President's Perspective, Ann Miller Rillo

Once again, we've passed through the Autumnal Equinox and are now looking forward to the fourth quarter of the year 2011.

We must thank Howard Richman and the fourth quarter Services Committee for their plans to fill the pulpit on those Sundays when our minister, Reverend Dr. Betty Stapleford will not be here. If you have not served on a Services Committee recently, I urge you to do so. The quality of our services depends upon each of us.

NOTICES:

UUCVH is slated to host the Valley Vespers Service this month. Save this date: Wednesday, October 26th at 7:30 p.m. Each minister in our cluster will present a short sermon, and of course, there will be hymns. It will be inspirational to hear their messages. Refreshments will be served in the Fellowship Hall. If you are inclined to bake cookies or make your special dip, please get in touch wilh Celia Eiben, our Hospitality Coordinator. The social hour is always a wonderful opportunity to connect with our sister congregations, see old friends and make new friends as well.

I want to give a special Thank You to the "Home & Gardens Floral Society." Week after week, Charlotte Holley and Edith Young bring beauty and grace into our sanctuary with their inspirational floral arrangements. Thank you both.

Another special thanks goes to Celia Eiben. Celia gets the coffee started every Sunday morning... mmmm the aroma of fresh coffee. She puts the goodies on the table, and then she puts it all away. I know some of you help with the clean-up... thanks to each of you as well.

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Thank you, Membership Committee.

Thank you, Social Action Circle.

Thank you, Sound Engineers.

Thank you, Paula Hallowell. Building & maintainence / Movie night / Aesthetics.

Thank you, Finance Committee... $$$ matters.

Thanks to our newly formed By-laws Committee: Florence Chase, Linda Hunt, and Edith Young.

Thank you, Office Manager. You keep us ship-shape.

Thank you, Manon, the banner is lovely.

Thanks to the knitters.

Thank you Board members & Trustees, your dedication to keeping our little ship afloat is commendable.

In other words, it takes all of us to make our congregation as wonderful as it is!!!

We have a very exciting development coming soon. Three special Board meetings were held with Forest H. to consider his proposal for his Boy Scout Eagle Award. The Board gave final conditional approval for Forest to build an open arbor just outside the double doors in the hallway connecting the Sanctuary to the Fellowship Hall. The arbor will be 11' x 16' and between 9' and 10' tall. He proposes to do the work on the first weekend in October. Thank you, Forest.

And finally: Are you a Chalice Lighter? Yes? thank you. If not, why not???

My best to you for a wonderfully fulfilling UUCVH month. I send my love,

Ann Miller Rillo