At the urging of our interim minister, Rev. Karen Gustufson, and in response to concerns expressed by members of the Nominating and Recruiting Committee, the Board has determined to form a Nominating and Recruiting Task Force.  If you are interested in becoming a member of this Task Force, please send an email to Joe Romeo, (BoT@UCEvanston.org)  by May 31.  We want to form a group that will bring as many different perspectives as possible to this endeavor.  If you know someone who would be an excellent addition to this task force, please encourage them to contact Joe.  

The Task Force will review the policies and procedures that support and guide the work of the Nominating & Recruiting Committee, which is charged with creating a slate of candidates for elected leadership roles for consideration at the UCE annual meeting. Their work is done in alignment with our UU principles and with the specific goal of minimizing bias and widening the circle among those invited, nominated, and elected. This Task Force is a temporary group whose specific purposes will be defined through discussions and surveying of the Nominating & Recruiting Committee and the congregation. We hope that this work will be completed by winter, 2023. 

The Task Force will consist of fewer than ten members. It is the goal of those organizing this task force that it will be representative of all UCE members.  In particular, we are looking for a member who has recruitment experience in a professional and/or volunteer capacity. 

The members of the Task Force will work collaboratively.  The Task Force will also be soliciting recommendations from the congregation.  The end result will be for the Task Force to present the committee’s findings to the Board, and then, if Bylaw changes are recommended, those would be presented to the congregation at the annual May meeting in 2023.  If you have any questions, please contact BoT@UCEvanston.org. 

The bulk of the meeting was spent considering the preliminary 2022-23 budget prepared by the Budget Working Group and the Integrated Stewardship Committee.  Obviously, it is very challenging to plan without knowing the exact impact Covid will have on our income next year. And it is a further challenge to adjust to the fact that the $72,000 federal Payroll Protection grant which helped so much last year and this, will not be repeated.  Other important factors we took into account include our goal of allowing our staff to keep up with inflation in a time when inflation is high and our income is uncertain. And of course, we would like to increase our UUA support to the full fair share level. 

The Board approved the preliminary budget and a hopeful and challenging pledge drive goal after thoughtful review and discussion. 

We also approved a motion to pursue holding a vote at the annual meeting regarding UCE signing a letter in support for the current HR 40 bill which calls for a federal study of reparations for those still impacted by our nation’s history with respect to slavery. 

The next Board meeting is on February 17 at 7 pm via Zoom. All are invited.  

At our regular November meeting, we devoted considerable attention to Board priorities regarding the pending annual pledge drive and the 22/23 UCE budget.  We realized that this will be a challenging year, financially.   

We developed a balanced budget this year despite the loss over the last couple years of significant rental income and the loss of our largest pledge, due to changes in their circumstances.  This happened with important increases in pledges and to a nonrecurring $72,000 federal PPP grant.    

The first pass for next year, which importantly aims to maintain current programs and staff, projects an operating shortfall of about $46,000.  (This does not include any additions to programming or personnel.)  

The Board has asked the Budget Working Group to look for new resources and to consider using existing resources in different ways to increase funds available for the budget.   

We also discussed a proposal that Endowment funds cannot be used for issue advocacy.  Our research has shown that we can indeed use any of our resources to advocate for issues which support our UU values, as long as we stay within the IRS rules in this regard.  Our present and past activities have stayed within federal requirements.  A special Board meeting will be held December 15 for the purpose of considering the grant applications submitted by the October 31 deadline. 

More routine issues included policy governance monitoring of Treatment of Staff and Compensation and Benefits, noting that some of our staff positions pay below the UUA mid-point for metropolitan congregations of our size. 

The next regular Board meeting is December 16 at 7:00 PM via Zoom. All are welcome.

The October 21st UCE Board meeting focused on the following. 

There was considerable discussion of the first chapters of Unlocking the Power of Covenant, which the BoT is reading and recommends to interested UCE members.  We considered such questions as the connections between theology and Widening the Circe of Concern, how social justice relates to our goals, and the importance of taking a fresh look at the UCE Covenant of Engagement and Ends Statements. 

The Treasurer reported that we are still tracking closely to budget. 

The ISC will support a Board Task Force to look carefully at next year’s budget, considering particularly the implications regarding the fact that the $72,000 federal PPP grant will not be repeated and we have lost of an important member due to age related life changes.  This will help the Board and the membership consider how to maintain and even hopefully expand our programs. 

The next Trustees meeting will be on Thursday, November 18 at 7 PM via Zoom.  All are welcome. 

The Board spent considerable time in lively discussion regarding whether it is possible to increase the share of Sunday collection loose plate donated to outside racial and social justice organizations without reaching conclusion.  While tempting in principle, next year will be a very tight budget year, so there is a conflict between being responsible stewards or our resources and expanding our generosity and commitment to Anti-Racism. 

Fitting the current external justice environment, our new called minister, and our ability to come back to meeting in person, we approved new UCE annual goals, which will be presented soon in greater detail.   

The Board began planning for the upcoming pledge drive.  Planning will include a careful look at our budget challenges and priorities, in concert with the ISC, and continued communication with you, the congregation, to be sure we are keeping our financial commitments, and board priorities consistent with those of the UCE membership. 

The Treasurer reported that we are tracking closely to our annual budget and that 21/22 financial goals are in reach thanks in large part to US SBA forgiveness of the 2020 PPP loan. 

The curious power of sticky dots. Who knew? The board used them during our retreat in August. Each member had some on hand in several cheerful colors. During open, creative, and intense discussions about UCE’s goals for the coming year, the dots were used to mark key themes and actions on long lists —indicating priorities and levels of support.

Dots colored green, red, blue, and yellow to show our shared commitment to social justice, dismantling white privilege, community building, finance. Details of which will come your way soon.

And there they were again at our first Sunday back in the building. For our name tags: Green dot for hugs. Yellow dot for elbow bumps. Red dot for distance.

The little stickers defined our readiness for contact. Whatever the choice, joy connected each dot . As direct and simple as Rev. Eileen’s opening greeting after 18 uncertain months:

“Hi.”

No mistaking the loud and prolonged cheer that erupted from those assembled, and our beloved Zoom family.

As mentioned earlier, the board, ministers, and staff will soon be sharing with you the work of recent meetings, and aspirations for real action in the coming months.

Mobs of green dots for each of you.

In love and service,

Ally Hunter

* SNAP LINE, carpentry: a tool to draw a line between two points (ok, sticky dots), a guide.