ISA Membership

Letter from the President

Dear Shoalers,

As I complete my first year as ISAUU president, I can’t help but recollect when, then vice president, Mike Claus convinced me to join the board of directors. Like most ISA members, I really didn’t know what the Isles of Shoals Association was. To me, it was the ladies in the Gift Shop, volunteering countless hours to raise money for things like softballs, rowboats, lawnmowers, lanterns and chairs for Elliot. I never quite grasped the partnership with the Star Island Corporation. I became a member on faith, faith that my dues would return to the island in the spirit it was given and because it made me feel good. Just as I felt good donating sweat to the island in volunteer groups and to the capital fund and to the gratuity box, being a member of the ISA made me feel like a stockholder, a patron of Star Island.

Now that I have become president of the ISAUU, my knowledge of the organization has of course improved. But, I have to confess my ability to inspire is lacking when compared to previous ISA presidents. I’m more the “anonymous guy behind the lawnmower” or “the guy who kept his name off well house plaque.” To be inspirational, you have to be creative and well spoken.

Unfortunately, there is considerably more riding on our Shoals memberships than when I first was a member twenty years ago. The economic truth is, more and more shoalers are unable to come to Star each year. The scholarships that are provided through the ISA allow dozens to continue their shoals tradition. Through the ISA you provide grants to help conferences continue to offer their traditions. And, yes we still buy softballs and chairs

So what are the words I can use to inspire? Well, like most parents, when in doubt I look to my kids. I have a fifteen year old son who I am mostly sure is smarter than I am. That’s information best kept from him, though. Whenever he lets the cat out, he says “Now go out and do something good!”

Go out and do something good. Whether you are donating sweat in a volunteer work group or buying a sweatshirt in the Gift Shop. You can donate one hundred dollars to the Star Island Corporation annual appeal or twenty-five dollars to the ISAUU. You can convince your local clergy to take advantage of the clergy grants. You can try to bring a new shoaler out to Star for the first time and create a new tradition that lasts for generations. Go out and do something good. My son is a genius. If I could just get him to clean his room.

David Brown

ISAUU President

For those wishing to join the Isles of Shoals Association Unitarian Universalist, contact membership secretary Dick LeSchack, leschack@world.std.com

Fellow Shoalers,

Looking forward to returning to Star? Make sure you can get away, if only for a day or two, and spend that time relaxing on Star Island. You could take out a rowboat, borrow some games from the lobby desk, shoot at the soccer goals with your kids, listen to a speaker on warm chairs in Newton Centre, play a game of softball, or plant a bulb in the flower gardens. All these activities have one thing in common — they were funded in whole or in part by the Isles of Shoals Association – UU.

The Isles of Shoals Association (ISA) has existed for over a hundred years! We are old shoalers who love the islands. Our goal is to improve the Star experience for conferees and upgrade facilities for conference use on Star Island.

This past year under our grants program we were able to improve the quality of conference speakers, aid arts, music, yoga, dance & quilting workshop programs, and contribute towards funding for young adults scholarships. We also provided plant, tool and small equipment funding for island flower beds. This year the ISA-UU is continuing with its 5 year plan for programming improvements at the Rutledge Marine Lab.

The ISA raises funds by sponsoring the lobby gift shop, wise stewardship of our Life Member funds, and by the yearly contributions and memberships of people like you. Ideas for projects and programs that the ISA has developed over the years come from island conferees. We are always interested in having new members!

Please respond! Take the opportunity to be a part of Star Island all year long. If you have already renewed your ISA membership, or are a life member, thank you, and please pass this letter along to an interested friend.

Sincerely

Michael Claus, Former ISA-UU Board Member

The Isles of Shoals Association, (Unitarian Universalist), Inc. is a constituent organization of the Star Island Corporation. The Isles of Shoals Association, Unitarian Universalist membership drive is separate from the Star Island Corporation Annual Fund. You will be solicited for that campaign later in the spring. Your support of both organizations is appreciated.