Minutes 01/19/2010

First Unitarian Church of Cleveland

Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes

January 19, 2010

Board Members Present:     Kim Littell, Esther Bockhoff, Maureen Harrington, Shelly Urdaneta, Tom Gibson, Chuck Segall, Laurie Albright, George McGaughey, Deanna DiPetta, Frank Wardega, Ray Gonzalez, Ann Millette

Staff Members Present:        Rev. Daniel Budd, Rev. George Buchanan, Doug Aubin

            1.         Opening:        Kim Littell called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m.  Deanna DiPetta provided the opening words followed by a reading of the Board Covenant.

            2.         October Board Meeting Minutes:    The minutes of the October, 2009 Board Meeting were read and approved as amended.  The Board Minutes are on file and are posted in the Church library and are also available on the Church website.

            3.         November Board Meeting Minutes: The minutes of the November, 2009 Board Meeting were read and approved as amended.  The Board Minutes are on file and are posted in the Church library and are also available on the Church website.

            4.         Open for comment/new business:    No comments or new business.

            5.         SLT Reports: Doug Aubin provided the Administrator’s Report.  Rev. Daniel Budd presented his Parish Minister’s Report.  Rev. George Buchanan presented his Minister for Religious Education Report.

            Highlights from Doug’s report:          New gutters were installed on the west end of the Peterson Wing and this has improved the drainage problems we were having.  New carpet runners have been installed on the first floor and this will offer some protection to the new floors we have.  There have been some small leaks in the Sanctuary roof due to ice dams, and we will probably have to install the previously discussed rubber roofing.  It will cost around $20,000.00.  We have $13,000.00 in escrow from the prior roofing campaign, and we will draw the $7,000.00 from the building and grounds budget to cover the rest.  Finances in December were excellent, and we are on track to meet the budget for the rest of the year.  We are still expected to receive a bequest from the Estate of Helen Ittner and any money received will be used to upgrade handicap access to the building.  Doug also passed out the rough draft for the job description of webmaster.

            Highlights from Daniel’s report:         The Fun and Festivities Committee is up and running, and had its first event recently - a wine tasting party.  The party was well attended and was a lot of fun.  The piano in Fellowship Hall has been sold for $5,000.00, and the money will supplement the Music Program.  The Stewardship Committee is working hard, getting ready for this year's Stewardship Campaign.  Daniel has been working with Mary Ellen McNulty and Edie Phillips to evaluate our Social Justice Ministries, and to develop two types of social justice efforts: Focused Ministry (such as Open Doors, IHN, etc.) and other efforts that are not focused ministries.  Daniel will report more on this in coming months.  In addition to his Parish Ministry duties, Daniel continues to be active with Planned Parenthood of NE Ohio, Lay Pastoral Care Team, We Believe/Greater Cleveland, Jung/Cleveland, a Case Western Reserve University student-organized Pro-Choice Panel, and numerous committees within the Church and within the District.

            Daniel also spoke about the Cleveland Municipal School District’s plan to close several schools, among which is John Raper.  There is a meeting January 28, 2010, from 6-8 p.m. at John Raper school with Dr. Eugene Sanders, CMSD Superintendent, to discuss why this school is closing.

            Highlights from George’s report:        First off, George is back from his unplanned absence!  Attendance at Sunday School is tracking slightly higher than where it was this time last year.  Covenant Groups are going strong.  Adult RE programs are not quite where George would like them to be, but he is working on this.  However, the Forums are going quite well, both in terms of attendance and planning.

            6.         Treasurer’s Report:  Our total offerings are ahead of where we were this time last year.  Rentals, especially short-term rentals, are ahead of budget.  Expenses are less than what they were last year.  Revenues are roughly 59% and expenses are roughly 46%.  The Investment Fund as of December 31, 2009, was at $1,287,303, and as of November 30, 2009, it was at $1,282,200.00, so the Investment Fund continues to rebound, although slowly. 

            Craig Hardy, our Investment Advisor from Huntington Bank, will be at the February, 2010 Board meeting.  The Investment Committee’s goal is to attempt to reach 50% “green” over two years time.  At the present time, we are at 40% green for stocks, and 66% for bonds.

            February 20, 2010 will be the Major Givers party for Stewardship.  The party will be from 4-6 p.m., and George McGaughey will once again host the party at his home.  The church-wide Stewardship party will be March 20, 2010.  Stewardship Sunday is scheduled for March 21, 2010, but Esther is planning to present the State of Finances on March 7, 2010, as well as the proposed 2010/11 Budget,

            Basket Collection for the Haiti Relief Efforts totaled $1,860.00!

            7.         Consent Items:           There were two items on the agenda:

                        1)         Draft “Congregational Covenant.”  The Committee on the Ministry is doing this, and it will be revised and presented to the Congregational Meeting in June, 2010.  Rev. George Buchanan asked if the Board would support this effort, and the Board voted that it would.  George said he would bring a draft of this to the February meeting.

                        2)         Housing allowances for Daniel and George.  “During 2010, the housing allowance for Daniel shall be $23,600.00 and $20,000.00 for George.”  There were some questions, such as “Does this cost the Congregation anything?” (NO), “Is this housing allowance available to all staff?” (NO-it is only for ministers).  The Board voted that it would approve this.

            8.         President’s Report:   Kim repeated the dates for upcoming Stewardship events:  February 20, 2010, will be the Major Givers Party at George McGaughey’s house, and the church-wide Stewardship Party will be March 20, 2010.  She asked for all Board member pledges to be made before the Major Givers Party, and her goal is to have 100% of the pledges in so she can announce that at the party.

            Pat Smrdel has agreed to fill Bonnie Chirayath’s spot on the Nominating Committee through the end of Bonnie’s term.

            We discussed how to handle George’s unplanned absence, and this matter was resolved, and it was agreed that George would forego his one month study leave and work full-time, and will still have his one month vacation.

            9.         Healthy Congregations Discussion: George led the discussion of Chapter 4-Congregations at Risk:

                        1)         Overfocusing on clergy at the expense of mission.

                        2)         Giving inadequate attention to painful events.

                        3)         Adapting to weakness at the expense of integrity.

                        4)         Taking sides at the expense of the hard task of love.

Much discussion centered on this, and the whole “Durall” experience.  There was much healthy and unhealthy talk during this time, but as a result we are much more open about church finances and outreach now.

            10.       Closing:          Deanna DiPetta provided the closing words and we adjourned at 8:52 p.m.  Deanna also agreed to provide the readings for the February meeting.