Happy New Year from Rus E. Funk:
I hope you all had a lovely, love-filled and joyous holiday season; and that you were able to take some time to rest and rejuvenate. As UU’s we draw inspiration in wiccan and native spiritualities and a part of these spritual traditions is to celebrate the dark of this time of year in order to rejuvenate, refresh and deeply inhale as we prepare for the sun returning. I hope that you had a chance to do this during your winter holidays, and that you were able to do this in community with your loved ones.
As you all know, a part of our collective efforts in 2022 included reflecting on how we are engaging the work in Kentucky and as a Network. I and the Board are continuing this process as we begin 2023. The Board has a retreat planned for the end of January, during which we’ll deepen our commitment to creating an organizational infrastructure that focuses as much on the relationship building aspects of us as a network, as we do on the activist aspects.
We are hosting our first All Network Gathering of the year on Jan 26 (see below for more details), I hope that you’ll join us an invite some of your fellow congregations members to join you! Thank-you all for your support and participation.
Preview of 2023
We mentioned some of this focus last month. This preview does not reflect all that we are planning-only the efforts that are most immediate.
Focus on Networking
The word “network” is both a noun and a verb. KUUJAN is a network and as we start 2023, we are interested in increasing our efforts to support the networking amongst and between the congregations and individuals that make up our network. I am pleased to announce that we have received some significant support from the UU Funding Program, and I will be planning to come visit you all this year to listen and help support relationship building.
We also are aiming to support more opportunities for you to share your advocacy and activist exerience and expertise with other UUs. I’ll be in touch with yall as these plans develop and as always, look to hear from you what it is that you feel like will most benefit you and your congregation/community!
Reclaim your Vote
As you all know, the legislative session has begun. This year is a “short year” in the Kentucky Legislature and still, KUUJAN is working with a broad coalition of organizations to pass a constitutional amendment that would ensure that people who have felonies in their past automatically regain the right to vote once their sentence is completed. This coalition is currently working on the draft legislation, and solidifying support in Frankfort for this effort. The good news is that we seem to have signficant support from both the House and Senate leadership for some version of this legislation.
If passed, this amendment would appear on the ballot in 2024. If you are available to work with us on this effort, or know of people in your congregation or community would have time and energy to work with us on this please contact me directly at rus@kuujan.org.
Recruiting Board Members
Lastly, we are looking to build the Board. One of our board members from 2022 has moved out of the area, and another has announced that he plans to step down this coming Spring. We also are hoping to expand our numbers. If you are interested in learning more about serving on the Board of KUUJAN, please let Rus know directly. Your experience and expertise would be of benefit as we continue to look to develop as a network!
All Network Gathering
Our first All Network Gathering of the year will focus on networking, and will be on Thursday Jan 26 from 7:30 – 9 Eastern time.
KUUJAN Board member Eric Huffer working with Rus to facilitate this month’s ANG, which will focus on how we bring our UU values to our justice work”. We will focus this ANG on small groups conversations and relationship building!
Go to this link to join https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85196024131
Supporting our Work
As you can see, we’re increasing our efforts and expanding our impact! We need your support to continue our efforts. The work of coalition building, congregational organizing, voter mobilization is time consuming… and as such, expensive. We were able to do what we did this year due to support from UU The Vote.
As you consider your end of year contributions, please consider a gift to KUUJAN. Some of you have been so generous in your support of our network and we very much appreciate it! Your gift of $100 would helps us greatly to sustain and grow our efforts.