MUUSAN Highlights FY July 1, 2021 - June 30, 2022
By the (approximate) numbers:
- Supported or opposed at least 36 bills* in the second (short) session of the 130th Legislature;
- Testified on 16 of those bills,* increasing MUUSAN’s visibility and voice at the statehouse;
- Achieved unprecedented engagement of UUs across the state in support of tribal sovereignty legislation. Together, UUs generated at least 70 testimonies before the Legislature’s Judiciary Committee, 141 one-on-one communications with legislators, 125 communications with the governor’s office, and 11 letters to the editor;
- Held 4 bimonthly Network Meetings on Zoom with an average attendance of more than 60 (including one record-breaking meeting with 105 registered for virtual attendance!). Guest speakers* included:
- Passamaquoddy Representative Rena Newell, on the challenges faced by Maine’s Wabanaki tribes;
- Dr. Bill Clark of Maine Healthcare Action, on the road ahead for universal healthcare in Maine;
- Former Maine Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap and Representative Nicole Grohowski, on the role of state officeholders in protecting and expanding voting rights; and
- Representative Seth Berry and youth climate justice leader Emily Rochford, on the urgency of environmental action in Maine.
- Gathered 8 of our UU congregations to march behind the MUUSAN banner in the June Portland PRIDE Parade (with other congregations marching in their local parades);
- Published 19 Action Alerts* that were distributed to more than 500 members on MUUSAN’s email list; Added 2 more key community coalitions with which we collaborate in our advocacy work (other partner coalitions include the Environmental Priorities Coalition and the Maine Immigrant Rights Coalition):
- The Wabanaki Alliance coalition: more than 100 Maine organizations working under the direction of tribal leaders to advance tribal sovereignty; and
- Vision for an Equitable Maine: over 60 Maine-based organizations formulating and promoting a shared vision for policy reforms, tackling the underlying problems that perpetuate injustice in our economy, systems, and laws;
- Welcomed a new (26th) Maine UU congregation, the New Brackett Church on Peaks Island (a federated church belonging both to the UUA and the UCC);
- Received donations from 11 Maine UU congregations (one more than last year), despite a second year of Covid-related financial challenges faced by many of our congregations;
- Celebrated an increase of more than 50% in individual donors supporting MUUSAN financially (though still less than 10% of those we consider part of the MUUSAN community). Supporters making monthly donations increased from 17 to 22, allowing us to predict cash flow better to cover fixed expenses;
- Completed a 6-month strategic planning process in which we sought the input of legislators, partner organizations, current and past MUUSAN leaders, and every person on our email “membership” list, resulting in a three-year plan* on which implementation is well underway;
- Established an endowment account through the UUA with funds received in connection with the dissolution of the former Northern New England District, projected to produce an income of approximately $4,000/yr;
- Created an electoral justice organizing plan for UUtheVoteME, launching in June and continuing through the November 2022 midterm elections; and
- Hired a halftime Administrative Coordinator to better serve our legislative ministry after two years of struggling without regular staff support. (Are we ever relieved!)