November 2025 Message from UUSS Leadership

This post provides updates from your volunteer leaders. This month includes information from the Board of Trustees and the Program Council.

Board of Trustees

The Board has three updates for you this month.

1. Congregational Meeting Reflection: Thank you to all our members who joined the UUSS Congregational Meeting on October 19, 2025. We were able to introduce our new Board members, discuss important progress being made, and share a positive update on the state of our budget. Additionally, our members voted to approve the current slate of community partners for our shared offerings next year. We have a great year ahead of us!
2. New Safety Committee Forming: UUSS is forming a new Safety Committee and seeks members with experience (preferred, but not required) in law, health, or emergency management, as well as those who bring awareness and sensitivity to the diverse needs of our community—including elders, persons with disabilities, and those from marginalized groups. To learn more or express interest, email . We thank the previous Safety Committee members for their valuable work.
3. Impact of the Government Shutdown: The UUSS Board of Trustees recognizes that some in our congregation may have been affected by the prolonged federal government shutdown, including families who may not have received SNAP benefits in November. If you need food or local support, resources are available through Cal Fresh and the Sacramento Food Bank or by dialing 2-1-1. If you have been impacted by the shutdown and are looking for help, please reach out to us at . We are here for you.

Program Council

The Soup Sunday team is seeking someone to step into the role of Soup Sunday Coordinator. This is a key position that keeps one of our community’s most important fellowship traditions running smoothly! If you are interested in leading this valued program, please reach out to  for a chat and more information. An ideal candidate will have been active in the UUSS community for more than 1 year, have experience with Soup Sunday, and have some experience organizing group hosting and/or catering events.

As announced at the recent Congregational Meeting, the Program Council is delighted to announce that Tiki Harlow is our Unsung Hero for 2025. Tiki is frequently the person organizing and preparing food for events, the auction, and the Caring Committee, as well as for the occasional lucky pup. Tiki has served in many leadership roles, most notably on the Stewardship Committee, including as co-chair, and on the Auction Committee, the Nominating Committee, and most recently overseeing operations of the UUSS Kitchen. Congratulations, Tiki, and thank you!

How to get in touch with your volunteer leaders:

Your elected Board of Trustees meets monthly. Our next meeting will be Thursday, December 18, at 6:30 PM, on Zoom (accessible via the same Zoom link as the Sunday morning services) You are welcome to join us! The Board’s role is to oversee UUSS finances, facilities, personnel, and long-range planning; it makes decisions on policies rather than management decisions. You can find more information about the Board and read the minutes and Treasurer’s report here uuss.org/board. To contact the Board, email

UUSS 2025-2026 Board of Trustees: Andy Cramer – President, Janet Lopes – Vice President, Victoria Owens – Treasurer, Fred Pannek – Secretary, Members-at-Large: Dawn Huebner, Emily Moran-Vogt, Mathew Espinosa-Castro, Patty Innes, and Carl Crain

The Program Council meets on Zoom the third Thursday of each month. Persons interested in attending a meeting or contacting the Program Council can email 

Your 2025/2026 Program Council members are: Sean Fountain – Chair, Joyce Ownbey, Jim Glidden, Michael Feliciano, Dave Paul, Angela Martin.