Greetings from your Executive Operations Director 2-4-2024

This weekend at UCE was a special one for me. The feeling of community at Barbara Young’s memorial and at the Sunday service was rich and meaningful. The true essence of what it is like to truly be there for one another was right before us. The memorial captured the story of Barbara J. Young’s life and her connection with friends and to UCE.  

Perhaps that experience deepened my own connection as I make this transition leaving at the end of June after 22 years. The “Reflection” by Lina Hilko touched my heart, as I am sure it did for many in the room. We all come from different places, different spiritual experiences, and some no religious or spiritual background at all.  We have all found a path to UCE. Kathy Underwood’s children’s story “The Water Bearer’s Garden” captured my attention. Of course, a story about ceramic pots is ever so appealing, but the leaky pot which caused such grief and guilt for the water bearer proved to be a beautiful blessing as it created a garden over time. Most often, our brokenness and challenges take on a different meaning when we realize that good can come from them.  

As I milled about after the service, I encountered warm and curious comments about my upcoming retirement. I felt loved and appreciated. Working 30 hours this year has provided a transition period, one that has incorporated rest, creativity, and productivity into one satisfying life. It was a difficult adjustment initially, but all has taken on new meaning over time. I have enjoyed mentoring Adam and feeling his growing care of our building and grounds.  I am beginning to train Suzanne to take on rentals. I am leaving a paper and electronic trail on the many responsibilities I have held. I have created important spreadsheets, documents and information held in our UCE Root File for historical reference. Rev. Eileen Wiviott, Rev. Susan Frances, Vickie Doebele, Adam Gough and Suzanne Lis Daley will each take a part of the responsibilities I have held these past many years. UCE Member Michael Drennan will shadow me in the months ahead to learn the art of watering and nurturing our indoor plants. This makes me happy.   

I have and will continue to share my knowledge over the next five months with a feeling of trust that all will be in good hands and hearts going forward.   

Our first Rummage Sale planning meeting with Co-Leads Gillian Lawrence and Lynn Kendall was held Saturday afternoon. We are so lucky to have these two women with different skills and experiences to lead the way. Each have spent many hours working on the UCE Rummage Sale and will be terrific leaders. Renee Hoff has agreed to do publicity again this year. Her leadership on publicity has been extraordinary and without a doubt increased visibility of the sale within the congregation as well as outside our doors. Thank you to the three of them for stepping up to manage this important UCE fundraiser and important event for recycling, reuse, and connection with the community at large.   

We have found the Integrated Stewardship Council member-at-large we were seeking. Kristin Larsen has stepped up to fill this role and next year will serve on the Budget Working Group. Thank you, Kristin. Your financial knowledge and professional perspective will add to the ISC. C.J. Presto, as many know, will return as UCE Treasurer. Tom Carlton has done a stellar job serving us for the past three years. We are staying with our commitment to Tom to limit his term to three years.  We commend both these fine financial experts in their generosity of time to help UCE continues its healthy trend moving forward. When Tom steps down as Treasurer, Susan Carlton will also step down as ISC Secretary. If you, or someone you know at UCE would be a good fit for this position, please let me or Rev. Eileen Wiviott know.   

If you, your family, friends or acquaintances are seeking a space to hold a meeting, memorial, wedding or event, please let me know. The meeting rooms are excellent for board meetings and group gatherings as there is state of the art multi-platform equipment which enables groups to be in the room and see others on zoom. Our sanctuary is a beautiful space with wonderful acoustics for music performances and even for recordings. Keep us in mind as we try to utilize our space and meet the budget set before us for rentals. We make each experience special.   

In closing, I will continue to “Build a Meaningful Day” each day. Over the next five months I will cherish my time with staff and the congregation.  

Greetings from your Executive Operations Director 11-24-2023

As we enter into this Holiday Season of giving thanks, our hearts are heavy with the grief that pervades our world. May we take moments this Thanksgiving to be grateful for love, health, family, and friends who surround us and give us strength.  May we sustain one another.

As I write this newsletter article, I am thinking of our beloved Barbara Young who left us on November 15. I am grateful to our pastoral care team and caring committee, and most specifically Ann McCallister and Becky Taveirne for the time, care and bonds of friendship that created a sense of family for Barbara this past year. I feel fortunate to have been a part of her life and enjoyed the lilt in her voice as she proudly talked of the hours she spent at UCE preparing the newsletter, filing and other tasks I might assign. I had no idea how much that meant to her. She loved UCE and enjoyed the group of women who surrounded her in these past months. We will miss her. I am grateful for her presence in my own life.

Life at UCE is ever-evolving as I head toward my final months there.  I am enjoying mentoring Adam Gough as he learns the many details of caring for our building. So much love has gone into taking care of UCE’s buildings and grounds over the years. I experienced such joy and satisfaction working with Bud Brock, Dick Whitaker, Alex Sproul, and Bill Fischer. There were others as well in recent years, Robb Geiger, Greg Grabowski and Michael Drennen. I spent many years learning about the building, and I am now passing on that love and care to Adam as he takes on these responsibilities.

It has become a place of beauty, warmth and welcoming. On December 10 we will dedicate the lower level accessible and inclusive bathrooms, as well as the renovation of the nursery. Please join us after the service in the lower level to experience some of these projects that contribute to the accessibility and comfort for all who enter.

I am incredibly proud of Chris Allender and her amazing team. I know that Cathy Deamant was a key team member and there were many others. What a wonderful night of celebration. It seems that the dancing was a release of the many months we could not be together, and now could finally truly be together in joy and comradery. I can say for sure that I have not seen that many UCErs dancing in our sanctuary. Chris and team created a new auction format and did so very successfully, exceeding our financial goal and providing a fair and equitable format for all to feel welcome. Thank you team!

As crowds return to UCE, we are also experiencing an uptick in rentals. Many months of marketing and hard work have gone into restoring our successful rental program. It appears we may be turning a corner as we had Shorefront Legacy in October, Infant Welfare Society is signing on. These are two of the first not-for-profits who ventured out into the world of fundraising once more. Shorefront’s event hosted 275 people and it was a wonderful event with many of us from UCE in attendance. Evanston Symphony Orchestra rehearses at UCE on Tuesday evenings, North Shore Choral had a concert in our sanctuary last week. Let’s keep our fingers crossed as we continue to sign on rentals which are an important part of our UCE budget.

On an important financial note, please remember to open your pledge statements when they arrive in your email. This is the way we check our records against yours and inform congregants of their open balances. If members and friends continue to pay pledges, fundraisers continue to be successful and rentals continue to grow, we will end our fiscal year in the black. Thank you for your time, talent and treasures as we seek to accomplish our work in the world. Lastly, please provide me with names of individual who would be interested in taking on the UCE Treasurer role to succeed Tom Carlton. The ISC is also looking for one to two new members-at-large to serve on our council. Email me at srobinson@ucevanston.org if you are interested or have suggestions.

Greetings from your Executive Operations Director 10-20-2023

 Staff has been busy preparing for Shorefront Legacy’s Gala honoring Dino Robinson in our sanctuary Saturday evening. This is an important night for many of our UCE members attending. We have 18 congregants as well as staff including Rev. Eileen Wiviott, Liz Kennedy, Steven Eason and myself attending. We are grateful to the efforts of Dino Robinson for providing the history to support the case for Reparations in Evanston, the history of Redlining and other important racial equity initiatives, as well as creating a black history archive in Evanston through the formation of Shorefront Legacy several years ago.  

In our last newsletter and in member-to-member Facebook, we requested leads for a lobby monitor substitute. We are seeing an uptick in building usage and are preparing to have events and meetings covered so that the entire responsibility does not fall to Dan Baer and Kathy Talmage. Dan covers Sunday mornings and Kathy covers weeknights and some Sunday afternoons. Jeannie McCullough has agreed to be our substitute. Starting next Sunday Jeannie will be in the lobby for two Sundays. Please stop by and say hello.

 Serendipity Auction is also right around the corner. Chris Allender has done a super job of coordinating leaders and discovering new and different ways to run our annual fundraising event. Please go to our website and explore the auction page. There are three extraordinary raffle prizes this year and you can start buying tickets now at uce@ucevanston.org UCE t-shirts can also be ordered or you can make a cash donation if you know you can’t attend or feel you want to help support our fundraising efforts. Chris says she still needs volunteers and items from congregants. There is a terrific guide in the same website page that gives ideas for events you could put together for our congregation to bid on. Please plan to attend the preview party on Saturday, November 11 from 4-5:30 and the Serendipity Auction on Saturday, November 18. Purchase your auction meal today and join us for a spectacular evening of fun/fundraising. For questions or more information email  auction@ucevanston.org .

Our rental program feels as if it is expanding. Evanston Symphony Orchestra is committed to several weeks of rehearsals between now and the spring. We are so pleased to welcome them to our sanctuary space on Tuesday evenings. Skunkwerks, who you may recall, held a dance competition last year featuring youth from the south and west sides who performed an extraordinary dance performance on a Saturday in our sanctuary. Skunkwerks has signed on again this year for several rehearsals and workshops and has committed to return in 2024 for their next season of dance performances. Weavers Guild of the North Shore has returned once a month on Thursdays throughout the 2023-24 season. And, of course, we are always grateful for Udumbara, our regular monthly renter for many years now. Several memorial services have been held and are scheduled this year. Not only is rental income a significant part of our budgeted income, but thousands of guests enter our doors who discover who we are.  

Our Capital Campaign is winding down. Only two projects are left to complete. One is our sanctuary chairs which are scheduled for delivery later this year, and two remaining tasks in our Intergenerational Playscape Garden. Please join us on November 18 after the service for a dedication of the renovated lower level washrooms. Both are inclusive and the west bathroom is accessible with a new large stall, taller toilet, and automatic doors for easy entrance and exit.  

I continue to train Adam Gough as he has taken on Buildings & Grounds responsibilities as of July 1, 2023.  Adam and I enjoy our work together and have accomplished several important tasks so far. I will continue to advise and share knowledge with Adam until June 30, 2024 when I retire from UCE. I am available 30 hours per week and can be reached at srobinson@ucevanston.org  My hours vary based on the projects I am handling, but basically, I am here Tues/Wed/Thurs and Sunday mornings. If I do not immediately answer your email it is because I am not checking work email on the days I am not working.  

One other note: UCE pledge statements were just sent. Please check your spam or promotional mailboxes to make sure you receive an email from UCE by October 20th. Thank you.

Greetings from your Executive Operations Director 9-14-23

Ingathering provided a meaningful and wonderful way to reconnect with one another as we enter a new season. I delighted in seeing new families and many children and babies in our midst. Our future depends on the presence, time, treasure and talents the next generation brings to our community. It was a pleasure to be there to begin our new season, and the last ingathering I will be with all of you. There is much work ahead to prepare for the future of UCE.  

On Saturday of September 9, from 8 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. fifteen UCE congregants and staff received CPR and First Aid by two Evanston paramedics. This was an empowering experience, and yet fun to learn these skills together. The training was funded by our UCE Endowment Fund. More details from a participant will be included in a future newsletter.  

Life has been interesting and rewarding as I adjust to my 30-hour schedule. I am enjoying my time with Adam Gough, mentoring him and sharing my years of experience and information as he assumes the Buildings and Grounds responsibilities.  

I continue as Staff Lead of the Integrated Stewardship Council and am involved in the same activities that relate to finance – approval of invoices, expense management, and supervision of accounting and financial procedures. I am continuing as a member of the Capital Campaign Implementation Committee, following up on the many projects I have been involved in over the past five years. We are nearing completion of our tasks as a committee with only a few details here and there to be done. The final project will be complete upon installation of the sanctuary chairs later this year.  This fall we will celebrate the lower-level bathroom renovations. For those of you who have not yet seen them, please do wander downstairs and take a look. The west bathroom is fully accessible now with an automatic button for entrance and exit. One of the stalls was removed to make room for one large stall with a higher toilet and pull up bars alongside. A wheelchair can now easily traverse this bathroom. The east bathroom received a facelift with new sinks, paint, flooring and stalls that go down to a few inches off the floor for greater privacy. Our goal is to provide accessibility and inclusion for everyone.  

Please bear with us over the next two weeks as staff moves through logistical challenges of floor restoration in the wing. For two weeks starting Monday, September 18 through Friday, September 29, the lobby and wing floors will be cleaned, stripped, and waxed.  This process will ensure greater wear and longevity as the surface of our floors will be sealed and protected. Suzanne, Liz and Vickie will be working in other offices in the building on some days during that period as furniture will be moved out to work on the office floor. If you call the office or have difficulty reaching someone or you cannot enter the west entrance on any particular day we apologize for the inconvenience.  

Rentals are keeping me busy as I continue to build the program after the dramatic drop off during closure.  We are just beginning to see new interest in having weddings, and larger special events. Memorials and music programs have been our strongest area of growth. The Evanston Symphony Orchestra now rehearses in our UCE sanctuary, Udumbara Buddhist Sangha is with us still, as well as Weavers of the North Shore. We will host a new renter, Modern Quilters and welcome the return of Skunkwerks when they sponsor dance competitions in November and December.  

On October 21, Shorefront Legacy will hold their 25th Anniversary Celebration (Our History, Our Future) honoring the work of Dino Robinson founder of Shorefront Legacy Center and an important leader in our community, including a strong leadership role in Reparations.  Tickets are still available. See more information in the article below. Martha Holman is coordinating table and individual ticket sales at UCE. We want to show our support of Dino, this organization, and to be part of this wonderful community event and meaningful event.  Please read the article in this newsletter and respond to Martha Holman. Her information is included in that piece.  

Greetings from your Executive Operations Director

Happy Fourth of July weekend. I hope you and your families enjoy the holiday and that the air quality improves so that all of us are safer and remain healthy. Our office will be open for a half day on Monday and closed on Tuesday, the 4th of July.

Below are important updates on our finances, buildings and grounds, rentals, and administrative details. Please contact me for more information or if you have questions at srobinson@ucevanston.org

This month Vickie Doebele and I have been preparing for the end of the 2022/23 Fiscal Year. If you have not finished your pledge payments, please do so today. Even if you get your pledge check to us by Sunday it can be credited toward this fiscal year. We hope to end the year with a net income rather than a loss. Given that rentals have been so challenging this year, we are counting on our successful fundraisers and pledges to carry us through to that end.

I’ve been busy training Adam on Buildings and Grounds responsibilities he will take on July 1. We have had fun together walking through the building, watering the gardens, gathering bids for the parking lot repairs and sealcoating. Adam will work with Robb on the management of that project once we get the bids in. RFPs were sent last week seeking quotes.

Robb and I have been attempting to address a situation in the sanctuary that involves seepage and spalling in the sanctuary where the walls meet the roof. We have tried hiring a structural engineer who can identify any serious issues that need to be addressed before repairing the area. Robb, co-lead and Adam, staff lead for buildings and grounds will work on this project together once an engineer is interviewed and hired.

Security Cameras will be installed in various locations throughout the inside of the building and one which includes a flood light at the south end of the building. This is a Capital Campaign project that Adam and I have been working on for the past several months. Adam, after much research, has purchased the cameras and has installed boosters throughout the building to support them.

The cabinet for the lower-level accessible bathroom has arrived and will be assembled in the weeks ahead. New light fixtures were installed in each of the two stalls in the east bathroom and the one stall in the west bathroom. The lighting in the rooms is much improved.

On the Administrative front, Eileen and I have made changes to the UCE Compensation Guidelines, with the Board’s approval, to provide health insurance coverage for employees working 30 hours or more. Our previous policy was 40 hours. We are now working on changes to the guidelines, which we will propose to the board, that provides Life & Disability benefit to employees working 30 hours or more. Currently that benefit is for full time employees. It is our goal to provide as much coverage for as many employees as possible. These two changes move us toward to that goal.

Rentals are picking up slightly during this last quarter of the year. We have had and continue to rent for memorials. Craig Sieben, who grew up in this church, was wed here on Saturday. Large fundraisers and big music events are fewer post-pandemic. However, we will welcome North Shore Choral Society in November for a concert. In November and December, we will also welcome back Skunkwerks, a dance studio which sponsors a competition between youth from the south and west side of Chicago who participate in an exciting dance in our sanctuary. Check out our website Ucevanston.org home page and scroll down on the left side to the rentals section to enjoy a video of last year’s dance competition.

Stay tuned for more information about our November auction. Planning meetings are in progress currently. Volunteers to serve in a variety of ways would be greatly appreciated. If you think you might like to be a part of this fun fundraiser, please contact me and I will pass your name along to the organizers or contact Chris Allender directly.

Greetings from your Executive Operations Director

This has been a full month as we wind down the fiscal year. Please check your email as Vickie Doebele has sent end of the 2022/23 fiscal year statements. Our hope is that all or most of the outstanding pledge payments can be made prior to June 30. Thank you for your financial support and the gifts that you bring to UCE through your time, talent and treasure.

This past weekend Peter Mayer performed to an intimate audience. While the crowd was not 100 as we had worked for and hoped for, it was nothing less than warm and engaging. Peter played with such feeling and connected to the audience. Thank you for Marcy Hicks and Dave Schroeder, my dependable concert volunteers who checks attendees in and sold tickets at the door. A special thanks to Renee Hoff and Paul Alfassa for purchasing items for the café, set up and selling. I could not have done this concert without them.

Please note the “Hats Off” to our dedicated team of rummage sale volunteers who led us to a financial gain, grossing more than $10,000 over our budgeted $15,000 income goal. Our follow-up for improving the experience for all involved continues.

The lower level bathrooms are complete, with the exception of a cabinet to go along the west wall of the west bathroom. Because it is an old bathroom, several old pipes had to be cut off leaving unsightly pieces protruding from the wall. We will place a cabinet there to provide storage and create a more visibly pleasing space. New partitions were installed in both bathrooms that provide privacy as they go 6” above the floor. A handicap button was installed for easy access if one is in a wheelchair or on a walker. The east bathroom has a new countertop and beautiful deep porcelain sinks. Do check out the addition of accessible and inclusive bathrooms in our lower level.

The lawns are blossoming and creating joy as the summer approaches. You will notice a new bench by the tree on the west lawn that was donated in memory of Raissa Landor and her mother by Raissa’s daughters. This week, we added a bench at the front of the garden near the parking lot. The pathway from Greenwood and a bench in that location was a dream that John LaPlante had for many years, but did not quite live to see it happen. Once Rev. Wiviott returns we will have a dedication ceremony to name the bench in honor of John. In the Intergenerational Playscape, a birdbath is being added. Robb Geiger is installing the birdbath. A small solar disc will go into the center of the water to create a small spray of water. This will be a visual and auditory addition to our garden as well as a source of water for our many birds.

Robb Geiger, Greg Grabowski and I are meeting with a structural engineer next week to review a spalling and seepage issue we have been dealing with. I sent several photographs and electronic drawings that we hope will be helpful in identifying and repairing the problem. After July 1st,

Adam Gough will work with Robb to hire a firm to clean out the drain sewers and skim coat the parking lot. These are essential to prevent flooding, to protect the sewers and the surface of the lot which was done about three years ago now.

Rentals have been a challenge this year post-covid. Many organizations are not hosting large events. We have continued to host memorials, one wedding and music events, as well as our monthly Udumbara and Weavers Guild of the North Shore. Changes have been made to the website to bring more visibility to what we offer and I have sent marketing information to organizations and music groups. Rental income in this year’s budget was reduced by $50,000 to reflect the reality of the situation. I will continue to work hard as I have been to market our space and create value.

Mark your calendars, line up your sitter and get ready for a spectacular evening of musical excitement. Howard Levy and Chris Siebold are coming to our very own sanctuary on OCTOBER 23^rd at 7:00 pm. The duo, who have performed to great acclaim in the US, Europe and South America, features Howard Levy’s virtuosic harmonica and piano playing & Chris Siebold’s masterful resonator guitar work.

For those of you who are unfamiliar his work, Levy is a widely acknowledged master of the diatonic harmonica, a superb pianist, innovative composer, recording artist, bandleader, teacher, producer, and Evanston resident. Over his 40-plus year career, he has been featured on more than 300 recordings, won two Grammys and composed the first concerto for the diatonic harmonica. He was a founding member of the bluegrass-fusion group Béla Fleck and the Flecktones, and a frequent guest musician on NPR’s popular radio broadcast A Prairie Home Companion.

This promises to be an exciting evening of music you will not soon forget, and as a bonus, is a fundraiser for our church. Get your tickets and tell your friends and neighbors! Prices are set at $35 in advance, or

$40 at the door the evening of the concert.

It has been gratifying to see so many members and friends at UCE on Sunday mornings. Ingathering Service was beautiful and a perfect way to start the new church year ahead.

We are pleased that Liz Kennedy has returned to work and is doing well. Liz contributes in so many ways to the care of our building and congregation. Her absence was felt during the time of her surgery and recovery. We are grateful she is recovering well and gracing the halls of UCE in her formidable way.

As Staff Lead and Chair of the Integrated Stewardship Council (ISC), I am looking for recommendations for 2023-24 Pledge Drive Co-Chairs. If you are willing to serve or have suggestions, please forward names to me. I can set up a telephone call and provide a job description that might help you or the suggested individual to make a sound decision about whether this could be a good role for you at UCE.

This is a challenging year to procure rentals and make the aggressive budget we have put forth for 2022-2023. Many not-for-profits have changed they way they are fundraising due to lack of volunteers and funding. I see this as a trend post COVID closure. I encourage each and everyone to provide leads if you know of someone who needs space for a memorial or wedding. If you know of not-for-profit groups who need a meeting space, Room 3 and Room 6 that have multi-platform equipment to help them meet the needs of meeting in person with zoom attendees present as well. Music performances are perfect for our sanctuary. In November North Shore Choral Society has rehearsals and a concert. Others are signing on for music events. If a business has closed its office during COVID, perhaps they need a board room environment for a day. Our space lends itself well. Keep us in mind as you connect with friends throughout the community. Email me at srobinson@ucevanston.org with referrals. Thank you.

As most of you know, our Hearing Loop is functioning well and providing a more welcoming space for those with hearing loss. With t-coil hearing aids on users can simply walk into the sanctuary and encounter a whole new experience by hearing the service and music without the aid of the special devices previously provided. There will be a training at the back of the

sanctuary on Sunday, November 20th after the worship service. Audiologist Dr. Gamina will be present to answer questions and assist you in knowing how you can better use your hearing equipment to connect with the new sanctuary Hearing Loop. This is another example of how our Capital Campaign funding has created yet another wonderful feature for our church to provide a safe, clean, updated and welcoming environment for all who enter.

Work is planned to commence in the fall in the lower level bathrooms. The Capital Campaign goal is to provide an accessible and inclusive bathroom on the lower level where the existing boys room is now. I have requested an update on pricing for this project. Architectural drawings and a contractor’s quote was provided just prior to COVID closure. Costs, not doubt, have escalated. Once we have established costs planning can begin.

Our welcome desk received its new Welcome sign on Sunday Ingathering. If you have not yet seen it, stop in and take a look. Notice as you walk in on Sunday morning. The sign provides an inviting feel as one walks into the doors of our lobby. The new sofa delivery has been delayed once again. It could be as late as the middle of October before this arrives. Once delivery of the sofa and more a more attractive waste station unit is in place, the lobby restoration will be complete. Thank you for Sandy Danforth, Gillian Lawrence and John VanDyke for what you have contributed on our team to make the lobby a comfortable, inviting and family-friendly space at the entrance of our building.

Notice the wonderful gardens if you have not had an opportunity. As mentioned previously, Raissa Landor’s daughters are providing a new bench in memory of their mother and grandmother. That will be placed next to the tree in our northwest garden shortly. Also, a new bench in memory of John LaPlante is on order and will grace the west entrance to the garden north of our entry doors.

During the downpour at the Ingathering Service last Sunday you may have noticed water seeping down the wall of the east side of the sanctuary. The roofing repair company is returning to address the issues related to flashings and bents along that wall. Robb Geiger met the roofer on the rooftop to review and determine next steps in completing the repairs. I am awaiting a report from Tecta Roofing.

You may also notice that water seeped into the girls bathroom in the lower level. Cahill will visit next week to determine cause. We believe it is related to blockage requiring pipe rodding. We will take appropriate steps to resolve the problem.

I hope you enjoy reading about the many changes and upgrades to our buildings, grounds and in other areas of church life. It is important that you know what is going on around you. Gratitude is abundant for the contributions to the Capital Campaign that has made so many upgrades possible. If you have questions or ideas to share with me that relate to Admin, Buildings & Grounds, Rentals or other areas of work at UCE, please email me at srobinson@ucevanston.org

As you are probably aware, the Endowment Task Force has been meeting for well over a year. The Endowment Task Force consists of Susan Comstock, Margaret Schatz, Jane Kenamore, Alice Swann, Tom Ticknor, Rob Wingader, Eileen Wiviott, and Joe Romeo. We sought input from the Endowment Committee and the congregation at the beginning of our work to determine what concerns people had. We were able to use those concerns to develop proposals which fit into eight categories: Communication, Distribution, Endowment Committee Processes, Investments, Bylaws, Endowment Committee Structure, Processing of Grant Applications, and Board/Endowment Relationships.

We have a couple steps before we are ready to present our recommendations to the congregation. Currently, we are working to finalize the language for each proposal. Once we believe the language is clear, we will get feedback from the Endowment Committee and the Board of Trustees. At that point, we will hold townhall meetings to explain the recommendations and to get feedback from the congregation. We plan to have these steps completed this autumn.

Finally, it will be up to the Endowment Committee and the Board of Trustees to put the recommendations into practice. It is most important, we believe, that we continue to work deliberately to be sure that all the proposals are clear, understood and supported by the congregation.

Joe Romeo

David Carling, our new Office Administrator began his work at UCE on August 15. He delved right into this work and is making great progress. Staff has been eager and helpful in making him feel at home and learn the job. He experienced his first staff meeting yesterday. Welcome David. We are so glad you are with us. Office Hours are now M-F 10:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

As you enter the UCE parking lot you will see many flowers in bloom and new plantings. Last week our Sanctuary Cooling Project Landscaping Plan came into fruition. Nature’s Perspective provided a creative solution to hiding our air conditioning condensers and bringing color and new life to the northwest side of our building. Today I ordered a new bench that will sit on the stones on the west side of the garden facing the parking lot. John LaPlante had envisioned a place where people could sit and wait for their ride. We have made that happen and will place a bench there in memory of him. Thank you to all who contributed to the Capital Campaign for making the cooling and landscaping project possible.

You will also see a new bench donated in memory of Raissa and Eleanor Landor. In 1993, Eleanor Landor and her daughter Raissa joined UCE. When Eleanor passed in 1999 her family planted a tree in the UCE garden and a bench was placed in Eleanor’s name. The bench has weathered over the years and the family has purchased a new one that will honor both Eleanor and Raissa, who passed in 2020. The new bench will be placed under the same tree. The Landor family hopes that this bench will be a place for calm, reflection and a spot to enjoy a great book. Becca and Sarah Landor express their deepest gratitude for the UCE community. We are proud and appreciative of this beautiful donation.

Please pass the word along to friends and colleagues in the area who may be interested in holding workshops or meetings at UCE. We have space available during the day and in the evening. Rooms 3 and 6 have state of the art dual platform equipment perfect for presentations and meetings of not-for-profit boards and agencies. Our sanctuary space is perfect for music performances, memorials and weddings. Contact me at srobinson@ucevanston.org or 847-864-1330 for more information. I am about to update our website with photos and testimonials so that everyone can see the many types of spaces and opportunities available at UCE. In September we welcome the return of Mothers of Multiples (MOMS) and in November, North Shore Choral Society.

Mark your calendars and plan to attend a Howard Levy Concert on Sunday, October 24 in our Sanctuary. Howard is beloved by our UCE community, and well known throughout Evanston, the City of Chicago and, in fact, the country. Tickets will go on sale late September for this music event not to be missed. Watch our newsletters and website for more information as the date nears.

Greetings,  

As I write this article, I am thinking about the many newsletters Jessica Meis has created for UCE. Jessica leaves us for a wonderful new opportunity in her field, and we are delighted for her, and will miss her steadfast, graceful approach to the work she has done for us and with us. We will celebrate her today at staff meeting and send her out in the world with love and support.  

A job description was posted on Indeed, in the AUUA (Administrators) listserve and Facebook, as well as a few local churches. Two good candidates have resulted to the search and we are doing final interviews and checking references on this individuals. Jessica will spend two hours with each to do a mini training session and this will help us decide which candidate best fits the position requirements.  

I want to take a moment to honor the memory of Judith Ramey. Judith was a long time church member, and for a period of years our Communications Director at UCE. I so enjoyed working with Judith and remember her strength and knowledge, her devotion to her children, and her sense of humor and imagination.  She left behind a legacy of good work at UCE and I will miss giving her hugs on Sunday morning.  

This summer we have been busy doing construction projects. The sanctuary roof repairs were done, the wing hallway painted on the bottom half to repair many dings and damage, interior repairs to the concrete will be done, and the outdoor railings were painted at the main west entrance. Capital Campaign projects continue. As you know the Hearing Loop is installed and working well. Final touches on the lobby are being done. A new small sofa in the lobby, new signage in the welcome center, beautifully painted bathrooms in the lobby with artwork Johna VanDyke had pulled to the side at one of our previous rummage sales. The church is coming together in so many ways. I noticed several new families visiting and feel that we are creating a welcoming, inclusive, clean and organized place for everyone to call their spiritual home.  

In the fall planning for the lower level inclusive and accessible bathroom will resume. Nature’s Perspective has provided a landscaping plan for the west garden. A tree will be replaced, several evergreens, grasses, small bushes and perennials will grace the area just north of the lobby and a memorial bench for John LaPlante will be installed.  

As we continue to improve our outdoor spaces we expand our possibilities to gather. I was delighted to see a group gathering under the big tree on the south lawn last Sunday. It is delightful to see children enjoying the berm and the outdoors. It is gratifying to see the new accessible ramp in use and appreciated by all. Thank you to the UCE Garden Team headed by Janelle Brittain for weeding and watering our garden spaces.  

Rentals are going well. We welcomed Evanston Symphony last evening for a rehearsal in the sanctuary. We have three music groups who want to rent the space and contracts are being let this week for two of them, and a wedding for 2023 is planned. Udumbara and Northshore Weavers Guild, our longtime renters remain with us. If you know of anyone who needs meeting space or a place to do a wedding or memorial or other event, please let me know. Our new air conditioning is such an asset as we move into August and September for rentals. Summer memorials were comfortable and appreciated by our renters and their guests.  

Please feel free to contact me at srobinson@ucevanston.org at any time with your questions or suggestions.  

Sandra Robinson, Executive Operations Director

Dear Friends, 

I hope you are enjoying your summer. My wife and I are still being cautious about where we go and who we see, so we have been spending a lot of time enjoying our back porch. The photo is of our climbing morning glories, snap dragons, geraniums, herbs, and the ridiculous fish planter that we imagine looks like a lionfish, which are bringing bees and butterflies flying through our lunch breaks on the porch. 

I am starting to look toward the fall as the programming staff and I start to collaborate on fall classes and events. Save the date for our Ingathering on Sunday, September 11, 2022 at 10:30 am. Please note that our service time is changing. Ingathering Sunday is when we come back together after the summer to share stories and resume regular programming. We have big plans for this year’s Ingathering Sunday.  

During our Ingathering worship service, we will have our annual water communion. Please be thinking about the source of the water you might bring that Sunday. Maybe some place that has brought you comfort, joy, respite, or adventure – your bathtub, your kitchen sink, Lake Michigan, or water from somewhere you have visited. 

We will be ending the worship service with an evacuation drill. With the pandemic, this will be the first one in many years. Once all of us are outside after the evacuation drill, we will gather around our Black Lives Matter sign on Ridge and take a congregational photo. If you are not able to join us at 10:30 am for the worship service, we hope you are able to stop by at 11:30 am to be in the photo.  

We will end our morning together with a congregational potluck picnic. There will be tables and chairs set up outside. We now have the mechanism for the door at the top of the ramp completed, so you are able to get in and out of the building without having to knock on the glass door. You are encouraged to bring a blanket, bubbles, or anything else that will contribute to our picnicking fun. 

Please bring a food dish to share for our picnic. We will be using compostable plates and our new silverware and plastic glasses. We will serve inside and eat outside. We will continue to wear masks inside. Masks are not required outside. One of the new kitchen guidelines is that we will not be leaving any food behind in the kitchen, so before you leave for the day, please make sure to collect your dishes and any leftovers.  

While you wait in line for food, a representative from the hearing loop company will be available to answer your questions. If you have hearing aids, please make sure to wear them and bring your phone to find out if you are able to download the app and use the new hearing loop system with your hearing aids. 

And that, my friends, is a preview of our first Sunday of the new congregational year. There are many ideas and lots of energy percolating within the congregation. When you return in the fall, here are some of the upcoming programs and events:  

• The Denominational Affairs Team will be facilitating a discussion series about the Unitarian Universalist Association Article II Study Commission’s review of the Principles and Sources;  
• Our New Member Team and Membership Engagement Task Force have restyled the membership classes to include new and returning members;  

• The Anti-Oppression Task Force is engaging us in a congregational survey and then will be addressing those results;  
• An emerging Reproductive Justice team is determining how our community can best support abortion access;  
• The UU the Vote team, which has already reached 20% of our 40,000 Points of Love initiative, will continue to provide opportunities to get out the vote through the election in November;  
• The REAL Team is running a two-session book discussion of Kindred by Octavia Butler; and  
• The four restructured hospitality teams have reduced the volunteer days to 4 days a year per person for the Greeters Hospitality Team, Kitchen Hospitality Team, Money Counters Hospitality Team, and Virtual Hospitality Team. 

If you are interested in getting involved with any of these, please contact me. 

I will be on vacation and then study leave from August 12-29, 2022. I’m wishing you an August full of whatever you need right now – comfort, joy, respite, or adventure – and I’ll see you in September! 

Yours in faith, 

Rev. Susan 

My heart is heavy as I write this newsletter article remembering again and again the tragic event of July 4th. Throughout my life this has been an amazing day filled with joy and feelings of patriotism as I celebrated my birthday. It will never be the same. Forever etched on my heart and mind will be the horror that turned celebrating into death, trauma and shattered lives. For 7.5 years I led the Highland Park Parade as the Chamber of Commerce Director, and it was a day filled with happiness and pride. I feel a deep connection to the Highland Park community. I grieve with them and for them as they strive to rebuild their community and heal to the extent possible. 

Staffing news: Our beloved Jessica Meis is taking on a new opportunity and will leave us at the end of the month. She has been taking master program classes and planned to stay with us a bit longer, but as life would have it her great skills and personality have led her in a new direction. When Rev. Eileen Wiviott returns from vacation, we will continue to develop our staffing plan for the next year and beyond. Job postings are in progress and we will begin interviewing as soon as possible.  

Our beautiful playscape is developing day by day. Flowers are blooming, grasses are growing. Staff who were onsite yesterday enjoyed a lovely lunch together at our new tables. We have moved the two tables together as they were designed so that groups such as the retired women’s group can gather and eat outside.  We are about to lay another layer of playground chips in the children’s area between the ramp and the wing and install jumping logs. Sandra Danforth and I continue to search for an appropriate solar fountain. Karen Underwood and Susan Frances will be working with our youth to learn about and walk the labyrinth. May our children and our adults continue to make use of the beauty beyond our walls.  

The Sanctuary Hearing Loop is installed, but we are awaiting a part that will upgrade the system and provide even better sound quality. If all goes as planned the final calibration will take place next week and we hope to launch the loop on Sunday, July 17. We will keep you posted.  

Over the past few weeks several roofers were contacted to assess the sanctuary roof and provide quotes. Buildings and Grounds Co-Lead Robb Geiger and I met with Carol Nielsen of B & G to review the proposals. We selected Tecta America who was recommended by our neighbors Beth Emet. We found their proposal to be thorough, professionally presented, fairly priced, and  several good photos were provided to show the work that needs to be done. They hope to begin work on the 11th of July.  

Summer is the usual time when we do repairs around the buildings and grounds. Recently, a repair was done to the roof of the outdoor storage shed where a squirrel had chewed through it. Contents were removed, the floor was cleaned, and contents returned. The Garden Team will use the shed to store equipment and tools. Our gate to the garbage area next to the shed was repaired as well with a broken board replaced and painted.  

Rentals have been going well. PedalHeads continue through August. A memorial is scheduled for this Saturday. MOMS of multiples return in September, North Shore Choral Society plan to do a concert in November and we are scheduling a rehearsal for Evanston Symphony Orchestra in July. Our long time renter Udumbara remains with us.  

Mark your calendars and plan to attend a Howard Levy concert at UCE on Sunday, October 23. Details will follow in the months ahead.  

The Board of Trustees, ISC and Staff appreciate your support. We are poised to meet our projections for fiscal year end, which was June 30, 2022. Your contributions of treasure and time are valued. Please email at any time with ideas, comments, or concerns at srobinson@ucevanston.org.

Sandra Robinson,
Executive Operations Director