Author: Lauren Kenning (Page 4 of 5)

Lauren earned her BA in Theatre from the University of Denver and began her career as a teaching artist and performer. She shifted to project management finding an alignment in this field of her soft, interpersonal skills with her organizational expertise. Lauren is mom to two energetic boys and three cats and enjoys spending free time knitting, reading and hiking.

An update from your Board of Trustees

October 16, 2024 /

Greetings to Members and Friends!  Foothills has continued to be quite a dynamic community this year with services, journey groups, reorganization and expansion of our justice activities, new Wellspring offerings,  and much more.  The 2024-25 Board of Trustees has been no exception.  Starting with our Congregational election-potluck-discussion-meeting in June we got off to a good start on the church year.  In July we held our annual Board retreat where we develop our Board covenant, establish our meeting schedules and protocols and decide on priorities and goals for the year. One of the primary responsibilities of Foothills policy-based governance Board is to lead the community on the development of our vision for the future.  We (all of our Foothills community) do this vision work on a six-seven year cycle. We are coming into that window of time now.  

So, during this Board year, we are preparing to do this visioning work within the congregation by gathering data from sources with which we have a relationship or perhaps, should have.  For example, we are talking with our many justice partners, other liberal churches in our community, connections at CSU, other Colorado/Wyoming UU churches, appropriate city and county entities, such as the Human Relations Commission, to name just a few.

Just this past Saturday, we hosted a gathering of 42 ministers and Board members of UU churches in Colorado and Wyoming.  Colorado Springs, Denver, Boulder, Greeley, Loveland, and Cheyenne all sent multiple Board members to participate in our discussions.  This was the first such gathering in quite a few years and by all measures, very successful.  Folks enthusiastically voted to gather in the future on a regular, perhaps semi-annual, basis. 

This is our focus for the year.  Over this year we will also be developing the process and procedures for getting the maximum input possible from our own congregation regarding our vision of the future of Foothills.  Developing a new vision  is an approximately two year process, so we are looking at a New Bold Vision by the end of next year or the beginning of 2026.  The Board is excited to be leading Foothills into the future, with all the mixture of challenges  and joys ahead that are always a part of this life we live together.

With Courageous Love,

Mary Klecan

President

Foothills Board of Trustees

UU the Vote Opportunities – Week of 10/14

October 15, 2024 /

Windshield Project  Starting this past weekend, we are distributing quarter-sheet palm cards to car windshields in parking lots at Front Range and UNC. The cards are non-partisan but identify issues of concern such as reproductive rights, education, and gun control as well as a map showing the specific ballot box location. We haded out card this past weekend and have more available in the office. Office hours are Tuesday – Thursday 9am – 3pm. We still have three weeks until the election, let’s get these distributed!

This Friday, October 18th at 6 pm we will host Colorado legislators at Foothills as a part of our Climate Fridays action.

If you missed the ballot presentation last week presented by League of Women Voters of Larimer County, take a look at their website for more information and voter resources. 

You can always find more opportunities to get involved at UUtheVote.org.

Join us for A Ballot Issues Presentation

October 10, 2024 /

Foothills Unitarian Church is hosting an event for the League of Women Voters of Larimer County where they will be presenting on all 14 ballot issues you will encounter on your ballot. Ballots are mailed October 13. 

·      LWVLC members will present what a ‘Yes’ vote  or a ‘No’ vote will mean for each ballot issue. 
·      We will answer your questions.

·      We will NOT advise you how to vote.  

The League and the Church are both non-partisan regarding candidates and parties. 

Join us in person or use this Zoom link to join remotely on Monday, October 7th at 6:30pm. 

This event is open to the greater Fort Collins community. Bring your friends, family and neighbors. 

With Gratitude for the Life of Kathy Winder

October 2, 2024 /

We are writing to let you know that beloved long-time church member, Kathy Winder, died on Monday, September 30 at the age of 93. She will be deeply missed.

Kathy’s last days were spent peacefully in hospice care in the company of friends and her devoted niece and nephew, Kate and Pat Dill.

Over Kathy’s 25 years at Foothills, so many of us were lucky to have found a depth of friendship, care, and mentorship in our connections with her. Kathy cared about everyone and saw each person’s unique potential. 

Kathy spent her professional life as a steadfast advocate and champion for children. Her loving and courageous heart made the world a better place. 

There will be an obituary published soon, and we will link to it in our weekly email. We will let you know when details about a memorial service emerge. 

With love,

Revs. Elaine, Sean and Gretchen


If you’d like to be notified when we have details on Kathy’s memorial service, please add your name HERE.

UU the Vote

October 1, 2024 /

As we look ahead to the election, many of us are looking for ways to take action on behalf of Unitarian Universalist Values. Our partnership with UU the Vote provides a variety of options so that you can find the action that feels like your right yes.  

To get started, be sure to join the Foothills’ UU the Vote Group where opportunities for Foothills-connected engagement will be posted, and also go to uuthevote.org to get information from the national campaign directly.

Education & Advocacy 📚

In the coming weeks we have two opportunities for education & advocacy:

🚩 October 7th at 7 pm Ballot Issues Presentation hosted by the League of Women Voters. A full review of all 14 Initiatives on this year’s Ballot. Non-partisan, educational. Register here. 

🚩October 18th at 6 pm when we will host Colorado legislators at Foothills as a part of our Climate Fridays action.

Letter Writing ✅ Many of you have already started your UU the Vote Efforts by writing more than 4,000 letters to GOTV to voters in swing states in partnership with Vote Forward. Those of you who still have letters should bring them back by this Sunday, October 5th.👏

Windshield Project 📝 Starting the weekend of Oct 14th, help distribute quarter-sheet palm cards to car windshields in parking lots at CSU, Front Range, and UNC. The cards are non-partisan but identify issues of concern such as reproductive rights, education, and gun control as well as a map showing the specific ballot box location. For more info and to sign up contact Tom Rhodes. 

Calls to Action 📞

Every week brings another advocacy opportunity at the City, County, State, or National Level. Joining the IAT will keep you informed about these opportunities.

Local Canvass Push 👊We are working with the Side With Love and UU the Vote National Campaign to organize a get out the vote push on 

November 1st and 2nd – the weekend before polls close, specifically focused on the closest legislative district.

More info coming soon.

How We Advocate at Foothills

We are excited to share that we have joined the interfaith coalition, Together Colorado. Their work specifically helps us advocate on behalf of affordable housing, criminal justice, climate justice, economic justice, immigration and health care. The calls to action and opportunities to engage that come to us from Together Colorado will also be shared through the Intersectional Action Team.

Nearly every week we receive opportunities and invitations to advocate and show support for an initiative at the city, county, state, national and even global level. To help provide guidance about how we can respond to these requests for support in a timely manner, we have created this procedure. You’ll see that the main starting place for advocating at Foothills is to be a part of a team. Join a Social Change team on our Groups Directory, and/or be a part of our Intersectional Action Team.  

Because we are explicitly non-partisan, sometimes you may want to work outside of the church to further our values. One example is the work of the States Project, an organization that many in our community have connected with. To learn more or to get connected with this organization, contact church member Ticie Rhodes. 

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