Nine of us attended the recent GGC business meeting at Michelle’s (Sara Blackstock, Stephen Zendt, Dennis Baker, Christina Hutchins, Patricia Feary, David Holt, & Larry Geis were the others), where we talked at length about lots of things and enjoyed food and fellowship at length as well.
As a person who has long been a member of the GGC who hadn’t yet served as President (as includes Sara, Stephen, Dennis, Michelle and Larry), I accepted the invitation of the others to run, and was elected President for the next two-year term. After writing this note to you, I will begin my term by re-reading our GGC constitution and then I will literally make notes to remind myself to pray that I may be guided to be as supportive of our revelation and of our membership as I possibly can. I will appreciate an occasional prayer from each of you as well--just as it occurs to you to do so, and, especially as you notice that I need one.
Thank you Dennis Baker for your many, many years of service including the taking of the helm these past two years and for continuing as an officer, once again. I have always valued your insights, your ability to record meetings (I so appreciate your continued service as Secretary), and the deliciousness of the food you generously and consistently provide at our gatherings. Thank you!
Christina Hutchins provided unbelievably complete and detailed reports on our society funds and has agreed to continue for another term (and also keenly appreciates food wholesomeness and deliciousness). Dave Holt amazingly, and similarly, agreed to continue to inform us via the beautiful newsletter in his service as Vice President. And, of course, everyone present at our meeting last Saturday continues to provide on-going service to our spiritual community whether at the study group, societal, national, or international level. And this includes Dolores Nice who was not able to be present, but sent her regrets. I acknowledge all your recent past contributions and thank you too; happily knowing that I will again have the opportunity to thank you again in a few years in my gratitude for serving with you.
It is my own hope and prayer that the leadership of The Urantia Book Fellowship will soon fall to Michelle Klimesh, which will be the decision of the General Council this summer. While it is my own humble opinion that Michelle would be the most effective next leader of the Fellowship--and most likely to be elected--she will, of course, need to decide that she is willing to accept the invitation to become a candidate for the Presidency first. I will be praying for God’s will on this and I hereby encourage each of you to your own participation in communicating your desires to both Michelle and/or to our Heavenly Parent.
So let me just take another moment here at the onset to tell you that I am prepared for, eager to see, and genuinely wanting any feedback, thoughts, concerns, and ideas you may have for our Society, including ways that I, or my methods, may be made for effective. Please forgive any unintended mistakes, or slights I have made in the past and start anew with me in social and spiritual partnership.
I am not pithy, but I will try to be briefer and more to the point as we proceed from here.
The only goal I personally have great interest in achieving during my term is the completion of the fund-raising for the Croatian U.B. translation, the Bridge-to-Bridge Project. I am slowing making progress on evolving collaborations with Barry Clark (from whose website the translation is frequently down-loaded) and Saskia (whose newsletter and website may increasingly inform a larger audience as well).
At our community-business meeting last Saturday many ideas for increased outreach were tossed around, including sponsoring a Regional conference in 2010. Martha Babbatola and I have already been discussing an idea for stepping up our presence on the internet. Michelle thinks it may be time for two or more Northern California Societies; we are spread out! What are your thoughts on these thoughts, and what other ideas do you have?
Finally, the following dates were set for society events—save the dates, details will follow:
 | Women’s Retreat at Sara Blackstock’s (Benicia) and Men’s Retreat at Larry Geis’ (Sebastepol): both on July 11th, and carpools may be able to be planned so that couples can split up for the day to be with their own gender an hour or so distant from each other. |
| A Jesus Birthday event, as yet totally unplanned, has been set for August 22nd, a Saturday. Your theme and location ideas are welcome. |
| Fall Retreat: October 2—4th at Saint
Dorothy’s Rest in rural Sonoma County near Camp Meeker |
| Our next GGC Community-Business Meeting
(because it’s business and pleasure) will be November 7th, 2009, in as
central a location in the Bay Area as we can manage. |
Thank you for reading all this way. Feel free to contact me at claudia.ayers@gmail.com or by phone (831) 462-4823.
NOTE: other email addresses you may have for me, even if they appear to be active, are NOT accessible to me.
The Urantia Community is of everlasting importance to me. Like Sara before me, I identify with the word Community, and even see the words "Come In Unity" as meaning the same thing. And like Michelle, I want the business end to run efficiently, too. We will have it both ways.
Tough times require more of us spiritually, just as more is required of our physical energy. Many hands make light work, Light and Life work perhaps; and together we grow the Supreme. My fond hope is that each of the people who are reading this will find their way to at least one of the events above and offer their helping hands in some way.
Claudia Ayers
claudia.ayers@gmail.com