These past several weeks have been challenging as I navigated my brother Dan’s open-heart surgery, hopeful recovery, and unfortunate death. We buried him Saturday, and I return today after time with my broken-hearted family. Thank you to all of you who have reached out during his illness to send loving thoughts, prayers, and care. Your loving words and support have helped ease the pain and provide peace.
I have been staying connected to my work, staff, leadership, and our community whose work in this world is so incredibly important. The good work goes on from day to day.
While I was away Sandy Danforth and Gillian Lawrence kept our lobby project moving forward. We will be completing the bulletin boards, children’s area, furniture, and welcome center in the weeks ahead. Thank you for Gillian, Rev. Susan Frances and Jessica Meis for the work on the attractive and informative bulletin boards. Our lovely new monitors and the boards provide a visual explanation of who we are, what are about and the many programs and activities that support the work of UCE.
Our Intergenerational Playscape is looking beautiful. The Japanese maple near the ramp is not well and was recently treated and wrapped. The landscapers believe it will recover. The mosaic tiles were created by families with the help of Artist Indira Johnson and Kathy Underwood. Even I made one that lives next to the accessibility ramp, a fitting place, as I learned so much about addressing accessibility needs by our dear Alma Woods whose family funded the ramp. The littles are truly enjoying the berm and they will have fun helping us install fairy houses sometime soon.
Our rental program is growing once again now that our building is open. Of course, we are following guidance from our COVID 19 Task Force. This is an important budget piece and expands the connections we have with the community outside our doors. Recently we had North Shore Choral Society and North Shore Chamber Orchestra concerts on a Sunday afternoon, as well as the Junior Mance Celebration of Life, among other events and memorials.
Shirley Adams and I have applied for a grant to help us fund an “information station” where our rain gardens and the study of our rain gardens will be explained with words and photos, much like you might see at Morton Arboretum. Thank you Shirley and Andrew Fisher for bringing this funding opportunity forward.
Last evening we convened our first Pledge Drive Team meeting for the 2022/23 Pledge Drive. Jim Strickler and Raphael Hernandez agree to co-chair this important team. Tom Carlton will provide data services as Treasurer. Rev. Eileen and I met with them to discuss an overview of the process and steps to follow as we move forward to the Feb/March campaign. A full team will be organized once Jim and Raphael have met and developed their thoughts and plans.
Meanwhile, the Budget Working Group has met and will meet again in two weeks to begin the budgeting process. The BWG is Treasurer Tom Carlton, Board Chair Joe Romeo, Rev. Eileen Wiviott, Susan Comstock, ISC member at large, and myself as EOD and ISC lead. This work is done in tandem with the pledge drive as we based on our pledge income on the results of the drive. A preliminary draft will be approved by ISC and the Board of Trustees in January with a revised draft with final pledge income will be submitted at their April meetings for approval at the Annual Meeting in May.