UPDATES FROM THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Written by Kera Beskin

Friends, the world feels foreboding. I work as a policy manager at a CountyCare, a Medicaid health plan. Medicaid is the government health insurance program for low income families, pregnant people, and people with disabilities. 20% of Illinois residents are on Medicaid. It is the largest funder of nursing homes and substance abuse treatment. Medicaid often provides life saving care. Professionally, I’m tasked with tracking what changes to Medicaid are coming and I am deeply worried about the future of this government program.

Since my dad was a farmer with variable annual income, my family was on Medicaid off and on throughout my life. My summers in rural Minnesota were filled with home grown sweet corn, pumpkins, and rhubarb. My mother was a proud Lutheran woman who had the Serenity Prayer tacked up in our kitchen. Recently, I have been reciting that prayer to myself and transporting myself back to the safe, warm, worry-free memories of childhood.

The Serenity Prayer forces me to focus on what I can control. I cannot control what the Trump administration will do with the Medicaid program. But I can call my representatives. I can call a friend and tell them I love them. I can donate to causes I care about. I can continue to work for the world I want to see. I can take time to rest. I can volunteer my time as a board member at the Unitarian Church of Evanston.

What can you do today to fill your spirit? What can you do to take care of yourself to continue the fight? What do you want to see for the Unitarian Church of Evanston? In these challenging times, we can come together. I encourage you to join the board of trustees at the Big Questions discussions in March or April as we focus on topics of accessibility and connection. Register on Realm.

March 22nd – on Zoom  10-11:15 am

March 30th – in person at UCE after worship 12-1:15pm

April 11th – in person at UCE 6:30-7:45pm

April 22nd – on Zoom 7-8:15pm

The Serenity Prayer

God, grant me the serenity

to accept the things I cannot change

the courage to change the things I can

and the wisdom to know the difference.

—Reinhold Niebuhr, 1892-1971

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Happy New Year to all and many thanks to the UCE members serving on our Board of Trustees, and to the staff supporting our work! 

It has been a productive six months for the Board. Since we are halfway through the church year, I’d like to note some of the significant work completed.

• Conducted a retreat in August resulting in 
  • an updated Board covenant and list of action items to enhance the Board’s leadership, 
  • use of an equity lens, 
  • more efficient meeting processes, 
  • preparation for UCE’s work with Anti-Racism/Anti-Oppression and the proposed revisions to UUA’s Article 2. 
• Approved participation in Evanston’s Interfaith Reparations Effort: Reparations, Reconciliation, and Repair, and launched and supported a fundraising campaign involving the UCE community.
• Approved Endowment Committee’s recommendation to fund four of the applications submitted for consideration by the October 31st deadline.
• Participated in the Anti-Oppression Task Force survey and received the results and recommendations of the consultants.
• Generated ideas for enhancing Board-Congregation engagement. 
• Received a presentation from the Membership Engagement Task Force-Leadership Development Team describing its newly developed leadership development guide.
• Supported a Green Team request regarding climate change goals and launched a committee to focus on reducing UCE’s carbon emissions by 2035.
• Provided feedback on the Endowment Task Force report recommendations.
• Received a report from the Membership Engagement Task Force-Communications Workgroup and identified Board liaisons to work with the group and staff on next steps.
• Sponsored a Social Justice Basket for the Serendipity Auction.
• Hosted a Holiday Staff Appreciation Party.
• Approved Elaine Siegel to complete the term of resigning trustee Jim Clark.
• Monitored UCE finances including income and expenses and received reports from Board officers and staff, including the Executive Limitations and Values Monitoring reports.
• Received reports from councils, committees, and workgroups, including ISC, CCIC, Endowment, Nominating and Recruiting Special Committee, and others, as well as board liaison reports for various councils and committees.
  Members are invited to observe our meetings. Future meetings will continue via zoom except for the May meeting which will be held in-person at UCE. Please contact me through Realm for more information. Hope to see you at a meeting this year! 

  Warmest Regards, Carla Williams, Board President