The UUCT Board is so proud to announce that Karen Tenbarge has been nominated as our November and December Volunteer of the Month. Karen has worked hard with the Worship Committee through this past era of the Pandemic to keep us going and keep us focused. If you have not yet met Karen, here is a little bit of information about her: She has been a member of UUCT since 1991, which is 30 years. Karen retired from being a CPA in 2017 and since then she has joined OLLI (Osher Life Long Learning Institution at the University of Alabama) and one of the best classes she has taken so far is on racism. Karen has also enjoyed classes on birding, travel, art and music appreciation.
She also works as an assistant treasurer for On Board of Peoples’ Loan Program and as a driver for Meals on Wheels and a distribution day volunteer for Loaves and Fishes
When asked why she was a Unitarian she answered that “I believe in the 7 principles and I believe having a community that is committed to them strengthens my resolve to live by them.” Karen has stayed at UUCT because she “saw the value of raising my children with this group of people with shared values, I have made lasting friendships, I have found meaning in small group started as Heart to Heart and continued through two more curricula, meditation on Sunday mornings, personal growth through a safe environment to take on leadership roles. Good food, good fun, and interesting people I might never have known otherwise”.
As we move into the next phase of UUCT Karen was quick to offer her thoughts on what will happen next…”this transition period for UUCT is the perfect storm. Financial struggles, a pandemic, declining participation in church membership everywhere especially in younger age groups, loss of our minister, loss of devoted members. BUT out of chaos comes opportunity, new people are stepping into leadership roles, worship team is experimenting with new forms of gathering and participating in worship with other UU congregations. I believe these changes can serve to strengthen our congregation in ways that we would not have tried without the storm! We will not be the same but we will not disappear!”
Thank Karen for her volunteerism and devotion to all of us. The Board thanks Karen and we salute her care for all of us.