A Brief History of O.U.R.S.
On a hot and humid Sunday in June of 1993 the seeds of a new organization were planted. It was Spiritual Frontiers Fellowship last annual picnic for its members. Spiritual Frontiers Fellowship is a national and international organization, and we had a chapter in Rochester, NY. Caroline Boddie was a very active member as well as many other devoted people. They held meetings called "Mind Expanders". Many interesting speakers and topics were presented to the community. But for some reason the Rochester chapter was to disband. I made it a point to attend the picnic with my newly adopted Maltese dog, a little sweetheart called Oscar. He was a great hit at the picnic. But I had a strong motive for being there. Surely this could not be the end of such a wonderful and enlightening group. I was told that there was a lack of interest and that the officers were burned out. I told them that they had hardly scratched the surface, that they had never accessed public television. That each year there was a new group of people hungry for knowledge and information about metaphysics. We could not let it end like this. The question was raised whether anyone be interested in starting a new group? Several people said yes. To the best of my recollection they were Caroline Boddie, Sheila Benvenuti, Jen Eddy, Keith Freeberg, Jane and Sandy Sanfilippo and me (Lydia Samuel-Hanselman). It was decided that we would meet in the beginning of July and Jane and Sandy's lovely home in Greece. The seed was Going to grow!
Whet were we going to call this new group? At the next meeting we were to come up with a name. While meditation one day I asked my spirit guides and teachers for a name and with no hesitation on their part I was told O.U.R.S., because it is not mine, it is not yours, it is ours! O.U.R.S. I asked what does it stand for. Again the response was quick and positive, One Universe Resource Service. The next meeting was very productive. Does anyone have a name,"I do", I said. And I told them about the meditation and the name. It was unanimously agreed the name of our new organization was going to be called One Universe Resource Service or O.U.R.S. for short. We were dedicated to research and education in the metaphysics, spiritual growth, health and the environment, ancient wisdoms and future civilizations. The officers of S.F.F. also decided that whatever money was left in their treasury could be donated to O.U.R.S. Not only had the seed been planted but we had some seed money too. Everyone graciously shared their mailing lists and we had over 600 names and addresses in our new data bank.
We decided that our first open meeting for the public would be an all day Saturday workshop on Past Life Regression and that I would do it. The fee for the workshop was $35.00, but if you became a member for $10.00 you only paid $25.00. I thought it was very clever. Now remember that this was in 1993 and not everyone had a computer at that time. All the envelopes were addressed by hand. We had a wonderful response and many people became members.
The workshop was a great success. We held it at the Church on Monroe Ave. and Rosedale St. About fifty people took part including the board members. I made a huge pot of thick vegan vegetable soup and an even bigger bowl of mixed vegetables and salad greens, also included were many kinds of herbal teas and coffee. This was to go along with their brown bag lunches which they brought. To my knowledge everyone had a grand time and those who participated still talk of that experience fondly today.
I had decided to donate 90% of the proceeds to O.U.R.S. and keep 10% for myself. My dedication to make O.U.R.S. grow was that strong, it needed to have some money to grow on. We had just about used up most of what we had in our treasury on the large mailing. I donated over one thousand dollars. As I write this I realize that I foolishly forgot to deduct it on my income tax return that year. Hopefully I earned a few good brownie points for that some place in heaven. At our next meeting I was presented with a bouquet of lovely red roses and a beautiful thatk you card. It touched my heart deeply.
Our next project was to find out how to get on television. Sandy Baker had a connection with the Webster public cable station. Mike Auger was the manager at that time, the whole board came to see the station and he let us use the equipment. We each took turns behind the camera and in front of it. I took to it like a duck does to water. This was the beginning of our television experience. What should we call our new program? Again my spirit guides and teacher came up with a catchy title. Why not call it "Window to the Universe", after all our television sets are windows to the universe. There is no limit to what we can learn, see and hear from this media. Everyone voted and it was agreed Window to the Universe would be the name of our new program.
To begin, one of us had to live in the city to take the course at the Cable 12 City TV Station and pass the test to become an independent producer. This gave us the privilege to take out and use their lights, cameras and sound equipment. I passed the class with flying colors. I also took the studio class which allowed me to use the editing equipment and the studio for taping programs. Keith Freeberg took the class after me and became the assistant producer on our show. My good friend Carl Zollo, a well known Rochester artist and sculpture signed on to be our camera man. I decided to do the program like Edward R. Murrow. We would tape our shows at home with our guests, thereby having a different and interesting background each week. The first taping was done with Tom Sawyer, who was well known for his near death experience. Dr. Moody wrote about him in his book on near death, and an autobiography was written about him by Sydney Taylor Young called, "What Tom Sawyer Learned from Dieing". Sadly Tom Sawyer died in 2006. Don DeNino gave us permission to use some of his original music for the intro and ending of the program and Don Hall of the Rochester Planetarium supplied me with a beautiful picture of our planet and other universes and galaxies.
We went on to produce over 70 shows. Mike Auger generously worded with us and let us use the Webster studio for occasional taping and editing. The show, Window to the Universe was shown in the Rochester, Webster area, and a few shows made it to Irondequoit and Seneca Falls Cable TV. We did programs about UFO'S, CHI QUONG, SPIRIT GUIDES AND TEACHERS, ANGELS, HEALING, KABALA, GHOSTS AND HAUNTINGS, IRIDOLOGY, NUMEROLOGY, FOOT REFLEXOLOGY, ASTROLOGY, HERBAL MEDICINE, BACH FLOWER REMEDIES, SACRED GEOMETRY, AND THE MERKABA, SHAMANISM AND TAI CHI just to name a few.
Our regular meetings were in the back room at the Don's Original on Monroe Ave in Brighton. When they closed without warning we met at the Brighton Library, the Winton Road Library and Cooper Rd. Library. For the past few years we have been meeting at the Brighton Town Hall. We rented a bus and took a trip to Lily Dale and showed videos of Window to the Universe while in route. Everyone had a good time, and we must do that again some day. Our Candle Light Healing Service the first week in Dec. was continued from S.F.F. Caroline Boddie organized and planned this for almost 14 years - for which we are forever grateful. And a special thanks to all the healers, speakers and musicians who made this event so spiritual and meaningful for everyone over the past years.
Some random memories: Keith Feeberg was instrumental in getting us incorporated. He was the first president of O.U.R.S. Caroline Goddie was the first treasurere for many years. Jen Eddy was Secretary and Editor; others that held that position were Elaine H. Russell who died in 2004 and Keith Freeberg who passed away in 2008. Margie Campaigne was assistant editor for a while. I also served as editor for a few years. Jane Sanfilippo was hospitality, Sandy Sanfilippo did publicity, and Sheila Benvenuti did programming, and later served a two year term as president. Sunny Mardert did hospitality after Jane moved to Florida. I was vice president and later served as president for over eleven years. Some of the more recent board members were Gary Stephany-Treasurer, Rev. Kris Miller-President, Barbara Tschiderer-Treasurer, Janice Vinciguerra-Secretary. Daren L. Scholler also served as secretary and she is now serving as president with Shafer Dronenber-Hospitality/Historian/Photographer, Carrie M. Paddock-Recording Secretary and Maryanna Mueller-Publicity/Distribution. If I have left anyone out, I apologize. None of this could have been made possible without you time, help and energy.
We held picnics at the end of each year to thank our members for their support. there were readings, mini-lectures, crystals to purchase, lots of good food, sometimes music and one year a nudist attenede and ran around in his underwear.
Our Psychic Fairs were a great success also. These were held at the Lodge in Brighton Park. We had readers of many different kinds, healers, venders and as always lots and lots of good food.
We are known for our willingness to serve the community and cooperation with other groups. One of the ways we do for others is to collect nonperishable foods, paper prducts and toiltries at every meeting. These are donated to area food cupboards. We also donate money to area charities at Thanksgiving and Christmas and are hoping to expand on these efforts in the future.
Today I look back with wonder and awe at all that we have done and all that we still plan and hope to do. Many groups have come and gone, but O.U.R.S. remains. For this we have you to thank, without your membersip, interest and support we would not be here.I pray that we continue to be blesed; that the seed that was planted so long ago continues to spread into a blooming garden throughout the world, and that we are all the more better for having been here on this Earth.
Gratefully written by: Lydia Samuel-Hanselman - Board Member, Senior Adviser
