UCC Women
MISSION:
"To Promote and Maintain the Christian Ideals of Love, Goodwill and Fellowship."
2010-2011 Executive Board
PRESIDENT
Ruby Holihan |
VICE PRESIDENTS
Jeanette Eggleston & Jan Pye |
SECRETARY
Lyn Seagrave
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TREASURER
Sarah Fye |
Breakfast/ meetings are held on the third Sunday of the month at 8:45 am.
The meeting follows a delicious breakfast. Speakers on relevant and interesting topics are scheduled for most meetings.
Ruby Holihan, President
Does our new president need any introduction? What is amazing is that this is Ruby’s first term as president of the Women’s Fellowship, now UCC Women, after 35 years of participation.
She has served several times as Secretary and in other offices. Ruby has also filled many positions in the church, was Sunday School Superintendent, founded an interdenominational Singles Club, was Clerk and Moderator of the Church Council and now chairs the Board of Worship and Music. Ruby is a native of Birmingham, AL, a graduate of Auburn University. After being married and moving to Palm Beach Gardens, she became a speech therapist. She had two daughters, Marsha and Cathy, and the family moved to Miami Lakes in 1975.
Ruby taught at Miami Norland Sr. High for 25 years in the Business Technology Department, 10 years as department chair. She started as a typing teacher but had to learn computers, so she went back to school and received her Masters Degree from Nova in 1986. She retired in 2005 and spends a lot of time with her only grandchild, Elizabeth, now 11.
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President’s Message
To re-cap our year to date—we learned more about each other and ourselves at our September meeting. We are all life savers.
--- Our October meeting featured Dr. Marie-Luise Friedemann, world-renowned author and teacher. Her skills have made the world a better place for many. -------Also in October, we had a very successful rummage sale clearing over $2,000 that was cochaired by Ruby Holihan and Kathleen Fleming. Over 25 people helped with the pricing, selling and clean-up.
--- In November we were reminded of the past and heard firsthand from a Jewish survivor, Simon Chevelin, what his family experienced in World War II.
---December provided an opportunity to attend a luncheon at the Frantz’s lovely home. The food and decorations were outstanding, We raised $230 for children in the Guardian Ad Litem program.
We have a little over $1,000 remaining in our Community Care Fund that was established last year. We are happy to have new participation this year from Monica Reina, Jeanette Eggleston, Shirley Hudson and Sarah Fye. Happy New Year to all of our faithful members,
Ruby Holihan, President
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Mayor Pizzi speeking to the UCC Women's group at the January 2012 meeting
Next meeting is Sunday February 19
Our October 16 speaker was Nadine Patrice who is the co-founder and Executive Director of Operation Green Leaves, Inc., a non-profit environmental organization. Their mission is environmental education, ecological restoration and reforestation of the Island Nation of Haiti. After witnessing the extreme poverty in Haiti, working to improve the standard of living of her people became her life mission.
Nadine’s work includes connecting thousands of people with the national parks in South Florida. Simultaneously, Nadine had helped develop and sustain popular community gardens in the urban areas of Miami, as well as conducting hands-on environmental education programs in local schools.
But it is Haiti where Nadine is most focused, and more so since the earthquake last year. OGL is uniquely connected to a network of community based groups suffering through the effects of the earthquake and aftershocks and is working in proactive ways to reduce suffering and provide hope for the neediest people.
UCC monthly Breakfasts:
We meet the third Sunday of the month Sept – May with the exception of December when we have the Christmas Luncheon. Informative, interesting programs are provided as well as a breakfast at 8:45 am. In addition to our monthly meetings, we have two rummage sales a year, a Spring Tea and support workshops if there is an interest in a particular topic.
Last year our fund raising supported: Growing Place Scholarship, Community Care Fund, Voices for Children, Holocaust Museum, Cystic Fibrosis, Miami Rescue Mission, Food for the Poor, Angel’s Reach Autism Program.and America’s Moms for Soldiers. In addition, we support buying items for the kitchen and other special programs in the church.
We are an active group that overlaps all the programs in the church. I think coming to this group provides the best way to get to know people as well as provide service to others. All are welcome.
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MEET OUR NEW 2011-2012 OFFICERS
Ruby Holihan is continuing as President for another term. Jeanette Eggleston and Jan Pye were re-elected co-Vice Presidents and continue to assume the duties of bringing timely and interesting programs.
Two new officers have joined the Board, Secretary Sarah Fye and Treasurer Lynn Seagrave. We would like to introduce them to you.
SARAH FYE is married to Bart Fye and lives near the church. They met in 2004 when they were members of the University of Miami marching band— Sarah played the clarinet and Bart the tuba. They were married in June, 2009. Sarah is a Reading Coach/Specialist at Somerset Academy in Pembroke Pines, a career choice for which she was inspired by her own teachers.
She graduated from Florida State University and received her Masters degree at F.I.U. She is a grad student at F.I.U. taking literacy education. Sarah was the first in her family born in the U.S. Her mother came from Cuba and her dad from Haiti. She has two younger brothers. Her maiden name was Boulos, a Greek name that would have been Poulos except that there is no “P” in the Greek alphabet.
Sarah currently chairs the Hospitality Committee. MLCC is very fortunate to have the benefit of her many talents.
LYNN SEAGRAVE is a native of South Dakota. She obtained her nursing degree from Columbia University in Manhattan and taught at the Inglewood, NJ Hospital School of Nursing. After moving to Miami, she worked as a nurse for nearly ten years at Baptist Hospital and has continued to maintain her R.N. license.
Lynn lives in Miami Lakes and has served in several capacities at MLCC, currently as a member of the Church Council. Her assistance with the various projects of the church makes her stand out as one of our hardest working and reliable members.
Lynn has been associated with nursing research for a number of years. Since 2008, she has been employed by the F.I.U. College of Nursing and Health Services as a Project Director. These projects often involve the functioning of a parent, grandparent or sibling after the death of a child. One of her duties is obtaining and maintaining grants for the research as well as dissemination of the findings. She holds the “Responsible Conduct in Research” Certificate. |
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| President Ruby presides over the meeting |
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Adele graham introduces her long time friend and historian Arva Moore Parks
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Thanks to Thelma Campbell for another fabulous Spring Tea! |
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Fisher House Has Its Grand Opening. This program to which we contributed, brought to us by Anne Green, provides temporary housing for families visiting patients in the Veterans Hospital.
We will continue to support Miami Rescue Mission, but did not vote any additional funds for Community Care (confidential donations) that is run through MLCC.
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Some of this information was taken from the recent UCC Women's newsletter, edited by Carolyn
UCC Women of the Miami Lakes Congregational Church 6701 Miami Lakeway South Miami Lakes, FL 33014 UCC Women of MLCC
Editor’s e-mail address: CIFurlong@aol.com
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The web site of the Florida UCC Women www.UCCWomen.org is
packed with information (note dot.org, not dot.com). It is sponsored by our own Dade-Monroe L-O-V-E Region and the
webmaster is First Vice President Bunny Gruntler’s son-in-law. You can find lots of other current and historical information about the Florida UCC Women, the Florida Conference and local news. In addition, it does a good job of defining our purpose as a women’s ministry.
The Reading for Renewal book list on the UCC Women website click on ..WWW.UCCWOMEN.ORG |
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