Minutes 05/18/2010

First Unitarian Church of Cleveland

Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes

May 18, 2010

Board Members Present: Shelly Urdaneta, George McGaughey, Deanna DiPetta, Frank Wardega, Kim Littell, Esther Bockhoff, Barbara Bradley, Laurie Albright, Greer Jordan, Tom Gibson, Chuck Segall, Ray Gonzalez

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

Guests Present:  No Guests.

1.      Opening:         Kim Littell called the meeting to order at 7:01 p.m.  Greer Jordan provided the opening words followed by a reading of the Board Covenant.

2.      April Minutes:  The April minutes were approved as written.

3.      Open for Comment/New Business: Kim Littell asked if we could get new coat hangers, and the answer was “Yes, we can.”  Also, Kim stated that Greg Stewart, a former MRE at First UU, has put together a DVD documentary on the adoption process, and we may have a showing of the video at the church.

4.      Permaculture: Tom Gibson recapped the recent Permaculture meeting.  About 40 people attended, and it was very well received, and there was lots of enthusiasm.  He feels we can tap into the energy of the local food movement.  Samuel Salisbury has asked for a retainer to start planning the grounds, but he was asked by us to submit a bid.  His plan contains three (3) parts:  1) solar-paneled cistern for the garden and church; 2) widening the walkway from the parking lot to the church; and 3) pergola.

On June 2, there will be a walk around the church to see what we currently have.

On July 23, 2010, Dave Jacke, one the country’s most famous permaculturists, will be speaking on home-scale permaculture, at the Intergenerational School at 12299 Fairhill Road, Cleveland, from 7 to 9 PM.

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

Highlights from Doug’s Report:  The proposed budget has been posted around the church and was emailed to the membership and placed on the website.  To date, the pledge drive is at $481,625 and he projects it will finish at $520,000.  He received a letter from SWUUC (the Berea UU church) thanking us for our loan offer, but that they exceeded their goal and will not need to borrow the money.  They thanked us and sent a $50.00 check that was added to the Nashville Flood Relief fund.

MOTION: TO AUTHORIZE $62,683 TO MODERNIZE THE ELEVATORS.  The money will come from the Ittner Estate once it is received.

            MOTION PASSES 100%

MOTION: TO AUTHORIZE $22,645 FOR THE SOUND SYSTEM UPGRADE.  The money will come from the Ittner Estate once it is received.  Additionally, the sound will be piped into the nursery.

            MOTION PASSES 100%

Highlights from George’s Report:  Two (2) of the July services being led by the Killam Fellow Katie Norris will be intergenerational.  There will be a Congregational Retreat at the end of August, and will be back at Camp Christopher in Bath Township.  Additionally, George’s written report reviewed his goals and achievements for the RE program, and his goals and concerns from this past year.  His written report is rather lengthy and will be on file in the library with the published minutes.

Report from Daniel’s Report: Daniel started his report by saying he has placed his father into home hospice care and has been spending Sundays at night through Tuesdays with him.  He has remained active in the community by attending such events as a meeting of the Cleveland UU Religious Leaders along with George at the Cleveland Hts. Society; We Believe about the sustainable Cleveland initiative; and Committee on the Ministry meeting and other committee meetings at the church.  He also stated how proud he is of the Social Justice Ministry Committee for their creation of the “Mitzvah of the Month” program and for their encouragement of our outreach into the community.  Daniel’s report will also be on file in the library along with the published minutes.  Daniel concluded his report by informing us that he will have another column in the Plain Dealer on May 29, 2010.

6.      Treasurer’s Report: As of May 12, 2010, we have $1,235,000 in the Investment Fund.  Through the end of April, we have received 82% of our annual operating revenue and our expenses have totaled 76% of projections.  The proposed 2010-11 budget was posted throughout the church and online and there will be a budget review on May 23, 2010 at 12:30 in Fellowship Hall.  We as a congregation will vote on the proposed budget at the Congregational Meeting on June 13, 2010.

Dave Youngs has offered to discuss with the Board a 4% draw from the Investment Fund as opposed to the current 5% we have been taking.

Bequests will no longer be included in the operating fund. They will still be listed as revenue, but not operating money.  All bequests will be reported in the newsletter and will appear in the treasurer’s report.

7.      Presidents Report: August 21, 2010 will be the Board retreat at Maureen’s house in Cleveland Heights.  The retreat will be 9-4.

As of right now, Patricia Shelden is the only delegate we will have for General Assembly.

MOTION: TO AUTHORIZE PATRICIA SHELDEN AS A DELEGATE ON BEHALF OF FIRST UU AT THE UPCOMING UUA GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

            MOTION PASSES 100%

May 23 is the budget review meeting.

June 13 is the congregational meeting.

8. Healthy Congregations: Chapters 8 and 9:  What have we learned?

Interesting point of view to look at the church, and how stress can affect the Board and the congregation.

Maintaining status quo is not healthy; i.e. church is a couch potato.  NO NEW THINGS is not good.

Overreact/underreact in leadership is not healthy.

Focus on what we can do and how we can move forward.

Learn new skills.

Have a vision for the congregation-define it-and have a business plan.

Don’t lose sight of the bigger picture.

Problems with the book?

Didn’t seem to address the feeling of “stuckness.”

Stories didn’t provide guidance.

9. The Board worked on Rev. George Buchanan’s UUA review.

10. Shelly Urdaneta provided the closing words and Kim adjourned the meeting at 9:17p.m.
    
    Respectfully submitted by Chuck Segall, Secretary, Bd. of Trustees, 2009-10