Meeting time: The Green UUs steering committee will meet on Thursdays at 7:30 pm: March 10 and May 12. Additional project-oriented meetings will be scheduled as needed.
Meeting place: YRUU classroom
Mailing List: https://groups.google.com/a/uucuc.org/group/greenuus
Chair: Andy Robinson
Mission:
The Green UUs seek to inspire action and spiritual renewal as we work to bring our lives in alignment with the UU seventh principle of respecting the interdependent web of existence on our planet. We work to encourage sustainable practices in our personal lives, in the life of our church, in our community, and beyond.
Description:
The Green UUs form a subcommittee of the Social Action Committee. At our meetings we plan activities and events ranging from community rallies to worship services. We are also responsible for facilitating our congregation's participation in the UUA Green Sanctuary program, working with other church committees and groups as needed to complete projects and reach our goal of congregational certification as a Green Sanctuary.
Green Sanctuary activities and projects for 2010-11 and beyond:
Seven Principles Certified Monarch Waystation
Help our RE program maintain a butterfly habitat garden (planted in the summer of 2010) and participate in educational activities about monarchs and other pollinators.
Ethical Eating Together
Download the UUA Ethical Eating Guide here: http://www.uua.org/documents/washingtonoffice/ethicaleating/studyguide.pdf.
One Simple Thing
Through our webpage, bulletin board and other church media, we will feature one simple thing that church members can do, in each of the four Green Sanctuary program focus areas, in order to encourage congregants to make changes. When applicable, we will provide information on local businesses, services or other relevant resources.
UUs do the 3Rs
We will conduct a battery recycling program as a children's RE project. In addition to collecting used batteries from church members, children could make posters and speak to the congregation to educate them about the recycling effort, other recycling and re-use opportunities in our community, and ways to reduce waste.
Worship Service
Stewardship Gardens with Faith in Place
The Center for Women in Transition
We support the development of an ecological garden and landscaping at the Center for Women in Transition.
Past Green Sanctuary Activities:
The Deep Ecology Chalice Circle
This activity featured discussions of our religious, spiritual, and ethical motivations for establishing and maintaining a healthy and grateful relationship with our planet home.
Walnut Tree Recycling
Although the black walnut tree is no longer growing on the church grounds, the wood from the tree will continue to be with us in the form of a new welcome table, cutting boards and other items.
Cleaning for your Health
Church member Patrick Stewart, CEO of EnvirOx, led a workshop and answered questions about cleaning in order to promote health and minimize exposure to toxins.
Links:
Unitarian-Universalist Ministry for Earth is a great starting point for eco-minded UUs. Their
monthly newsletter is accessible through the main website at:
www.uuministryforearth.org
To keep in touch with local events and resources, and connect with
like-minded folks in our community, see Transition Champaign County:
http://transitionchampaigncounty.ning.com