As I look back on my last year as president, I would like to express my deep gratitude to everyone who kept EUU running in 2021.

My predecessor, Carolyn Burlingame-Goff, started the wonderful tradition of yearly volunteer awards. At the November Annual General Meeting, we awarded several volunteers for their amazing contributions in the past year and before, and I would like start by singing their praises. First of all Gevene Hertz, who received the Founder’s Award for everything she has done over such a long time – including bringing these words to you, as Gevene puts together the Unifier and keeps the website going! She also circulates words of reflection every Sunday for the EUU-list, an online email list.

And then Matt Gilsenan and Shellie Holubek, who organized a new kind of retreat for fall 2021, a co-created gathering at a moment when we weren’t sure that one would happen: they receive the All for One, and One for All Award.

Shulamit Levine-Helleman has coordinated the at-large group and worked hard to make sure that the online retreats, coordinating council meetings, and book club take place smoothly on Zoom in the past two years: Shulamit well deserves the Consider It Done Award.

Our Unsung Heroes Awards go to Terri Michos, who has kept Social Action going (we’ll announce the 2021 Social Action spending at the beginning of the new year), and to Peter Jarrett, who masterfully steered the spring 2021 online retreat and kept the pledge drive and nominations committee on track.

So many more people played a fantastic role over the past year, from my fellow officers – Karen Kyker, Jutta Hamm and Bonnie Freedman – who have done so much, and I’m grateful how we worked together so well as a team, to the Coordinating Council members who have dedicated evenings to join our Zoom meetings and contribute to keeping the EUU ship sailing, to all those who have helped organize our retreats and to those who have kept the fellowships going.

Helping EUU as a volunteer is rewarding – and it’s a gift for others. In fact, EUU needs volunteers to keep our community running. If you’re not already involved, I encourage you to think about EUU, the fellowships and at-large in your holiday gift list, or when preparing your New Year’s resolutions. A gift of your time and energy will also give back to you. If you would like to pitch in and aren’t sure how, please write to president@europeanuu.org – our wonderful next President, Karen Kyker, will be happy to hear from you.

In closing I wish everyone all the best for all your celebrations and quiet time at the end of 2021, and I look forward to seeing everyone in 2022.