West Central Cluster Review

There were three West Central Cluster events this past year, starting with attending the SW Cluster workshops, held in autumn, at the Ft. Myers UU Church, spearheaded by Dr. Frank Dunn, the SWC president. Workshops focused on canvassing, religious education programs, and fund raising ideas. It was well attended, although mostly by UUs from the SW areas; it’s a swell idea to combine attendance however, so that more of us meet and exchange thoughts and concerns.

In February, the WCC held a program at the UUs of Clearwater, featuring MUSIC. The morning sessions included using various music on Sundays, building better ‘sound systems’, and building a choir. Rev. Richard Speck, of Vero Beach, accompanied by Lakeland’s Anne Wiseland, led the all souls’ session on Using Your UU Hymnal, a smaller version of the hit show the east side Clusters staged a few months earlier. Rev. Speck awakens folks to better UUism wherever he appears with his talents and thoughtfulness. After a catered lunch, seven local UU societies offered a sampling of their musical talents, and Clearwater’s sound wiz Norm Peterson made a CD, so that interested folks could buy a memento. (A few are still available if y’all want to listen to such fare as: Bradenton’s children’s AND adult choir, Clearwater’s maestro pianist Graime Constantine (a 17-yr-old prodigy) playing Dvorak with his father, Graime and Ms. Debbie Langrock the flutist bedazzling with some Bach, a quintet performing Ezekiel Saw the Wheel, Spirit of Life’s adult & children’s choir, and a new harmonious choir from Nature Coast UU’s, among many others. Even a Pines Irish tenor, so ladies might swoon. JoAnn Hettel sang ‘Memories’ as splendidly as Ms. Brightman. Ya shoulda been there!

May 6 th was the WCC annual meeting, at Tarpon Springs, the theme being ‘Welcoming Cultural Diversity.’ Dr. Adele McCollum of Brooksville’s Pines discussed Islam and Americans’ misunderstandings of it. Dr. McCollum is a retired teacher of Religion, and her Doctorate is in Theology. Lalitha Janamanchi of India and two Sri Lankans UU friends Wana and Shanti Paranawithana, all of the UUs of Clearwater, masterminded the handson cooking workshop, and attendees gorged on the gourmet exotica. After lunch, Rev. Wes Stevens introduced Clearwater’s Rev Abhi Janamanchi, who spoke about being raised in India, and making the vast transitions to where he and his family are now. Oh definitely, ya shoulda been there!

New officers: Don Micklewright/ Lakeland – president, Jeff Harper/UU St. Petersburg – VP, Maurea Sleesman/ Pines – sec., and Margaret Evans/UU St. Petersburg – treas. We hope more UUs will get enthused about their local, regional Cluster programs, and we hope to combine more efforts with the District and other events; the more we share, the more we learn, with enjoyment of our chosen faith!

— MAUREA SLEESMAN CLUSTER/DISTRICT ENTHUSIAST