Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Pottstown

“Sometimes you face difficulties not because you are doing something wrong but because you are doing something right.” ~ Anonymous

We are all trying to do the right thing – we are all in our own way trying to “flatten the curve” of the number of cases of Covid 19. However, as many of us have experienced, this is not an easy thing to do. We all ran our respec- tive lives in a sort of “business as usual” mode. The current situation has forced us to redefine the mode of running our own lives. We find ourselves identifying what is truly a priority in our lives and focusing on that. There are other things that we have placed on the back burner, knowing we will get back to them when we can.

The Board of Directors of the UUFP has done the same thing. We have identified two key priorities that we are focusing our efforts on. Our other plans and initiatives will wait until the immediate crisis has passed.

Our first priority is to protect the community  bonds that define us as a fellowship. We are a close-knit community who enjoy being with and supporting each other through the good times and bad. Not being able to meet together in person on Sunday mornings for an extended period of time, can potentially weaken the bonds of our community. To that end, the board has discussed and put in place many different ways for us to connect with each other and stay informed about the UUFP. In addition to reaching out by email, some of the other things we have instituted are the following:

Our website will be continuously updated with any new information, so check it often.

• In addition to our public Facebook page (which anyone can follow), we have created a new Facebook group where only friends and members of the UUFP can join by contacting Erica Duske. Updates will also be posted on both pages, so if you are on Facebook, consider joining the group.

• Miss the companionship  of our Sunday morning coffee hour? We will be offering a virtual coffee hour via ZOOM so we can catch up and chat. Information has been sent out regarding this, but if you need more information, feel free to reach out to any board member.

The second priority we defined is to ensure that our financial situation remains positive. The good news is that we do have money in our savings account to help us weather this unexpected storm. While our treasurer, Linda Pallay, will share more information regarding how we will be managing our finances, I want to put out a BIG request. I know that the financial situation of many of our members and friends has been turned upside down and is quite uncertain. To those individuals, please do not feel obligated to fulfill your pledge. However, to those whose financial situation is relatively stable and are able to continue to support the UUFP, please do so. Every little bit helps. In advance, thank you.

I will close with words that I heard throughout my life: “This too shall pass; it’s just the interim that stinks.” ~ Betty Kozitzky (AKA Mom)

Be well, Linda

“Don’t miss all the beautiful colors of the rainbow looking for the pot of gold.” ~ Anon

So, is there a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow? This legend dates back to rope, where it was believed that fairies were real. Fairies were said to have great wealth and would often bury their treasures, or “pots of gold,” at the end of the rainbow. While rainbows are real, and we have all seen them, how many of us have seen the pot of gold? Now, I am not saying that they don’t exist, it’s just that I have never seen anyone’s financial situation improved by finding that pot of gold. And that also includes our fellowship. Our pot of gold is not filled by the wealth of fairies but rather the generosity of our members and friends. March is the month that we are going to kick off our pledge drive for the upcoming fiscal year of 2020-2021. Remember that the UUFP is self-funded by our members and friends. We receive no funding from a regional or national entity. We count on financial pledges to fund our day to day operations. So, I ask everyone to reflect on what the UUFP means to you and how you can support it financially. While I realize that finances might be tight for some, don’t let money troubles keep you from pledging – you can pledge your time and talents. In advance, I thank you for whatever you can pledge.

And speaking of thanking people, there are some shout-outs that I would like to give. The first goes to Miranda Van Horn who has taken on the position of Chair of the Membership Committee. If anyone would like to participate in this important committee, please reach out to her.

The second person I would like to thank is Trish Rooney for coordinating a very successful meeting of Fair Districts PA at our fellowship. It was a highly informative meeting and was well attended by not only friends and members of the fellowship but also residents of the greater Pottstown area. Tim Hennessey, the local PA House Representative also attended. He provided his point of view on various issues and answered questions from the audience. Trish, thank you for coordinating a very informative session.

Finally, I would like to thank all who participated in the Town Hall Meeting that was held in February to discuss the safety and security of our fellowship. It was a robust discussion with many, varied points of view presented. It was clear that meeting participants agreed with the board’s previous decision to not have an armed security guard. The question that surfaced during the meeting was whether or not to make the buildings and ground a “No Gun Zone.” This decision will be made by vote at a congregational meeting. The board is currently researching both sides of this issue to ensure that members can make an informed decision. Stay tuned for further updates.

With gratitude, Linda