As chair of the Bylaws and Policies Committee, Charles Haskell presented proposedchanges in the bylaws. The board approved changes that affect the way it makesdecisions outside regular meetings, adding some sections and deleting others.The board approved a motion to recommend that the new draft of the bylaws bepresented for a congregational vote at the annual meeting in May.

Other issues under study by the Bylaws and Policies Committee include the board'srelationship to committees, participation by nonmembers in church governanceactivities, and the possibility of permitting proxy voting at church businessmeetings.

The Rev. Judith Meyer reported that she is working with Anita Brenner to organizea "Telephone Reassurance" program to recruit members to do telephone outreachto other members of the congregation who are socially isolated or frail. Judithand Anita are organizing program guidelines, training, and outreach to thosewho might participate in the program.

Catherine Farmer, director of religious education, reported that Principle3, acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations,will be the basis for all education and activities for the remainder of theRE school year. The Social Justice program has led to creation of 100 clay bowlsfor Souper Sunday, with the leadership of Margot Page, Ellen Levy, and JanetGoodwin.

Catherine also reported that the junior high Our Whole Lives (OWL) programis the largest this year, and the first offering of the senior high level isclose in numbers. There is also a junior high parent class. We are one of onlya few UU churches to offer all five programs from first through twelfth gradesand adult.

After tallying the number of members who have resigned or whose membershiphas lapsed, and the number of newcomers who have joined the church, AdministratorMarie Kashmer-Stiebing reported that the church membership is now 456. As ofthe end of January this year, we continued to operate with a deficit budget,but pledges are 97% collected to date.

Marie reported that there were leaks in the office after the last round ofstorms. It took the combined efforts of Jose Ruvalcaba, Alison Kendall, andStu Moore, working with Turk O'Conner, to solve the problem. Marie has askedthe Executive Committee and the Building Committee to suggest a strategy tosolve such problems more efficiently.

Steve Wight reported that the major musical events, except for Louis Durra'sjazz concert this month, are complete for this year, and the choir is workingon its Dining for Dollars event. Three new members joined the choir last month,and a professional guitarist, Pete Snell, will participate in the music program.

- Gerrie Lambson

President Carol Kerr reported on the closing of the sale of the 17th St. propertyfor $1,100,000. (See story on our Building page.)

Warren Mathews presented information on the church's recent pattern of increasingbudget deficits. For a number of years our total expenses have increased fairlysteadily at about five percent per year, but for the last few years our annualincreases in income have been substantially less than that. This year, the approvedbudget included a deficit of $18,000, currently forecasted to be $30,000. Yetthe total income is actually lower than it was last year. There was wide-rangingdiscussion of the problem with no immediate resolution, but with reaffirmationthat a long-range planning task force should be established to consider theimpact of this situation along with that of the impending construction and remodelingprogram.

The Rev. Judith Meyer reported that she is making plans for her sabbatical,probably to be taken from September to December 2005.

Catherine Farmer, DRE, reported that she is working with the nursery staffto create goals to improve the nursery program. The aim is to make the nurserymore welcoming to adults who accompany the children and to improve the contentof the program. The sixth, seventh, and eighth grades have completed their explorationof Judaism and Catholicism. Next they will be visiting the United MethodistChurch in Santa Monica.

Marie Kashmer-Stiebing reported that membership is 477 after the loss of twomembers and the addition of six.

Stuart Moore and Jose Ruvalcaba spent four days cleaning under the structureand replacing wiring to the furnaces to solve the heating problems and giveaccess to the plumbing below the building. Marie coordinated and worked withthe Saturday work group in which Anne MacQueen washed and organized every toyin the nursery closet, Karl Lisovsky installed a lock on the closet in Room6 and painted the room, Marv Pulliam installed a lock on the RE supply closet,and Ren Renshaw painted the wall of the sanctuary nearest Forbes Hall. Mariealso compiled the church directory and made it available for corrections bymembers.

Steve Wight reported that the second evening of "Stevenings" on the life ofJ.S. Bach was well attended and he plans to present two more this year. Choirmembers are busy planning their Dining for Dollars event.

-Gerrie Lambson

At its emergency meeting in September, the board established responsibilitiesfor the sale of the property on 17th Street. Responsibility for signing alldocuments was assigned to Carol Kerr, our president, with decisions to be madein consultation with Patrick McGuire and Warren Mathews.

At the board's regular October meeting: Marie Kashmer- Stiebing, Administrator,reported that she had met with Seventh Day Adventists to settle the contractfor use of their facilities for our religious education program. In SeptemberMarie organized work party volunteers and extra garage sale volunteers in cleaningtables and windows in Forbes Hall and patching the plaster in the kitchen andsanctuary. She is working on cross-training everyone in the office so therewill be no problems when one person is away. The office staff thanks Carol Agatefor contributing beautiful, functional, and privacy-providing office furniture.

Pledge collections are still behind, but that problem should correct itselfas people get ready for the new church year. There is concern that we continueto operate on a deficit budget. The board voted to combine the offices of treasurerand chair of the Finance Committee, subject to study of the bylaws and policiesto determine whether the combination is allowed.

Catherine Farmer, DRE, invites church members and the board to attend ReligiousEducation Council meetings to be held from 12:30 to 2 p.m. on the second Sundaysin November and December. The social justice project, "Empty Bowls," will beextended through the church year. The young people will make, decorate, andglaze the bowls, and guests at a fundraiser will pay for the soup and to takethe bowl with them. Proceeds will go to the Westside Food Bank. The 7th and8th graders launched their interfaith program with a Shabbat dinner and attendedservices at Beth Shir Sholom. YRUU groups are interested in joining them invisits to neighboring houses of worship.

Steve Wight, Music Director, reports a continuing need for male voices in thechoir. Steve is working with Music Committee chair, Peter Van Den Beemt, toprepare music appreciation evenings that will provide a relaxed explorationof such questions as "Does music mean anything?" and "Is music a universal language?"

Charles Haskell, Faith in Action Chair, reported that the congregation votedto continue support for projects concerning hunger, economic justice, peace,and aid to the homeless. There was also strong support for the UU LegislativeMinistry, particularly in supporting same-sex marriage and healthcare legislation.

-Gerrie Lambson

Congregation to Vote on a Banner Policy

The church's Board of Directors meeting on July 13 started with a lengthy discussionof the banner resolution. It was decided that a general policy on displayingbanners will be presented to the congregation and voted on first. Then therewill be a vote on the resolution, tabled at the May congregational meeting,to authorize a banner supporting gay marriages.

On behalf of the Finance Committee, Warren Mathews announced the purchase offive new computers after it was learned that we had money left in the budget.Our outdated computers have been frequently breaking down, crippling operationsin the office.

The board approved the Personnel Committee's recommendation of a bonus forMarie Kashmer-Stiebing, church administrator. During most of the fiscal yearshe has been managing without the authorized office assistant. An example ofher spectacular devotion to the job happened after she had connected her homecomputer to the church's cameras and thereby caught a vandal in the act. Shecalled the police, and he was arrested.

The board endorsed the Bylaws and Policy Committee's proposed bylaw amendmentstating the purpose of the bylaws. It adopted the mandate that church boardand committee meetings be announced and open to all members, and a policy thatchurch activities have priority over non-church activities in scheduling useof the facilities. A proposal regarding the required minimum financial contributionto the church was tabled for further information.

The church's contract with the Rev. Judith Meyer was amended to conform tothe way she has actually been taking her sabbatical time - in short segmentsinstead of half-year periods.

The Building Committee's request for approval to spend another $15,000 wasdenied. No more expenditures will be made until the congregation approves aplan of action.

Treasurer Carol Agate reported that we ended the fiscal year with $4,381 morethan had been budgeted. The reasons on the income side of the ledger were substantialpledge payments in the last few months (probably due to the mailing of reminders),extra rental payments in June, and an extraordinarily successful Dining forDollars, which brought in $6,000 more than budgeted. On the expense side, wehad budgeted for a director of religious education starting in July, but CatherineFarmer was not able to start until October. Finally, the hiring of an officeassistant was delayed for almost the entire year.

Three members have joined the church since the last report, and two membershave died.

The board approved Gini Courter as a nominee for the office of moderator ofthe UUA.

-Carol Agate