Notes from October 21 meeting

Envisioning UUC grounds

Notes from October 21 meeting

Each of us introduced ourselves briefly.

• George Lally – Circumferential Meditation Path and comprehensive whole grounds plan, further described below
• Bonnie Moreno – comprehensive plan, design elements working together, integrating all the parts. She chairs COVA (Committee on the Visual Arts)
• Susie Fry – Garden Committee since 1979. Main concern is maintenance. Formerly, there was an “adopt a spot” group (come when one wants).
• Diane Jackson – Earth Spirit Sisters who developed labyrinth as meditative sacred space. Here in the spirit of cooperation
• K.C. Arceneaux – Earth Spirit Sisters. (MFA, managed a commercial greenhouse, and long-term experience in organic gardening)
• Susan Coleman – Earth Spirit Sisters
• Darla Bray – Earth Spirit Sister. Liaison among Memorial Garden and Buildings and Grounds Committees, and the Board.
• Dan Brown – Building and Grounds. Major interest is in a comprehensive plan, including an annual maintenance plan – what to do month by month
• Gloria Heath –  wildflower garden and, more generally, native plants
• Bill Clarkson – keeping ahead of the weeds! (maintenance)
• Susan Baker – for Memorial Garden Committee
• Mary Houska – advisory role. Chaired Gardening Committee 1993-2003. Their problems were money, including startup money and maintenance. Interest in having a Service do some of the ongoing work.
• Ben Logan – Crescent Garden. A well laid out garden will keep its integrity, at least its outlines a long time. Xeriscaping and sustainability
• Darrell Clowes – Master Plan and annual calendar of maintenance. The Board should consider financing in segments, sequentially
• Marquita Hill – natural habitat for birds and small species. Water is needed for natural spots. She will keep track of people, meetings and agenda, and sending out meeting notes.

Two of you are Master Gardeners and one an Organic Gardener. Two of you have Master’s degrees in Fine Arts. Several of you have developed and maintained extensive (personally owned) grounds over many years including gardens and trails. This group has tremendous expertise and experience.

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After introductions, Dan Brown spoke briefly about bureaucratic details. He will pull together a Charter and circulate it among us. Ours will be an Advisory Committee. We need an inventory of plant materials.  At the end of the year, he’ll put in budget money when Buildings and Grounds asks for money for the coming year.

George Lally spoke regarding a discussion plan he has developed “A Concept Paper: UUC Circumferential Meditation Path.” It will contain seven benches – corresponding to our seven UU principles – where walkers may stop and meditate, contemplate or pray. It will be done in phases (segments). Initial dollar cost would be minimal, but much planning and labor will be involved. It will need to be harmonized into our overall plan. He believes that the path needs to be an early priority.

Bonnie spoke of the need to keep the UUC’s neighbors informed as we go along. We need a volunteer to do this.

We have much to discuss starting with brainstorming next Tuesday October 25 at 7 pm.

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