December 2018

Liaison Call 12/6/18 Minutes

Liaisons on the Call:   Rob Gregson (ED), Clara Jenkins (Asst. to the ED/Outreach Coordinator), Eileen Bird (Princeton), Toby Tyler (Morristown), Joe Houle (Lincroft), Georgianna Hart (Montclair), Al Stawsky (Palisades), Sally Gellert (Paramus), Nick Mellis (Washington Crossing), Jamie Evanini (Washington Crossing)

Welcome and Introductions (7:00 – 7:05pm): Rev. Rob Gregson

Liaisons Update (7:05 – 7:30pm):

  • Toby Tyler said the Morristown Congregation has been quiet lately.  They have increased involvement in Immigration and Environmental Issues with RAMP, other churches and other non-profits.
  • Jamie Evanini spoke about their letter writing campaigns orchestrated from their Social Action Table.  All letters are printed and ready to go – congregants stop to sign and the SA team does the rest. People are excited about the SA table, which is stocked with calls to action, hot topics and information about other progressive organizations.  
  • Georgianna participated in the 11/9 Jorge Chajon rally and was happy to see so many UUs there.  Montclair has since rachetted their involvement – getting signatures and mentioning the case in both services.  Waiting to hear what happens next.
  • Joe Houle indicated an issue with connection congregants to the work of UU FAithAction NJ and feels like he is just moving info.  He asked for suggestions on making this a more direct, hands-on informative role.
  • Eileen Bird said Princeton is working with First Friends on a “Stamp Out Despair” campaign – they are making kits of stationary, phone cards and letters of encouragement given to 80 detainees.  First Friends indicated the most pressing need is money – the detainees are charged for everything, including 15 cents for a ketchup packet and that juveniles have been moved into areas housing adults.  On January 20, during their MLK service, they will collect socks, toiletries and money and assemble gift bags.
  • Al Stawsky said he would like to find more relevant, not widely publicized information on the UU FaithAction website regarding bills and their status, how to write effective advocacy letters.  He also mentioned that as part of the NJ Racial Justice Task Force, sponsored by the Essex County YMCA, they are looking to bring together other organizations to work on issues, community policing in particular.
  • Sally Gellert attended the anti-gerrymandering rally and is part of ClimateFest and is working on the NJ $15 minimum wage.

Legislation Update (7:30 – 7:55pm):

  • Ted Fetter informed us two bills have been introduced regarding the Driver’s License Initiative.  He indicated they are very elegant bills and is enthusiastic of their progression. They are A4743 and S3229.  We will be sending an Action Alert out on actions to take and will focus on the Assembly – Speaker Coughlin is a hold-out and we want to apply pressure to get this bill done.
  • UU FaithAction NJ has been invited to join the ACLU and Legal Services of New Jersey, among others, to determine how to get and best use money for indigent detainees – to aid them in getting legal counsel.  United, we will launch a program entitled “Universal Representation Campaign”.
  • The Jorge Chajon rally was incredibly moving – it was the first UU FaithAction led rally during Rob’s tenure.  Approximately 60 people as well as the press were in attendance. UU FaithAction will be sending out a holiday message with a special ask for a $10 donation to be given to the Chajon family.
  • Criminal Justice Reform is booming!  Susan MacDonnell has been busy testifying, working on op-ed’s and pushing legislation through.  The CJR Task Force is concentrating their efforts on the marijuana legalization bill and the reduction of use of solitary confinement in NJ prisons (pushed out until Jan 26).  We are committed to a racially and socially just bill. Currently the marijuana bill includes expungement, but not reparations. We want to be sensitive to medical and mental health workers and respectful to the wide-range of opinions on this issue.
  • On the Environmental Front, Nadine Saperman and Ann Perry are working on a coalition to get NJ Off Fossil Fuel.
  • Economic Injustice 101 Workshop is to be held January 5 at The Unitarian Society in New Brunswick.  Clara sent a flyer to you under separate cover.

Other News (7:55 – 8:00pm):

  • The UU FaithAction Office will be closed December 23rd – January 2.  Have a safe and peaceful holiday!!

The next Liaison Call is scheduled for Thursday, January 3rd.