What Was Single U?
Single U was a singles group that was affiliated with the Mt. Diablo Unitarian
Universalist Church (MDUUC) for 12 years. It came into existence
May 1974 and folded May 1986. The U in Single U stood for Unitarian, but only a
small fraction of its attendees were
Unitarian. (At the time it was created MDUUC was known as MDUC, Universalist
was added later.) Part of MDUC's community outreach, it was open to the public
and operated as an independent committee under its gentle
auspicious.
Single U was a safe
place for
singles to meet and socialize. The
majority of attendees were in their 30's/40's, although people in their
50's/60's were not infrequent visitors, and 98% of all were
divorced. They found Single U more approachable than some other singles groups
because it was
small and friendly, not large and impersonal. Although the Friday Night Special
brought more through its doors, its official
membership roll was always under 200,
so for
many it
became for a period of time, "family." All volunteer-run,
it offered a range of activities, including: volley ball in local parks, house
parties, TGIFs (meeting at restaurants), raps (discussion nights), guitar
playing/singing nights, card/board game
playing, hot tubbing, inner tubing excursions, and 2-3 day camping trips.
The Friday Night Special (FNS), an evening consisting of small
discussion groups employed as ice breakers (on topics of interest to singles)
followed
by dancing,
spread Single U's net even further. Launched in 1981 and continued
monthly for the next several years, it was open to non-members
and advertised in newspapers, drawing in singles from all over the San
Francisco
Bay Area.
Historical Thumbnails
1974
-
Officers/Positions:
General Chairperson - Jean
Nickell,
Bob Tuck, Jim Ross
-
Campouts:
Pinecrest, Kidd Lake,
Feather
River, Canoe Campout
on Russian River
|
1975
-
Officers/Positions:
General Chairperson - Jean Nickell
Treasurer - Pat Johnson
Recording Secretary - Marlene Pense
Rap Chairperson - Bill Stevens
Party Coordinators - Jenise Pierson,
Marlene Pense
Stereo Equipment - Rosalyn Roseman
Dinner Parties - Jill Frudden
Special Activities - Lou Bignami
Volleyball Coordinator - Mark Dunstan
Camping Coordinator - Lee Melen
Mailing List - Jeanne Ragan
Newsletter Editors - Maria Izzo,
Sue Gardner
-
Campouts:
Fremont Peak
State Park, Samuel B. Taylor
State Park, Pinecrest, Portola State
Park, Navarro River (twice)
|
1976
-
Officers/Positions:
General Chairperson - Bill Stevens
/Terry Thorpe
Treasurer - Pat Johnson
Recording Secretary - Marlene Pense
/Sue Gardner
Rap Chairperson - Jeff Dunstan
Party Coordinator - Chick Garvin
/George Favareille
Stereo Equipment - Larry Emery
/Terry Thorpe
Camping Coordinator - Lee Melen
Mailing List - Pat Champion
/Carol Eakle
Newsletter Editors - Barbara Wahlstrom,
Cevina Targum
Church Liaison - Bob Baker
-
Campouts:
Fremont Peak
State
Park, Rollins Reservoir,
Kidd Lake (twice)
/ = assumed position mid-year
|
1977
-
Officers/Positions:
General Chairperson - Terry Thorpe
Treasurer - Pat Johnson
Recording Secretary - Connie
Valhantonis/Cevina Targum
Rap Chairperson - Jeff Dunstan
Party Coordinator - George Favareille
/Dave Freeman
Stereo Equipment - Terry Thorpe
Camping Coordinator - Lee Melen
Guest Book - Mike O'Bryne
Mailing List - Marianna Bottari
Newsletter Editors - Bob Baker,
George Favareille, Ann Coslett
Church Liaison - Bob Baker
-
Campouts:
Pinnacles National
Monument, Camp Lotus,
Pinecrest, Mt. Madonna,
Russian River
|
1978
-
Officers/Positions:
General Chairperson - Terry Thorpe
Treasurer - Pat Johnson
Recording Secretary - Cevina Targum
Rap Chairperson - Jeff Dunstan
Party Coordinator - T.K. Thorpe
/Eliane Stevens
Camping Coordinator - Dave Freeman
Guest Book - Mike O'Bryne
Mailing List - Jeanette Hartman
Newsletter Editors - Cindy King,
Bob Baker
Church Liaison - Bill Stevens
-
Campouts:
French Meadows
Pt. Reyes Backpacking,
Kidd Lake, Camp Lotus
|
1979
-
Officers/Positions:
General Chairperson - Donna Barnes
Assistant Chairperson - Pat Johnson
Treasurer - Dave Hudspeth
Recording Secretary - Carol Eakle
Rap Chairperson - Marnie Parker
Party Coordinator - Jeff Dunstan
Stereo Equipment - Joanne Gerow
Family Activities Coordinator - Jane Statler
Camping Coordinator - Jim Owen
Mailing List - Jeanette Hartman
/Nancy Blevins
Newsletter Editor - Cindy King
/Marnie Parker
-
Campouts:
Salt Point State
Park, Pinecrest, Skiing Weekends at
Hirschdale Lodge
|
1980
-
Officers/Positions:
General Chairperson - Donna Barnes
Treasurer - Pat Johnson
Recording Secretary - Phoebe Leigh
/Jane Stoetzel
Rap Chairperson - Mike O'Bryne
Party Coordinator - Jeff Dunstan
Single Parents Group - Leanne Spaulding
Support Group Facilitator - Craig
Ros Haven/Kirby Lewis
Camping Coordinator - Jim Owen
Mailing List - Nancy Blevins
Newsletter Editor - Marnie Parker
Church Liaison - Dave Hudspeth
-
Campouts:
Rollins Lake,
Kidd Lake, Fallen Leaf Lake, Skiing
Weekends at Hirschdale Lodge
|
1981
-
Officers/Positions:
General Chairperson - Gail Miller
Treasurer - Pat Johnson
Recording Secretary - Jane Stoetzel
Rap Chairperson - Donna Barnes
Party Coordinator - Jeff Dunstan
Support Group Coordinator - Mike
McCurdy/Connie Valhantonis
/Mike Sieder
Camping Coordinator - Joanne Gerow
Hirschdale Coordinator - Jim Owen
FNS Coordinator - Donna Barnes
Membership Person - Nancy Blevins
PR Person - Chris Tannehill
Newsletter Editor - Marnie Parker
Church Liaisons - Dave Hudspeth,
Fran Hansen
-
Campouts:
Lake Amador,
French Meadows (twice), Yosemite,
Del Valle, Skiing Weekends at
Hirschdale Lodge
|
1982
-
Officers/Positions:
General Chairperson - Creag Rowland
Treasurer - Pat Johnson
Recording Secretary - Jane Stoetzel
Program Coordinators - Terry Thorpe,
Joanne Gerow
TGIF Coordinator - Barbara Burr
Theater Group Coordinator - Dan
Meckfessel
Party Coordinator - Jeff Dunstan
Parenting Group Coordinator - Nancy
Pelayo
Support Group Coordinator - Dr. Stan
Osmunson/Marvin Lincer
Camping Coordinator - Steve Goodman
/John McSweeny, Dane Kunkler
Hirschdale Coordinator - Jim Owen
FNS Coordinator - Anne Goatley
Membership Person - Nancy Blevins
/Bari Ingram
PR Person - Larry Eddins
/Mark Dunstan
Newsletter Editor - Marnie Parker
Church Liaisons - Fran Hansen,
Dave Hudspeth
-
Campouts:
Calaveras Big
Trees, Pinecrest, French Meadows
|
1983
-
Officers/Positions:
General Chairperson - Marnie Parker
Treasurer - Chris Tannehill
Recording Secretary - Kay O'Bryne
Theater Group Coordinator - Betty
Habeck
Parent Group Coordinator - Nancy
Pelayo
Support Group Coordinator - Marvin
Lincer
Party Coordinator - Kathy Stout
Camping Coordinator - John McSweeney
New Ideas Person - Joanne Gerow
FNS Coordinator - Jeff Dunstan
Membership Person - Barbi Ingram
PR Person - Mark Dunstan
/Royce Maxwell
Newsletter Editor - Berta Doth
Church Liaisons - Jeff Dunstan,
Jane Stoetzel
-
Campouts:
Clear Lake,
Pinecrest, French Meadows
|
1984
-
Officers/Positions:
General Chairperson - Marnie Parker
Treasurer - Chris Tannehill
Recording Secretary - Pat Johnson
Parliamentarian - Dane Kunkler
Rap Chairperson - Pam Arroyo
Party Coordinators - Kay O'Bryne,
Barbara St. Clair
Support Group Coordinator - Marvin Lincer
/Barbara St. Clair
Camping Coordinators - Larry Malin,
Dave Middleton
FNS Coordinator - Jeff Dunstan
Membership Person - Tony Powell
PR Person - Royce Maxwell
Assistant PR Person - Dan Shimer
Newsletter Editor - Berta Doth
Church Liaison - Jane Stoetzel
-
Campouts:
Big Basin,
French Meadows
|
1985
-
Officers/Positions:
General Chairperson - Jeff Dunstan
Treasurer - Berta Doth
/Milton Klien
Recording Secretary - Paulette Stiller
Support Group Coordinator - Barbara
St. Clair
Party Coordinator - Barbara Alexander
Camping Coordinators - Larry Malin,
Dave Middleton
Third Friday Coordinator - Creag Rowland
Membership Person - Marnie Parker
PR Person - Barbara St. Clair
/Dick Safranian
Newsletter Editor - Kathy Stout
/Victoria Williams
Church Liaison - Mae Bragen
-
Campouts:
Salt Point State
Park, Sly Park, French Meadows,
Tahoe Ski Weekend
|
1986
-
Officers/Positions:
General Chairperson - Barbara St. Clair
Treasurer - Milton Klien
/Dan Shimer
Recording Secretary - Paulette Stiller
Party Coordinator - Frank Stawicki
/Jeff Dunstan
Music Coordinator - Mike O'Bryne
Membership Person - Marnie Parker
PR Person - Dick Safranian
/Freda Hargrove
Newsletter Editor - Berta Doth
Church Liaison - Mae Bragen
|
|
Top Picture: Yosemite flyer by Joanne Gerow, master FNS flyer by Marnie
Parker, blank Single U
membership card.
Bottom Picture: Big Basin flyer, Oktoberfest flyer, '83/'84 Workshops
pamphlets, Article in the Oakland Herald, FNS ad in the
Contra
Costa Times.