|
|
Are you interested in making more and deeper connections with other women and a building community at First Universalist? That’s what you’ll find through AUW, the Association of Universalist Women. Well over 200 women participate in AUW programs annually.
AUW is vibrant and welcoming, committed to serving and reflecting the needs of its members. Come be a part of the joy, the community, and the energy that AUW has embodied for over 100 years!
The annual Spring Retreat is the highlight of AUW’s year. Whether you are a longtime AUW member or a newcomer (and soon-to-be friend) we invite you to join us for a weekend of fun, growth, and relaxation!
This year’s Retreat will offer ways to discover what defines your personal balance and brings you to a joyful place of strength and self-expression. As always, you have your choice of workshops, guided meditation, nature walks and other activities focused on discovering balance through music, movement, writing, meditation and spirituality.
WHEN: 5pm Fri, April 13th through 1pm Sun, April 15th, 2012
WHERE: Koinonia Retreat Center, Annandale, MN, about 75 min drive from Twin Cities.
FEE: $205 for non-AUW members and $175 for current AUW members for two nights' stay, five meals and all activities. Scholarships are available.
Members’ Priority Registration starts Sunday, Feb 12th. General registration will start Feb 26th. You MUST be a paid-up member of AUW by FEB 7th in order to claim priority registration for the Retreat. Mark these dates, because the Retreat sells out extremely quickly!
To join AUW before Feb 7th, download the AUW Membership Form here, fill it out and send /drop at First Universalist Church office along with payment of dues. You can also get a form and pay in person at the Hub on Sun Feb 5th.
To register for the Retreat: This can be done starting Feb 12 (for AUW members) in person at The Hub or on the 2012 retreat website http://auwretreat2012.weebly.com. More instructions there!
To learn more about the 2012 Spring Retreat: visit http://auwretreat2012.weebly.com.
AUW REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS EVENTS
Reproductive justice is a hot button topic in this election year. The Sacred Choices Reproductive Rights group invites you to an Intergenerational Film & Discussion Night on Fri, Feb 10th, 6.30pm - 9.30pm, in the Social Hall. Anybody aged 13-100+ yrs is welcome and encouraged to take part! "The Fragile Promise of Choice" by award-winning filmmaker Dorothy Fadiman examines how worsening socio-economic, political and legal conditions for reproductive justice have affected the lives of providers and the women who seek their services. The film also looks at the complexity of religious issues. How does faith lead to supporting a pro-choice and not just an anti-abortion viewpoint? The evening starts with pizza dinner followed by the film and discussion. RSVP not necessary but helpful; contact Cathy Apostle at caquilt51@aol.com. Please reserve childcare by Sat Feb 4th; contact Lily Franz in the church office at Lily@firstuniv.org, 612 825 1701 x107.
MN Pro-Choice Lobby Day at the State Capitol
Following on the heels of this event is the annual MN Pro-Choice Lobby Day at the State Capitol on Wed Feb 15th. Join the First Universalist contingent and make your voice heard! Say no to any attempts to restrict reproductive freedom in Minnesota! The event takes place 8am - 4pm and includes a training led by NARAL, boxed breakfast & lunch, a noon rally in the Rotunda, and visits to legislators in the afternoon. You don't have to stay all afternoon. Or just come for the noon Rally! More info and online registration is at http://www.prochoicelobbyday.org/. Carpooling in the morning from church will be organized (details tba).
AUW KNITTING FELLOWSHIP
AUW is organizing a short series of beginners' basic knitting classes this winter with the women of Ascension Place transitional housing, to be held at their facility in North Mpls. The knitting classes will give us an opportunity to get to know AP women individually. A group of women knitting & chatting in fellowship is always great fun! There will be 4 sessions, Thu eves from 7pm - 8.30pm, Feb 16th - Mar 8th. You can sign up to be a 'teacher' or 'fellow knitter'. "Teachers" will instruct the group while "fellow knitters" will provide help and encouragement. All participants can sign up for any of the sessions.
The first project will be a simple cotton washcloth. The week before class starts, we will assemble kits of needles, yarn and instruction sheets for students. Thank you to Knitting Technical Advisors Pamela Vincent, Catherine Mandle and Barb Melom for designing the kits. And thanks to all who donated yarn & needles at church recently!
A note about volunteering: 1) volunteers must be aged 15 and up. 2) You must fill out and submit a Background Check form to Ascension Place; this requires a driver's license number. Download form. Please snail mail, fax or email scanned completed forms to Ascension Place at least 5 days before your class. The address etc is on the form.
Sign-up sheets and Background Check forms are at the Hub, or, contact Tracy Yue at mailto:tksytutu@gmail.com
Get Involved
Get involved with AUW programming and you’ll get to know lots of great women! Volunteering is a wonderful, easy way to meet people and give back. Sign up for a one-time task, or share your skills by joining an event team or sub-committee. AUW programs are successful only because of many helping hands. Volunteer sign-up sheets will be at the Hub. You can also email auw.firstuniv@gmail.com. Thank you!
Refer to the monthly AUW Newsletters for details and news.)
|
Submitting Content to the AUW Website
If you have text to contribute, please send it in Microsoft Word compatible or text file format. It will help me if you do not go through and format it beautifully because I will just have to manually remove that. Some Word formatting drives the web software crazy.
To contact me - scroll way down to the bottom of any page on this website and click on the Contact the Web Mistress link.
|
|
| |
|
|
