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Northwoods Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, Brainerd/ Pine River MN 5/21/14

Greetings: On May 17, we were honored to have a guest minister conducting our service, Rev. Suzanne Wasilczuk from Duluth. She serves Mesabi Unitarian Church in Virginia, as well as consults in Thunder Bay, Ontario, and several other venues around the UU circuit. The subject was Rhythms of Life, filled with song and inspiration for living the joyful life. We were happy to have Drew Hines, guitarist, to accompany the hymns and provide the prelude. As the last scheduled meeting in the 13/14 calendar, it was a perfect uplifting close to the year.... Now, the summer will have picnics, the next at the Gay Pride gathering in Brainerd on June 14, where we will have a table and presence in support of solidarity with that part of the community. In July and August, the picnics will probably be held at the Pine River park; watch this column for details.

Today, we held a planning meeting with Happy Dancing Turtle, for a series of fall events for which we will partner, on harvesting and other agricultural practices. The dates are Sept. 11, 25; October 9, 23. More updates will be posted as programs are developed.

Respectfully submitted, Mary DeYoung, news director 218-587-2543

Post 42

Northwoods Unitarian Universalist Fellowship 5/16/14

Greetings! We have been seeking to retire the Travelin Truth Telling Tour of Native American author's books, and have found a home for them at Central Lakes College in Brainerd. The Humphrey Center for American Indian Studies is located in the Skone Family Conservatory and is part of the library in the east wing of the Brainerd CLC Campus. The main area is a museum housing interpretive displays on Ojibway culture. It also houses more than 3000 books, research materials, resources and programming on American Indian cultures and related issues.  Although our donation is small, we are delighted that they will be added to a collection dedicated to preserving and promoting writing by Native authors in the spirit of truth telling about the past, and reconciliation. This is a furtherance of our goals as stated in the 2011 Resolution on the Condition of the Indigenous People, to promote education and understanding between the cultures.

The transfer should take place after June 2, when the summer sessions start and the library is open.

Respectfully submitted, Mary DeYoung, News Director 218-587-2543

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Northwoods Unitarian Universalist Fellowship Brainerd/Pine River MN 5/1/14

Greetings! the final event in the series Feast, Film&Forum was held this evening at Happy Dancing Turtle, in co-sponsorship with NUUF. The topic was GMOs, a film presentation by Jeffrey Smith, based on his book Seeds of Deception. His lecture was an expose of the additions of genetically modified entities into the food chain by chemical companies, and the cover up by those in government responsible for regulation and protection of the consuming public. This is the last in the series of five public meetings on food issues, and covered a wide range of concerns for food production in a safe and healthy manner. We were pleased to be part of this educational effort, and plans are under discussion to hold more meetings in the fall on harvesting.

Recently an email went out to newsletter recipients, asking for comments on our proposal to write a Resolution calling for a rescinding of the Citizens United ruling by the Supreme Court, the one which recognizes corporations as people with rights thereto. We set a deadline of this weekend, but will delay an actual vote until members have returned from summer break. If you received the request, we would appreciate hearing your thoughts on this as soon as possible, so we can complete language for the Resolution. Your attention will be greatly appreciated!

Respectfully submitted, Mary DeYoung, News Director  218-587-2543