the OUUC spark

This month has been all about Love, and we’ve explored together questions of what Love is and of how we act on Love and “put love in the center”.

One of the ways that I see love in action at OUUC all the time is through our amazing teams and volunteers and all the many ways we collectively take care of each other, of our community, our resources, and carry our mission forward in the world. There are many different “love languages” spoken here: gardening, cooking, listening, fixing things, making safety plans, organizing databases, and so much more! It’s a beautiful thing that by sharing our particular love languages and skills with folks with different languages and skills, we make a strong and versatile loving community.

In today’s Spark, we highlight people and teams who are doing this work of building beloved community in two different ways: our volunteer of the month, Jerald Dodson, chair of Buildings and Grounds, and the Share the Plate Team, led by Bob Brennand. A big thank you to both for all they do to take care of this community and to promote our values and mission in the larger world!

We are so fortunate to have so many amazing volunteers at OUUC, folks who really share their time, talents, and energy in ways that enhance the health and well-being of our beloved community. This month I’m pleased to share that our Volunteer of the Month is Jerald Dodson, chair of the Buildings and Grounds Team. Here is some of what folks say about Jerald:

“Jerald is an outstanding team leader for the buildings and grounds team. He is calm, levelheaded, dependable, has vast knowledge, skills, and experience. He lets everyone on the team have a say while keeping things on track. Not only has he helped maintained the health and safety of the church and congregants, but he has also saved OUUC thousands of dollars from designing, making, and installing a metal shield on a parking lot light that was bothering a neighbor, to changing and teaching others how to switch the aging fluorescent tubes to LED. That is just what he has done with the B&G team and does not include the work he has done with other committees and activities over the years, such as BBB and the health and safety team. He has consistently done hard and dirty work with little to no recognition and has been an invaluable asset to OUUC and we are really lucky to have him.” Marie Arensmeyer

"Jerald has been the BEST!!!

He has climbed ladders, balanced on all manner of devices to hang our quilts. He is brilliant in figuring out the best way to show our fiber offerings. We appreciate Jerald’s assistance hanging the sanctuary quilt. He was a good teacher, providing needed guidance, and patient with our many ideas and trials. The Sewing Ministry is so very grateful for Jerald Dodson." Karen Jackson and Wendy Tanner

"I don’t remember how many years ago it was that new OUUC member young Jerald Dodson was introduced to me during coffee between Sunday services in the Commons one day and knowing how much B & G needed volunteers I helped “put the arm” on him to become a member. And that day not knowing what he would be getting involved in he agreed!! Since then he’s been involved in numerous significant tasks ranging from replacing the grinder pump in the tank from which sewage is pumped up to the main on East End Street when the original pump failed, to assisting then Board President Michelle Hendrickson and a security expert she had recruited with evicting the homeless individuals living in the Annex because the then responsible individual (not an OUUC Member) allowed the whole matter to get out of control and appealed for help. In recent years when no one else volunteered Jerald agreed to chair B & G and he has done a superb job of always being there when no one else was to shovel snow to moderating conflicts between fellow B & G’rs during our meetings to replacing ballasts on light fixtures to being our institutional memory on almost everything important to our facility. I cannot say enough positive about Jerald’s infinite patience with everyone of us and everything involved in B & G over the years I’ve been involved." Don Melnick

"Besides being Susan’s right-hand help with the ebay project, Jerald has been the steadfast and knowledgeable “Captain” of the Building and Grounds Team for forever. He not only directs the B&G crew, but he’s hands-on, actively working to keep the OUUC ship afloat. You can often see him at OUUC any day of the week installing this or repairing that. He is truly an unsung treasure for OUUC." Joe Joy

We truly are so grateful for Jerald! Thank you for all you do, and for being the force of care and love that you are, Jerald.

Do you have an amazing volunteer in mind to be volunteer of the month later this year? Please share your nominations on this nominating form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfge1ZE9oociSkJY850QhkqNGr8AZ-kkSLDSev-E-a8p7ClqQ/viewform?usp=sf_link

While the process has largely remained unchanged over the past several years, there have been a few refinements in the past few years. The Share the Plate (STP) Committee solicits applications from nonprofit organizations, who then submit an online application consisting of organizational information, as well as answers to six questions that are scored by the Share the Plate Committee. Our goal is to choose organizations that are primarily focused on racial justice, economic justice and/or climate justice. Supporting the Unitarian Universalist principles is also a major consideration. Organizations are only eligible for an award every fourth year, with priority given to South Sound area organizations/programs with budgets at or below $750,000. Admittedly it is a wide range of attributes to balance when evaluating applications! Lastly, starting in 2021, 1/8 of the funds collected for the Share the Plate portion of collections has been allocated to the Minister’s Benevolence Fund for smaller, time sensitive assistance to those in need.

We will be reviewing and making any necessary changes to our application in late summer this year and accepting applications in September and October for the 2025 calendar year. If you are interested in serving on the STP Committee, please contact Bob Brennand at bobbrennand@gmail.com or 360-310-0747. Further information is also on the OUUC website under the Justice Overview tab.

Thanks for all your generous contributions in 2023! Each charity received an average of $2,804. The combined contributions to STP and the Minister’s Benevolence Fund were the second highest ever. All organizations were very grateful for our support which helped them achieve their goals.

The six organizations that received funding in 2023 were as follows, with links to their websites if you are interested in learning more about the organization or volunteering with them:

Jan-Feb 2023: The Community Kitchen

Mar-Apr 2023: HOPE Garden Project (Hands On Personal Empowerment)

May-Jun 2023: Arrest and Jail Alternatives Program

Jul-Aug 2023: Haki Farmers Collective

Sep-Oct 2023: Black Power Initiative

Nov-Dec 2023: Olympia Community Solar

During the 2023 STP process, there were several organizations that weren’t chosen by the STP Committee as a STP recipient, but that were put on OUUC’s “radar” by applying. Two of these, Oly EcoSystems and ASHHO Cultural Community & Job Training Center (CCJTC), were chosen as recipients of Books, Beans and Brownies (BBB) funding by the Faith in Action Committee.

For our six two-month period openings in 2024, we had nineteen applicants, including several newer, smaller organizations.

Here is a summary of each organization, along a link to their website so you can learn more about them.

January-February 2024 – The Thurston County Medical Equipment Bank mission is to provide free and/or affordable medical equipment and supplies to seniors, their families and individuals with disabilities. Their goal is to provide them with support, and equipment that aids in rebuilding their physical and mental strength and makes it possible to maintain their independence and overall well-being.

March-April 2024 - The Hawk Foundation for Research and Education in African Culture

dedicates itself to the promotion of education, holistic health and trauma healing in the African American community, with recognition that when one is healed it touches those around them. They plan to utilize the funds to help provide their evidence based drum circles to our youth juvenile detention centers and also their homeless youth of color drum programs.

May-June 2024 - The Crisis Clinic of Thurston & Mason Counties stated mission is to “provide compassionate support and resources to empower those in crisis, every hour of the day” in an effort to serve and respond to any member of our shared community experiencing crisis. They operate both a main Crisis Line and a Teen/Youth Hotline.

July-August 2024 - The South Sound Reading Foundation brings the joy and promise of books and reading to all our region’s children. They plan on purchasing diverse and bilingual books to share with children, youth, and families, throughout our region.

September-October 2024 – All Kids Win’s mission is to end the cycle of homelessness one student at a time by providing food security for local middle and high school students. They serve over 1,000 students per week.

November-December 2024 – The Collaborative Association for Reintegration & Education’s mission is to support community transformation by addressing all forms of discrimination against justice-impacted youth and young adults who have experienced incarceration or detention. They fulfill this mission by connecting these individuals to a robust network of community resources and by raising awareness in the broader community about the critical importance of reintegration and recovery.

Thanks to the time, dedication, and spirited and thoughtful discussions from the STP Committee members this year. Besides numerous meetings to discuss and update the application and suggest ways to improve the process and encourage more diverse applications, each member provided feedback on the 73 pages of applications we received. Thanks also to Darlene, Rev. Mary, and Rev. Sara for their support.

• Tom Best
• Bob Brennand
• Selden Hall
• Anne Hundley (special thanks for spearheading the production of all the videos)
• John Rapano
• Wendy Tanner
• Aurora Winters

Tonight at 5:30 pm, we will hold our 2nd annual chili cook off. Dust off your favorite chili recipe and submit a pot of chili to be voted on at the community dinner! There will be prizes to be won.

Let Rev Sara know if you plan to bring a pot of chili, and if it will be veggie or meat based. Or just bring your own muffin tin to sample all the different options and offer your expert opinion to help determine the winners! 😋

After dinner options (6:30ish) include the Kid Citizenship Class, Prayers from the Heart group, UU Christian group, UU Buddhist group, and Faith in Action Action Hour.

In this week's Tiny Little News, two members share about our Newcomer Buddy program:

Website: https://www.ouuc.org

Email: liberalfaith@ouuc.org

Location: 2306 East End St NW, Olympia, WA, USA
Phone: (360) 634-2005

Office Hours

Tuesday - Thursday, 10:00 am - 2:00 pm

Staff Contacts

Rev. Mary Gear, Minister

Rev. Sara Lewis, Director of Community and Faith Development

Troy Fisher, Music Director

Darlene Sarkela, Congregational Administrator

Isaac Jennings, Business Manager

Teresa Madsen, Communications & Tech Coordinator

Marie Arensmeyer, Facilities Manager

Anissa Bentlemsani, Religious Education Assistant

Carbon Marshall, Tech Specialist