Committees: There are several committees that handle various aspects of our community life. Anyone can join most committees, but a few are only by invitation or election. Here is a brief description of the committees. You can contact the person listed or the UUFF office and let them know you want to help:
Committee Chairs:
Chalice Team (in charge of Sunday Services when minister is gone) – Nancy McShane
nancymcshane@sbcglobal.net
Music – Ruth Vacin, rvacin@yahoo.com
Building/Sexton – Gene Vinzant, dvinzan@uark.edu
Communications – Chava Schacter, btoll@hughes.net
Finance – Susan Schroeder, shs49@cox.net
Grounds – John King, jwking@uark.edu
Leadership Development – Charlotte Taylor, chtaylo@uark.edu
Membership – Teresa Honey Youngblood, teresa.youngblood@gmail.com
Caring and Sharing (coordinator) – Brooke Eldredge, brooke.eldredge@yahoo.com
Stewardship – Starr Austin, starrthinks@gmail.com
Personnel – Roberta Kaplan, bertielee247@gmail.com
RE – Sara Sawyer, satogy@driftersinn.com/a>
Auction Committee – Carol Olson colson514@cox.net
Committee Chair Vacancies:
Fundraising – vacant
Green Sanctuary – vacant
Hospitality/Food and Fun – vacant
Social Justice – vacant
Task Forces/Ad Hoc Committee Chairs
Committee Structure – Joe Eucalano, jeuculan@uark.edu
Committee Tasks
Membership: welcomes newcomers, leads “New UU” classes and new member ceremonies, maintains membership directory, trains and organizes Greeters. Contact: Teresa Youngblood (info above).
Communications: coordinates the web site, newsletter, and Facebook page, publicizes events, connects congregation with community and our UU Association of Congregations. Contact: Chava Schacter btoll@hughes.net (790-2387)
Grounds: maintains landscape and Memorial Garden, plants flowers and ground cover. Contact: John King, jwking@uark.edu (799-9559)
Religious Education: coordinates Sunday School and summer programs for young people (ages 4+), family fun activities, and evening YoUUth Group. Contact: Sara Sawyer (info above).
Hospitality: organizes Coffee Hour snacks after the Sunday service and social events throughout the year. Contact UUFF office.
Music: coordinates choir practices (anyone can join the choir), pageants and musical events and guest musicians. Contact: Ruth Vacin (info above).
Social Justice: liaisons with local community action and service organizations, selects recipients for Share the Plate collections, organizes actions that promote justice and help others, oversees the Green Sanctuary task force. Contact UUFF office.
Stewardship: encourages the spirit of generosity throughout the year, plans the annual pledge drive and activities to raise awareness and offer appreciation. Contact Starr Austin starrthinks@gmail.com (387-0592)
Building: helps maintain the church building and annex. Contact UUFF office.
Chalice Team: works with ministers to plan lay-led services, assists with services, coordinates and trains ushers, decorates the sanctuary. Contact Nancy McShane nancymcshane@sbcglobal.net
Caring and Sharing: contacts members who are ill or in need, coordinates getting what they need, helps with funerals and other special occasions. Contact UUFF Office.
Membership of the following committees is by invitation or election only, but you should know who’s working behind the scenes to keep everything functioning:
Board of Directors: makes policy for the fellowship, monitors finances and all committees, fundraising, and future planning.
Finance: keeps track of budgets, pledges, expenses and income, guides the Board in allocating expenses.
Leadership Development: identifies, encourages, and develops leaders, allocates resources for sending leaders to workshops and conferences.
Personnel: oversees paid staff, hiring, job descriptions and evaluations.
Other Groups: Groups built around a specific task or idea are open to anyone who wants to join. These include:
Fundraising:
Parking for Razorback Football Games – Contact Tom Sawyer or uuff@sbcglobal.net
Parking for U of A Students – Contact UUFF office
The Annual Jazz Concert (December) – Contact Gretchen Wilkes
gwilkes@farmcards.org (267-2717)
Affinity Groups:
Women’s Drum Circle: contact Beverly Toll at btoll@hughes.net
Interweave (for GLBTQ and allies) – Contact Denise & Raymond joyandgratitude@yahoo.com (587-9351)
Web of Life (for Earth-based and Pagan interests) – Contact UUFF office
Book Club – Contact Nancy McShane, nancymcshane@sbcglobal.net (442-2114)
Fiber Arts (Yarn and fabric arts) – Contact Linda Peck, lindapeck2@gmail.com (846-3044)
Yoga (evening group) – Contact UUFF office
Full Circle of NWA (adoption support group) – Contact Marty Smith memarty22@yahoo.com (479-305-1017)
If you don’t see your interest represented, speak to the ministers about starting a group that matches your talents.
