Acknowledgements

Mary Junge

This manual was made possible by a grant from the Fund for Unitarian Universalism as part of their effort to strengthen Unitarian Universalist institutions and community life and to nurture and celebrate our liberal religious heritage. In addition, many generous women offered their precious time and skills to enable the project from start to finish.

The Association of the Universalist Women (AUW) of First Universalist Church in Minneapolis sponsored this project. AUW Board members during the 1999–2000 church years included: President Janet Keysser, Vice President Pat Gottschalk, Treasurer Kitty Schneider, Secretary Gail Yuhasz, Betty Benjamin, Chris Bremer, Nancy Browne, Sydney Dunitz, Adele Hersey, Arlene Jacobson, and Pamela McInnes.

Thanks are extended to the many UU women who offered their opinions and knowledge about UU women’s groups. They shared their program preferences and many details about the women’s groups in their churches and fellowships. The following churches/fellowships made extraordinary efforts to contribute to the project:

First Universalist Church of Minneapolis, Minnesota
Michael Servetus Unitarian Society of Fridley, Minnesota
Minnesota Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Bloomington, Minnesota
Unitarian Church of Lincoln, Nebraska
White Bear Lake Unitarian Church of White Bear Lake, Minnesota

Many Unitarian Universalist elderwomen illuminated the history of the UU Women’s Federation as well as the growth and history within UU women’s groups. For this, special thanks are extended to Nancy Atchison, Betty Benjamin, Sharon Bishop, Drusilla Cummins, Phyllis Fairman, Betty Gutman, Lois Hansen, Yleen Joselyn, Luella Newstrom, and Gail Teas.

Finally, thanks to all of the women who support each other with abundant care and concern. During my interviews, the depth of the relationships I observed between UU women moved me. Our Unitarian Universalist women’s groups and other programming in our churches and fellowships provide women (and men) with support for living well in the present and with hope for the future.

Thanks to the following persons for their words, ideas, blessings, and suggestions: John Addington, Diana Allen, Julie Parker Amery, Barbara Belzer, Betty Benjamin, Sharon Bishop, Mary Bohman, Chris and Katherine Bremer, Lynn Brodie, Nancy Browne, Karen Bruce, Kerry Burri, Reverend Laurie Bushbaum, Elsa Carpenter, Alison Cerier, Maria Cheng, Virginia Christiansen, Kate Christopher, Kelli Clement, LauraLee Clinchard, Kathy Coult, Lauren Culbert, Drusilla Cummins, Jean Danko, Reverend Shelley Dugan, Sydney Dunitz, Helen Duritza, Elsie Evans, Margaret Falk, Phyllis Fairman, Joanna Fink, Suzy Gammell, Elinor and Maria Genne, Beth Gilman, Pat Gottschalk, Kathy Graham, Mary Guzowski, Lois Hansen, Reverend Roberta Haskins, Linda Hayen, Nancy Heege, Reverend Carol Hepokoski, Ann Hobbs, Theresa Hutchison, Jeannie Inglehart, Arlene Jacobson, Laurie Richardson Johnson, Janette Kaylor, Barbara Kellett, Paula Kelty, Kit Ketchum, Janet Keysser, Donna Kopnick, Naija Kweik, Pat Litchy, Samantha Loesch, Ginger Luke, Dee Mauer, Ginny McAninch, Candace McClenehan, Pamela McInnes, Betsy McMillan, Sara McMullen, Joan Mickelsen, Hannah Mitchell, Ellie Morton, Judy Ostendorff, Dinah Patrykus, Anne Peek, Marilyn Phelps, Reverend Frank Rivas, Reverend Mary Samuels, Kitty Schneider, Patricia Scott, Kathy Steubner-Holt, Kitty Schneider, Susan Schultz, Amy Slater, Nancy Sogabe, Reverend Dillman Sorrells, Ellen Spencer, Caren Stelson, Sharleen Stueland, Deb Steven, Laura Sutherland, Carlotta Stomberg, Reverend Kate Tucker, Mae Warner, Margaret Webster, Robbie Weisel, Deb Wilkens-Costello, Jan Wolff, Gail Yuhasz, and others.

Special thanks are extended to Elsa Carpenter who generously volunteered to proofread a large section of the manual when it was near completion. Kerri Burri also helped with proofreading.

June, 2000

Except for any commercial purpose, any part of this manual may be freely duplicated for programs and activities that support women, help to revitalize existing UU women’s groups, or inspire new UU women’s groups. When duplicating individual sections or articles, you must give credit to the Fund for Unitarian Universalism, the Association of Universalist Women of Minneapolis, Mary Junge, and the author of the individual piece that you are copying (if written by someone other than the editor).

When starting church programs or church-sponsored programs that involve risks, you are advised to consult with your congregation’s Board of Trustees, lawyer, and insurance agent. Neither the Association of Universalist Women of the First Universalist Church nor the editor, Mary Junge, will assume any responsibility for liability issues arising from the replication of programs or activities described or suggested in this manual.

Mary Junge is a writer from Minneapolis where she attends the First Universalist Church of Minneapolis. Through membership in the Association of Universalist Women, the women’s group at First Universalist, she has learned much from other UU women and has also enjoyed their support.