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Dear Fellow "West Valley U.U.'s",

The 2 year term that I am just completing was, for me, most rewarding. Most of you gave me tremendous support. You told me your concerns and always voiced your appreciation. To one and all I say "Thank You".

Let me say here that I feel that lay leaders need to attend "G.A". The opportunity provided for both John LeRoy and myself to participate in the wonderful annual event really provided impetus and training that was most helpful. We traveled to Long Beach and back together. That time, as well as the conference itself, was most beneficial. I reported on the General Assembly when I returned.

The entire Board Membership was extremely dedicated. They included Randy & Cindy Nowell, Darnell Kirksey, Kathy Abramowitz, Charlie Klinkert, Kathleen Preece, Jeanne LaMont, Barbara Miller, Pat Cook, Brian O'Laughlin, Bill & Kathy Dugan, and Donnis Deever. Some for 1 year and some for 2 years. Many Thanks!

We worked short handed part of '05-06, but was still able to update our Bylaws. Again "Thanks" to the Bylaws Ad Hoc Committee, chaired by Sandra Mahoney and explained by Charlie Klinkert at the December Cong. Mtg., you all saw the merit in the plan to work toward a Policy Board and voted to support the structure change.

During part of "06 we suffered together with the physical onset of our minister's illness. At times it felt as if we were hemorrhaging grief. With difficult decisions and much compassion we survived this hurdle. There were, of course, casualties.

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Welcome to our new WVUU Members of the Board Members

On May 21st, the Congregation elected President Brian O'Laughlin, President Elect Darryl Bailey, Treasurer Dan Poland, and Donnis Deever.

Board Members Darnell Kirksey Secretary Bill and Kathy Dugan continue on the Board.

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Another milestone was our joint major effort to formulate our Long Range Plan. I really appreciate your attendance at all those mini meetings. Due to other business the L.R.P. was not presented until the May '07 Congregational Meeting, where a motion was made to accept that plan.

Now, at the directive of the L.R.P. and additional conformation from a Sunday Services Committee Survey we are trying to locate a part time minister. We appointed yet another Ad Hoc Ministerial Committee. Again Chaired by Sandra Mahoney. Their report was given at the May '07 Cong. Mtg.Taking the committees recommendation to hire Terry Sims at 1/2 time for $30,000/ year, we are endeavoring to make that work. The approved budget shows we do not have the funds to offer that at this time. We hope by offering a 1/2 time position as minister for 6 months and an option to extend for 6 months, that our members will find a way to secure the additional money. We already have the promise of an extra $3,700 towards that goal. We also think it shows we have confidence in Terry to show his ability to attract new members.

On Wednesday Evening, we are meeting with Terry Sims. We do not expect an immediate answer. That will be my final act as President of WVUU Board. Cross your fingers and begin planning on ways to make money. I wish you and the new board great success and pledge my continued cooperation in what ever way it is requested.

Your Friend,

Barbara Kovach

Thank You All For Pledging Your Financial Support Of This West Valley U.U. Congregation !

A quick review of our "Enron Math" on Page 3, Line 53, reminds us all that our "Dreams Of Growth" are ultimately governed by our "Ability to Pay For Them".

One of the Immediate Benefits of attending programs like UUA General Assembly, and PSWD Workshops, is learning how other UU Congregations before us have achieved their Congregational Dreams and Goals. Below is a listing of the 37 pledges that we've received. Several pledges have yet to be received.

Please feel free to participate in the "Fun Of Building By Giving" !

Speaking of Building, and Buildings, have you noticed that WVUU has plenty of Vacant Land for

Your Dreams and Goals ?

Thank You All For Pledging Your Financial Support Of This West Valley U.U. Congregation !

Sunday School Finale

The children concluded their Sunday school year on May 21st by participating in the whole service - from choosing the hymns to lighting the chalice and leading the responsive reading. The kids enjoyed it. We hope that all of you did, too.

We'll probably have a potluck mid-summer and our real Sunday school will begin again with a camping trip on Sept 9-10.

Cole will provide childcare through the month of June. After that, parents will coordinate and take turns.

If you have any questions, please email me at:

Kathy@abramowitzes.com.

- Kathy

After a very late winter; spring has finally arrived at camp. The snowy March and April weather has filled the streams. Hopefully the trees will get a good long drink before the dry summer season. Around camp, the daffodils are blooming in profusion and we're looking forward to enjoying flowers on the lilac and rose bushes that were planted last year.

Spring also means gearing up for our busy summer. The PSWD Youth Camps' registrations are going ahead at full speed. The early registration discount period has already passed and as you read this, most congregations will have held their Super Camp

Sunday! events. We're expecting to fill all the available spots for each of the camps and already have many prospective Counselors-in-Training. The wonderful PSWD camp programs have brought our youth

back year after year. Now many of them are choosing

to become counselors for the younger children attending for their first few camps. If you'd like to register a child for camp, forms are available on the de Benneville web site at www.uuCamp.orq.

The UU Family Camp is sold out. Almost 120 lucky people will spend a week with Reverend Ned Wight and a wonderful volunteer staff for "It's All About Love." If you were hoping to bring your family to camp this summer but missed the opportunity, we are taking registrations for next year's camp. If you register and pay your deposit before December 1, you will be able to attend next year's camp at this year's rate. Contact the camp office for additional information.

PSWIRL, the adult summer camp in August, is again offering an array of workshops, speakers and

fun----A pSwirl of Activities! Reverend Jon Dobrer

will be the Theme Speaker discussing "Islam, Judaism & Christianity Intertwined: What Does It Mean for You?" For more information and to register, you can visit the PSWIRL website at www.pswirl.orq.

We're looking forward to several UU congregations' family retreats over the next few months. The Live Oak congregation from Goleta will be sharing a weekend in May with Monte Vista. In June, First Church San Diego, Pacific Unitarian Church and the Santa Monica congregations will have their retreats. At the end of August, Neighborhood Church has their annual summer retreat and at the end of September/early October, Conejo Valley and the Valley Cluster will have their weekends.

De Benneville will again be offering the Yoga and Meditation Retreat` second weekend in August. We'll have two Camps for Home Schooling Families in the fall, as well as the folk -music weekend, another Rainbow Family Camp arid" the Wild Jammin' Women music camp.

We'll be opening registration for the Thanksgiving Holiday Celebration in a few weeks. Please don't wait to register. This is another great event that sells out each year. Dates and information *out these events and many others can be found on the de Benneville web site at www.uuCamp.orq.

Our next issue of the Connection will be available at the end of August. It will have information on the fall and winter events at camp, as well as stories of interest to our campers. If you're not on the mailing list to receive our twice yearly newspaper, please contact the camp office at (909) 794-2928 or by e-mail:

Caroline@uuCamp.orq

We look forward to seeing you in the cool, piney forest at de Benneville.

Caroline Quintanilla,

Administrative Assistant

Caroline@uuCamp.orq

Who Wants A Reading Group?

www.Beacon.org, a Unitarian Universalist publishing company, provides books and reading guides for Unitarian Universalist congregations. If you're interested in a reading group, call Dorothy Ward, at home 602-246-1246 or tell her at Church.

Also, Beacon Press having reclaimed rights to Victor Frankl's classic Man's Search for Meaning, the Press has now released a mass-market paperback version as well as hard cover and trade paperback editions, all with a new foreword by Rabbi Harold Kushner. He has written many books, amont them Why Bad Things Happen to Good People. It can be ordered directly from the newly-expanded Beacon Press website, www.beacon.org.

Just ask Darnell Kirksey, Barbara Kovach, Kathleen Preece, or Dorothy Ward. Several thousand people attend General Assembly each year.

This year the GA is in St. Louis. June 21st to June 25th. www.uua.org gives details about the General Assembly, how to register, where to stay, public transportation, and wonderful things to see in St. Louis. To sightsee in St. Louis, plan to add some time to the GA before or after GA.

Each day participates choose from over a hundred programs. Participants can attend worship services every morning and every evening. Attendance at every event and worship service is optional.

Part of the Opening Ceremony consists of a wonderful Banner Parade of the banners of all the Congregations in attendance on Wednesday, June 21, 2006. Sunday June 25, 2006 Service of the Living Tradition Worship Service with 4,000 UUs; Plenary, programs, worship and entertainment; General Assembly Closing Ceremony.

I am considering going to General

Assembly in St. Louis.

Dorothy Ward

602-246-1246

Sunday Services 10:30 a.m.

June 4, 2006, Dr. Mirna Lattoufe "Islamic Feminism"

We will cover the development of women's consciousness, the different groups that have emerged, and their approaches to promoting women's human rights within the Arab Muslim world.

June 11, 2006. Janice Brunson, "An Odyssy: UU's Around the World"

Visit Unitarians around the world in such remote areas as Burundi in Africa and the Khasi Hills in India, places where fellowships are springing up in the most unlikely regions led by small groups of dedicated volunteers.

June 18, 2006, Terry Sims, "Generation to Generation"

"This Father's Day I'm thinking about what we pass on to our children. The more we know our own frailties and fallibility, the more daunting it is to be a parent. But might there be salvation in parenthood, even when it doesn't feel holy?"

June 25, 2006, "Shall the Fundamentalists Win?" by Harry Emerson Fosdick, read by Karla Schreiber

This sermon was preached in First Presbyterian Church, New York City, May 21, 1922. Dr. Fosdick sought understanding by both liberals and conservatives, but he was bitterly attacked by the fundamentalists, led by William Jennings Bryan. The ensuing controversy made Fosdick a world figure. To an entire generation he pointed the way past a then conventional orthodoxy to a faith that the modern mind could

accept with conviction and joy.

West Valley Unitarian Universalist Church

PO Box 2505

5904 W Cholla Street

Glendale, AZ 85311

Phone: 623-846-6004

Newsletter E-mail: uniquedorothy@cox.net

This Church provides a safe place to celebrate diversity, draw inspiration for our lives, foster

social and environmental justice, and compassionately support each other in our spiritual searches.

We currently have 81 members and many more friends.

Our Sunday Services begin at 10:30 AM followed by a coffee house style social hour and light lunch.