SOME HIGHLIGHTS FROM OUR HISTORY

1976

Charter granted to 46 signing members (some still with us).

1978-79

Dr. Ralph Halverson, first full-time minister, 62 members and became UU Congregation of Greater Naples.

1980

Rev. Don Lawson became our part-time minister and membership reached 85.

1982

Land had been purchased and two geodesic domes had been built, mostly by members.

1984

Rev Lawson retired; membership reached 110.

1986

Rev. Dr. Jay Abernathy came as a full time extention minister, became settled and remained until 1999. We continued to grow.

1993

Membership reached 149 and it was apparent that we were out-growing our facilities.

1994

The new president, Jim Buckner, embarked on a program to solve the space problem by appointing a long range planning committee.

1995

Focus groups were assembled and decided to first build a multi-purpose building and defer a "sanctuary" until later. A fund drive was conducted and $600,000 was raised.

1996

An architect was retained. The wish list grew; a realistic estimate for the building project was now about $900,000. Another fund drive produced almost $200,000 more; we decided to mortgage the remainder.

1997

Building began in June.

1998

Dedication and move-in was in March. About 220 people attended.

1999

Rev. Abernathy accepted a call to Rockville, MD. and Rev. Judith Morris became our interim minister.

2000

Rev. Morris moved to Norfolk VA and Rev. Dr Peter Lanzillotta became our interim minister as we continued to search for a settled minister. Our membership passed the 200 mark this year, attendance is approaching capacity in "season" and we must begin to think about building the second phase.

2001

Our interim minister, Rev. Peter Lanzillota, has finished his term here and taken an interim position which returns him to New England. After a 2-year search, our settled minister, the Reverend Kathleen (Katy) Korb, joined us on September 2