ALL FAITHS UNITARIAN CONGREGATION

BOARD OF GOVERNORS MEETING MINUTES

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2008 – 4 P.M.

1. The meeting was called to order by the president, Joyce Ramay. Present were Lloyd Fish, vice president; Doug Cartwright, treasurer; Carol Elrod, secretary; Lou Pizzini, past president; and governors Lisa Leonhardt, Robert Bennett, Karen Nathan, and Ernie Fierro. Also present were Wayne Robinson, minister; Pat Nuding, membership chairman, and Carol Siferd, chairman of the social circles committee.

2. The secretary’s report from the January 15 meeting was approved.

3. Treasurer’s Report – (Handouts: treasurer’s report narrative as of 2/19/2008 and the Jan. 2008 income statement)

Our expenses for Jan. 08 were $14,080, and we took in $14,641 for a net gain of $561. Our financial condition at the end of January 2008 was much better than at the end of January of 2007 when expenses were $5,169 more than income.

As of February 19, 2008, All Faiths bank accounts totaled $44,682.53 broken down as follows:

        Florida Gulf Checking $12,407.23

        Florida Gulf Money Market $8,539.96

        Raymond James Money Market $23,735.34 (operating reserve)

The finance committee voted to shift monies into both money markets to earn more interest, so the checking account shows a drop of $10,000, and the money market accounts have gained by that much. The operating reserve is now at 52 percent of our goal of $45,000.  Doug Cartwright has made a United Way-style poster showing collections in the operating reserve as a way of keeping the congregation informed and encouraging members and friends to contribute. The poster will be behind the activities table on Sundays. Ed Kleinow, chairman of the finance committee, said congregants might stimulate All Faiths’ economy by making extra donations, perhaps from tax refunds or their stimulus checks.

All Faiths received $1,010 from eight donors who were paid for working at the polls. Special donations for Acoustic Eidolon on Founders’ Day came from five donors and totaled $225, so only $25 was required from the music budget instead of the $75 budgeted. The performance by Dr. Eduard Gulbytan was totally underwritten by a single donor.

At Founders’ Day, we served 110 meals, 95 of which were paid for. There were also 15 complimentary meals. We took in $42 for wine and flowers. The wine, flowers, table decorations and glasses were all donated. Even with increasing Elvira Griffin’s per-meal payment to $7 from $6 and paying an extra $75 for the work of the sextons, we realized a $147 profit on the Founders’ Day meal.

Sarah Hanna, the office manager, has renewed our tax exempt status early as we are to receive a bequest, and a certificate is required.

The treasurer’s report was accepted. Lyle Olson has agreed to do the audit of All Faiths’ 2007 financial records with the help of his committee.

Maggie Mullins, Kay Riegler and Lloyd Fish (acting as the liaison to the finance committee) will work with the minister to facilitate fund-raising activities in the Spring, and Bev Rademacher has agreed to do the same for the Fall campaign.

The Services Support Council has recommended that Hipolito Molina, our sexton, be paid an additional $10 per Sunday. He’s never had an increase since he started working for All Faiths and is having to do more work because of the new seating. The board agreed, and his raise will be effective Feb. 24, 2008. Hipolito currently receives $75 on ordinary Sundays and $125 if there’s a congregational event. With the raise, he would receive $85 for ordinary Sundays and remain at $125 when there is a special event.

Luis Martinez, the assistant, has been placed on the automatic payroll, effective March 1. He receives $50 a Sunday.

Lloyd Fish, who has been chairman of the Signature Chamber Concerts at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Ft. Myers, asked that a $1,000 thank-you donation from the concerts to All Faiths be put in our operating reserve. Many members of All Faiths have been attending these Sunday-afternoon programs. The board approved.

A handout to help members with planned giving to All Faiths is being prepared.

4. Minister’s Report – (See handout). Wayne said the reconfiguration of the seating space and the “Conversation Café” seems to be creating more of a participatory sense. The singers and instrumentalists who come up to the front during the service are helping reinforce the melodies of hymns that are new to the congregation.

Wayne and Linda Forcey have met to plan a memorial service for her husband Pete, who died recently. It will be at 4 p.m. March 2 at the Crestwell School. The board decided that, as a general policy, “The congregation will pay for a sexton and the rental of the Crestwell Assembly Hall for a memorial service for any All Faiths Member or Listed Friend.”

On March 30, Wayne will be away. The topic for the service will be “the First Amendment,” and he has asked the executive editor of the News-Press, Kate Marymont, to speak. Jim Nathan will introduce her, and Warren Wright will do Joys and Concerns on that day. The theme for the other services in March will be “a Unitarian perspective on Jesus.”

The minister’s report was approved.

5. Committees

A.     Membership – The board approved the following new members, who were announced by Chairman Pat Nuding: Dr. Susan Pataky, Richard and Florence Nogai, Joyce L. Schaffer, Susan and Werner Stocker.

The board also had a long discussion about whether a person who will not give his full name can become a member of the congregation. This person has filled out a membership application on which he gave his street address and his e-mail address, but not his name. He has refused to put his name for his nametag as well. It was moved and seconded that “to become a member, an applicant must fill out the application form completely. The board can only act upon a completed form. Upon request, however, personal information can be kept confidential.”  The motion was approved.   

B.     Social Circles – Carol Siferd, chair, said that 38 tickets have been sold for the March 9 Gala, which will be at Colonial Country Club. Tickets are $30 each, and we need to sell 100 to break even. Carol hopes to have 15-20 donations of inexpensive goods and/or services for raffles, which could be conducted throughout the evening. The board discussed the possibility of seeking donations to pay for tickets of those who can’t afford the $30. Carol will bring up the matter during her announcements in upcoming services.

C.     Social Outreach Council – (handout) – Robert Bennett, chair

·         McGregor Clinic - Robert Bennett said the white elephant sale, held January 27, brought in $443. And 277 pounds of peanut butter were collected for the Great Peanut Butter Sundae Raffle on Feb. 17.The “McFriends” have expanded their outreach to other non-profit, AIDS-related organizations.

·         Hope House – Donations for the children have resumed, and the congregation is asked to bring paper products and personal hygiene items on any Sunday. There is now a donation box on the Hope House table for pennies and other small change.

·         Environmental and Peace Education Center – EPEC held a conflict-resolution class on Feb. 9 in the Edwards Building.

·         Two new programs have been added to the Social Outreach Council of All Faiths: the Dominican Republic Service Learning Project and the Mano-a-Mano Bolivian Aid Program.

Because of the automobile accident of Dr. Ingrid Martinez-Rico, a co-coordinator of the Dominican Republic project, the All Faiths excursion to that country, originally scheduled to begin on Feb. 29, has been postponed.

Segundo and Joan Velasquez along with Charlotte Blitt and her family will give a presentation about Mano-a-Mano on March 16. It will be before the service in Room 300 of the Crestwell School. A trip to Bolivia is planned in April, and those interested in going are asked to contact Charlotte. Mano-a-Mano will have a table at Sunday services with information and requests for supplies added monthly.

Dale Weber, who is secretary of the Social Outreach Council, will lead an ethics class starting March 2. He will use the UUA curriculum.

D.    Music – Carol Elrod, co-chair, said hymns for March have been chosen for each service by the committee - with the help of the minister. We will continue having singers and instrumentalists help the congregation learn new hymns.  

E.     Service Support Council  – Doug Cartwright, co-chair, said Dottie Mayol has been accepted as a new member, and the council is looking for more, as it is short-handed. The council will help with arrangements for Pete Forcey’s memorial service. Carol Siferd will coordinate refreshments. It was noted that AF will pay for the rental of the hall and for one sexton.

The council will next meet on March 12.

6. Old Business

The board will have a brainstorming session Saturday, March 15 in Joyce Ramay’s home. It will be from 10 a.m. to 11:30 with lunch to follow. The main topic for discussion will be the longevity of the congregation with emphasis on a successor minister, finance and facilities.

7. New Business -

The annual elections meeting will be at 12:15 p.m. Sunday, March 30 in the Crestwell School. The agenda will include:

• Minutes from the 2007 meeting
• Treasurer’s report
• Election of new board members and officers
• Open forum to discuss the future of All Faiths – with emphasis on what was discussed at the brainstorming session: successor minister, finance and facilities.

The meeting was adjourned at 6 p.m.

Next Meeting – Tuesday, March 18 – 4 p.m.