Wy'east Board minutes -- 7/16/09

Present: Karl A, Tode O, Elizabeth S, Mark A, Rev. Susan Maginn, plus Barbara S and Alex R --

Barbara gave her final Treasurer's report. No surprises.

Susan reported about her and several Wy'easters having a good brainstorming meeting with Tandi Koerger from the PNWD. The subject matter was mostly membership and RE.

Susan spoke about the challenge of burnout on the RE Committee, as well as the nursery staffing situation not being optimal -- easily overwhelmed.

Susan brought up the idea of combining the Membership Committee with Cares and Concerns, and then calling it all Hospitality.

Susan suggested that we might have more potlucks -- perhaps twice a month (or a picnic on the second time). This in part falls under the general heading of how to have more participation at Wy'east. It was also suggested that we begin serving coffee and tea again (now that we have a morning service).

Susan has okayed Mikio's idea of people having ongoing, thoughtful conversations through a third Wy'east email list. There was general agreement around the table that this is worth trying out.

Susan will be leading some Chalice Circle Sundays as a way of being at Wy'east without all the work in preparing sermons. This is a creative, cost-cutting move.

Susan wants us to keep good track of our weekly attendance numbers, to see where we are.

Susan is also interested in our revisiting the Wy'east long-range plan.

Susan is interested in simplifying RE in order to have less demand for teachers.

Items for a future agenda: How to allocate the $1,500 we have access to this year by not making our full PNUUGF payment. What to do about long-range planning. The work of the Ministry Committee with Susan, including finding a third person for that committee.

It was suggested that the Special Collections for the next year could be done in at least three themes -- each for three months -- such as international UU organizations, Portland health-related programs, and emerging UU congregations in Africa. In addition, we'll be donating to the UU group at Reed College, and the Community of Welcoming Congregations.

It was decided that we would send a sympathy card, signed by Wy'easters, to the Multnomah Monthly Meeting (Quakers), honoring the great community organizing work of one of their members -- Bonnie Tinker -- who recently passed away.

Alex R stated that he is interested in being on the Board, and will let us know by Friday.

Susan stated that she is interested in creating Children's Chapels for RE (instead of RE classroom time), and that these chapels will have themes. She's also interested in creating more intergenerational worship services.

The board also discussed the structure of the committees at Wy'east, and how to involve more people in them. Current and proposed board liaisons to those committees are Susan to RE, Elizabeth and Mark to Worship, Tode to Hospitality.

Tode stated that he would say something at the September picnic about next year's Special Collection program.

The board also discussed how to honor the work of Barbara and Jill on the board, and the RE Committee as a whole.

The next board meeting will be on Wednesday, August 12th, 7:15 PM, at Tode's.

(notes by Mark A)