MVUC Board Meeting

January 2, 2007

Board Members Present

            Wendy Burns

            Lisa Guide

            Hal Holtzclaw

            Kelly Jemison, YRUU Representative

            Joanne Masterson, Chair

            Jim Potter, Vice Chair

            Jane Nelson

            Raleigh Romine, Secretary

            Lauck Walton

 Board Member Absent

            Heather Harts'Horn

 Others Present

            Donna Bledsoe, Business Administrator

            Al Erickson

            Meagan Henry, DRE

            Rev. Lou Schwebius

            Carolyn Slenska

            Ann Ulm

            Mike Walker

The BoT met at 7:30 PM on January 2nd.

The minutes for the BoT meeting of December 5th were approved.

Carolyn Slenska, chair of the Personnel Committee, presented a proposal for new policies concerning staff reporting. After consultation with JPD, after reviewing resources from the UUA, and looking at the policies of other UU churches, the Committee recommended that the BoT adopt a policy whereby the Church minister will become the effective supervisor for all professional staff, namely the Director of Music, Director of Religious Education, and Church Business Administrator. If adopted, this will entail a change in the Letters of Agreement for the involved personnel. The Committee also recommended a change in the By-Laws to structure the Committee on Ministry as a committee with members nominated by the Congregation, appointed by the BoT, and reporting to the BoT as well as annually to the Congregation.

Lauck Walton presented an interim report of the Bylaws and Policies Task Force. Three policy changes were recommended:

• Reporting of Relevant Data. The Business Administrator shall be responsible for collecting and publishing key congregational data including attendance at Sunday services, membership and pledge unit numbers, and summary of amounts pledged.

•  Search Committees for Staff Other Than Minister. This policy defines the process for the BoT to establish a search committee for staff positions.

•  Coordination of Committees. The work of all committees and volunteer functions shall be coordinated by the Program Council. The members of the Program Council will consist of six area coordinators (Worship, Social Justice, Religious Education, Administration and Communication, Property, and Our Home Community) plus the Minister and the Convener from the BoT. 

All three changes were approved by the BoT.

 Ann Ulm gave an update on the compilation of historical Sunday service attendance data. Inconsistencies in the reporting procedures have been removed from data back to 1999. Current numbers are being recorded in a database. Of special note was a significant decline in RE attendance since 2002.

 The BoT approved the charters for the Aesthetics Committee and the Music Committee.

 Joanne reported that the process of receiving input for a possible revision of the Mission Statement was "rolling along" ..

The BoT received reports from Rev. Louis Schwebius, Donna Bledsoe and Meagan Henry. Rev. Lou noted he will be starting to participate in two interfaith activities: the monthly Ventures in Community meetings (VIC focuses on interfaith dialog and community action) and a group of clergy that provide interfaith services at Sunrise Assisted Living. Meagan noted that she has written article for the February newsletter describing the DRE "Start-Up" week scheduled for 23-24 February. She also noted that, as part of the UUA recommendations on Safe Congregations, background checks should be done on all adults working with children and youth. MVUC's insurance company can provide these at a nominal cost. Meagan also presented a plan for utilizing the second floor area of Hollin Hall for RE staff since phase I of the building plan has eliminated the offices, library, and supply rooms planned for the chapel/commons expansion. Donna indicated she would hold off renting the apartment until this could be discussed further.

The BoT entered Executive session at 9:30PM to discuss personnel and congregational issues and adjourned at 10:10PM.