UUS Meeting Virtually Due to COVID-19
UUS is currently in Phase One (Building closed) of our COVID Reopening Plan. Sunday services are being streamed via Zoom at 10 a.m. Read more »
Volunteering Opportunities to Support UUS Programs, Activities, and Sunday Services
Adult Choir
New singers are welcome! The choir is open to all singers (high school and beyond). No auditions or experience required. The choir sings in unison, two, three, and four parts (soprano, alto, tenor, and bass). If you haven’t sung for some time or are questioning your skills, don’t worry, we will find your voice placement once rehearsals have started. The choir sings about 3 times a month at Sunday services.
Meets every Thursday, 7-8:30 pm, and Sundays at 9:00 am when singing in the service, August through May
Contact: Gloria Corbin, music@uusic.org
Adult Religious Education Volunteers
Do you like guiding discussions? Do you have skills in a craft or hobby or spiritual practice that you’d like to share? Would you like helping to coordinate classes and programs for adults? We have curricula available, or you can propose your own forum, class, or workshop.
Contact: Jessica Zimmer, education@uusic.org
Aesthetics Team
This team helps to make decisions about art, furnishings, and décor throughout the UUS building.
Contact: Theresa Ullerich, tullerich@aol.com
Audio Visual Team
The volunteers on the A/V Team rotate in running the A/V for Sunday services, including microphones, slides, and sometimes videos. There are also occasionally requests for A/V volunteers for forums after the service or for special events, and team members help as available. Training is offered.
No meetings; volunteering happens from 9:30 to 11:15 on Sunday mornings, on a rotating basis.
Contact: Chris Rode, av@uusic.org
Building Care Team and Kitchen Team
The Building Care Team helps to plan for maintenance and oversees any needed repairs to the building structure, equipment, and systems. The Kitchen Team plans for, coordinates, and cares for the kitchen, including appliances, supplies, and set-up instructions.
Contact: Deb Schoelerman, building@uusic.org; Vicki Siefers, kitchen@uusic.org
Children and Youth Religious Education Volunteers
Our Religious Education (RE) program relies on the talents and passions of volunteers like you to offer RE groups, classes, and programming for members and friends of all ages. Example of RE volunteer opportunities with children, youth, and families include: organizing family events, helping with RE projects, facilitating Our Whole Lives sexuality programs (OWL), co-leading RE classes and groups for children, or being a youth advisor. Different opportunities have varying levels of commitment and requirements. Our Director of Lifespan Religious Education can help you find an opportunity that best matches your interests, skills, and schedule.
Contact: Jessica Zimmer, education@uusic.org
Children’s Music
Opportunities for children to sing are announced during the course of the year including singing with the Adult Choir, performing in the Christmas Cantata, and song-learning sessions in Religious Education.
Contact: Gloria Corbin, music@uusic.org
Historical Records Team
This committee collects, preserves, and organizes historical materials for both traditional and digital archives. UUS heritage is shared through newsletter articles, exhibits, and occasional special events.
Meeting times vary
Contact: Diana Miller, history@uusic.org
Hospitality Teams
Each Sunday, one of our hospitality teams provides volunteers who act as ushers and greeters, set up beverages and food for the social hour, and clean up afterwards. Each team works four Sundays a year.
Sunday mornings, before, during, or after the service, depending on task
Contact: Kim Palmer, hospitality@uusic.org
Instrumental Music
The House Ensemble welcomes any instrumentalist to rehearsal starting in November for the Christmas season and in March for the Easter season. Rehearsals, in the Fellowship Hall, are on Thursday evenings from 5:30 to 6:30. Performances are scheduled for Sunday services.
The UUS String Quintet plays occasionally for Sunday services, accompanies the UUS Adult Choir, and individually play solos and accompany hymn singing. Interested string players are welcome to join.
Keyboard players are invited to join the team of those playing solos or four- to eight-hand compositions or on occasion to join the staff accompanist at the piano for four-hand choir accompaniments.
Contact: Gloria Corbin, music @uusic.org
Land Ministry Team and Grounds Team
The Land Ministry Team plans for uses of the outdoor areas and leads in the implementation of those plans. The Grounds Team manages the maintenance of the property. Volunteers may be used in the areas of the care of Community Garden, the Labyrinth, the Children’s Playscape, Woodlands and Trails, caring for trees and grasses, and special projects.
Volunteering times vary
Contact: Tom McMurray or Gary Lawrenson, landministry@uusic.org
Membership Associates
Membership Associates help UUS provide welcome and connection to UUS by staffing the Welcome Table on Sundays, welcoming and connecting with visitors, helping prepare, involve, and celebrate new members, and encouraging engagement by all members in UUS programs and activities.
Meetings: 3rd Monday, 7-8:30 pm
Contact: Peggy Garrigues, dcl@uusic.org
Office Volunteers
We have a team of office volunteers who fill in for an hour or two as needed with necessary tasks and special projects around the office, such as watering plants, writing birthday cards, and preparing mailings.
Contact: Gay Mikelson, volunteers@uusic.org
Pastoral Care Team
The Pastoral Care Team works with the minister to provide a caring presence through visits, calls, and other contacts that allow us to listen, accept, comfort, and support one another as we face illness or other challenges. Members of the Pastoral Care Team can also support family and friends who are caregivers and provide information resources.
Contact: Winnie Ganshaw, pastoralcare@uusic.org
Publicity Team
The Publicity Team communicates UUS values and programs to the wider community via the UUS website, Facebook, digital and print advertising, press releases, etc. The committee primarily focuses on strategy and project oversight in support of the Publicity Coordinator. Beyond the team that meets, we also have ongoing needs for writing, photography/video, graphic design, and social media administration that can be tailored to individual interests.
Meetings: 2nd Thursday, 12 noon
Contact: Jeff Walberg, publicity@uusic.org
Special Reception Volunteers
These volunteers are willing to be contacted to prepare food, set up, serve, and clean up when we have memorial services or special events. There are also opportunities for greeting or ushering. Let us know if you are willing to get calls or emails when we have a special event or memorial reception.
Times vary
Contact: Carol Throckmorton or Carol Nordquist, specialreceptions@uusic.org
Stewardship Committee
This committee plans and implements events and procedures for the annual funds for the Society. A primary focus is the annual fall stewardship campaign that invites members and friends to make a financial pledge to the UUS operating budget.
Times vary, meetings at least monthly, with more meetings and responsibilities summer through early winter
Contact: Jeffery Ford and Vanessa Taylor, stewardship@uusic.org
Treats and Talents Auction
This annual spring auction and social event connects UUs all year long through auction items of social events, donations of art work and household items, and services such as gardening, painting, and carpentry. Many volunteers are needed for planning and organizing the event, soliciting, recording, organizing, and displaying the auction items, and donating auction items, services, and events.
Times for volunteering vary–a significant amount of work happens in the spring.
Contact: Judy Tokuhisa, treats&talents@uusic.org
UNI-Care
UNI-Care provides assistance for members and friends in need, such as after a hospitalization or illness or after the arrival of a new baby. They can offer transportation or meals delivered on a short-term basis. They also maintain an inventory of medical equipment that can be borrowed when needed.
Contact: Diane Martin and Mary McMurray, unicare@uusic.org
Worship Associates
Worship Associates work with the minister to plan and lead Sunday services throughout the year. Each fall begins with a retreat led by the minister to train and orient the Worship Associates and begin planning for the year.
Meeting times vary–each Worship Associate helps lead and/or coordinate several services a year
Contact: Rev. Diane Dowgiert, minister@uusic.org