Boa

Finance Committee Update

Due to larger than budgeted expenses for utilities, insurance, and secretarial hours, a budgeted deficit to cover increases in minister and DRE cost of living, and  less than expected pledge payments in 2005, we ended 2005 approximately $6000 in the red. 

While it is typical for there to be several thousand dollars of the previous year’s pledges paid early the following year, this deficit is troubling given our already tight 2006 budget. 

As a result, the Finance Committee is reassessing the 2006 budget and will propose for discussion various scenarios to reduce our 2006 expenses at the February Board meeting.

If interested and/or concerned, please attend the meeting or speak to one of the Finance Committee members.  We do not anticipate any imminent changes being proposed to the Congregation for approval but want to start the dialog just in case.                

 

January Board Meeting Highlights

• Finance committee will review 2006 budget to suggest potential cuts after 2005 ends in deficit
• Reviewed proposal to change Lighted Chalice schedule; requesting feedback from congregation
• Building committee chair needed to replace Eric Thiel
• Assistant treasurer needed to replace Janice Thiel
• Long range planning committee members needed
• Membership levels under consideration            
• Internal audit committee needs one more member
• Pursuing "right of first refusal" with Red Cross for their facility
• Complete minutes can be found at https://uufolks.org/groups/board/minutes

 

Church mouse – Charles Coley & Elizabeth Sternke.
This month’s Church Mouse award goes to the Charles Coley and Elizabeth Sternke for their efforts in coordinating the Intergenerational Christmas Pageant. A warm and rewarding time was had by young and old alike.     

 

---

Minister on Sabbatical

This article ran in the Lighted Chalice in August 2005 and we are rerunning with some clarifications so that we can be on the same page.  In congregational communication – repetition is the soul of wit.

New opportunities have arisen for our minister to continue her professional scholarship - specifically, her study of Jenkin Lloyd Jones - through the Doctor of Ministry Program at Meadville /Lombard Theological School in Chicago and in her own independent study.

Hilary has been eligible for sabbatical during this, her sixth year of service. As of August 2005, she was eligible for five months of sabbatical.

She requested two months of leave, during November 2005 and February 2006.

The remaining months of her sabbatical have not been scheduled at this time.

This will be in addition to the Study/Vacation leave that she is annually due (usually taken in small bits and in the summer – but this time concentrated in January and July).  The Board was happy to give this to her for the benefit of her studies and for the history of our movement.

During this study leave, she will be available for emergencies such as death or impending death, family or personal crisis, severe illness, hospitalization, arrest, etc. You may contact her or receive help through:

Church Secretary—Karin Bergman, 742-0460, uuc@uulafayette.org

Pastoral Care Group:

Cheryl Fowler

Mary Ann Foley

Committee on Ministry:

Herschel Lewis

Beverly Seese

Ruth Ann Ferris 

Joan Marshall (chair)

Board Chairs:

Robin & Dianna Poindexter    dianna1@wildmail.com

Noemi Ybarra  nybarra@dcwi.com 

Barny Dunning   jdunning@purdue.edu

---

 

New Co-Chairs for New Space Committee

We have new Co-chairs for the New Space Committee - Alanna Steffen and Steve Nelson!  

They plan to schedule an informational meeting for the congregation sometime soon - hopefully in February or March - to share with the congregation what is happening and what we need to do next. 

---

Editors propose change in newsletter publication schedule

 “The Lighted Chalice” continues to be an important and effective means of communication for our congregation. For as long as any of us can remember, the newsletter has been published on a once every-two-weeks schedule. We (the newsletter editors) would like to propose that we move to a once-a-month schedule. The primary reasons for this proposed change are:

1. Cost savings—we estimate (roughly) a potential cost savings of about $1,000/year.

2. Savings in staff time—the already overworked secretary will gain two or more hours per month with the proposed change.

3. Savings in volunteer time—each issue requires approximately 20 hours or more of volunteer effort.

4. Growth in alternative methods for church communication—in recent years, new ways of sharing news and communicating with and among the congregation have developed, including: church website, e-mail, and the Sunday Order of Service. The newsletter now often contains announcements repeating what already reaches the congregation in other timely ways.

Additional notes and comments:

This would obviously be a major change for the congregation. We propose that we try the new monthly schedule for a year and then re-evaluate.

Although we have not taken a survey, we know anecdotally that a monthly newsletter schedule is common among churches.

Some people have asked whether members could choose whether to receive their newsletter in print or by e-mail. This raises many questions, such as: Who would prepare the e-newsletter? Would this cause additional work for the church secretary in terms of gathering and maintaining additional information in the database (re: who gets it by e-mail and who gets it by postal mail)? An additional concern is the fact that we must have 200 pieces of mail to qualify for bulk mail rates. Perhaps an alternative would be to send announcements by e-mail when needed, to everyone who is on the newsletter mailing list and who has e-mail.

There may be other issues, concerns, and questions relating to this proposal. The Board Trustees and the editors invite you to share comments, questions and concerns. Please contact any one of us, or e-mail lightedchalice@yahoo.com. The Board will be considering the proposal at the Feb. 14 meeting. 

Newsletter editors:

Lynn Holland

Nancy Patchen

Kaye McSpadden

 

---

 

UU History trivia.

Our congregation began in 1949 when a group of 15 people met in the homes of members to establish a Unitarian Fellowship.

 

---

Outdoor Group Meeting at Celery Bog

The Outdoor Group is planning a walk through and around the Celery Bog for Sunday, Jan. 29.  We'll meet at the Bog parking lot at 1:30 p.m.  Trails include paved, grass and mulch/stone.  Dogs are of course always welcome and children are a lovely addition. We'll walk as fast/slow as the group wants. If you have questions, contact Tandy Easler.

Religious Education Happenings 
 

RE Co- Directors Sarah Boulac and Michele Tomarelli

Last weekend, Charles Coley, Chris Falley, and Linda Temple-Sandison attended training in Columbus, Ohio to become trained in Kindergarten – 1st Grade and 4th – 6th Grade OWL facilitation. 

With our facilitators fresh from their training, we look forward to expanding our OWL offerings and beginning classes for these groups in the very near future.  Stay tuned for more information about scheduling!

Our Whole Lives (OWL) is a series of sexuality education curricula that were written together by the UUA and the United Church of Christ Board for Homeland Ministries.  Through these curricula, accurate and age appropriate information is offered in effort to "help participants to clarify their values, build interpersonal skills, and understand the spiritual, emotional, and social aspects of sexuality."

Curricula are available not only for Grades K-1 and 4-6, but also for Grades 7-9, 10-12 and Adults.  We offer OWL for 7th – 9th graders every other year and you can look for it again next year (2006-2007).

We are also exploring the addition of 10th – 12th Grade OWL.

The Kindergarten – 1st Grade OWL class consists of eight sessions plus a parent meeting and parent/child orientation.  This class is designed to "support parents in educating children about birth, babies, bodies and families… [and] promote dialogue between parent and child."

While the curriculum and training for the upper elementary grades targets 4th through 6th grades, the class is intended to include either 4th and 5th graders, or 5th and 6th graders (or a single grade) depending on the needs of the congregation.  It has not yet been decided which age range we will target in our congregation. 

This class consists of eight sessions plus a parent meeting and "participants [will] learn about and discuss the physical and emotional changes of puberty…. and examine topics such as values and sexuality, communication and decision making."

The RE Committee is very excited to offer these very important classes and we are grateful to Charles, Chris, and Linda for taking the time to attend this training and make these classes available to our congregation.  I encourage parents of Kindergarten – First Graders and Fourth – Sixth Graders to get in touch with either Michele or me to let us know if your interest. 

More information about scheduling will be coming soon.  In the meantime, feel free to ask me your questions, check out http://www.uua.org/owl/, or contact one of our freshly trained facilitators!

 

~ Sarah

Announcements:

 

* Please note that Sarah Boulac is experiencing technical difficulties and, for the time being, is best reached by phone.

Communications not requiring a timely response can be sent by email.

 

* Our RE Classes are in need of snacks and juice! Donations of low-sugar non-perishable snacks (less than 10 grams of sugar) and apple juice can be left in the kitchen with a note "For RE."  Our Nursery is in need of donations of Cheerio-type cereal, graham crackers, and bottled water.  These donations can also be left in the kitchen.

 

* Guest At Your Table Boxes can be returned to the box in the back of the sanctuary through January 29.  They will be counted after that date with the total reported in the following Lighted Chalice.

Remember to make checks payable to the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee and fill out the form on the top of the box.

 

RE Teacher schedule:

 

January 29th

Preschool Teacher: A. Dooley

Preschool Helper:  K. Reynolds

K-1 Class: K. Harden

2-4 Class:  K. Coder

 

February 5th

Preschool Teacher:  TBD

Preschool Helper:  TBD

K-1 Class:  TBD

2-4 Class:  K. Coder