The UUCT Immigrant Rights Action Group and the Social Justice Committee have voted unanimously to endorse a proposal that the UUCT become a sponsor and fiscal agent for No More Deaths, an interfaith humanitarian aid group in Tucson that won the prestigious Oscar Romero Human Rights Award in April, 2007. UUCT was one of the founding faith bodies that created No More Deaths.

In March the UUCT Board of Trustees authorized the Empowerment Team to further explore such a sponsorship, including the benefits and responsibilities it would give to the congregation. Before this issue comes before the congregation for a vote in May, we urge all UUCT members to attend the Town Hall Meeting after the second service on April 20 to meet No More Deaths volunteers, hear more about this proposal and to ask any questions you may have about what it means to be the fiscal agent and sponsoring church for No More Deaths.

Our kitchen at Mary Wiese's direction and lot of volunteer assistance prepared and fed 150 people a delicious salmon dinner on Saturday evening, March 17. The dinner was served warm and without mishap and widely compli- mented by those eating. We are fortunate to have a good caterer in our church.

The silent auction had wonderful hors'douevres and glasses of wine and beer and was made extra special by the young men and women who helped with serving them to the attendees.

The live auction was spirited and made loads of fun by the Auctioneer, Christine Sullivan, and her husband, John. The members of the YRUU acted as of wait staff and earned $819 in tips towards their upcoming trip to Nicara- gua. Thank you for being so generous.

This year's profit from the evening was $20,225 less expenses of $3,204 leaving us with a total of $17,021 profit.

Thanks to everyone who helped. To those who received donations, those who wrote descriptions for the Auction book, those who helped set up, those who worked in the kitchen, the youth for serving, those who helped clean upQeveryone! We could not have been successful without YOU!

Looking forward to next year!

• Auction successful. Brought in over $17,000 in profits!
• YRUU earned $819 in tips at Auction for their trip to Nicaragua!
• All Church Cook-out on Saturday, April 12 at Freedom Park.
• April Town Hall Meeting: a preview of 2008-09 Budget to be presented at Annual Meeting in May.
• Pledges for 08/09 budget year continue to raise. New total is $310,000.
• More than 200 cans of food were donated for the children's Easter Hunt.

Note: This summary is provided to inform the congregation of Board discussion and actions. These are not the official, complete, or approved minutes. MSP = Motion made, seconded and passed.

MSP Minutes from the February 12, 2008 Board Meeting were approved.

Financial report - presented by Marya Wheeler

• Highlights: income 5% ahead of calendar schedule; expenses 4% under

Stewardship report - presented by Lyman Grover

• As of now approximately $298,000 has been pledged
• The campaign will probably end up with $320,000, close to the $330,000 pledged last year.
• This compares well with a reported 20% drop in contributions to churches and other non-profit organizations this year.

Ministers report - Diane Dowgiert

• Cora Miller, long time member of UUCT died March 10
• Laurel Sheridan is still in intensive care.

Empowerment Team (ET) report - presented by Diane Dowgiert

• ET is preparing a budget proposal for the 08-09 year. This will be reviewed by the board March 25 and presented to a Town Hall April 6.

MSP The board approves the mid year budget adjustment changing the total income from $413,511 to $424,230 and expenses from $454,068 to $454,230 with net income deficit $10,000 less than the $40,000 approved at the 2007 Budget church meeting.

MSP The board endorses the work of the ET in exploring the possibility of partnership with Nor More Deaths as part of our social justice program and encourages further exploration of the details of this possible partnership.

MSP The board regretfully accepts the resignation of Rebecca Froom as Director of Religious Education and commends her for her outstanding service to UUCT.

A two-hour workshop for social justice/community activists:

10 a.m. to Noon, Saturday, April 19 in the Awareness Room

Cost: $10 to cover materials and refreshments.

Registration: Seating is limited and this event is open to the public, so please sign up by April 13 at the back of Goddard Hall, or by contacting Leila at Lpine@tds.net or 299-6281.

Professionals from local broadcast and print media, and an expert in web and internet resources, will discuss how to promote the social justice issues and community organizations you are passionate about and to get more than just a listing in a weekly calendar.

There's a lot more to learn than how to write a good news release! It's about building relationships, developing talking points, media kits, and making follow-up phone calls.

Our next meeting will be April 8th. We always meet on the second Tuesday. This month we are going on a guided tour of the KUAT TV studios at the University of Arizona. The studios are located in the basement of the Modern Languages Building. For maps and parking information, stop by the Alliance table in Goddard after the Sunday service.

The tour will start at 10:00 AM. Those who would like to car pool can meet at the church between 9:00 and 9:15. Following the tour, we will meet for lunch at the Golden Corral on 22nd street.

For further information, call Marcia Schenck at 326-1102 or Tom Warburton at 624-9008 (e-mail : tmw@warby.net).

Spend "A Moment in Kabul" with Margaret Halaby and her photographs of Afghanistan at the April exhibit of the Artist of the Month Gallery. You can talk with Margaret about her time in this fascinating country at her opening reception Sunday, April 13, from noon to 1:30.

Abby Root, for the Gallery Committee

Kitty Ufford-Chase, Faith Community Coordinator at the Community Food Bank, will be offering Sleuthing in your Supermarket: Learning to Shop with a Conscience on Monday evenings from April 7 through May 5 from 6:30 - 8:00 pm in the Awareness meeting room. This is a course on issues surrounding food and faith and will explore the following--

• The history of supermarkets, current and future trends, and the food shopping experience.
• Supermarket advertising, marketing and consumption: understanding the corporate role, and the messages we get from supermarkets.
• Environmental impacts within the supermarket itself, in its supply chain, and in the household.
• Social justice in the food system and supermarkets from middle-class and low-income perspectives: accessibility, affordability, and food appropriateness.
• Looking at alternatives and options for action to support a more just food system.

The fee is $15 to cover supplies. Any money left over will go to the Community Food Bank as a donation from UUCT. Scholarships are always available and always given. More information is available about this and all other Adult Faith Development programs at the AFD table in Goddard Hall after the service. You can also email mike-greenbaum@qwestoffice.net or call him at 326-8831.

Did you know?

• It takes about 40 volunteers for us to run an effective RE Program?
• There are a wide variety of volunteer opportunities in RE, including teaching, youth advising, facilitating an Our Whole Lives Sexuality Education course, serving on the RE Council and helping out with special events and social justice projects?
• Teaching teams consist of 4 volunteers, so you are only in the classroom about twice a month, and can easily go to worship services the rest of the time?
• We have 55 children and youth registered in RE, which means we have a ratio of about 5.5 adults for every child in our congregation?
• The RE Council will be tabling during coffee hour for RE Volunteers Sundays April 13 thru 27. Please stop by to learn more about Religious Education and how you can be involved!

Camp deBenneville Pines, located in Angelus Oaks, California, has been enriching Unitarian Universalism in the Pacific Southwest District since 1962. Camp de BennevilleUs mission includes being a spiritual community wherein ecological and humanistic values can be affirmed, and Unitarian Universalist principles and puroses can be celebrated and lived.

Some of this summer's camp offerings include:

• Elementary Summer Camp / CIT Training, July 6 - 12, 2008
• Jr High Summer Camp, July 13 - 19, 2008
• YRUU/Sr High Summer Camp, July 20 - 26, 2008
• UU Family Camp, July 27 - August 2

For more information go to http://www.uucamp.org/ or pick up a Camp deBenneville Pines newsletter from the church foyer.

The YRUU wants to thank the whole congregation for their generous donations during the youth service and the Auction. We have raised almost $4,000 dollars! In order to make the $12,000 needed we will be having a car wash at the church on Sunday, April 13 and another bake sale on Sunday, April 20. Thank you for your continual support. If you have any questions, please contact Patrice Davison at 881-7209.

The Transition Team provides Lisa McDaniel-Hutchings with support, challenge, and reflection on her journey to ordained ministry, while educating the congregation about the process.

Q.	How are Lisa's courses as a part-time ministry student structured?
A.	Lisa registers for three courses in July and spends the fall reading books and writing reflection papers. Then she goes for "intensives" during the month of January in Chicago. They are called "intensives" because she spends one week, 9AM-5PM each day, for each class. (The first week is a conference and meetings with faculty and field advisors.) Finally there are papers or projects due for each class by the end of March.
Q.	What are some of the courses Lisa is taking?
A.	This January Lisa took three classes: Spiritual Formation for Liberal Ministers, Learning by Doing (a lifespan religious education course using drama to teach content), and Religious Humanism. She's currently en- rolled in a Christian Scriptures course online.

Stay tuned for the next installment of the Transition Team Q & A Series. Until then, please feel free to approach any of the team with questions or comments you may have. In faith,

Carol Evans, Michael D. Greenbaum, Kathy McDaniel, Rev. Rod Richards, Randy Springer, Chair

Starting in April, I will be in Goddard after services at the Grocery table on the 1st and 3rd Sunday of each month. Please do stop by with questions or to join the program (at no extra cost to you). The program is going well, thanks to all of our supporters. So far this year (reports in from Albertsons thru October; Safeway thru December; Frys thru January; and Bashas thru February) we have brought in approx. $1650 (most since November). I am eager to see what the end result on July 1st will be. The coming year should be even better if we stay at the same level or, better yet, continue to increase our purchase base. Thanks everyone!

Yes, it is that time of year, AGAIN! The Empowerment Team, the Finance Committee and the Board of Trustees are working on the 2008-2009 budget. This budget will determine the course of our church's ministry for the coming year as we strive to fulfill our Strategic Plan.

So, plan to attend the 2008-2009 Town Hall to be held on April 6 at 12:15 in Holland Sanctuary. This is your primary opportunity to discuss the budget that will be voted on at the annual meeting on May 4.

Every member of UUCT needs to join in this conversation concerning keeping our vision alive. The churchUs ministry is your ministry and the Strategic Plan is your plan.

It was with sadness for UUCT's loss and gladness for the exciting future ahead for Rebecca Froom that the Board of Trustees accepted the letter of resignation of our Director of Religious Education at our March 11 meeting.

Rebecca has decided that she has a true calling for the ministry and will be attending seminary in the fall. At the present she has been accepted by one school and is waiting to hear from several others to which she has applied. She will be remaining at UUCT until the end of this church year on June 30, 2008.

The Board sincerely appreciates the work that Rebecca has done for the church during her two years with us and wishes her the greatest success and spiritual fulfillment in all her future endeavors.

Tour recycling and land fill sites in Tucson via city bus with a knowledgeable guide. When and where? Saturday, April 12, 8am - 12:30pm, leaving from the Ward 2 office at 7575 E. Speedway. Contact Maggie Lawrence (722-3112) to make reservations.

Next meeting, April 17 at 7pm in the Awareness Room. We will revue Have A Nice Doomsday by Nicolas Guyott.

Sunday, April 6: Faith Without Certainty - Rev. Diane Dowgiert, Minister

When our liberal religion asserts that revelation is not sealed, that truth is not given once and for all, what does it mean to have faith? What faith claims can we make? What convictions do we hold?

Sunday, April 13: Themes of the Spirit in Long(hair) Music - Randall Springer

Spiritual reflection and musical appreciation are not completely distinct; music is sometimes intertwined with spiritual life. In this service we will consider, with excerpts from each of three great works of classical music, some of the spiritual themes that are prominent in human experi- ence. The Desert Chorale will sing one of these selections at the 10:30 service.

Rev. Diane is filling the pulpit at the UU Congregation of Northwest Tucson on this day, as their minister, Rev. Susan Manker-Seale is away on sabbatical leave. This is a reciprocal arrangement among congregations in Southern Arizona. When it comes time for Rev. Diane to take a sabbatical in the coming years, other UU ministers in Southern Arizona will be available to help fill out the worship schedule.

Thanks to the musicians who enriched our Easter services. Rebecca Foreman, Harpist; Sheryl Holland, Soprano; Anne Roberts; Pianist; Family Singers; Tom Clowes, Cello.

On Sunday, March 30th, a group of women from Desert Chorale presented some African songs and Kalimba player, Mark Holdaway, treated us to sounds of this unique African instrument.

Sunday, April 6th, the Desert Chorale will be singing as their anthem Moses directed by Brian Moon.

Sunday, April 13th, Randy Springer will be guest conductor of Desert Chorale when they sing He, Watching Over Israel by Mendelssohn.

Sunday, April 20th, Carol Brubaker will play violin solos dedicated to the memory of Kay Carlson's husband who died a year ago. Family Singers will also be presenting an anthem.

First Friday: First Friday Parents Night Out is scheduled for the first Friday evening of the month. The next one is scheduled for Friday, April 4, 2008. It is held in the Awareness room from 6pm until 10pm and provided for a nominal fee. If you would like to reserve a space for your child, you must RSVP to Kathleen Hogue, 312-0441, by Thursday, April 3.

Newcomer Orientation: If you are new to our church community and would like to learn more, I invite you to join us to our next Newcomer Orientation. It has been changed to Sunday April 13th, at 4pm and includes a free dinner and childcare If you are interested, please RSVP to the office: 748-1551 or by sending an email to me at macbrude@cox.net. Please feel free to contact me should you have any questions.

All Church Cookout: Please join us for an all ages cookout at Freedom Park on 29th Street on Saturday April 12th at 4 pm. We will provide veggie burgers, hot dogs, and the 'fixings'. We will also have soda and bottled water available. Please bring a dish to share and anything else you would like to drink. We will email the exact location/Ramada inside the park before the weekend. Please call Mary if you have any questions: 349-4521.

New Phone Number: Please be aware that the phone number that is listed for me in the directory is no longer in service. I can now be reached at 520-349-4521.