From Sandra Robinson
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.