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PAGE 5T HE C O NNE C T I O NV O LU M E 2 1 , I S S U E 3GA Information continued .Like Unitarian Universalism, GA offers a wealth of theological diversity. A variety of worship choices are offeredthroughout GA. The Service of the Living Tradition is where we commemorate fellowshipped and credentialed religious leaders, those who have died, those who have completed active service, and welcome those who have receivedfellowship or credentialed status in the past year. Sunday Morning Worship at GA is a powerful, communal worshipexperience and is the largest annual gathering of UUs in Worship.Each year a distinguished guest speaker is invited to address the General Assembly as the Ware Lecturer. Recent lecturers have included Bryan Stevenson, Cornel West, and Maria Hinojosa. The 2020 Ware Lecturer will be announcedsoon.Financial Aid AvailableThe UUA is committed to the goal of making GA accessible to as many attendees as possible. Go to uua.org/ga in themonth of March to learn about scholarships to support delegates - particularly those from marginalized groups - andvolunteer opportunities (work in exchange for registration).Congregational Participation from Off-siteThe votes that GA delegates cast have a huge impact on Unitarian Universalism. They determine our elected leaders,amend the bylaws and rules that govern our Association, and shape the justice work that we do as a movement. If youare interested in serving as a delegate from your congregation, talk to your minister or your congregation’s governingbody.Technology provides opportunities to connect on-site participants with those who cannot attend in person. GA istransforming into a hybrid meeting—incorporating off-site delegate participation, live-streaming of events, and socialmedia to create an interactive experience for on-site and remote attendees. Off-site registrants are able to watch andask questions in live sessions, including select workshops and business sessions. Off-site Voting Delegates are alsoable to propose amendments in the live business sessions, participate in debates, and vote in General Sessions.Go to uua.org/ga to learn how congregations can register Off-site Registrants at a discounted group rate, and to finduseful tips how they can gather together locally while they participate in GA.AccessibilityThe UUA is committed to addressing the inclusion of all people, whatever their abilities might be, in all GA activities.Beyond the physical accessibility of the facilities we use—ramps, captioning, seating cut-outs, etc.—we endeavor totake the next step: to truly welcome people with disabilities into every facet of GA.ChildrenAll children are welcome to attend GA events with their parents or guardians. Children who have not yetentered high school (or its equivalent) are welcome to attend GA events with their parents or guardians at no costbut are still required to register. For parents who need child care, Children’s Programs are available Thursday, Fridayand Saturday during GA. Register for Children’s Programs by May 28 at uua.org/ga.YouthAttending the annual General Assembly as a high school aged youth (grades 9-12 in the preceding schoolyear, or the equivalent for home-schooled youth) is an incredible experience. Not only do you get to worship, witness,learn and connect in a multigenerational continental community, you can get to know hundreds of other youth andparticipate in making an impact on the Association through the democratic process.

VOLUME 21, ISSUE 3THE ONNECTIONPAGE 6GROUPS, CLUBS, MEETINGS:Alliance: The Alliance is a long-established daytime fellowship group at 1U offering social connection andthe opportunity to participate in supporting good causes. Join us for lunch on Tuesdays at 11am. Stop in atour Resale Shop in Gore Hall, we are receiving donated items. We are excited to resume financial support ofcauses which Unitarians want to promote. The Alliance also exists to support members and friends in otherways. For more information, email Alliance@OrlandoUU.org.A More Interesting Life AMIL 3/24/20 6:30pm (now the 4th Tuesday of the month)AMIL is aneclectic mix of anecdotes, connections, readings, music to help you uncover your desire, joys, and passions, separatefrom family, work, and perhaps your own obvious thoughts of who you think you are. So far we’ve touched on taking charge while you or a loved one is in a hospital, and how the staff’s biases color their level of care, and outcomeexpectations. We’ve read Jungian analysts James Hollis’s, Living the Examined Life and discussed complexes,projection, and transference. And we’ve examined some Motown songs (lyrics and songs), and how they relate to the human condition. 3/24: “Socialization and Alienation of Self (Redux)”Guided Meditation: Join our RE Director, Judith, on Wednesday mornings, from 8:30-9, for a guided meditation in the Library. She also leads a group on every other Thursday evening, for meditative sitting anddessert, 7-8 pm. Please check the weekly news for dates!Hospitality Committee: This incredible group provides the organization and planning (and much of themuscle) behind out potlucks and congregational meals, keeps the kitchen stocked, clean and organized andmuch more! They need our support .please consider giving of your time and talents!Investment Group: The "Investors Club" continues to meet the first Sunday of the month. March 1st,11:45am. Bob Miller will be presenting at the February Meeting, on how to make tax advantaged charitabledistributions at time when charitable contributions no longer are tax deductible for most people, given thesize of the new standard deduction Each month we discuss the economy and investing. We welcome peoplewho have skills concerning taxes and investments, but you don’t need to be knowledgeable to come andlearn! You are invited to join us!Parent Support Group: This group meets from 9:30 until just before service on the 1st and 3rd Sundays.All are welcome!Social Action Committee: Meets at 11:45 the fourth Sunday of the month, in the Library.Spirit Seekers: Meeting the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month, 10-11:30am, we discuss the book selection, voice our questions, and perhaps share some of our personal insights and/or experiences on the topic. For more information, contact Gina Busby or Laura Owens. The book selection is This Thing CalledYou by Ernest HolmesThe UUUS Men’s Group: All men are welcome! Join us for food and fellowship! See you Monday,March 9th, for our meeting at the church 6:30 pm Contact: davidamcelroy1@gmail.comThe UUUS Women’s Circle: All women are welcome! The Women’s Circle usually meets on the last Fridayof each month for food and fellowship. The Annual Women’s Retreat is scheduled for March 27-28,at UUUF.Youth Group: Open to youth from 12 –18 years of age, 1-3pm, Sundays. 12-2 on Potluck Sundays.Hope to see you there!Come join us for a UUUF workday! 3/21/20See the weekly news for details. We haveplenty of tasks to be done, no experiencenecessary, just a great attitude and willinghands! Hope to see you there! 9am11:30am

VOLUME 21, ISSUE 3PAGE 7March it 5262728Alliance—1UMeditation8:30Spirit Seekers10aInvestor’sGroup 11:45Visitor’sClass89Daylight Savings BeginsPurim begins(Springahead)InternationalWomen’s DayPotluckMen’sGroup 6:3015162223Social �s Retreat 5pWomen’s Retreat 9-5

VOLUME 21, ISSUE 3THE ONNECTIONPAGE 850 ways you can #UUtheVote1. Form an electoral justice committee at your church2. Contact justice organizations in your community and volunteer for their voter outreach efforts3. Donate to partners and front-line community organizations4. Help collect signatures on justice-oriented ballot initiatives for raising wages, criminal justice reform, climate justiceand more.5. Pass the plate for local groups doing voter outreach6. Invite speakers from different issue-based campaigns to speak at your worship service7. Hold a fundraiser event for local groups doing voter outreach8. Send invitations to local groups letting them know meeting space is available at your church9. Hold a non-partisan forum in your church10. Have a special skill like legal, marketing, or accounting? Volunteer pro-bono time to a local group11. Phonebank with a justice partner organization12. Connect with your UU State Action Network (if your state has one) See www.cuusan.org13. Research voter registration and voter turnout rates in your community and make an outreach plan - in consultationwith partner groups is best.14. Register high school students who will be 18 by Nov. 2020 - contact local high schools and student groups and workwith your congregation’s youth group.15. Work with campus groups to setup voter registration tables at area colleges and canvass the dorms16. Create a playlist of songs that give you the will to persevere and be brave17. Organize a text banking party to send text messages to selected groups of voters18. Go door-to-door in your own neighborhood talking to neighbors about what issues matter in the next election19. Sign up to be an elections monitor in districts with known voter suppression issues20. Connect with other denominations to participate in a “souls to the polls” mobilization day21. Offer to drive people to the polls or be a driver for GOTV volunteers22. Attend a training on get-out-the-vote23. Create a spiritual support circle to share, discuss, and be nourished by theological grounding to support your socialjustice work.24. Sign the pledge to #VoteLove and #DefeatHate in 202025. Recruit friends to sign the #VoteLove pledge26. Make and share a video about why it’s important to you to vote this year27. Send a letter to the editor28. Share or make a guide to local ballot initiatives in your area29. Volunteer with groups opposing unjust ballot initiatives such an anti-immigrant and anti-reproductive justicemeasures.30. Set up a weekly dinner to support community members deeply involved in justice work31. Organize movie nights at your church or community center to show films about the fight for the right to vote like Suppression by Brave New Films.

VOLUME 21, ISSUE 3PAGE 932. Host a book club on books about electoral justice33. Interview members of your church who were involved in the past movements like civil rights, anti-apartheid,sanctuary, LGBTQ, women’s rights, and environmental to capture that history and learn its lessons34. Interview young members of your church who are involved in current movements to capture that history and learnits lessons.35. Hold a sign-making party the night before big events like climate strikes or women’s marches36. Create memes about justice news of the day and use the #UUtheVote hashtag37. Include UUtheVote regularly in worship services and give updates and keep up momentum38. Hold a UUtheVote Kickoff event in your congregation39. Provide at least 4 opportunities for congregational members to UUtheVote together40. Send out notices to your congregational lists and groups from partner organizations who need volunteers41. Join the UUtheVote Facebook Group42. Sign up on the UUtheVote Slack Channel43. Subscribe to UUtheVote email list44. Help meet the 2020 challenge and raise funds for UUtheVote45. Apply for a UU Funding Program Voter Project Grant https://www.uufunding.org/get-out-the-vote.html46. Hire a part time coordinator for your UUtheVote efforts47. Pay a stipend to someone already doing voter engagement work to help coordinate your volunteers48. Compensate a partner group to provide voter registration and GOTV training and maps and lists of where to go49. Learn how to use new voter apps, practice with friends, and train others50. Connect with other UU congregations in your area to join forces and expand your volunteer pool51. Work on local ordinances that impact your community and will motivate people to vote (get creative - onecongregation facing proposed bus line shutdowns sent teams to bus stops and also rode the buses to talk withpeople and gather signatures)52. Be part of Early Voting Drives53. Talk with and register voters at your food pantry and/or meals programs54. Use your second language skills and help register new citizens55. Join efforts to reach out to voters who have been purged to get them re-registered56. Register voters using on-line tools such as UUtheVote.org/register57. Post a Facebook message to your friends asking them to check to see if they are registered and tell them howto register at UUtheVote.org/register58. Use Vote Forward to send letters to voters in other states59. Send teams to other states when asked for help60. Share YOUR suggestions with our UU community on our UUtheVote Facebook and Slack channel

V O LU M E 2 1 , I S S U E 3T HE C O NNE C T I O NPAGE 10Church of the Larger FellowshipMeg A Riley, Senior MinisterI’m in Southern California this week with the Senior Ministers of Large UU Churches. It’s a compel-ling and thought-provoking bunch of colleagues, with both formal and informal conversations ranging widely.Of the many conversations which have caught my attention here, the one that is ricketing aroundmost in my mind is this: how does a sense of being welcomed lead to a sense of belonging forpeople when they come to a UU church (or anywhere else), and why so often does it not? Ourcongregations are great at welcoming people, at least these large ones represented here, but howdo people really feel that they belong? How and when do you know you belong somewhere? Doyou? So many of the ministers here share their own sense of not quite belonging in this esteemedgroup.they’re too young, too new, hold a marginalized identity, worry about what isn’t going wellin their congregations. I’ve had my own dragons to wrestle down about that.I’ve been reflecting on my own overall sense of belonging and not belonging, in Unitarian Universalism. Some people say they immediately feel a sense of belonging in a UU church the momentthey get there; others wade in more slowly. Even though I was raised UU, it took me some decades to fully feel that I belong. Which I do feel now, even when I am frustrated or annoyed bywhatever is going on.In part, it took so long because I’m a lesbian—which is certainly no big deal in UUism now, but itwas 40 years ago! In part it’s because I am more intense, more direct, clumsier, and less polishedthan the dominant culture. And in part it was probably some personal healing I needed to do fromchildhood to allow myself to belong to a people.I keep remembering a time at the Black Theology Symposium in the fall, when Dr. Leon Spencer, alay leader who has served in every conceivable role at the UUA right up to stepping in as a coPresident for awhile, said that he had never felt that he completely belonged in a setting until thatSymposium. (He said it on The VUU, where a number of people said amazing things; an episode Iencourage you to go back and watch.)On the sidelines behind the camera, I wept at the painful truth of his words. As we try to shift ourculture from unconscious centering of white middle class experience and perspective, as we try tobecome a place where a wider swath of people can feel that they belong, it’s a good question to sitwith.What creates a sense of belonging? Where do you know you belong? How do you know it?Much love from the not-icy or cold, beautiful coast of Southern California.Warmly,Meg

PAGE 11TH E CONNE CTI ONVO L UME 21, IS S UE 3SUUSI is the Southeast Unitarian Universalist Summer Institute, anintentional community of UUs and kindred spirits. For over 65 yearswe have come together for a week in July to explore our interconnectedness, delight in the outdoors, enjoy music and learn new ways ofseeing our world and each other.Each year in July, we gather at Western Carolina University (WCU) inCullowhee, North Carolina, tucked in a valley amidst the Blue RidgeMountains, in the ancestral home of the Cherokee Nation. WCU offersa beautiful and accessible campus close to the Pisgah and Nantahala National Forests andthe Great Smoky Mountains National Park.We are a multigenerational community, providing intergenerational activities and eventsalong with special programs designed to meet the various needs of our diverse community.Nature trips, workshops, worship, and nightlife opportunities are plentiful. SUUSI strives toprovide a full and meaningful experience for all members of your family, whatever their age,ability, personality type, or sleep schedule.This summer, join us for the second-largest gathering of Unitarian Universalists in the world! For a great article about SUUSI, see the Spring2014 issue of UU World: www.uuworld.org/life/articles/293240.shtmlMission The mission of SUUSI is to provide a one week experience evoking the best withinus, in concert with Unitarian Universalist principles. SUUSI offers the opportunity to sharean intergenerational environment of love, personal freedom, ethics, and joy in an intentional, nonjudgmental community.An Intentional Community SUUSI is an intentional community, and we make time to build community. We are a diverse mix of ages, philosophies, and interests, and it’s stimulating tomake new friends as well as meet old buddies at SUUSI each year. About one-third of the1,200 or so participants are attending SUUSI for the first time, and a special effort is made tobuild that sense of community with the “newcomers” or “first timers.” Each afternoon wegather at Community Time to connect as a group.SUUSI is a vacation week to grow, relax, play and connect. Many experience the workshops,expeditions into the Appalachians, music, and the relaxed conversations with new friends asa welcome time of recharge and re-creation before returning to hectic lives a week later. Theydiscover new interests, new ideas, and new friends in an environment that is safe and familyoriented, but also offers opportunities to stretch and accept new challenges.Some challenges might be physical – if you have never been canoeing or caving, or want to“get into” biking, then SUUSI is a great place to give it a try. Others discover a deeper understanding of their spirit and emotions, especially through the worship services, theme talks,and workshops. There’s also a subtle change that comes from living for a week with 1,000others who have a wide range of perspectives on politics, food preferences, music, and allthe other facets of life. So often, those differences can divide us. At SUUSI, we create an“intentional community” where we acknowledge our diversity and reconnect with othersbased on our shared humanity. At the end of a week, our sense of trust and confidence in theinherent goodness of others reaches a new level. Please join us at SUUSI 2020: Kaleidoscope inJuly. We will gather on the beautiful campus of Western Carolina University from July 19 to July 25.Be a part of the beautiful art we will make together while designing a week that is as special as youare. See suusi.org for more information!

V O LU M E 2 1 , I S S U E 3T HE C O NNE C T I O NPAGE 12MYSTIC GROVEThe Mystic Grove (mysticgrove@orlandouu.org) is 1U's pagan affinity group and Covenant of Unitarian Universalist Pagans chapter. Friends from UUUS welcome to join us any time! Events inFebruary include:Mar 8 - Monthly Meeting for Mystic Grove after the service at Noon in Room 1.Mar 12 - "Comparative Religion "offers you an opportunity to gain a solid grasp of the key ideas ofreligion. Using five major religions (Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, and Hinduism) as illustrations of how religions can address the same core issues in parallel and different ways. This DVDseries is held in Room 1 at First Unitarian. 7 PM in Room 1.Mar 20 Teaching Craft Circle. This month we explore how to dye eggs naturally with ordinary ingredients from the kitchen. 7 PM in Assembly Room.Mar 21 Ostara (Spring Equinox Ritual) 7 PM in Gore Hall with 8 PM potluck dinner to follow.Mar 27 Moon Circle. Part covenant group and part lunar ritual, Moon Circle gathers once a monthon 4th Fridays from 7 PM to 9 PM in Room 1. Inspired by "Becoming Women of Wisdom," we examine the decades of our lives. As you make your way forward, you remember the past, integrate itslessons and shed its excess baggage, until you come to the present moment of possibility andtransformation.For more info email mysticgrove@orlandouu.orgA WORD FROM OUR VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR:I want to thank all the devoted volunteers, both members and non members whocontinue to make UUU run smoothly.As we complete the last 4 months of our year (our fiscal year begins July 1), pleasetake a moment to consider how you might become more active, be of service toUUUF, to all of us. We have a number of committees who provide a myriad of services to all of us, who keep UUUF running, who make our community whole. Wehave folks who volunteer their time and talents by serving on the Board of Directors. We all need your help, your thoughts,your energy, your

ty of UCF School of Social Work. March 22nd "Rising Up Through Adversity" Bill & Eli Perras The Perras's are well-known to many UUUF members from SUUSI where they share original, socially significant, and inspiring Americana music. Today, they will share their music while speaking of the extraordinary circumstances and trials