In preparing the annual SEJC (Social & Environmental Justice Committee) report to the BUF Board of Trustees, I realized the rest of the congregation may not be aware of our activities.

In the spirit of transparency, I plan to post monthly updates from our committee as a whole and from our several ministry action teams.

Today, I am providing the annual summary I will be presenting to the Board on Thursday.

SEJC ANNUAL REPORT TO BUF BOARD - March 2017 - February 2018

General Updates, Finances and Policy Changes

1. Since March 2017, we passed kiosk guidelines and welcomed new leadership: Shari Walton as Secretary, Beth Brownfield as Nominating Chair and Ann Stevenson as our new Interfaith Coalition rep.
   
2. Presented the Black Lives Matter resolution to the congregation which passed resulting in the introduction of Eracism Minutes during Sunday service.
   
3. Added a 4th meeting (in May) solely for voting on special collection recipients.
   
4. At the beginning of the fiscal year, the balance of our funds for distribution were $10,800. Plus our endowment value as of Jan 2018 was $32,800. Our average annual income from Fair Trade coffee sales has been about $2000 but it has been going down. For first 6 months this year, it was only $413. In July 2017 we pulled 5% from our endowment fund for annual distribution which came to $1500.
   
5. We are very proud of BUF for the new level of generosity for the Special Collections. For the first 6 months of this fiscal year, the total comes to $15,500.
   
6. A new Ministry Action team is being formed to address homelessness. Their first project will be as the BUF team to support Interfaith Coalition’s Family Promises program.

Events held and co-sponsored during the past 12 months

• ACLU People Power Action Event Youth Climate Advocacy Panel
• Public forum on Transgender issues/ I-I1552
• Indigenous Colombian leader event
• Democracy School
• Interweave Thanksgiving Potluck
• Interweave New Year's Eve party
• Laura Love Concert
• YouthNet event
• Movie Presentation National Geographic "Gender revolution"
• Abundance Swap
• Bellingham Human Rights Film Festival showing of film at BUF
• Hildes-Weil Benefit Concert

Donations to outside organizations in the past 12 months

In the past 12 months we have donated $2000:

• SEJC donation to stone marker:  $200
• Support H2A farm workers:  $200
• Food Bank donation in Kay Witter’s name:  $300
• NW UU Justice Summit & scholarships to summit:  $200
• MLK Conference:  $200
• Bham Human Rights Film Festival (in Jerry Brownfield’s name):  $200
• Legal defense of immigrant activist Maru Mora-Villapondo:  $500
• PFLAG dance:  $200

Submitted by Linda J Fels

SEJC Chair