WyEast Board Meeting

August 31, 2005

Location: Annes House

 

Anne, Mark, Cecilia, Anders, Barbara, James

 

Everyone arrived.

Next thing, we lit the chalice.

Then we all checked in.

 

We approved all past meeting minutes.

 

Finance

Mabel bought new member gifts.

Theres nothing in the budget.

Anne moved to give Membership $100 for discretionary.  No one seconded.

Barbara will work with Mabel to create a budget for us to consider later.

 

We havent been invoiced yet by the district.  When we do, well have lost money this month.  James will call in the pledges that were contingent on hiring a minister.  And talk to people who havent pledged yet.

 

Patty Morris is quitting being bookkeeper.  And actually hasnt done anything for a year.  We have the data, the receipts, the pledges, but its not nicely collated.  We need to fix that in a sustainable way.

 

RE

Some RE business was sorted out.

 

Flood

Romania is in a huge need.  Hurricane Katrina is bad, too, but the US Navy is on the way.  The UUA is the only organization helping in Romania .  Lots more details on the UUA website. ( http://www.uua.org/news/2005/050826_transylvania/index.html )

We decided to have a special offering on 9/11, water communion Sunday.  We will accept checks marked for Romania, and all the cash that day will go also.  Word will be spread in advance.  It will be announced at this Sundays potluck, and by email a week from today or so.

 

Newsletter

Newsletter editor for years,

For Kathy we all give three cheers.

The new job description

reads "software magician"

We need a few good volunteers.

 

We need a newsletter editor.  We also need to thank Kathy Peterson for years of service.

 

Ministers Punches

Cecilia told us that in her year with us, she wont waste our time by pulling any punches.

 

We discussed various challenges the congregation faces.

 

In particular, we talked about how individual behaviour can be selfish, and not contribute to the greater good.

 

We do not have a member behaviour covenant.  We decided that would be a good way to bring up the issue, and clarify our duties.  Our duties to confront unacceptable behaviour in a loving manner, but set boundaries.

 

Our need to create an atmosphere where visitors arent scared off.

 

The board fully supports Cecilia in the work shes going to undertake to help us advance this cause.

 

Things a behaviour covenant may possibly include:

Members attend worship as often as they can.

We listen respectfully to each other.

When others act disrespectfully, we speak out in a loving way.

 

Another thing we can do is hold committees and volunteers accountable, and more clearly authorize committee chairs to wield power, to control agendas, and to set boundaries for behaviour.

 

Most of our past moderators have burned out and left.  Thats bad. 

 

Next Meeting next week

Thursday evening at Annes house

The autumn moon glows.