Justice of the Peace Newsletter
Vol. 8 Issue 4
MAY 2010
|
In This
Issue:
findaJP Listings Evolve |
We asked and JP Everett G Shepard III
answered. See his listing on the
Woodstock CT
page of findajp. It includes a link to a video excerpt from a
wedding ceremony he performed.
All JP Association members may do the same (more
details here). Send us the video, we'll upload it for a one-time
fee. If the video is already on YouTube, send us the link.
Tweet This!
A JP Association member (who wishes to remain nameless)
has created @JPAssociation
on Twitter.com. If you tweet,
please follow us. And if you don't know what we're talking
about, fuhgeddaboudit (as they say in New York). (btw, this
paragraph is more than 140 characters -- 2 big 2 tweet!)If you're not easily offended, there's a funny (and raunchy) piece about a groom tweeting through his wedding (and wedding night) in a recent New Yorker Shouts & Murmurs column. That'll give you the idea.
More Email about Online Ministers
Changes in findaJP Listings
"The Justices in my area who are ministers can circumvent Massachusetts’ restrictions on fees; they
can do so because they are REVERENDS. Some get away
with charging more than the law allows because no one
complains or even knows they are being overcharged.
Fortunately I do not need to earn a living from
officiating. Actually I lose money because
meeting the couple, writing the ceremony and preparing is all un-billable.
But I just love to perform marriages! I did look into the links
[to online ministries] but could not bring myself to be associated with any
nonexistent congregation." Maria A. Taylor, JP
Abington, MA
Changes in findaJP Listings
Commission Expiration Date. Until now, member
listings for JPs in Massachusetts and New Hampshire included their
Commission Expiration date. This was because these
states have a "rolling" schedule for commissioning
JPs (unlike Connecticut and Vermont, among others, which
maintain fixed terms of office for all JPs). If
you're interested, the
About
Justices of the Peace page of the jpUS.org
website includes the rules for each state.
Some JPs have pointed out that displaying the Commission Expiration date reduced their chances of being booked for a wedding scheduled for after their expiration date. They have a point, so starting now we plan on eliminating the Commission Expiration date from all www.findajp.com listings.
Shaking Up the Page Until now, findajp listings were pretty much in alphabetical sequence -- by last name. You guessed it, some JPs (the Zieglers, Youngs, etc.) have begun to yell "Enough!" We think they have a point and will start periodically rearranging the listings on a page. The first shot will give the Zimmermans top billing, to compensate for their years of being last. Later on, first names will determine the sequence (starting with Alice and Andrew, then with Zeke and Yolanda). That should take a couple of years. By then we ought to have a randomizing program that will shoulder the task for us.
Some JPs have pointed out that displaying the Commission Expiration date reduced their chances of being booked for a wedding scheduled for after their expiration date. They have a point, so starting now we plan on eliminating the Commission Expiration date from all www.findajp.com listings.
Shaking Up the Page Until now, findajp listings were pretty much in alphabetical sequence -- by last name. You guessed it, some JPs (the Zieglers, Youngs, etc.) have begun to yell "Enough!" We think they have a point and will start periodically rearranging the listings on a page. The first shot will give the Zimmermans top billing, to compensate for their years of being last. Later on, first names will determine the sequence (starting with Alice and Andrew, then with Zeke and Yolanda). That should take a couple of years. By then we ought to have a randomizing program that will shoulder the task for us.
A memorial service to celebrate the
life of Elise Klein (1958-2009) will be held
Friday, May 28, 2010, 2:00-4:00 PM,
at the
German Club,
University of New Haven,
420 Boston Post Road,
West Haven, CT 06516. Join with Elise's friends and colleagues,
including the JP Association, to
share memories of a remarkable woman.
RSVP to
David Bedell or just come. Click here for directions. Memorial contributions may
be made to
Teachers Against Prejudice or to your favorite
charity.
My First Wedding
– and Yours?
I'm a JP who never intended to do weddings. I'm not even listed on www.findajp.com! I became a JP because, as a principal in the Justice of the Peace Association, it seemed like the right thing to do.
But last year a JP friend was suddenly hospitalized and asked me to fill in at the last minute. I couldn't say no. The ceremony was printed out and ready to go. All I had to do was read my part. There wouldn't even be an audience, as the event would take place at the couple's home with no guests. A great way to break in as an officiant!
The catch was that four women (two couples) were getting married. A double wedding for my debut ceremony!
The home was beautiful and the dining room table set elegantly for four when I arrived. The service required me to address each of the four women by name throughout. I have trouble putting names to faces under ordinary circumstances. How would I keep them straight? Luckily, each couple wore matching-colored suits. At least I would know who went with whom!
But I was taking no chances. I lined the women up in the order that their names appeared in the service. Speaking to each bride in turn, I was able to confidently make eye contact with the right one!
Yet something unexpected happened. Although I had rehearsed my part beforehand, now that it was happening the words took on new meaning for me. I had never imagined that joining these couples in matrimony would be so moving. I choked back tears as I spoke my lines.
I have yet to do another ceremony but I doubt that the next one will elicit similar emotion. After all, there's nothing quite like the first time! Barbara Jay, Westport CT JP Was your first time something special? Tell us about it.
Do you want to be featured on
findaJP.com?
Then join www.jpUS.org.