Congratulations to New UUA President

Tonight at 8pm Mountain Time, the Secretary of the Association Paul Richter will announce the new UUA President. The era of Bill Sinkford is officially over.

Laurel Hallman is the clear front runner, and it will be little surprise if she wins tonight with 55% of the vote. She has the money and the endorsements, much of it lined up well before officially declaring, scaring away other potential candidates. Laurel is the status quo candidate, and in our small “family-style” faith, has the bulk of major rich, leaders of influence and access, and UUA support. Key money and organizational people behind at least the last 3 UUA Presidents, are behind Dr. Hallman. She’ll be a fine president.

A Rev. Morales victory will deeply and gently unsettle the traditional powers of the UUA. With fewer endorsements and resources, Morales has benefited from a crisp vision. It will be the biggest upset and most significant change institutionally should he win the UUA Presidency.

I look forward to congratulating the new leader of our association, and also reading the financial disclosure report! More on that later.

Twittering and Facebook Take Over Blogging

I just don’t have the energy to blog these days! I get to Facebook more given the privacy and the ability to also engage in community organizing and work. Now, I’ve been convinced to start Twittering (radicalhapa). We’ll see what becomes of this blog…

Build a Columbia Smart Bridge!

There has been an ongoing policy advocacy struggle in the Portland-Vancouver metro area over replacing the aging Interstate Bridge that crosses the Columbia River. I’m a resident who lives blocks from both the Interstate Freeway, and a mile from the river. The current plans are terrible, calling for an expansion to a 12 lane freeway, without quality mass-transit and other congestion tools.

A colleague at the Coalition for the Livable Future shared this Letter to the Editor:

Anna Griffin’s Saturday column dismisses the thousands of hours that citizens have dedicated to thoughtfully shaping the Columbia River Crossing by likening their work to keying a Hummer. Car keying is vandalism. Healthy civic debate is democracy.

“Try leaving a Prius brochure on the window instead” concludes Griffin. Many of us have been doing this very thing for over four years. Coalition for a Livable Future is calling for a Climate Smart CRC, one that will stabilize the amount we drive at or below today’s levels so that we can avoid consequences from global warming pollution. Smarter Bridge, a group of concerned citizens, has proposed another idea. Both are suggesting that we fix the problems in the crossing, while also recognizing that every investment we make with our limited resources must prepare us for a sustainable future. Unfortunately, no matter how you spin it, a twelve lane CRC is not a healthy choice for our region.

–

Jill Fuglister
Co-Director
Coalition for a Livable Future
107 SE Washington, Ste. 239
Portland, OR 97214
Voice: 503-294-2889
Fax: 503-225-0333
Web: www.clfuture.org
Are you a CLF member? Join now and help connect people, organizations and issues for a sustainable and healthy Portland-Vancouver region.

Where to be on Election Night

1992 was the first year I remember gathering to watch election returns.  I was already in college at the University of Oregon, and was mesmorized that a Democrat could actually win the White House.  Clinton came to campus once, and even played his sax.  I remember gathering with a whole bunch of friends for beers.

1996 I was in Colorado doing political work, and so the place to be was at the Democratic Party at a downtown hotel.  I remember bumping into a few UO grads who were out there campaigning as well!

2000 and 2004 were nights to watch from the road or in graduate school.  2000 was the most disturbing with the whole Republican machine in action. By 2004, our kids were in the picture.  This year, 2008, 3 kids, I’ll be on fivethirtyeight.com and watching the news!

People’s Church of Chicago

Patrick Murfin writes a little history about Rev. Preston Bradley.  I read it with great interest.  Years ago, I met a young UU who lived down the street from the Peoples Church UU on the North side of Chicago on West Lawrence St.  We went there several times, and later I attended a UU Urban Ministry Conference there.  It is an amazing facility, 7 stories or so, thousand person sanctuary, and Rev. Bradley’s name is engraved on the outside.  Its story was lumped in with other great urban congregations that declined with White Flight in the 1970s.  I didn’t learn more (nor did I see much at the church about its history…today there are only a handful of memberes).

It is remarkable to read of Bradley’s development, as well as recognize the marginalization he experienced (as has been reported) with peers and UUA leadership.  It makes me wonder if the respect and relationship were stronger, would the great UU ministry he established in a changing, multiracial neighborhood, have been strengthened and spreading among the many cultures that live there today?  The lesson of Theodore Parkers great ministry in Boston and the great decline when he left has taught us much about the need for collective support and care for our faith, to make it sustainable.  I pray that we make this effort with those who minister in communities, or in ways, not always in the mainstream of suburban UU congregations.

My Heart Still Aches

And I’m not sure how I feel about this Knoxville UU Ad Campaign. I wish this story would come out without having to advertise.

They Can Donate To Us

Why not a few million for a good progressive faith?  Or a great activist group?  Or maybe, a great faith activist group?

Do Any UU Churches Live Webcast?

I know a number of UU Churches have podcasts of their services, after the fact.  The UUA has webcasted parts of GA.  Anyone know of a UU Church that webcasts their Sunday Service?

Gone Fishing

Friday Family Photos.  Aneroid Lake, outside Joseph, Oregon.

Everett Martin Rest in Peace

One of the folks I enjoyed working with at the NE Coalition of Neighborhoods this last year, Everett Martin, passed away July 12.  He was a community activist and Rider Advocate on the Tri-Met system.  Everett took me on a tour of his work on day, and I admired his rapport with young and old on the streets.  He was the union steward at NECN, and a man with integrity.  He died suddenly of cancer.  He will be missed.  His young son, Everett Jr, was a joy to play with when he came over for dinner last year.  Rest in Peace.