The Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Santa Fe » Congregational Care » Administration
UUCSF Administrative Changes
Owing to the growing needs of a changing congregation, the Board of Trustees asked the Personnel Committee to review and make recommendations regarding changes to the administrative structure of the congregation and to write job descriptions that describe the needed tasks.
Based on this request, the Personnel Committee determined that the financial and administrative requirements are too demanding and diverse to be adequately performed by only one full-time position. Therefore, we made the following recommendations to the Board of Trustees:
- Based on the changing and growing needs of the congregation, we recommend the creation of two positions, “Business Manager,” (3/4 time) and “Secretary,” (1/2 time).
- We also recommend that applications be requested and interviews be conducted for each position.
The BOT accepted these recommendations, with the full support of our minister.
We plan to advertise these new positions as soon as possible.
Bev Brunson,
Chair Personnel Committee
Tags:
Administration
Congregational Care
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Building Coordinators Asking for Your Scheduling Needs
Christina Barbachano and Bev Brunson are currently sharing the position of Building Coordinator. Either of us will be happy to help with any building scheduling that you need. If we are not available at 982-9674, ext. 14, please leave a message and we will return your call as soon as possible.
We’re also trying to get as many yearly events as possible on the calendar to avoid booking congregational events at the same time. This also includes off-site events, e.g., UUWF Women’s Retreat and Men’s Odyssey.
We would like to schedule:
- Board of Trustee meetings
- congregational meetings (semi-annual and annual)
- council meetings
- committee meetings that are on a fixed schedule
- RE events, and
- Adult RE events.
So please let us know as soon as you can about your scheduling needs.
Christina Barbachano and Bev Brunson
Tags:
Administration
Congregational Care
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Board of Trustees Puts Capital Campaign on Hold
At its May meeting the Board of Trustees voted to delay initiation of the Capital Campaign with the following statement:
The BOT had considered plans to hold a Capital Campaign following the Pledge Drive. Based on the report of the Pledge Committee, the board has decided to postpone any capital campaign and revisit the idea in six to twelve months. In making this decision, the board also took into consideration the current economic climate and rising construction costs.
Sally Sabo,
Secretary for the Board of Trustees
Tags:
Administration
Building Project
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Nominating Committee Seeks Expressions of Interest in Elected Posts
The Nominating Committee is charged with preparing a slate of officers and trustees for the UUCSF Board of Trustees and nominees to fill the following elected committees that serve the congregation: Audit, Nominating, Permanent Endowment, Personnel, and Religious Education. Nominees for all vacancies will be on the ballot at the semi-annual congregational meeting in November 2008, and posts will be filled by decision of voting members present at the congregational meeting.
A sheet describing Board of Trustee positions and the elected committees, including length of terms, is available in the office. The Nominating Committee encourages any member interested in serving the congregation in such a post to pick up a sheet and then to call or e-mail a member of the Nominating Committee for further information and to indicate your interest. Members are:
Helen Snoke
Chair, Nominating Committee
Tags:
Administration
Congregational Care
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Stewardship Canvass: May 9 Numbers
This may not be our final, final wrap-up, because new pledges may still come in, but as of May 9, 2008, here are some numbers for your consideration.
Our total to date is $314,590, from 263 pledge units. That’s an average of $1196 per unit, compared with last year’s average pledge of $1,065.
In addition, 35 new pledge units this year pledged $15,942, or an average of $455.
Nineteen pledge units declined to pledge in 08-09. They had pledged $10,358 in 07-08. We could amass a tidy sum if these people decide that they do want to pledge, after all.
There’s still time for you to see your name at the top of the stack of helping hands in the foyer. Why not join in?
Trish Steindler
Tags:
Congregational Care
Administration
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Covenant Corner: Year End Wrapup
The Covenant Group Steering Committee wrapped up its work on May 10 for the congregational year. Guidelines developed by the group for both facilitators and group participants were finalized in draft form, as were plans for several new groups. Member Programs Coordinator Roberta Shaw and an informal subcommittee will work through the summer to finalize the guidelines and propose new groups by the beginning of the new congregational year.
Maurice Webster
Tags:
Congregational Care
Administration
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Important Notice to All UUCSF Members
Please put a notation in the memo line of your check or contribution if it is toward your pledge. Otherwise, please indicate in the memo line exactly what it is for. Pledge monies are applied to any outstanding balance you may have and then to your 2008-09 pledge. We thank you for your help in this matter as we work to do the financial accounting for UUCSF.
Kathy Mannick
Tags:
Congregational Care
Administration
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Four Committees Urgently Need Your Help
Caring Committee
Millie Dew and I have acted as co-chairs of the Caring Committee for more than three years. In the spirit of “sharing the care,” we would like other members to step forward and take over the chairmanship.
Please call us if you would like more information on the workings of the committee.
Berta Hanna, Millie Dew
Chair, Caring Committee
Grounds Committee
Last October we sent out the call for a new chair for the Grounds Committee. Spring has come, and now we absolutely must activate the Grounds Committee. We have lots of volunteers for work parties, and Joan Farnum has volunteered to maintain the playground area. But we need a chair to organize activities and particularly to see to maintenance of the courtyard. The committee has a budget of $300 for supplies.
Please email or call me with your offer to chair this committee. Our grounds await TLC!
Karolyn Eisenstein
Trustee, Board of Trustees
Social Affairs Committee & Fund Raising Committee
The Board of Trustees is asking for volunteers for the Social Affairs Committee and the Fund Raising Committee. The Social Affairs Committee helps out by organizing food and refreshments when we have special social functions. The Fund Raising committee sponsors special events that raise money for the congregation. Please email or call me if you are willing to serve on either of these committees.
Gene Farnum
Trustee, Board of Trustees
Tags:
Congregational Care
Administration
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Congregational Council Meeting, Saturday, May 17, 9:00 a.m.
The next Congregational Council meeting of committee chairs and program conveners is scheduled in Fellowship Hall on Saturday, May 17. Come for coffee at 8:45; the meeting will run from 9:00 to noon. Although the bylaws call for a minimum of two meetings of the council per year, this committed and energetic group has elected to meet five times this year.
Come prepared to review goals accomplished this past congregational year and look ahead at next year. We’ll also discuss the final budget numbers voted for programs in the semi-annual congregational meeting on April 20.
Please call me regarding any questions or suggestions for the council work.
Angela Merkert
Vice President, Board of Trustees
Tags:
Congregational Care
Administration
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Lost and Found
A box labeled “Lost and Found” has been placed on the floor directly outside of the UUCSF office to have a central place for lost and found items. Should you find any articles, e.g., glasses, sweaters, or other things that have been left in the building, please deposit them in the box. Conversely, if you think you may have left an item in the building, please search the box!
Bev Brunson
Tags:
Congregational Care
Administration
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Looking for Building Keys
I am trying to update our Key Log, which is very out of date. Please let me know the number of keys you have and the ID# on the key. If you no longer need your key, please turn it in at the office. I’d appreciate an email or call at 982-9674, extension 14. Thanks.
Bev Brunson
Building Coordinator
Tags:
Congregational Care
Administration
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Call for Cooperation
As most of us know, our administrator, Pat Waganaar, has not been well in recent weeks. Pat is now on a short-term disability leave of absence. We offer warm wishes for her speedy recovery as she completes diagnosis, healing, and rest.
A team of volunteers, the UUCSF Task Force for Administration, has been assembled to handle essential administrative duties during her absence. A volunteer will be in the office to answer phones and act as receptionist from 9:00-noon weekdays, and several task force volunteers will frequent the office as they learn and do other jobs. Staff members Alice Springer and Roberta Shaw will have increased duties as well.
Additionally, Bev Brunson, Personnel Committee Chair, will act, per our policy manual, as Staff Supervisor during Reverend Furrer’s sabbatical, and as Building Use and Rental Coordinator for an unknown period of time.
We ask that you bear with and support our endeavors with particular patience and consideration during this unique period. Let’s make this a time we will all remember as one of cohesion and cooperation for us, and successful recovery for Pat.
George Weston
President, Board of Trustees
Tags:
Congregational Care
Administration
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Stewardship Canvass
We’re celebrating! We made our final report to the Board of Trustees last week, and as of April 14, our total is a bit higher, as last-minute pledges have come in.
The total amount received in our 2008 canvass is $309,130. This is by far the largest amount ever contributed in an annual canvass.
We are both delighted and thankful. We are thankful to each and every pledger. We are thankful to all of you who hosted pledge events, who attended these events, and who helped us with phone calls and word-of-mouth support. This wonderful outcome (and there are a few pledges yet to come in) would not have been possible without the generosity of the whole congregation.
We mailed confirmation of your pledges and your preferred method of payment on April 14. If any information contained in your letter is inaccurate, please let Trish Steindler know, either by e-mail or by phone.
Thank you from: Manley Allen, Wayne Coe, Oralynn Guerrerortiz, Esther Jones, Jim Preus, and Trish Steindler.
Tags:
Congregational Care
Administration
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The Stewardship Canvass
I’ve recently been re-thinking the upcoming fundraising canvass, and have begun to understand more clearly the differences between fundraising and stewardship. One difference is that while fundraising emphasizes the needs and goals of the recipient (which are important), stewardship addresses people’s spiritual need to give. It actually provides a service to the givers, in that it helps people discover their own generosity.
A successful canvass not only nourishes our programs, it nourishes us, because we experience the joy of being givers, of knowing that we are the custodians of our values and our vitality.
Does this thinking strike a chord with you?
Trish Steindler
Co-Chair, Pledge Committee
Tags:
Congregational Care
Administration
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President’s Report
Several congregants have expressed concern that the Board of Trustees seems focused on building on Rabbit Road—focused on “bricks and mortar” and not programs. In this column I will try to put that in perspective.
I believe that if we are successful in carrying out our congregation’s mission, we will grow and thus we must prepare for that growth. However growth per se is not our mission or goal.
Earlier this year the board developed goals for 2007-2008 as follows:
1) Develop, adopt, and implement a Congregational Covenant of Right Relations/Behavioral Covenant.
2) Enhance/expand communications within the congregation and increase the visibility of UUCSF in the larger Santa Fe community.
3) Address dissatisfaction among the congregation with the minister, space, and board.
4) Change our members’ minds; change the world toward Social Justice.
5) Strengthen financial health, short- and long-term.
We believe that reaching these goals is critical if we are to achieve our mission and a prerequisite to starting a capital campaign.
We understand that you get few and infrequent shots at a capital campaign and so we are being very pragmatic.
Building a lovely, “green” church on our Rabbit Road property is our vision and our goals are designed to make that appropriate…soon.
George Weston,
President, Board of Trustees
Tags:
Administration
Congregational Care
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Congregational Assessment Completed
The Committee on Ministry is pleased to bring you the good news that the report on the congregational assessment process and findings is completed. The report was presented to the Board of Trustees on September 26 and received the board’s endorsement at that time.
The Committee on Ministry plans to present the findings to the congregation at a special meeting after the second service on October 21. We have made copies of the report available in the office. We have also arranged for electronic copies to be sent to all members of the congregation who can receive e-mail.
This has been a long and complex process that has been deeply rewarding to the Committee on Ministry. Many people have helped us in our efforts. We would like to thank all of the facilitators and recorders. We also thank: each of the 127 people who participated; the board for their ongoing support; Nancy Bowen, our District Executive, for her help; Bill Mathews and Jim Kraemer for their technical and statistical expertise; and Pat Waganaar for helping us with electronic mailing. The finished product is something that many of you helped to co-create. It gives us a snapshot of ourselves at this moment in time in considerable depth.
Deborah Wimberly, Chair of Committee on Ministry
See “2007 Congregational Assessment” below.
Tags:
Congregational Care
Administration
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Consensus Workshop Scheduled
Our District Executive, Rev. Nancy Bowen, has agreed to lead a Consensus Workshop training session on Monday morning, October 29, from 9:00-1:30 at UUCSF. This workshop was produced by the Institute of Cultural Affairs. This model of how to hold a win-win meeting is excellent for committees or groups to learn how to hold a productive meeting. I encourage all who can to attend.
These are some of the common applications: coordinate departments with differing objectives; create a shared vision, goals, or objectives; set team priorities; agree on criteria for decisions; find common ground among parties with opposing views or perspectives; identify barriers or blocks to effective communications; motivate volunteers or team members; and restructure or realign job functions.
We want to have an actual topic around which we would like to build consensus. Then we can work on real issues. That will make the training more productive and the product more persuasive. (Note: The purpose of the meeting is not to discuss any particular topic.)
Attendees can make suggestions for topics. Please send them to me at uucsf@qwest.net or add your name and suggestion to the sign-up sheet in the foyer. The cut-off date for signing up is October 22.
We will take a 30-minute lunch break around 11:30. We ask that attendees bring a bag lunch. We will provide beverages.
Pat Waganaar, Administrator
Tags:
Congregational Care
Administration
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2007 Congregational Assessment
2007 Congregational Assessment
Click on the tag: Congregational Care, then click on the pink highlighted words “Congregational Assessment” to open the PDF file.
Tags:
Congregational Care
Administration
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Working on a Covenant of Right Relations
In response to concerns expressed in the Congregational Assessment and in keeping with the Board of Trustees’
own goals, a committee has been established to assist the congregation in formulating a covenant of right relations to make manifest the Covenant we all believe in as Unitarian Universalists. The committee consists of Robin Lackey, Lisa Kolberg, Mim Chapman, Jerry Rogers, and Sally Sabo, chair. Linda Whittenberg has consented to advise the committee.
The committee met for the first time on October 23. We agreed that we would rely on the wisdom and strength in the congregation to assess the needs voiced by some in the congregational assessment for a more civil and caring dialogue within the congregation. Based on that assessment, and with further input from the congregation, we will articulate values and behaviors that can serve as guidelines for us all in our dealings with each other as members of the congregation, and with others in our lives. The proposed covenant of right relations is not seen as set of rules to be strictly followed. We hope that it would encompass behaviors stemming directly from our Congregational Covenant that everyone can agree on and that we can refer to when difficulties arise.
It is hoped that a Covenant of Right Relations would be ready for a vote of the entire congregation at the April semi-annual meeting. To this end we propose to use the forum structure before services on three Sundays between now and the end of January. We invite all who would like to be a part of this endeavor to come, make suggestions, hear progress, and help us define our work.
We see this as one step in healing the fissures in the congregation and we invite all points of view.
Our first forum meeting will take place on Sunday, December 2, when we will more fully explain our aim and begin to receive feedback and suggestions.
We urge members of the congregation to come and participate.
Sally Sabo
Chair, Covenant of Right Relations Committee
Tags:
Congregational Care
Administration
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Space Options Committee Report
Space Options Committee Report
Tags:
Building Project
Administration
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