Category: UUFANJ News

From the UUSC – Choosing Compassionate Consumption

During the holiday season, the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee encourages us to shop with our values in mind.  UUSC’s online store offers ethically sourced gifts that you can feel good about buying; they offer fair-trade and sweatshop-free items, and net proceeds benefit their human rights work. www.uusc.org

New information concerning the elections, early voting  and electronic voting options are below.  This is forwarded from the League of Women Voters.  I hope you are all able to vote, despite the rough circumstances many are facing.  

Take care,
Rev. Craig Hirshbirg

From the League of Women Voters of New Jersey:

New information below includes options to vote electronically, a new provisional ballot option, and new polling place information. Please share this information as widely as possible to help displaced voters.

The election will be held Tuesday, November 6, as planned. Polls are open from 6 am – 8 pm.

Displaced voters and first responders have multiple options to make voting easier.

1. Vote early at your County Clerk’s Office

All County Clerk’s offices will be open Monday, November 5. Voters are encouraged to take advantage of the extended hours offered at their County Clerk’s office.

Voters may go in person to their County Clerk and vote using a “Vote by Mail” ballot. You will be handed that ballot right there at the office and be able to fill it out in person. The deadline to vote in person using a “vote by mail” ballot at your county clerk office is Monday, November 5, 3 pm.

FIND YOUR COUNTY CLERK (Please Note: TheOcean County Clerk information listed on that link is incorrect. Because of the storm they are located in the Ocean County Administration Building, Rm 116, 101 Hooper Ave, Toms River, NJ. They also have a second location at 179 S. Main Street, Stafford, NJ.)

2. NEW – Apply for and receive a “Vote by Mail” ballot electronically:

Read the full release from the Governor.

To vote electronically, displaced voters may submit a mail-in ballot application either by e-mail or fax to their county clerk. Once an application is approved, the clerk will electronically send a ballot to the voter by either fax or e-mail in accordance to the voter’s preference. Voters must return their electronic ballot – by fax or email – no later than November 6, 2012, at 8 p.m.

Voters can download a mail-in ballot application for their county here.

A list of county clerk websites, phone numbers and fax numbers is available here.

The deadline for county clerks to receive mail-in ballots has been extended to November 19, 2012, for any ballot postmarked on or before November 5, 2012. Mail-in ballots postmarked later than November 5 will not be accepted.

3. NEW – Vote on Tuesday in a different polling place using a provisional ballot:

Directives issued by the state today enable displaced voters and first responders to vote by provisional ballot at any polling place in the state.

Read Directive.

This means if you are a registered voter in the state of NJ and you are staying in a different part of the state because of the storm you may go to a near by polling place on Tuesday and vote there using a provisional ballot.

Polling Places 

Some polling places will be relocated.  A directive issued requires that all polling place changes are posted on county websites and the League of Women Voters of New Jersey is notified. We will know every polling place change and post them by county on our homepage. You may also call us at 1-800-792-VOTE(8683) with questions about your polling place.

Additionally, if your polling place has been relocated, there will be notification posted at your original polling place directing you to the relocated polling place. State officials have announced that they will deploy military vehicles to serve as polling places in some areas.

If you have any questions call the League of Women Voters of New Jersey’s toll-free voter assistance hotline, 1-800-792-VOTE(8683). We have extended our hours to help more voters and we are in the office today, Sunday, from 9 am – 4 pm. Our hours on Monday are 8:30 am – 4:30 pm. On election day, Tuesday, November 6, we staff the hotline all day while the polls are open (6 am – 8 pm).

Central East Regional Group of the Unitarian Universalist Association
A co-operative of the Joseph Priestley, Metro New York, Ohio-Meadville and St. Lawrence Districts

office@cerguua.org * www.cerguua.org

Pastoral Letter on Hurricane Sandy

Friday, November 02, 2012

Members of Central East Regional Group (CERG) Congregations

Dear UU Colleagues:

As you know, Hurricane Sandy has caused wide spread devastation along the Mid Atlantic coast in New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, and as far as eastern Ohio this past week. Many people are still without basic necessities such as warm clothes, blankets, shoes, food (perishables and non-perishables), cleaning supplies, batteries/flashlights and lanterns, demolition tools (pry bars, sledge hammers, garbage bags), etc. Several of our Central East Regional Group churches are still without power, people are dealing with personal property losses due to wind and water, and it looks like this will be the costliest disaster in American history.

To aid our UU congregations and members who have been affected by this tragedy, the CERG leadership has set up the CERG UU Disaster Relief Fund to collect donations to assist fellow Unitarian Universalists with storm damage clean up and members’ immediate needs and in the rebuilding efforts. We will work with the congregations affected to channel the money raised where it can make an impact in people’s lives. The initial efforts will be to provide the basics needed for people who have been displaced or in need of emergency support to cope with the aftermath of the storm. Additional funds will be used to assist congregations in rebuilding damage when their insurance is not adequate to cover the repairs. After all needs are met, if there are funds left over, it will be maintained for future CERG regional relief efforts.

The funds collected will be used for UU congregations, or for general relief work use, or for both. Money will make a real difference. The needs are great and the effort to help will take a long time. Richard was involved in the relief efforts after Hurricane Andrew in Florida. He and others from his former congregation spent many days over several months helping the poorest people of south Florida rebuild their shattered lives. Many gave much to the New Orleans and Gulf Coast recovery that has taken years to bring things anywhere near normal again. We need to gird ourselves for the long haul.

Please take up a collection this Sunday earmarked for the CERG UU Disaster Relief Fund. Checks can be made to CERG with Disaster Relief Fund in the memo line. All contributions are to be sent to:

CERG-UUA
100 W. 10th Street Suite 1008
Wilmington, DE, 19801

People can also donate on-line by going to www.cerguua.org and using PayPal. We ask that you increase your donation to cover the 3% processing fee that we pay for each transaction.

The world is only made livable by our caring for one another. May you care for those who are both near to you as well as those who you may never know in our region. Your care will be appreciated.

Yours in the Faith,

Andrea Lerner, Metro New York District
Rev. Chris Neilson, St. Lawrence District
Rev. Joan Van Becelaere, Ohio-Meadville District
Rev. Dr. Richard Speck, Joseph Priestley District

A reflection from our Executive Director

On Thursday, I saw a vibrant pileated woodpecker in my yard. He was magnificent, with a big bright red plume m atop his head.  He visited us quite a while, as he flitted from branch to broken branch feasting on the sumptuous treasures he found. Below him were the ravages of a hurricane.  Sixteen trees broken or uprooted, pried into passable place by compassionate, generous chain sawed neighbors and their brute human force.  The yard looked like a lumber camp.  But up above, flew one of nature’s magnificent beauties, feverishly head-hammering the newly broken boughs, nourished by the change.

Nature can be our inspiration, our friend, and our joy.  It constantly reminds us of the rhythms of life, the beauty and mystery of the natural world, of the cycles of our existence.  Nature can also teach us humility, that as hard as we try, there are things that are beyond our control, that lack predictability; elements that dwarf our efforts; forces that dominate beyond conceivable possibility; that trounces us into that humble human place as we are forced to accept the inevitability of constant and sometimes even gut wrenching change.

Nature reminds us that with the beauty can come destruction, that the rhythms are not always kind or helpful, that tragedy is part of life as well as beauty.   This week we have all experienced this other side of nature, some of us more directly than others, but none of us can escape its power. And who among us can’t be touched by the human fortitude in its response.   Let us gather collectively in prayerful intention, gather our hearts, our minds, and our compassion, for those who have, and continue to suffer as a result of this week’s storm.  Let us lend our hands to rebuild, and our hearts to heal.   You are all in my thoughts and prayers.

Faithfully,
Craig

Rev. Craig Hirshberg
Executive Director

UULMNJ_Bulletin_Hurricane_Sandy_Emergency_Information

I just learned that the Governor vetoed the Ban on Fracking waste, citing that it was unconstitutional under the commerce laws.  To date, there are no guidelines for fracking waste, but what we do know is that it contains many more toxins than would normally be allowed by the EPA – except the fracking industry has gotten an exemption from EPA water standards.  We also know that if the waste is not classified as toxic waste, it will be treated as normal wastewater, possibly dumping chemicals into the waterways and water tables.  I happen to live in an area of New Jersey that still has well water.  I have to test the well water regularly. Some fear that toxins left in the ground by industry generations ago can still be leaching into the water table.  When will we learn, and when will we be able to foster a government that understands its need to protect its citizens?

What comes to mind, whether it be fracking waste, or a Citizens United decision,  is that even though something is deemed legal or constitutional, it does not make it necessarily ethically or  or morally right.  As Unitarian Universalists, we have a deep responsibility to be good stewards of the earth. We are compelled to act when we can, to protect this very important source of life.

We are also compelled to openly, courageously and with respect and compassion, raise the moral and ethical questions that are often overlooked when laws are made.  This is the role of UULMNJ as representative of a faith community. And it is the role of every Unitarian Universalist in New Jersey.  Everyone needs to express his/her voice.  The more UU voices that are heard, the more power we have in addressing the legal, but not so ethical matters of state.

We will be discussing this and other matters in greater detail at our Fall Issues Conference on Saturday, October 20, in Ridgewood.  Registration information is below.  PLEASE take time from you busy schedule to join is in the discussion.  This is very important.

In faith,
Rev. Craig Hirshberg
Executive Director

Fall Issues Workshop Saturday, October 20, 2012

9am to 3pm at the Unitarian Society of Ridgewood 113 Cottage Place, Ridgewood, New Jersey
(www.uuridgewood.org for directions)

This gathering will be a working session to:

• Discuss the current issues in our Task Force meetings
• Learn how you can work with UULMNJ in your home congregation
• Hear a special presentation on Poverty in New Jersey by Allan Lichtenstein, Legal Services of New Jersey Poverty Research Institute
• Gather and celebrate at a reception for the presentation of the Spirit of Humanity Awards

Who should attend?

• People who want to make a difference by putting their faith into action
• Anyone interested in the work of UULMNJ
• Congregational liaisons, action team members, leaders and staff
• Task Force members

To register go to www.formdesk.com/uuforms/uulmnj by October 16, 2012.

For details, talk to your congregational liaison.

Post a flyer at your congregation.

We look forward to seeing you on October 20 in Ridgewood!

UULMNJ is seeking an intern to help task forces in their work and develop educational materials.  If you know a college or law school student who might be interested, please have them contact Rev. Craig for details.