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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