Wednesday Discussions by Zoom
5:00 - 6:00 PM, Always by Zoom
All are welcome to join us by Zoom for facilitated, fun, educational discussions on a variety of topics.
We honor the Covenant and Discussion Guidelines listed below to create a safe community for sharing our differing perspectives and learning from each other.
The online Zoom room opens around 4:45 pm to meet and greet each other.
To get the Zoom meeting link, please send an email to info@firstuu.org by Thursday morning, and if you would like to receive weekly reminder emails with the topics for this group, please let us know.
WEDNESDAY DISCUSSIONS TOPIC SCHEDULE
Wednesday, May 31:
How can we improve our brain function?
Facilitator: Jim Gordon.
Resource: Biohack Your Brain: How to Boost Cognitive Health, Performance & Power by Kristen Willeumier.
Pam out of town so Dianne will be Zoom Host.
Wednesday, June 7:
Which freedoms are most important to us now?
Facilitator: James Wooten.
Resource: FDR’s Four Freedoms: freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom from want, and freedom from fear.
Wednesday, June 14:
The US Surgeon General has identified social isolation a threat to individual and community wellbeing. What factors do you think are contributing to the epidemic of loneliness?
Facilitator: Dianne Reece
Wednesday, June 21:
What is white Christian supremacy and how has it altered the message of Jesus?
Facilitator: Ron Hammons
Wednesday, June 28:
How can we speak so that people want to listen?
Facilitator: Jim Gordon
Resource: 10 min. Ted Talk by Julian Treasure:
We honor the group covenant and guidelines listed below.
DISCUSSION COVENANT & GUIDELINES - Rev. 5/1/2023
We, the Participants, Facilitators, Presenters and Zoom Hosts, welcome everyone, as together we create a safe, supportive and compassionate community where we practice the values reflected in the Unitarian Universalist Principles and by following discussion guidelines.
DISCUSSION GUIDELINES:
We agree to participate fully and respectfully by:
1. Listening attentively with curious and supportive attention; and waiting to speak until we have raised our hand and have been called on by the facilitator or presenter;
2. Waiting until our turn to share our comments and questions with the whole group, refraining from interruptions and side conversations;
3. Limiting our comments to two or three minutes, depending on group size, unless you are the presenter, who is encouraged to limit their presentation to 5 to 15 minutes;
4. Remembering that this is a supportive discussion group but not a support group, so confidentiality is not guaranteed;
5. Accepting and addressing our differing perspectives and biases with kindness and compassion in our learning community;
6. Speaking from our personal experience and beliefs, rather than generalizing or stereotyping individuals or groups of people;
7. Accepting that some concepts and issues might make us feel uncomfortable.
8. ON ZOOM: We agree to reduce distracting noises and behaviors by:
a. Muting our mics before and after our turn;
b. Turning off our video screen when we are eating, walking around, moving around a lot, talking with someone, or not available to give good attention; and
c. Refraining from using the Chat function, especially when someone is talking, and waiting to take a turn to explain what we are posting to Chat.