UUPS Spring Newsletter 2008

(Editor’s Note: A bit of PSI history from Bill Lotz about the Maine Chapter which he organized in the 1970's as shared in a letter written to Glen Snowden .

Dear Glen,

I would like to add to your excellent history (for the UUA) of the Psi SYmposium. It may be of interest to the readers of our Newsletter.

I joined UU Psi in the mid 1970's. Not long after I organized the Maine Chapter. We usually met at the Kennebunk Church (where I was a member). In 1977 I contacted Ferry Beach and offered to do an Energy Conference. At that conference (August 12-19, 1978) one of our staff members, Rev. Bob Slater, gave a lecture on "Psychic Energy". We also gave a pitch for UU Psi membership.

In 1979 I again organized an Energy Conference and our Psychic lecture was by Shirley Harrison Cook (since deceased), a well known psychic and author. Again we gave a pitch for UU Psi membership.

In 1980 our third and last Energy Conference at FBPA our psychic lecturer was Ronnie Every (also since deceased).

The Ferry Beach staff was awakening to UU Psi. In 1981 Rev. CIndy Edson led the first Ferry Beach Psi Symposium Conference.

In the meantime our Maine Psi Chapter grew to be the largest Chapter in the country. About this time I received a letter from the Kennebunk Church Board requesting my presence (as UU Psi Chapter Chair) at the next Board meeting to discuss why UU Psi should be allowed to meet at the Kennebunk UU Church. I have to add that the Rev. Peter Richardson, Kennebunk UU Church minister, was a charter member of the Maine UU Psi Chapter. I knew a few of the Board members felt that I was a "rebel" so I requested one of our Psi Senior members to attend the Board meeting in my place. Mary Anna McHugh was a very dear lady who did not waste words. She told me later she went into the Church Board meeting and before anyone else could say a word she blurted out "My annual pledge is $2,000 (this was 27 years ago) and you will not see another dollar from me if you prevent the UU Psi Group from meeting in this church". A motion was made allow the UU Psi group to meet at the Kennebunk UU Church and it quickly passed without a single negative vote.

Meanwhile the Ferry Beach UU Psi Conference was rapidly growing and filling the FBPA to capacity by 1984. There were Psi members giving readings, massages, etc. and a large Psi bookstore with hundreds of Psi related books for sale

During the 1985 FBPA UU Psi Conference (with 130 attendees) my colon split open and I was carried out to the hospital more dead than alive. The good news was that every evening for the rest ofthe psi Week the 130 attendees gathered in a circle and sent healing to me. Also a group of Psi members came to the hospital a few times and surrounded me with healing. It was very powerful and saved my life. Two weeks later I left the hospital feeling wonderful (despite my colostomy) as result of receiving the fabulous healing energy. Not long afterwards the FBPA Board became paranoid about potential liability from all of the paid healing stuff that was going on by various Psi members. They said it would no longer be allowed. The next year the UU FBP Conference attendance dropped to half or less than what it had been.

The attendees at the UU Psi Conference in 1985 helped to save my life and I shall always be grateful. Presently, I am 75 years old and keep rather busy in my consulting engineering business (with clients all over the USA). When not consulting I work on our 50 acre farm here in Maine. Last year I purchased a 1981 Packard that I am trying to return to its former glory as luxury touring sedan. Presently we are member os the UU Fellowship of the Eastern Slopes in Tarnworth, NH.

Love and Light to all.
Bill Lotz, P.E.,
1307 Acton Ridge Road, Acton, Maine 04001