I have always been impressed with the time and attention given to forecasting Syracuse weather. My first winter in Syracuse, it struck me as largely unnecessary, however. To my mind, on most days, it would suffice to say: "Sky still overcast; stuff still falling from it."

Yet, the specifics are often important, especially in winter... How soon will it snow or rain? Should we need to leave earlier to get where we're going? What is the temperature? Will there be ice to contend with? How much snow will we get? Will we need to arrange plowing or shoveling? How long will it storm? Should meetings be postponed or canceled?

Central New Yorkers are used to accommodating, adjusting, responding to weather and precipitation. In Syracuse, in winter, there's not much wondering whether or not it will snow — just how it will. The critical question becomes, how treacherous will it be to go out and about? And that is usually a personal decision.

In the past, the Board has discussed formalizing a Sunday morning closing or cancellation policy. On my recommendation, the Board agreed that we will only cancel if the worship leaders for that Sunday feel unsure about getting here safely. (Typically, that would be Glenn Kime and me.) If we can, we will. If not, we'll use an outgoing phone message and email to spread the word.

You should use your own judgment. If the civic authorities say to stay off the roads — stay off the roads. If you don't trust your car or your feet on the surface conditions, do what is safe. What, after all, would we ask a radio or TV announcer to say? "May Memorial Unitarian Universalists: use your own judgment." Of course. We're UUs.

~ Blessings, Jean