[Fuusm-l] Fwd: Email to FUUSM

[Dawn Hewitt, FUUSM office assistant]

A note to all of us from our faithful treasurer, Don Poole, regarding
serving as our delegate at the UUA's General Assembly.

---------- Forwarded message ---------


From: Don Poole <dpoolecpa at gmail.com>
Date: Fri, Jul 4, 2025 at 11:07 AM
Subject: Email to FUUSM

Greetings FUUSM friends. As I write this message to you I am  filled with
joy and enthusiasm after attending the UUA General Assembly (GA) in
Baltimore, Maryland and serving as FUUSM delegate to the conference.

I'm sorry that I cannot be here with you in person but when you hear these
words, I will be in New York City celebrating LGBTQ+ Pride and my love for
the arts with friends and family.

I volunteered to be delegate from FUUSM to GA because no one else was able
or interested and attending GA in person has always been on my bucket list.
I have a good friend who lives within walking distance of the
convention center who was happy to provide accommodations so the cost,
which I incurred on my own, without FUUSM funds, was minimal. I was not
familiar with the agenda before attending so I had no preconceived biases
and therefore no agenda. I just wanted to experience it and make sure that
FUUSM was represented.

Part of the business of GA is to elect GA officers and, this year,
Moderator(s) for GA that will serve a six year term. The candidates for
Board of Trustees, Commission on Appraisal
<https://www.uua.org/uuagovernance/committees/coa> ran unopposed. Rev.
Kimberly Quinn Johnson and Bill Young
<https://www.uuworld.org/articles/uua-moderator-candidate-statement-kimberly-quinn-johnson-bill-young-general-assembly-2025>
were
elected moderators.

Delegates also discussed and voted on Congregational Study/Action Items
<https://www.uua.org/action/process/2025-csais-congregational-study-action-issues>.
(CSAI) which are three-year processes where UU congregations engage in
focused study, reflection and action around a social justice issue. The
three issues discussed were:


   1. Abolition, Transformation, and Faith Formation
   <https://www.uua.org/action/process/2025-proposed-csais/abolition-faith-formation>
   2. Fat Liberation: Building Justice and Inclusion for Larger Bodies
   <https://www.uua.org/action/process/fat-liberation-building-justice-and-inclusion-larger-bodies>
   3. Housing: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
   <https://www.uua.org/action/process/housing-diversity-equity-and-inclusion-2025-csai>

More information about these CSAI's may be found by following the links.

The CSAI that garnered the most support from the delegates was number 1.
Abolition, Transformation and Faith Formation.

Delegates also approved several Actions of Immediate Witness (AIW). Those
are:

We Declare and Affirm: Immigrants Are People Who Have Inherent Worth and
Inalienable Rights
<https://www.uua.org/action/process/2025-proposed-aiw-all-people-have-inherent-worth-and-inalienable-rights>
Faithful Defiance of Authoritarianism: Reaffirming Our Covenants for
Democracy and Freedom
<https://www.uua.org/action/process/2025-proposed-aiw-faithful-defiance-authoritarianism>
Defending LGBTIQ Freedom Amid Funding Crisis: A Call for Global Solidarity
<https://www.uua.org/action/process/2025-proposed-aiw-funding-global-lgbtiq-freedom-amid-crisis>
You may view these links in an email that will go out to all members and
friends in the coming days.

GA also offered special sessions devoted to topics of particular interest.
I chose to attend sessions on congregation administration. I learned a lot
about the struggles of congregations to support office assistants and
congregation administrators. I learned a lot and I was able to forge a
network of support from UUA staff and other administrators.

Finally, I was deeply moved by the inspirational messages from  Rev. Dr.
Sofía Betancourt <https://www.uua.org/uuagovernance/officers/president>,
President of the UUA, Carey McDonald
<https://www.uua.org/people/carey-mcdonald>, Executive President of the
UUA, Rev. Dr. Nicole Kirk
<https://www.meadville.edu/about/faculty-staff-and-trustees/faculty/biography/nicole-kirk/>,
Associate Professor at Meadville Lombard Theological School, and a host of
others on topics ranging from Our Whole LIves (OWL) celebrating 25 years to
the history of the Unitarian church in the US which is celebrating its
200th anniversary this year.

You may view much of this content by following this link
<https://www.uua.org/ga/off-site/2025>. I believe that you'll have an
opportunity to view some of the Sunday service during this morning's
service. I highly recommend that you take the time to view some of these
videos. I'm sure they will inspire you and make you proud that you are a
Unitarian Universalist.

Much love to all and happy Pride!

Don Poole
Treasurer and UUA GA Delegate


-- 
Dawn Hewitt
Office assistant
First Unitarian Universalist Society of Marietta
232 Third St.
Marietta, OH 45750
(740)373-1238
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, 10 a.m.--2 p.m.
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