Spring/Summer 2022 Splinters
Your Board of Trustees has been busy trying to advance the best interests of UU Lansing. These efforts span a wide spectrum, from recommending the Regional and General Assembly delegate registration fees be paid from the Church’s reserve account, to holding our Annual Congregation Meeting in April, where slates of candidates for various Board and Committee positions were approved.
A significant amount of time has been devoted to implementing our Board policies and to the review of our Constitution and Bylaws. After adopting our Board Policy on shared-leadership governance in February of this year, your Board began setting up a thoughtful implementation of our governance strategy. We started with a “Making it Happen” retreat in April to:
· Set up a process for responding to Rev. Neal’s policy interpretations (there are eight Limitation policies and five Ends policies in our shared-leadership governance) to ensure the Board understands what its policies will mean operationally and how the Board will know there is compliance with its policies. For instance, under the policy of financial planning, the Senior Minister must establish, maintain, and communicate an appropriate gift acceptance policy for both unrestricted and restricted gifts that includes provisions for donor-designated purposes and allows for the acceptance or rejection of gifts.
· Establish a calendar for receiving and reviewing policy interpretations. We are on schedule to finish this process by the end of February.
· Establish a perpetual calendar for assessing policy compliance to help the Board stay aligned with its governance system into the future.
Review of Rev. Neals’ interpretations of Ends policies and limitations policies has started. We have reviewed the first two Ends interpretations and the two Financial interpretations. We are on schedule to finish this process by the end of February 2023.
In addition to reviewing policy interpretations, the Board has been carefully reviewing, discussing, and approving the proposed revised bylaws, article by article. We formally approved the proposed revisions to the Bylaws at our August meeting. We intend to make these proposed revisions available to the congregation for review, with an invitation to provide written feedback, and an invitation to attend one or both townhall-style meetings prior to a congregational meeting in November, when the Bylaws revisions will be put to a vote. This meeting will be in person.
If you have any questions regarding Splinters from the Board or the work of your Board, please reach out to us. We look forward to future engagement on these and other topics.
Deb Feltz, President
Tom Nicholas, President-Elect
February 2022 Splinters
With a sigh of relief at the February 24 meeting, the Board reached a significant milestone in our multi-year project to modernize UU Lansing’s governance. We voted unanimously to adopt a comprehensive set of Board policies. One of Congregational Administrator Kathy McWilliams’ favorite sayings is “things move at the speed of church.” These policies will speed up many things by simplifying our (virtual) org chart. In addition, these policies will:
· Lean more heavily on the leadership, experience, and expertise of our talented staff.
· Provide latitude and limits to encourage innovation.
· Encourage a shared-leadership process that involves the congregation in creating a strategic plan.
· Establish regular performance reviews for all of our programs.
· Establish a clear process to receive and address concerns.
The Board remains your voice between congregational meetings. We retain and take seriously our fiduciary responsibility, always seeking to act in UU Lansing’s best interests. We’ll be creating opportunities to discuss these policies with you, and we look forward to those conversations. This project is not yet done; reviewing our Constitution and Bylaws is the next big step, and preliminary work has begun to create a proposal. Unlike these policies, which focus on how the Board operates, the Constitution and Bylaws affect the whole church, and changes will come from a future congregational meeting.
November 2021 Splinters
At the Board’s November 23, 2021 Meeting:
Deb Feltz was appointed as President-Elect of the Church. She will serve a second term as President of the Church for 2022-2023.
Tom Nicholas was appointed to the Board, replacing Joe Stuart, who has moved to take a new job.
Lisa Huberty was appointed to the Finance Committee.
An initial discussion on how the Finance Team might work under policy governance was held; decisions will be made at a later date.
Folks interested in solar panels at UU Lansing will hold a townhall later this winter.
Recruitment for General Assembly and Regional Assembly delegates is underway. (Contact Gale Strasburg if you are interested.)
Rob Mack, Treasurer, reported that a $10,000 LEAP grant was added to income for October. Budget vs Actual shows a net income, as of October 31, of $41,868 (including the LEAP grant and $66,767 PPP grant. Pledge income appears to be on track to reach the budgeted amount of $501,599.
October 2021 Splinters
At the October 27, 2021 meeting, the Board asked the Secretary to send thank-you notes to:
○ Jennifer Castner, retiring as Stewardship Chair
○ Lynn Scott, retiring as Social Justice Chair
○ The Installation Committee, who created a fabulous installation ceremony for Rev. Neal - Deb Mosher, Jann and Mike Nestell, Carol and Tom Nicholas, and Susan Rothfuss
Kathy Lovell provided information about solar panels for the church on several detailed documents and gave a summary of work done to date. She described how an LLC can be used to capture tax advantages unavailable to churches. Step-by-step instructions for how to do this are available. She reprised the history of work at UU Lansing to date. Kathy answered questions, and a Board conversation followed.
The Board then asked Kathy Lovell and her team to hold a church-wide Zoom meeting on solar panels for the church. The meeting should begin with a broad discussion of solar panels, competing church priorities, and options for purchasing panels. It should include an invitation to take part in an online survey designed to test congregational interest.
Past President Judy Goth-Owens reported that the Nominations Committee has begun to look for Regional Assembly and General Assembly Delegates.
Jenny Olson reported that the summer slump in pledge payments is over, and income has picked up. The Dart Bank mortgage loan is on track for renewal.
The Board has changed its next meeting time from the fourth Wednesday of November to Tuesday, November 23 at its regular time of 7:00 p.m., to accommodate those who are traveling for Thanksgiving.
August 2021 Splinters
Splinters from the Board of Trustees Meeting August 25, 2021
Sarah Matteo, our new Director of Lifespan Faith Development, was introduced by Rev. Neal Anderson. She spoke briefly, and Board members introduced themselves.
The Board’s only action item was to approve a motion to release $4,800 in the Thornton Peace Fund for use by the Community Organizer project.
The Board has continued to meet monthly with Laura Park, our hired consultant, to transition into Policy Governance from our modified Program Board system. We recognize the need to have a congregational conversation about what this means, and planning for this conversation will be a focus of our retreat as part of our theme: dealing with change and how to re-engage. The retreat is planned for September 24 and 25.
In other business, the Board approved Julia Tarsa as appointee to the Nominations Committee. Outcomes of Access and Inclusion Ministries Plan Workshop for Board (and Program Chairs) were discussed. Deb Feltz reported that she and a few members of the Board will meet with Board members of UU-Nashua to learn about their experience in moving toward policy governance.
Rev. Neal Anderson reported on childcare, technology upgrades, Covid opening plans including mask requirement, and nearly-finished kitchen remodeling. The Southside Community Kitchen looks to begin soon. Rev. Neal is hopeful that congregants will volunteer to work in the kitchen. Installation planning continues for October 23.
Judy Goth-Owens reported the Stewardship Committee will be needing a new chair as Jennifer Castner steps down. The Nominations Committee is looking for suggested qualities and skills needed for Board nominees.
Jenny Olson provided highlights from the Finance Committee report: Pledges have come in better than expected, so some of the PPE funds planned for this year may be available next year.
May 2021 Splinters
New Board Officers were elected:
Secretary – Bob Lovell
Vice President for Finance – Rob Mack
Incoming President Deb Feltz thanked Outgoing President Judy Goth-Owens for her service in a difficult year.
Walt Wheeler and Stephanie Fleming of the Covid Task Force presented their Reopening Plan. Board members thanked the Task Force for their work this year, and the Board approved a motion of support for the plan.
Jennifer Castner of the Stewardship Committee reported that the May 2021 Auction raised about $4500. A second auction is planned for fall.
A family within the congregation has offered a matching gift of $5,000 and is inviting members of the congregation to make gifts totaling an equal amount for use in paying down the congregation’s mortgage. That match has been met by our congregants.
The "Spring Ask" launched by the Stewardship Committee last month, to fund the purchase of hardware and software to enable worship to be livestreamed and recorded in perpetuity, has raised $12,585 to date of the goal $16,000. [By the end of May, the goal was nearly reached.]
Pat Quinn will continue as one of the Board-appointed Nominations Committee members.
Rev. Neal reported that Ice Cream Sunday will be held to celebrate Teresa Putnam, retiring Director of Lifespan Faith Development, on Sunday, June 27 between 1:00 and 3:00 p.m. An offer has been made to a new Acting Director of Lifespan Faith Development.
Michael McClellan reminded the Board of the upcoming meeting with consultant Laura Park in June to continue to the process of adopting a policy governance model.
The Boardʼs next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, June 23 at 7:00 p.m.
Prepared by Bob Lovell, Board Secretary
Call for 2021 Annual Congregational Meeting
Due to continuing pandemic restrictions on large indoor gatherings, the UU Lansing Board of Trustees will hold the 2021 Annual Congregational Meeting in an online format using Zoom as we have done for the two previous congregational meetings.
The meeting will be held at 12:00 p.m. on Sunday, May 2, instead of Coffee Hour. The purpose of the meeting is to nominate candidates and approve a ballot for elected positions on the Board of Trustees, Nominations Committee, and Investment Committee. All are welcome to attend; only members may vote.
More details will follow.
Judy Goth-Owens, Board President
March 2021 Splinters
During its March 2021 meeting, the Board reviewed and discussed the proposed by-law revisions. The Board focused on specific revisions for which individual Board members had questions or wished to seek further clarification regarding the proposed change or new addition to the by-laws document. Particular areas addressed included the role and structure of the Finance Committee, the renaming of the Nominations Committee to Leadership Development Committee, composition of the Board, and ability/authority to take a public position or public statement on behalf of the church.
Judy Goth-Owens reported that she attended a session for congregations from the Mid-America Region that addressed plans for reopening congregations. There is not a specific plan or recommendation from the UAA with regard to reopening. The Board passed a motion charging Rev. Neal to work with the church’s existing COVID-19 Task Force to develop a plan for reopening and returning to in-person worship.
Michael McClellan reminded the Board of the meetings with consultant Laura Park on April 6 and April 8 to continue the process of adopting a policy governance model. The individual Board member work assignments need to be completed ahead of those planned sessions.
The Board was informed by the Stewardship Committee that a family within the congregation has offered a matching gift of $5,000 and is inviting members of the congregation to make gifts totaling an equal amount for use in paying down the congregation’s mortgage. In addition, the Stewardship Committee is planning to do a special spring ask to reach a goal of $15k to support work needed to upgrade the floor in the kitchen and to support the church’s ability to live stream services. Stewardship is also reviewing proposals for a variety of other small fundraising events to be conducted over the course of the year.
The Finance Committee reported to the Board that it appeared the church would be able to close the 2020 financials in March. The Committee estimates there will be a $43k budget surplus for the 2020 fiscal year. The Committee shared that it is also exploring ways in which it can better clarify the documentation and tracking of the reserve fund accounts.
The Nominations Committee requested some additional time to develop the slate of candidates prior to the congregational meeting. Given the current schedule and acknowledging the ordination of congregant Kristy Stuart scheduled for April 24, the Board is recommending the congregational meeting be held on Sunday, May 2, 2021. The Nominations Committee will be prepared to present a slate of candidates to fill the anticipated vacancies on all congregational committees and the Board.
Bill Arnold shared that he will be resigning his position on the Board as he is unable to completely fulfill his obligations as a Board member. He will remain in his position until a replacement is appointed to fulfill the remainder of his term.
February 2021 Splinters
Following the congregational meeting presentation by Michael McClellan regarding the Mapping our Future initiative, two separate online gatherings were hosted for congregants to ask questions and offer feedback. The Board members who facilitated those sessions updated the entire Board on the questions and concerns raised by those who participated. Participants were particularly interested in getting greater clarity regarding the ends statements and how those relate to goals for the congregation. In addition, there was interest in receiving additional details about the Board’s efforts to move the church toward use of policy governance. The Board agreed to continue to work on informing and involving members of the congregation in living into the identified values, mission, and ends as well as the policy governance process. On February 11, the Board conducted another 90-minute facilitated policy governance transition session with our consultant. Throughout March, Board members will engage in individual study and work in preparation for another 90-minute work session with the consultant in April.
The Board received a draft revision of the church bylaws from the committee appointed by the Board to conduct a review and revision process. Joe Stuart, Deb Feltz, and Jessica Martin, who comprised the committee, updated the Board on the process they used over the last six months to review and identify necessary revisions. During that time, the committee met with numerous individuals involved with church committees as well as with church staff. The overall goal of the review and revision process was to create a more streamlined document that is easier to read and understand. In addition, the revised bylaws are intended to better reflect the church’s movement toward policy governance. It has been approximately five years since the last significant bylaws review. The Board is currently reviewing the proposed revisions and will, at its next meeting, engage in further discussion of the proposed revisions.
The Board received the monthly Budget/Finance Committee Report, noting that the committee is currently working to close the 2020 financials and hopes to complete that process by the end of April. The Board received notice from the Investment Committee that there will be a $30k payout from the endowment available as a spendable allocation. The Board will request that Rev. Neal work with staff and volunteers to identify from the existing “wish list” of special projects as well as other emergent needs a proposal on where those funds will be allocated.
The Nominations Committee informed the Board that they anticipate there will be two seats on the Board, two seats on the Finance Committee, and two seats on the Nominations Committee to be filled this spring. The committee will put out information in the church newsletter and seek additional opportunities to inform the congregation and to invite people to recommend names of those who might be interested.
The Board is partnering with the AIM team (Accessibility and Inclusion Ministry) to schedule a two-hour workshop for lay ministers and congregation leaders for sometime this spring.
-Bill Arnold