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The UUFSB Social Action Committee

Our Mission Statement
(drafted August 2008)

Grounded in our Unitarian-Universalist Principles, the Social Action Committee of the UUFSB supports and encourages our congregation to act for positive change at local, national, and global levels through service, education, witness and advocacy.

Our faith requires that we act to heal our world by:

* advocating non-violence and peace over war

 

  

* sustaining and respecting the Earth

* eliminating racism

 

 

* working for universal human rights
* promoting economic and social justice

 

* reaching out to others in times of crisis

                               

How can I get involved?

There's plenty to do:

  • You can become a Friend of Hobbs Farm and help with Farming for Food Kitchens or other chores like weeding the Children’s Garden (contact Pat Killian or Elizabeth Takakjian)  
  • You can volunteer to tutor immigrant children in Farmingville (contact Ginger Williams or Janet Kagel )
  • You could be our representative with the Long Island Jobs with Justice group.  
  • Bring toiletries and nonperishable food items with you to Sunday services and drop them in the Food Pantry Basket in our lobby.  You can deliver our Food Pantry items or help out at the local community dinner.  
  • Support our youth when they conduct drives for Midnight Runs for the homeless.
  • Help us work with other religious organizations to design programs that respond to hate and bring all people together on Long Island.   
  • You can help plan our involvement in a microloan program for the developing world.   
  • You can help plan educational programs on environmental topics like Ethical Eating, Climate Change, Fair Trade, Animal Ethics (contact Stefani Scott).  
  • You can also help us fill in the details in the broad action areas we’ve laid out below.  Contact John Morris to learn more

 

Members of the Committee

Co-chairs: John Morris, Barbara Coley

A Partial List of Committee Members and Friends: Deborah Little, Stefani Scott, Pat Killian, Frances McGuire, Peggy Cohee, Andy and Mitzi Collver, Cindy Stewart, Loretta Clemente, Rosemary Schumann, Vivian Fisher, Lem Coley, Janet Hanson, Joan Rubinstein.

Note that membership in the Social Action Committee is a fluid thing.  Members come and go based on changing interests and schedules.  All members of the congregation are welcome to attend Social Action meetings and participate in Social Action activities.

Contact John Morris at socialaction@uufsb.org, or call at 631-751-0297 to learn more. 

Overview of Social Action Focus Areas

We defined three major focus areas for the 2008-2009 Fellowship year - environment, social equality, and peace.  Note that as we focus on working for positive change in these areas, we will also continue to support those in our community who need direct help to meet the challenges of today.

  • Environment: Fellowship members have been part of an environmental success story right here in our community.  Historic Hobbs Farm, property of the Setauket Bethel AME Church, is being restored as a community farm and education center.  Produce raised at Hobbs Farm is donated to local food pantries.  Eating locally grown produce is an important aspect of ethical eating, another environmental focus issue.  The UUA Ethical Eating initiative asks us to be mindful of the environmental and humanitarian consequences of the eating choices we make.

  • Social Equality: For many years, UUFSB members have volunteered to tutor immigrant children in Farmingville.  The November 2008 slaying of an immigrant in Patchogue reinforced our desire to focus on the broader issue of immigrant rights on Long Island.  We are particularly interested in finding ways to respond to anti-immigrant hostility.  We also plan to expand our support of Fair Trade programs and consider the issues behind the extreme poverty and lack of economic opportunity that plagues so much of the developing world.

  • Peace:Our sixth principle calls us to strive for world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all.  We are focusing on building support for campaigns to ban the use of landmines and cluster bombs and for the National Religious Coalition Against Torture.