Board Meeting - Wy’East Unitarian Universalist Congregation

Meeting minutes: February 10th, 2004 (Secretary: Mikio O.)

 

Present:  Jessica M., Debra T., Mikio O., Anne D., Rich A., Jon B., Nancy L. (Nathan)

 

Minutes

12/9, 12/16, 1/13, and 1/27 minutes approved (after incorporating minor deletions and spelling corrections).

 

Follow up on 1/25 forum

Handed out: “Wy’east Congregational Planning Forum January 25, 2004 Notes” (separate sheets) prepared by Anne

 

Straw poll results will be handed to participants at 2/22 forum.

 

Membership:  78 is misleading (57 is estimate but more accurate)

 

Presented:  Draft agenda for 2/22 forum (Draft #1) prepared by Anne (separate sheet)

 

Many qualified people are available for a half-time or quarter-time ministry job.

Craig Morrow is one of them.

Some congregants are interested in helping minister search.

D. “Different people want different things from a minister.  Discussions necessary.”

A.     “Straw poll was divided on the minister.

 

Visit to Waverly

Anne, James, Debra, and Bruce went to Waverly’s 2/8 service and talked to Waverly minister and Board chair equivalent.

Attendance: 35 adults, 15 kids

Office space: no separate space (but big enough for two)

They are friendly and welcoming. We could see us there.

Their board will meet before 2/22 to give us more info.

Sanctuary: plenty big; oval arrangement of pews

RE space:  could have 3 classes

Planned addition includes separate office.

Hyde Hall behind sanctuary is too small for having service.

There is some concern about sharing RE because theirs is very Christian.

Lots of kitchen space (you can license it).

Parking situation --- lot is small but plenty of street parking.

Neighborhood --- nice; possibly better match for us than current location.

Play ground --- (none outside)

Planned addition --- decided by Apr 2?  Not a done deal yet.  Doesn’t include making basement accessible.  1St floor will be accessible. Will have a toilet.

Their worship is at 11 am plus lunch.

9 am service will be tight (must be out by 10:30).

Afternoon --- music group twice a month (flexible).

Potentially 2 mornings and 2 afternoons?

Waverly board will give us more info by 2/22.

May be having service, forum, or workshop there?

 Or join their soup and culture.

 

Jon B’s presentation about consensus

(separate sheet “A process to achieve consensus at Wy’east”)

Divisive vote in the past led to bad situations.

We should avoid large minority à creative solution

3-5 hour process

Focusing on major issues à other things become easy

“am or pm” is the major issue.

 

 

Response:

 J “For 2/22 we have a good plan.  Consensus can be effective depending on outcome of 2/22.”

M “am/pm won’t be resolved on 2/22.”

D “Consensus requires some training.”

 

Jon offers to talk about this in Long Range Planning committee meeting.

 

Letter to Trinity

Each board member will look at it and respond to Jessica.

Notice to Trinity needs to go out by end of March if we are ending the contract.

 

Canvass

 

So far, Joanne F. is the only one who agreed to join the committee.

 

J “From practical point of view, how about board takes up calls to members?”

A “That would reduce members’ sense of ownership.”

A “Open call at church?”

Things to do --- dinner, send letters, testimonial, etc.

 

J “Spaghetti potluck?”

D “I will do the open call.”

 

R “We need entertainment for canvass dinner (either 4/17 or 4/24).”

 

Welcoming congregation

 Will be discussed at next board meeting.

 

Nominating

 

John M. and Gene T. have launched it.

Gene wants to know the criteria for new boards.

 

Minister, DRE, office staff

 

J will ask PNWD about contract templates and such.

A “Waverly will think about sharing office staff.”

 

Sunday restaurant adventure

Vegetarian house?

 

Sharing supper

R will call Adrian about 3/13 sharing supper.

 

Next meeting is 2/24