June 21 UUGA, Charlotte

Driving into Charlotte, I thought this 'Firebird' was pretty hideous. While Gail was hobnobbing with her fellow wizards at Ministry Days at the 50th annual Unitarian Universalist Assembly, I wandered around taking pictures and after warily approaching this mirrored fabulousity, I decided it was pretty cool. On the way to the top floor of the Charlotte MOM to see more of the artist, Niki De Saint Phalle, who died in 2002, I saw the inevitable Hepworth (inset top). Some Saint Phalle's were even more cool, and some of her early angry feminist works quite moving and disturbing. The park was certainly a happy place for children, crawling in and out of the skull's mouth and the cat's stomach (Also Niki's).
OK, GA – We sat as a group (FUU Nashville), here next to Dick Spahr and Vannessa Comerford at the south east area 'ingathering', for which Gail Spahr sat on the panel, presented, and helped organize. The opening ceremony starts always with the banner parade, ours here toted by Ron Turner. Our main reason this year, aside from the training Gail took for being the SUUMA president (Southeast Ministry Association) and events of Ministry Days, was to make stronger connections with the international UU movement. We attend a worship service with readings from Romania, Khasi Hills, and Africa. Center right is the main UUA staff person for coordinating the various affiliated international organizations, Eric Cherry, next to our Khasi friend, President of the Unitarian Union of NEI, Derek Pariang. We also attended a panel discussion on the nuts and bolts of inter cultural relations, the most disturbing revelation being how hard it is for anyone of color to gain even temporary entrance into the U.S. and the funniest, what different cultures expect from beeping the car horn. Here Dani Pariang greets Rev. Dorothy May Emerson, UU women's history guru, and Gail talks with Rev. Dick Usher, British Unitarian whose daughter Pippa taught a community development course in Bangalore for Khasi Unitarians, including our friends Biron Talang and Leiki Sucheriang.