On Wednesday, June 17 at 4pm, you will have a unique opportunity to catch a glimpse beyond  the headlines and into the lives of real people, not just statistics on a page.

Florida Filmmaker Monear Shaer will screen a film about his own family called Gaza is Our Home.

This documentary stands as a testament to the humanity behind the casualties of the Gaza conflict, providing audiences with a rare glimpse into the emotions and resilience of those trapped there.

After viewing the film, Monear will FaceTime with members of his family still in Gaza.  Please mark your calendar and plan to attend this one-of-a-kind event on Wednesday, June 17.

For more information contact Cindy Grossman (email: CindyTriUUPrez@gmail.com).

Like any war, the conflict with Iran raises questions of what the future might hold for that country and its relationships with the rest of the world. Regardless of the outcome, Iran will have to deal with a number of crises that were coming to a head before the fighting began, and that will challenge any regime that might emerge after the fighting ends. Join us to learn about Iran’s current situation and what might come next for the country, its government and its people.

Presenter: Dr. Mark Welton received his undergraduate degree with honors from Stanford University, three master’s degrees (in international relations, international business, and military law), and three law degrees: JD from Georgetown University Law School, LLM (Masters of Law) from the University of Virginia Law School, and SJD (PhD in Law), also from the University of Virginia Law School.

Dr. Welton served 20 plus years and retired from active duty as an Army Judge Advocate working in international law, including as Chief of International Law for the US Army Europe. In his second career as a civilian, he had the title of Professor of Discipline and Director of the Program in International and Comparative Law at the US Military Academy, West Point. He currently serves as book reviewer on Islamic law for The Middle East Journal. He retired as Professor Emeritus and moved to The Villages in Florida in 2012. All attendees are invited to share in a community potluck dinner following the discussion.

Potluck Dinner. No fee.

Presenters Gina Oliva, Ph.D., Marilynn Harbison, Julie Dallman, Joan Sheppard, and Anne Simonsen, Ph.D. will introduce participants to the basics of American Sign Language and share personal and professional perspectives on Deaf culture, communication, and community.

Working in small groups, attendees will learn signs and the alphabet, with a concluding segment featuring signing to music. The program is designed to be welcoming and accessible to all, whether attendees are new to sign language or interested in deepening their understanding.

A potluck dinner will follow the presentation, offering time for conversation and community connection with the presenters.

Speakers:

Gina Oliva, Ph.D. Former Professor at Gallaudet University; expert in the field.
Joan Sheppard Mother of a deaf son.
Julie Dallman Daughter of deaf parents.
Anne Simonsen, Ph.D. Former Professor at Gallaudet University; previously Director of the Special Populations Division in Prince George’s County.

Be prepared; Get your CPR Training in the Chalice Room. AHA Certificiate - $25.00 OR A donation to instructor for volunteering to train us.

The Voice of Hind Rajab is a 2026 Academy Award nominated docudrama that reconstructs the final hours of Hind Rajab, a young Palestinian girl trapped in a car during the Gaza conflict whose emergency call for help was widely circulated online. This unique film mixes dramatized scenes with real audio recordings from the emergency call. It premiered at the Venice International Film Festival in 2025, where it won the Grand Jury Prize and received a very long standing ovation.There will be a brief facilitated discussion after the film screening.
Donations will be collected for this event.

The way we connect, share, and stay informed has
fundamentally changed - and we are keeping up. Join Ken
Pond for an engaging, jargon-free presentation covering a
live tour of the new website, the Members Portal, a step-by-
step login tutorial, and an Internet 101 for making the most
of what the web has to offer.

ABOUT THE PRESENTER: Ken Pond is a creative
consultant and graphics specialist with decades of
experience in web design, graphic design, and multimedia
production. He serves as TriUU's webmaster. Ken designed
and built the new triuu.org from the ground up. He is also the
owner of Ken Pond Creative (kenpondcreative.com).
No Potlluck Pizza Party instead.

The Feast of Unleavened Bread
All ARE Welcome!

Jewish teachings and traditions are one of the many sources from which the Unitarian Universalist living tradition draws. In celebration of the Jewish holiday of Passover, Jews all over the world join together in a ceremonial feast: The Seder. Our UU Haggadah honors this ancient tradition and relates it to our own UU faith and current events. The Seder ritual and symbolic foods help us relive this ancient experience in our own lives.

Reservations required — sign up at the table behind AV

About the Event: A suggested donation of $5.00 per person covers ceremonial foods and beverages. Bring your favorite dish—in keeping with Jewish tradition, please: no pork, no shellfish, and no leavened bread products.

For questions, e-mail helenekirschbaum@gmail.com

The Feast of Unleavened Bread
All ARE Welcome!

Jewish teachings and traditions are one of the many sources from which the Unitarian Universalist living tradition draws. In celebration of the Jewish holiday of Passover, Jews all over the world join together in a ceremonial feast: The Seder. Our UU Haggadah honors this ancient tradition and relates it to our own UU faith and current events. The Seder ritual and symbolic foods help us relive this ancient experience in our own lives.

Reservations required — sign up at the table behind AV

About the Event: A suggested donation of $5.00 per person covers ceremonial foods and beverages. Bring your favorite dish—in keeping with Jewish tradition, please: no pork, no shellfish, and no leavened bread products.

For questions, e-mail helenekirschbaum@gmail.com

Tret Fure Concert — Sunday, March 29, at 3 pm! Tickets $20

“Tret Fure is an award-winning singer songwriter whose music demonstrates a willingness to confront the most pressing issues of our day with courage, compassion and a deep sense of humanity. Her songs speak to the heart and the soul. Her new album Lavender Moonshine is very much in that tradition: timely, compelling, provocative and tender.”
—Ron Cooke, A Still Small Voice 4U

More information about Tret can be found at tretfure.com.

Steering in a Tornado: A Field Guide
Forum Presenter: Liz James — Speaker, Author, and Humorist

Modern life moves fast, and attempts to control or predict it often leave us drained. Through stories and thoughtful humor, James explores what we can influence, what we can’t, and how perspective, relationships, and self-awareness keep us grounded in uncertainty. Resilience isn’t ending the storm but learning to move with change. Participants will leave with practical ways to face change with steadiness, compassion, and renewed agency. All are welcome.

Thursday, March 12th — 4:00 p.m

STEERING IN A TORNADO:
A FIELD GUIDE

TriUU March Forum Speaker,
Author, & Humorist
Liz James

Liz writes, “I once overheard my fourteen-year-old talking to his younger brother, starting a sentence with, ‘In my day…’ Well, in my day you had to be older than fourteen to start a sentence that way. “In a world that’s changing faster and faster, how do we make decisions, avoid overwhelm, and manage the constant existential crisis? Join me for a story-based, fun look at skills for modern life.” About the Presenter: Liz James is the founder of a 300,000-person online UU community called The UU Hysterical Society, co-host of The Cracked Cup podcast, and is working on a book with Skinner House Press. She’s also the president of Mirth and Dignity, an organization devoted to supporting outside-the-box expressions of UUism.

All are invited to attend a potluck dinner following the forum.

Down through history, Native Americans have largely relied on oral traditions—stories and songs—to preserve and convey ancient wisdom from one generation to the next.

In the Words on the Wind series, Morning Light Films seeks to document some of this irreplaceable wisdom through short documentary films. The current project, and the main subject of this forum, honors the ancient Haudenosaunee Thanksgiving Address.