2009 Annual Meeting Minutes

FIRST UNITARIAN CHURCH OF CLEVELAND

ANNUAL MEETING MINUTES

JUNE 14, 2009

1.      CALL TO ORDER:  The Annual Meeting was called to order at 12:05p.m.by Wendy Macklin, President of the Board of Trustees.  A quorum was present and the Board Covenant was read by the congregation and the Board.

2.      MINUTES: The 2008 Annual Meeting minutes were approved as written.

3.      BOARD UPDATE:        Wendy Macklin reviewed the work of the Board over the last year, including work on Policy Based Governance (“PBG”) procedure development which culminated after four (4) years in final board approval in May 2009 of all PBG policies.  The goal of PBG is for the Board to spend its time on long-range planning and strategic visioning, with the day-to-day operations of the Church handled by the Staff Leadership Team (“SLT”).  Wendy updated social outreach, noting that over $22,000.00 had been through the Sunday basket this last year.  She also updated the John Raper School social outreach project, highlighting examples of the many successes so far, including the large participation from our membership.  She thanked Elaine Stevens, who chairs the social outreach task force that was appointed by SLT and the Board to choose a recipient (John Raper School) and implement the project with the approved social outreach project operating funds.  Finally, Wendy applauded Nancy King-Smith and the UU Ministry for Earth Committee for the work in achieving approval of the Church’s application to the UUA for Green Sanctuary Candidacy, with work already under way towards achieving certification in two (2) years.

4.      STAFF LEADERSHIP TEAM (SLT) UPDATE:         Rev. Daniel Budd presented an update of ongoing SLT activities, noting that SLT is charged with the day-to-day operations, which was going well.  He highlighted recent transitions in the Social Justice Ministries Counsel with its new co-chairs, Mary Ellen McNulty and Edie Phillips.  A goal of the Social Justice Ministries is to have member or friend involved in at least one (1) social justice ministry over the next year.  Daniel acknowledged the work of the Communications Committee in progress on the website but noted the need for the Church to get more on top of communications, with the Church moving in the direction of having a paid part-time web master.

5.      PRESENTATION AND APPROVAL OF 2009-10 BUDGET: Tom McKenna presented the proposed 2009-10 operating budget in the absence of our Treasurer, Esther Bockhoff.  Handouts were provided to the congregation regarding the balanced 2009-10 budget, reviewing the key revenue and expense line item proposals, with the overall budget totaling $682,687, which represents a 2.1% increase over the 2008-09 budget.  The 2.1% increased revenue projection is in spite of a projected decrease in rental revenue.  This is the result of a very successful Stewardship Campaign this year with $490,000 in pledges projected, which is $20,000.00 more or 4.26% over the 2008-09 pledge total.  On the expense side, the 2.1% increase was mainly the result of a continued increase in the ministers’ compensation as part of the Board’s four (4) year plan (this is year 3 of 4) toward fair compensation for the ministers as well as modest increases for the staff.  The staff compensation was cushioned by a significant degree by Doug’s ability to obtain a much less costly health care plan.  Other key expenses included bringing our UUA dues to 50% of share and our OMD dues to 100%.  Building and Grounds budget is reduced but Tom reiterated that the budget is adequate for known ongoing maintenance noting that our head custodian has been able to complete many projects in-house without the need to sub-contract them out, saving the Church considerable dollars.  This plus the insurance payment for the flood damage will not result in any projected maintenance shortfalls.  A reserve fund study will be under way to identify our long term maintenance project needs and the funds needed to complete them.

MOTION PASSES TO APPROVE THE 2000-10 BALANCED BUDGET SECONDED AND APPROVED BY VOICE VOTE UNANINOUSLY.

6.      ELECTION OF NEW MEMBERS TO THE NOMINATING COMMITTEE:      

Teri Egan presented the candidates for the Nominating Committee:

Steve Sanford and Kathleen Zassick.

MOTION TO ELECT THE CANDIDATES SECONDED AND APPROVED BY VOICE VOTE UNANIMOUSLY.

7.      ELECTION OF NEW MEMBERS TO THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES:     

Teri Egan presented the candidates for the Board of Trustees for the 2009-12 term:

Tom Gibson, Laurie Albright, Greer Jordan, and Shelly Urdaneta. 

MOTION TO ELECT THE CANDIDATES SECONDED AND APPROVED BY VOICE VOTE UNANIMOUSLY.

8.      INTRODUCTION OF INCOMING BOARD PRESIDENT 2009-10:          Wendy Macklin introduced Kim Littell as the new Board President for 2009-10.

9.      INTRODUCTION OF OUTGOING MEMBERS AND NEW EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE:       Kim thanked Wendy for her hard work and dedicated service.  She also acknowledged the Board Members whose terms are expiring: Wendy Macklin, Steve Sanford, Barbara Bradley, and John Gibbon.  She then introduced the 2009-10 Executive Committee: Kim Littell (President), Maureen Harrington (Vice-President), Chuck Segall (Secretary), Esther Bockhoff (Treasurer), and Barbara Bradley having agreed, for institutional memory purposes, to serve the role of Past-President, in lieu of Wendy moving to Denver.

10.  CLOSING REMARKS:            Rev. George Buchanan thanked the Board for its hard work and dedicated service, made closing remarks and the meeting was adjourned.

11.  ADJOURNMENT:        The Annual Meeting was adjourned by Wendy at 12:35pm.

Respectfully submitted by Steve Sanford, Secretary of the Board of Trustees, 2008-09