Speakers for February

  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 Donna Orchard donnaforchard@gmail.com

February 3

Speakers: MELITA WILLKIE & FUF CHILDREN’S FELLOWSHIP
Title: Chinese New Year
Summary: This year, celebration of the Chinese New Year, one of the world's most prominent and celebrated festivals will begin February 5, initiating the year of the pig. Members of the Fairhope Unitarian Fellowship's children's program will share what they've learned about the traditions, tales, legends, myths, festivities, foods, and customs that make up this historical holiday. The Children’s Fellowship includes Aiden Anderson, Emerson Willkie, and Linda and Brisa Ables. Their ages range from 8–18.
Introduction: Ray Ables

February 17

Speaker:  MIKE TURNER
Title: Songs of Social Justice
Summary: The United Nations annually designates February 20 as World Social Justice Day. Folk and traditional music have a rich history of addressing social justice issues. Fairhope songwriter Mike Turner will perform original songs with social justice themes. Songwriter and musician is a second “career” for Mike Turner after a 27-year career in federal law enforcement. He has written more than 100 original songs, has been named Male Gospel Performer of
the Year by the Alabama Music Association and the North America Country Music Associations International
(NACMAI), and has had his original songs receive broadcast radio and Internet streaming play throughout the U.S., the U.K., Europe, Australia and New Zealand, and on the Armed Forces Radio Network. When not writing and performing, Mike and his wife Pamela sail an historic schooner on the Gulf of Mexico.
Introduction: Carl Couret

February 10

Speaker: RODNEY HOFFMAN
Title:  Transformational Leadership: Abraham Lincoln and the Emancipation Proclamation; and Visionary Leadership: LBJ and Civil Rights.
Summary: Using these two case studies from Doris
Kearns Goodwin’s recent book Leadership in Turbulent Times. Hoffman will describe the leadership qualities the two past presidents displayed during challenging times and will illustrate the different effective leadership
characteristics: Transformational Leadership and Visionary Leadership. Goodwin’s definition of leadership, “Leadership is a mirror in which the people see their collective reflection,” is reflected in each.. After a career in education and retiring as Supervisor of Gifted Education for Whitehall City Schools, –a suburb of Columbus, Ohio– Rodney, with his late wife Mary Ellen became permanent residents of Fairhope in 2002. He has recently served as FUF president.
Introduction: Jane Finger

February 24

Speaker: RAY ABLES
Title: Diogenes “The Dog” of Sinope
Summary: The first time I heard the name Diogenes was the Argentine troubadour Facundo Cabral’s mention in his album Ferrocabral: “Diogenes would laugh every time he passed by the market because he thought it was very funny and it would make him happy to see how many things there were for sale there that he did not need. In other words, rich is not he who has the most but rather he who needs the least….” Ray Ables will reveal who this iconic, antimaterialist, ancient-Greek cynic was and what we can learn from his teachings. Born in Ecuador to US parents, Ray
was a young teenager in Argentina. Holding a BA in International Studies and a specialization in Latin American Relations, he has worked as a Spanish interpreter and translator for the past 11 years. Currently the FUF program chair, he welcomes program suggestions or offers sent to spanishinterpreter@msn.com or call or text (251) 654-
3274.
Introduction: Linda Ables