Last evening our 2018-2019 Integrated Stewardship Team had its first meeting. This year will be a busy year with all things financial at UCE. We voted to expand our member-at-large membership to include three congregants, which gives us more coverage for various working groups. Members of the ISC are Sandra Robinson, EOD and Staff Lead;

Susan Comstock, UCE Treasurer; Ann Peterson, Capital Campaign Chair; Amy Dooley, Endowment Chair; Tom Ticknor, Budget Working Group; Marianne Griebler, Information Working Group (REALM) and Penny Doyle – members-at-large. Rev. Greg Stewart, ex-officio, Budget Working Group; with Rev. Eileen Wiviott, ex-officio and Susan Frances, Ministerial Intern, ex-officio. A new Secretary position was formed this year and is served by Susan Carlton. Martha Holman and Jean Kerl are Board Liaisons.

UCE has many things happening this coming year that relate to ISC responsibilities: the proposed capital campaign which is now in the feasibility study stage; enhanced distribution amounts available for endowment, a new membership database that will change and enhance our ability to reach members and provide information; and the need to further educate our congregation about Stewardship and support of our Operating Budget.

Updates on our building and grounds . . . Clean up work was done on the east lawn by the annex area. Weeds were pulled and dug and additional topsoil was added to improve the drainage angle away from Room 2 door. Mulch was added to the area. Bushes on the west side along the annex were trimmed, as well as the lilac bushes. Debris was removed.

A new drain pipe was added to move water away from the building. Apparently, the water removal pipe had been smashed by a construction truck and covered by soil after completion of the project. This was uncovered during exploration and work on the east side. The crushed pipe was causing back up of water to the annex roof and pushed water down into Room 2 during the last two heavy rains.

I have been seeking bids on tree trimming as well as parking lot patching.

My two co-leads on Buildings and Grounds will meet on Wednesday to discuss the roof, and bids that are on their way for replacement of the annex roof, as well as drainage of the roof deck and gutters.

Michael Skilton and Julia Takarada continue their work on the automatic doors. Revised drawings and information has been provided to the preservation department, as requested by the City of Evanston. Mike and Julia have developed a budget that includes costs of the doors and electrical work. A donation was made to UCE for this project.

Beth Emet’s last day of space sharing is September 1. After the high holidays their Director and I hope to have our congregations gather for a celebration together. This has been a satisfying journey together with Beth Emet services and soup kitchens held at UCE over the summer.

Clean-up of the lower level floors, classrooms and other areas of the church will be deep cleaned and prepared for Ingathering Service on Sunday, September 9 at 10 a.m.

A celebration of the LULA will take place after the Ingathering Service. Gratitude abounds for the generous donation by MaryBeth and Kinnie Smith and various other members of the congregation and staff. Thank you for your contirbutions. This was a long, important process that involved Staff, Buildings and Grounds and the Accessibility and Inclusion Team. We all learned more about what it means to be universally accessible and to learn to work on a challenging project in good covenant with one another. I am proud to have been a part of this addition to our church building which will make us more welcoming for all who enter.

We begin our year with our new Interim Sr. Minister. I am excited and grateful we are off to such a good start.

Please contact me at any time if you have questions, concerns or just want to share something of importance about the building, grounds or programs which relate to my areas of responsibility. My door is always open and my email is srobinson@ucevanston.org.