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DECEMBER 17, 2006 Issue #5 THANKSGIVING Thank you Note Dear Friends, 182 years ago today, Thomas Starr King was born. What would California have been like if he had not brought his passionate eloquence to our state?
Post election, we are blessed with Thanksgiving (my favorite holiday) a time to take a breath, reflect, and open to gratitude. In that spirit and with thanks for all of you who do your part to make this world a more humane, and sustainable place, I offer this thank you note to that "which is present in each and greater than all." Blessings, Rev. Lindi Ramsden PS While voting for candidates and propositions is over, we do want you to help UULM choose our priorities for the next two years - see below for how to participate on-line. Newsletter Topics
WHERE Do we go from Here? Your Input Needed! Well, it’s that time again. In the fall of even numbered years following elections, the UULMCA and the UULM Action Network Boards meet to decide our priorities for the next two years. Your input is wanted and needed! Grounding - Does this issue reflect our UU identity and theology? What did we choose for 2005-2006? In December of 2004, after interviewing CA clergy and lay leaders, the UUA, UUSC, interfaith partners, and surveying 800 UUs from 70 California congregations the UULM-CA Board of Trustees chose to focus in three areas: Some of these issues have expanded:
So...it's time to take stock, ask for input and guidance, and refocus. What should UULM-CA choose as priorities for 2007-2008? The UULM Boards will be meeting December 1st and 2nd at the Emerson UU Church in Canoga Park to chart our course. Please take a moment to OFFER YOUR INPUT online via our Issue Survey (or download and mail a paper copy). It isn't the same as a conversation, but it is still important input.Election Reflections - and Next Steps What a relief that overreaching foreign policy, dishonesty, and the dismantling of civil liberties were repudiated by voters. Change is surely in the wind when someone like conservative talk show host Rush Limbaugh says: “ I feel liberated,.... I no longer am going to have to carry the water for people who I don’t think deserve having their water carried.” Here in California, what is in the wind on UULM's issues? Health Care Reform 2007-2008 will be a pivotal legislative session for California health care. The Governor has indicated he will be launching a major policy initiative in this area, announcing his plan in his State of the State speech in early January, and indicating he will ask the legislature to join him in putting a major health care overhaul on the state ballot in 2008. A huge coalition (including the interfaith network PICO California) that has been hard at work for three years trying to pass legislation for universal health care for California’s children believes it is important for the Governor to hear from thousands of children's health supporters before his speech is finalized - asking him to make universal coverage for children one of his TOP priorities. Even though Proposition 86 failed, which would have provided the funding to insure all California kids, (tobacco tax) polls still show very strong support for covering all kids, regardless of immigration status. UULM continues to work with the Health Care for All to pass Senator Kuehl’s SB840 – single payer universal coverage bill - a sensible and comprehensive approach. With so many new legislators, there is a lot of educating to do. The OneCareNow campaign has produced an EXCELLENT short video suitable for showing at church discussion groups and house parties. It is also not too early to be planning to be at the massive rally in Sacramento on August 19, 2007 to support universal single payer coverage, or to attend one of OneCAreNow 365 events being held across the state. In the meantime, in the ever creative Santa Clara County, those that started the Children’s Health Initiative at the county level have now put forward a proposal for uninsured adults which got a positive review in the Mercury News editorial page Water Justice and Global Warming Other water news includes the recent court ruling that Stockton, CA acted illegally when it privatized its water and sewer operations prior to a vote. Read more about how the city has been ordered to retake control of its facilities within six months.
Marriage Equality Assemblyman Mark Leno will reintroduce his marriage equality bill at the beginning of the new legislative session in December. It passed narrowly in 2005, but was vetoed by the Governor. However, we "lost forward"; each time legislation is introduced it creates an opportunity for public education and more are coming to the side of equality.
Clean Money - Prop 89 Thanks Congregational Donors! We greatly appreciate donations from the following congregations who have made a contribution to UULM or the UULM Action Network this fiscal year (since July 1, 2006): UU Church of Davis, Sierra Foothills UU, UU Community of the Mountains, UU Church of Berkeley, Live Oak UU Congregation, Mt. Diablo UU Church, Unitarian Society of Santa Barbara, UU Church of Long Beach, Tapestry: A UU Congregation, First Universalist Unitarian Church of Riverside, UU Church of Studio City, UU Community Church of Santa Monica, UU Community Church of Sacramento, UU Fellowship of Redwood City, Universalist Unitarian Church of Santa Paula, First Unitarian Universalist Society of San Francisco (through the William and Alice Hinckley Fund and the Society for Community Work). THANKS!!! Save the Date - Upcoming Events "Liberal Voices in a Conservative Landscape" UUA 2007 National Conference Annual CA Interfaith Coalition Legislative Issues Briefing Day To contribute to the UULM Action Network CA and/or the UULM-CA, please visit our Donation pages. UULM Action Network, CA (non-tax deductible) UULM-CA (Tax deductible, for educational purposes). Monthly donors are vital to our work, and one time donations are also gratefully received. |
In 2006 following the GA Statement of Conscience on Climate Change UULM began to include some work on Global Warming which will so impact the future of California water. We also chose to work on Clean Money public financing of elections as a step on the road toward health care reform. And then... the legislature unexpectedly gave the statue of our beloved Thomas Starr King the boot on the last day of the legislative session. Aagh! Before you know it we are stretched thin! In the meantime, we continue to offer leadership training and consultation to strenghthen local and regional justice ministries. 
We are hopeful Leno's marriage equality bill will make it to the Governor's desk again, but it will need the support of some wavering legislators. Meanwhile, the CA Supreme Court must decide whether or not to hear the challenge to California's discriminatory marriage laws by Valentine's Day (good timing!) At some point, the Governor will sign marriage equality into law, or the court will mandate it. We want to be ready should such progress be challenged with a ballot intiative to amend our constitution. Congrats to Arizonans who beat just such a discriminatory amendment in the November election!