Jessica Bowman
Proposed Kitchen Utensil Policy

*this announcement was previously run but with incomplete information*

According to our Congregation's policies, any time a new policy is proposed to be added to our Board Policy book, there is a "first reading" during a Board meeting where the Board votes to approve, then the policy is shared with the congregation along with an email address to submit comments to the Board about the proposed policy, and then the Board will have a "second reading" where they can make amendments and vote on the policy. Only after going through this process does a new policy become part of the Congregation's policies.

The following policy has been voted to send to the congregation for comment:

"HVUUC disposes of all plastic kitchen utensils and use the Green Sanctuary Fund to purchase non-plastic kitchen utensils to replace them."

Research connected to this policy can be found here:

The study: From e-waste to living space: Flame retardants contaminating household items add to concern about plastic recycling - ScienceDirect

The news story reporting the study: Black-colored plastic used for kitchen utensils and toys linked to banned toxic flame retardants | CNN

The news story with Dr. Leonardo Trasande: Black plastic items could contain harmful chemicals, study finds (youtube.com)

If you have any comments for or against this policy, please email your comments to office@hvuuc.org by Monday December 16th so that your comments can be reviewed prior to the Board's final vote on this policy.

Proposed Kitchen Utensil Policy
Jessica Bowman
Holiday Closures

The office will be closed on the following dates:

  • Thursday, November 28

  • Tuesday, December 24

  • Thursday, December 26

There will be no RE on the following Sundays:

  • Sunday December 15 (Festivals of Light)

  • Sunday December 29 (Pancakes and Jam)

There will also be no Youth Group meeting in December.

Holiday Closures
Jessica Bowman
Decorating the Giving Tree

Holiday Greetings!


We are continuing to collect items for the Giving Tree.  Our donation bin is in the Fred Ball room at HVUUC.   Suggested items are for children, men and women are:

· gloves

· hats

· scarves

· socks

· underwear

· feminine hygiene items

· washcloths

· soap

· lotion

· shampoo and conditioner


We have been given our specific spot for The Giving Tree at Kings Common, in front of the JC library.  We are tree number 113, best accessed from W. King St., but Millard St. is good, too.  This will be easy access for both decorating and restocking the tree.   The Giving Tree will be decorated on Friday, November 29th, 11:00.  We will have decorations, presents, and ladders coming.   We just need volunteers with giving spirits.  


We also need volunteers to restock the tree daily from November 29th to January 7. We will supply you with packages and the timing is up to you.  Please email us at givingtree@hvuuc.org with dates that you’d like to volunteer for restocking. Consecutive dates would logistically be easier than scattered dates throughout the season.  see you Friday!  Thanks for your generosity.

 

Decorating the Giving Tree
Jessica Bowman
Giving Tree Decorating, Cookie Exchange, and ...

Upcoming News and Events

Click through for a collection of upcoming news and events at HVUUC. Click the images to be directed to more information.

Giving Tree Decorating, Cookie Exchange, and other Holiday Happenings
Jessica Bowman
Policy on Plastic Kitchen Utensils

Proposal: HVUUC disposes of all plastic kitchen utensils and use the Green Sanctuary Fund to purchase non-plastic kitchen utensils to replace them.

Sources:

The study: From e-waste to living space: Flame retardants contaminating household items add to concern about plastic recycling - ScienceDirect

The news story reporting the study: Black-colored plastic used for kitchen utensils and toys linked to banned toxic flame retardants | CNN

The news story with Dr. Leonardo Trasande: Black plastic items could contain harmful chemicals, study finds (youtube.com)

Policy on Plastic Kitchen Utensils

Virtual Church services continue on YouTube through August 31st

The Board of Trustees (BoT) has voted to continue to hold virtual services and church-wide activities online through August 31, 2020. We are watching the Covid-19 cases in our area and will decide at our July BoT meeting about extending this decision through September. The following Gathering Guidelines for small groups at our facilities (inside and outside of buildings) apply.

Gathering Guidelines for Inside and Outside Church Facilities:

We strongly recommend continuing to use online forums for small group/committee/team meetings. However, the HVUUC Board has voted to allow people on site for activities that must be held in person, e.g. work groups.

  • Only 1 group may meet at a time inside the church building. To schedule your meeting or workgroup and make sure other groups aren’t already scheduled, please contact Karyn at office@hvuuc.org to reserve your group on the church calendar. You can check the calendar to make sure there aren’t conflicts at: https://localendar.com/public/hvuuchurch

    • To locate the church calendar from the church website (hvuuc.org), go to the "News & Events" menu and select the 3rd item, "Church Calendar of Events and Meetings,” from the drop-down menu

Additional Guidance:

  • No children’s activities allowed at this time.

  • Please do not bring children to any activity happening at the church.

  • Groups of 10 people and less

    • No more than 1 meeting of 10 people or less inside the church building.

    • No more than 10 people in any 1 area of the outside property for workdays. For example, the entrance garden.

    • Whenever practical, work projects should be divided into small groups or individuals.

  • The Fred Ball room (fellowship hall), sanctuary, and deck are the only meeting areas that are open for use. The REZ is still off limits for meetings.

    • People doing work projects may enter other locations, but must maintain at least 6 feet of distance while inside.

  • Must wear a face mask (please bring your own)

    • When working alone outside a face mask is not required. Face masks are required when working in groups of 2 or more.

    • Anyone in the building must wear a mask.

  • Must wash hands with soap and water for 20 seconds upon entering buildings, or use hand sanitizer and let air dry. Hand sanitizer is in several locations (foyer, kitchen, REZ), to be used as needed.

  • Continue keeping a distance of 6 feet between people of different households.

    • This is especially for inside activities but should also be adhered to when outside as much as possible.

  • Whenever possible do not share work tools. If sharing occurs, wipe down handles with disinfecting wipes before returning the tool.

  • Meals should be sack or box lunches, no family style meals, ie pizza. No water coolers or other communal drinking, ie punch. Maintain 6 feet of distance during meals.

  • If you are ill, have a fever/cough, are someone who is at increased risk, or traveled to endemic areas infected with COVID-19, please stay home and enjoy online content and fellowship.

  • Must clean commonly touched hard surfaces like door handles, light switches, counter tops, metal surfaces (chair backs), etc., when finished.

    • Please use the cleaning wipes and/or bleach solution and paper towels in the foyer, kitchen, and REZ for cleaning/disinfecting after each visit.

Online services (on YouTube) will continue during this time. Look for more information on the website regarding home RE kits for kids starting June 20th and Kids Coffee Hour on Zoom starting June 28th.

If your small group/committee/team would like to use Zoom, more information about that will be coming soon or contact the CommSquad at HVUUCcomm@gmail.com