UUSG Membership Committee

Mission Statement of the Membership Committee:
To support the integration of new members and friends into our church community
and to be a welcoming presence to all visitors.

Visitor Outreach:
Committee members attend social hours in the Common Room after all Saturday and Sunday services so we can welcome visitors, provide brochures, and answer any questions you may have about Unitarian-Universalism and the Unitarian Universalist Society of Geneva. Look for us (we will be wearing Membership Committee badges) … and we will be looking for you.

New UU Sessions:
The committee presents orientation programs each year during February and October. Each orientation consists of four sessions on consecutive Sunday afternoons or evenings in which we explore core values, the diversity of our beliefs, the evolution of Unitarianism-Universalism, the history of the Unitarian Universalist Society of Geneva, and how you can become involved. Anyone is welcome to attend, whether visitors or members who wish to refresh and expand their understanding of our religious heritage.

The Next New UU Sessions will be held in October 2007, exact dates to be determined.
Ask any committee member for more information.

Who to Ask?
Jill Brown and Bev Coe are Co-Chairs of the Membership Committee. Other members include Mark Alleman, Kathy Basil, Bob Brubaker, Linda Burke, Joanne Erickson, Helen Hawkins, Maddy Bowling, and Gail Tattersfield.

How to Get Involved in UUSG?

Elba Karim, Chair of the Lifespan Religious Education Committee, discusses offerings for children and adults at a New UU Session on November 5, 2006

• Attend our Saturday services at 5 p.m. or Sunday services at 9 and 11 a.m.
• Come to the Common Room after services for coffee and conversation.
• Attend one of the meetings held periodically such as the Committee Collections Social to learn about volunteer opportunities on committees ranging from Worship, Finance, and Facilities to Green Sanctuary, Social Justice, and Communication.

Rev. Adam Robersmith discusses the history of Unitarian-Universalism and our faith traditions at a New UU Session on October 29, 2006.

• Attend the New UU sessions in February or October.
• Volunteer to teach in Lifespan Religious Education classes and attend the Wednesday Evening RE programs for children and adults.
• Sign up for Circle Suppers that bring together changing groups for great food and conversation in members’ homes.
• Visit and join one of the many Covenant Groups that bring together small groups of members and friends interested in themes such as The Arts, Reiki, Big Ideas, and Simple Living or meet at times such as Second Sunday or Third Tuesdays to discuss a variety of topics and share experiences and concerns.

Kevin O’Neill, Chair of the Finance Committee, discusses financial support,
part of a session on November 5, 2006, in which Board Members explained
how UUSG is organized.

• Join the Adult or Junior Choir or share your musical talents in other ways at services and other programs.
• Help the homeless at Lazarus House by volunteering for meal preparation or overnight supervision.
• Volunteer for activities such as Crop Walk’s campaign against hunger or Habitat for Humanity’s work on building homes for low-income families or providing Christmas gifts for inmates at the Illinois Youth Center.

  Getting to Know You:
  To help new and current members and friends of UUSG get to know each other, the Membership Committee tries to obtain photographs and biographical sketches of new members for our bulletin board and a New Members notebook. See any member of the committee to obtain a blank biography form and Bob Brubaker to make arrangements for your photograph.

Our New Members in 2006:

March: Deborah C. Brod, Donald Brod, Brent George, Nancy Goodfellow, Pat A Mglej, Gina Neely, Jeanne Neltor, William Pokorny, Aubrey Purdy, Vincent J. Schuster, Jeanette Turley, Caran Wakefield, Clarence Wiese, Sharon Wiese. Reactivated: Sandy Hoffman, James T. King.

June-July: Ian Bartoszek, Chris Hanson, Caitlin Mackey, Tina & Ken King, Dawn Pokorny, Mary & Jim & Dillon Roberts, Marty Roman, Cynthia & Marko & Elena Spiegel, Grant Steskal.

November: Rob Plunkett

One of Our Most Recent New Members:

Cynthia Spiegel, shown at a party celebrating her years as choir director at UUSG, is no newcomer to our church. After five years directing our choir, she decided to resign in June, 2006, so she she could have time to pursue other musical opportunities in the Chicago area as a soprano soloist and member of professional ensembles. But in that same month, she signed our membership book along with her husband Marco and daughter Elena.