Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Gainesville, Florida

Alice Primack

Nominee for the 2008 Jim Barrett Social Justice Award, Florida District Unitarian Universalist Association

Alice Primack is totally committed to social justice work. Her vision is a congregation where everyone is steadfast in their commitment to social justice.

"Alice is the most dedicated woman I have ever met."
Terrie Mullin, Pineridge Project

Alice took over as Chair of the Social Concerns Committee in 2005, working with former chair Dorothy Copeland, and has co-chaired with Carol Willis since 2006. Their leadership efforts culminated in the creation of a Social Justice Council in 2007. The Council is the umbrella organization for social justice work at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Gainesville (UUFG). The number of social justice programs continues to grow, and the Council currently consists of twelve different task forces. Alice’s enthusiasm and energy grew one committee into a council of twelve:

• ACTION Network of Congregations
• Anti-Death Penalty Task Force
• Anti-Racism Task Force
• Gainesville Community Ministry Emergency Assistance Program
• Gainesville UU Ministry for Earth (GUUME)
• Interfaith Hospitality Network
• Interweave
• Peace Task Force
• Pineridge Neighborhood Revitalization Project
• Prairie View Academy After-School Enrichment Program
• UUFG Voices for Animals (UFETA)
• UU Legislative Ministry of Florida

Alice was the major spark in envisioning this new Council, and she continues to take the lead in recruiting task force chairs for the Social Justice Council.

"Her quiet but determined leadership style gets results!"
Carol Willis, Social Justice Committee Co-Chair

Representing the Social Justice Council on the UUFG Program Council is another of Alice’s leadership roles. A quick look at the monthly agenda shows Alice scheduling a social justice topic at every meeting. She keeps the leadership apprised of what the Social Justice Council is doing, and she solicits approval and support for its many projects.

Committed people make good neighbors and Alice Primack is proving it. Alice, along with her Pineridge Task Force, works cooperatively with the residents of the Pineridge Subdivision on neighborhood revitalization. This low-income subdivision, which is not far from UUFG, struggles with unemployment, crime, and drug use. The long-term goal of the Pineridge Task Force is to empower the residents to improve their lives. The task force in concert with neighborhood residents has enlisted the participation of many groups, including the City of Gainesville, Alachua County 4-H, ACTION Network, and Keep Alachua County Beautiful. Because a top concern is the children living in the subdivision, Alice has put her long history as a 4-H leader to work creating an annual 4-H Spring Break camp and a 4-H Club that meets at UUFG after school on Monday and Thursday afternoons. The club currently has 20 Pineridge children enrolled and provides activities including crafts, cooking, individual tutoring, and preparing projects for the 4-H Youth Fair. Scholarships to the UUFG Summer Chalice Camp have also been provided.

"It is largely because of Alice’s devotion and her positive attitude that this project is having success. The children being served are enthusiastic and have had many new experiences." Carol Willis, Social Justice Committee Co-Chair

Alice has played a leadership role in the Anti-Racism Coalition and helped organize five annual conferences, the most recent being Framework for Understanding Poverty in 2006 and A Question of Race – Education in Alachua County in 2007.

Alice is a member of the Poverty Work Group that meets monthly to continue the work begun at the 2006 poverty conference.

Under Alice’s co-leadership, the monthly Interfaith Social Justice Forum held at UUFG now involves representatives from several faith-based communities, including Sweetwater UU, Bahai Community, United Church of Gainesville, Quakers, Mennonites and St. Augustine Catholic Church.

As a long-time member of the UU Fellowship of Gainesville, Alice has assumed many leadership roles over the years. She has served as Vice President, chair of several committees, Governing Board Trustee, and member of the most recent Search Committee. Everyone at UUFG appreciates Alice’s indomitable spirit that radiates kindness and concern.

"Alice is a team player, gently working with others in the congregation and the community, and willing to grow her own sense of "what is hers to do" by listening compassionately and openly. She exemplifies our first principle while working diligently so that our societal structures reflect worth and dignity for all people, and beings."
Rev. LoraKim Joyner, Co-Minister UUFG

Ruth Lewis

Nominee for the 2008 Excellence in Music Award, Florida District Unitarian Universalist Association

Ruth Lewis is the Minister of Music at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Gainesville (UUFG). Because of her hard work and leadership, the congregational music programs are excellent. Ruth accomplishes a wealth of programs that go well beyond the scope of her part-time staff position. As a member who volunteers her many gifts, she is admired for her service to UUFG, the Florida District, and the UU Musicians Network.

"She is such an inspiration, in addition to being an incredibly talented musician."
Ginny Fitzgerald, Chalice Choir member

Ruth not only orchestrates many music programs for the congregation, she also organized the First Annual Florida District UU Choral Festival, hosted by UUFG in March 2007. Seven UU congregations participated in what everyone agrees was a resounding success. This year the Second Annual Florida District UU Choral Festival was held in Orlando with ten groups participating! The Annual Choral Festival has become an important event in the Florida district.

"The festivals are a lot of hard work for the choir members - we had to rehearse for four hours. But it gives us such a great opportunity to meet folks from other congregations, to share the musical experience of singing together, and to give this gift of our singing in a massed choir to each congregation which hosts us."
Joyce Dewsbury, Chalice Choir member

Ruth directs three excellent choirs at UUFG: the Chalice Choir for adults, the Beacon Singers for middle and high schoolers, and the Shalom Chorus for treble singers in grades K-12. The adult choir sings three times a month at Sunday services, and the two youth choirs sing once or twice a month. All three choirs rehearse weekly and new singers are welcome at any time.

"Her patience with the children is to be commended. She also is a fine and very creative teacher as can be witnessed by the singing we all thoroughly enjoy when either the Shalom Chorus or the Beacon Singers delight us with their singing during Sunday morning services."

Ruth works together with the two co-ministers at UUFG, as well as lay worship leaders, to prepare music and hymns that support the sermon topic, creating a beautiful, cohesive whole.

"Her choices of music sometimes bring tears to our eyes. Her standards are very high, but everyone who tries, can reach them. She is creative, precise, thorough, and has a strong sense of what is appropriate for the occasion."
Vic & Martha Harrell, UUFG members

The UUFG music program is also highly regarded in the larger Gainesville community, thanks to Ruth’s efforts in organizing a very successful UUFG Concert Series. With knowledge of both local and traveling musicians, Ruth creatively organizes at least four concerts each year. These events make fine music concerts available not only to the congregation but also to the community at large. In March 2008, the concert series hosted Singers of United Lands, a touring quartet of singers performing songs from their native countries. Their unique blend of a cappella harmonies from around the world was very well received, and UUFG was proud to make this opportunity available free to the Gainesville community.

One of the biggest music events each year is Cabaret Night, a fundraiser now in its fifth year. Ruth leads the UUFG choirs and soloists in a fun-filled evening that this year was attended by more than 200 people. Proceeds from this year’s gala affair were divided between the music program and a fund to assist members in attending UUA General Assembly this June in Ft. Lauderdale.

Another music tradition that Ruth brilliantly masterminds at UUFG is the annual Christmas Eve Music Service. This event is so popular that there is usually standing room only.

Ruth was recognized for 30 years of service to the UUFG music program in April 2006 when the choir surprised her with an anthem commissioned in her honor. Summon Our Voices was composed by the Rev. Jason Shelton, with words by Dr. Kendyl Gibbons, both of First UU Church of Nashville. In a guest appearance that was part of the surprise, Rev. Shelton directed the choir’s premier performance of the anthem. This occasion was a heartfelt celebration of all that Ruth gives to UUFG.

"Ruth's expertise in music is a clear indicator of her great gifts to our congregation's life. However her gifts go beyond music. She is dedicated to the congregation and her choir members, seeking ways to offer care and concern for many individuals as well as for the congregation as a whole."
Rev. LoraKim Joyner, Co-Minister UUFG