Opportunities to Engage, Participate, Volunteer

Find a group that matches your interests and skills, or join one to learn new things!

Administrative Support. Days and times are flexible; can be in office or remote. Do you like technology or have one of these skills: General office work, copier, publishing, Google, marketing, general communications, WordPress, database, graphic design, bookkeeping, documentation, shopping, and more?! Contact Office Manager Carol Pranschke at officemanager@bvuuf.org.

Building and Grounds Committee. Our new building and grounds require Tender Loving Care. If you are interested in building care, contact Carol Pranshcke at officemanager@bvuuf.org.  If you want to get your hands in the dirt, our grounds team has plenty to offer. Contact David Burrous at d303burrous@msn.com

Communications and Technology Committee. If you’d like to help us get the word out about The ‘Ship, including our weekly communications and/or social media presence, contact Carol Pranschke at officemanager@bvuuf.org.  If you are interested in helping improve our use of any type of technology, contact Keith Searight at ksearight@yahoo.com

Eyes on Safety Volunteers. Join a cadre of Sunday volunteers who collaborate with the Hospitality Teams by keeping their Eyes on Safety during Sunday Services and major events.  Contact: Juli MacKenzie julimack@hotmail.com or Sandra McKenzie smckenzstat@yahoo.com.

Human Resources Committee. This group directly supports the staff by reviewing job descriptions, employment policies, and salaries to ensure they are fair and in line with UUA recommendations. The Committee works with staff to post jobs, interview job candidates, resolve grievances, and conduct exit interviews. The team meets regularly with the Minister and Office Manager. Contact personnel@bvuuf.

Auction Team. The Auction is held a once a year in November, and is a major fund-raising event for our congregation. Needs: planning, publicity, set up, hors d’oeuvres, childcare, event staffing, clean up, and items and events to offer for bids! It is held in person and on-line. Contact Scott Youmans or Juli MacKenzie at auction@bvuuf.org  or look for them before and after Sunday services in the weeks before the Auction.

Pledge Team: Being a part of the Annual Pledge Drive is a great way to get to know new people at The ‘Ship! Stewards make visits to members to keep us connected and explore what’s important about the Fellowship, as well as provide information about the Annual Pledge Drive. 

Caring Council (caring@bvuuf.org). The Caring Council nurtures our membership – “You will be cared for here and you will be asked to care for others.” 

Emerging Ministries and UU Ministry Partnerships. The Fellowship engages in regional partnerships to help sustain and grow our UU faith including:

  • The LUUP (Longmont UU Presence) nurtures families and supports an innovative, multicultural and multigenerational spiritual community. The LUUP is a collaboration between the Fellowship and the UU Church of Boulder. Visit us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/TheLUUP/) or sign up for our newsletter at info@theluup.org.  
  • The Mountain Top — a UU BIPoC Community aims to create energy around and inspire BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color) people to build connections and begin the conversations to create and hold empowering and affirming space. We seek to continually challenge ourselves and one another to re-think, re-imagine, and re-center Unitarian Universalist space. 

Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Team (JEDI). The JEDI team is made up of Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPoC), and allies who support the Fellowship’s efforts in dismantling white supremacy culture within our congregation and equipping us for this work in the world. For more information, contact jedi@bvuuf.org

Lifespan Faith Formation Council (LFFCoChairs@bvuuf.org). Help organize and support all the areas of our Lifespan Faith Formation programs. We are currently seeking volunteers to support our School of the Spirit Programs for children and youth, community building events, affinity groups, and our OWL program.

  • Children’s Programming. Pre-K to 8th-grade youth meet on Sundays at 10:00 a.m. during the service to explore UU values, ask the deep questions, play, and make friends. Adults are invited to join in the fun, co-collaborating by either being a support on Sundays, helping out at events, or leading them!
  • Adult Education. We offer classes at various times to grow your spirit, build community, and energize your thinking. To learn more about our offerings, visit www.bvuuf.org/schoolofthespirit/adults. Contact our Adult Education team at AdultEd@bvuuf.org to learn more or if you would like to organize or lead a class or book study for adults.
  • Community Building. 
    • Camping Trip. Once a year, usually in August. Car camping, day hikes, and evening campfire sing-alongs at a nearby Front Range campground. Kid-friendly. All are welcome. Contact Deborah Dixon Mensch at deborah-bvuuf@bitgems.com.
    • Covenant Groups. We grow community in small group gatherings of spiritual seekers through deepening conversation and meaningful relationships with other BVUUF members and Friends. Contact Mary Ann Lawler or Maggie Kerrigan at  covenantgroupcoordinator@bvuuf.org.
    • Wise Women Spirituality Group. This is a spiritual and goddess exploration circle for female-identified people affirming each woman’s inherent wisdom, forming deeper relationships, and bonding in sisterhood. It meets on the second Tuesday from 7:00-9:00 p.m. This year, the focus is on Hindu Goddesses. The group meetings are hybrid, either Zoom or in person. Women who meet in person should be vaccinated. Contact Kelly LoGiudice at kellyspirit@gmail.com
    • Young Adult Group. Now in “restart mode” after the COVID hiatus. We are working to create informal monthly gatherings of young-ish adults and young families. If you are interested in being involved or helping to organize such a group, contact faithformationcouncil@bvuuf.org.
  • Summer Camp. Summer camp at BVUUF is a day camp for kids ages 5-12, with counselor opportunities for 13-18 year olds. Kids learn Unitarian Universalist values while making friends, doing crafts, singing, and having lots of physical activity! We often need an Adult Camp Director, so if camp is your jam, reach out to Kitty Kaler:  kitty@bvuuf.org
  • Youth (High School Age) Programming.
    • Coming of Age (CoA). For 9th and 10th graders, this program is designed to mark the transition from childhood to youth. Explore beliefs, develop confidence, and experience retreats. 
    • Youth Group. BVUUF high schoolers get together at 11:30 a.m. on Sundays to engage in activities that explore their personal spiritual journeys and build community with their UU peers. 
    • Youth Advisors are needed to help support the Youth Group and other Youth events and activities.
    • Contact our Acting Youth Coordinator, Apollo Blue, at youthcoordinator@bvuuf.org for more information.
  • Our Whole Lives (OWL). A set of lifespan curricula about health and sexuality appropriate for each age group at 1st/2nd, 5th/6th and 8th/9th grades as well as adult curricula for young and emerging adults (18-35), adults (35-55), and a new older adults curriculum (55 and older). Visit www.bvuuf.org/schoolofthespirit
    • OWL for kindergarten and 1st-graders is being hosted at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Boulder (UUCB). Contact Rachel Alba for details: dre@uuchurchofboulder.org 
    • OWL for 4th- and 5th-graders is pending for January – May. 
    • More coming! We also need OWL facilitators and an OWL Coordinator. Reach out to Kitty Kaler if you have questions or are interested (kitty@bvuuf.org).

Membership Engagement Council (MEC) (memberengagement@bvuuf.org): MEC works to build community within our congregation with special attention to visitors and new members. 

  • Sunday Hospitality Teams. Members are trained to provide all Sunday functions for a welcoming congregation: opening/closing building, coffee service, collecting offerings, and helping newcomers at the Welcome Center. Teams work 7-8 Sundays per year. Contact Rosemary Arp or Nancy DiLaura: HospitalityCoordinators@bvuuf.org
  • Inquirer’s Series. A drop-in gathering on most Sundays where newcomers and current members can learn more about Unitarian Universalism and how our congregation functions. Each of the 10 sessions features a different topic and different presenters. Meetings are from 11:30 a.m. until 12:15 p.m. in the Sanctuary. The Series is offered twice during the year. The final session in each series is a Path to Membership class (see below). 
  • Path to Membership Class. This 2-hour informational class is offered twice a year following each  Inquirer Series to help prospective members decide if they would like to join the Fellowship. An opportunity to join is offered at the end of the class and joining is optional. 
  • Buddy Program. Once someone joins the Fellowship, MEC assigns a current member as a “buddy” for a few weeks to answer questions and help with the transition from visitor to getting involved in  congregational activities.
  • Senior Seekers.  Currently meets the second Wednesday from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Issues of interest to senior men and women. Drop-ins are welcome! Contact Marky Lloyd at mlloyd@georgiasouthern.edu.  
  • Six @ Six.  Groups of 6 to 8 meet once a month at each other’s homes to enjoy delicious potluck style meals and good company. The list of attendees changes each month. These gatherings are held about six to eight times a year.  Cathy Allen (bouldercathy@gmail.com), Bob Braudes and Nancy Clairmont (bbraudes@comcast.net) are the organizers. 
  • Book Club. Meets the second Thursday of each month at 2:00 p.m. at the Fellowship. They read fiction and non-fiction books and welcome drop-ins. Joan Mulcahy (joanfm@comcast.net) is the leader. 

Social Justice Council (socialjusticecouncil@bvuuf.org). Social justice activities are infused throughout the Fellowship. There are a number of ways to become involved through fundraising/donations and active participation in social justice activities such as immigration justice, racial justice, education justice, eco-justice, and food/housing insecurity.  

  • EcoJustice Action Group. Are you interested in how what we eat impacts the climate? Restorative Justice with indigenous peoples?  BVUUF landscaping after the remodel?  Challenging oil and gas influence in Colorado politics? Got an eco-justice idea? Join us in working on a campaign or leading a new effort at our monthly planning meetings. Contact: EcoJustice@bvuuf.org  
  • Immigration Justice Task Force. Work with other organizations and faith groups to support the immigrant community, including involvement with the Boulder Valley Sanctuary Coalition, contacting government officials, and sponsoring educational programs. Contact:  Bob Norris at snowshoebob1944@gmail.com
  • JEDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion).  If you identify as a member of an under-represented or historically marginalized population (e.g. ethnic, racial, language, LGBTQIA+, disability) and wish to know others in BVUUF with similar identities, please contact jedi@bvuuf.org
  • Together Colorado through BVCAN (https://www.togethercolorado.org/). BVUUF is a member organization of Together Colorado (a non-partisan, multi-racial, multi-faith community organization comprised of 220 congregations, schools, clergy and faith leaders across the state) and a member of Faith in Action with 1,000 religious congregations in more than 200 cities and towns through its 45 local and state federations (criminal justice, economic justice, immigration, education, and health care). Contact: Juli MacKenzie at  julimack@hotmail.com
  • Welcoming Congregation. We are a UUA-certified Welcoming Congregation and are looking for ways to reach out to the LGBTQIA+ community. We currently have an LGBTQIA+ Rainbow covenant group. Contact Clara Kelley at claragkelley@gmail.com

Worship and the Arts Council 

  • Come Regularly on Sundays! 
  • Aesthetics Committee (aesthetics@bvuuf.org). Members of this committee design the look and feel of our Fellowship, decorating the building (especially the sanctuary and foyer) to enhance our experience and enjoyment. Meetings are monthly, plus extra time for design. 
  • Fellowship Choir. The choir rehearses on Wednesday evenings (7:00 – 8:30 p.m.) in the sanctuary. All musical skill and experience levels are welcome (no audition, just a love of singing). Contact Tad Koriath at musicdirector@bvuuf.org for more information.
  • Service Associates. Members help prepare and lead the Sunday services. Members can apply in the spring to be a Sunday Service Associate.  For more information, contact Karin Griglak at moryndia@hotmail.com.
  • Audio-Visual Team/Tech Ushers. Use your technological skills or be trained in new skills to support our Sunday services and other events with sound and projection. Contact Deborah Mensch at deborah-bvuuf@bitgems.com.

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OTHER VOLUNTEER SOCIAL JUSTICE ACTIVITIES 

  • UUSC (Unitarian Universalist Service Committee). Our congregation supports the UUSC with donations, the sale of holiday cards and Equal Exchange products, and participation in the Guest at Your Table donation boxes during the holiday season. Members and friends support the projects of the UUSC through letter writing and signing petitions. Contact Scott Nelson: snelson.md.74@gmail.com.
  • Tutoring for Families through Colorado Statewide Parent Coalition. BVUUF members can participate in volunteer tutoring of children who live in Boulder, Longmont, Lafayette, Louisville, and Superior.  Contact Pat Bulthaup: patbulthaup@gmail.com.

Other Volunteer Social Justice Activities 2022.docx

COLLECTIONS AT SPECIFIC TIMES OF THE YEAR

  • Boulder County CROP Walk. The CROP Hunger Walks are community-wide events sponsored by Church World Service. The Walk is celebrating its 50th year nationwide and its 34th year in Boulder County and is organized by religious groups, businesses, schools and others to raise funds to end hunger in the U.S. and around the world. The Boulder County Crop Walk is held in October each year.  This Walk also helps to fund hunger-fighting programs such as Community Food Share serving Boulder and Broomfield counties and Bread for the World. Contact Dianne Ladd at dianne@laddholland.net
  • Mitten Tree A service on in early December, we will load up the BVUUF holiday tree with store-bought or home-made mittens, hats, gloves and scarves, and donate them to the Emergency Family Assistance Association for the families they serve. Contact Melissa Aune melissaaune@gmail.com 
  • Share-a-Gift. This collection drive is held annually in December for new and gently used gifts to be distributed to families in Boulder. Contact Rachel Setzke rachelsetzke@gmail.com 
  • First Sunday Food Share. Food collection at BVUUF on the first Sunday of the month. Donations are delivered to Sister Carmen for the food bank. Contact Paul Brynteson at paul.brynteson@nau.edu.
  • Emergency Family Assistance Association (EFAA). BVUUF has regular Half-Plate collections to provide food, supplies, furniture, toiletries, diapers, and other needs.  Contact socialjusticecouncil@bvuuf.org.   

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Subscribe to receive Connections Weekly once a week, or to the member email group info@bvuuf.org to stay connected!  Contact officemanager@bvuuf.org to sign up

Prepared by Member Engagement Council