President's Perspective, Ann Miller Rillo

November. Shorter days. Longer nights. Sweater weather. Changes in the night sky.

Some of us are making plans for Thursday, November 24th . . . Thinking back on Thanksgivings in the past, I will never forget the year the bird was still frozen. My husband cut it up with his saber saw, I put it in the oven, and we all went for a long walk. And then there was the year, just the two of us, when we ate hot dogs and red Jello . . . and laughed. Last year, the creamed onions were a disaster. My Aunt Barbara always cooked a turkey, drove to Pasadena for the community feast for street people. She said it nourished her.

I'll let you know later if this year is “memorable” or just a really nice gathering.

A few days ago I got an email from Kate Wallace at UUSC. Her message was to remind me about the annual Guest at Your Table collection. I know that Jeanne Akerley, our office manager, has already sent in our order for the envelopes . . . I think the envelopes are new this year.

Here are a few ideas Kate included in her email. Some might strike a chord with you. Some may not be feasible for our congregation.

• The Kittitas Valley UU Congregation in Ellensburgh, WA, held a Thanksgiving dinner for those with no family in the area and during the event accepted contributions toward Guest at Your Table.
• Children at Mountain Light UU in Elligay, GA, created a thankfulness art project with 100 things that members are thankful for. They unveiled it at the Guest at Your Table opening service to contrast their blessings with those who benefit from UUSC's work.
• UUSC Volunteer Regional Coordinator, Tracey Howe-Koch of Missouri, keeps a Guest at Your Table box by her washing machine to collect spare change she finds in the laundry, and then contributes that amount annually.
• Rev. Amy Zucker Morgenstern of the UU Church of Palo Alto created a "hope calendar" (similar to an advent calendar) for participants to read daily suggested questions, conversation starters, and activities based on Stories of Hope as they put money in their Guest at Your Table box.

I call your attention to #3. I used that plan a year or so ago when I wanted to save a particular amount of money. It worked! I shall re-instate it for the Guest at Your Table drive.

However you decide to put money aside for Guest at Your Table, you can be certain in your mind and in your heart that the money you donate will be used to continue UUSC's human rights work.

Many thanks to Bruce Kates for his time and effort securing pianists every week. These musicians are in fact auditioning for our position as pianist at UUCVH.

I send you my heartfelt wishes for a healthy and rewarding month.

Ann Miller Rillo