Board of Trustees Meeting

Mount Vernon Unitarian Church

October 5, 2004

 Board Members present:

            Karen Tyson, Chair

Joanne Masterson, Co-Chair

Daria Bergen-Hill

            Nance Cedar

            Hal Holtzclaw

            Jane Nelson

            Doug MacCleery

            Ric Sears

            Jack Hinman

            Eben Kulhn

 Board Member absent:

            None

Others present:

            Rev. Lou Schwebius

            Donna Bledsoe

            Joan Wamsley

            Barbara Stoddard

            Sally Joy Remington

Bill Alsmeyer-Johnson

The minutes of the September 7, 2004, MVUC Board meeting were reviewed and approved with slight modification.

Karen Tyson  and others of the Board welcomed the new youth member, Eben Kuhns, who is replacing Lucy Hentges.  The Board also expressed regret at the resignation of Board Member Daria Bergen-Hill, who is also Board liaison to the Ft. Hunt Preschool. Karen mentioned that she would contact the Nominating Committee to request a search for a replacement. 

Bill Alsmeyer-Johnson and Sally Joy Remington reported that the Social Justice Committee would like to invite Richard S. Gilbert, author of The Prophetic Imperative: Social Gospel in Theory and Practice, to speak to MVUC on February 12, 2005, to discuss the role of social justice issues in UU Churches and how a church might evaluate its current activities and identify and expand it social justice horizons.  The Board passed a motion to support this invitation.  Bill Alsmeyer-Johnson and Sally Joy Remington also mentioned that the Social Justice Committee intended to submit to the Finance Committee and Program Council a proposal to include in the operating budget for next year $17,248 for a social justice coordinator at 15 hours per week.     

Joanne Masterson reported on the progress of the Capital Campaign, including the previous Sunday’s event for generous givers.  Joanne reported that pledges for the Capital Campaign had already reached $624,000, or almost one third of the goal.    

Karen Tyson noted that Tony Barkume was the annual canvass chair for 2005-6, but needed a vice-chair who would be chair in 2006-76.  

Daria Bergen-Hill provided a detailed report on the history, current status and the advantages and disadvantages of having Ft. Hunt Preschool associated with MVUC.  This report received considerable discussion.  Several mentioned that options on the future of FHP should be examined after the completion of the Capital Campaign and a determination as to whether enough funds are raised to complete the basement of the Meeting House.  A motion was passed to form a task group in January to evaluate and provide recommendations to the Board on the future relationship between MVUC and FHP. 

The Board thanked Joan Wamsley for her great work on the Book Sale (which had raised almost $5500) and Ron Brandt and Betsey Stephens for their fine work on the Ingathering Picnic.    

The Board received and discussed reports from the Minister, Director of Religious Education, Business Administrator and Treasurer.

Joan Wamsley requested, and the Board passed, a motion to spend $1100 for painting of the parking lot light poles and related maintenance.

The Board passed a resolution to approve Susanne Cleary as chair of the Green Sanctuary Committee.

Doug MacCleery

Secretary