Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in Tupelo

Newsletter for October 2002

Our Mission Statement

We join together to create a nurturing, inclusive environment for the exploration of ideas and the informed search for spiritual truth.

Upcoming Events

September 29 Members of our group plan to go to Oxford to help with their building.

October 6 Discussion: Chapter 10, Challenge of a Liberal Faith, led by Louise Plodinic

October 20 10:00 a.m. Adult Discussion led by Denice Backstrom

November 3 David Rumbarger, Director of Community Development Foundation, will speak

November 17 10:00 a.m. Adult Discussion led by Denise Backstrom

The Web site is up and going. Our address is:

Now that we have it we need more news for it.

From the Mid-South District Office:
Information and Registration for the October 12th HEALTHY CONGREGATION CONFERENCE offered by Mid-South District
The conference promises to be relentlessly useful for congregations of all sizes and to bring together some of the district's most seasoned leaders. Be sure a team from your congregation attends!

We may have two from our congregation going.

Members News

News from Robert Shinn

What's interesting other than the website?
I'm teaching the first Computer Engineering Technology class at Okolona High School. Already, my students are troubleshooting systems and installing components, saving the school district a LOT of money. This fall, they will participate in Gov. Musgrove's blitz-build, part of his initiative to place a computer in every classroom; the state buys the parts wholesale, and the students assemble them into working systems and load software for distribution throughout the state.

Each month there will be a bio. We felt that would be a way for all of us to know each other better. This month’s bio is Our President, Jack Goodman.

I was born in Kenneth, Mo. a small southern town in the "boot heel" of Missouri. For those unfamiliar with that geography, the "boot heel" is that portion of Missouri that extend down into Arkansas and is shaped like the heel of a boot. It was identical in culture and economy to the Mississippi Delta. The "boot heel" was typically " Southern" with segregated schools, restaurants, movies, and yes, water fountains. I remember being called out of study hall with two other boys one afternoon. Our mission was to take all our old and torn outdated text books in a school bus to the Afro- American school. These books were to serve as "new" books for them. Liberalism began to flow through my Methodist veins while in high school.

I graduated from Steele High School, Steele, Mo. In 1953. I had offers to play baseball with the New York Giants farm system and in the now defunct Kitty League [class C] with Fulton, Ky. I took a college scholarship instead.

I graduated from Arkansas State U in 1956.In those days baseball was a "minor" sport so a scholarship only paid for books and some tuition. At that time Arkansas State was one of the top 10 schools to get a good education cheaply. My parents were certainly middle class. My mother was an English teacher and my father was the manager of a cotton gin. Our home [provided free to the manager] was located on the gin lot [2 bedrooms, a tin roof, and out door plumbing]. I still remember how rain sounds on a tin roof. My father died after my first year in college. With his $2000 insurance policy, the spoiled only child was able to finish school. I graduated in 1956. I finished in three years by going to summer school. I graduated with a major in Physical Education[BSE] and was voted most outstanding P.E. major for 1956.

I coached for two years in Union, Mo. at Union High School located about 45 miles from St. Louis. About that time Uncle Sam was starting to draft several classmates so I opted to get into a new army program that had one doing 6 months of active duty and 5 and one half years of active reserve. After Basic Training in Ft. Leonard Wood, Mo. I was stationed at Fort Riley Kansas. I was in the Chemical Corps.

While in Kansas I made a decision to apply for Physical Therapy School at Kansas University. I had decided to be a P.T. and athletic trainer.

I graduated from P.T. school in Kansas in1959 and have been a physical therapist for 43 years.

In 1960 I took a job with Neuropsychiatric Institute in Fargo, North Dakato.TNI was a group of Neurologists, Neurosurgeons, and psychiatrists. While in Fargo in the mid 60's I found my first UU Fellowship. We met in a Junior High School building. While in Fargo I received my Masters Degree in Education. Besides being Chief Physical Therapist for TNT and ST. Lukes Hospital in Fargo I also moonlight by teaching Anatomy and Kenesiology and Mechanics of Movement for P.E. Majors at North Dakota State University. I also served as athletic trainee for Moorhead State U in Moorhead, Minnesota [ a twin city of Fargo, North Dakota]

In 1969 I moved to St Louis County to establish a physical rehab department at Mo. Baptist Hospital in St. Louis. Since the only UU church was way downtown St. Louis we attended a nearby liberal Methodist Church. In 1973 I was recruited to Ft Wayne, Ind. To develop a Rehab Department for Parkview Memorial Hospital. I left there after 14 years. While there I joined the UU Church of Fargo. Professionally I served 3 terms as President of the Indian P.T. Association. I had also served as President of the North Dakota P.T. Association.

In 1987 I was recruited to Tupelo, Miss. to establish a rehab department at North Miss Medical center. I worked there for 8 years before leaving to work with Dr. Eckman at Aurora Spine Center.

Except for consultation work I finished my career about one and a half years ago at Okalona Hospital. I have 3 children [Chris age 42 - a psychiatric nurse; Michael age 38 - copywriter for a newspaper, and Sarah age 31 - a home health nurse on Martha’s Vinyard]. I have 2 step children [Matt - age 42 a school counselor and Sue age 40 a Medical Supply Saleslady. In addition to my children I have 6 grandchildren. I have been married to Joan for 22 years. She is the evening Supervisor at the Women’s Center at NMMC.

Before retirement I served as President of the Mississippi Physical Therapy Assn. That brought some national recognition: I believe the only P.T. in the United States to have been the President of 3 different State P.T. Associations[ N. Dak., In., and Ms.]