Local Unitarian History

presented by Juliana Sandahl, Sept. 14, 2008

Part 3 of 4


History of our Fellowship ... continued

Lighting of the Chalice

In the Dec. 86 newsletter there was a notice about the Chalice Lighting Ritual. “The person lighting the chalice each service will first express something important to them. It can be a reading, a poem or a song. By Jan 98, we started lighting additional candles for concerns.

Children's Religious Education

RE Programs were organized and varied: In 86 “The Adventures of God’s Folks” was offered. It consisted of folklore stories. Also in 86 Miriam Lane did a series on Sacajawea, stories and art, drawing her journey. In Mar 87, Suzanne Swanell did a series on Johnny Appleseed. And by Sept 87 two RE programs were offered: “Growing Times” for preschoolers and “What is Religion for Others and for Us”

Sally & Casey Hons, Smith boys, Fern, Alicia, Coleen & Kate Regalbuto

Alicia Lane, Lily Von Mosh, Fern Johnson, Carol Morneault, Coleen & Kate Maureen Regalubuto

Early Budget Information

Tidbits of information: In 1987, the annual budget started out at $7,560 and was revised to $5,590. In 1988, it started at $4,360 and was revised to $2,660

Fellowship Snapshots

Jeanine Johnson, Chuck Haynie, Susanne Swanell

Tom Hons, playing guitar

The Fellowship regularly participated in the H.R. Valley Community Meals.

Marilyn Smith not only published the newsletter but submitted articles for publication in local newspapers.

Election of Officers: 1988

The election held on Feb. 21, 1988 had a new of officers: Pres. Marilyn Smith, VP Avalon Totten, Treasurer, Susan Swanell-Haynes, At Large, Maureen Regalbuto & Gil Giles, RE Pam Morneault, Librarian, Miriam Lane, Hospitality, Michael Morneault, Pro- Grams, Suzanne Swanell-Haynes, Publicity, Jim & Pam Tindall.

Election of Officers 1988

Frankton School
Lack of room for RE Classes led the board to Search for a new meeting place. By the be- ginning of the Fall meetings, we were at Frankton School.

Frankton School, Sep 88-Dec 90

Our active Fellowship had an Adult RE pro- gram “Building Your Own Theology. We met on alternate Wed’s at the Care Corner located catty-corner from the hospital. Two teachers were hired for the children’s RE, John “Tucker” Haynes, Suzanne’s newly wed husband and Bob Williams, an English teacher from the high school.

Jeanine Johnson, Susanne Swanell, Maureen Regalbuto, Arnold Zweertz

Fellowship Summer Picnic Marilyn Smith holding Trent Morneault

Another change this year was that the fiscal year was changed from Feb. to July to align more with the operating year. Budget issues were a continuing concern, especially with the increased fees for Frankton School and other added expenses.

Marilyn Smith was especially busy serving in dual capacity as newsletter editor and Fellow- ship President. Avalon Totten resigned as Sec. and Marian Udelhofen took over the job. This year a membership survey showed most people preferred outside speakers to our lay-led services.

Our 3rd Election of Officers in 1989 brought some new people on board. 

President Maureen Regalbuto, VP Nathan
Frye, Sec, Marian Udelhofen, Treasurer, 
Chris Lundin, Publicity, Jim Tindall, 
Programs, Suzanne Swanell-Haynes, RE,
Linda Short-England, Hosp, Pam Morneault,
Lib, Miriam Lane, Soc. Concerns Barbara
Williams

Election of Officers 1989

"Statement of Purpose" Drafted

An interesting comment from the board report was that they got into a lively dis- cussion re: the Purpose of our Fellowship as stated in the ByLaws. “After a lengthy brain- storming session with perhaps 15-20 ideas surfacing, it was agreed to turn the job of com- posing our Statement of Purpose over to a committee of English majors.

"The purpose of this fellowship is to unite free thinking people in the spirit of respect for human dignity, individuality, and the constant search for truth.

Children's Religious Education

Children’s RE at Frankton Mary Nack, Jesse & Robin Wineberg

Fellowship Activities

Michael Morneault, Arnold & Julia Zweerts, Pam & Jim Tindall

Marilyn Smith resigns as newsletter editor on May 89 and Tina Castanares with the help of Linda Short start doing the newsletter.

The Fellowship continued to sponsor an annual Rummage sale during May Fest Week-end in WS. This was done for years and augmented the budget.

4th Year Election of Officers 

Four members re-elected: Pres, Maureen
Regalbuto, VP Nate Fry, Sec. Marian Udelhofen
and Treas. Chris Lundin
New Comm.
Child. RE, Linda Short, Newsletter, Marilyn 
Smith with Tom Hons and Peter Frothingham helping, Publicity, Mary Nack
Hospitiality, Julia Zweerts and Pam M.
Programs Nate Fry, Suzanne Swanell and Maureen Regalbuto

During this year was the first Teen Program with Seth Tibbott teaching. Two other teachers were hired for Children’s RE Kelly Grant for Elementary and Lilo Moran for pre-schoolers.

Maureen Kate and Colleen enthusiastically reported on their stay at July Camp Eliot during the summer in the newsletter.

An Adult RE program that year was “Cakes For the Queen of Heaven”

For Christmas Eve, a family service was held at The Alpinee Hut. Frankton School was no longer available when it was closed the Winter of 1990 by the School District.

Election of Officers, 1990

Arnold & Julia Zweerts Carol Morneault

Christmas Program 1990

Coe Primary School (Jan 90-May 91)
Hood River School District Administrative Office

Feb. 17, 1991 Program
Coe Primary Building

By the beginning of Jan. 1991, the Board had secured the Coe Primary building for our meetings. It was noted in the Jan. 91newsletter that the move to Coe Primary has worked well for the Quakers and the Unitarians alike, and plans are to meet there for the foreseeable future.

The Persian Gulf War was at the forefront of our congregational concerns during this period and with the help of the Peace Group, we provided a forum for many peace directed programs.

Unfortunately, by March, we were experience- ing our own crisis when after two years of leadership, our officers were burning out with no help in sight.

March, 1991, Fellowship in Crisis

Since Suzanne had served as Program Director for three years, after her resignation the previous year, the Programs were being run by committee. Here’s a quote from the newsletter. “It seems that with 30-50 people attending our services we ought to be able to support a rotating Board of Directors.”

1991-1992 Fellowship Officers

Rod Stewart, Executive Director of the UUA PNW District visited the Fellowship and Board to brainstorm solutions to our on-going prob- lems with officer burn-out and lack of volun- teers. Following the President’s resignation, in March, Vice-President Nathan Frye finished out the year. The treasurer also resigned and Pam Tindall took over the duties. Jim Buck- Walter and Tom Hons stepped up to take on the Program Planning. There is no record of an Annual Meeting or election of officers for this year.

After the summer break, the Fellowship was once again able to meet at Frankton School and we stayed there through the year.

Return to Frankton, Sep 91-Sep 92

Nate Frye, who moved up from VP to President, left the Fellowship when he moved to Port- land and Jim Buckwalter agreed to take over. Unfortunately Jim also moved away that sum- mer, leaving the Fellowship without a Presi- dent. As far as I know from retained docu- ments, there were no annual meetings or elec- tion of officers for the previous two years and there would be none for several more years to come. However, The Fellowship persisted run by people who filled in as needed.

The big event was the Fall Retreat at Menucha Oct. 26 & 27 where we stayed overnight on a Sat.. It is located on the west end of the gorge, one ridge down from Crown Point. Besides recreational activities, a woman minister from the district came and led our group on discussions for setting goals for our fellow- ship. This was very useful in keeping our fel- lowship going and brought forth some new volunteers.

Menucha Retreat, Oct 1991

One of those dedicated volunteers was Pam Tindall, who continued on as Treasurer. An- other was Joan Chantler who took over the newsletter and kept it going for several years.

Then there was Juliana, who in a burst of enthusiasm volunteered to run the child- ren’s RE, ordering curriculum and signing up a dozen volunteers who each took the material and did a Sunday at a time. The older children studied a values-oriented UU program based on Hebrew Scriptures and The younger ones used the UU program called “Around the Church, Around the Year.” I sponsored and accompanied two of our teens, Fern Johnson and Alicia Lane to a 3-day Youth Conference in Oregon City. Jim and Pam Tindall did a particularly interesting Passover RE program for all age groups, inviting the children to come dressed in 1200 BC Middle Eastern traveling attire.

Some of our children in RE at the
Frankton School location

continue with Part 4 of 4