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Ohio-Meadville District of the UUA |
Each year the District Board presents several awards recognizing outstanding work for and in the district. In 2007 the following awards were given: The Ohio-Meadville District Unsung Hero Award, The Faith In Action Award, The UU Visibility Award, The Breakthrough Congregation Award, Accessibility Award and we recognized our congregational Rising Stars. We have included information about the award winners and their projects below for those who are interested. Information about the other nominees and their projects is also included.
To learn more about nominating someone or a congregation for an award, please visit the Award Nominations Page.
2007 Unsung Hero: Joseph Schafer, West Shore UU Church
in recognition of twenty years of outstanding volunteer leadership and dedication to the children and youth of West Shore’s junior choir; for making the junior choir an experience in Unitarian Universalist principles and religious education.
Other nominees were:
George Gerhardt, North Hills UU Church, Pittsburgh, PA
Mike Carney, Olmsted UU Church, North Olmsted, OH
Andy Schwarz, Allegheny UU Church, Pittsburgh, PA
Brad Taylor, Greater Canton UU Congregation, Canton, OH
2007 Faith In Action Award: UU Church of the North Hills
in recognition of the “From the Ground UUp” project which has raised money and provided produce to the North Hills Community Outreach Pantry to feed people who need it. This program was started by Sharon Pillar, Monica Walsh and Carol Juergemeier.
From the Ground UUp took open land on the church's property, built garden areas and raised planting beds and grew produce. In 2005, the produce was sold to congregation members and the proceeds were donated to a local food bank. In 2006 the actual produce raised was donated to the food bank. Participants in the project include religious education classes and congregational volunteers.
Other nominees were:
East Shore UU Church, Kirtland, OH
For their strong and enduring commitment to the issues of hunger, domestic violence awareness, problems of the homeless and commitment to peace advocacy. This includes their monthly perishable food collections for the Salvation Army, the Silent Witness International Initiative, participation in the Homeless Stand Down Program, refurbishing one of the rooms at Transitional Housing Inc in Cleveland and displaying the boots of fallen soldiers from Ohio as an endorsement for "The Declaration of Peace"
Southwest UU Church, Berea, OH
For several congregational projects including rehabbing a room for Transitional Housing, Inc. Last year SWUU was nominated for a "Volunteer of the Year" award from the United way. They took a stand on Gay Marriage, participated in several demonstrations and walks for different issues, and collaborated with local groups on a variety of issues. In addition, at one service each month, the congregation does a "focus collection" to benefit the various groups they support.
UU Fellowship of Wayne County, Wooster, OH
For their commitment to the environment by using a lot of green technology in building their new church building. This is the first LEED-certified place of worship in the US.
2007 UU Visibility Award: East Shore UU Church, Kirtland, OH
for their Advocacy for Elimination of Domestic Violence projects and their continuing support of the UUA 1979 Resolution on battered women. This created many publicity opportunities for the congregation including their Silent Witness display, hosting a Vagina Monologue benefit for three batter women shelters and participation in demonstrations and marches. These events generated newspaper articles, TV spots on the news and web articles. They also have podcasts of sermons on this and other issues posted on their website.
Other nominees were:
First Unitarian Church, Pittsburgh, PA
For increasing awareness and the visibility of the congregation in a variety of ways including holding a screening of "An Inconvenient Truth," collaborating and organizing a "March for Sustainability," presenting the play "The Story of Rachel Corrie," and presenting a "MozartFest" in honor of the composer's 250th birthday. In addition, a year ago the church hung a banner stating "Civil Marriage is a Civil Right" hanging from it's bell tower.
Fran Lynch, UU Fellowship of Ligonier Valley, Ligonier, PA
For raising being active increasing the presence and visibility of the congregation in the community including assisting in purchasing a banner that proclaims "A Voice for Liberal Religious for 150 Years" that hangs from the roof of the building. She also put together a three part series that raised money for a summer program for children and has produced a series titled "First Fridays. This program features a presentation by an expert or representative of a specific religious/spiritual tradition each month.
UU Church of the North Hills Publicity Team, Pittsburgh, PA
For working to increase the visibility of the congregation in the community. This included updating the church website to include the church newsletter and calendar of events, creating a weekly e-newsletter to keep congregants and community members informed and an outreach program to local colleges. The Outreach Program resulted in putting church brochures in new student information packets at local Pennsylvania State University branch campuses in the area.
2007 OMD Breakthrough Congregation
UU Fellowship of Wayne County, Wooster, OH
The congregation demonstrates many of the attributes, including dynamic ministry, strong family programs, growth in numbers, beginning Small Group Ministry, excellence in worship, close to breaking size transition, Fair Share with UUA and District, spiritual aliveness and foresight and commitment in moving forward. They also show a commitment to social justice by building a LEED-certified building.
2007 Accessibility Award
First Unitarian Church of Youngstown, OH
for taking their original building, a 1920’s construction, and adding an elevator, handicapped accessible rest room, handicapped accessible ramp to the front door and an extra wide driveway, while still keeping the integrity of their National Historical Registry church.
Khrys Myrddin, Allegheny UU Church, Pittsburgh, PA
Diana Bonnell, First UU Society of Marietta, OH
