April Meetings. The Board of Trustees met on April 12 and April 26.
Among the matters considered were the following:
Interim Search Committee. The Board approved the membership of the Interim Search Committee as follows: Chair, Vicki Pepper; Members: Tom Curteman, Georgia McKenna, David Skidmore, Mary Templeton. Information about the opening for an interim minister to start in late summer 2004 is now available on the UUA website to accredited UUA ministers. Other ministers interested in the position can contact Vicki for details.
Finances and Stewardship. Treasurer Brian Pepper reported that pledges are up significantly this year, with 18 pledges received by Easter for $39,500. Last year at the same time, the total was $22,000. [See Brian’s article on page 4 for the latest pledge figures.] The amount per pledge unit also has increased, an encouraging sign. The church recently has also received some significant gifts, including monies for the McKim Organ, which will help reduce the outstanding advance to be reimbursed to the church to $9,000; additional gifts for the initial phase of the organ project have been pledged and are expected.
Assistant Treasurer Clint McCully reported that the church’s insurer has terminated the current coverage, effective this summer, for reasons not given but apparently not specifically prejudicial to the church. Building usage coordinators Al Templeton and Paul Hannah have indicated they will look into options and make some suggestions for replacement coverage.
Budget Process. With regard to the May 2004-April 2005 budget, the Board discussed a three-pronged strategy to continue to try to hold expenses down but meet program needs:
Continue the 3 Sundays/month choir schedule used during 2003-4, but add a soloist for non-choir Sundays and an accompanist for summer services.
Use the high estimate for the interim minister's salary and expenses package.
Hold the line on other expenses, except where committees and coordinators know of specific needs.
Nominating Committee. The Board discussed potential names for the Nominating Committee, which will present a slate of officer and trustee candidates to the congregation at the annual meeting May 19. Moderator Greg Wigle agreed to contact those suggested for the committee.
Audit Committee. The Board agreed that a two-year audit be undertaken, since no audit was done last year, and discussed candidates to serve on the Audit Committee. Vice Moderator Vicki Pepper agreed to ask David Burton and Jeff Jacobs to serve.
Administration. Kathryn Desmond agreed to take on the role of Administrative Coordinator, which entails being a contact person for the church administrator on a range of administrative matters.
Building and Grounds. The Board briefly discussed decorative matters and display of art. Moderator Greg Wigle agreed to refer Richard Zierdt’s suggestions concerning replacing existing bulbs with low-energy fluorescent bulbs and re-aiming the pulpit spotlight to B&G coordinator Jorn Dakin.
Religious Education. Vicki Pepper reported that she, Sue Mosher, and Amir Morgan had lunch with Rev. Gina Campbell after Rev. Campbell preached at the March 29th service to discuss RE. Rev. Campbell might be available for further consultation this fall.
Welcome & Membership. Chair Sue Mosher reported on the committee’s recent “hospitality audit,” which identified several problem areas related to building appearance and facilities that have an impact on the impression that first-time guests receive when they visit our church -- accessibility, restrooms, signage, vestibule, state of plaster/paint, and water fountain. The Board discussed recent changes made in the order of worship (some of those changes suggested by the W&M committee and implemented by the liturgists in an effort to make the service bulletin more welcoming) and made suggestions for further refinements. The Board also discussed what changes in the order of worship might require wider discussion and a formal approval process, but did not come to any conclusions.
Sue also reported that 4-week ad campaign in the Washington Post leading up to Easter cost $625. One guest commented that she attended to hear “The Palms” on Palm Sunday after seeing the newspaper notice. The Board agreed that earlier and wider notice about the music program might help attract more people to our services.
The Board expressed appreciation for David Skidmore’s effort to involve some newer members and friends in taking up the offering during the service.
The Board briefly discussed the draft charter for the Committee. Vicki Pepper agreed to provide the Committee with further suggestions for their charter.
Worship. The Board made several suggestions to pulpit coordinators Rob Bertram and Richard Hurst for potential preachers. The Board agreed that the Maundy Thursday and Good Friday services went well and offered special thanks to Jennifer Sandburg for all her efforts in making them so meaningful. Sue Mosher noted that the liturgists have taken responsibility for the weekly order of worship since last summer, providing the church administrator with material and proofreading the final product.
Posted by Kimberly Durham Bates at April 30, 2004 12:14 PM