Board Meeting Minutes, 4/18/2010
- Written by Kristen Cervantes
UUWaco Board Meeting, Sunday, April 18, 2010 - 12:40 p.m.
Oliver Wendell Holmes Boardroom
Attending: Jane Derrick, Bruce Allen, Joe Ahlers, Claudia McLatcher, Anita Knight, Kris Cervantes, Nathan Stone, Liz Turnage.
Guest: Ingrid Martine, Right Relations Team chair.
Meeting called to order at 12:38 p.m.
Opening words, chalice lighting. Check-in.
Consent agenda items presented (At-Large Director reports; minutes from March Board Meeting).
Motion to approve - Joe Ahlers. Second, Liz Turnage. Unanimous agreement by board.
Liz Turnage is asked and consents to be our process observer.
Board covenant read.
Minister's two minutes
Want to emphasize the importance of board attendance at Waco Interfaith Festival of Faiths (May 2, 4-6 p.m.). In addition, at the Fall Interfaith Alliance event, the discussion topic will be: "What does your religion teach about life after death?" Rev. Stone was asked for & wrote a 200-word essay on UU views. Very nice. ACTION ITEM - Kris Cervantes: get posted on the website.
President's two minutes
~ Want to celebrate creation of draft mission/vision statements. Great board retreat, good drafts created.
~ Joy Hayes-Gates would like to be replaced on the RRT (overextended). Ingrid Martine presented her top pick for replacement, as well as two other potential team members.
Motion to accept any of the three named candidates, should they accept invitation onto the team: Anita Knight.
Second: Claudia McLatcher.
Motion passed.
NEW BUSINESS
ITEM 1: SWUUC District meeting.
Jane Derrick & Rev. Stone attending as delegates; other attendees would be welcomed. No other attendees stepped forward.
ITEM 2: General Assembly.
UUWaco is invited to send delegates to the UUA General Assembly in Minneapolis, MN, June 23-27, 2010.
ITEM 3: Governance & Ministry, Ch. 2 discussion led by Rev. Stone.
"Governance & Ministry in Interesting Times." We always live in interesting times. Speaks to the fact that all sacred writings are simply about how people get along - how do you govern people in a religious congregation? Sideline: Historically, the church has always been able to count on women volunteers. Hotchkiss asserts that the current terms of church governance were set in 1950, and haven't changed much since.
Four difficulties faced by current governance models, church ascendancy:
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Cultural disestablishment of the Protestant church. Rise of many religious groups has watered down the strength of the prot. church. (Fastest growing group of religions: those who are unchurched, those who say they are "spiritual.")
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Dominance of paid employment. Church used to be a social center, but now gossip is learned, fun takes place at other places - workplace, mostly. (This is also how the church lost women volunteers.) Best model of ministry: Habitat for Humanity. Tangible, loving, working.
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Growth of a shopping attitude in religion. People are shopping for a religion that works for them.
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Tension over clergy. Clergy is a mixed blessing - we want it, but the minister is a sitting duck for creating tension - judas goat, holder of all high expectations, everything to everyone.
Leading next chapter discussion: Joy Hayes-Gates. ACTION ITEM - Joy Hayes-Gates: Read & prepare presentation of Chapter 3.
ITEM 4: Congregational meeting debrief.
Jane Derrick: Felt it went well. Praise for Liz's presentation; praise for feedback options presented for Mission & Vision statements.
ITEM 5: Strategic Planning update
Joe Sullivan suggested waiting until June to appoint the SP team. One book (Holy Conversations) suggests brainstorming about desired and undesirable qualities for members of the Strategic Planning, before even presenting names for consideration. After brainstorming, board members anonymously submit three names for consideration. Using those submissions, a list of potential candidates can be created and those potential team members approached regarding acceptance of appointment to the team.
ACTION ITEM - ExComm (Jane Derrick?): Add brainstorming session to the May meeting agenda.
ITEM 6: Where are we in re: yearly team goals
Jane Derrick has begun preliminary examination of this issue. She will share her findings with board members for feedback and augmentation.
ACTION ITEM - At-large directors: Check in with teams and see where they feel they are regarding yearly goals.
ACTION ITEM - Jane Derrick: Send preliminary list of yearly goals assessment to Board members for online feedback/discussion.
ITEM 6: Ingrid Martine's review of Right Relations Team (RRT) roles.
See attachment 1. Discussion of possible changes ensued. ACTION ITEM - Kris Cervantes: send Ingrid Martine thoughts from board members re: wording of roles.
The RRT will rewrite the conflict resolution policies & procedures currently in place within the context of Right Relations. Prposed revisions will be presented to the board in May.
ACTION ITEM - Ingrid Martine: E-mail revised P&Ps to board members before May 16th Board Meeting (board (at) uuwaco (dot) org).
ITEM 7: Path to membership discussion
The Membership Team chair (Robyn Morrison) has new suggestions regarding the Path to Membership wording. Change #4 to reflect desire for members to contribute time as well as pledges (in line with other documents such as the Covenant of RR). During the meeting with minister (or a meeting with the Membership Team chair), the member will be presented with a survey of interests along with pledge card, so that new members understand what opportunities for service exist in the Fellowship.
ACTION ITEM - Liz Turnage: Ask that the Membership Team chair create the new documents (i.e., survey) to be added to the New Members packet.
Move to accept changes requested by Robyn Morrison: Liz Turnage.
Second: Joe Ahlers.
Unanimous agreement.
ITEM 8: Proposals submitted prior to April board meeting
The following items were discussed & approved via e-mail in anticipation of the April Board Meeting:
~ Upon Judy Hendry's resignation from the Care Team, she has recommended that co-chairs Jim & Donna Myers be appointed. Motion unanimously agreed upon.
~ The Conflict Resolution Team is renamed as the Right Relations Team. Motion unanimously agreed upon.
~ Item 4 on the Path to Membership wording be changed from "Live the values expressed in the UU Purposes/Principles/Sources AND UUFW's Core Values and Covenant of Right Relations (See attached.)" to "Live UUFW's Core Values and Covenant fo Right Relations. (See attached.)" Motion unanimously agreed upon.
Closed session regarding personnel matters.
DIRECTOR CONCERNS
ALD 3 (Bruce Allen):
The RE Team would like to send two or more people to OWL training this June in Tulsa, OK. Financial plan: Joy's tuition will be paid by her BIL. Tuition is needed for one to two more people - home hospitality could be asked for in Tulsa, people who were going could travel together. Pursue scholarships
Motion to use DBLE money to send a few people to OWL training, not to exceed $700: Kris Cervantes.
Anita Knight: Second.
Unanimous agreement.
Concern was expressed by a parent regarding children using the roof as a play area. ACTION ITEM - Bruce Allen: Request that RE Team chair (Tracey Villanueva) send a message to parents regarding use of the roof as a play area (it is off-limits).
ALD 2 (Claudia McLatcher):
A professional plumber is coming Monday, April 19; could be expensive. The treasurer has been informed of the expense. Feaer is that tree roots may have invaded our plumbing.
CALENDAR DATES
Th, April 22 - CRRC Quarterly Meeting (10th & Washington, 6 p.m.)
Fr-Sat, Apr 23-24 - SWUUC District Meeting, Dallas area
Sun, May 2 - Waco Interfaith Alliance Festival of Faith (Speight Ave., 4-6 p.m.)
Tu, May 4 - Executive Team meeting (UUWaco, 6:45 p.m.)
Sun, May 16 - UUWaco Board Meeting (12:30 p.m., board room)
Sun, May 23 - Brief Congregational Mtg, re: Mission/Vision statements (12:30 p.m.)
June 14-17 - Hogwarts Summer Camp (UUWaco, 5-9 p.m.)
June - OWL training in Tulsa, OK
Process observations: Liz - we did well. Good discussion, good listening.
Check out & adjournment.
Meeting ended at 3:40 p.m.
Governance & Ministry presenters:
May: Joy Chapter 3
June, Claudia, Chapter 4
July, Bruce, Chapter 5
August, Liz, Ch 6
Sept, Anita, Ch 7
Oct, Kris, Ch 8
Nov. Ch. 9
Attachment 1: Preliminary suggestions for role of Right Relations Team
1. Educates the congregation regarding the Covenant of Right Relations.
2. Models the Covenant of Right Relations in all of their affairs.
3. Is the first source of support for people seeking the team's services.
4. Is a safe sounding board for individuals who have relationships within the congregation that are outside our Right Relations covenant, and which they would like to approve.
5. Offers a venue to get people together who wish to be in right relations and perceive themselves not to be.
6. Offers a process whereby people can be in coherence once again with their deepest values concerning right relations.
7. Manages the process for re-establishing right relations.
8. Is the eyes and ears to alert the board to potential and actual breakdowns.
9. Encourages seeing relationship breakdowns as opportunities for relationship breakthroughs.
10. Welcomes and helps facilitate open and direct communication from all.
11. Is committed to open and direct communication within a context of appropriate confidentiality.
12. Helps develop processes that support right relations.
13. Makes recommendations to the board regarding right relations.
Items regarding Safe Church policy and policy violations will be added in accordance with the current Conflict Resolution policies & procedures.
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