We have just completed a wonderful Canvass KickOff Weekend and praise and many thanks are due to the many people who participated and assisted.  The dinner on Saturday was delicious thanks in great part ot the efforts of master chefs Debbie & Joe Zahka with an assist from Lorraine Luise.  Apps and salads were provided by many willing and proficient hands and the Oreo Cookie Trifle by Joe Zahka was a perfect ending to the meal.  The music portion of the evening was a great performance by Patty Braden on jazz vocal and John Finbury on piano.  We can’t thank them enough for sharing their talents with us.

Sunday morning – Stewardship Sunday – was highlighted by a sermon by guest speaker Rev. Victor Carpenter.  No ranting and raving, just simple truths about why Unitarian Universalism and our community are worthy of our financial support.  At times both amusing and deeply serious, Rev. Carpenter shared with us his many years of experience in dealing with the ‘money’ side of religion.  His message was thought provoking and uplifting.

The bottom line, to use a financial term, is that we DO need your financial support to keep our congregation and our community viable.  As many of you know, we have lost a portion of our membership over the last few years and while we have welcomed some new members recently, we have a way to go in our efforts to reinvigorate our community.  Trying in vain not to sound like one of the hosts on an NPR radio fund raiser, we need your support!  The canvas is our main fund raising activity of the year and your participation is critical to our success.

The mechanics of the Canvass are a little different this year.  Each of you will receive a letter and pledge form in the mail with several options for giving.  You can return the pledge form with your name and the amount of your pledge and you will have completed your participation in the Canvass with our thanks.  You also have the choice of having personal contact with one of our canvassers by either phone or a personal visit.  Simply note which will work for you and note on the pledge form when would be a good time to contact you.  Then, mail the form to or drop it off at Locke Street.  We will then contact you.  What works for you is very important.

We hope everyone can let us know their preferences within a two week time period.  If we are to hire a part-time minister to start next September as was voted at the Mid-year congregational Meeting, we have to know what funds are avialable and we have to make a choice among several excellent candidates in a reasonable time frame.  We risk losing a candidate if we delay too long so your quick response would be most appreciated.  Thanks to all who participated  this past weekend and thanks to all of you who are part of our UU community.

Posted by Bob Rougvie, UUCiA President on April 1st, 2009