Our Sunday services at 11:00 a.m. feature a different guest speaker each week, either a member of our congregation or someone from the surrounding community. We address a variety of topics, from literature and history to politics, religious thought and social issues. We welcome suggestions for speakers, please contact Ray Ables fairhopeunitarianfellowship@gmail.com

Speakers for August

August 4, 2019

Presenter: FRED NATION
Title: Looking for William Bartram in South Alabama 
Summary: Environmental consultant, free-lance photographer and writer,  Fred Nation, will describe Bartram’s great journey  (1772-1775), through what is now the Southeastern United States with particular attention to the local plants he saw, including those in Baldwin County. Fred teaches regular seminars 
on habitats and ecosystems for Weeks Bay Reserve and has developed nature trails and field guides for the Cities of Daphne and Fairhope, Blakeley State Park, Weeks Bay Reserve, Camp Beckwith, and the Baldwin County Parks and Recreation Department. He is the author of the book,  Where the Wild 
Illicium Grows; Historic Plants of South Alabama and the Central Gulf Coast.  He and his wife, Maureen, live in Daphne. 

August 11, 2019

​Presenter:  CAROL BARRETT
Title:  Climate Change for the Hopelessly Confused 
Summary:   Looking for a good Whodunit? Scientists are hot on the trail of suspects in the big climate-change mystery, but who, or what, is the real culprit? What do we really know about the cause and effect of climate change? What is scientifically accurate and what's just "blowin' in the wind"? Carol Barrett will address these questions and provide some super-cool facts about a very hot topic!
Bio: After having taught Geoscience at the middle school, high school, and college levels for over fifteen years, Barrett was awarded a Teacher in The Field fellowship in 2009 to study climate change in the subarctic. She earned  a certification in environmental resource management from California State 
University Bakersfield and a MS in geoscience from Mississippi State University through its Teachers in Geoscience program. 

August 18, 2019

Presenter: LYNNE OLDSHUE
Title: Learning to Listen  
Summary: Learning to listen is the easiest gift we can give someone, including strangers. Healing comes from fully-present listening that understands who they are and shows their story and their life matters. An interview with photographer Vincent Lawson about his pictures of the homeless in Mobile, and 
a story about the city's bus riders, changed Lynne Oldshue’s direction and were the catalysts for her the vignette series  “Our Southern Souls.” After almost 1,200 Souls interviews, including people who survive cancer, flee from war and persecution, take care of spouses with Alzheimer’s, wait for acceptance letters into graduate schools and serve hot dogs to the homeless, Oldshue is an expert on listening.
Bio: She is also the founder of the Nappi-award-winning“The Southern Rambler” blog/website and the “Community of Mobile” Facebook group, which helps to create a compassionate community that takes care of each other. The Mobile Arts Council named her their 2018 Cultural Innovator.   

August 25, 2019

​Presenter:  ROSALIE STROMME​
Title: War of the Whales
Summary: Noise pollution is a concept we are all familiar with in the atmosphere surrounding us. But this is also true for oceans in which marine mammals must live, making it difficult for some species to survive amidst the sonic chaos below the waterline.   
Bio: A retired Real Estate Appraiser, Rosalie Stromme  moved to Fairhope five  years ago  from  the Rocky Mountains west of Denver.  Here  she volunteers in various local organizations including Alabama Coastal Foundation, Friends of the Fairhope Public Library Board Member, Mobile Symphony Orchestra and Impact 100.  She also enjoys  outdoor sports such as biking, swimming and golfing.