Be as a bird perched on a frail branch that she feels bending beneath her, still she sings away all the same, knowing she has wings. - Victor Hugo
God loved the birds and invented trees. Man loved the birds and invented cages. - Jacques Deval
Use what talents you possess; the woods would be very silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best. - Henry Van Dyke
My theme this month is birds for several reasons. First, and pardon me - I haven’t “laid an egg,”that is a bad pun, for quite a while - I am at this point a Lame Duck President and second, I’m thus singing my Swan Song!
There are, however, other bird references in my text below. We are all “birds of a feather”here at Orange Coast Unitarian Universalist Church. We have our sometimes striking differences but, mostly, we are more alike than not.
What have we done in the last two years here at OCUUC?
We have increased our non-profit organization rentals to include many, besides the 12-step organizations, that pay us a decent amount of steady income, thanks to the continuing efforts by Meg Wilson. This is assisting us in many ways including maintaining our facilities.
We have engaged in two very successful Canvass Campaigns, the latest spectacularly so. The number of volunteers was rather amazing and pleasing to accomplish these feats. The Mama Bird, of course was Sunny Harper who has served for two years as Chair of the Canvass Committee or, more accurately, perhaps, Covey. Those who helped with the fantastic Canvass Lunch kickoff were Sarah Hunter, Linda Spery, and Meg Wilson.
We have lurched along like a bird with a broken wing toward finding ways to complete the plans made to build a Sanctuary Building. These plans were made by those who went through the struggles of the move from Victoria Street to Mesa Verde Dr. East. We seem to have built up enough enthusiasm that now we have an experienced fund raiser, Linda Spery, willing to take on the task of assessing how large a Sanctuary Fund we could amass in the next three years.
We have a flock of wise owls (fittingly called a “parliament”) who have been willing to take on the governance issues dealt with by the Board of Trustees of OCUUC. We on the Board have worked diligently to give us all assurance that our greater flock will be cared for by continuing the UU presence in Costa Mesa. They include: Debra Quam, Treasurer; Meg Wilson, VP Finance; Karen Kennedy, VP Programs; Sue Quam, Recorder; Kathleen McFarlin, Trustee; Elysse James, Trustee; Maria Goode, Trustee; Dar Ritter, Trustee. I have leaned an enormous amount about dedication and accomplishment from these people.
I have been honored to be your president these last two years and look forward to serving on the Board for another two as a Trustee should you so approve at the Annual Congregational Meeting.
Donald Martin
Lame Duck president@ocuuc.org