History

Editors' Note:
The following description has been reformatted from the original document by Don Cullimore and Penelope Pinson, including information taken from a History of the Fellowship prepared in May 1975 by the late Cleo E. (Tommie) Thomas, in order to conform more nearly to the style of a history of Unitarians in Polk County written by Hal Hubener. Perry Newport and Joyce Bode are responsible for the changes, and Dorothy Warmke supplied information for 1995 through 1998.
Please consider this to be "a work in progress" of the Historical Highlights. As more information is gathered or corrections needed, updated versions will be printed. If you have any information to add, such as ceremonies performed at Lake Region Unitarian Universalist Fellowship or other significant events, pass them along to Joyce for inclusion in the next printing.
It is our intent to include the names of all present members and the dates they joined Lake Region Unitarian Universalist Fellowship. If a name has been omitted, please let us know so that it can be included in the next update.
Joyce Bode

Publication Date: August 1998

HISTORICAL HIGHLIGHTS: 1952 - 1998
Perhaps it can be said that the modern history of the Lake Region Unitarian Universalist Fellowship began Sunday November 27, 1955, when thirty-five persons signed the membership book and the first service was held at 4:00 p.m. at the Danforth Chapel, Florida Southern College, Lakeland, Florida..

"Love is the Spirit of this Fellowship and Service is its Law.In Freedom of Truth we Unite for the Worship of God and the Service of Man."

The above quote is taken from the cover page of the membership book. Signing the book signified a commitment to this covenant.
The first thirty-five members were:
Mrs. Julian Martinez, Mr. Julian Martinez, Chris Hostetter, Mary Hostetter, Jessica Price, John D. Rowland, Barbara Erwin, Mrs. Carl Dettman, Dorothea F. Garber, Warren Scholl, Elaine Bart, Roger Bart, Mildred Robert, Dale W. Mathias, Ouida Salter, Lola S. Bracken, Retta M. Wish, Fred D. Wish, Jr., Jane Savage, George Lees, Mrs. O.D. (Patsy) Eger, Bertha H. Steitz, Dorothy Rowe, Ralph B. Rowe, Marguerita Eichleay, Roy O. Eichleay, Elaine Smithers, Harold Smithers, Wesley Clarence Salter, Chris Camden, Howard Camden, Paul S. Patterson, Susan C. Patterson, Joseph L. Hempstead, Hester R. Hempstead,

Our beloved friend, Julia Eichleay, widow of Roy Eichleay still attends the Fellowship. Joyce Bode was member number 41 joining in 1957 and reinstated in 1990, and Alma (Murdock) Cookson also joined in 1957 as member number 48. Evelyn Lees attended in the early days and signed the membership book in 1963.
There had been efforts earlier in the 50's--as for example, in March 1952 when 26 people had met at the Elks Club. But this and other abortive attempts failed due to lack of commitment.
Within the next few months, the group engaged in a newspaper campaign to introduce "this liberal religion to Lakeland" and to do what was necessary to affiliate with the forerunner of the Unitarian Universalist Association of Boston. The Fellowship became affiliated with the American Unitarian Association on February 8, 1956.
After several years of meetings in members homes, Dr. Ludd Spivey, President of Florida Southern College, invited the Fellowship to use the Anne Pfeiffer and Danforth Chapels for Sunday services. Elinore Dettman was Church School Superintendent during this 1958-59 season, and she typically presided over 8-9 students (Lees, Bode, and Denham children).

One of the more notable new members this year was Mrs. Cleo E. Thomas. Mrs Thomas spent many years in administrating, and advancing the values of Unitarians. She has been commemorated through the annual giving of the "Tommie" award and cash to an individual or organization in Lakeland who best exemplifies "high ideals, humanitarian principles and commitment to community". Interestingly, the award has been given many times to non-Unitarians.
When Dr. Spivey was succeeded by Charles Thrift in 1960, the fellowship was informed that FSC facilities could no longer be used and it was necessary to begin a search for a new home. The 51 members settled on our present location, which had been the Dora Cox Phillips private school from 1955-1959. The $6700 cost was oversubscribed through a loan from the UUA and members pledges, and no-interest loans from Roy Eichleay and Dr. and Mrs. E. F. VanBuskirk. There was plenty of "sweat equity" quickly applied to the two structures by the membership and the Fellowship held the first service in it's new home in October 1960. Evelyn Lees and family built the patio benches assisted by Gib Kearton and Dale Mathias using donated lumber. A fund-raising pancake breakfast was prepared and served by the Lees family.
Joyce Bode succeeded Mrs. Thomas as Executive Secretary in February 1961. In early 1961 an expansion plan was proposed. The auditorium was to be increased by 20 feet and a platform added on the south end. The entrance would be moved to the north and three new classrooms would be built. The whole thing would cost about $6000... all of which had to be raised, since the total assets of the fellowship were "forty nine cents". That autumn, Rev. Clifton Hoffman - the Regional Director of the Thomas Jefferson Conference came to dedicate the new Sunday School wing. Gladys Gerlach, Sunday School Superintendent, cut the ribbon. Gladys' husband George was for many years a "rock" that provided the continuity necessary for us to get through the early years, providing sermons on short notice and serving four successive terms as President.
When the original lot was purchased, it was "L" shaped because there was a small cottage near the present patio location. In 1966, the cottage was purchased and was used for part-time ministers and administration for many years thereafter. The price was $3200.
William A. Simanton, Jr. joined in 1962 as well as Joe and Jeanne Clague and family. Mary Alexander joined in 1963 and was reinstated in 1990, Anne Kearton joined in 1967.
The 1970's saw the dawning of a very yeasty period for the LRUUF. Richard Norsworthy of Clearwater became the first minister to be retained by the fellowship. He agreed to serve one Sunday a month, and his stewardship lasted from January l971 through May 1972. When he left there were 48 giving units. He was succeeded in October by David Scheyer of Ft. Lauderdale who held the part-time position until November 1976.
Many UU's were affected by events during this period: Watergate and Vietnam being the principal ones. In February of 1974, Field Secretary Scott Herrick of the American Friends Service Committee from Miami made a presentation to our Social Concerns Committee. His presentation had a rejuvenating effect, and as a consequence the committee invited "all interested persons" to form a local movement, resulting in the first LRUUF peace committee. The backdrop for this event was the court's dismissal of a case the government undertook against the UUA for publishing the "Pentagon Papers". In order to make certain where we stood, the board authorized the purchase of the unexpurgated version of these documents, which was an expensive statement for it's time.
Sara Anderson joined in 1971, and Patricia and Albert Eskenazi joined in 1972. Silvia and Dale Williams joined in 1974 and were reinstated in 1986. Keyno Hicks and Milton Goodman joined in 1975 and Rose Frank in 1977. Carl Westman signed the membership book in 1977. Adair Wheaton signed in 1978 and Trudie Mercer in 1979.
Dr. Al Eskenazi was President in 1979 when we had 53 members and a budget just under $12,000. One of the highlights of the year was an adult lecture series that raised funds for Polk Community College.
In 1976 we began the continuing tradition of the Ice Cream Social. Keyno Hicks was our R. E. Director, and a Search Committee was formed to help us find a minister to replace Dr. Scheyer who took a job with the UUA in Boston.
That replacement turned out to be the Rev. Carl Westman who began his successful and long ministry in September of 1977. At the end of the fiscal year, we had a deficit of $1500 which was due to "the minister's salary and building improvements". All was not lost however, because the Roscoe Street property across from the fellowship (originally purchased to be used for a parsonage) was sold which not only permitted the deficit to be covered, but allowed $10,000 in loans from the membership to be repaid. A Ruth Sherman bequest of $1900 was also received. Carl was quoted as saying that he "senses good spirit and warm fellowship here."
In July 1972 Joyce Bode's daughter Jeri was married at the fellowship and the service was performed by the Rev. Richard Norsworthy. In March 1979 Joyce's daughter Linda was married and the service was performed by Carl Westman.
In mid-1979 the auditorium renovation was brought in under it's $3000 budget. The Ledger also ran a feature on us.
Anne Kearton became the first of a distinguished group of women who became President in 1980 and Fellowship efforts centered on summer buildings and grounds work which turned out "absolutely beautiful". The fund raiser was held at Strollo's and we began our annual Picnic series at Sara Anderson's lovely home in Auburndale. In addition, there was a Christmas Candlelight Service, garage sales for Religious Education, and the Wednesday night discussion group.
Steve Eskenazi joined in 1980, Alice Walcheck, Virginia Adler and Dee Williams in 1981. Bob and Diane Baum joined in 1982.
After all the time and money spent on renovation, the roof began to leak again in 1981; the archives don't say how the problem was resolved, but it must have started some thought about a new building. We also began the UUA program series on Human Sexuality, and awarded the Tommie to Planned Parenthood. The Social Concerns Committee was active in the area of academic freedom, attempting to influence the Polk County School Board.
The year 1982 was notable for Love: Keyno Hicks and Zela Tamariz, and Harriet Powell and Adair Wheaton were married during the year by Carl Westman. Dr. Shirley Curtis became the second woman President of the fellowship.
Bob Baum became the Religious Education Director in the following year, and an experimental program involving the sharing of familial experiences and UU values was begun by Sara Anderson.
Harriett Wheaton and Pat Boatwright joined in 1983 and Marion Moore and Therese Koras joined in 1984.
In 1984, a "Dreamers and Builders" project was begun to get the congregation to begin thinking about growth. A Bazaar was held and the funds were earmarked for the Polk County Coalition for Children and Youth, the UUSC Hunger Program, and a LRUUF Building Fund. The Building Committee was formed in January of that fiscal year.
Dr. Bob Baum went to Golden Colorado wearing his Religious Education hat and gave our education programs some imprimatur in 1985. We also expanded use of our facilities by allowing outside organizations access: both the Arms Reduction Group and Alcoholics Anonymous met here. Regrettably, Mrs. Cleo Thomas died in July in her 97th year.
Ken Rideout, Ken, Belva and Dave McAllister, Jean and Howard May, and Louise Gascoigne joined in 1985, and Karl and Ruth Schwebke, Penelope Pinson, Russell and Elinor Currey, Bill Walcheck, Bert Henry, and Dorothy Neitzke in 1986.
The expansion program began to heat up the next year. Ken McAllister and the Building Committee were given $5000 to draw site and building plans to present to the congregation in the fall. Ken not only drew the plans, but supervised the construction, along with Bob Baum, and Ed Richie assisted with the carpentry. 1986 was also the year we began the tradition of Chalice Lighting by our children. Elsie Kachulis designed the stained glass at the front of the church and also selected the color scheme for the building. Claude Lacouture built the lectern and the stained glass frame.

Mercedes and Bill Fox, Suzanne Harris and Peter Helwig, Floyd and Linda Green, Dorothy Warmke, and Donald Micklewright joined in 1987.
Membership was up the following year, with 83 on the books. Our new newsletter editor, Penny Pinson, reported that the average attendance on Sunday was 55. And...Carl Westman decided to retire again, necessitating a ministerial search.
On November 20, 1988 the dedication service for our new structure was held. John DeWolf-Hurt, the Co-District Executive gave the keynote address: "Church, Chalice and Challenge". The other highlight was the symbolic giving of keys from Ken McAllister to the LRUUF President, Bob Baum. Summer programs were initiated in 1988 by Dorothy Warmke.
Paul Pinson and William F. Jones joined in 1988. Norma and Henry Van Dyke, Irma B. Miller, Jane and Jim Backstrom, Jane (Cox) Eskenazi, and Marjorie Swindell joined in 1989.
Under what was for us a new experience, called the Extension Ministry, the fellowship's new spiritual leader became the Rev. Emily Morse Palmer in October 1989. A new sound system and choir soon were installed. Al Fritszche and Bert Henry spearheaded a weekly food program for the poor at the Talbot House. And...ominously, an alternative forum before the service was begun.
In 1990 the Reverend Palmer was asked to resign and complied, setting off a major confrontation within the fellowship which was healed only after major efforts of good will by many people. Peter Helwig and Suzanne Harris received the Tommie Award for their efforts on behalf of the rural poor. And last but certainly not least, Jane Backstrom designed and rendered a unique and striking banner that symbolized the fellowship, which was subsequently carried many times in parades and other festive events.
The healing continued in 1991. The Rev. Todd Taylor helped us through some difficult times by serving as Consulting Minister for four months. Dr. Henry VanDyke and others jumped in to fill the preaching gap as required, and a group of committed and energetic folks led by Bill Walcheck expanded the patio and built a new access path.
John Varty joined in 1990. Perry Newport, Fred Bowen and Charlaine Selvig joined in 1991.

We called the Rev. Clarke Dewey Wells in 1992 and he was installed in 1993 after serving out previous commitments. The Rev. Dr. Wells has been a scholarly figure and dynamic speaker both within and without the denomination for nearly 40 years.
Ann Wiseman, Kathleen O'Connor, Don and Sharon Rust, Elise Meisel, Ray Van DeMark and Hal Hubener joined in 1992. Lois Rankin, Janis Pocsy and Madori Tsushima, and George and Orrinna Speese joined in 1993. Susan Mitchel, Rebecca Baum, Brent Creighton, Joe Reidy, Ruth and Jim Farrell, Joe Prine, Jeanne Supple, Jim Haley, Lee Ann Everhart, Karen and David Sterling, and Gina Miller joined in 1994.
Don Micklewright's tenure as President was a busy time. Among the members who joined in 1995 were Roger Emmons, Gay and Sol Finkelman, Jim Kroll, Mari-Jean Melissa and Bill McKinley, Shirley McCutcheon, Dorothy and Warren Slack, and Roberta, Robert and Erin Tucker.
The 1994-95 fiscal year was the first in which we paid Religious Education directors. Keyno Hicks and Lee Ann Everhart worked with members of the R.E. committee to implement new ideas for enrichment and growth. Lee Ann was replaced by Gina Miller as CoDRE. The result was that the number of children attending R.E. classes nearly doubled the first year. This year also marked the establishment of a Long-Range Planning Committee.
Sadly, 1995 also marked the passing of Milk Goodman, Jean May, and Bill Jones. Paul Pinson suffered a stroke in late December 1994 and was left partially paralyzed. The good news was that Lee Ann Everhart and Jim Haley were married on July 25 in Las Vegas, and Audrey and Don Micklewright marked their 50th anniversary in September.
Our minister, Rev. Clarke Dewey Wells, announced on March 26 that he would retire from the ministry at the end of May. A ministerial-search committee was formed under the co-chairs Anne Kearton and Keyno Hicks.
Some of our members marched in the Martin Luther King, Jr. parade. In April we celebrated the first "Appreciation Night" and Adair Wheaton was the first honoree. Work was begun to establish an endowment fund the first Endowment Fund Committee consisted of Betse Davies, Joe Reidy and Bill McKinley.
In November the Reverend Dr. Robert P. Tucker delivered candidate sermons and members hosted get-acquainted coffee hours in their homes during the candidating week. Dr. Tucker received the almost unanimous approval of the congregation and became our settled minister on a half-time basis. His first Sunday in the pulpit as "our" minister was December 4, 1995. Dr. Tucker is a graduate of the University of Chicago. He was ordained in 1976, his career has combined college teaching and the ministry. The big event of 1996 was the formal installation of Dr. Tucker as minister in a simple but splendid ceremony on March 17th.
Our newest members joining in 1996 included Allene Ambrose, Sharon and Hubert Becker, Annie Billups, Susan McKay Bromwell, Jerry Brost, Carol Gantar, Etta and Harry Lawrence, Barbara and Ray Pontier, Bryan Rivers, Beverly and Fred Royal, Leah Sloman, Susan Sutton, Betty and Don Burns, and Stella Darby was reinstated.
Members were saddened in 1996 to hear of the death of Elsie Kachulis and Ed Richie--both of them were an important part of our history.
Appreciation Night honors in 1996 went to Bob Baum. An LRUUF first was a musical production, A Night on Broadway featuring mostly our own members and directed by Gay Finkelman. Gina Miller resigned as co-director of R.E. and Jeanne Supple assumed the job in September.
Members voted at the March 1996 Congregational Meeting to increase Dr. Tucker's position to two-thirds time. On August 11 the schedule changed with worship services starting at 11:00 a.m. and religious education classes beginning at 10:00 a.m. A new heating and air conditioning unit was installed in the social hall.
In November, Merce Fox was nominated by the Lake Region Unitarian Universalist Fellowship and was selected as Lakeland's Woman of the Year for 1996-1997.
A memorial plaque was unveiled in the sanctuary on November 1996, honoring Therese Koras for her major contributions to the fellowship. Two of her sisters were present at the service.
At the beginning of 1996 there were 91 members; however, there are over 500 names in the Membership Book from the beginning of the Fellowship in 1955 to the present time.
In 1997, for the first time we: got soaked while marching in the Martin Luther King, Jr. Parade, began working with a Neighborhood Watch group which meets in our social hall, held our annual summer picnic at Suzy Bromwell's home on Lake Arietta, held two services each Sunday during the winter months, and did the Hanging of the Greens at a Sunday service early in December.
We had 118 members as we began 1977. Members who signed our Membership Book during 1997 were Vicktoria, Karl, and Egan Hanson; Tammy Clark; Elena and Robert Phillips; Joel Price; Linda and Parrish Simmons; John and Dottie Ball Perry; Flo and David Stein, Karen Stewart and Linda and Larry Wolitz. The Board also voted to create an Associate Membership status for people whose primary congregation is elsewhere, but who attend part of each year and would like voting rights here.
At the March 1997 annual congregational meeting, a full-time contract was approved for Dr. Tucker, and the LRUUF Endowment Board was established. In February, a youth CON titled Rubber Chicken Soup for the Soul was held here. Over 50 teens from all over Florida attended.
A special fund-raiser raised enough money for a new play ground that was designed and installed. Gay Finkelman presented the congregation with a book for photos and profiles of each member. Susan Sutton presented a workshop on Organizing an Interfaith Alliance Chapter in a Small Conservative Community at the U.U. General Assembly held in Phoenix. A monthly bridge group was begun. The Fellowship received a bequest of $5,000 from the Ed Klen Family Trust, for the LRUUF Endowment Fund.
Dr. Tucker presented a series titled Logic: Its Uses and Abuses in Our Everyday Lives during five weeks of Wednesday Night Forums in September and October. A Person-of-the-Year Celebration in November did double duty, honoring Don Micklewright as 1996 Person-of-the-Year, and Allie and Bill Walcheck as 1997 Persons-of-the-Year.
The membership count early in 1998 was 123. During January and February, Alice Ward Benedict, Dawn and Todd Dietz, Bruce and Deborah Dubendorff, Virginia Bilger, and Arland and Beth Meade signed the Membership Book. Dr. Tucker presented a seven-week series titled, Ethical Theories and Problems during the Wednesday Night Forums in February and March.

There have been many friends and former members who have given of their time and financial support over the years. Many thanks to all of our friends for even though they have not "signed the Membership Book" this fellowship could not exist without them.
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