Social Action Council

The Social Action Council is comprised of Task Forces established to support issues and/or causes of importance to members of the Fellowship. Membership will vary year to year depending on member interest. Though it cannot speak for the Fellowship as a whole it may choose to speak on issues of concern to its task forces as a Council.

During this past year it has supported several active TFs and lost one, Liberal Voices. Our task Forces:

• Homelessness, Bill Greer and Bob Santos: Prepared and served meals at the homeless shelters in Modesto and Turlock this winter. (The Homeless Task Force has their own Annual Report, as well.)



• Family Promise, Aynslee Fredrickson, Kathy O'Brien: Supported the Church of The Brethren in feeding and housing homeless families. This program assists families to find permanent housing.



• Habitat for Humanity, Aynslie Fredrickson: Prepared lunches for workers at the Habitat building sites.



• Fair Trade Coffee, Carol Lackey: Sold coffee, tea, and cocoa on the 1st and 3rd Sundays of the month to support UUSC.



• Merced Peace Vigils, David Tucker: Monthly demonstrations against the Iraq Conflict.



• Justice Sunday, Social Action Council under guidance of UUSC: This year the focus was on the cost of the Iraq War.



• UUSC Christmas card sales, Kathryn Swain: Sold them.



• Welcoming Congregation Task Force, Stephanie Stolte, Paula Martelli, Bill Greer: Supports Marriage Equality and Gay and Lesbian issues. Is currently focusing on protecting the newly acquired right of gay couples to marry.



• Bob Santos collects clothing and household items from the Fellowship for donation to the Inter-Faith Ministries.



• Donation of Funds to UUSC and UULM. by a vote of the Congregation, $1 per member was given ($150) to support the UUSC (Unitarian Universalist Service Committee), and $150 to support the UULM (Unitarian Universalist Legislative Ministry).