March 23, 2010
Wy'east Board minutes -- March 23, 2010
Present were Alex, Tode, Mark, Elizabeth, Karl.
First we did check-ins.
Then the minutes from the March 9th meeting were approved.
Karl gave the Treasurer's report. We are pretty much on track as a congregation with we're supposed to be for the year. However, we're wanting to know where we are on individual pledges.
Alex will create a report for tracking individuals' pledges.
There was discussion about the issue of democracy at the upcoming General Assembly (GA), and how congregations will be fairly represented, i.e. not just by people financially able to get to the GA. There was also discussion on how Wy'east specifically is first represented there by delegates, and second on social justice issues and acts of witness at the GA, and what our by-laws say about who can speak for us and how on all of the above.
There is the idea that more people at Wy'east want to know what the Board does, and that it is useful for us to inform them. We may choose to do this as a Chalice Circle conversation, or as an after-Sunday-service meeting. This is also part of informing our potential delegates to the GA more fully on Wy'east's position on matters up for vote. This would also educate the congregation on national UUA issues and possibly stimulate more involvement in district and UUA activities.
Alex is interested in having the upcoming Board meetings made public as announcements on Sunday mornings, and also to the Wy'east email list. Mark will do this, as the Secretary.
We talked about there being more Wy'east participation at our PNWD district meetings and workshops as well.
Mark brought up the issue of a Wy'east needs list, as a way of identifying specific needs that the congregation has, and by knowing them, making it easier to approach members to take on those assignments. The following were some of the assignments listed:
(a) at least one other person on the Worship Committee
(b) several more people committed to being there early on Sundays to assist with the set-up
(c) other people commited to assisting with the clean-up each week
(d) the whole area of music, from playing, to scheduling performers, to re-creating the choir
(e) assisting with social hour, so that it isn't always Debra carrying the ball on her own
(f) RE teaching, either on a monthly or ongoing schedlue
(g) copy-editing the newsletter
(h) Path to Membership expertise, so that we can continue this class after Susan's departure
It is useful for Betty to begin to track her hours in the office, so that we know what it will cost us us to hire someone to do this work as an office administrator.
In terms of the upcoming budget, one way to approach it is to start with the minister's salary and benfits, the RE staff salary and benefits, the office administrator's salary and benfits, and then adjust the rest of our expenses to fit around those realities.
Karl will have a draft proposed budget within two weeks, for our next Board meeting.
Discussion was held about Wy'east being a "moral beacon" -- language which originates with the UUA President, Rev. Peter Morales. How are connections made in the wider community which facilitate this. Is this issue to be a focus for our upcoming canvass gatherings.
Contact information for Linda Kaufman was shared. She is the PNWD resource person for congregations taking on ministerial searches.
Our next Board meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, April 12th, 6:30 PM, at Tode's.