SOCIAL ACTION
COMMITTEE SURVEY RESULTS

This is an attempt to discern the social action interests of our congregation. Hopefully we can arrive at a theme or themes that appeal to a number of our members and which we could support.

SOCIAL ACTION NOTES - June 18, 2001

On June 18th, 5 members of the congregation met to begin a a process for how to organize a Social Action committee and program for UUCWI. The first task of the meeting was to go over the results of the survey that was handed out to those coming to the congregation meeting in May and also appeared in the June newsletter. The following is a summary of the results:

Twelve surveys were returned but may represent more that 12 members if couples answered the survey together. As individuals it is very apparent that we contribute both financially and with volunteer time to many organizations and causes. (see the attached lists)

The third question on the survey asked: How do you think UUCWI should do social action?

The following were the answers:
take stands on appropriate issues
raise money/give money
educate
form a policy and statement of purpose
Hearts & Hammers
Habitat for Humanity
the church should choose a group or cause to contribute to both with action and financial support (chosen yearly by the congregation)
in the spirit of "think globally, act locally" would like to see the church support organizations working to preserve and conserve the local environment.
survey social/service organizations to see who could use what kind of help
match people to needed activities/help for social/service organizations
tutoring, mentoring youth
CADA
Heifer Project
do what appears to be helpful in meeting the needs of persons in distress
heartily endorsing an action in support of the common good
through physical labor organized by a social action committee on behalf of worthy causes
through church-gathered donations organized by a social action committee that is open to any and all church members
become politically active
The group then brainstormed what an approach to social action might look like. This is the beginning draft of that brainstorming and will be a work in progress over the summer:

The goal of social action is for UUCWI to be a force (presence) in the community that responds to needs and acts as an instrument of change or maybe only of slowing momentum. At times UUCWI may want to take a stand on a particular issue, cause, etc.

Social action would be a multi-pronged approach as follows:
An annual project would be selected by the congregation that would be supported by energy and funds.
The social conscience/awareness of individuals in the congregation and the community would be raised through education:
at worship services
by a social action table set up at services with information about needs, issues, events, etc.
by a social action column in the newsletter
by a program (event) sponsored by UUCWI for the greater community.
Dedicated offerings in two ways:
offerings collected during worship services for a specific action and/or cause.
offerings (pies, art objects, services) donated by UUCWI to help with a fund-raiser for certain causes.

Immediate response to needs of individuals or groups (such as caused by natural or other disasters) locally, nationally or internationally.

The next meeting to continue the process of brainstorming will be July 16th at 7 PM at the L.'s.. The topics to be discussed include:
A focus on the relationship of the Committee to the Board and Congregation.
Internal process - consensus vs. 2/3 vote
Long Range Plan - Social Action Fund?
Dedicated Pledges

Here are some of the organizations we, as individuals, provide with volunteer or financial support.
Greenbank Farm
Amer. Assoc. of University Women
Adult Literacy
Saratoga Woods
Artits of South Whidbey Tutoring
Waste Wise Volunteers
Habitat for Humanity
WI Conservation District
Habitat for Humanity
Hearts & Hammers
Island Arts Council
Music Club
Night Crawlers Garden Club
Parks & Rec. Golf
Read & Discuss Book Club
Scatchet Head Comm. Club
Seattle Icelandic Club
Weavers Guild
Whidbey Island Garden Club
Whidbey Island Garden Tour
Bayview Community Hall 1000 Friends of Washington Bayview Hall ACLU
Audubon Bayview Hall ACLU
Coop America Center for Wooden Boats ACLU
CSD Chalice Lighters Adult Literacy
CSD Co-op Alzheimers Assn.
Ecoforestry Institute Democratic Party American Cancer Society
Environmental Defense Fund Friends of Clinton Library Amnesty International
Environmental Defense Fund Friends of Freeland Library CADA
Environmental Defense Fund Friends of WICA CDCA
Heifer Project Greenbank Farm CDCA
Heifer Project Habitat for Humanity Chalice Lighters
Langley Cemetery Hearts & Hammers Childreach
Marine Conservation Hearts & Hammers Childreach
National Parks Inquiring Mind Childrens Defense Fund
Nature Conservancy
KCTS
Doctors Withour Borders
NW Native Plant Society KPLU Help House
Saratoga Woods KUOW Medic One
Sierra Club KUOW Native Americans
Sierra Club League of Women Voters NOW
Sierra Club Lighthouse Oregon Right to Die
Union of Concerned Scientists N of W Music Scholarships OXFAM
Union of Concerned Scientists NARAL Physicians for Social Resp.
Wash. Water Trails Assoc. NW Book Fest Planned Parenthood
Wash. Wilderness Coalition Parks & Rec. Programs Planned Parenthood
Wash. Wilderness Coalition PROUD Planned Parenthood
WEAN Reed College Planned Parenthood
WEAN S.W. Historical Society
Southern Poverty Law Center
WEAN Schools UUA
WEAN Senior Services UUSC
WEAN Smith College UUSC
Whidbey-Camano Land Trust Spinners Westward Ho Camp
National Wildlife Fund SW Childrens Center Tutor/Mentor Program
National Wildlife Fund SW Youth Center Southwest Indian Foundation
ALBC SWYC PSEnergy Fund
Syracuse U.
U of Denver
U of Hawaii Scholarship
UW Medical Center
Washington Cease Fire
Weavers Guild
Whidbey Institute
W.I. Garden Tour
WICA

Anyone interested can attend even if you don't want to be a member of the Social Action Committee