From Sandra Robinson – Executive Operations Director – 12/02/2022
Greetings all,
Don’t miss Melanie DeMore in concert at UCE this Saturday evening. Please following this link to purchase tickets: Melanie DeMore Concert Tickets, Sat, Dec 3, 2022 at 7:00 PM | Eventbrite
It promises to be a heartwarming and riveting voice experience not to be missed. For more information about Melanie, visit our website at ucevanston.org where you can read her publicity information and you can also purchase tickets from there as well. The concert is scheduled for 7 p.m. Doors will open at 6:15. A café will be available before the concert and during intermission. Handmade treats and refreshments will be served. Thank you to team volunteers Peg Boccard, Renee Hoff, Janelle Brittain, Jean Durkin Marcy Hicks, and Dave Schroeder.
During this season of gratitude, I want to say thank you to all of you who contribute to UCE in the many ways that you do through the time you give, your talents and gifts and your financial support. Following COVID closure we are continuing to implement new ways of doing things at UCE to keep our congregation, our programming and our facilities vibrant and sustainable. Volunteer hours are more limited. As Staff Lead of the Integrated Stewardship Council, I have reached out to many individuals and could not come up with co-chairs for our annual pledge drive. After many discussions with Rev. Eileen we have developed a plan, in tandem with our Treasurer Tom Carlton, and Susan Carlton who are helping us create a Staff and Volunteer led campaign this year. We have met twice now, and a timeline is being prepared by Susan Carlton that will guide us through this process. We are excited about another way we can participate in shared ministry, in this case shared stewardship. We plan to kick off the drive early in February with letters going out mid-January. More information will be provided as we move along.
Next week the Budget Working Group begins its work on the 2023-2024 budget. Teams have been contacted to provide their needs, including Faith Formation, Membership, Social Justice, Buildings & Grounds, Green Team so that we can combine these expenses with staffing and program needs to development the next fiscal year budget.
As I write, in the lower-level Eric Barton and crew from Biltmore Homes has begun work on a reconstruction of the existing boy’s bathroom to become an accessible and inclusive facility. The existing girl’s bathroom will receive improvements such as flooring, painting and a new vanity. This is one of the major Capital Campaign projects. Michael Skilton has joined me as co-lead on this renovation program. It is exciting that we will finally have provide access in the lower level to a bathroom for all.
The Capital Campaign Implementation Team sent out postcards two weeks ago thanking all who have completed their pledges. Thank you to everyone who made so many improvements to our buildings and grounds possible. Our postcards gave a snapshot of the many projects we have implemented.
A new task force is in place headed by Michael Drennan, Robb Geiger and David Bates Jeffreys, with myself serving as Staff Building Liaison and consultation with Rev. Susan Frances who is the staff lead for Green Team. This team will research projects that will help us reach Emissions Reductions during the next several years. Our plan is to following guidelines set forth in the Climate Action Plan which our Board of Trustees signed a resolution of support for two years ago. If you are interested in providing time and knowledge toward this effort, please let me know at srobinson@ucevanston.org