UPCOMING EVENTS
֎ May 10 – Ben Calf Robe Annual Traditional Pow Wow – the Reconciliation group encourages everyone to come to this free event, held indoors at the Commonwealth Community Rec Centre. Lorian will wait a short time at the main entrance for those who would like to attend in a group of familiar faces. Full information is HERE
֎ Talk About Westwood! At the May 11th Second-Sunday potluck, you are invited to, well, talk about Westwood! What brought you to Westwood and how would you describe Westwood to someone who has never been here?
֎ May 25 is the Annual General Meeting of the Westwood Unitarian Society. After the morning service, plan to attend this important element of Westwood’s governance. There is a bylaw change being proposed, so it’s especially important for Members to attend although all are welcome. A light lunch will be provided. Watch your email for the official Call to Meeting.
If you are heading a Westwood group/committee and haven’t sent your AGM report to the office, please do so as soon as possible – let the congregation know what you’ve been doing for Westwood this year!
֎ June 1, doors open at 5:30pm – Beyond Land Acknowledgements Speaker’s Series Soup & Bannock. This will be the last of this series and Westwood will welcome Beatrice Demetrius who will speak about Métis experiences and stories. More details will be available soon, so please check the calendar for updates.
֎ June 21, Summer Solstice Celebration/Block Party – some big first steps have been taken, but help and hands are needed to make this event actually happen. Contact a board member if you can help out.
. . . . . . . . . . .
BOARD APPROVED
֎ Free Food Pantry at Westwood – Food Not Bombs Edmonton has asked Westwood to provide a space for an outdoor food pantry to help those experiencing food insecurity. The board has agreed to do this on a trial basis and the pantry will be installed beside the free library over the upcoming season.
֎ The Board endorsed the recommendations of the Endowment Fund Committee to fund the following two projects:
- Truth, Healing and Reconciliation Research Project centred on the land on which Westwood is situated and the surrounding Parkallen neighbourhood for $600
- Fall Craft Fair at Westwood – $550 to be used for promotion and attracting people through activities/giveaways in hopes of bringing lots of people through the doors.
. . . . . . . . . . .
LAY CHAPLAINCY
֎ The board approved an increase in fees for Rites of Passage as they had not been updated in many years.
֎ In the absence of a Minister, the board has approved payment to the Lay Chaplain for performing Rites of Passage for Westwood members, with payment from the Lay Chaplaincy budget.
֎ The new Lay Chaplaincy Committee consists of Leigh Bornn, Sylvia van Loveren, Susan Anderson and Katie Steppke. Thank you all for taking on this responsibility.
Details about updates to Lay Chaplaincy will be presented at the Westwood AGM
………………………
. . . . . . . . . . .
YOUR INPUT NEEDED!
֎ Do you have any ideas for workshops that could be hosted at Westwood in the next church year? Please contact the board. If you have the name of a class, or facilitator, that would be even better!
֎ Who should be recipient of Westwood’s Solstice celebration(s) this year? Send your idea to board@westwoodunitarian.ca
. . . . . . . . . . .
FROM THE ADMIN
Westwood’s financial year ends on June 30. If you have expense claims for the period that began July 1, 2024, please submit an Expense Form as soon as possible, along with the supporting receipts.
. . . . . . . . . . .
Next Board Meeting: May 12 @ 6:30 pm
…….
