Trustee Report, January 2007
UUA Trustee Report
Joan Lund
Boston, MA, January 18-22, 2007
I arrived in Boston on Thursday late morning to brisk (let?s face it, cold) weather, to find the temperature steadily dropping over the next few days. For the most part all of us stay inside because of our work but the few times I was able to walk in the Boston Common I found the most fun in watching the skaters.
This report will be my observations, organized by reports/topics, and loosely by sequence. I cannot begin to cover it all! As always if you have questions or comments please email/telephone me at jlund@uua.org or 813-931-9727. In addition you can go to the UUA website www.uua.org for detailed reports by the staff and Rev. Bill Sinkford. BOT passed motions are at the end of this report.
On Thursday afternoon the Anti-Racism/Anti-Oppression/Multiculturalism (AROMC) Team of the Board met. Julian Sharp, Youth Trustee, and I chair the Team. Our time was spent processing the work the UUA Board (BOT) did with Paula Cole Jones in October. We recognize there are many different AROMC competency levels among BOT members and the need for our Team to address these discrepancies. A list of AROMC readings will be developed. We continue to remind ourselves, the BOT, to carry our trainings beyond our meetings to our districts and congregations. The AROMC Team also continues to strive for excellent process observation during our work and that of the BOT. We will develop a guide as to how to process observe during meetings.
Rev. Mary Higgins, District Executive, New Hampshire/Vermont/Northeast (and our former beloved DE), spent time with the Governance Working Group and shared her comments regarding the BOT draft governance policies. The entire BOT welcomed her to speak with us about policy governance on Friday afternoon.
Friday evening was spent with Rev. Jory Agate, Chair of the Ministerial Fellowship Committee (MFC). A mock MFC prospective ministerial candidate interview was held, with one of our BOT ministers serving as the candidate. The MFC meets three times a year for 4 days to interview candidates for the ministry. At their last meeting they saw twenty candidates from nine different theological schools. Two were men; two of the women identified as people of color. Candidates ranged in age from 30 to 64.
Working Groups
In October the BOT created an additional working group, Governance (GovWG), voted into existence during this BOT meeting. For the last several years the BOT has been studying, discussing, being trained in, and (initially) implementing policy governance. The five groups met the Friday morning preceding the BOT meeting and I currently serve on the Congregations Working Group (CWG).
Association (AWG)
Part of the process for the Consultation on Youth Ministry is to engage six core stakeholders: Diverse and Revolutionary UU Multicultural Ministries (DRUUMM), Unitarian Universalist Minister?s Association (UUMA), Liberal Religious Educators Association (LREDA, BOT, Young Religious Unitarian Universalists (YRUU), and Interweave. The UUMA is being engaged through their Executive Committee, the MFC, and the UUA Ministry and Professional Leadership Staff Group (MPL). The AWG suggested it would be helpful to have more information regarding Camps and Conferences work with youth and more intentional documented outreach to the UUMA.
Rev. Jory Agate met with the AWG and explained that the MFC role does not define what a minister should be. She considers that BOT work. The MFC talks about baseline competencies and shapes rules and policies with the goal that all ministers generally are prepared for the demands and needs of ministry.
There was a discussion about the election campaign process for President and Moderator of the UUA. Current election policy is delivered in the UU World. The magazine is expensive and a time consuming way to get information out. This discussion developed into a deeper one involving the UU World on-line and the publication, Interconnections. Perhaps adding a special election issue of Interconnections could be the future information mode and candidate forums or debates could be sent to districts and congregations on DVD.
The AWG is sponsoring a workshop at General Assembly (GA) 2007 inviting lifelong UUs to talk about what keeps them as UUs.
There was considerable discussion by AWG on what the Board?s role is in the Congregations Come First (CCF) initiative. The CCF process is not driven by the BOT but the BOT will have an evaluative and policy decision making role once the report is receive in 2008.
Congregations (CWG)
The CWG framed interim International Guidelines in anticipation of movement toward policy governance. Using the lens of BOT governance conversation appropriate language was incorporated. This language is intended to establish boundaries, not to be prescriptive and have been revised to establish/lead-to ends statements. Rev. Will Saunders reported on his international activities and requested that the Committee on Committees clarify the role of the international liaison and adjust the job description to the reality of the task.
The CWG considered an addition of a third bullet in the UUA Board Vision for International Engagement but did not feel comfortable doing so. The CWG will explore other human rights statements such as the UN Human Rights Declaration before adding to the Vision.
The CWG received information from Rev. Jory Agate relating to the MFC process in dealing with formal complaints concerning clergy misconduct and restorative justice. The MFC is reviewing and revising the process; rewriting rules is part of this process which is multi-layered, and involves many people. Rev. Tracey Robinson Harris, Congregational Services Director, and Kay Montgomery, UUA Executive vice-president also attended the CWG meeting. It was noted that ?preventative? education and the Regional Sub-Committees on Candidacy (RSCC) process have dramatically reduced the number of problems. Safe Congregations Guidelines and coursework in safe congregations have resulted in higher awareness. Issues remain as to whether complainants who need restorative justice feel they have been well served by the process. The process must look for redemption for both the complainant and minister. Congregational restorative justice help is accomplished through the district structure. Issues of confidentiality still need to be clarified.
Governance (GovWG)
GovWG held its first meeting on Friday morning. The mission of this WG is to lead the BOT to a new method of governance. Rev. Mary Higgins indicated it is the BOT?s job to write the ENDS policies, based on input from our owners (congregations), but the owners do not write the ENDS themselves. She suggested bringing in a policy governance expert who is knowledgeable about finance to help write the Executive Limitations for the finance area.
The BOT has covenanted to continue to transition our governance practices and model, leading to a vote in October, 2008, on a set of policies which will determine our governance procedures. The GovWG developed a tentative timeline for the BOT transition to policy governance.
Growth (GWG)
Harlan Limpert, District Services Director, presented an interesting congregational growth statistic: 90 UU congregations of all sizes have grown 25% or more in the last six years versus 6% for the Association as a whole. Leaders in these growth congregations will be invited to a three-day summit to discuss what the UUA has and has not done to assist them in their growth, what they imagine other congregations could benefit from the most in terms of UUA assistance in their growth.
Tracey Robinson Harris presented supplemental materials on various growth strategies which included the Planning for Growth Pilot Proposal. This would create congregational teams in three different districts, eventually involving 30% of our congregations.
In planning for GA 2007 Breakthrough congregations have been approached and are developing a presentation with guidance from Harlan Limpert, who is encouraging these congregations to focus their films and workshops less on history and more on what lessons can be learned from their experience.
There was continued discussion of the District President?s Association?s concern regarding ministers training and growth. Ralph Mero, Church Staff Finances Director, clarified information on the renewal process every year for a minimum of three years between preliminary and final fellowship. This is helpful in identifying areas of work and training for the candidates. He also talked about how other denominations are ahead of our Association in offering financial support to new ministers and seminarians showing promise for successful ministry in growing congregations.
Rev. Bill Sinkford, UUA President, shared a Power Point presentation on three marketing and advertising campaigns, which address concerns we have expressed in the past on the affordability and efficacy of these campaigns. He presented analysis and evidence that the campaigns resulted in significant membership gains and are indeed cost effective affordable. The Presentation was shared with the BOT also.
Living Our Faith (LOFWG)
Rev. Burton Carley, Trustee, reporting about Gulf Coast Relief, began by reporting on the work of creating a strategic plan for the strengthening of the UU congregational presence in New Orleans. The plan is complete and the congregations are now beginning the work of implementing it. For the first time, the Greater New Orleans area congregations are functioning as a cluster. Meg Riley, Advocacy and Witness Director, reported on the commitment that the UUA and UUSC have made to set up a new organization to coordinate Gulf Coast volunteers. There will be fundraising starting during the spring to make this happen. Joe Sullivan, President of the Southwest District, presented a preliminary report on the Gulf Coast Relief Panel?s work, particularly focusing on a learning assessment of the work that we will need to handle any future disaster response. Major points included: communicating more consistently from the beginning about our disaster response; the integration of partner churches into future disaster response; management of support for more isolated congregations; management of volunteer work as part of the response; and how disaster response fits into the mission and skills of the UUA.
The LOFWG discussed several accessibility issues, including a statement from Rev. Barbara Meyers of the UUA Accessibility Committee on mental health accessibility and a letter from Phyllis Daniel, Chair of the Accessibility Committee, on addressing accessibility issues. This included implementing the April, 2006 Accessibility Report. The LOFWG noted some confusion around these issues and discussed ways to respond.
The LOFWG had a conversation with Bill Sinkford on the support of ministers of color and other historically marginalized groups. There is ongoing and increasing Association work in support of these ministers and marginalized groups.
A letter to the BOT secretary concerning congregational involvement with the Commission on Social Witness (CSW) was discussed. This letter asked the BOT to encourage congregational participation in the review process. The current Social Action Issue (SAI) is Peacemaking. The letter also suggested the BOT to ask UUA staff to consider contacting congregations on this in the next congregational mailing.
In regard to future plans on LOF issues and the Tapestry of Faith Religions Curriculum the WG agreed that there was a need to review how social justice issues are being included in the new curriculum. Judith Frediani, Lifespan Religious Education Director, will be invited to meet with the WG in April.
Rev. Burton Carley presented a concern that was shared by all members of the WG about the fact that Public Policy Statements, though based on resolutions passed by GA, do not reflect views that are universally held by all UUs. The WG proposed an amendment to the Board policy on UUA Public Policy Statements.
President Rev. Bill Sinkford?s Report
Bill presented his Power Point presentation on the marketing and advertising campaigns which he had shared with the GWG. (See GWG section of report). It appears that the campaigns were valuable and successful in achieving significant growth numbers.
As always he travels with great frequency. He met with the UUMA Executive Committee recently in Puerto Rico and noted their support for the Youth Ministry Consultation and Latina/o ministry.
He reported the silent major donor part of the capital campaign is progressing well. Plans for Association Sunday are in ?high gear?. More than 30 large congregations have signed up and there are a total of 100 congregations so far who have agreed to take part. The funds from this Sunday will be used for national print, advertising, and marketing efforts. This campaign will not replace others that are underway but will be a national effort to create awareness of UUism.
Executive Vice-president, Kay Montgomery
Kay reported she recently attended a meeting with persons in other mainline religious groups who hold a similar position at the UUA to hers. She stated even though we wish our growth as an Association to be higher she was the envy of the others because we are growing more than so many others. Kay and Gini Courter, UUA Moderator, will be meeting in Toronto with the president of the Canadian Unitarian Council.
She let us know about one of our newer churches, First UU Church of the Second life, which meets on Thursday evenings on the web. This is a whole other realm. Apparently there is a whole lot of virtual church going on.
Secretary, Paul Rickter
Elections for UUA offices are normally held in odd numbered years. Paul led a BOT conversation about how the BOT would like to be during the next UUA election; how the BOT would exercise leadership in this process. It is important for us to model leadership around a good process. A motion passed which says we will refrain from endorsing, promising to endorse, or financially supporting any candidate or potential candidate for President, Moderator, Financial advisor, or At-Large Trustee from now until the conclusion of the GA preceding the election. If a candidate or potential candidate is a member of the UUA BOT this Trustee may support her/his own candidacy. Private conversations of discernment with potential candidates may take place. There are 2 BOT members appointed to the Elections Commission.
Paul also indicated the candidate petitions for GA 2007 is February 1st. This is for the Trustee-At-Large positions. The slate will be put forth by the Nominating Committee. Campaigning for UUA President, Moderator, and Financial Advisor can begin in January 2008 for the GA 2009 election.
Also congregations must certify their numbers by February 1st to enjoy delegate status at GA 2007. At the time of this report there are over 700 yet to certify. Last year 60 congregations did not meet this requirement.
Financial Advisor, Dan Brody
Dan?s report can be found in the UUA BOT January 2007 packet on the UUA website. Briefly, the Annual Program Fund (APF) continues an upward trend, with a percentage increase from last year?s comparable period. Friends of the UUA is also experiencing a healthy increase over last year at this time and has reached over 35% of the goal of $1.6 million.
Of note from Dan?s report are the Health Insurance Plan Goals. The first one: to reach an initial enrollment target was surpassed and it is hoped in the near future there will be 600 employees and dependents with this plan, it will reach solvency in one year, and continue solvency in future years.
Future agenda items for Dan include changes for paying for future capital campaigns, work with endowment policies, and continued interest in the role of the Audit Committee.
Moderator, Gini Courter
Gini began her report with an extended list of the UUA groups and congregations she has visited and the pleasure she receives in doing so. She stated she often works using the organizational work of Peter Senge, and the book The Fifth Principle by Michael Clouse. She believes it is important to stay grounded in the work we are doing to build relationships which lead to competencies. We must be fault tolerant and keep learning; what it is or was doesn?t have to be what it will be.
Finance Committee (FC), Lyn Conley
Mark Steinwinter, Information Technology (IT) Director, reviewed the current status of the ITS Strategic Plan. They have been able to focus more on growth and improvement rather than fixing problems. Providing tools versus ?support? is the current objective.
Tim Brennan, UUA Treasurer, briefed the FC on renaming the General Investment Fund (GIF) and producing marketing materials. The new marketing firm being used by the Association will be assist in this as well as suggesting a new name. The UUA GIF holds certain funds in trust for the benefit of various UU entities. A new proposed policy sets a 5% rate for payout for all trusts, both old and new, with a ?grandfather? provision for trusts currently paying at a higher rate. There will be a process for requesting a higher rate and congregations that are being affected by this new policy will be contacted.
Tim Brennan briefed the FC on priorities for capital expenditures priorities through fiscal year 1212. He stated the UU A will be going forward with a Facilities Conditions Assessment (FCA) which will thoroughly analyze our UUA facilities and infrastructure and provide a 10 year strategic plan for implementing identified needs.
The UUA received a clean audit.
General Assembly
GA is in Portland, Oregon, June 24 ? 27. Registration and housing opens March 1st. The Cultural Misappropriation Team has invited musicians and worship leaders who will be performing at GA to attend a meeting in Portland in April to review the music and rituals to avoid cultural misappropriation. Ushers will receive conflict management training with an anti-racist/anti-oppression/multicultural focus.
The GA Planning Committee (GAPC) voted to fund a contract with Meeting Strategies World wide to enhance greening efforts at GA. UUA staff will be working on this.
Each Independent Affiliate organization was allotted one program slot at GA and was invited to submit a proposal for a second slot. Eleven programs for additional slots were approved.
The GA evaluation questionnaire will be modified and improved.
Motions Passed (see official BOT minutes at www.uua.org for complete motions):
1) Approved a Policy on BOT Voting. 2) Amended the BOT process on UUA Public Policy Statements. 3) Approved the UUA/UUSC joint ?ask? at GA 2007 to support the efforts of UU volunteers in response to Hurricane Katrina. 4) Approved the Trust Payout Policy. 5) Approved an increased fee of $5 for GA registration to support child care. 6) Approved the Unitarian Universalist Association Employee Benefits Trust document. 7) Approved MFC Procedure on Appeal. 8) Approved the recommendation of the General Assembly Planning Committee to not hold the 2010 General Assembly in Minneapolis and to seek an alternative site. 9) Approved a BOT Covenant for the 2009 elections. 10) Approved the fiscal year 2008 budget.
Other News of Note
Congratulations to the UU Congregation of Venice for receiving a grant from The Fund for Unitarian Universalism, and the UU Church of Sarasota and the UU Congregation of Miami for receiving grants from The Fund for a Just Society. In keeping with my six-page self imposed limit there is no more room for reporting, although there is much I would like to write. I will attempt to include some of this information in the Trustee Tidbits column. Stay tuned. That?s all folks! Accolades to all who read to the end. Thanks.
Joan Lund
Boston, MA, January 18-22, 2007
I arrived in Boston on Thursday late morning to brisk (let?s face it, cold) weather, to find the temperature steadily dropping over the next few days. For the most part all of us stay inside because of our work but the few times I was able to walk in the Boston Common I found the most fun in watching the skaters.
This report will be my observations, organized by reports/topics, and loosely by sequence. I cannot begin to cover it all! As always if you have questions or comments please email/telephone me at jlund@uua.org or 813-931-9727. In addition you can go to the UUA website www.uua.org for detailed reports by the staff and Rev. Bill Sinkford. BOT passed motions are at the end of this report.
On Thursday afternoon the Anti-Racism/Anti-Oppression/Multiculturalism (AROMC) Team of the Board met. Julian Sharp, Youth Trustee, and I chair the Team. Our time was spent processing the work the UUA Board (BOT) did with Paula Cole Jones in October. We recognize there are many different AROMC competency levels among BOT members and the need for our Team to address these discrepancies. A list of AROMC readings will be developed. We continue to remind ourselves, the BOT, to carry our trainings beyond our meetings to our districts and congregations. The AROMC Team also continues to strive for excellent process observation during our work and that of the BOT. We will develop a guide as to how to process observe during meetings.
Rev. Mary Higgins, District Executive, New Hampshire/Vermont/Northeast (and our former beloved DE), spent time with the Governance Working Group and shared her comments regarding the BOT draft governance policies. The entire BOT welcomed her to speak with us about policy governance on Friday afternoon.
Friday evening was spent with Rev. Jory Agate, Chair of the Ministerial Fellowship Committee (MFC). A mock MFC prospective ministerial candidate interview was held, with one of our BOT ministers serving as the candidate. The MFC meets three times a year for 4 days to interview candidates for the ministry. At their last meeting they saw twenty candidates from nine different theological schools. Two were men; two of the women identified as people of color. Candidates ranged in age from 30 to 64.
Working Groups
In October the BOT created an additional working group, Governance (GovWG), voted into existence during this BOT meeting. For the last several years the BOT has been studying, discussing, being trained in, and (initially) implementing policy governance. The five groups met the Friday morning preceding the BOT meeting and I currently serve on the Congregations Working Group (CWG).
Association (AWG)
Part of the process for the Consultation on Youth Ministry is to engage six core stakeholders: Diverse and Revolutionary UU Multicultural Ministries (DRUUMM), Unitarian Universalist Minister?s Association (UUMA), Liberal Religious Educators Association (LREDA, BOT, Young Religious Unitarian Universalists (YRUU), and Interweave. The UUMA is being engaged through their Executive Committee, the MFC, and the UUA Ministry and Professional Leadership Staff Group (MPL). The AWG suggested it would be helpful to have more information regarding Camps and Conferences work with youth and more intentional documented outreach to the UUMA.
Rev. Jory Agate met with the AWG and explained that the MFC role does not define what a minister should be. She considers that BOT work. The MFC talks about baseline competencies and shapes rules and policies with the goal that all ministers generally are prepared for the demands and needs of ministry.
There was a discussion about the election campaign process for President and Moderator of the UUA. Current election policy is delivered in the UU World. The magazine is expensive and a time consuming way to get information out. This discussion developed into a deeper one involving the UU World on-line and the publication, Interconnections. Perhaps adding a special election issue of Interconnections could be the future information mode and candidate forums or debates could be sent to districts and congregations on DVD.
The AWG is sponsoring a workshop at General Assembly (GA) 2007 inviting lifelong UUs to talk about what keeps them as UUs.
There was considerable discussion by AWG on what the Board?s role is in the Congregations Come First (CCF) initiative. The CCF process is not driven by the BOT but the BOT will have an evaluative and policy decision making role once the report is receive in 2008.
Congregations (CWG)
The CWG framed interim International Guidelines in anticipation of movement toward policy governance. Using the lens of BOT governance conversation appropriate language was incorporated. This language is intended to establish boundaries, not to be prescriptive and have been revised to establish/lead-to ends statements. Rev. Will Saunders reported on his international activities and requested that the Committee on Committees clarify the role of the international liaison and adjust the job description to the reality of the task.
The CWG considered an addition of a third bullet in the UUA Board Vision for International Engagement but did not feel comfortable doing so. The CWG will explore other human rights statements such as the UN Human Rights Declaration before adding to the Vision.
The CWG received information from Rev. Jory Agate relating to the MFC process in dealing with formal complaints concerning clergy misconduct and restorative justice. The MFC is reviewing and revising the process; rewriting rules is part of this process which is multi-layered, and involves many people. Rev. Tracey Robinson Harris, Congregational Services Director, and Kay Montgomery, UUA Executive vice-president also attended the CWG meeting. It was noted that ?preventative? education and the Regional Sub-Committees on Candidacy (RSCC) process have dramatically reduced the number of problems. Safe Congregations Guidelines and coursework in safe congregations have resulted in higher awareness. Issues remain as to whether complainants who need restorative justice feel they have been well served by the process. The process must look for redemption for both the complainant and minister. Congregational restorative justice help is accomplished through the district structure. Issues of confidentiality still need to be clarified.
Governance (GovWG)
GovWG held its first meeting on Friday morning. The mission of this WG is to lead the BOT to a new method of governance. Rev. Mary Higgins indicated it is the BOT?s job to write the ENDS policies, based on input from our owners (congregations), but the owners do not write the ENDS themselves. She suggested bringing in a policy governance expert who is knowledgeable about finance to help write the Executive Limitations for the finance area.
The BOT has covenanted to continue to transition our governance practices and model, leading to a vote in October, 2008, on a set of policies which will determine our governance procedures. The GovWG developed a tentative timeline for the BOT transition to policy governance.
Growth (GWG)
Harlan Limpert, District Services Director, presented an interesting congregational growth statistic: 90 UU congregations of all sizes have grown 25% or more in the last six years versus 6% for the Association as a whole. Leaders in these growth congregations will be invited to a three-day summit to discuss what the UUA has and has not done to assist them in their growth, what they imagine other congregations could benefit from the most in terms of UUA assistance in their growth.
Tracey Robinson Harris presented supplemental materials on various growth strategies which included the Planning for Growth Pilot Proposal. This would create congregational teams in three different districts, eventually involving 30% of our congregations.
In planning for GA 2007 Breakthrough congregations have been approached and are developing a presentation with guidance from Harlan Limpert, who is encouraging these congregations to focus their films and workshops less on history and more on what lessons can be learned from their experience.
There was continued discussion of the District President?s Association?s concern regarding ministers training and growth. Ralph Mero, Church Staff Finances Director, clarified information on the renewal process every year for a minimum of three years between preliminary and final fellowship. This is helpful in identifying areas of work and training for the candidates. He also talked about how other denominations are ahead of our Association in offering financial support to new ministers and seminarians showing promise for successful ministry in growing congregations.
Rev. Bill Sinkford, UUA President, shared a Power Point presentation on three marketing and advertising campaigns, which address concerns we have expressed in the past on the affordability and efficacy of these campaigns. He presented analysis and evidence that the campaigns resulted in significant membership gains and are indeed cost effective affordable. The Presentation was shared with the BOT also.
Living Our Faith (LOFWG)
Rev. Burton Carley, Trustee, reporting about Gulf Coast Relief, began by reporting on the work of creating a strategic plan for the strengthening of the UU congregational presence in New Orleans. The plan is complete and the congregations are now beginning the work of implementing it. For the first time, the Greater New Orleans area congregations are functioning as a cluster. Meg Riley, Advocacy and Witness Director, reported on the commitment that the UUA and UUSC have made to set up a new organization to coordinate Gulf Coast volunteers. There will be fundraising starting during the spring to make this happen. Joe Sullivan, President of the Southwest District, presented a preliminary report on the Gulf Coast Relief Panel?s work, particularly focusing on a learning assessment of the work that we will need to handle any future disaster response. Major points included: communicating more consistently from the beginning about our disaster response; the integration of partner churches into future disaster response; management of support for more isolated congregations; management of volunteer work as part of the response; and how disaster response fits into the mission and skills of the UUA.
The LOFWG discussed several accessibility issues, including a statement from Rev. Barbara Meyers of the UUA Accessibility Committee on mental health accessibility and a letter from Phyllis Daniel, Chair of the Accessibility Committee, on addressing accessibility issues. This included implementing the April, 2006 Accessibility Report. The LOFWG noted some confusion around these issues and discussed ways to respond.
The LOFWG had a conversation with Bill Sinkford on the support of ministers of color and other historically marginalized groups. There is ongoing and increasing Association work in support of these ministers and marginalized groups.
A letter to the BOT secretary concerning congregational involvement with the Commission on Social Witness (CSW) was discussed. This letter asked the BOT to encourage congregational participation in the review process. The current Social Action Issue (SAI) is Peacemaking. The letter also suggested the BOT to ask UUA staff to consider contacting congregations on this in the next congregational mailing.
In regard to future plans on LOF issues and the Tapestry of Faith Religions Curriculum the WG agreed that there was a need to review how social justice issues are being included in the new curriculum. Judith Frediani, Lifespan Religious Education Director, will be invited to meet with the WG in April.
Rev. Burton Carley presented a concern that was shared by all members of the WG about the fact that Public Policy Statements, though based on resolutions passed by GA, do not reflect views that are universally held by all UUs. The WG proposed an amendment to the Board policy on UUA Public Policy Statements.
President Rev. Bill Sinkford?s Report
Bill presented his Power Point presentation on the marketing and advertising campaigns which he had shared with the GWG. (See GWG section of report). It appears that the campaigns were valuable and successful in achieving significant growth numbers.
As always he travels with great frequency. He met with the UUMA Executive Committee recently in Puerto Rico and noted their support for the Youth Ministry Consultation and Latina/o ministry.
He reported the silent major donor part of the capital campaign is progressing well. Plans for Association Sunday are in ?high gear?. More than 30 large congregations have signed up and there are a total of 100 congregations so far who have agreed to take part. The funds from this Sunday will be used for national print, advertising, and marketing efforts. This campaign will not replace others that are underway but will be a national effort to create awareness of UUism.
Executive Vice-president, Kay Montgomery
Kay reported she recently attended a meeting with persons in other mainline religious groups who hold a similar position at the UUA to hers. She stated even though we wish our growth as an Association to be higher she was the envy of the others because we are growing more than so many others. Kay and Gini Courter, UUA Moderator, will be meeting in Toronto with the president of the Canadian Unitarian Council.
She let us know about one of our newer churches, First UU Church of the Second life, which meets on Thursday evenings on the web. This is a whole other realm. Apparently there is a whole lot of virtual church going on.
Secretary, Paul Rickter
Elections for UUA offices are normally held in odd numbered years. Paul led a BOT conversation about how the BOT would like to be during the next UUA election; how the BOT would exercise leadership in this process. It is important for us to model leadership around a good process. A motion passed which says we will refrain from endorsing, promising to endorse, or financially supporting any candidate or potential candidate for President, Moderator, Financial advisor, or At-Large Trustee from now until the conclusion of the GA preceding the election. If a candidate or potential candidate is a member of the UUA BOT this Trustee may support her/his own candidacy. Private conversations of discernment with potential candidates may take place. There are 2 BOT members appointed to the Elections Commission.
Paul also indicated the candidate petitions for GA 2007 is February 1st. This is for the Trustee-At-Large positions. The slate will be put forth by the Nominating Committee. Campaigning for UUA President, Moderator, and Financial Advisor can begin in January 2008 for the GA 2009 election.
Also congregations must certify their numbers by February 1st to enjoy delegate status at GA 2007. At the time of this report there are over 700 yet to certify. Last year 60 congregations did not meet this requirement.
Financial Advisor, Dan Brody
Dan?s report can be found in the UUA BOT January 2007 packet on the UUA website. Briefly, the Annual Program Fund (APF) continues an upward trend, with a percentage increase from last year?s comparable period. Friends of the UUA is also experiencing a healthy increase over last year at this time and has reached over 35% of the goal of $1.6 million.
Of note from Dan?s report are the Health Insurance Plan Goals. The first one: to reach an initial enrollment target was surpassed and it is hoped in the near future there will be 600 employees and dependents with this plan, it will reach solvency in one year, and continue solvency in future years.
Future agenda items for Dan include changes for paying for future capital campaigns, work with endowment policies, and continued interest in the role of the Audit Committee.
Moderator, Gini Courter
Gini began her report with an extended list of the UUA groups and congregations she has visited and the pleasure she receives in doing so. She stated she often works using the organizational work of Peter Senge, and the book The Fifth Principle by Michael Clouse. She believes it is important to stay grounded in the work we are doing to build relationships which lead to competencies. We must be fault tolerant and keep learning; what it is or was doesn?t have to be what it will be.
Finance Committee (FC), Lyn Conley
Mark Steinwinter, Information Technology (IT) Director, reviewed the current status of the ITS Strategic Plan. They have been able to focus more on growth and improvement rather than fixing problems. Providing tools versus ?support? is the current objective.
Tim Brennan, UUA Treasurer, briefed the FC on renaming the General Investment Fund (GIF) and producing marketing materials. The new marketing firm being used by the Association will be assist in this as well as suggesting a new name. The UUA GIF holds certain funds in trust for the benefit of various UU entities. A new proposed policy sets a 5% rate for payout for all trusts, both old and new, with a ?grandfather? provision for trusts currently paying at a higher rate. There will be a process for requesting a higher rate and congregations that are being affected by this new policy will be contacted.
Tim Brennan briefed the FC on priorities for capital expenditures priorities through fiscal year 1212. He stated the UU A will be going forward with a Facilities Conditions Assessment (FCA) which will thoroughly analyze our UUA facilities and infrastructure and provide a 10 year strategic plan for implementing identified needs.
The UUA received a clean audit.
General Assembly
GA is in Portland, Oregon, June 24 ? 27. Registration and housing opens March 1st. The Cultural Misappropriation Team has invited musicians and worship leaders who will be performing at GA to attend a meeting in Portland in April to review the music and rituals to avoid cultural misappropriation. Ushers will receive conflict management training with an anti-racist/anti-oppression/multicultural focus.
The GA Planning Committee (GAPC) voted to fund a contract with Meeting Strategies World wide to enhance greening efforts at GA. UUA staff will be working on this.
Each Independent Affiliate organization was allotted one program slot at GA and was invited to submit a proposal for a second slot. Eleven programs for additional slots were approved.
The GA evaluation questionnaire will be modified and improved.
Motions Passed (see official BOT minutes at www.uua.org for complete motions):
1) Approved a Policy on BOT Voting. 2) Amended the BOT process on UUA Public Policy Statements. 3) Approved the UUA/UUSC joint ?ask? at GA 2007 to support the efforts of UU volunteers in response to Hurricane Katrina. 4) Approved the Trust Payout Policy. 5) Approved an increased fee of $5 for GA registration to support child care. 6) Approved the Unitarian Universalist Association Employee Benefits Trust document. 7) Approved MFC Procedure on Appeal. 8) Approved the recommendation of the General Assembly Planning Committee to not hold the 2010 General Assembly in Minneapolis and to seek an alternative site. 9) Approved a BOT Covenant for the 2009 elections. 10) Approved the fiscal year 2008 budget.
Other News of Note
Congratulations to the UU Congregation of Venice for receiving a grant from The Fund for Unitarian Universalism, and the UU Church of Sarasota and the UU Congregation of Miami for receiving grants from The Fund for a Just Society. In keeping with my six-page self imposed limit there is no more room for reporting, although there is much I would like to write. I will attempt to include some of this information in the Trustee Tidbits column. Stay tuned. That?s all folks! Accolades to all who read to the end. Thanks.
