March 2
Speaker: Eve Emshwiller

Crop Diversity - Research on a Tuber Crop in the Peruvian Andes

The tuber crop "oca", Oxalis tuberosa, was domesticated in the Andes Mountains of South America long before Inca times, along with several other unrelated tuber crops, including the potato. Oca remains important for the food security of the traditional indigenous farmers in rural communities in the Andes. The diversity found within crops like oca and their wild relatives are also important resources for potential use in future crop improvement. But we cannot conserve this biodiversity without knowing more about it. We need to know where the wild species are found and how they are related to the crop. We need to know how the genetic diversity of the crop is distributed and the factors that affect it.

This forum will describe research that aims to provide this kind of information, using both DNA data and ethnobotanical interviews. By understanding factors that affect the biodiversity of oca, we can not only conserve the diversity of this crop, but also of other clonal crops, which include any that are propagated vegetatively (potatoes, bananas) or by grafting (fruit trees).

Eve Emshwiller is Associate Professor of Botany at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. She was formerly on the faculty at the Field Musuem and is a member of our church. For more information about her research, consult
www.botany.wisc.edu/emshwiller/bio.htm and www.fieldmuseum.org/biodiversity/scientist_profiles/scientist_emshwiller4.html

My 66 Years in Ministry

Rev. Viola Moore is a frequent visitor to our pulpit. Now, she offers perspectives on her ministry in a First Forum context. She has a strong commitment to social justice issues, especially dealing with migrant labor, anti-racism from the multiracial perspective, and progressive politics. For example, she was a founding member of United Citizens Organization in East Chicago, Indiana, designed to aid minorities in that area.

Rev. Moore received her Masters Degree in Theology and the Arts from the Chicago Theological Seminary in 1942. She has served churches in Vermont, New York, Indiana, Michigan, and Illinois. She is in her 15th year at the Berrien Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in St Joseph, Michigan, both as a pastor and as a "Minister Emerita."

Rev. Moore has been a member of First Unitarian since 1955, when she joined under Dr. Leslie Pennington. Last, but not least: she is one of the founding members of the First Unitarian Christian Group of the Spiritual Pluralism Project.

March 23
Speaker: Rev. Dr. Nina D. Grey

Meanings Within the Easter Season

Our worship service is multigenerational and weaves together themes from Easter, Passover and Spring. This forum moves from there to deeper reflection and wider sharing. Rev. Grey will offer some thoughts on possible meanings that Unitarian Universalists have and may seek and find within the Easter season. She will invite sharing and discussion about Easter time experiences, theologies, wonderings and meanings. All are welcome.