February 19th: "Somewhere in Ireland" by Rev. Linda Whittenberg

Rev. Linda Whittenberg will read poems from her newest book and selections from her earlier publications. Linda was a member of the Los Alamos Church for several years and now makes her home in Santa Fe, after serving UU churches in California and Washington state.

---

February 12th: "Mystery Friends Party" by RE Committee

This is the culmination of our month-long Mystery Friends program, where each child in the church is paired with an adult. Has your mystery friend figured you out yet? At the party, the new-found friends will get to know each other even better! No mystery there!

---

February 5th: "Jemez House Thrift Shop" by Lio Castro

This week's Forum will be presented by the current president of the Jemez House board, Lio Castro. He took over from Mary Zemach after she retired as president after many years of service. Lio was a former Jemez House resident who has overcome many difficulties with Jemez House's help. He will tell us his story and the story of Jemez House, as well as describe the thrift shop's focus on scholarships for former group home children. Come and hear his amazing story.

---

January 22nd: "Behind the Bully" by Connor Schultz

Throughout civilization's history there has been the constant nuisance of the bully. Whether it be in the school halls or, in our digital age, over the Internet. Many see it as just a phase in adolescence but recent upticks of bully-induced suicides have shown that it is a serious problem that has quite serious consequences for our children and our society.

---

January 15th: ""Malcolm X: A Life of Reinvention" by Manning Marable" by Evan Rose

Celebrate the Martin Luther King weekend by allowing Evan to review Prof. Marable's epic biography of Malcolm X for you.

---

January 8th: "Religion and Politics" by Dale Arnink

A religion suitable for a President of the United States; the role religion should play in politics. The presidential campaign thus far has raised these issues very strongly. Dale will have some observations and invite yours.

---

January 1st: "<No Forum Today>"

Forum returns January 8, 2012.

---

December 25th: "<No Forum Today>"

Forum returns January 8, 2012.

---

December 18th: "Downsizing and Liking It" by Mary and George Hrbek

Mary and George moved their residence twice in the past year, leaving a larger home for a smaller one. They will share what they have experienced in the course of downsizing their inventory of possessions and how they have embraced a lifestyle of less...Or is it more?

---

December 11th: "Trash Talk: The Challenge of Disposing of Waste in L.A. County" by Steven Tenbrink

In October, Steve became a member of the county's Environment Sustainability Board, which deals with trash and recycling in the county. Steve will share what he has learned about waste disposal in our county. What happens when you throw it away?

---

December 4th: "Self Help" by Ellen Morris Bond, Executive Director

Each year, through grants and private and public contributions, Self Help is able to support those who need help most, during emergencies or in the quest to become economically self sufficient. Ellen will bring us up to date on the work that Self Help is doing in our community on our behalf.

---

November 27th: "THE WISCONSIN BOMBING--civil protest, domestic terrorism, or jaundiced journalism?" by Don Neeper

On August 28, CBS Sunday Morning News presented a special review of the 1970 bombing at the University of Wisconsin, the then-largest act of domestic terrorism in which my friend was killed. In the TV report I sense a simplistic, politically correct whitewash. I will replay the news program as an example for asking whether our society is systematically doctoring its own archives.

---

November 20th: "Understanding Autism Spectrum Disorders" by Christine Hazard, Ph.D., ASD Resource Team Leader, Los Alamos Public Schools

The incidence of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in our country and the world has increased exponentially in the last few years. It is now estimated to be 1:110 individuals. The reasons for this increase are complex but it is critical that we work to understand the spectrum and how to live and work effectively with those who are affected by it. It isn't a case of IF we will know an individual with ASD but WHEN we do!

---

November 13th: "The Urbanification of Agricultural Water in New Mexico as seen by a Water Lawyer" by George Chandler

Local acequias are struggling to maintain viable agricultural enterprises in the face of increasing threats to their water rights from urban development. The existing system for handling water rights, involving the state engineer's office and the courts implementing and interpreting state laws is intended for a nineteenth century agricultural society, are inadequate to the task.

---

November 6th: "New Mexico UU Legislative Network" by Rev. Liz McMaster

In order to make our UU Principles more visible in the public square, we have organized a legislative network to deal with state issues. With 14 other states that have UU networks, we can make our values live out in everyday lives across New Mexico. History of the project, what other states are doing, and how you can be involved.