Our members and friends are active in many areas of the community. This page lets you know who is doing what, when and where so you can "see them in action!"

If you are participating in an event and want it listed please contact our web team: Contact us and we'll add it.

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Dan Gribbin
Every month Dan plays in many musical venues including coffee houses, cafes and special events. To see his complete engagement schedule go to his website and click on "Events":

Dan Gribbin

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Byron Spice and other members of our congregation are exploring cohousing for seniors. If you would like to see what other communities are doing then visit Elder Cohousing and be sure to talk to Byron

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Saturday, April 28, 2007 from 10:00--12:15 "Comparing Religious Beliefs" program featured Father Phil Eqitto, Catholic priest, Rev. Jim Willis, United Church of Christ, & Rev Bud Murphy, UUSDBA, discussing various religious beliefs & issues. Dan Kennedy was moderator

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April 21st Kurtland and Gaia presented a power point presentation and talk to the Deland UU regarding our Green Sanctuary and Project Nature Connect. On May 6th they will be showing this very informative presentation to the Dahlonega UU in Georgia. They were kind enough to show us this presentation at our April Pot Luck so we all know how good it is. Keep up the good work. Our planet needs the help.

Ever wonder what happens to our recycling when it leaves our curbs? Our UU Green Team and friends were curious so they toured the Volusia County Recycling Center on Weds. March 28.
If you have questions about recycling I am sure that any member of the Team will be happy to answer them.

If you missed the March 28th front page article about the UU hammock then copy this site into your web browser.
http://www.news-journalonline.com/liblink/green032807.htm
Permission given by The Daytona Beach News-Journal. Copyright (c) 2007.
Or you can go to the side bar of this page and Click on Letters to Editor.Scroll down to March 28 and read the article there.

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After Sunday Service on Feb. 11,2007, instead of "Talk About" there was a power point presentation by members of FAITH regarding Affordable Housing:
FAITH is leading the discussion of how to develop a sustainable strategy to provide affordable housing for those working in our community. As housing prices have soared, it has left the dream of owning a home out of reach for many of our residents, including: teachers, firefighters, police officers and a large percentage of the hotel, restaurant and other service staff that help our community thrive. FAITH is working with our elected officials, chambers of commerce, and other decision makers in our cities and county for the implementation of a variety of solutions to help builders produce more affordable housing.
Appreciation for the work that Charleen Evans-Thomas has been doing behind the scenes was expressed by the speakers.

See more information regarding FAITH on the Committee page

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On February 7, 2007, Wed.:
Dan Gribbin and his Work Release Program participated in a MusicDeLand sponsored fundraising concert for victims of the recent storms. :

To see Dan Gribben's complete engagement schedule go to his website Dan Gribbin

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News-Journal January 15, 2007 Mentors Help Students Travel Path to Success
By NICOLE SERVICE
Staff Writer

Joyce Nelson mentors a high school student on her way to college.

On a sunny, breezy afternoon, Calle Secunda and Joyce Nelson camp at their favorite bench in the courtyard of Seabreeze High School in Daytona Beach.

As other students hurry by, the high school senior and the retired nurse, both rom Ormond-by-the-Sea, are lost in their own conversation about college, jobs and whatever else is on the teenager's mind.

These weekly 30- to 45-minute sessions are precious to both of them. Secunda gets a caring attentive adult who listens to her and Nelson gets to give back by guiding a young person on the right path.

Their relationship reflects the goal of Take Stock in Children, a statewide nonprofit program that each year provides a dozen or so low-income students with four-year college scholarships and guidance from a mentor throughout high school.

Now as program leaders prepare to select a new group of promising students like Secunda, they are searching for a few good mentors like Nelson.

"We just do a continuous recruiting, because many times we have some changes during the year," said Marsha Lewis, program coordinator. "Right now, we have four students who need mentors."

Over the past year, two of the program's mentors died, Lewis said. One was mentoring two students. Secunda had two different mentors -- one of whom was stretched too thin and another who moved away -- before she was assigned to Nelson at the start of her junior year.

Nelson remembers being impressed by a letter Secunda wrote while in the ninth grade and another Secunda's father wrote recommending his daughter for the program. "(Secunda's letter) was so mature and her father was so positive and they had so much confidence in her," Nelson said. "I thought he was very unselfish in the way he presented her."

Secunda lives at home with her father, who is disabled; her mother, who works as a full-time librarian; and her younger brother. She said as much as her parents love her, sometimes they can't give her as much time as they would all like. That's were Nelson comes in.

"It's just really nice to know that once a week I have someone to talk to," Secunda said."She has really encouraged me with my college application. She is always on top of that." Secunda and Nelson joke about the amount of time Nelson had e-mailed or chatted with Secunda seeking advice about applying for college. Secunda plans to start classes at Stetson University in DeLand next fall.

Sue Habel, a partnership and training manager with Volusia County Libraries, proudly talks about the first student she mentored, Re'Sheania Lattimore, now a student at Howard University in Washington, D.C.

Whenever Lattimore returns to Daytona Beach, she reminds Habel it was because of her mentor's persistence that she is in college, Habel said. Lattimore credits Habel for being the person who taught her "how to get out of a car like a lady," Habel said. The two met on Sept. 11, 2001. "It was the day the planes struck the World Trade Center," Habel said. "Atlantic High School was under lockdown, but they let me in. We walked across the amphitheater plaza and just connected."

Lattimore, who plans to become a lawyer, has invited Habel to her graduation at Howard, and Habel said she wouldn't miss it. She said connecting with the students is the best part of mentoring. The student she currently mentors, a high school senior, has already been accepted to the University of Florida, and Habel, being an Ohio State graduate, had a bet with him as to who would win the national football championship.

"Guess who lost," she jokes. "It's just wonderful. Every kid is different and they are all really smart, motivated, good kids."

Both Habel and Nelson encourage people to sign up as mentors. Lewis, the program coordinator, urged potential mentors to consider the difference they could make in a child's life.

"You start with them as ninth-graders, and they are kind of gawky -- all arms and feet, and then by the time they graduate they are these poised young people," she said. "It's like watching a flower blossom and you've been part of that."
nicole.service@news-jrnl.com

How to Become a Mentor
* Take Stock in Children, run locally by the Future Education Foundation, serves high school students with at least a B average, as long as they stay drug- and crime-free through graduation. Mentors must undergo a background check and are required to meet with students weekly on campus.
More information: Marsha Lewis at (386) 255-6475.
(Both Joyce Nelson and Marsha Lewis are members of our UU congregation.)
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Other names are in alphabetical order. Just scroll down to see what has been going on.

Our own Jim Bostrom received an Emmy Award.

NBC Sports was recognized with eight Emmy Awards, by the National Television Academy, including six for the network's coverage of the 2004 Athens Summer Games. Jim Bostrom was a part of the engineering team that was responsible for designing and integrating NBC's broadcasting facilities within the IBC (International Broadcast Center) in Athens, Greece. He will be receiving his Emmy in recognition of his efforts as part of the team this November. Jim is currently in Turin, Italy working on the systems for NBC's broadcast of the Winter Olympics scheduled to be broadcast in February, 2006

The October first Friday potluck featured paintings by Wanda Cassidy. Wanda is a well known artist in the area. The paintings will remain on display during October and are for sale. A large portion of proceeds from the sales will go to the church. Wanda has also donated one of her beautiful watercolors to the UU. This painting was raffled off at the potluck. The lucky winner was Allen Gilbert. All of us who saw the painting and bought a ticket are envious of you Allen. Enjoy it for years to come.

Dan Gribbin - exciting engagements:

NEWS ABOUT UPCOMING MUSICAL EVENTS and WORK RELEASE PROGRAM

Dan plays in many musical venues including coffee houses, cafes and special events. To see his complete engagement schedule go to his website:

Dan Gribbin

Dan Gribbin
126 Key Colony Ct.
Daytona Beach, FL 32118, 386-760-8226

Donna Jordan

I will have received two certifications as of mid-December. As many of you know, I was involved in interior design DBW (Donna Before Wheels) and this is an extension of that practice expressing DAW.
One is Universal Design Specialist/Educator. This is sponsored by AIA (American Institute of Artchitects) and ASID (American Society of Interior Designers).

The 2nd is CAPS (Certified Aging in Place Specialist) sponsored by NAHB (National Association of Home Builders) and AARP. I will be the only female in the State of Florida with this certification.

What does this mean?

Universal Design is a worldwide movement based on the concept that all products, environments and communications should be designed to consider the needs of people in ALL stages of abilities.

CAPS deals with keeping an aging population in their home as long and as safely as possible. My market will include these categories: sight, hearing, mobility impaired, cognitively challenged, caregivers, new construction for retirees w/no disabilities (but know eventually they will have), federally funded housing and builders with insight in this community. This is going to be the way to design/build in the future.

I will offer my services free of charge to any UU member. Even if their home is not accessible to me, I'll have someone take digital photos and I can work from those. I have many product resources and shared services w/other agencies or consultants in the area - no charge.

If you know of someone that could use my services, please call me at (386) 441-2776. I'll be starting a small consulting business in January.

Contact Donna Jordan

Pastor Bud Murphy
September 17 - Pastor Bud will be at the Pastor Build Groundbreaking celebration for Halifax Habitat for Humanity on Saturday September 17 and hopes others from the congregation will be there to share the beginning of our contribution to building a home.
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IF THE SHOE FITS

Joyce Nelson, a UU member, implemented the program in this area that originated at a California based non-profit program begun in 1992 called "Shoes That Fit." Family Renew acknowledged the work that Joyce has done for them - "all three sites were provided with new shoes for school aged children. Look for another shoe drive this Fall"

Below is the article printed in DUNE NEWS, an Ormond By The Sea newsletter. More praise for Joyce for a job well done.

SHOES THAT FIT

In April and May, friends and neighbors in Ormond by the Sea and surrounding communities, and the Unitarian Universalist Society of Ormond Beach have collected 140 pairs of NEW SHOES for needy school age children. Each child was measured for his/her NEW shoes and also received several pairs of socks. The shoes were delivered to FAMILY RENEW COMMUNITY in Holly Hill, Deland and Daytona and PIERSON ELEMENTARY. The ladies at the Ormond Breakers provided 16 pairs of shoes and socks. Helen Burkhalter was their volunteer.

The project will resume next October. If you want to participate in the autumn you will be given a child’s name, age, and gender and shoe size. You then purchase the NEW SHOES and return them to an assigned volunteer. Or you can donate cash and shoes will be purchased for a specific child. Call Joyce Nelson @ 441 1248 or jnelson5348@cfl.rr.com – subject: SHOES THAT FIT PROGRAM if you want to be part of this social action that gives 100% to underprivileged school age children.

If you are participating in an event and want it listed: Contact us and we'll add it.