Chalice Lighter: Sean Golan
Process Observer: John Duggar
Board President: Jennifer Thilo
Board president Elect: Sean Golan
Financial Trustee: Jason Delaney
Secretary: Maureen McAndrews
Board Members: Jen Bain, John Duggar, Sha’Ron T. Glass, John Merkel, Allen Lee
Board Expectations for the year:
* Complete Successful Capital Campaign
* Engage our congregation in renewing our Values, Vision, Mission and Ends
* Take A Stand: “We, the member congregations of the Unitarian Universalist Association covenant to affirm and promote: journeying toward spiritual wholeness by working to build a diverse multicultural Beloved Community by our actions that accountability dismantle racism and other oppressions in ourselves and our institutions.” https://www.8thprincipleuu.org/background
Thank You Messages for the Month:
Please make suggestions before the board meeting via Slack. No suggestions were received; no discussion on this topic.
Circle of Connection:
Funniest Holiday Memory – Squirrel in the chimney, the Merkel Bowl, food catching fire in the oven, COVID themed gingerbread house, betting on how long Hanukkah candles would last, waiting up as a kid for relative to get home and filling up on pickles and olives, distributing a homemade calendar to newspaper customers for cash.
Scheduled Board and Facilitator Training- Laura Park
The next session with Laura is January 10 – Experience the Holy. Next steps are to publicize the sessions for the congregation; we need a logo/some graphics for this by the end of the month. Who can do it? Bryce is overloaded; suggestion was made that Jennifer make a water color of the Phoenix. Tracey Harden was also suggested because she has made other logos that people liked.
Facilitators for the congregation sessions are needed; suggestions were made to ask Kay Golan, Cheryl Delaney, Clare Costello, Sonya Tinsley-Hook, Michael Dangerfield, Furman Riley and Karen Atkins Hastings. Jennifer will contact them.
Schedule:
Sunday, November 29, 3:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. Board Session to Choose Powerful Question*-complete
Sunday, January 10, 3:30 p.m.– 5:30 p.m.
Facilitator/Board Training on Experience the Holy
Sundays, January 17 and 24 and a week day
Congregation Experience the Holy
Sunday, February 7,
Facilitator/Board Training on Stories and Wishes
Sunday, February 14 and 21 and a week day
Congregation Stories and Wishes
Sunday, March 7,
Facilitator/Board Training on Future Vision
Sundays, March 14 and 21 and a week day
Congregation Future Vision
April 3 and/or 4 Board Retreat with Taryn (virtual or in person) to analyze congregation feedback and develop Vision, Values, Mission Ends
Sundays, April 11 and 18 and a week day
Congregation:
Deep Reflection on Values, Vision, Mission and Ends
May 2: Board to Refine VVME as necessary
May 16: Annual Meeting and Celebrate VVME with congregation
Congregational Meetings
Sunday, December 13, 2020 completed
Sunday, May 16, 2021
*Board Meetings: Every month on the Fourth Tuesday:
Jan 26, 2021 06:00 PM
Feb 23, 2021 06:00 PM
Mar 23, 2021 06:00 PM
Executive Report – Rev. Taryn Strauss
Taryn gave an update on the Annual Vision of the Ministry during the congregational meeting that was held December 13, 2020. The staff holiday party was held today and staff received fancy gift baskets, and an increase in their benefit package. The office will be closed as usual the week between Christmas and NY. Taryn and the staff are looking forward to hiring a part-time communications person; this will free up some of Beck’s time.
The Work of the Board
Decisive Action
The November minutes were posted in Slack. Jason made a motion to approve, John Duggar seconded. Minutes approved unanimously.
Report from Finance Trustee – Jason Delaney
Jason presented the financials at the congregational meeting 12/13. We are still ahead of where we expected to be. The end of the year report will be presented in January.
Capital Campaign Committee – Maureen McAndrews
WE DID IT!!! $4,200,000+ was raised for the capital campaign. $710,000+ has been raised so far for stewardship and this is still ongoing.
Project Phoenix Committee
The plans are available to be viewed at the treehouse (12/15 and 12/16); some board members and others have reviewed them.
Healthy Relations Committee – John Merkel
The committee and the Healthy Relations Covenant were introduced at the congregational meeting 12/13.
ARAOMC Committee – Allen Lee
No report – Allen was unable to attend the meeting.
ByLaw Committee – Sean Golan
No report at this time.
Nominating Committee – Jen Bain
One member of the committee has resigned. To replace a member, the committee will find a candidate and the board will appoint that person at the January board meeting.
The NC is still struggling to find appropriate candidates for the board, stewardship committee and nominating committee. One way past NCs have tried to recruit candidates is through open meetings; although this has not been particularly effective.
Taryn plans to meet with them at their January 11 meeting. She suggested that Beck, as Membership Coordinator, work with them.
Jason needs members for the Finance Committee also, however this is not a function of the NC. John Duggar suggested he contact past members for recommendations.
SUULI – This training was discussed. It takes place over a 3 month period, a week each month, and is very intensive. This might be a valuable experience for current and future board members. Jennifer stated that it helped her a lot, particularly regarding understanding covenants; it would have been more helpful to attend before she became a board member. Board members should consider if they would like to attend; potential board members should be identified and be asked to attend.
Closing Words – Sean Golan