2005-2006
Annual Report Table of Contents Our
Mission… Our Vision… About Unitarian Universalism UUCGL Officers, Trustees and Staff Listing OFFICERS BOARD OF TRUSTEES STAFF MEMBERS
Overview: First let me quote Debra Bennett: "This is an historic time for our congregation. Through our strategic planning process we are developing an ambitious vision for deepening our liberal-religious community." We have experienced growth not only with many new members and faces in our midst, but also in our quality of relations both within our community and with the greater community beyond our walls. The Board has made our meeting a "sacred place". We start by lighting the chalice and hearing inspirational words from Kathryn. This sets the stage for our work together. It also has served to promote deeper connections among us and make our work more meaningful. This year has been dedicated to the basic principles of Policy Governance, which are: The governing board shifts away from hands-on, day-to-day management and focuses instead on articulating vision, comprehensive policy-making, and oversight. Staff and volunteers are empowered to make day-to-day decisions. The board controls staff not by telling them how to do their jobs, but by setting boundaries and allowing staff to design their work within those boundaries. The Board has focused on these principles, and has increased our efforts for policy and procedure development that can give guidance to the staff and the congregation. This has required much work and dedication from all Board members. This growth has produced a better understanding of the workings of our church but also a realization of the amount of work that lies ahead of us. This work while challenging is very rewarding. From our retreat in the fall (see attached goals) and throughout the year, the Board has worked hard to make the transition in our thinking from a small Family or Pastoral Church size to mid-size or Program Church. The chart below is taken from the UUA website. Average Church Attendance per Sunday:
Our average Church attendance is around 250 with about 80+ children in RE. This places us well within the Program size pushing toward the Large (Corporate) Size. There are many different ways of looking at the size of congregations but in all the models, we are at least mid-size and close to Large Size. This transition in thinking has been a main focus for the Board. This change requires the Board to view our church and our work in terms of policies and procedures. To this end, we have grappled with how we operate and what our church structure needs to look like in the future. This will prepare the way for the development of policies and procedures that will guide us through out the years to come. This has been the focus of the Personnel Committee of the Board and the Finance Committee. They have laid the groundwork for the development of much needed policies and procedures that will be the main work of the Board next year. To assist us in our transition in thinking, the Board made a decision to support three staff people and two lay leaders to attend the mid-size church conference in Phoenix, Arizona. This is a conference that occurs every three years and is excellent. The focus of the conference this year was looking at transitions. A model was laid out as to how congregations deal with change so that we would better understand the transitions in our own congregations. We then were able to work in our own teams to discuss some of the transition issues our church faces and how we are coping with them. This was shared with the Board and all the information gained and summaries of the workshops attended are in a notebook in the office. We also experienced change in our Board composition and our Church staff. We said good-bye to Deb Mosher who is truly missed and welcomed a new Board member, Deb Wiese. She is a great addition to the Board and has served on the hard working personnel committee. We also said good-bye to a long time staff person, Marty Brown. It was very hard to have her leave but all of us certainly supported her desire to drive a shorter distance to her work in this economy. She was with us for sixteen years and truly was a treasure. We will all miss her. We welcomed our new Congregational Administrator, Sharon Pedersen. She comes to us with a wealth of experience and a UU background. She has quickly made the transition to a valued staff person. At this writing, she is in the process of finalizing an offer for a new Office Assistant who will work to make sure our office needs are met. (Update: Jeannie Smith, Office Assistant, started work April 20, 2006.) The Strategic Plan is instrumental in our congregational work this year and the coming years. It is the basis for our budget goals, which the congregation supports. Our target this year was ambitious. The canvas produced growth from our previous year, which was successful. We established a working budget that was growth producing and supported our progress toward the strategic plan. All in all, the church year 2005-2006 has been a year of growth and transition. We are very connected as a Board and feel good about our work together for the congregation. We look forward to 2006-2007 church year with many changes in the Board composition. We have seven openings on the Board. Two members will be seeking re-election and with five additional openings to be filled. This again will be a transition. In order to anticipate future leadership needs of our church, we will be offering leadership development classes in the fall. This will assist more of our congregation to feel prepared to take on this amazingly rewarding job of lay leadership in our thriving congregation. This year’s Annual Report provides a thorough view of the 2005-2006 church year. Please review the Minister’s Report, the Program Council Report and other committee reports contained within this Annual Review. This is an historic time in our congregation and it is good to be together. May faith in love and hope for community keep us ever growing and changing. Together. Peace. BOARD GOALS FOR 2005-2006 STRATEGIC PLANNING ’06
FINANCE/BUDGET ’06
MEMBERSHIP ’06
PERSONNEL ’06
PROGRAM COUNCIL ’06
STEWARDSHIP ’06
Submitted by Judith Rowell-DeVaney, President I continue to learn and grow as a minister, and enjoy serving with this congregation which has called me as their minister. This is an exciting, thriving church, and I feel so very lucky to be a part of it. The Ministerial Fellowship Committee of the Unitarian Universalist Association has granted me final fellowship based on the first three years of evaluations from the church. I will formally receive final fellowship at the Service of the Living Tradition at General Assembly this June. Regardless of this "final fellowship," we will continue to evaluate my job performance through the Executive Committee of the Board. The Committee on Ministry and Strategic Planning Committee are jointly preparing an evaluation system for the entire ministry of the church based on our own strategic plan. We hope to have that system in place by next fall. With help from the Board of Trustees, I defined five areas of focus in 2005. 1. Worship: Rachel Alexander and I took turns offering Wednesday night vespers through the fall and winter. Teresa Putnam and I formed a "story for all ages" committee to help us enliven the first 15 minutes of worship while the youth and children are with us each Sunday. Our challenge is that as the congregation gets larger, we need to make our stories bigger. 2. Pastoral Care: We said goodbye to Linda Brundage and Ben Travis as they finished their work (and Ben moved), and welcomed Kelly Gruner and Kermit Johnson to the Pastoral Assistant team. We developed and used an interview protocol to add two members to the team. We planned and had a training session for covenant group facilitators and the pastoral assistants. We gathered books together related to pastoral care and made them available as resources to the congregation. We established a separate pastoral care line on the phone system and developed a way to cover pastoral care emergencies in the minister’s absence. We developed a system to record and respond to joys and sorrows. Our future projects include a book and recorded services loaning program, and creating a worship service together. 3. Adult RE, now a part of Lifespan Faith Development: With Teresa Putnam, I offered a Friday class, Our American Roots: Unitarian Universalism in North America, and prepared the materials so that others might teach the class in the future. We brought in the Rev. Phil Lund from the Prairie Starr District to speak to us of Lifespan Faith Development in the fall, and he is coming again this spring to speak on Family Values. The leadership is making a concerted effort to integrate our adult and children’s RE programs into lifespan faith development. 4. Covenant Groups, otherwise known as Small Group Ministry. Judith Rowell-DeVaney, Ralph Kron, Tim Goth-Owens and Stuart Campbell all left facilitation to serve the church in other ways. New facilitators Chris Cleveland, Cheryl Goodman, Daniel DeVaney, Martha Benedict, and Kathrine Neils joined our veteran facilitators Ann Andrews and Mary Gear. The facilitators participated in a workshop on grief with the Pastoral Assistants and met monthly for ongoing education and support. We ran groups on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Fridays, all which end this spring. The small group at Burcham Hills Retirement Center is ongoing and slightly different in nature than the rest. We tried to create an ongoing group at church that would grow and split, but the group didn’t grow enough to be viable. We will start up more groups in the fall. My goal is to have 15 healthy covenant groups running by 2009. I think small groups are the best kept secret at UUCGL. Next year, I hope it’s no secret at all! 5. Hiring an Administrator: Often administration is such a behind-the-scenes-job, that I was frankly surprised that it garnered such support in our strategic planning process. The leadership had been talking about it since I arrived, and I am glad the congregation recognized this is an important area of growth for our church. That recognition enabled us to move forward and hire Sharon Pedersen as a half-time administrator. Mart McClellan prepared the plan and did significant groundwork to prepare us for this move. Office Manager, Marty Brown, left us for work closer to home, and we expect to hire an office assistant soon. Helping me oversee the ministry in general is work of the Committee on Ministry whose members include Tim Goth-Owens (term expires ’06), Daniel DeVaney (term expires ’07) and Deb Mosher (term expires ’08). I acknowledge and appreciate their dedication and support. At four years, I have served you longer than 26 of your previous ministers. Since one of our mutual goals was to establish a long-term ministry together, I take pride in that figure. I enjoy working with this congregation very much and look forward to many more years together. Kathryn Lifespan
Faith Development Activities this year:
Goals for the future:
Staff: Teresa Putnam, Director of Lifespan
Faith Development Submitted by Teresa Putnam and Cheryl Goodman Gathering and Celebrations Cluster Music Music Director Adult Choir: Adult Choir membership has increased in the past year. We have continued the practice of alternating our participation between the early and late services. Our schedule is now posted in the newsletter and on the website, and a certain number of congregants choose which service to attend based on the choir’s presence or absence. The choir has taken part in various "extracurricular" activities this year, including major roles in both the church Cabaret last October and the "Marty Party" (farewell party for Marty Brown) in January. Singing the Journey: The new hymnal supplement, Singing the Journey, was published last summer. Over the course of the fall, through a book dedication program, UUCGL acquired enough copies for both the adult choir and the congregation. In December we presented a "Singing the Journey" church service, which was enthusiastically received. Exploring the new book and learning to sing new kinds of music together has been a positive experience - a source of growth and learning for us all. The increased use of percussion in worship (practically demanded in some of the styles found in the new book) has enhanced and enlivened our musical and spiritual experience. Morningsong: Instituted just over a year ago, Morningsong has been slowly catching on as an enhancement to the morning worship services - attendance still varies from one to a dozen people (not including choir members). Congregants have expressed appreciation for this opportunity to familiarize themselves with the music they’ll be singing during worship. Heartland Choral Festival: Last May, eight choir members (including Rachel Alexander) spent a weekend in Indianapolis with about 75 other singers from the Heartland District, rehearsing a major choral work, socializing together, and performing together during Sunday morning worship. We had prepared ahead of time with several rehearsals here in advance of the festival. All had a great time, and we would consider hosting such an event ourselves in coming years. Submitted by Rachel Alexander, Music Director Celebrations Committee The mission of the Celebrations Committee is to stimulate the minds and spirits of the congregation by helping the minister, music director, and lay members plan and execute services offering meaningful ritual, meditation, music, readings, teachings and other forms of expression. Activities this year: In addition to assisting the minister when she is in the pulpit and providing for lay services and guest speakers when she is not, we did the following (with extraordinary assistance from our minister who took the lead on most of these projects):
Goals for the future:
Chairperson: Brad Rutledge, Board Liaison: Lynn Scott Aesthetics Committee Activities this year: An exhibit of members’ and friends’ photography was held in Winter 2005. An exhibit of members/friends art of various media was held in Spring 2006. Laurel Ponist is currently displaying her art and will hold a silent auction through May 7 with the proceeds being donated to the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee for disaster relief in the US and around the world. Goals for the future: The committee will endeavor to attract more volunteers for accomplishing the many facets of putting art exhibits together. Chairperson: Regina C. Fry, Board Liaison: Lynn Scott Office/Publicity Office/Publicity Committee Accomplishments this year:
Future Projects:
Chairperson: Jane Whittington, Board Liaison: Mary Stewart Archives Committee Activities this year: Our committee has met about once a month during the past year. We: (1) celebrated a new committee enthusiasm for our mission of preserving important church documents and records, due to the acquisition, at last, of sufficient space in Room 105 for us to carry out the mission; (2) moved archival materials that have higher priority from other storage places to our cabinets in Room 105, most of which we refinished to make them useful and presentable, and one of which we purchased; (3) educated ourselves, with kind assistance from Bill Kemper and from web searching, on the best role models and methods of archives committees in a variety of other churches; (4) learned, from Randy Scott, archival views and preservation methods of professionals in the MSU Library which are relevant to our work, including appropriate digital archiving; (5) obtained professional archiving supplies; (6) simplified the cabinet keying so that each archiver needs only one key; (7) started a new archived-materials catalog that will be computer-searchable; (8) settled the basis for deciding which materials will be kept in remote storage and which in Room 105; (9) decided not to support local archiving of materials unconnected with the church; (10) received a number of archival materials, from church members, including pictures and write-ups of church events; (11) decided on the mechanism for producing a new history of our church; and (12) maintained the online database of archived information for possible use in planning by committee chairs and church officers. Goals for the future: We plan to keep increasing our knowledge of archiving while building order and retrievability into the materials and information we already have. We hope to increase our ability to obtain, catalog, and preserve new materials and information which we think may be useful for connecting with our church’s past and planning for its future. Chairperson: Peter Signell, Board Liaison: Tammy Lemmer Membership Membership Committee The Membership Committee is committed to being friendly, welcoming, and well-informed. We create connections, keep records, and educate. We encourage a culture of hospitality that extends to visitors, friends, and members. Activities this year: In 2005, we welcomed 24 new members, 47 new friends, and the Visitor Book was signed by 160 visitors. We offered 3 sessions of the New UU Class, hosted 3 Welcoming Receptions, and had 3 New Member Signing ceremonies. We offered, for the first time, 3 one-hour orientation sessions "UU Overview" on Sundays in June, July, and August. We hosted the first-ever Hospitality Hoe-Down to appreciate ushers and greeters. About 45 people attended! We presented, with Celebrations, an all-morning workshop on what goes into the planning and implementation of Sunday morning services, including the contribution of the "hospitality" function. We welcomed to our committee relatively new members, Bonnie and Mark Smith, who bring energy, vision, and humor. We convinced Shirley Beckman that her return to the committee was imperative, as we need her quiet wisdom. We strengthened our linkage with Stewardship with the attendance of Marcus Cheatham at our meetings. Goals for the future: Karen Hagen has assumed responsibility for recruiting, coordinating, and inspiring our Ushers and Greeters. She, along with our minister, is working to increase the awareness of the "ministerial" aspect of the usher/greeter function. Training for "veteran" ushers/greeters, who will, in turn, mentor newer folks, is planned. Rob Mack has joined our committee and is taking on responsibility to be our link with the new church data-base. We will thus be able to make the very best use of that data in support of the membership function. We will be concentrating on long-term retention of members and friends by creating connections between newer and not-so-new congregants. Vehicles for accomplishing these connections will include getting back on track with our "New Member Corner" and "UUs in the News" published in The Liberal Express. We will also strengthen linkages with Member Activities and Volunteer Opportunities. Increasing Committee presence at our Activities Table will be important in this effort. We appreciate the contribution of Martha Kuepper, who has taken on responsibility for this function after second service. Chairperson: Mart McClellan, Board Liaison: Melany Mack Nominating Committee This is an historic time for our congregation. Through our strategic planning process we are developing an ambitious vision for deepening our liberal-religious community. Through involvement in covenant groups, lifespan religious education, and volunteer work we create lasting bonds. In worship on Sundays and Vespers we sustain each other in worship and celebration. How does all this happen? In this democracy, each of us shares the responsibility, as willing and able, to create what we are and what we can offer to the Greater Lansing Community. The Nominations Committee shares the work of the congregation by identifying potential leadership for positions of caring for and transforming our congregational life. In church year 2004-2005 we:
Future Projects:
Encourage the board of trustees to review congregational bylaws to adjust for our evolving church structure. Chairperson: Deb Bennett, Standing Committee responsible to
the Congregation and Board of Trustees Social Action Social Action Committee Activities this year and goals for the future: One of the yearly functions of the Social Action Committee is to sponsor the Christmas offering. This year we spread the Christmas offering to raise money for one organization at Christmas (instead of three as we have done) and other organizations at other points during the year. This year the Christmas offering was given to the New Hope Day Shelter, the only area homeless shelter that is open during the daytime. The offering raised over $1,000 to help narrow the funding gap that has threatened to close this desperately needed facility. There will be a second offering in May for an organization yet to be decided upon. The Social Action Committee co-sponsored an initiative with the Journey to Wholeness (JTW) Committee to ask the congregation to take a public position opposing the Michigan Civil Rights Initiative (MCRI), which would ban affirmative action programs in Michigan. Ninety percent of voters agreed that the congregation should take a stand against MCRI. Social Action will work with JTW to publicize this stand and take appropriate action in opposition to the MCRI. The Social Action Committee became a member of the MUUSJN (Michigan Unitarian Universalist Social Justice Network). Our church housed an all day state-wide conference/workshop on Saturday March 11th called "A Little Less Talk . . . A LOT MORE ACTION" that was sponsored by the MUUSJN. Between 70 and 80 people attended including about 5 Michigan UU ministers and representatives from at least six different UU congregations. The worship/ keynote speaker was Rev. David Carl Olson from Flint, who spoke on "Just Us: Ministers Building Justice Ministries. Jim Scott, UU songwriter & musician performed and led music. Elizabeth Bukey from the UUA Washington Office for Advocacy spoke on "Inspired Faith Effective Action" and held a workshop. Members of the Kalamazoo, Birmingham and Ann Arbor churches spoke on UU Best Practices highlighting successful social action projects. There were afternoon workshops on the Minimum Wage Campaign, the Affirmative Action Campaign, Campaigning for Universal Health Care, Michigan Interfaith Power and Light, and Organizing a Petition Drive (ACORN). Members of Cheryl Goodman's covenant group provided food for the conference. Co-chairs: Lynn Scott and Margaret Kingsbury, Board
Liaison: Lynn Scott Journey Toward Wholeness Accomplishments in 2005: We gave two Sunday morning programs. Nanette Reynolds spoke in March with Jim Davis leading the service. Margo Smith read a social justice sermon by a UU minister in July. Chrystal Price led the July service. We began planning a campaign to ask the church members to take a public position opposing the Michigan "Civil Rights Initiative". Projects for 2006: Jean Doss spoke in February on the Michigan "Civil Rights Initiative" with Monica Day leading the service. We also plan to develop a Sunday morning service for this summer or fall. We will be continuing our work to defeat the Michigan "Civil Rights Initiative" as we look for ways to implement the congregation’s recent decision to take a public position in opposition to it. We hope to give a Journey Toward Wholeness Seminar series in the Fall of 2006 or Winter/Spring of 2007. Chairs: Monica Day and Jim Davis, Board Liaison: Tammy
Lemmer Social Activities Social Activities Our mission is to provide opportunities for fellowship and shared ministry that encourage connection, growth, nurturance, support and friendship to each other in all our diversity and life transitions. Our mission intersects with those of several other committees, including Membership, Lifespan Faith Development, and Social Action. We support, publicize and promote a range of "activities" that are consistent with the goals of each. A theme that is unfolding this year is that lifespan faith development doesn’t happen just in classroom settings, but in a vast array of activities that intentionally support each other’s search for truth and meaning. Ideas for activities that will contribute to these goals seem to emerge from the interests and energy of small groups of congregants. Hence, the emergence this year of the "20 Something Group", the "Lettuce Be Knitters", Family Movie Night, and, most recently, "Piece Makers"-a group of UU quilters. Among our important functions are to coordinate these activities and to publicize and answer questions about these events at the "Activities Table" on Sundays. Increasingly we’re finding that the informal chatting that occurs around the Activities Table identifies individuals with interests and energy that develop into the activities of the future. Activities this year (alphabetically): Circle Suppers: Small groups share pot-luck suppers at members’ homes the second Saturday of every month. Contact: Diane Nichol. Grove Street Investment Group: A group of women meet at church the first Tuesday of each month to follow the stock market and invest as a group. Contact: Joan Kemper. Lettuce Be Knitters and Piecemakers: Newly formed groups who meet at church on a somewhat regular basis for knitting, quilting and camaraderie. Contact: Deb Bennett. Memorial Day Weekend Retreat: Every year for 26 years our Church has had a spring retreat. This year an ad hoc group conducted a poll, and on the basis of the results we returned to Yankee Springs which had been our old haunt for two decades. These retreats are a source of renewal for Members who love the out-of-doors, allowing extra time to talk with old friends, as well as music, food and adventure. They are especially fun for families with children and pets. Contact: Marcus Cheatham. Pretty Good Book Group: This group reads a book each month and meets at church to discuss it on the first Sunday of each month. Contact: Bill Kingsbury. Twenty Something Group: If you’re in the 20 (plus or minus) age group, here’s a group especially for you. Just getting formed, times, places, and events are yet to be announced. Contact: Emily Mukherjee. UU Bikers: They’re an informal group who ride about once a month, May through October. The pace is leisurely (no one left behind) and the events frequently involve food. Contact: Bill Lovell. UU Women’s Fellowship: This group meets monthly, the 3rd Thursday of each month, taking turns hosting the event at their homes. They hold an annual spring luncheon and an annual Christmas cookie sale, with proceed benefiting the church. Contact: Mary Voelker. Goals for the Future: a goal for the coming year is to increase the number of persons involved in the design, coordination, and staffing of the Activities Table before and after each service. We hope to increase participation from each of the Committees in meeting this goal. Chairperson: Sheila Ording, Activities Cluster Members: listed above. Building and Grounds Building and Grounds Activities this year: This was a year of realization. Our physical home is aging. There were regular calls made to electricians, plumbers, roofers and of course volunteers. In order to be more proactive and make better decisions in caring for our facilities, we had the building inspected by a professional. The report gave us issues of immediate and longer term concern so we can plan to address them. The Board approved the go ahead on the top priority issues and we are currently receiving bids for roofing repair, masonry repair and stucco work. Once this work is complete, we will move down the list. Bill Kingsbury has been the handyman super hero of the year. He’s been called on to repair handrails and windows, rebuild the floor and replace the vinyl in the toddlers’ bathroom and refurbish the cabinet that now stores our coffee in the Fireplace Room. The Phantom Painter, Hank Henson, has single handedly spruced the place up by painting everything from window trim and the playground fence to the play ground equipment and outdoor stairs. Sleuth, Stuart Campbell, did investigative work to make sure the mildew problems we are experiencing don’t present a health risk. Once again the Spring and Fall Clean Ups were a huge success. Weather of course was a challenge but UUs are a tough bunch and the work was done, a good time was had and the food was terrific. Deb Mosher and Eugene provided phenomenal eats and Gene Mellen took the reigns for the Fall Clean Up in my absence. Goals for the future: This year we will be working on building permanent storage in the MV Parlor. We hope to make it more child-friendly and keep it a warm welcoming space. The sign on the corner will also be refurbished this year. We will also playing a support role in the building repairs and improvements laid out in the Inspection Report. Chairperson: Cindy Lehmkuhle, Board Liaison: Mark
McWilliams Memorial Garden Committee In 2005, the cremains of Betty Ambrose and Joachim Lay were interred in the Memorial Garden. The annual Spring Clean-up was held. Chair: Margo Smith Kitchen Committee Purpose: Maintain and improve the safety and sanitation of the kitchen so that community meals can be enjoyed. Activities this year: The UUWF made a generous contribution of flatware with storage bins for the kitchen which allowed the congregation to reduce the use of disposable plastic ware. An anonymous donor and funds from the Religious Education committee purchased plastic cups. The kitchen passed its annual licensing visit from the Ingham County Health Department. We continue inventorying and labeling kitchen shelves so items can be easily replaced after use. We also continue to identify items needed to ensure the use of the kitchen area and solicit donations and purchase of the same. We maintain a "to -do" list in the kitchen for jobs that can be done out side of a scheduled meeting. Additionally, when a group signs up the kitchen for any event, they receive instructions for how to operate equipment and maintain cleanliness. Goals for the future: In the future, we hope to increase the safety and sanitation of the kitchen area and work with the strategic planning committee on progress towards enhancing the kitchen and its use by our congregation. Chairperson: Cindy Lehmkuhle, Board Liaison: Mark
McWilliams Finance Finance Committee Activities this year: The Finance Committee requested proposals from several auditing firms, evaluated the proposals, interviewed representatives from the firms with the best proposals, and selected the firm of Abraham and Gaffney. Abraham and Gaffney completed an audit of UUCGL's internal finance procedures, documented the procedures, and recommended several changes. A letter-box safe was installed in the church office. This safe is used to hold income temporarily until funds can be counted and deposited. Chris Clampitt, Financial Secretary, developed a procedure for two people to count the income. A check approval procedure was adopted to require two signatures on all check requests. The chart of accounts was revised to properly record income and expenditures and eliminate "net" accounts. Goals for the future:
Chairperson: Sue Hill, Board Liaison: Sue Hill Investment Committee The Investment Committee, which is created under the church constitution, consists of five members: four elected by the congregation for staggered two year terms and one appointed by the Board for a one year term. The Committee is charged by the constitution with investing and managing the endowment funds of the church, with the objective of investing prudently and, subject to that constraint, of maximizing our return. We are also responsible for investing certain non-endowment funds for the church. Endowment funds are invested in mutual funds, both stock funds and stock and bond funds, as well as in certificates of deposit and in short term U.S. Treasury bills and notes. Our practice is to reinvest earnings rather than take profits. Activities this year: Our return on endowment funds in 2005 was 6.26%. Each year, we release a portion of the endowment income for use by the church for purposes other than ones that are included in the annual budget. The latter is a restriction adopted by action of the Board. The amount allocated in 2005 was $8,400.00. Non-endowment funds are held primarily in money market funds, since this money must be readily accessible. Return on these has been limited, since short-term interest rates are very low. Goals for the future: We will continue to carry out our obligations to invest and manage the endowment funds of the church, with the objective of investing prudently and, subject to that constraint, of maximizing our return. Committee Chair: Marion Walsh. GROVE STREET BOOK SHOP: BOOKS FOR U & U Accomplishments for Calendar Year 2005 2005 Sales Summary: Invoice Totals $ 3,633.35 Balance $ 3,110.50
Grove Street Top Sellers of 2005 We also coordinated purchase and dedications of the new hymnal supplement, "Singing the Journey" with the Music Committee. Future Projects:
Chairperson: Mark McWilliams, Board Liaison: Sue Hill 2005
Financial Summary Congregational Meeting: April 17, 2005 Minutes President Lynn Scott called the meeting to order at 10:30 a.m.; a quorum was present. I. Adoption of the Agenda MOTION I: Ralph Kron moved adoption of the agenda. Alice Erickson seconded. PASSED. II. Release of the Annual Report The 2004-2005 Annual Report was handed out. III. Nominations - Debra Bennett, Chair, Nominating Committee Board of Trustees, Nominating Committee and Investment Committee: The Nominating Committee submitted the following slate of candidates: Board of Trustees: Judy Goth-Owens (I), Tammy Lemmer (I), Mark McWilliams (I), Judith Rowell-DeVaney (I), and Deb Wiese. Nominating Committee: Mary Keefe and David Rovner (I). Investment Committee: Claire Crawford (I) and Marion Walsh (I). MOTION II: Bob Lovell moved acceptance of the slate of candidates. Chris Clampitt seconded. PASSED. General Assembly Delegates: Marcus Cheatham nominated Laurel Ponist as GA delegate. No other nominations were received. MOTION III: Hari Kern moved approval of Laurel Ponist as GA delegate. Ken Zielinski seconded. PASSED. The 2005 GA delegates elected at the January and March congregational meetings are: Evy Jackson, Michael Ohlrogge, Laurel Ponist and Lynn Scott. IV. Vote to Adopt the Mission and Vision Statements - Linda Brundage, Chair, Strategic Planning Committee. Mission Statement MOTION IV: Cindy Lehmkuhle moved adoption of the Mission Statement. Bill Lingbeek seconded. Discussion followed. MOTION V: Laurel Ponist moved to call the question. Mary Clark seconded. Vote: The Mission Statement was adopted. B. Vision Statement MOTION VI: Dick Hill moved adoption of the Vision Statement. Ken Zielinski seconded. Discussion followed. MOTION VII: Nathan Wood moved to call the question. Bill Lingbeek seconded. Vote: The Vision Statement was adopted. Adjournment MOTION VIII: Renee Swanson moved adjournment. Cindy Lehmkuhle seconded. PASSED. The meeting was adjourned at 11:15 a.m. Respectfully,
Unitarian Universalist
Church of Greater Lansing
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