See a short intro video TOUR of this website HERE.
Note to hand-device users: best view is landscape/horizontal.
WHAT’S NEW:
- Virtual Event to Welcome New UURMaPAns on 9/3! Info HERE.
- Defiantly Joyful: UU LGBTQIA+ Histories—now available HERE.
- View the latest issue of Elderberries—SPRING ‘26
- Latest Award winners: Sonya Sukalski, Betty Stapleford
- Find Conference Updates HERE
- Latest Skill-Sharing Network Update HERE
2026-27 UURMaPA Board members (with linked emails):
(Find photos and bios under Governance.)
- Richard Speck, President (and temporary Treasurer)
- Charles Stephens, Vice-President
- Mary Ganz, Secretary
- Richard Nugent, Treasurer
- Fred Wooden, Elderberries Editor
- Vacant, Conferences
- Christine Robinson, UUMA/UUA Relations
- Janet Tillman, Connections
- Joy Atkinson, Passages Coordinator
Speckulations, August 2026
Happy Summer to each of you. I was fortunate to make a pilgrimage to Transylvania to visit the birthplace of Unitarianism in late June and early July. (Read more about this trip HERE.)
Your UURMaPA Board has been meeting monthly and will be holding a retreat in early September. Among the items for discussion will be a common read for our membership on a subject that is important to all of us. We also will make plans for our goals for next year. One part of the retreat will be how to offer more programming of a stand alone nature now that we have decided to hold only one virtual conference a year in the fall. I invite you to contact me at president@uurmapa.org with things you would like us to offer that meet your needs. … See ALL of Richard’s message…
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SPECIAL NOTE about our Awards
From UURMaPA Vice-President Charles Stephens
UURMaPA offers “The Unsung UURMaPAn Award” and “The Creative Sageing Award.” All UURMaPA members are eligible! Presentation of our 2026 awards were part of our recent Conference in late April. (See links to the latest awardees in “What’s New,” above.)
I know UURMaPAns are often shy, but I also know there are any number of our UURMaPA members who have been doing great things and are potential recipients of either our Unsung UURMaPAn or our Creative Sageing Award.
We encourage you to nominate another UURMaPAn for either award–or possibly yourself. Don’t be shy, simply identify the person and submit a brief description of their achievement(s), any time of year, to me, Charles Stephens, your UURMaPA Vice President (vice-president@uurmapa.org).
The Unsung UURMaPAn award is given to a UURMAPA member who has not been recognized for his or her vital contributions to our UU retired movement or for generous service to others. The award honors a volunteer who has made an extraordinary contribution to our association, working behind the scenes during their retirement. The successful nominee will not have been recognized elsewhere. The Unsung UURMaPAn is usually announced at an upcoming Conference and in Elderberries, and receives a $500 honorarium.
The Creative Sageing award is given to a UURMAPAn member for his or her outstanding service and creativity in pursuing new ventures after retirement and building experience in creative ways. This might involve, for example, mentoring, public service, fostering spiritual growth, writing/publishing, creating/participating in community and denominational service projects and organizations. The Creative Sage is usually recognized at an upcoming Conference and in Elderberries, and receives a $500 honorarium.