Other items of interest: UUFDC has an active Social Responsibility Committee (SRC) Co-chaired by Chuck Lauter and Jacquie Polzin. The mission of the committee is two-fold. To provide information and education that supports the exchange of  ideas on local, national, global, and denominational issues of social justice. To recommend and provide opportunities for social action in the community and the world. Recently, the committee has adopted a yearly theme to focus its efforts. This year (2008) the theme is “Economic Injustice.” This theme renews attention of the Fellowship on continuing projects (see below) and presents exciting possibilities to address issues such as adequate workforce housing in Door County, affordable local transportation, health care for the uninsured and underserved (locally, nationally, and world-wide), economic discrimination, and even global ideas like re-distibution of wealth. Our service on February 3, 2008 addressed earning a living in Door County and riveted our attention on economic injustice. We were also reminded of the intractability of poverty. In Door County where affluence is all around us, 20% of the families live in poverty. This condition occurs due to the lack of consistent employment with good pay and benefits, and/or lack of appropriate housing and/or lack of reasonable transportation to worksites. Recognizing the enormity of trying to ameliorate all these conditions, the SRC plans to help the Fellowship focus on workforce housing and affordable transportation. Local discussion is already under way on both these topics and the SRC encourages all members of the Fellowship to get involved forthcoming plans. We will provide other opportunities for education and action on these local issues in the future. On Justice Sunday (March 30, 2008) we look at economic injustice on a broader scale. In the service and in educational materials provided at the service we examine “The Cost of Iraq” and the fact that war costs fall disproportionably on the poor. In the discussion after the service we will develop responses to this issue. In 2007, the committee focused on the theme “Earth-Friendly Choices.” We co-sponsored a screening of the documentary “An Inconvenient Truth,” attended by 300 people. Nan Fey, an author of the Chequamegon Initiative and chair of the Madison City Plan Commission, introduced the Natural Step concept to the Fellowship. Only local foods were served  in a “coffee-less” hour , along with information on fuel saved and pollution prevented. We sold 60 10-packs of compact fluorescent light bulbs. SRC began to designate the third Sunday of each month as car pool Sunday in the hope that this will become a habit each Sunday. The committee conducted a Natural Step study group, open to the public, in June and July, 2007. And the SRC sponsored an art project for members to decorate cloth grocery bags for regular use. Each year the committee distributes funds budgeted by the Fellowship for social justice causes. In the past 18 months we contributed to Fair Wisconsin Votes No, The Community Clinic of Door County, the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC) for its work in Darfur, the Wellness Center, UUSC for ongoing assistance to people affected by Katrina, Habitat for Humanity, and to Loaves and Fishes (Sister Bay). As noted above, we seek to be active locally. Following a tradition established by Joann Thomas, the Fellowship participates in the Memory Walk to raise awareness of and funds for curing Alzheimer’s Disease. Members regularly contribute food items for families. Our Food Barrel contributions are shared through Koinonia Kupboard. We participate in Loaves and Fishes, a dinner and social hour for community members, which meets once a month. These activities help us join with other Northern Door churches to provide service to the community. In 2006, we initiated an addition to the Sunday service by presenting a statement about a social justice issue as it relates to UU Principles. This “Reflecting on UU Principles” continues monthly as a regular part of the services. SRC acts as an umbrella for several activities that are supervised and conducted by other members of the Fellowship including, Adopt a Highway, the Mitten Tree and Adopt-a-Family at Christmas, and sales of Fair Trade Coffee and an expanded list of goodies. We welcome others, members and non-members, to join us in this important work.  Members of the Fellowship commissioned Interfibers Design Gallery owner and artist Wendy Carpenter to create this wall sculpture for the sanctuary. The work, titled "Birch Tree Triptych", incorporates natural found objects including birch twigs and birch bark. It was woven using the tapestry technique in the Mormon inlay pattern. UUFDC Furnishings Committee Chair Peggy Lott (left), and artist Wendy Carpenter (right) The tapestry celebrates the Unitarian Universalist seventh principle... "Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part." Steinway grand piano selected for UUFDC by internationally known pianist, the late John Browning.
Monthly Art exhibits in many mediums featuring the work of UUFDC members, friends, and local and regional artists are featured in the Gallery, open to the public during and after Sunday services, and on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 10 AM - 2 PM. For information on exhibiting call Julia Bresnahan: 839-2606. Permanent Art Collection Includes: "Branch Lights" by Angela Lensch is the most recent addition to our permanent collection. "Song of Songs" bronze sculpture by Louis Smolak. Wood carving of Chalice, the international symbol of Unitarian Universalism by JoAnn Thomas. Bronze oil lamp chalice by Arizona sculptor Mordecai Roth. Stained glass windows by Jane Delcarson and John Blake. Framed calligraphy piece "Famous quotations on 'Peace As Opposed to War'" by Jane Delcarson. Also on display is needlework of the Rhenberg stained glass window in the UU Church of Rockford, in Rockford, Illinois. It was created by Margaret Johnson as a gift to the Rev. Cynthia B. Johnson on the occasion of her ordination. It is one of only three copies in the world and depicts all major world religions.