Northeast Breeze Monthly Newsletter of the … Breeze...and The Globalization of Addiction: A Study...

Marchers approaching North Carolina State Capitol;photo credit: Nelson Hay

(Left to right) UUFMC President Margaret Wineman,Jim Mullen, UUFMC Minister Rev. Janet Onnie, andMike Donato; photo credit: Brock Leach

Florida Unitarian Universalists participate in MassMoral March - On February 7-8, more than 25 UUsfrom Florida (Marion County, Lakeland, 1U Orlando,Clearwater, Sarasota, Venice and Fort Lauderdale)participated – as part of 1,500 Unitarian Universalistsand over 80,000 people from various faiths and orga-nizations in 32 states – in the Mass Moral March inRaleigh, NC. Our 13-strong Unitarian Universalist Fel-lowship of Marion County (UUFMC) group was proudto be the largest Florida delegation to participate.

From two inspiring, stomping, singing, “We shall over-come,” services at the Unitarian Universalist Fellow-ship of Raleigh to our witness in the streets, this wasan event that re-energized our commitment to ourmission of social justice as stated in our seven prin-ciples – 1st Principle: The inherent worth and dignityof every person; 2nd Principle: Justice, equity andcompassion in human relations; 6th Principle: Thegoal of world community with peace, liberty, and jus-tice for all.

The North Carolina “Moral Monday” marches are aresponse to new voting restrictions and otherrepressive measures. For example, close to half ofthe states in the U.S., with a concentration in theSouth, now have some form of voting restrictions. Themarches are in support of:

• Protecting and Expanding Voting Rights andCivil Rights

• Economic Sustainability, Alleviating Poverty and Expanding Labor Rights for All

• Fully-Funded Constitutional Public Education• Healthcare for All, Protecting Medicaid,

Medicare, Social Security, and the AffordableCare Act

• Addressing Disparities in the CriminalJustice System

A “fusion coalition” of groups is working for truedemocracy in this country and for responsible decisionsfrom our elected leaders for the benefit of the people.

Northeast Breeze Monthly Newsletter of the Northeast Cluster Florida District, UUA

March 2014: Vol.6, No.9

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Florida marchers at Moral March Taking It Home breakout session

UUA president Morales was there...so was UUJF president Kindra Muntz, (blue coat).

Sidewalk to sidewalk – four city blocks – listening at the Moral March.

Perspectives on the MassMoral Rally in Raleigh -Seven of us from First Unitar-ian Church of Orlando signedon to go to the Mass MoralRally in Raleigh to stand upfor Voter Rights. Yes, therewas 100% chance of coldand rain on February 8 – butthis was important! Five ofus got on the train at 7 p.m.,ready to play cards and napuntil 8:30 a.m. arrival. THRILL! We were joined atthe station by three of thefirst 13 activists headed tothe rally from The Villages.THRILL! We were fed andpowerfully grounded by aFriday night worship serviceat Raleigh UU Church, com-plete with UUA PresidentPeter Morales and six NorthCarolina ministers who hadbeen arrested at Moral Mon-days last summer. The musicwas rousing. The rhetoric wasfocused. We were primed!

THRILL! The rally drewNAACP, teachers unions, tree-huggers, Planned Parenthood,advocates of every stripe, in-cluding 1,000 UUs from 31states. USA Today reportedwe numbered 80,000 souls,and the day was dry. Rev. Dr.William Barber led us tocherish every possible alli-ance (including our alarmedRepublican colleagues), andknow that this is not amoment, it’s a movement!The chant was: “Forward To-gether, Not One Step Back!”

There was a sense that wewere hearing this gene-ration’s Martin Luther King Jr.Many states are suffering throwback legislation designed to offset 60 years of progress. Alliances aregrowing in Georgia and South Carolina, and there is potential in Florida. Forward Together –NOT ONE STEP BACK! - Joan Erwin, 1U, of Orlando

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Charlotte Fleming adds a few more observationsThe hospitality joyfully provided by the Raleigh Uni-tarian Universalist Fellowship was a key part of myexperience. Volunteers there kept thanking me forcoming, while they provided me with meals, a beauti-ful home stay for two nights, and rides wherever Ineeded to go.

The March was amazing, of course, but so was thewarm welcome from RUUF.

- 1U Mass Moral March photos, Martha Hartgering

(Photo -Rev. John L. Saxon, lead minister of UU Fellowship ofRaleigh, speaking at the Taking It Home session following theMarch.

UUUS to host Spring Youth Adviser Training – Does your congregation havea youth group? Are you involved with the other Beacon youth groups around ourDistrict? Beacon is the Districtwide youth group, found in nine or ten congregationsthroughout the Florida District. We have a vibrant, growing and active youthcommunity.

Please join us at UUUS, Orlando, on March 7-9, for an exciting, informative andtransformative weekend. For more information, please see the attached flyer andregistration forms. - Chris Reid, UUUS

2014 Florida District Awards - The Florida District UUA (FLD) Awards Committee has requestednominations to honor members who have made significant contributions to their congregations andcommunities. Nominations must be submitted electronically no later than March 15, 2014, [email protected], and must include a nomination form with a brief statement and supportingdocuments. Suggest to your minister or board the names of members who deserve to be recognizedfor special contributions.

Awards will be presented during the Florida District Annual Assembly in Vero Beach April 25-26. Seemore information about the Southern Region Assemblies on page 11. [Nomination form attached]

Questions? Contact the Awards Committee at [email protected] or 407-894-2119. - Information from websites www.floridadistrict.org and uuasouthernregion.org

Women and Power is the theme of the 4th annual Florida UU Women’s Retreat - to be held atDaySpring Episcopal Conference Center in Ellenton, March 21-23. The program is being planned bywomen from the Unitarian Universalist Church of Fort Myers. $220 per person covers expenses, includingsemi-private room and six meals. For more information, contact Rita Sizemore: [email protected] call 239-437-1014. Breaking News: There are several openings for the retreat as a few women arenow unable to attend, so there will be reduced tuition for five women (first come, first served). The feewill be reduced by 50% for those who get in touch with Helen Leddy at [email protected].

“What would it be like to have not only color vision but culture vision, the ability to see the multipleworlds of others.” - Mary Catherine Bateson (Writer, cultural anthropologist)

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(Left to right) Bruce Alexander, George Friday, Will Allen and Sr. Patricia Siemen, discuss an audience question aboutconnecting with other groups.

Aaron Hoopes

(Left to right) Gregory Wilson, Jeff Wolfe and Anita Baker listen toPat Alexander discussing the indigent communities where she hasworked, and the spiritual difficulties they encounter as they watchbusiness interests destroy the lakes and mountains around them.

“We have only begun to love the earth” - “Healing Our World and Ourselves- Communities Coming Together” – the second annual, statewide conferenceon our relationship with the Earth – was held Friday and Saturday, February 21and 22, at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Vero Beach. The event wasco-sponsored by the Unitarian Universalist Church of Brevard and UU JusticeFlorida, and hosted by UUFVB’s Social Justice Committee. The 2014 guidinghand was again Rev. Gregory Wilson from UUCB, assisted by music directorHelen Wilson.

Keynote speakers were: Patricia Siemen, Director of the Center for EarthJurisprudence, Barry University School of Law; George Friday, National Field Organizer for the Bill ofRights Defense Committee and Coordinator for the Independent Progressive Politics Network; andBruce Alexander, professor and author of Peaceful Measures: Canada’s Way Out of the War on Drugsand The Globalization of Addiction: A Study in Poverty of the Spirit.

In addition to keynote speakers, participants were kept busy, absorbing knowledge and concerns ofleaders from major environmental and social justice organizations, including UUSC, Audubon, Oceana,UU-UN Office, UUJF, IMatter Youth Council, Move to Amend, Florida Earth Festival, and more. Therewere also displays in the lobby to see, reading matter to take, and friends to rediscover.

Each session began with Aaron Hoopes lead-ing physical/spiritual exercises and, through-out the conference, there was art, and musicfrom multi-instrumentalist Samantha Moffattand the Dock Street Band.

The participants realized once more that ac-tion must involve many community groupsworking closely together toward a commoncause.

Following the conference, Rev. Gregorywrote this: “The gathering was a wonderfulevent and is a manifestation of the need forthis recovery, conversation, and action....The movement of earth rights calls for a shiftin consciousness, to live a new story, onethat does not foster a false separation fromthe earth, one that thestory-telling centers ofour culture need to bedirectly involved in.... Twoof the most amazingaspects of the weekendwere 1) the willingness ofall of us, organizers,speakers, musicians, vol-unteers, tablers, artists,to gather and sing thisnew story, and 2) thevision and voice of asmall group of peoplecan be actualized andheard with a little helpfrom our friends.”

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(Left to right) Rev. Janet Onnie, Andrea Coburn,Diane Lamontagne

News from BBUUC - The Buckman Bridge Unitarian Universalist Church recently held “Trinkets toTreasures,” a goods and services auction to raise funds for the church. Thanks to the generosity of thecommunity and the hard work of the organizers, the auction was a tremendous success. People weregenerous with creative offerings of time and skill as well as material items, and the bidders enjoyed theexcitement of the auction and the quality of items for sale.

The next large fundraiser will be a churchwide “Surplus Treasures” rummage sale and bake sale onApril 12.

Several eager students participated in the second part of the “Cakes for the Queen of Heaven” courseseries in January and February. The classes sought to recover the tales of powerful women fromJudaism and Christianity. Discussions and role play activities ranged from the fun to the serious as theparticipants gained a newfound appreciation for the roles of these women in religious history. Theyouth are preparing for a Teen Enrichment Trip on the Trail of Tears this summer. They have beenactively raising funds to pay for the trip.

We screened the documentary “Chasing Ice” for members of the communitywho were interested in learning more about the impact of climate change. The movie was both beautiful and alarming. The community is lookingforward to an exploration of issues facing food services workers in a courseseries based on the book “Behind the Kitchen Door.” Participants will learnabout equity issues facing food services employees, and also about actionsthat we as customers can take to improve their situation.

Church members are learning how better to describe their spiritual convic-tions in an “Articulating Your UU Faith” series of courses that began lastmonth. These will be running for four more consecutive Thursday nightsat 7 p.m. We are presenting a “Leader’s Survival Guide” course at 7 p.m.on July 16 and 23. This course covers common-sense skills that new churchteam leaders need in order to be successful without becomingoverwhelmed. - Scott Cromar

UUFMC Exhibits at Rainbow Family of theVillages Expo - The Rainbow Family of The Villagesinvited Marion County’s UU Fellowship to exhibitat the Rainbow Expo on February 13. TheSocial Justice committee eagerly responded tothis opportunity to communicate our support ofthe LBGTQ community.

Rev. Janet Onnie, Diane LaMontagne and SueMichalson prepared the display and offered infor-mation to attendees. It was a wonderful oppor-tunity to demonstrate our commitment to gayrights. The event was well attended and ourpresence was noted and appreciated.

- Story by Andrea Coburn;photo by Nelson Hay

“There will be no end to the troubles of states, or of humanity itself, till philosophers become kings inhis world, or till those we now call kings and rulers really and truly become philosophers, and politicalpower and philosophy thus come into the same hands.” - Plato

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Judith Campbell

The PRUU reading group

PRUU members preparing and serving a meal tohomeless people staying at St. Francis House

New UU Community in Gainesville - Phoenix Rising UU Community (PRUU) is an open, mutuallysupportive group of Unitarian Universalists in Gainesville, Florida, engaged in service to the widercommunity. The community first formed on July 25, 2012. Although not officially affiliated with the UUA,we embrace the Seven Principles of Unitarian Universalism, using the consensus method for ourdecisions.

We meet on the second and fourth Sundays of each month from 2 to 4 p.m. at the PRIDE center, 3131NW 13th Street in Gainesville, where all PRUU activities take place. Each Sunday meeting includesSharing of Joys and Concerns, songs from Singing the Journey hymnal, a discussion topic and a guestspeaker, with a social time after the first hour. The second hour is typically for business and planning.

We are especially excited about an upcoming series of activities that PhoenixRising and a reading group composed of eight of our PRUU members will sponsorand host in March. Reverend Dr. Judith Campbell (judithcampbell-holymysteries.com)will be visiting Gainesville March 7–13, with her time here chock-full of fun andinteresting activities.

Judy is an ordained Unitarian Universalist minister and author of several booksand articles. In addition to the Olympia Brown Mysteries series, she haspublished children’s stories, poetry and essays on the arts and religion, and onspirituality and creativity.

Toward the end of 2013, the reading group chose to read the first of Judy’snovels, A Deadly Mission. Members were immediately hooked, going on toread the next four novels in the series. A group member noticed in the back

of one of the novels that Judy loves to “hear from herreaders.” An email exchange began between thereading group and Judy, who said she would love tocome to Florida and visit her readers. The readinggroup then introduced PRUU to Judy’s books.

While planning her week in Gainesville, a great deal ofenthusiasm was generated by both PRUU and Judy,with PRUU agreeing to pay for her airline ticket. Judywill first be introduced to the public on Friday, March 7,as featured guest on a radio show, “Connor Calling,”aired on WUFT 89.1 and Nature Coast 90 from 1 to 2p.m.

Writing workshop - Among the activities planned, Judywill lead a writing workshop, “Writing Your Memoir,” onSaturday, March, 8 from 9:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. Judy says,“Everyone has a story, and it is waiting to be told.” Wehope that some Breeze readers will join us at theworkshop. No writing experience is required. Judy is avery hands-on teacher and facilitator and promises aproductive and satisfying experience. The fee for theday is $20 payable the day of the workshop. Space islimited, so contact Donna Forest at 352-373-5352 [email protected] if you have questions or to register. From 6-10 p.m. after the writing workshop, PRUU willhost a potluck and game night. All are welcomed.

Judy will be guest speaker at the March 9 meeting,talking about her personal journey in life as reverend-doctor-mom and “Sinister-Minister” (a tongue-in-cheekdescription of a character in her novels). She said, “It’s

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UU Church of Jacksonville

DiVina Pridham

an inspired and inspirational journey with many human ups and downs, and a lot of laughs along theway!” The sixth book in the Olympia Brown mysteries, An Improper English Mission, has been releasedjust in time for her visit to North Florida. We will be the first in the country to have copies available. Judywill hold a book signing and discussion at the Book Gallery West located at 4121 NW 16th Blvd. inGainesville on Tuesday, March 10, from 7-9 PM.

If you have any questions or ideas related to Judith Campbell’s visit or to the Phoenix Rising UUCommunity, please contact Donna Forest (352-373-5352, [email protected]) or Debbie Miller(352-373-9291, [email protected]. Learn more about PRUU at www.phoenixrisinguu.org.. We welcome all to our Sunday meetings and many other activities.

- Story by Debbie Miller; photos by Ronald Dalton

UUJax is uplifting (and downlifting too!) - Thanksto generous bequests from two UU Church ofJacksonville members, Eleanor Cermak and EdDanciger, the UU Church in Arlington now has abrand new enclosed elevator/lift! We have abeautiful building, but it’s laid out on two levels, withthe Chapel above and the Social Hall below. Mobility-limited members and guests have hadproblems for years moving from one to the other. Butnow, under the dynamic leadership of building &grounds chair Chris Lippincott, we can haveeveryone be everywhere as they desire. I encourageall UUs to remember their churches in their wills.

Generosity in Action - The UUCJ stewardshipcommittee recognizes one of our newest members,DiVina Pridham, for her “Generosity in Action.” When the call went outfor a volunteer coordinator for the holiday season, DiVina stepped upto make sure the church was decorated for the season. She can alsobe seen at the lectern leading singing on Sundays, and she will be oneof our new RSAs for 2014. DiVina, a nurse at Mayo Clinic, is the wifeof Chris Pridham and the mother of eight. She brings her time, talents,and enthusiasm to her work as a UUCJ volunteer. Our deepest thanksto DiVina for her dedication to our, and her, community!

Feeding the Hungry - The UU Church in Arlington takes its mission tohelp feed the Jacksonville hungry seriously. We have multiple ways thatwe do the work. First, we have on ongoing, weekly collection of food forthe Arlington Food Bank. Second, we support the work of the ArlingtonCommunity Garden at Tree Hill, which has dedicated food pantry plots.Third, we have a monthly Gleaning, where UUCJ members harvest fresh vegetables and fruit for localfood pantries, senior centers, and individuals who need fresh food. The March Gleaning will be inHastings, where we will be broccoli picking. Finally, on Sunday, February 2, we took part in thenational “Souper Bowl of Caring” with a food and funds drive. We gathered five large sacks of cannedgoods and raised $790 for Arlington Community Services. - Greg Hines

“We must not, in trying to think about how we can make a big difference, ignore the small dailydifference we can make which, over time, add up to big differences that we often cannot foresee.”

- Marian Wright Edelman, “Families in Peril”

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Blooming, Buzzing, Pollinating andBeautifying - The First Unitarian Churchof Orlando (1U) is on a deliberate roadtoward creating an urban landscape withnative plants on our three-acre campus.It is a multi-year process led by a churchmember, who is an ecologically orientedLandscape Architect specializing innative plants, and supported by volun-teers. Section by section as timing,supplies, and volunteer effort allow, weeliminate invasive plant species, removesome exotic species and plant nativetrees, shrubs, groundcovers and wild-flowers. Once established, no irrigationis necessary with native plants because

they are adapted to the climate and precipitation of the region. Ourvolunteers also collect the seeds from the wildflowers and re-seed, sothat we have consistent blooms all year long. In addition, 1U allocatesspace and mulch for community gardening plots.

Each region in the U.S. has an existing, natural, native web of life thatexotic plants cannot support. We must be cognizant of the importance

of placing back some of the natural, native web of life on our church grounds and in our yards andbusinesses. Without a diversity of native plants to provide food and nesting sources for birds,pollinators and other wildlife, extirpation and extinction rates will continue to rise.

Native plants have also created specialized relationships with the soils, rainfall patterns, and stormoccurrences in their specific region, meaning that they do not need artificial sources of water (irrigation),thus contributing to water conservation and alsowithstand the types of weather patterns in that specificregion.

Doug Tallamy, Ph.D., author of Bringing Nature Home,states that our green spaces everywhere need toinclude native plants to “give our local birds and wildlifethe food they need to survive and reproduce on ourproperties.” His solution to increasing and sustainingbiodiversity is native plants – and lots of them. Hereasons that animals get their energy directly fromplants, or by eating something that has already eaten aplant. He reminds us that many animals (including 96%of all terrestrial birds) depend on insects for food, thusreducing the variety of insects in a community (use ofinsecticides) can cause irreparable harm. For example,we have planted millions of Crepe Myrtles, a speciesfrom China that supports very few insect herbivores,instead of our native flowering Plum Trees that supportover 450 species of birds, butterflies, moths and pollinators. Native trees and shrubs do not need insec-ticides because there are native predators waiting to eatthe native insects and keep them in check. [See a fewresources at the end of the article.]

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Note new UUA logo, announced inFebruary

The results are a natural, freeflowing landscape. 1U’s goal isa healthy and self-sustaining land-scape for ourselves, our neigh-borhood and our city, consistentwith our Unitarian Universalistprinciples. We are rewarded withbutter flies in abundance, fertileorganic vegetable gardens, andan abundance of pollinating in-sects and healthy birds.

If you would like the photo cata-log of native plants planned for theFirst Unitarian Church of Orlando,which includes information regardingtheir required sun/shade condi- tions, soil type and bloom color/ time of year, please contact me. Enjoy our photos as we at 1U preparefor the spring. - Story and photos by Martha Hartgering

[“Bringing Nature Home” by Dr. Doug Tallamy; Florida Wildflowers and butterflies athttp://wwflmnh.ufl.edu/wildflower; Native Plant Society at www.fnps.org; Florida’s native wildflowers atflawildflowers.org]

General Assembly registration and housing reservations nowopen - “Love reaches out” is the theme of the 2014 UUA GeneralAssembly, to be held this year June 25-29 in Providence, RI. Providencehas a thriving arts community, vibrant and diverse neighborhoods,available university housing, and a renowned restaurant scene. GA isthe annual meeting of our Unitarian Universalist Association, whereattendees worship, witness, learn, connect, and make policy for the Asso-ciation through democratic process. Anyone may attend; congregationsmust certify annually to send voting delegates.

The 2014 Ware lecturer will be Sister Simone Campbell, a religiousleader, attorney and poet with extensive experience in public policy andadvocacy for systemic change. In 2012, she was instrumental in organizingthe “Nuns on the Bus” tour.

On Saturday, June 28, the UUA will cosponsor WaterFire Providence®, acommunity event and public art phenomenon. This is an amazing oppor-tunity for us to participate in the local culture of our host city while si-multaneously witnessing our faith.

Financial assistance is available through volunteering, scholarships anda $100 rebate for the senior elected leader from each participatingcongregation.

- Information from the UUA website

“Perhaps travel cannot prevent bigotry, but by demonstrating that all peoples cry, laugh, eat, worry, anddie, it can introduce the idea that if we try and understand each other, we may even become friends.”

– Maya Angelou

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Eric Draper, Audubon Florida

Together we can make a difference - thoughts from UU Justice FloridaPresident Kindra Muntz

Unitarian Universalist Justice Florida (UUJF) Legislative Day iscoming! - March 24 and 25, 2014, we’ll be bringing the voice of UnitarianUniversalist values to the state legislative halls in Tallahassee. Preparationfor our Legislative Day begins at the UU Church of Tallahassee, 2810 N.Meridian Road, Tallahassee 32312, at 5 p.m. on Monday, March 24. Wineand hors d’oeuvres will greet you on arrival, and dinner will be served at 5:45 p.m., to be ready for ourspeaker’s presentation at 6:15. UUJF will pay for the reception and dinner, where we will learn aboutenvironmental issues and strategies for lobbying.

Our speaker after dinner will be Eric Draper, executive directorof Audubon Florida. His presentation will be an excellent follow-up to the issues discussed at the “Healing Our World andOurselves” conference in Vero Beach in February. He will havethe latest updates for us, with up-to-the minute handouts for ourvisits to our legislators. On Tuesday morning, March 25, we willbe in the State Capitol building pressing our case. We will havespecific information for you to take with you to your legislators’offices on two or three pressing bills, but you can bringadditional information on bills you are following, as desired.

Right after you sign up for this Legislative Day, pick up thephone and call your Representative and your Senator. Make anappointment to see them or one of their staff members in theirTallahassee office, Tuesday, March 25. Our core issues in2014 are Revitalizing American Democracy, Immigration, andClimate Change. Other issues of concern to many are:Economic Justice, Marriage Equality, Reproductive Rights,Stand Your Ground, and Health Care (including MedicaidExpansion and Legalizing Medical Marijuana). We encourageyou to visit your state and federal legislators in their districtoffices regularly to voice your concerns about these and other issues and ask for their support.

Registration, ride sharing and room reservations - If you need a ride, so indicate on the attachedform, and we shall try to put you in touch with others with whom you can share a ride. If you can helpwith transportation, please let us know. UUJF will pay for your room for the night of Monday, March 24,at the Days Inn, 3100 Apalachee Parkway, same as last year. Reservations may be made online atwww.uujusticefl.org (by clicking on the calendar item, but use this form preferably) or received at theaddress below by Monday, March 17, 2014. Please scan and email the completed form [email protected] or mail it to: Kindra Muntz, 5869 Venisota Road, Venice, FL 34293.

Please call Kindra at 941-497-1764 should you have any questions. Thanks for being part of our FloridaUUJF Legislative Day 2014.

This ministry is made possible in part by a generous grant from the UU Fund for Social Responsibility.

“Think what a better world it would be if we all – the whole world – had cookies and milk about threeo’clock every afternoon and then lay down with our blankies for a nap. Or if all governments had as abasic policy to always put things back where they found them and to clean up their own mess. And itis still true, no matter how old you are – when you go out into the world, it is best to hold hands andstick together.” - UU Robert Fulghum, “All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten”

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Breeze Correspondents - Your UU compatriots welcome suggestions for stories and comments toshare with other cluster congregations and members. This is one way we learn from each other,exchange new replicable ideas, and enjoy knowing that others are exemplifying our UU values. If yourcongregation is doing wonderful things and you don’t see them mentioned in the Breeze, talk to yourcorrespondent.

Gainesville Fellowship, Lynn Capeheart, [email protected], 352-373-2039; Gainesville PhoenixRising, Debbie Miller (352-373-9291, [email protected]; Jax Arlington, Greg Hines([email protected]); Buckman Bridge (Jacksonville) Linda Mowers (904-272-3862,[email protected]); Lake County (Eustis), Ted Fessler (352-735-7405, [email protected]); Marion County (Summerfield), Nelson Hay, (941-323-8512; [email protected]);Mosaic (Orange City), Cary Ragsdale (386-871-1398, [email protected]); New SmyrnaBeach, Joe Wolfarth (386-576-4153, [email protected]); Orlando First, John Hartgering (352-242-2437, [email protected]); Orlando University, Chris Reid (407-491-4199, [email protected]);Ormond Beach (Greater Daytona), Donna Jordan ([email protected]); Palatka (AllSouls), Rita Foust (386-546-2539, [email protected]); Rockledge, Nancy Shacklette (321-259-3979, [email protected]); St. Augustine, Lola Sorensen (904-794-0961, [email protected]); Valdosta, Betty Derrick (229-794-2301, [email protected]); Vero Beach, Joyce Levi (772-562-9476, [email protected]); West Melbourne, Yolanda Caraballo (321-220-3472,[email protected]); Rev. Gregory Wilson (772-871-6010, [email protected]); West Volusia(DeLand), Carolyn Benton (386-775-0755, [email protected]).

Have you thought about your elevator speech? – The words you’ll saywhen someone in an elevator or grocery line or waiting for a game to startasks you what Unitarian Universalism is all about? Has to be quick,truthful, and not boring. Like the one below. Send yours to the Breeze, andwe’ll use it.

“I am still a work in progress. I still have moments when I wonder aboutGod or Goddess. I still have moments when I ask myself, ‘Just what doyou believe?’ You know something? I am still searching. I believe that weare here for a brief time and that we need to help each other in the searchfor our own personal truths. I believe that I must keep my mind open to avariety of beliefs as I continue to examine and reexamine my own. Finally,

I believe that I have found a haven in this church that supports me in my search.”- Dan Heiserman, First UU Church of San Diego

Our Southern Region will hold its first-ever simultaneous Annual Assemblies, - April 25-26. WithFlorida congregations gathering in Vero Beach, along with the Choral Festival at the same time. Lotsof music and new programs and policies to talk about.

Our coming together in this collaborative way will reflect our connections within all parts of the region,across our region and with our larger Unitarian Universalist Association. The Assemblies will featurea keynote address by UUA moderator Jim Key. Jim will address attendees in each of the four locationson Saturday morning – live via the internet. He will speak to our shared theme, “Love Reaches Out,”which is also the theme of our Association’s General Assembly in Providence, RI, June 25 -29.

The other Southern Region locations are: MidSouth District – Unitarian Universalists of Metro AtlantaNorth (UUMAN); Southeast District – Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Raleigh; Southwest UnitarianUniversalist Conference – First Unitarian Church of Dallas; Registration details and other informationwill be distributed soon. Come prepared to give thanks, to celebrate, and to share the hope,compassion and strength of our Unitarian Universalist faith. - From the Southern Region Website

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March 2014 - There are a growing number of people who hold the opinion that“Religion” is about crowd control and that “Spirituality” is about evolution. In theopening moments of our Sunday celebration here at the People’s Church, thereis a responsive reading used with permission of its author, Dr. Davidson Loehr:

M: We gather here to share the promise of honest religion.C: “To come alive, to seek the truth, and to heal the world.”M: And so it is a sacred time, this – a sacred place, this.C: “A place for questions more profound than answers.”M: Vulnerability more powerful than strengthC: “And a peace that can pass all understanding.”M: It is a sacred time. Let us begin together in song.

If we live out our promise of honest religion, perhaps we can honestly claim tobe more about evolution than crowd control. We still are far from understandingthe fundamental mechanics of evolution and yet when we look around us wehave plenty of evidence that we humans are contributing to an ever accele-rating rate of change – in our surrounding technologies, in our environment and

even in what it means to be human.

Our Spirituality, or what some refer to as their values, takes on an ever more important role in helpingus decide what direction these changes should take. Some experts debate the key dynamics ofevolution. Some claim it is molecular change at the root of mutation and others claim it is the resultingmutated expression that gives an advantage to individuals to propagate and promote the survival oftheir genetic material. At some point certainly for us humans it seems to come down to how well wepass on the knowledge we have gained, how effectively we influence one another so that we allbecome better able to manage the planet’s resources.

If any one of us is going to make a contribution to human evolution, we are probably not going to doit in isolation. No one individual is going to save the planet. But perhaps like those termites that createthe elaborate architecture of a termite mound without any visible central control or master blueprint, weas an organized spiritual movement are capable of making a difference if we can master the art of self-organizing free agents.

While herding cats is still an elusive myth, we, as individuals in a religious movement that promotes thefree and responsible search for truth and meaning, need to solve the dilemma of preserving ourindividuality even while we work collectively for agreed upon common goals. Otherwise, at best we canonly hope to be a small footnote in the history of the human race and, forgive my dramatics, if there isa history. The stakes are high and getting ever higher with every indication of instability.

Rapid changes: economic, political, or environmental have inherent risks and need to be betteranticipated and managed should we choose to share the resources of this planet in a more equitableand self-sustaining way.

On February 21-22, a conference was held designed to carry this mission forward. Find out whathappened there and what they can organize with your help by visiting their website at:http://healingourworldandourselves.org/, and by contacting the cosponsors – UU Justice Florida athttp://www.uujusticefl.org/. Together we can change the world, alone we won’t have a world to save.

Stay tuned...

“The best remedy for those who are afraid, lonely or unhappy is to go outside, somewhere where theycan be quite alone with the heavens, nature and God. Because only then does one feel that all is asit should be and that God wishes to see people happy, amidst the simple beauty of nature. As long asthis exists, and it certainly always will, I know that then there will always be comfort for every sorrow,whatever the circumstances may be. And I firmly believe that nature brings solace in all troubles.”

- Anne Frank, “The Diary of a Young Girl”

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NEC coordinator Martha Hartgering at theHealing our World conference in February

Thinking Out LoudA ttending the February Moral March in Raleigh, North Carolina, was

a wonderful religious experience. I say “religious” because I wasthere to support the UU Fellowship of Raleigh’s long-term part-

nership with the Historic Thousands on Jones St (HKonJ) People'sCoalition, that was formed seven years ago to be a voice of change inNorth Carolina and has frequently and calmly found ways to speak, sitand march for improvements in the state.

I was there act on our Unitarian Universalist principles and it was hum-bling to be surrounded by thousands who were acting in that samespirit. I was proud of the Standing on the Side of Love yellow and theUUA support of UUs in North Carolina.

I was proud to be part of one of the largest UU partnership marches inour Southern Region in recent history. I was glad to support a coalition with a broad base ofpartners and a positive message, despite a less than responsive state government. I observed howa fusion movement can advocate for change over many years and stay positive and cohesive.

I also thought about Florida and our state challenges involving health care, the environment, edu-cation and income inequality. I wondered what a Florida fusion movement would look like here.

In addition, I was overwhelmed with the hospitality of the Raleigh congregation. Members andfriends were generous with their homes, food, vehicles and time. Hundreds of people were fed atUU Raleigh on Friday and Saturday.

Sometimes one must march.

Martha Martha HartgeringNEC Coordinator

Martha Hartgering

More of Martha’s perspective about the February Mass Moral March - in Raleigh, North Carolina,in which 1500 UUs participated. I would like to add more comments about the home hospitality there.The reason I say this: first, the registration with the local UU Raleigh church was incredible. They askedhow people wanted assistance and supplied it, it seems. For example: people stayed in members’ homesand, from what I heard, they (three people in one group) weregiven their own beds, wonderful breakfasts and, if they arrivedbefore the March day, lunch.

Members volunteered to drive people from train to church, marchto church, home stay location to church, etc., etc. And all wasdone with the most wonderful efficiency and incredible joy.

Congregations that practice radical hospitality - like theRaleigh UU Church, demonstrate an active desire to invite,welcome, receive, and care for those who are strangers so theyfind a spiritual home. Radical describes that which is drasticallydifferent from ordinary practices. Imagine people offering the abso-lute utmost of themselves, their creativity, their abilities, and theirenergy, exceeding expectations. - From UU websites

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2014 UU Calendar for Quick Cluster CheckMarch 201414-16 Annual District Women’s Retreat, DaySpring Episcopal Conference Center, Ellenton, FL15 CIW vigil and march - Southgate Publix, Lakeland, FL - for Immokalee farmworkers24-25 UU Justice Florida Legislative Day, Tallahassee, FL

April 201425-28 Florida District Choral Festival and Florida District Annual Assembly

UU Fellowship of Vero Beach, FL

June 201425-29 GA 2014, “Love Reaches Out,” Providence, RI

Northeast Cluster, Florida District, Unitarian Universalist AssociationMartha H. Hartgering, coordinator - [email protected] - 352-242-2437

Rev. Richard “Bud” Murphy, ministerial consultant - [email protected] - 386-846-1840Leadership Team

Mavis Greene, Jacksonville - [email protected] - 904-272-4980John Hartgering, Orlando - [email protected] - 352-242-2437

Linda Newman, West Volusia - [email protected] - 386-734-1117Lola Sorensen, St. Augustine - [email protected] - 904-794-0961

WebsiteJack Kulas, webmaster - www.necluster.uufg.org, [email protected] 352-219-4338

Northeast Breeze, Northeast Cluster NewsletterJoyce Levi, co-editor - [email protected] 772-562-9476Chris Reid, co-editor - [email protected] - 407-491-4199

Florida District, Unitarian Universalist AssociationFlorida District Office, Jessica Curren, Administrator - [email protected] - 407-894-2119The Rev. Kenneth G. Hurto, District Executive - [email protected] - 321-422-4625

Websitewww.floridadistrict.orguuasouthernregion.org

Southern Region, Unitarian Universalist Associationhttp://seduua.org/staff/firstcontact.html

Communications Administrator, Glenn Johnson - [email protected] - 704-549-0750

Unitarian Universalist Justice FloridaUUJF Board

Kindra Muntz, Venice, President - [email protected] - 941-497-1764Rev. Bud Murphy, Ludington, MI, Vice President - [email protected] - 386-846-1840

Gerald Goen, Tarpon Springs, Secretary - [email protected] - 727-937-8590Martha Hartgering, Orlando, Treasurer - [email protected] - 352-242-2437

Steve Jens-Rochow, Davie, Director - [email protected] - 954-647-8379Robert Keim, Brooksville, Director - [email protected] - 352-793-2268

Glenn Rogers, Vero Beach, Director - [email protected] - 772-567-9395Steve Segner, Ormond Beach, Director - [email protected] - 386-788-3039

And...one more page...

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From blueskieshugsandkisses.com

It’s Spring!“Spring has returned. The Earth is like a child that knows poems.” - Rainer Maria Rilke

“Behold, my friends, the spring is come; the earth has gladly received the embraces of the sun,and we shall soon see the results of their love!” - Sitting Bull

“It’s spring fever. That is what the name of it is. And when you’ve got it, you want – oh, you don’t quite know what it is you do want,

but it just fairly makes your heart ache, you want it so! - Unitarian Mark Twain

“Spring is nature’s way of saying, ‘Let’s party!’” - Robin Williams

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