UU Belmont Alliance: The Power of our Origins, Women Matter with Sally Sennett

Sally's origin story sheds light on changes made to property law. It highlights the social progression over the last three centuries that made it possible for Kamala Harris to be running for President of the United States. We will meet Meema Claflin and her aunt Sophia Spaulding Woodbury who led by example at a time when most women's sphere of influence was confined to the home.  The meeting will be held on Zoom, 11:00-12:30 with ample time for questions and answers. You may receive the Zoom link by contacting Kathy Lind at kathyalind@aol.com. Sally has been attending First Church for 5 years and is a member of Belmont Against Racism as well as being active in the group Science and Spirituality.

Our Story: 

The Belmont Unitarian-Universalist Alliance is the oldest continuing meeting group at First Church. It was founded in 1890 as the local branch of the Alliance of Unitarian Women. When the Unitarian-Universalist Association was created, this Alliance became part of the Unitarian-Universalist Women’s Federation.

While it met at First Church in Belmont, the Alliance wasn’t part of the Church’s organizational structure. It had its own elected officers, dues, and bank account. Dues-paying participants were the official members.

The Alliance held monthly lunches which included either a presentation or an excursion. In earlier years, the organization ran the Rummage Sale, put on a music program and Wassail every December, and provided the reception following funerals. The group also contributed to church projects such as the restoration of the Tiffany Window.

Alliance bylaws were amended in 1999 to reflect the dissolution of the national organization and the absorption of the local chapter into First Church. The structure of the Alliance remained largely unchanged until 2014, when the group dropped the word “Woman,” from the title to make it clear all, not just women, are now welcome to join in.

Now a subcommittee of Adult Programs, the Alliance remains semiautonomous with its own bank account and elected officers. Because the group now holds its monthly meetings on Zoom, it no longer collects dues. At its May 2023 meeting the group declared that anyone who attends two presentations during a two-year period will be a voting member. The group votes to elect officers and approve expenditures. Officers include President Nicole Bernstein, Co-President Patricia Hawkins, Treasurer Miriam Baker, Secretary Mary Harrison, Program Committee Doris Hunter, and Technical Advisor Mark Rosenstein.