MUUSAN 2016-17 Issue Group Co-Chairs
Maine UU State Advocacy Network focuses our legislative ministry on three primary issues: 1) Democracy in Action, 2) Health Care for All, and 3) Climate Change, each of which has an Issue Group of volunteers. Two co-chairs lead each Issue Group to gather and mobilize Maine UUs who are especially interested in helping to create progress on the target issue.
Please meet our Issue Group Co-Chairs for 2016-17. Not only do they bring strong experience in the Maine State Legislature and expertise on their chosen issue, they are passionate UU social justice leaders in Maine. We thank them for their leadership for our UU Principles in action!
Brief in-person Issue Group meetings for updates and strategizing happen at most MUUSAN Network meetings (2nd Saturday of alternate months in Augusta). Other, more detailed Issue Group meetings rely on ZOOM videoconferencing and telephone to include UUs across Maine's vast geography.
Please meet our Issue Group Co-Chairs for 2016-17. Not only do they bring strong experience in the Maine State Legislature and expertise on their chosen issue, they are passionate UU social justice leaders in Maine. We thank them for their leadership for our UU Principles in action!
Brief in-person Issue Group meetings for updates and strategizing happen at most MUUSAN Network meetings (2nd Saturday of alternate months in Augusta). Other, more detailed Issue Group meetings rely on ZOOM videoconferencing and telephone to include UUs across Maine's vast geography.
DEMOCRACY IN ACTION
Hon. Karen Kusiak is a member of the UU Church in Waterville. An undergraduate teacher educator, she has been active in church leadership, her local school board, AAUW, and an English Language Program for new Mainers. Karen represented Fairfield, Smithfield, and Rome in the 126th Legislature.
Randa Thomas is a member of the UU Church of Saco and Biddeford, where she serves on the board
and chairs the Faith In Action Team. She is a seasoned political activist, having worked on several civil
rights campaigns and run for office herself. She is a high school French teacher.
HEALTH CARE FOR ALL
For nearly 20 years, Rev. Pam Gross served UU congregations in Maine, first as a DIrector of Religious
Education and then, as Minister. After working the past six years as a hospital Staff Chaplain, she has
semi-retired to enjoy her new spouse, new home in Brunswick, and new grandchildren. She attends the
UU Church of Brunswick.
Rosemary Winslow has worked as a Legislative Aide for the Chairman of the Appropriations Committee (State Senator Mike Michaud) and as the Intergovernmental Liaison for Congressman Michaud as well. Completing her 16th year as a Waterville City Councilor, she is active on several boards in the Central Maine Region such as the Sustain Mid-Maine Coalition and Inland Hospital. Rosemary is a member of the UU Church of Waterviile.
CLIMATE CHANGE
Melanie Lanctot, retired from the Maine Geological Survey, describes herself as "a tree-hugging, silver-sneakered lover of planet Earth" and a drawing enthusiast. A nature photographer, Melanie is also a Maine Master Naturalist, part of a network of certified citizen-naturalist volunteers. Close-up photographs of some of Melanie's favorite subjects, some so tiny they are easy to overlook, but all marvelous in their unique beauty and intricacy, can be viewed at the UU Community Church of Augusta where she is a member.
Love of the outdoors brought Mary Ann Larson and her husband to Maine nearly 20 years ago. They
love living in Portland with their dog Patrik and near their daughter, and you can find them most days of
the year walking at one of the beaches or taking advantage of the Portland Trails. Mary Ann is a
member of First Parish Portland UU.
