ALL SOULS UNITARIAN CHURCH

2003 JOINT BOARD/COUNCIL RETREAT MINUTES

Saturday August 16, 2003   Beattie Room

 

 

Board Officers

 

 

 

 

 

Schneeman, Pam

President

Present

Wetzel, Ed

Treasurer

Present

Sibert, Tom

V President

Present

Middleton, Mike

Secretary

Present

Board Members

 

 

 

 

 

Gosling, Mary

Exp 2004

Present

Rand, Leon

Exp 2005

Present

Downing, Karen

Exp 2004

Present

Rempel, John

Exp 2005

Present

Neves, Susan

Exp 2004

Absent

Boland, Katie

Exp 2006

Absent

Schrementi, Jim

Exp 2004

Present

Byer, Greg

Exp 2006

Absent

Hammond, Jerry

Exp 2005

Absent

DeRocker, Joy

Exp 2006

Present

Murphy, Jane

Exp 2005

Absent

Miller, Babette

Exp 2006

Present

Council Members

Present

 

 

 

 

Bell, Scott

Chair

 

Killingbeck, Don

 

 

Catellier, Jim

Prop Mg

 

Moose, Donna

Secretary

 

Catellier, Michelle

Relig Ed

 

Page, Fern

Outreach

 

Cummings, Norma

Bookshop

 

Rempel, Victoria

Vice-Chair

 

Granger, Meredith

Fine Arts

 

 

 

 

Others

Present

 

 

 

 

Clear, Bruce

Minister

 

Clear, Nancy

DRE

 

Craig, Bonnie

Office Adm.

 

 

 

 

 

Pam Schneeman began the meeting with coffee, donuts, a welcoming (getting to know you) activity and introductions between 9:00 and 10:00.

 

Announcements

1) Bonnie Craig was hired as Office Administrator.  This position is a consolidation of the financial secretary and the office person.  Bonnie will be present in the office five days a week between 9AM and 3PM.  Bonnie has a Masters in Theological Studies.

2) Brad Fitch was hired as the Organist.  He is a student at IU working for a masters degree, which means he will probably move on in two years.

3) Both positions have been filled within the current budget and will begin this month.

4) Pam is taking names of people willing to help run the sound system to reduce the burden on Joe Hipskind.  This will initially involve a short training session. 

 

Progress on Long Range Goals

Tom Sibert reviewed some long range goals established about 10 years ago. They included the following: 1) Hire a full time DRE. 2) Eliminate endowment support of operating budget. 3) Pay full UUA dues. 4) Have $500,000 in endowment by this time. 5) Clone the UU church. 6) Have members run the canvass. 7) Have parents as resident theologians. 8)Have a staffing task force.     

Tom pointed out that most of these goals have been accomplished.  He believes that current goals should include maintaining the canvass and keeping the staff we have.

 

Canvass and Capital Campaign

The canvass will be held in the fall and more like years past rather then last year.  Pam does not have a chair for the canvass and may adopt that position.  Jim Schrementi suggested several phone calls to each members house to encourage participation as well as a brunch. 

The capital campaign will be in the spring.  We need a chairperson for this position and the question arose about using an outside consultant.

 

“Fair Compensation”

Tom went to the UUA General Meeting and got some information about a “Fair Compensation” program that he believes is credible.  Professionals put the program together and Tom talked to them.  Tom now has more confidence in his recommendations and would like the board to adopt the program.  The program is a set of compensation guidelines based on economic area and congregation size.  One recommendation is the unit time system with 12 units per week considered full time for employees with unconventional working hours.  Tom discussed the guidelines and how we measure up to them.  We are close, but still below the guidelines. 

           

Budget Reminders and Issues

Bonnie was offered a base salary plus heath insurance.  She declined the insurance for a 10% increase in salary.  She has the option of going back to the original offer.

Health insurance was discussed and it was noted that most industries are shifting costs to the employees.

Bruce’s contract was discussed and it was noted that we have not prepared for the possibility of a sabbatical should he choose to take one.   

            The best time and place to influence the budget is at the Budget meetings.  Tom and I will try to notify Board members by e-mail as to the time and place of these meetings.

 

Capital Campaign

Several issues regarding the capital campaign were discussed.

Pam believes that the maximum cost the congregation will support is 1.5 million and that we will have one chance to do the campaign right.

The value of the Feasibility Study was questioned as well as whether to continue with Martha as a consultant.  Some board members expressed comfort with Martha. 

            The possibility of outside contributors was brought up.

            Programming was discussed with stewardship proposed as the answer.

           

Membership

Ways to support new members were discussed such as calling them or assigning “mentor families” to them.  Joy thought we should advertise our web sit more  (in the NPR add).   

 

 

The meeting adjourned at 2:00

Mike Middleton, Secretary to the Board