The Board of Trustees met on Tuesday, July 11, 2023 at 6:30pm on Zoom. Minutes from the meeting will be posted here on the UUCC website after they have been approved at the August Board meeting.
The following is an informal recap of topics discussed at the July meeting.
The 2023-24 Board held the first meeting for the fiscal year on Tuesday, July 11, on Zoom. I will take this time to introduce myself. My name is Meagan Lopes and I am the newly elected Secretary of the Board. My family and I have been a part of UUCC since 2015, and I am honored to serve the congregation. I am taking over the Secretary position from Jim Johnston who started this blog to communicate the minutes with the congregation. I plan to continue this tradition and welcome any feedback that you may have to improve blog communication.
Spiritual Practice
To start this month’s Board meeting, Melissa Affolter, the new President of the Board, asked what we are grateful for and each Board member was welcomed to share the what and whys of gratitude. This was a creative way to get to know each other.
Stewardship Counsel Report
The Stewardship Counsel met to discuss this year’s pledge drive. There were several things learned from this year’s drive such as starting to connect with the congregation sooner in the future. The Stewardship Counsel also noted that a congregant should head the drive as opposed to a staff member. The possibility of year-round pledging is also in discussion.
Financial Report
Kevin Mercer, Board Treasurer, explained line-by-line how to read the Treasurers Report. Based on the May 2023 numbers that Kevin reviewed with the Board, we are well ahead of the budget for FY2022-23. Kevin also shared that he pulls the monthly information from three different documents to create the report. If the Board wants different details highlighted he can include them as well.
This year the Board will be discussing the approach to the pending changes of our OBIC loan. The interest rates will balloon in April 2026, and the plan is to begin conversations about refinancing with lenders in fall 2025.
New Youth Board Position
At the June meeting a Board position was created for a youth (ages 16-25). Melissa and Executive Director Valerie Hsu have discussed the open position at the YRUU meetings. Unfortunately, no one is able to volunteer for the position at this time, mostly because they are unsure of their fall schedules. There was a discussion of possibly changing the cycle of the youth position to the fall. A congregation-wide email will be sent for interest in the open position. The goal for future years is to have the position voted on by the congregation and to avoid a Board appointee.
Congregational Ends
The next step for the new Congregational Ends is to establish a way to evaluate the Ends. The recommendation from Unitarian Universalist congregational consultant Laura Park is to create a survey to measure the Ends and ask the same questions over time. This may take a couple of years to compile the necessary data to evaluate how UUCC is doing to meet the Ends.
Next Board Meeting
Tuesday, August 8, 2023 at 6:30pm via Zoom
Questions?
Please connect with us at board@uucolumbia.net or stop by the Board Corner in Sanctuary B on Sundays during coffee hour.
One Comment
Tina Horn
I find it deeply comforting that the Board is continuing in its spiritual practices outside of worship. That seems vastly appropriate in this spiritual community.