Community Care Committee
COMMUNITY CARE UPDATE
Date: November 17, 2025
To: Council Members
From: Karen Schafer
RE: Activities Report
Recent Activities & Synopsis of Nov. Minutes:
- Recruited regular monthly volunteers for table take down and clean-up
- Refined greeter and usher plan for offering
- Most of our members participated in the Workday on November 1
- Conducted our third New Member session with Delbert Schafer and Hobbit Merritt as guests to discuss their duties
- New members have expressed interest in updating the Courtyard; Delbert is putting together a committee to explore the idea
- Approved additions to our Mission and Goals statement (also attached)
- Council asked CC to maintain the Peace River and the Memorial Garden
- Plans for Thanksgiving set-up and Decorations for Nov. 30
- Continue to work on a better system for greeting and keeping track of visitors
Note: Since our meeting, Doris Moore and Amy Strine have agreed to join the CC Committee. Peggy Abbey has resigned as the drive from Albuquerque is too long.
Karen and Delbert met with Dawn Knighten and she discussed her ideas to take care of the Peace River. She has some great plans and will come to the December 10 CC meeting to share them.
COMMUNITY CARE UPDATE
Date: November 17, 2025
To: Council Members
From: Karen Schafer
RE: Activities Report
Recent Activities & Synopsis of Nov. Minutes:
- Recruited regular monthly volunteers for table take down and clean-up
- Refined greeter and usher plan for offering
- Most of our members participated in the Workday on November 1
- Conducted our third New Member session with Delbert Schafer and Hobbit Merritt as guests to discuss their duties
- New members have expressed interest in updating the Courtyard; Delbert is putting together a committee to explore the idea
- Approved additions to our Mission and Goals statement (also attached)
- Council asked CC to maintain the Peace River and the Memorial Garden
- Plans for Thanksgiving set-up and Decorations for Nov. 30
- Continue to work on a better system for greeting and keeping track of visitors
Note: Since our meeting, Doris Moore and Amy Strine have agreed to join the CC Committee. Peggy Abbey has resigned as the drive from Albuquerque is too long.
Karen and Delbert met with Dawn Knighten and she discussed her ideas to take care of the Peace River. She has some great plans and will come to the December 10 CC meeting to share them.
_____
UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST WESTSIDE COMMUNITY
“We are a church of many beliefs, worshipping as one community, and focused on making this a better world.” – Rev. Steve J. Crump
Committees & Activities
Program Committee (1st Sunday each month):
It is the responsibility of this committee to discuss and plan for Sunday Service programs, Religious Education programs for all ages, and other events with spiritual and educational elements. To do this, programs draw from all religious traditions and are in keeping with our Sources, Core Values and Congregational Values. Rev. Nancy is responsible for two services per month; the Programming Committee is responsible for making plans for the remaining 2-3 Sundays. All are invited and those with programming ideas are invited to bring ideas to the committee. it does not obligate you to participate in the actual service.
Time: 12:30 pm
Place: Conference Room
Contact: Nancy Hitt, ministeruuwc@gmail.com
Wendy Dampier, wendynh@comcast.net
UUWC Council (2nd Sunday each month):
The Council has responsibility for the general supervision and governance of the affairs of the Congregation including liaison and supervision of the Consulting Minister, Office Coordinator and Bookkeeper. The Council supports the Congregation in its work to develop and actualize its Purpose, Values and Ends. It also appoints other committees, standing or ad hoc, as the Congregation or the Council deems necessary to carry on the work of the Congregation.
There are five members, four of whom are elected for terms of 3 years by the Congregation at the UUWC Annual Meeting in January. Officers are Moderator, Vice-Moderator, Scribe and Treasurer. The Treasurer is elected separately and by the Congregation in its Annual Meeting from the other four members and serves a term for 3 years. Members and friends are welcome to attend Council Meetings. Also, the Moderator will be happy to answer your questions.
Time: 12:30 pm Place: Conference Room
Contact: Nika Quirk, Moderator, nikaquirk@mac.com or Carole Eagleheart, Vice Moderator, ceagleheart@gmail.com.
Town Hall and Potluck (3rd Sunday of each month)
All are invited to attend to share food, conversations, and concerns. The formal part of the Town Hall is conducted by the Council Moderator
Time: Immediately following Sunday service
Place: Social Hall
Social Justice Committee (4th Sunday each month):
The cornerstone of UU is Social Justice. Input from friends and members is encouraged. Current and ongoing projects include supplies for Storehouse West, Feed Rio Rancho Kids, an Anti-Racist Study Group, Labyrinth walks, Border Issues, and Legislative Information. Concern about climate change, LGBTQ+ issues and education are also considered.
Time: 12:30 pm Place: Conference Room
Co-Chairs: Carla Clark, cbc0427@hotmail.com and Maggie Green, maggieellengreen@yahoo.com
Community Care Committee (Second Wednesday of the month)
The Community Care Committee Mission is to exemplify love in action, offering care that respects the dignity of everyone. Members work to fulfill that mission with phone calls, greeting cards, hospital visits, and assisting with the kitchen crew. It trains and recruits greeters manages table set-up and is committed to providing information to new members.
Time: 10:00 a.m. Place: Conference Room
Contact: Karen Schafer at karenjean44@gmail.com.
UUWC Humanist Group
Launched in 2023 and formally recognized in December 2023, the Humanist Group seeks to provide programming, information, books, and events to members of the congregation. All are invited to attend meetings to learn more about Humanism without any obligation to join. The group maintains the library and works to make books available to friends and members. Contact Karen Schafer,
Karenjean44@gmail.com or Delbert Schafer at schafer42@gmail.com for more information.
Feed Rio Rancho Kids
Feed Rio Rancho Kids (FRRK) provides weekly food packets to school kids who need food assistance over the weekend. FRRK currently serves four Rio Rancho Schools and supplies 350 to 400 packets per month. UUWC provides financial bookkeeping, room for food storage, and space for packet assembly each month. Monthly packet assembly is usually on the third Tuesday of the month. UUWC members and friends are welcome to volunteer with the program. For information on food and volunteer needs and donations, Karen Schafer, karenjean44@gmail.com
Time: 9:00 a.m. Place: Green Room
Contact: Karen Schafer, karenjean44@gmail.com or Kelly Cook, kcookie61@gmail.com.
Stewardship Committee
The Stewardship Committee at UUWC plays a vital role, with the Treasurer and Council, in the congregation’s financial health and overall well-being. The funds you pledge provide the resources to maintain the church and allow us to continue to thrive and fulfill our mission. Each year, the Stewardship Committee plans and manages the annual pledge campaign. Committee meeting dates and times vary. Contact: Ruth Tucker Bogart, rtbogart@gmail.com
Endowment Committee
The UUWC Endowments are managed by the Endowment Committee in accordance with our bylaws. The members are elected by the congregation at the Annual Meeting. Distributions of income and growth from the Funds are made to accomplish any of the following purposes: outreach into the community to promote social justice and/or greater awareness of our religious values; scholarships, grants and support for training in leadership. Committee meeting dates and times vary. For information on adding to the current endowments, starting a new fund, or seeking a scholarship contact Karen Schafer, karenjean44@gmail.com.
Other Groups
Anti-racist Book Club: Exploring racism in America and how we can use this knowledge to live an antiracist life. Group meets most 3rd Friday of the month. Check UU website for date, time, and place.
Contact Jennifer Tripp, jtrippzillich@yahoo.com
Storehouse West – Information on the food pantry may be found at https://www.storehousewest.org/. Members of the congregation are asked to bring food and or make a donation on a regular basis. For additional information, contact the Social Justice committee by getting in touch with Carla Clark, cbc0427@hotmail.com or Maggie Green, maggieellengreen@yahoo.com.
Men’s Group – Bill Shore, bill evolvself@outlook.com, Meets 2:30 p.m. in the Social Hall every other Tuesday.
Women’s Group – Nancy Hitt, ministeruuwc@gmail.com, Meets at 2:30 2nd & 4th Thurs. in Conf. Room
Social Media – UUWC has a website (https://uuwestside.org/), and a presence on Facebook. For concerns about postings or interest in something that is not posted, please contact Delbert Schafer, schafer42@gmail.com, or Carole Eagleheart, ceagleheart@gmail.com.
End of Section I
Ad Hoc Committees and Contacts:
Building Maintenance & Grounds – Delbert Schafer, Schafer42@gmail.com
Interest in Membership, contact Nancy Hitt, ministeruuwc@gmail.com
Labyrinth – Amy Strine, acstrine@yahoo.com
Peace River – Dawn Knighten, dawnknighten23@gmail.com
Art Show – Carole Eagleheart, ceagleheart@gmail.com.
Adult Education – Nancy Hitt, ministeruuwc@gmail.com
Children’s Education – Laurel Anderson, andersonlaurel@yahoo.com
Church Cleaning – Coordinator, Hobbit Merritt, hobbit.merritt@gmail.com
End of Section II
UU PROGRAMS
UU THE VOTE – UU the Vote is a non-partisan faith initiative to engage our neighbors, educate our communities, mobilize voters, and rally around key ballot initiatives. The program is activating thousands of Unitarian Universalists to mobilize for electoral justice at the local, state, and national levels. UUWC has participated for several years as our members have stepped up to send letters and postcards to selected states and selected issues. The letters are always non-partisan and stress the importance of voting. UUWC has been named “A Good Trouble Congregation” twice for fulfilling the numerical requirements for letters, postcards, working at the polls and going door to door. To join the effort contact Carole Eagleheart, caroleeagleheart@gmail.com or Amy Strine at , acstrine@yahoo.com.
LGBTQ+ UUWC is an open and affirming congregation. We are intentionally inclusive of people of all sexual orientations and gender identities. Within our congregational life, we make a conscious and deliberate decision to celebrate the diversity uniquely embodied in our congregation and community. UUWC participates annual in the Gay Pride Parade in Albuquerque. Planning for it comes under the auspices of the Social Justice Committee. Contact: Jenny Cook, jennycook669@icloud.com
CUUPS – UU Westside’s CUUPS group, Moonspirit CUUPs, offers “Spiritual teachings of Earth-centered traditions which celebrate the sacred circle of life and instruct us to live in harmony with the rhythms of nature. For more information contact Nika Quirk, nikaquirk@mac.com or Donna Johnston, dakiniwind@aol.com
Drum Circle – Drum Circle meets once a month in the social hall or weather permitting outside. All are invited. You may bring your own drums, shakers, flutes, guiros, and rain sticks or you may share the ones we have here. Day and time to be determined. Contact Stacie Gebeke at cwn.stage@juno.com,.
End Section III
COMMUNICATION
UUWC uses a church software called BREEZE for membership information, event calendar, making monetary contributions, communication, weekly newsletter, among other things.
Any individual who attends services at UUWC, and wishes to be added to the directory, can gain access to the benefits of Breeze. It can be accessed via desktop or laptop computer, there is also a mobile app available for either IOS or Android devices. The Office Coordinator, Erin Uhles, adds new members to the Breeze and initiates an invite to the primary email listed on the member’s account. You will receive an invite containing a link inside the email. Members simply need to follow the link and prompts to create a username and password. This is known only to the user. If a new member does not follow the link in the introductory email within 48 hours, it will go inactive. However, if this occurs, the Office Coordinator can send another email with a fresh link.
Contacting the Office Coordinator, Erin Uhles, for issues with Breeze, or any other admin issue is easy. Texting is easiest for a quicker response to short questions. Phone calls or emails will have a longer turnaround time but will be attended to as soon as possible. The Office Coordinator cellphone number is 505-508-9958 and email is coordinatoruuwestside@gmail.com. Additional Training for Breeze is provided by Rich Guidi, rich_guidi@yahoo.com
MULTIPLE WAYS TO CONTRIBUTE & PAYMENT OF PLEDGE.
- Collection basket during Sunday service. You may donate by check or cash. If you donate cash and would like to receive credit for the donation, please put the cash into an envelope and write your name on it.
- By mail. Mail a check to UUWC, P.O Box 15146, Rio Rancho, NM
- Online via Breeze. Breeze users (see section above) can donate directly through Breeze. Click on the Give Now link. You’ll be asked for the amount, method of payment (card or directly from a bank account), and the fund to which the donation should be directed. The default is the Operating Fund for the current year, but you can choose another, such as Feed Rio Rancho Kids or Border.
- Online via UUWC web site. Click the Donate button. Again, you can choose the fund and the method of payment. This payment is made via PayPal.
In both online options, there is a fee. You will be invited to add the fee to your donation, but this is not required. In both cases you can choose to make a recurring gift. For example, if you give the same amount monthly as your pledge, you can set this up once and not have to repeat the action every month. The advantage to using Breeze is that the donation goes directly and immediately into your record. With PayPal there is an extra step for the treasurer or bookkeeper to review the records from the PayPal account and update your record in Breeze (possibility of error or delay). However, people who use PayPal for other purposes may be more comfortable with that method.
For questions or more information, contact Ruth Tucker Bogart Treasurer, rtbogart@gmail.com
