Splinters From The Board Archive
May 2022 Board Highlights
The UUSM Board met on Tuesday May 10th, 2022, by way of Zoom, to review committee work and the congregation’s overall operations.
Gathering:
Eileen McCormack called the Board Meeting to Order. Linda read the First Principle (about the inherent worth and dignity of every person). She also quoted from the Second Source (words and deeds of prophetic people which challenge us to confront powers and structures of evil with justice, urging compassion and the transforming power of love). The Church theme for the month is “Nurturing Beauty” and Jeremiah suggested a theme-based check in: “What makes a beautiful soul?”
Membership:
Elyse Hook is a new member.
The following people are no longer members: Sanna Egan (deceased). Audrey Lyness, Teri Bond, Todd Withers, Margot Page and Ian Dodd resigned.
Total Current Membership is at 254.
Standing Monthly Reports
Motion:
A motion was made and unanimously passed to accept the Standing Reports and the April Board minutes as written.
Minister’s Report: – Reverend Jeremiah Lal Shahbaz Kalendae
Introduction
Jeremiah announced the “Soul Matters” theme for the month which is “Nurturing Beauty.” He acknowledged us as having a community filled with so many beautiful souls. UUA General Assembly and the end of the regular church year are rapidly approaching. Our pledge drive is wrapping up and our annual meeting is nearing. We are in transition with our office staff and we are finalizing our new website.
Jeremiah was delighted to attend the dissertation defense of Susan Hendricks-Richmond who is the co-chair of our IARAO Commission. He notes that our ministry is really at its heart the nurturing of spiritual beauty.
In a section on Worship, Jeremiah remembered the month’s four services to a “socially distanced” “full house” assembly. He also announced there would be no GLAM summer road trip this year and that he is working on filling our summer services with wonderful speakers.
Our Pastoral Care leaders are joining forces. All Pastoral Care members will now be designated as “Pastoral Associates.” They will be presenting two Circles of Caring later this month.
Jeremiah led two Bylaws Refresh Town Halls, one in person and one online. With the new feedback from these gatherings, we will be delaying finalization of the new By-Laws until a Special Congregation Meeting in September.
Our Leadership Development Team met to discuss a 9-month program for the next church year. Jeremiah consulted with our Board and Nominating Committee Leadership to develop our consultative process. They will assemble a slate of candidates for the upcoming election.
There will be a Women’s / Reproductive Freedom March this coming Saturday at downtown City Hall. We are working to have a good showing.
We are looking to hire a new person for a Communications Coordinator Position. We are saying goodbye and a giant thank you to Sibylla for all her great work always, especially in the difficult last 2 plus years. She will be leaving us later this month.
Jeremiah has reached out to Reverend Janet at the Church at Ocean Park in the spirit of doing whatever we can to help them during this difficult time as they will need to fix their collapsing roof.
Jeremiah intends to begin attending the meetings of the Santa Monica Interfaith Council and will report back to us what he learns. He also will continue to participate in the UCLA Hospital Ethics Committee meetings monthly.
In conclusion, Jeremiah gives thanks for the spiritual beauty that all of us offer to our beloved community.
Social Witness:
Jacki reported on a women/reproductive rights march scheduled for this coming Saturday, May 14th at downtown city hall from 10-12. A discussion followed about the logistics of getting a large number of participants from our church. An email will be sent out tomorrow. Joyce Holmen can put an article in the newsletter.
Stewardship:
Jacki and Beth reported that about 37% of our households had pledged approximately $182,000 leaving us short of our goal by approximately $165,000. We will continue to make phone calls reaching out to folks who have not pledged. Jim Cadwell’s matching grant (up to $5,000) for new pledges and additional pledges after April 27th has been met and exceeded to the tune of $5,692. We discussed the difference between autopay and rollovers.
Website Update:
Norm reported for Lois Hutchinson and the team.
- The member sign-in issue has been resolved.
- Security issues have been identified.
- Our SSL certification has been finalized. (This is the technology that enables our website to have the “https/” before our uusm.org address. This indicates that it is a secure website, safe from hackers and fraudulent predators on the internet.
- We are in the process of uploading our archives.
Treasurer’s report:
Vilma said she had not done the monthly report but had an annual report available. We will have a shortfall of around $100,000 this year, due mostly to loss of income from rentals and fundraisers. Last year, we did better because we had PPP loans from the government. Without them this year, the full toll of the pandemic was felt. If we can get up to 50% of our past rental income and generate clever fundraisers, she hopes that the deficit for next year will be closer to $40,000. Vilma also mentioned we should think in terms of employing a website specialist on an ongoing basis to keep our new website fresh.
Facilities:
Abby reported that our building permit has been granted for the repair of the Arizona Street door. The contractors are ready to begin. She will facilitate the communication with the contractors for the time being until Nurit can take over and oversee the remainder of the project. Nurit was out sick and was on vacation so she has a lot of annual meeting preparation on her plate.
COVID Steering Committee:
With a bit of normalcy returning to the congregation, the committee will temporarily morph into an advisory team. Linda and Eileen will continue to do research and stay on top of this moving target. Discussions are scheduled on the art wall.
Youth RE reopening:
Beth reported that we now have a team (not a committee) to get youth Religious Education (RE) moving forward. The team consists of Shanna Shaked, Eric Paesel, Beth, and JoAn Peters. There will be a beach cleanup and Volleyball clinic on May 22.
There was a discussion about what we need to do to be in compliance with rules about adults hanging around with children. Do we need everyone to be live scanned or have a different kind of background check? Jeremiah talked to Melissa from the region. She did not think live scanning was necessary but will investigate further. Meanwhile, Indigo and Sophia will continue to serve the community by taking care of the children during the services.
Social media specialist:
We discussed the hiring of a social media specialist.
Motion:
It was moved and unanimously passed to adjourn the meeting.
Respectfully Submitted,
Larry Weiner, Board Secretary
April 2022 Board Highlights
The UUSM Board met on Tuesday April 12, 2022, by way of Zoom, to review committee work and the congregation’s overall operations.
Gathering
Beth Brownlie called the Board Meeting to Order. Norm did a reading and lit the chalice. The Church theme for the month is “Awakening.” All present did a personal and theme based check in.
Membership
Our membership remains at 259. Karen Patch and Allee Harati moved away.
Standing Monthly Reports:
Motion: A unanimous motion was passed that all the board committee standing reports and the March 8th Board minutes be accepted as presented.
Minister’s April Report
In his Introduction Jeremiah announced that “Awakening” was the Soul Matters theme for the month of April. He mentioned that this month has the multi-religious aspects of Ramadan, Passover, Easter, and Earth Day all in the “soup” with a dash of Stewardship for seasoning. It is a time to reflect on what all these sources provide in the way of inspiration as we and the earth reawaken from the winter and as our spirits become “verdant green” in the glow of service to life.
Recent Worship has included 5 services:
- a memorializing of the life of Thich Naht Hahn
- a service on fellowship given by Reverend Rick Hoyt
- conversations about mystery offered by Rev. Dr. Kikanza Nuri-Robins
- the poetry of awakening offered by Rima Snyder and
- a Stewardship Sunday service to kick off our Stewardship drive in which Jeremiah explored UU Muslim Identity and practice in the holy month of Ramazan.
Jeremiah mentioned that he took time off to celebrate turning 40. He acknowledged the worship associates for taking on beautifying the chancel including the purchase of a new lectern to support social distancing.
The blending of the Pastoral Care Associates and the CareRing continues to move forward. There was a heart/brainstorming session that included Chairs Linda, Denise, and Jeremiah.
In a Tech Ministry Update it was announced that after interviews that involved Saunder and Aubrey, Mia Bringas has been hired as our new Audio-Visual Coordinator. Please make her feel welcome.
The Stewardship Campaign was launched. We offer our heartfelt thanks to Jacki Weber for her hard work and leadership for implementing our process.
There will be two Bylaws Refresh Town Halls designed to bring the congregation up to speed on what the task force has created and to get feedback from the membership.
We have applied for a Spirit Level Grant to help complete our repairs. The grant has the potential to raise $100,000 if we can raise the $50,000, which they will match. The plan is to have Autumn and Spring Concerts as fundraising events. Saunder will use his genius to devise a plan for these projects.
We are considering a proposal to bring on a Consulting Minister to help us rebuild our RE program and augment our professional ministry.
The COVID Steering Committee did not meet in March but we are moving ahead with our reopening. Our attendance is growing as we keep one eye on the new COVID variant. More to follow.
Ushers and Greeters are back and are helping to keep our services as safe as possible.
There are no major updates from our Anti-Racism, Anti-Oppression Commission.
Beloved Conversations has launched for Spring. Jeremiah continues to participate with the UCLA Hospital Ethics Committee and finds it fascinating and worthwhile.
In Conclusion, Jeremiah hopes that we are emerging from the worst of the pandemic and acknowledges the hard work and leadership of the Board during this difficult time.
Stewardship
Jacki talked about the timeline for the Stewardship drive. The Stewardship letters have gone out and the emails will begin soon. There will be a Stewardship table at the church after the service for the next several weeks to collect pledge cards and answer questions. Larry volunteered to person it with Jacki this coming Sunday. We will be making calls to members with Eileen coordinating and that will also start soon.
Website
Lois Hutchinson gave us a tour of the new website and talked about how it is 90% ready. The last 10% will be a heavy lift. It looks engaging and fresh. There was a question about the best way to display our financial documents and also whether we will need to budget for a consultant on an ongoing basis moving forward. Website security may be an issue.
OWL
Beth Rendero talked to us about what might be possible moving forward. She will not continue as our OWL coordinator. The classes we were planning to start this Spring did not generate enough students to fill them. Beth acknowledged Linda, Mike, and Larry for being OWL facilitators. Shanna Shaked and Nick Henning want to train others. OWL is a premier program for us and we just have to figure out how to get from here to there.
Treasurer’s Report
Vilma said that there are no major surprises this month. She wants to move the financial town hall to June 5 and hopefully only have one meeting that will be in-person. She anticipates we will approve the budget for the next fiscal year at the May board meeting.
Facilities
Abby reported that the permit to repair the Forbes Hall entryway on Arizona Ave. could be approved as soon as tomorrow. The contract is in place and the contractors are ready to go. Karl Lisovsky gets a big high five for refinishing the exterior of the wooden doors. We have a member who has the expertise to do a physical needs assessment.
COVID Steering Committee and Youth RE reopening
We are reopening to the point that we need to consider parking, coffee, and cookies and what to do with the kids who are attending. We are averaging 4 to 6 in the different age groups. We need a point person to manage the children and may hire an older teen for coordinating this. Perhaps Nurit can hire someone. The parents may be able to help.
Motion
A motion was unanimously passed that the meeting be adjourned.
Respectfully Submitted,
Larry Weiner, Board Secretary
Larry Weiner, Board Secretary
March 2022 Board Highlights - SPLINTERS FROM THE BOARD
Summary by Larry Weiner | Board Secretary
The UUSM Board met on Tuesday March 8, 2022, by way of Zoom, to review committee work and the congregation’s overall operations.
Gathering
Beth Brownlie called the Board Meeting to order. Eileen read the 7th principle (Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part) and the first source (Direct experience of that transcending mystery and wonder, affirmed in all cultures, which moves us to a renewal of the spirit and an openness to the forces which create and uphold life). Norm did a reading. The church theme for the month is “Faith.” All present shared a personal and a themed-based check-in.
Membership
Our membership remains at 261.
Standing Monthly Reports
The board unanimously passed a motion to accept all the Standing Reports and the February Board minutes.
Minister’s March Report
Jeremiah introduced this month’s theme from the “Soul Matters” theme resource, “Renewing Faith.” He said that the theme is timely, given the approach of springtime and the reopening of the sanctuary for worship. He spotlighted Women’s “Herstory” Month and reminded us of our interconnectedness with the Ukrainian struggle. We were asked to pray for peace. He also spoke of all the many spring holidays and how the congregation is receptive to renewal as we are coming out of the difficult COVID winter.
- In speaking of Worship, he highlighted the three services for the month of February on the theme of “Widening the Circle,” including one led by Kikanza, and the first service of this month on “The Faith of Julian of Norwich.”
- As our technology needs continue to grow, he talked of establishing a formal Tech Ministry, noting that interviews will be held to find a new contractor to lead in this important area.
- Pastoral Care will be revamped as the Pastoral Associates and the CareRing groups join forces.
- Jeremiah will be reaching out to the Spirit-Level Foundation to see if they can provide us additional financial support to help us make up for lost income.
- The IARAO Commission is promoting the next Beloved Conversations program.
- The Bylaws Refresh Task Force submitted a draft of their proposal to the Nominating Committee for consideration and feedback. They will provide their feedback to the Board. One key here is to continue to develop consensus on what leadership development will look like in our congregation as we move forward.
- Jeremiah met with Vilma and Nurit to begin creating the Budget for the next fiscal year.
- The COVID Steering Committee has decided to allow people to be in the sanctuary during the Sunday services. They have created a protocol for this. We will continue to have virtual services and virtual coffee hours.
- The report from the Committee on Ministry will be delayed.
- Jeremiah continues working with the UCLA Hospital Ethics Committee.
In conclusion, Jeremiah thanked the Board for their continued leadership and lifted up the people of Ukraine, Yemen, Afghanistan, and Palestine, and all places around the globe where suffering is great.
Stewardship
Jacki provided a timeline for the Stewardship Drive. The drive will be announced at the service on April 10. The stewardship letters to the membership will be mailed and emailed early in April with follow-up correspondence to follow. There will also be telephone trees for further contact. Eileen will be helping Jacki with the process. The stewardship drive will conclude by May 1.
The presentation of the budget will be around May 10. The Board will have a special meeting on March 23 at 7 to discuss budgetary issues. The projected date for the Annual Meeting is June 19.
Treasurer’s Report
Vilma indicated that there are no major surprises this month and that the work on next year’s budget has begun. The income side is where the struggles are and we need to make decisions in this area. We were able to fund the $10,000 Spirit Level matching grant for technological upgrades in the sanctuary. Our budget shortfall this fiscal year will be around the $60,000 and that had been projected.
Facilities
Vilma reported that due to increases in materials and labor, the construction cost for the work on the area around the Forbes Hall exit doors on Arizona will cost more than was originally planned. These repairs are critical in making the building areas safe. When completed, these changes will enable our return to rental income normalcy. Motion: The board unanimously passed the motion to sign a contract with Oakmont Builders in the amount of $211,471.20 to make the necessary repairs.
COVID Steering Committee
The committee decided on a safety protocol to reopen the sanctuary for congregants to attend to the Sunday services in person.
Secretary’s Report
Larry told the board that the new process would be that he will have the minutes ready for review within 48 hours. He requests that all Board members look at the minutes and make any corrections within the next 72 hours. The draft minutes will be turned over to Philip Siddons so that he can write the “Splinters from the Board” for the UUSM Community News Magazine. Larry also reported the results of an email poll regarding the Boards signing of a letter to President Biden entitled “Build Back Fossil Free.”
Youth Program Reopening
Beth reported that we are looking for social justice activities in which the kids can participate through the “Lunches for Bunches” program. We will also focus on getting OWL up and running. Beth Rendeiro will facilitate and we will reach out for youth to fill these classes.
Executive Session
The Board conducted an executive session after which the board meeting was adjourned.
February 2022 UUSM Board Highlights
FEBRUARY SPLINTERS FROM THE BOARD
The UUSM Board of Directors met Tuesday February 8, 2022 by way of Zoom.
Gathering – Beth Brownlie (President)
Jacki Weber lit the chalice and led in a reflection on the sixth principle and the sixth source. These concepts relate to the earth-centered traditions. They commemorate the sacred circle of life, urging us to live in harmony with the rhythms of nature. The end goal is world community that embodies peace, justice and liberty for everyone.
Check-In
Board members shared events occurring in their lives with mindfulness of the month’s theme of how we might be expanding the circle of life. Members were encouraged to note how others have enabled us to be included.
Membership – Norm Richey
Our membership is 261.
Standing Reports – Beth
The board approved the January Board minutes as well as the following items:
- Membership report for February
- Generous Giving report for February
- Statement of Income and Loss for January
- Balance Sheet for January
- Sunday Service Attendance for February
- Administrator’s Report for January
Minister’s December Report – Reverend Jeremiah Lal Shahbaz Kalendae
Jeremiah introduced the theme “Our Soul Matters theme/Widening the Circle.” He spoke of our commitments to inclusion, anti-racism and anti-oppression as a congregation. Being inclusive involves us not just trying to make others a part of what we are but us becoming more of what others are (citing the author Kyodo Williams).
Worship
-- The first service taught the 8th Principle about our journey toward wholeness by taking actions which dismantle racism and oppressions in ourselves and our institutions.
-- The second service, by Rev. Kikanza Nuri-Robins, was entitled “Footprints,” covering last month’s theme of ‘Living With Intention.’ She described how our life’s goals define the legacy we leave behind.
-- The third service was a multireligious service on the Hindu Vaishnava tradition’s “The Bhagavad Gita: The Song of the Divine.”
-- On the fourth Sunday we welcomed Rev. Mathew Cockrum who spoke on the topic of “Widen the Circle of Healing.” Unfortunately, our internet was out for this service so we recorded it. We will use it for a future staffing shortage on some Sunday.
Pastoral Care
There is consensus of both the Pastoral Associates and the CareRing teams to unite into one larger Pastoral Care Team. The combined group will begin meeting next month to work on group responsibilities and goals. Linda van L. and Denise H. will co-chair the newly aligned Pastoral Care Team.
Board Retreat
Our Presidential Leadership Team planned the agenda for the Board Retreat. Retreat topics included:
Budget and staffing
- The first draft of the newly proposed bylaws
- Leadership development and succession planning
- Mission and vision development work (to be studied next year with the congregation)
UUA Meeting
Jeremiah consulted with Dr. Melissa James on ideas and resources to help our congregation.
Spirit-Level Matching Grant
We are pleased that we have raised $8,800 of the $10,000 matching grant.
COVID Steering Committee
We are still in the Very Severe Risk (COVID ActNow Data) category. The statewide mask mandate will be ending next week but LA County plans to continue to enforce it. The COVID Steering Committee will be meeting to discern when we can reopen for our regular events and services.
Bylaws Refresh Task Force
At the board retreat, drafts of the proposed bylaws were considered and a second draft is under consideration.
IARAO Commission
Beloved Conversation’s next semester begins on February 22 so we are encouraging people to sign up. Be on the lookout for more information.
Committee on Ministry
The formation of a Committee on Ministry was delayed because of the pandemic. Jeremiah has been working to identify members for this Committee with the intention of presenting the list to the board next month.
UCLA Hospital Ethics Committee
Jeremiah is continuing to meet with the Committee for clinical consultations throughout the month.
Conclusion
Jeremiah thanked the board for their dedicated service, grounded leadership, and compassion for our community and the world.
Stewardship – Jacki Weber
Jacki Weber spoke of preparations for a stewardship drive, similar to last year’s program . It will consist of a direct mail, a letter and response piece in addition to a voluntary phone tree outreach component.
Bylaws Refresh – Patricia Wright
Patricia Wright on the Bylaws Taskforce joined the Zoom meeting from Birmingham, Alabama. The board discussed with Patricia the overall process of the board engaging the congregation in reviewing drafts of the proposed bylaw modifications.
The board thanked Patricia and her taskforce for their many months of hard work on the national bylaws. Their work involved reviewing congregation’s bylaws, reviewing the recommendations and all the many proposals from around the country for improvements.
Treasurer’s Report – Vilma Ortiz
Vilma noted that our pledges are a little lower than budgeted but general income is doing fairly well. While there is a current deficit, it is anticipated that the income level will increase significantly in the coming months. Our expenses will be kept low, reducing the deficit amount. She said that we are operating as predicted.
Facilities – Abby Arnold.
Abby noted that the building plans have been in the city planning office for several weeks, waiting for approval. The city office is understaffed because of COVID but as soon as they confirm that we have made all the changes they requested, the final approval will come and we will begin construction.
Executive Session
The board began an executive session to discuss confidential matters. The meeting was adjourned with the extinguishing of the chalice.
UUSM January 2022 Board Highlights
The UUSM Board of Directors met Tuesday, January 11, 2022, via Zoom.
Gathering - Beth Brownlie (President)
After Larry Weiner lit the chalice, he shared a reading from the fifth principle and the fifth source. It was about humanist teachings which counsel us to be guided by reason and the results of science – warning us against mental and spiritual idolatries. He closed with lyrics from a Cat Stephens (Yusuf Islam) song.
Check-In - Beth Brownlie
Board members reflected on intentionality in their lives. They reflected on the experiences which aroused their life’s passions (as one board member described it as making “fire in the belly”). Members’ comments diversely recalled:
- social justice causes
- trends toward social inclusion and equality
- family life experiences
- the welfare of their students
- COVID challenges
- the joys of journaling with friends
- time spent with relatives
- taking in some of the arts
- recovery from COVID
- gradual return to normal activities and accompanying clarity
Membership - Norm Richey
Our membership is remaining steady at 263.
Standing Reports - Beth Brownlie
The December reports that were approved are:
- Membership
- Generous Congregation
- Statement of Income and Expenses
- Balance Sheet
- Sunday Service Attendance
- Administrator’s Report
- The December Board minutes.
Pastor’s December Report - Reverend Jeremiah Lal Shahbaz Kalendae
Introduction
Happy New Year, beloveds! As we begin another trip around the Sun, our Soul Matters theme for community reflection this month is “Living with Intention.” What intentions are fueling how we move into the world, individually and collectively? One of the first intentions that guided my passing the threshold into the new year was healing as my household had fallen ill with COVID and my mother was hospitalized. Thankfully, we are all on the mend, but it brought home the reality of the pandemic and what it takes for us to heal from all of the ways it has interrupted or ended lives; the ongoing toll it is taking on the mental, emotional, and spiritual health of our larger communities. Although we have worked as a society to address the physical harm caused, we have yet to fully appreciate the trauma it has caused and the ways that it may reverberate through our society in the months and years to come. I would like to challenge us to think about these long-term impacts and how we can respond proactively as a beloved community, ministering to the needs of our community and the wider world. Let us set an intention to recognize this reality and respond to it with our prophetic imagining, compassion, and the healing salve of liberal religious community.
Worship
We have offered four services since our last meeting of the Board. I offered “Sources of Our Liberal Faith,” which considered our six sources and how they show up in our togetherness. I was surprised to learn how many members of our community were unfamiliar with the sources, so work remains. This was followed by our annual “Christmas Eve Candlelight Service” which was offered in our sanctuary (and live-streamed) with roughly 45 people on our church grounds. This was our largest gathering since the beginning of the pandemic and everyone appreciated the opportunity to be together. Of course, our hope is now somewhat dampened by the surge in the pandemic that we’re presently experiencing. Jyvonne Haskin directed the choir for this holiday service as Saunder Choi is spending the holidays with his family and will be returning this week. A big thank you to Jyvonne and Saunder’s artistic and programmatic leadership, especially as we work to decenter whiteness in our musical repertoire and explore diverse traditions of local and global communities. Chaplain Michael Eselun offered the service “Spiritual Report Cards” the following Sunday and, of course, this was a welcomed opportunity to hear from his deep spiritual wisdom. Although I had planned to lead last Sunday’s service, COVID made that impossible – the first time I’ve been unavailable for a scheduled service in 16 years of preaching – and, thankfully, Kikanza was able to step in to lead the service considering the Anti-Oppression ministry of Br. Jesus (as). I am deeply grateful for Michael’s and Kikanza’s gifts of ministry.
Pastoral Care
Our Pastoral Associates and CareRing groups met last week but I was unable to attend due to being sick. CareRing is working to create postcards to send to our members. Pastoral Associates will be working to discern new leadership as Bettye Barclay has stepped down after faithfully leading this work for many years. We are so grateful for her service! Together, we offered two Holiday Pastoral Care Circles last month – one in the courtyard and one on Zoom. Those were well attended and appreciated by those who were able to join us.
COVID Steering Committee
Los Angeles County is now at the Severe Risk Level for infections – the highest risk level – up from just a few weeks ago as caseloads have skyrocketed. We’ve suspended congregational attendance on Sunday mornings and in-person choir meetings. We are presently assessing anything else we may need to do in the coming weeks to respond.
We’ve summarized the safety policies and protocols and advertised them to the congregation last month. The opening committee has updated the policies and the committee will have the revised policies ready for our next retreat in January.
Bylaws Refresh Task Force
We had hoped to have a first draft of the bylaws ready for you tonight but it was delayed by my illness. It should be ready very soon. What we have so far is truly a beautiful proposal that is consistent with the guiding principles the Board identified at the outset of this process (i.e., trust, transparency, clarity, etc.). The edited bylaws will be distributed to the board members for review and discussion by way of email. It is anticipated that the Nominating Committee will be affected by the bylaws. Once the board members review the draft of the bylaws, they will be studied by wider groups within the congregation.
There has been some interest in discussing some change in the community’s name, but such conversations are tabled until a future time when we are more able to gather openly as a community.
Intersectional Anti Racism and Anti Oppression Commission (IAROC)
Our leadership team met last month to address challenges and plan for our work for the new year. We will be meeting tomorrow to further this work.
UCLA Hospital Ethics Committee
I am continuing to meet with the Committee and for clinical consultations throughout the month.
Conclusion
Audre Lorde had said, “Without community, there is no liberation…” and the truth of that statement becomes all the more real as we consider what is going to be needed to minister during and in the aftermath of the pandemic. It is here in community that we can find the support, inspiration, guidance, wisdom, and camaraderie that can enlarge our beings and remind us of our place in the interdependent web of being. Thank you for being the stewards of this community through all the tumult and strife that comes with living through these difficult times. Your leadership is exemplary and Unitarian Universalism is grateful for it.
Stewardship - Jacki Weber
A considerable portion of the board meeting was spent discussing the integral part the stewardship and financial support of our community. The praiseworthy excellence of our treasurer, Vilma Oritz, was lauded by the board. Jacki noted that all board positions should be examined in light of future rotations and the need for leadership training for future participants.
Jacki noted that she is comfortable with the mechanics of stewardship letters and follow-up programs.
There was discussion on tapping into available national UU fundraising resources. As is true with all non-profit organizations, the challenge of stewardship is to get a greater number of people involved in the process of connecting their personal sense of mission to the work of their community.
The pandemic and the isolating safety precautions have created a huge challenge with our community connectivity. Our current stability of membership support is a tribute to the competent and effective stewardship efforts. Our medium-sized community, however, creates a continual struggle in balancing the incoming revenue and outgoing expenses. The UU national site suggests resources in “Budget Drives” and wider fiscal member participation. All non-profit congregations struggle with tightening economic circumstances, resource limitations, and changing cultural priorities, and yet there are miraculous acts of compassion and good will to minister to individual needs. So we all need to be responsible participants in making our ministry resources line up with our ministry expenses.
We have excelled in using the technology of live-streaming in reaching members who must attend remotely. The largest and most complex challenges involve aligning our mission goals with the realities of the resources that are made available to the ministry volunteers and staff trying to meet those needs. It’s a balancing act between our mission and our vision, our spending and our income. Everyone in membership and leadership needs to be mindful of the UUSM mission and their commitment to strengthening that mission
Budget conversations will take place in our coming board retreat. The challenge will be to get our expenses in line with our income and rethink how we are organizing the church from a staffing perspective. Focused thought will also be placed on our youth and educational programs and our leadership development.
Treasurer’s Report - Vilma Ortiz
The December pledging was about $26,000. When we get above $25,000 a month, that is good and on target. Our giving and our other income is healthy.
We were able to raise money from other sources. Our total income is looking good. However, we are still running a deficit. To move forward, we need to be mindful of our priorities with our programming. We want to reach the broadest number of people possible.
Pastoral Care - Reverend Jeremiah Lal Shahbaz Kalendae and Linda van Ligten
A conversation ensued about maximizing the joys and sorrows that are announced on Sundays. In pre-pandemic days, there was regular sharing about the needs of the community. Because of the social restrictions operating now, some consider the newsletter to be one vehicle for increased sharing. Some thought that Facebook and other social media tools, particularly the private groups, could be used. Jeremiah noted that an idea of using emailable forms on the website could confidentially bring some sharing of needs to the pastoral care team. By having additional means of sharing needs, we could have a more active follow-up and response.
These and other ideas will be discussed by the Pastoral Care team and among small groups. These methods of engaging with our community will help us grow in our ministry response.
Facilities
Reported by board members as Abby Arnold was absent.
The final plans for remodeling the Forbes Hall entryway have been accepted by the engineers and have been sent to the general contractor. Construction is expected to begin before the end of this month (January).
Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned. The chalice was extinguished by Larry.
UUSM December Board Highlights
The UUSM Board of Directors met Tuesday, December 14, 2021 via Zoom.
Gathering
Beth Brownlie (President)
After Reverend Jeremiah lit the chalice, Vilma Oritz led a moment of reflection on the 4th principle and 4th source. She spoke about our commitment to a free and responsible search for truth and meaning and how such a quest is derived from both Jewish and Christian teachings. These teachings call us to respond to God’s love by loving our neighbors as ourselves.
Check-In
Eileen McCormack and Beth Brownlie
In conjunction with our December theme of Joy, the members were prompted to share the people, things, events, and people that bring them joy and how joy comes to be shared with others. For quite a while, each board member shared their experiences of family and friends which genuinely brought them joy.
New Members
Norm Richey
Norm cited that our total current membership is at 262 because of the death of Sherman Newson back in September. We were only recently notified of his passing.
Standing Reports
Eileen McCormack
The following reports had been submitted and were approved, along with the Consent Agenda, and October and November Board Minutes:
- Membership Report for October and November
- Generous Congregation for October and November
- Statement of Income and Expenses for October and November
- Balance Sheet for October and November
- Sunday Service Attendance October and November
- Administrator’s Report October and November
Pastor’s December Report
Reverend Jeremiah Lal Shahbaz Kalendae
Introduction
Happy Holidays! Our Soul Matters theme for community reflection this month is “Opening to Joy.” I’ve been rereading one of my favorite books, “The Revelation of Divine Love,” by Julian of Norwich. This 15th century mystical text, which is also the first book written by a woman in the English language that we know of, records a series of sixteen mystical experiences she had along with her interpretations, and it is considered one of the classical masterpieces of feminist theology. Julian is even considered a proto-Universalist, as she was continually reassured by the divine throughout her experiences that “all will be well, and all will be well, and all manner of things shall be made well.” Most readers commonly attribute these words to her body of work. I was struck by another of her reflections – one on joy – as I was reading it with the lens of our monthly theme. Julian writes, “The fullness of joy is to behold the divine in everything!” So, perhaps, our “opening to joy” this month might be illuminated by Julian’s instructions to behold the sacredness of all things or the all pervasive presence of divinity and rediscover the fullness of joy in life.
Worship
In November, we considered the congregational theme of “Holding History” and in December, we’re considering the “Opening to Joy” theme. Our congregation has conducted five services of worship since our last meeting. In November, “The Danger of a Single Story” was offered by the Rev. Dr. Kikanza Nuri-Robins. She asked us to consider how appreciation of multiple perspectives helps us in our lives and ministry. “Honoring Thanksgiving/Thanxgrieving” was offered by me and it reflected upon holding gratitude and grief in this season in solidarity with Indigenous Peoples through my traditional telling of the story of the first Thanxgrieving. In December, “8 Elements of Effective Congregational Ministries Revisited” continued my series on the basics of Unitarian Universalist religious life, identity, and practice, with emphasis on the role of shared ministry in our tradition. “Cultivating Gratitude and Joy” was offered by UUA President Rev. Susan Frederick-Gray. This was a special project and gift of the UUA to help alleviate some of the stress on religious leaders this season and to provide the first joint national service with the UUA President. Lastly, the powerful service, “Forgiveness: Restitching the Fabric of Society” was offered by Joshua Berg who will begin serving as the Sabbatical Minister at the Emerson Church. We hope he will join us again for worship in the spring or summer.
Pastoral Care
Our Pastoral Associates took a break from meeting this month but I did meet with our Care Ring team this month and then with our Pastoral Associates leadership to plan the Holiday Pastoral Circles. Bettye Barclay plans to complete her service to the Pastoral Associates next month. We are most grateful for her years of steady and wise pastoral leadership.
Holiday Circles
Our Pastoral Care Teams will host two community circles for members and friends to check in around the stresses and difficult feelings that sometimes accompany the holidays. One will be held in an online space and the other will be at the church. The information for these meeting is as follows:
Holiday Pastoral Care Circle (Zoom – Online)
Tuesday, December 21, 7:00-8:30 pm / Host: Bettye Barclay
Holiday Pastoral Care Circle (At church in Forbes)
Wednesday, December 22, 3:00-4:30 pm / Host: Linda Van Ligten
To register (which is not required) or to request the Zoom link, members and friends can email pastoralcare@uusm.org.
COVID Steering Committee
Our Steering Committee met and we discussed the fluctuating nature of the pandemic and the practices of Neighborhood UU Church in Pasadena. Our COVID County Data has been shifting between “High Risk” and “Medium Risk” for about 2+ months now. The new UUA Guidance treats these as essentially the same category. This allows for medium-sized groups to gather following the basic protocols of masks and distancing. Based on this information, we decided to expand our church seating capacity beginning on Christmas Eve to the following:
Sanctuary – 20 Members & Friends + 5 Staff Members*
Forbes Hall – 20 Members & Friends + 5 Staff Members*
*Total Number of Members & Friends is reduced by 10 in Forbes when Choir Present
On Sunday, December 5, I was able to visit Neighborhood UU Church, which has reopened faster than the UUA recommends, to assess how things are going with them. I discussed their practices and the challenges they’ve faced with their Interim Minister, Rev. Dr. Teresa Cooley. This firsthand appraisal in addition to the new December 1, 2021 UUA Recommendations, convinced me and the rest of the Steering Committee that we could safely begin to expand our capacities on Sunday morning. We will continue to evaluate and assess the possibility of other normative practices (i.e., singing, food/drinks) resuming in the coming weeks and months.
Bylaws Refresh Task Force
Our Bylaws Refresh Task Force has met twice in this period. We put most of the finishing touches on our first draft of proposed bylaws. A special thanks to Patricia, John, Bob, and Beth for their extensive contributions towards achieving this developmental goal.
Intersectional Anti-Racism and Anti-Oppression Commission
The leadership team and I are meeting to prepare for initiatives in the New Year.
Social Media Team
I also met with the social media team this month and we explored the various types of ads we are using. We will be increasing our expenditures to be consistent with what was authorized. We will be promoting cross-posting with our Generous Congregations partners to expand reach and encourage community giving.
UCLA Hospital Ethics Committee
My service to the Ethics Committee is ongoing. I have attended a regular meeting and a clinical ethics consultation meeting in this period. This work continues to be rewarding and helps to keep me apprised of an array of ethical issues in our larger community and those which members may face themselves.
Regarding the question of the vaccinations. I would hope our position was understood from the email that Beth and I recently sent. We mentioned vaccines being required on campus. I think we’re just going to have to ask people. We’ve surveyed the community. In that survey and, with the exception of one person, we found that everyone has been vaccinated. I think the chances of someone attending who isn’t vaccinated is highly unlikely. But we will still just ask people to make sure and when people register to attend, we will ask them to send in a copy of their vaccination card if they haven’t already. It’s not ideal but it is how we are adapting to the challenge.
Conclusion
Thank you for continuing to model non-anxious, self-differentiated, and values-based leadership through the multitude of changes we’ve weathered in recent months. Let’s remain optimistic as the holiday celebrations continue and the New Year arrives. Happy Holidays, everyone! Let’s be the beacons of peace, good-will, and holiday cheer!
Adult RE Report – Semi Annual Adult RE Report
Larry Weiner summarized it because several committee members were unable to attend the meeting.
Sarah Robson and James Witker have been doing an outstanding job of teaching Karen Armstrong’s challenging book “History of God.” Sarah also submitted a thorough summary of the committee’s class offerings.
Reports on last year’s leadership classes were excellent.
The Adult RE Committee has been very active, polling the congregation about educational needs and preferences. The team has been doing a splendid job.
Website
Norm Richey reported for Lois Hutchinson and the Communications Team.
Our current websites are out of date. The Communications Team has been working overtime in the transition to the new website. Their report was fantastic. As a result of the thousands of hours of work, the website is going through its metamorphosis in order to become that beautiful butterfly. Ultimately, the new design will handle three interrelated areas of technology: event planning, the newsletter, and the membership database.
The switch to the new website is a complex project. Staff and committee members have been working on the site despite their own very demanding full time jobs. Things are moving along. As complex as these website-related tasks are, the project will culminate in an excellent public-facing site and a sophisticated internal resource for members. So, it’s moving along – while not as fast as everyone would like, but it’s moving strategically. It will be an excellent interactivity of ministry, information, and marketing.
Faith-Forward and Leadership Developments
Norm Richey
The pandemic has caused multiple challenges. The stated goals were hospitality and inclusivity, but our community is also committed to maintaining safety for all. We think a balance of these three approaches is legitimate. We will continue to focus our conversations within the COVID steering committee.
PWR’s Fall Leadership Development series – Leading from the Heart
October 13, November 10, December 8
The initial proposal was that the program be for four hours for the next couple of months. This will allow for some of the data entry. This will be followed by a concluding two hour period.
The program will be planned for January and will be held on consecutive Sundays. And we’ll plan them with the facilitators.
We’re going to be one of the pilot churches across the country that will be conducting these events. We’re going to be working closely with Murray Luna who is a certified membership professional. She does a lot of work with the Faith Forward program. We have been approved for the program and are excited about that we will be working with her. We will be begin working with facilitators who will be participating in the Leadership Series. This will be once a month for several months once we get started. We are looking forward to it.
Treasurer’s Report
Vilma Oritz
Finance Reports for November
I provided a Treasurer’s Report that had information for both October and November. I didn’t have the financial records last month. Our pledge income continues to look pretty good. Most months, we’re just a little bit under what we expect to receive, which is $25,000 a month. Overall, we’re taking in about as much money as we expect on the expense side. November’s expenses were somewhat high.
In terms of the year-to-date expenses, we have spent more than we then we budgeted but some of our expenses are lower. For instance, with everything that has to do with Sunday worship, we don’t pay for parking and so on. But we’ve invested in a number of other important things like getting all of the equipment set up so that we can livestream our services. We are investing in getting our website set up. That is where we have some higher expenses than anticipated. We have a little bit of rental income but we had one or two groups that have continued to pay rent even though they’re not using our building. That is a small amount.
Forbes Hall Repair Task Force
Abby Arnold
We want to make sure that the building is going to be able to meet the demands with the proposed changes. We are optimistic and believe we will get an approval by the end of the year. There doesn’t seem to be any major glitches with it. Once the plans are finally approved, our contractor will give us a final bid and we’ll be able to move ahead with construction. So, it is in process. The staff has been good about providing updates and maintaining communication with our members. It also helps that everyone is mindful of the overall process. By keeping the communication high, we hope it prevents people from becoming anxious as the process unfolds.
One issue we’ve dealt with has to do with whether or not we should have a ramp at that entrance on Arizona. The fact is that there are federal and state laws involved. We don’t have a choice. It is a sticky problem that our architect and the city building approval people will need to work out. There are a combination of complex requirements involving ramps, stair steps, handrails and angles of the incline.
COVID Response Steering Committee
Eileen McCormack and Rev. Jeremiah Kalendae
Jeremiah covered most of the important points in his in his minister’s report above. After Christmas services, we will continue the process of opening up and keep reevaluating our working document. We will calibrate our responses according to whether we are in the red, orange or yellow zone of COVID monitoring. It certainly has been a changeable environment for the last few months.
It’s a pretty big increase as we change from having about 20 people in the building to having 50 by using both Forbes Hall and the sanctuary. Not everybody is going to be in the sanctuary. If people sign up to attend, it’s going to be first come first served to attend in the sanctuary and then we will populate Forbes Hall. We realized we can use Forbes Hall because it has the screen in there along with being able to see the music performances. It’s a trade off either way because you get something in each space that you don’t get in the other space. We’ll just have to see how it goes.
The UUA guidelines allow us to have a maximum of 50 people, which is pretty good. There might be some room to expand that number in the coming weeks.
I hope we keep moving in this direction because we’ve been in this lockdown space and we need to return to our sense of community. People are starting to go to theaters and restaurants. At some point, we’re going to have to accept the fact that there’s a risk and that people need to participate in certain activities in the community. We’re hoping we are in a paradigm now of gradually reopening things.
This is the hopefulness I think of for 2022. We have learned to do online streaming. We have learned how to do online worship. We’ve got that down. Our next logical space will be our experimentation with how do we bring people back to church safely. That’s going to be the work of this next year.
The board concluded its meeting with an executive session and then adjourned.
UUSM November Board Meeting Highlights - SPLINTERS FROM THE BOARD RETURNS!
The UUSM Board of Directors met Tuesday, November 9, 2021, at 6:45 pm, by way of Zoom.
Online meetingGathering – Beth Brownlie (President)
Eileen McCormack performed the chalice lighting and did a reading about the Third Principle. Members were asked to reflect on their well-being and in accordance with this month’s theme of “holding history.” The group shared the memories which embodied the truest sense of themselves. Some fondly remembered the years with their significant others, their siblings, and other relatives. Others celebrated their accomplishments. Some expressed gratitude that things can change for the better. Several noted thankfulness for Camp de Benneville Pines and the fond memories it holds. There was even gratitude for the simple joys of dancing and singing. Philip Siddons was introduced as the volunteer who will post summaries of board meetings in the News Magazine going forward.
New Members – Norm Richey
The additions of Resa Foreman and Kelly Hatfield have brought our membership to 264.
Standard Reports – Our administrator has been on family leave. We didn’t have committee reports available for this meeting. They will be discussed and approved at the next board meeting. The board approved the minutes of the October 12, 2021 board meeting.
Minister’s Report – The Reverend Jeremiah Kalendae
Rev. Jeremiah spoke on our reflection of the month: holding our own history. He urged us to reflect upon the many lives and ministries that have gifted us with this cherished community. There were services honoring the season of the dead and the lives of those who died this past year. There were sermons about Unitarian Universalist history. The seven Unitarian Universalist principles were summarized as our denomination’s theological and philosophical foundation. He indicated there are UU studies considering adding an eighth principle encompassing our commitment to intersectionality, anti-racism and anti-oppression values.
Our gratitude, he says, rests on the foundation of our ancestors of body and spirit and the great web of being that holds us in worship. This gratitude is evident in all of the services and sharing in the small groups of members and friends both in our sanctuary and in the larger group that attends the online streamed services.
Jeremiah noted that we’ve entered a new worship rhythm, making the preparation and coordination of the services less stressful than earlier in the pandemic. Challenges remain with the limitations imposed by changing weather and the unstable nature of the pandemic.
Certainly, the regional COVID designations of “Medium or “High Risk” force continual evaluations of the safest ways to offer worship. Rev. Jeremiah expressed gratitude for the impressively talented congregational musicians and technical leaders for helping to steer us through the many challenges with skill and grace. Gratitude was also expressed for the leadership of everyone on the anti-sexism, anti-racism, and anti-oppression commission.
Jeremiah regularly meets with our pastoral associates and the caring team to reinforce the importance of self-care. This is how we all foster resiliency in these stressful times. Together, the pastoral associates and caring team are preparing a pastoral mailing to check in with everyone before the holidays.
In a wider community ministry, Jeremiah described his year-long membership on the UCLA Hospital Ethics Committee. This group deals with the hospital’s ethical decisions, often regarding unrepresented patients who tend to be unhoused or transitory. Typically, there is no one available to make decisions on their behalf.
Building Renovation – Abby Arnold
There was a detailed summary on the progress of the building renovations. Plans have been submitted to the city and we are waiting for their response and approval. Their approval will require a small realignment of the path into the Arizona door to aid those accessing the church by wheelchair. The City Planning Department is providing guidance. We will have to modify the foundation, flooring, doors and windows on the Arizona entrance to comply with the building codes. There are also plans for adding a small lift to facilitate accessibility.
Camp de Benneville Pines Update
Karl Lisovsky was unable to attend and present a report at the board meeting, but numerous board members filled in. The camp is undergoing repairs to prepare for the coming colder weather. Because indoor activities will be increasing and to mitigate the COVID risk, they have decided to postpone winter camps until March.
It costs $50,000 a month just to run the camp and they are not getting any income during this time. Their fire insurance soared from $10,000 to $60,000. The camp board is hoping that all the affiliated churches will do their share to raise some funds in support through the matching funds campaign.
Since UUSM is in the midst of our own fundraising campaign, camp lovers are encouraged to make contributions between now and the end of December to maximize the available matching grant funds. Larry summarized how this can be done through the uusm.org website. [Top right: Click on “Make A Donation” / Next, click on the blue “Make A Donation Now” button / Then, scroll down to the “De Benneville Pines Camp” line / indicate your donation amount and in the field to the right, type “Matching Grant Donation.”]
The meeting then went into Executive Session.
From our Board President: An Uplifting Board Development Day
The Board of Directors met on December 5 for a marathon 6-1/2 hour Zoom meeting with Pacific Western Regional staff leaders. The Rev. Dr. Melissa James and the Rev. Sarah Shurr led the group with technical assistance by Amanda Radak. All of the 2020–21 UUSM board members attended. Topics covered included leadership in these liminal times, self-differentiated leadership, and systems theory. Our minister, the Rev. Jeremiah Kalendae, commented that our particular board group has already done a lot of learning around many of these topics! That felt good to hear.
We talked extensively about moving from an “I” culture to a “We” culture. We’ve already made steps toward embodying this concept since we first discussed it at a Board Development Day in 2018. We were asked a very important, reflective question: “How do we want to tell our story of how we were resilient in this time of a global pandemic?”
We touched on mission and vision and RASCI (Responsible, Accountable, Supporting, Consulted, and Informed) charts. We will bring these back into focus more in our community. RASCI charts lend clarity to roles and responsibilities that help us execute important programs and realize exciting ideas, like how to feed more hungry people in our community or teach anti-racism, anti-oppression, and multiculturalism to our youth. We were asked about how we, as a congregation, are responding to the Commission on Institutional Change. Well, we created our own commission just last month!
During small breakout sessions, we wrestled with ideas on how to make changes in our Annual Meeting format and other congregational meetings so that marginalized voices can be lifted up and heard. We’re learning how to evolve beyond some of the characteristics of dominant culture to be more multicultural and inclusive.
Overall, it was a good experience and handled very well with the technology. I applaud my fellow leaders for attending and for their thoughtful presence and important contributions: Vice President Eileen McCormack, Secretary Larry Weiner, Treasurer Vilma Ortiz, Past President Jacki Weber, Member at Large Abby Arnold, Member at Large Roberta Frye, Member at Large Michael Monte, and Member at Large Norm Richey.
Board Highlights April 2020: Planning the Annual Meeting While Safer at Home
PLEDGE DRIVE WINDING UP
The UUSM Board of Directors met Tuesday, April 14, via Zoom. After the chalice lighting, members were asked to check in on their well-being and – following on this month’s theme of Liberation – to name a spiritual leader who had an effect on them and/or society. Responses ranged from Jesus, as seen in the Jefferson Bible, to ministers and relatives.
There were no new members to report. The board reported a previous email vote to move funds from Merrill Lynch to the UU Common Endowment Fund (UUCEF). The motion was approved.
Our minister, the Rev. Jeremiah Kalendae, reported that the church has been doing online services for 5 weeks and there are hundreds of people who have been able to view them, including Minister Emerita Rev. Judith Meyer. Some people have had difficulties accessing the correct link, but these details are being honed.
The 2020 Annual Meeting is being postponed until Sunday, June 28. With the timing of the stewardship campaign in the midst of a stay-at-home order, it has been more difficult to finalize the budget. Materials will be mailed to all members in a timely fashion, but the details of how the congregation will “meet” are still to be figured out. There will be town halls via Zoom to give opportunities for comment and discussion on, for example, the budget. Platforms for combining online voting and mail-in ballots are being explored. A limited time window for voting will be part of the solution. The UUSM bylaws specifically state that people have to be present: they don’t seem to include contingencies for pandemics. A subset of the board has been tasked with determining the best format under the circumstances. Hence, the late meeting date – to give time to create an inclusive solution.
Treasurer Vilma Ortiz reported that pledge receipts continue to trend down. As of the end of March, 75% of the pledge year has passed, but only 67% of the pledges had been received. Also, income suffers from the loss of the popular Dining for Dollars fundraiser: those receipts normally come in March. To the extent necessary, funds will be taken from emergency reserves. The church has applied for a federal Paycheck Protection Program loan to pay staff salaries – which would theoretically be forgiven if no staff are laid off. Staff continues working from home, with a few hours in the office and meetings via Zoom.
Stewardship has a goal of receiving a pledge from each pledging unit. Normally, many members simply do a “rollover pledge,” in which the church expects, in 2020–21, to receive the previously pledged amount. But this makes it difficult to understand each family’s true level of commitment. Outreach continues. If you have not yet pledged, email Administrator Nurit Gordon admin@uusm.org with your commitment or visit the Stewardship page on the website.
Board Highlights March 2020
GEMS OF WISDOM AND CORONAVIRUS CONTINGENCIES
The board met on Tuesday, March 10. The theme of the month is Wisdom. In that context Rev. Jeremiah Kalendae asked board members to add a gem of wisdom that they had learned from. A few of the contributions were, “You cannot walk even one step in another person’s shoes.” Another was originally from Ray Kroc, “None of us is as good as all of us.” And then there was, “Remember self-care. Get enough sleep, protein and exercise.”
Rev. Jeremiah’s report is available here. Jeremiah expressed gratitude to Rev. Kikanza Nuri-Robins for her sermon contributions to our Sunday worship. Stewardship continued its behind-the-scenes work in preparation for the March 22 roll-out. Staff evaluations have begun. They will include a self-assessment portion.
Rev. Kikanza discussed her experience on the faculty of the UUA Leadership Experience. The Pacific Western Region has a leadership training program which starts with an intensive weekend of learning about being a spiritually informed leader. Part 2 of the learning experience has readings and discussions over six two-hour sessions via Zoom with ten people from UU churches of a similar size.
She felt that many in our congregation might benefit from the experience, and as a result be more comfortable stepping into leadership roles in the church. One of the things that is taught at the leadership experience is the “relationship conversation” as one way to build a more connected community. The idea is to have a 15-30 minute conversations with people you don’t know well, without asking them to do or give anything. These are conversations that could take place over a meal, at a coffee shop or in Forbes Hall after church. The purpose is to lay the foundation for a relationship—vital to sustaining a beloved community.
Our Treasurer, Vilma Ortiz, mentioned that pledge receipts were low for February, but this seems to happen yearly. Some aspects of the budget-planning process have been delayed in anticipation of Stewardship results. A Town Hall is scheduled on March 29, after church, to discuss specifics of the budget.
Secretary Norm Richey, wearing his Membership hat, gave an update on Faith Forward. The second set of classes has been very well attended. Week six, on April 5, will feature a question and answer session with Rev. Jeremiah – the most popular week in the first iteration. The program is not just for visitors. Members are encouraged to attend.
Much of the rest of the meeting centered around a discussion of coronavirus precautions. More sanitizers will be available around the church. The automatic faucets will stay on longer. The kitchen will be shifting to paper towels for a time. The staff and volunteers have put CDC precautions into effect.
Given the rapidly evolving situation, the Board recognized that additional measures might be needed, including live-streaming of the service – like what has happened in the sporting world: no spectators.
Board Highlights February 2020: Stewardship Drive and Compassionate Ministries Begin
On February 11, the Board met and discussed ongoing aspects of governance.
Usually the membership list is culled during January. This year it was delayed by a month because of our recent change in fiscal year. In the past, our fair share dues to the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) Annual Program Fund (APF) were determined by membership numbers. Members with no contribution of record for the calendar year were removed from the roles reported to the UUA. The current method of assessment used by the UUA is based on our operating expense budget.
In his minister’s report, Rev. Jeremiah Kalendae described that, although things have calmed down since the holidays, he and Board President, Jacki Weber, were busy with stewardship. The committee got activated from new beginnings, but needs a lot of assistance. Members of the Board are also involved in the stewardship kickoff – which will be March 22. Gerald Saldo and Eric Paesal, directed filming for the kickoff. The film was edited by our Director of Religious Exploration, Cleo Anderson, who was a film major in college. Many thanks go to new member, Frances Tibbits, for her efforts on behalf of stewardship.
Jeremiah has reinstated theme-based ministry. February’s theme is resilience. He also met with the groups who are involved with Sunday services, e.g. ushers, to find out how each group functions. He will put together a pamphlet/manual that lays out each responsibility. This meeting helped with his sense of the bigger picture. Jeremiah also finalized the compassionate ministries project. Beginning Monday, March 2, We Are Uno and UU Animal Ministries will prepare meals for the unhoused in the Forbes kitchen from 3-6 pm.
With regard to Pastoral Associates, Denise Helton was welcomed into this leadership committee.
The treasurer, Vilma Ortiz, reported that our finances are about on track. Pledge income is close to projected, and our expenses are lower than originally projected.
Board member, Eileen McCormack, reported that the Health and Safety task force is making progress with a plan.
Board Secretary, Norm Richey, was pleased with the attendance at the first meeting of the new round of Faith Forward. Members are welcome to attend these informative classes. Norm is also planning for a Bring a Friend to Church Sunday.
Vice-president, Beth Brownlie, reported of happenings with facilities. The new sanctuary doors and windows are almost completed. The committee is developing a 1000-day calendar for building needs. The heating system is highest on the list.
In her report, DRE Cleo mentioned her book group to discuss The Seven Necessary Sins for Women and Girls, by Mona Eltahawy
A discussion of General Assembly came up. The meeting will be in Providence, RI, June 24-28. The church is allowed up to six delegates. If you are interested in attending as a delegate, see Jacki Weber.