The UUCT Board is so proud to announce that Karen Tenbarge has been nominated as our November and December Volunteer of the Month.\u00a0 Karen has worked hard with the Worship Committee through this past era of the Pandemic to keep us going and keep us focused.\u00a0 If you have not yet met Karen, here is a little bit of information about her:\u00a0 She has been a member of UUCT since 1991, which is 30 years.\u00a0 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. \u00a0Karen has also enjoyed classes on birding, travel, art and music appreciation.<\/p>\n
She also works as an assistant treasurer for On Board of Peoples\u2019 Loan Program and as a driver for Meals on Wheels and a distribution day volunteer for Loaves and Fishes<\/p>\n
When asked why she was a Unitarian she answered that \u201cI believe in the 7 principles and I believe having a community that is committed to them strengthens my resolve to live by them.\u201d\u00a0 Karen has stayed at UUCT because she \u201csaw 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.\u00a0 Good food, good fun, and interesting people I might never have known otherwise\u201d.<\/p>\n
As we move into the next phase of UUCT Karen was quick to offer her thoughts on what will happen next\u2026\u201dthis transition period for UUCT is the perfect storm.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 I believe these changes can serve to strengthen our congregation in ways that we would not have tried without the storm!\u00a0 We will not be the same but we will not disappear!\u201d<\/p>\n
Thank Karen for her volunteerism and devotion to all of us.\u00a0 The Board thanks Karen and we salute her care for all of us.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"