundays.
Contact: Mike IllesMusic Committee
The Music Committee provides support for the Music Director, chorus and orchestra. We provide input from the congregation to help select special music. We promote musical variety in our assemblies that will enhance and contribute to the Sunday experience. Meetings first Wednesday of the month.
Contact: Marcy LeusslerReligious Education Committees
There are two committees involved in running and organizing the Religious Education Programs at FUS.
The first is the Religious Education Committee. This committee of about eight people oversee the babies through 6th grade programming. They meet once a month in the evening with the Director of Religious Education to discuss, review and plan for all aspects of the program.The second committee is the Youth Adult Committee (YAC). This committee is made up of Jr. and Sr. High School representatives and adults interested in Jr./Sr. High Programming. This committee meets one Sunday afternoon a month to review the program and plan for present and future events.
All meetings are open; those interested in Religious Education are always welcome to attend and to serve on these committees.
Contact: Jan Devor, 612-377-6608, Ext. 108., jan@unitarian.orgRetreat to the Woods
The Society's Retreat to the Woods is held on a fall weekend at a beautiful camp setting and offers workshops, arts, nature study, hiking, canoeing, and lots of time for having fun. A committee plans the camp and program each year. Volunteers are welcomed. The camp is open to Society members and friends of all ages. Families, single persons, and couples enjoy all the joys and exuberance of the best camp experiences in rustic cabins with family-style meals. Newcomers are warmly welcomed.Contacts: Leif Carlson and Scott Eller
Service Auction
Plan for the annual FUS Service Auction. Meet monthly during the fall.Contact: Jim Tincher
Social Action Pictures! click here to view
The Social Action Committee puts into action the strong beliefs of FUS members and all Unitarians about social justice and similar community concerns. The tasks of this committee are to evaluate the needs within the community and to target organizations and issues to receive FUS financial and volunteer support. The committee has supported various local organizations such as Women Against Military Madness, Children are People Support Groups, the Harriet Tubman Center, Grace House, the Center for Victims of Torture, People Serving People, Inc., Person to Person, and the Neighborhood Involvement Program. The committee makes a significant contribution to the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee to support programs that are national and international. The Social Action Committee promotes and supports the volunteer activities of FUS members, providing an opportunity for reflection on their experiences, by endorsing selected projects, helping to promote them and providing financial support. The Tibetan Mentorship Program is one such activity. The Committee also selects the recipient organizations of major grants from the Social Service Auction. Anyone who is committed to carrying out the social concerns mandate of the Society is encouraged to participate in the crucial activity of the Social Action Committee.
Please call for next meeting date, usually 4th Sunday, 11:45 a.m., Dietrich Room (Heritage Room starting in February).
Our Grants Subcommittee invites all FUS members to pass along its information sheet to any organizations that they personally support with their time and/or money, inviting the organization to submit a proposal requesting a grant for a specific project (fitting our criteria) for consideration as often as once a year. (Not all can be funded.) Each year three or four of these organizations may be recommended to the Board to have a spokesperson introduce a current project to our whole congregation at a Sunday Assembly before the ushers gather a Second Collection in support of that project.
Subcommittees:1) Children's Concerns
2) Affordable Housing & Habitat for Humanity
3) Peace
4) Enviornmental Protection
5) Unity Summer Youth
Contacts: Jo Haberman, 612-822-8870, jojane@juno.com
Becca Brackett, ecbrackett@cohousing.org
Stewardship
Coordinating fundraising and membership development functions. Meet monthly in the Dietrich Room, date varies.Contact: Chris Bubser