June 1, 2004
Board Members present:
Karen Tyson, Chair
Joanne Masterson, Vice Chair
Daria Bergen-Hill
Nance Cedar
Hal Holtzclaw
Jane Nelson
Lucy Hentges
Doug MacCleery
Ric Sears
Jack Hinman
Others present:
Donna Bledsoe
Al Erickson
Rev. Lou Schwebius
Joan Wamsley
The minutes of the April 25 MVUC Annual 2004 Meeting, the May 3, 2004 Board meeting and the May 25, 2004 special meeting of the Board were approved.
There was an extended discussion over what the Board should recommend to be the fundraising goal of the Capital Campaign that would be considered at the special congregational meeting that the Board had called for June 13. A low goal may become a self-fulfilling prophesy and puts the church in a position of either having to carry a large mortgage or to scale down or cancel the building plans (or perhaps to extend the length of the capital campaign). A goal significantly greater than the $1.1-1.6 that Larry Wheeler had said was entirely feasible for MVUC could set the church up for failure.
Joanne Masterson offered a motion that was modified slightly and passed unanimously as follows:
The Board will recommend the following resolution for adoption by the congregation at the Congregational Meeting on June 13.
We, the Congregation of the Mount Vernon Unitarian Church, authorize the Board of Trustees to conduct a capital campaign with a goal of at least $2 million in the fall of 2004 to raise funds for construction of an addition to the Meeting House. Campaign expenses, estimated to be approximately $21,000, shall be paid from proceeds of the campaign. Any decision to move forward with financing or construction of the addition will require a separate decision of the Congregation.
Ric Sears discussed the recommendation of the Program Council that, on the basis of a survey and two meetings on the advantages and disadvantages of changing the hours of MVUC Sunday Services, that those hours be changed to 9:30am and 11:15am. After discussion and an understanding that there would be a review of the effects of these changes next year, the Board adopted a resolution to accept the recommendations of the Program Council and put the changes in effect at the beginning of the church year in September.
Al Erickson reviewed the preliminary budget for the fiscal year ending in June 30, 2005. After discussion the Board approved the budget, with the addition of an entry for a Grounds Keeper with no funding allowance, as provided by a resolution adopted at the 2004 Annual Meeting.
Karen Tyson reported to the Board that Barbara Stoddard, currently Acting DRE of the Unitarian Society of Ridgewood, NJ, had agreed to become Interim DRE at MVUC. Karen reviewed the excellent qualifications of Barbara Stoddard and the strengths that she will add to the RE program next year, with a possibility of an extension of one year, if needed.
Appointments
Karen Tyson introduced five appointments, which were approved by the Board. These were:
Suzanne Cleary – Member, Committee on Ministry
Janice Fitzpatrick – Chair, Sunday Services Committee
Leila Goodman – Chair, Music Committee
Katie and Karen Tyson – Additional General Assembly Delegates
Linda Jemison – MVUC 50th Anniversary Celebration Planning Team
Reports of the minister, Program Council, Treasurer and Business Administrator were presented and discussed.
Doug MacCleery