UUSS HISTORY PART SIX — 1970–1984
Notes from the Unigram and Annual Reports
These notes have been condensed considerably. Even so, they give a flavor of what day-to-day life in the Society was like during the Seventies and Eighties.
1973
- Don Dormeyer was Board President.
- Volunteers led by Barbara Larkin and Genevieve and Rodney Cobb adopted trees and flower beds on the campus.
- The minister’s salary, including benefits, was $17,031. The Christmas
- Bazaar netted $1225.09.
- A foreign film club was organized.
- Todd and Rami White moved into the cottage on campus.
- Dr. Robert West, UUA President, spoke on the Justice Department’s case against Beacon Press for publishing the Pentagon Papers.
1974
- Abe Ohanian of the UU Service Committee spoke at a January service about help for the Spanish Civil War refugees.
- Loudspeakers (insured) were stolen from the auditorium. The 18-30 group met at Patt Herdklotz’s home to discuss ESP.
- A music committee conducted a preference survey which showed 85% liked to sing, 50% preferred folk songs, 66% preferred to listen to popular and folk songs, and 80% liked instrumental music.
- The UU Repertory Theatre presented “The Forthright Female” by Carolyn Garrison, which featured Marlene Parkinson's music.
- Smoking was not permitted at the duplicate bridge sessions organized by Roger Barr. The Decision-Making Class decided to go sailing on Lake Folsom.
- Only four replies were received from the congregation in response to a request for opinions on charging membership dues.
- Society members attended a protest rally against inflation at the Civic Center in San Francisco.
1975
- Three “Fat Lib” workshops were scheduled in January.
- The Society received a call for volunteers to care for orphans from Saigon expected at the Presidio and Travis AFB. Bess Young and other UUS women responded.
- The Society’s duplex at 2449 Sierra Blvd. was for rent at $185/mo. Food and clothing were collected for the farm workers.
- William McCartney was elected President of the Board; Ben Franklin, Vice President; and Harvey Gabler, Finance Director.
- Rev. Webb wrote a letter to Billy Graham objecting to the latter’s pro-war remarks about Vietnam. Appreciation was expressed to Joan Lee, music chair for the past six years.
1976
- Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance was the subject of a class by Ned Budlong. Another sale of services auction was held.
- A group dealing with “Decompression from Fundamentalist Beliefs” planned four meetings. The average Sunday plate collection was $75.
- The Board voted to obtain a liquor license from the State before any wine or other alcoholic beverages were sold on church property.
- Lila Gibson chaired the successful annual fundraiser “The Merrie Faire”.
- Newly elected Board members were Ed Schneider, President; Ben Franklin, Vice President; Polly Watson, Secretary; and Bill Robertson, Treasurer.
- Rev. Webb took a sabbatical from August ‘76 to June ‘77.
1977
- Hattie Peterson, chair of the Society’s Service Committee, called for members who could respond to a prisoner’s request for a correspondent. Hattie married Robert Harris on August 12th.
- Newscaster Stan Atkinson spoke about his trip to Cuba at a special evening meeting in the auditorium. Sacramento Our School operated during the week out of the R.E. buildings. It was a nonprofit providing school and day care for preschoolers and grade schoolers through grade three.
- A September Sunday sermon by Rev. Webb was entitled “The Legitimate Heir to the God Who is Dead”. Don Dormeyer refinished the grand piano! He was also Chef Dormeyer, cooking many a dinner for Society functions.
- At UU General Assembly, a resolution was passed to eliminate sexism wherever it was found in the denomination.
1978
- The Adult Education program offered a variety of classes, including “Assertiveness Training” and “Communication” by Ruby Campbell, “Intimate Relationships” by Shiela Sugarman, and “Unorthodox Treatment of Cancer” by John Radu.
- The Society had 608 members, a pledge income of $55,649, averaging $91.52 per pledging unit. The current budget was $8,000 short due to unkept pledges.
- A leadership retreat was held at Sly Park in June.
- “Myths about Homosexuality” were discussed by David Fanning at the July 30th Sunday service. The Society’s budget was finally in the black.
- Shirley Brainin reported that the refugee family which the Society has “adopted” was learning English and the father had a job.
1979
- Solving financial problems and increasing publicity were the highest priorities for the Society, according to a Board survey.
- A meditation room was opened.
- Dr. Ford Lewis became Minister Emeritus in accordance with a resolution passed by the Society.
- George Anderson was commended for installing the rear fence, the irrigation system, and other work on campus.
- The Society had a radio program — the Cambridge Forum, on KZAP Sacramento, Sunday morning. It featured the Cambridge tapes produced by the Broadcasting Foundation of America and cosponsored by the UUA. Gus Wood and Pete Larsen took charge of another all-church work day.
- Phyllis Gardiner celebrated her 53rd year as a member of this Society.
- Society members were 338 female and 214 male. Teachers and professors numbered 102, the retired were 60, students, 26; government workers, 18; business operators, 17; engineers, 14; lawyers, 11; physicians, 9; social workers, 16; realtors, 18; and 73 were homemakers.
1980
- A letter in opposition to the draft was signed by a group of young Sacramento UU’s and sent to other youth groups of UU’s. It included the statement. “We are against the organized sacrifice of human life on the altar of greed and stupidity.”
- Rev. Ford Lewis, Minister Emeritus, led a cruise to Canada and Alaska.
- An editorial by Rev. Ted Webb described the crowding of jails and prisons and the underlying causes and costs.
- The book discussion group led by Don Dormeyer talked about The Third Wave by Alvin Toffler. Thirty-five trees were planted on campus.
- Betty Chmaj took on the Capital Christian Center in a debate on “Is the Christian Right Right?” The boycott of Nestle products was promoted.
- Five hundred dollars worth of library books and a Snapper lawn mower were missing.
1981
- Ministers in the Pacific Coast District signed a petition to the President opposing U.S. support for the Salvador government.
- Fifty years was the average age of UU’s; 78% lived in communities larger than 50,000; 34% were single & 66% married; 60% were parents. Average income was reported to be $24,000 (1978) and 90% had some college education, 42% with graduate degrees. A majority came from Methodist or Catholic backgrounds. A minority (20%) believed in a hereafter; 53% did not.
- Rev. Webb appeared on a Channel 3 panel discussing the “Moral Majority”.
- Whale watching trips were organized by Lila Gibson.
- The last payment was made on one of the church-owned duplexes.
- A coalition was proposed to promote and supervise publicity about the Society.
1982
- The Social Concerns Committee promoted a ballot initiative to control the sale of handguns.
- Those with hearing problems were asked to bring a radio and earphones to the Sunday service and tune to FM 95, the new UU broadcast frequency. Jim Feeney had installed the system.
- Alice Goodridge donated an upright piano.
- The Nuclear Weapon Freeze Initiative was promoted by the Society and later adopted by the City Council. Peter Christiansen, Walnut Creek exchange minister, spoke about “Intelligence as the Ultimate Aphrodisiac” at a Sunday service.
1983
- Three cases of wine were removed from the kitchen in a burglary; four speakers were missing from the Auditorium, as was a newly purchased blower. Two bouts of vandalism occurred on the premises. More books disappeared from the library.
- May Tucker succeeded Barbara Allen as organist.
- The bazaar netted $6,400 despite a power outage marring the proceedings.
- In September, Rev. Webb, the well-beloved minister, shocked the Society by resigning. As was the case with Rev. Lewis before him, “burnout” was the major reason. In addition, there was a stressful staff controversy about a janitor who was later relieved of his duties, which he had neglected while involving himself in many activities of the Society.
- Farewell events for the Webbs included a gala affair at the River Mansion and a luncheon following the Sunday service when a monetary gift was presented to further Rev. Webb’s research into the Washburn family.
- Rev. Aron Gilmartin became Interim Minister of the Society.
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