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Updated December 6th, 2011 UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST WOMEN'S HERITAGE SOCIETY & THE UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST HISTORY SOCIETY JOIN TO FORM UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST HISTORY AND HERITAGE SOCIETY The letter explaining the action is below as background. The vote occurred at the simultaneous meeting of the UUWHS and the UUHS at General Assembly in June 2011. There is a position on the UUHHS Board that is designated for UU Women's History. OTHER NEWS The UUWH Library is in the process of moving from Bethany Union to Andover Newton Theological School. This should be completed within the next two months. More details will be in the Library Section in January 2012. The Proceedings from the UU History and Heritage Convocation 2010 will be on the web by the end of December 2011 (http://www.uuhs.org/convocation-2010). There are a number of items by and about women. Work will continue on this section of UU Women's Heritage, as there are a number of items that still need to be accessible. This may include a history of the UUWHS and its role in shaping UU History. UNITARIAN AND UNIVERSALIST WOMEN: Liberating History June 2008 Dear Members and Friends of UUWHS; You have not heard from us in a long time. We apologize for the lack of communication. We have been in a prolonged transition that has resulted in our need to contact all of our supporters. We'd like to provide an overview of the last few years that has led us to an important decision. In the fall of 2006, Joan Goodwin unexpectedly died. Joan had been a long time supporter, friend and pivotal component of UUWHS. Her death rocked our organization. The board was able to regroup and over the next two years publish "Unitarian and Universalist Women: Liberating History." In 2007 the UUA reduced the number of independent affiliate organizations projecting UUWHS and a significant number of other affiliates into reflection on mission and purpose. UUWHS had been collaborating with Unitarian Universalist Historical Society already, sharing display space at General Assemblies, so we took our relationship to a new level and formed the Partners in Unitarian Universalist History and Heritage in 2009 along with two other history organizations, UU Religious Education History Group and Universalist Heritage Foundation. Our first project was the successful History Convocation in October of 2010 in Massachusetts. It was held in cooperation with UU Collegium, Andover Harvard Theological Library and Universalist Heritage Tours. Producing this conference was a wonderful experience, we look forward to doing more. However, the board of UUWHS is down to three people and one past president advisor. During the History Convocation the four of us met with several previous board members as well as our founder, Dorothy Emerson. We invited stories about UUWHS and thoughts about the future of the organization. Due to a significant drop in availability of volunteer time, we all agreed that it was time to seriously evaluate the existence of UUWHS. Dorothy Emerson voiced out loud what had been on many of our minds: consolidating with UUHS. The board of UUWHS approached the board of UUHS about consolidating our two organizations. During a combined board conference call in January of 2011, it was decided that a consolidation would enhance the integrity of both organizations, and would help support our mutual missions. To that effect, a new set of bylaws is being created that would fully support both organizations, paying particular attention to the needs of women's heritage. The proposed new bylaws would create a portfolio board of directors with at least one portfolio designated as women's heritage. In addition, any remaining UUWHS funds would be designated for the purpose of UU women's heritage. All UUWHS and UUHS Life Members will maintain their status as Life Members. The name of the consolidated organization is proposed as Unitarian Universalist History and Heritage Society. The Board's of both UUWHS and UUHS feel confident in this important next step for our organizations. We have enjoyed working together over the past few years and particularly over the past few months. Our goals and love for UU history and heritage are in alignment. Massachusetts state law requires that 2/3 majority of current members vote approval for the consolidation, thus we must limit voting to current paid members for fiscal year 2011. In order to accomplish the consolidation we need to hear from as many current UUWHS members as possible. Our bylaws prohibit proxy votes. Many of you would like to know about our library. It is still located at Bethany Union in Boston. The library has been kept up to date thanks to the work of Helen Zidowecki. We have been looking for a new location and are hopeful to find a long term home for our archives and books where the collection will be taken care of in perpetuity. If you have questions please feel free to contact any of us.
Sincerely,
Rev. Barbara Coeyman, Vice-President, UUWHS, Littleton, CO
Rev. George Whitehouse, Treasurer, UUWHS
Formal Meeting Announcement for Members of Unitarian Universalist Women's Heritage Society at General Assembly Motion: that the UU Women's Heritage Society move forward with the proposed consolidation with the UU Historical Society. All financial assets remain as designated funds in accordance with the mission of UUWHS. Rev. Dr. Barbara Coeyman, v-president, seconded by George Whitehouse, Treasurer. Vote: Yes ____ No______ If not attending meeting, print off and mail by June 13: Rev. Kate Walker, 1909 Windmill Lane, Alexandria, VA 22307. Please sign this ballot and/or put your return address on the envelope so we can check you off on the membership list and your vote can be counted. Thank you. About UUWHS The Unitarian Universalist Women's Heritage Society was founded in 1988 (as the Women's History Publication Project) by one woman with a vision and a small group of supportive colleagues with funding from the Unitarian Universalist Association and private donations. The Society seeks to recover and preserve the stories of UU women's lives so that future generations can be inspired by their wisdom and courage, celebrating the valuable gifts we have received from our Universalist and Unitarian foremothers. The UUWHS is one of the founders of Partners for Unitarian Universalist History and Heritage, formed in 2009. UUWHS will be involved in presentations at the History Convocation, October 8-10, 2010, at Espousal Center, Waltham, MA. See http://www25.uua.org/uuhs/uuhs/historyconvocation/index.html for details. Our Mission
What We Have To Offer You
Worship services, Small Group Ministry Sessions Why should you join UUWHS
For the pioneers, the Unitarian and Universalist women who came before, that we remember them and may be inspired by their example.
For the wise women living now, who are influencing us and helping to create a better world. For our daughters and the women who paved a path for them to walk and for the future that is theirs to build. For ourselves and our faith tradition, that we remember the past with gratitude and look to the future with hope. — Marilyn Holt, Previous Board Member What You Have To Offer Us
Support through membership and donations. Click here for the Membership Form Contact The UUWHS….We Want To Hear From You An interactive site is our gift of women's history to the women's future. You + UUWHS = UU Women's history for the future The office of the UUWHS is at UUWHS Library at Bethany Union. The address is:
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