Category: Annual Report 2025

Leader(s)

Joe

Members

Fred and Mary

Group’s Main Purpose

Testing the code

Accomplishments in Past Year

None

Challenges in Past Year

x

Challenges for Upcoming Year

x

Goals for Upcoming Year

x

Leader(s)

Cathy Kim-annual-report-2025

Members

Gary Ezzell, Linda Vance, Jan Kaplan, Susan Morris, Sharon Hise, Joan Myer, Smoot
Carl-Mitchell, Kathleen Waldron, Christine Seashore, Gillian Hamilton, Leslie Stallcop, Eileen Paddock,
Mike Gattorna, Mickey Tucker, Herb Tucker, many other members and friends of UUCP who have
assisted our efforts with contributions of time, money and supplies, and other members of this
community partnership

Group’s Main Purpose

As members of a community partnership with Beatitudes Campus, Church of
the Beatitudes, Delta Kappa Gamma Education Sorority, and various individual community members,
we support Maryland Elementary School, which has the highest poverty level in a district of 32 schools,
and almost no family involvement, in a variety of ways, including tutoring students, assisting with a
garden and outdoor education program, collecting school supplies and holiday gifts, providing staff
support, and responding to needs expressed by administration and staff as they arise.

Accomplishments in Past Year

We were active in all the above areas, with an increased number of tutor and garden volunteers.
The efforts of these volunteers had a significant impact and were very much appreciated. The
volunteers indicate that they have found it to be a satisfying endeavor, especially enjoying
relationships with these wonderful young people who very much need the mentoring and extra
academic help.
● Our volunteers have helped with the garden/outdoor education program which is building in a
new direction. Grants for the first time allowed the school to hire a part time Outdoor Education
Teacher who works with individual teachers at all grade levels to connect their curriculum to
lesson plans and activities that will encourage them to conduct classes outside on a regular basis,
as research shows this has many important benefits for children and staff. Share Our Plate
contributions in September helped a lot in the purchase of supplies to create more outdoor
education spaces on the campus. The results of this program have been significant, and we are
currently assisting with grant writing to continue the Outdoor Education Teacher into next year.
● Maryland School has not had a parent organization for many years. Our partnership provides
some support for staff through monthly gift card drawings and four meals during the year which
a PTA would typically do. Additionally we provide volunteers and snacks for some of the after
school family events
● We have encouraged UUCP friends and members to support Maryland School with their AZ tax
credit donations.
● We appreciate the work of Civic Engagement in raising awareness at UUCP of how we can help
UUCP 2023-2024 Annual Report Page 40 of 67

impact the work of our legislature in supporting public education. The lack of support is causing
more staff and budget cuts. The funding system is broken, and we need more work to turn things
around.

Challenges in Past Year

The social emotional well being of students in the last few years has been especially challenging,
due to conditions in our society and in the families of many of these young people. Attendance,
behavior, general well-being, academic performance all suffer.
● Staff burnout was evident again this year, with the result that more teachers continue to leave the
school and the teaching profession altogether. The general lack of support for public education
makes it difficult for people who love children and teaching to use their passion and skills.

Challenges for Upcoming Year

Challenges will be similar in the next year, in this school with so many
needs. Our participation in this partnership offering whatever we can do to help Maryland School, is
very important and much appreciated.

Goals for Upcoming Year

● To expand our partnership group and give more organizations and individuals the opportunity
to participate in a very meaningful program
● To continue building the team of volunteers for classroom and outdoor education
● To continue providing support for activities as needed
● To continue raising awareness for support of public education

Leader(s)

Little Billy Bob Jones

Members

Peter Pan, Mickey Mouse, Tinkerbell, Belle, Sponge Bob

Group’s Main Purpose

We are the ghosts of UUCP that come in and mess with the lights, cameras, and sometimes hide items from the staff to mess with them.

Accomplishments in Past Year

We tripped the Grove camera and drove Dale and Stephanie crazy because it kept switching between two different views

Challenges in Past Year

Our group keeps growing and we cant find enough things for everyone to do

Challenges for Upcoming Year

Running out of fun items to take!

Goals for Upcoming Year

Find neater stuff to mess with.

Leader(s)

Hades

Members

Some peeps, some other peeps, yet still more peeps

Group’s Main Purpose

To cause pain and suffering

Accomplishments in Past Year

We had a meeting to discuss the meeting.

Challenges in Past Year

Everything.

Challenges for Upcoming Year

Still more crap.

Goals for Upcoming Year

To get up.

Leader(s)

Gary Ezzell

Members

Chris Fallon, Liz Merchant, Vince Waldron

Group’s Main Purpose

Organize classes for adult learners that are consistent with the mission of UUCP.

Accomplishments in Past Year

Here is a list of the classes offered this year with the facilitators in parentheses. Many were offered in a hybrid format (in person and Zoom).

• Fall:
  • Great UU Sermons (Roy Miller)
  • Art of Pilgrimage (Jan Kaplan, Donna Featherston, Liz Merchant)
  • Hymns as Inspiration (Rev. Christine Dance)
  • Rituals (Rev. Christine Dance)
  • Fatherhood: A Spiritual Commitment for Our Time (Vince Waldron)
  • Memorial Garden Tour (Gary Ezzell)
  • Nobody Knows: Blue Holidays (Rev. Patrice Curtis)
  • Once Upon a Time (Liz Merchant)
• Winter/Spring:
  • Creating Hope in a Messed Up World (Vince Waldron, Victoria Myers)
  • UU Roots (Kim St. Clair, Gary Ezzell)
  • Mindfulness in Relationships (Douglas Kelley)
  • On Repentance and Repair – the 2024 UUA Common Read (Rev. Patrice Curtis)
  • Mysteries and Abundance – the Poems of Mary Oliver (Gary Ezzell)

Attendance varied considerably, from just a few to over 20.

Challenges in Past Year

We decided not to ask for registration for most classes, and we did not have a way to track attendance, so we don’t know how many or who attended.

Challenges for Upcoming Year

Identifying more classes and facilitators, although we are in good shape. Recruiting at least one other member to the group, preferably someone under 50 years old.

Goals for Upcoming Year

Have an average of one multi-session class each month from September through April, excluding December, combined with some single session classes.

Develop at least one intergenerational offering, partnering with the youth program.