Updates from the Board – October 2020

October 26, 2020

Greetings!

On Tuesday, October 20, 2020, we had a meaningful, thoughtful, and challenging discussion about Theology based on the ideas presented in Widening the Circle of Concern. We missed those of you who didn’t attend. We need wide congregational feedback and sharing of ideas and ways forward to be more inclusive, in this case, faith traditions, practices, and beliefs. Our next discussion is on November 1, 2020, at 6:30 pm. Mark your calendar and click on google meet in the calendar.

The Board has agreed to attend a virtual Board Development workshop presented by the Pacific Western Regional UUA. We will be able to learn and share with other UU Boards and regional leaders.

We also will have a Tech Workshop on the use of Breeze and Google Suites on November 7 from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm, all are welcome. We aim to be a learning Board!

The UUA is urging congregations to plan for the post-election reaction in communities since there could be unrest and challenges to our members’ safety, click here for the information. There is a UUA Guide to Becoming a Safer Congregation. I encourage you to read it and look for Prairie UU congregational virtual gathering to better understand and respond to members’ needs.

I hope you survived the cold on the 25th and are looking forward to a “warm winter.”

In Covenant,
Vivian Littlefield, President
Board of Trustees

October 19, 2020

The next Board Meeting is on October 21, 2020, from 6:30 pm to 8:15 pm. The action items on the agenda include the following:

  • Approval of Board Goals
  • Review of COSM recommendations on the Role and Responsibilities of our elected Nominating Committee
  • Role of Board Liaisons to Standing Committees
  • New Fund-Raising Initiatives

There will also be opportunities for discussion and regular reports from our youth representative, Xander K., and the Minister and Finance committee. Join us if you wish. We continue our open time for Members/Friends to make comments or suggestions.

I want to urge you to attend our next discussion about Widening the Circle of Concern UUA report and how PrairieUU will respond to the recommendations. The COSM, Justice League, Pastor AJ and Andrew Paschetto will lead the discussion around Theology. View the UUA report here (page 7 to 19). This discussion is especially relevant to the Core Team who plan our worship and educational programs. This discussion is on 10/20/2020 at 6:30 pm on Google Meet.

I am assuming that many of you have already voted! That is great news! UUs Vote. I loved the description of Black Churches’ promotion to have members vote: Souls to the Polls!

In Covenant,
Vivian Littlefield, President
Board of Trustees

 

October 12, 2020

Thank you to those who attended the Town Hall meeting on Sunday, October 11, 2020!

I hope our effort to inform members and friends of our technical resources to connect during the pandemic and to stay in right relations was helpful.

Information not shared due to time to discuss other agenda items, Prairie UU technical resources presented by our staff and minister and the COSM’s process for Restorative Listening for right relations, please note the following information.

Communications and Membership: The Board received a request for reestablishing a Communication and Marketing Committee. Since our Bylaws indicate a role for the Board in supporting Standing Committees, efforts were made to identify members and a Chair. When there was no chair available, the Board considered several options. The one supported was to combine the Membership and Communications Committees. Brenda P is the new Chair of Membership and is interested in serving on the Communications Committee including Kim Murray, Janet Stevens, and Jim Rogo. This combined committee can advise the staff about members’ preference for types and frequency of communications and needs of the broader community and visitors.

Please contact Brenda P, with questions and suggestions. Growing our membership and staying in covenant with current members is essential to our faith community.

Prairie UU Trust Fund: This fund has no resources currently, but is described in our bylaws. Although Trust funds are required to register with the State, Prairie UU is not registered. The committee elected to manage this fund, Chair Janet Stevens, Tom Heisler and Michael McVey, are recommending a new type of fund that is more flexible to be established. When the elected committee has decided on the best approach, I will ask the congregation to take action on their proposal. Please send suggestions, questions and ideas to Janet S.

The contract for Pastor AJ:  As I hope you recall, based on the COSM recommendation, the Board approved unanimously a 3rd-year contract for Pastor AJ. Subsequently, we learned that Pastor AJ cannot sign a contract until the Ministerial Fellowship Committee that oversees his preparation for ordination agrees to a third year. This may not be decided until April of 2021. The Board voted, again unanimously to extend the offer. We want AJ to be our minister and finish his fellowship and be ordained. He will work full time during the budget year, for summer free to complete his chaplaincy.

Thank you for reading this. The Board is committed to keeping you informed about our activities and welcomes your suggestions and questions.

The Finance Committee is holding a special meeting on October 14, 2020, at 6:00 pm to discuss and recommend additional fundraising initiatives. Please send your ideas to [email protected].  As I hope you know, our fundraising activities are an important part of our budget that supports PrairieUU’s activities, programs and staff. Committee Chairs should have received information about the amount of money allocated to their committee’s activities. If you did not receive this information, let me know. ([email protected])

Please mark your calendars for our next Widening the Circle of Concern presentation and discussion on October 20, 2020, at 6:30 pm by Google Meet. (See Calendar) The topic is: Theology. Andrew Paschetto and Pastor AJ will present their ideas for Prairie UU.

“The faith of free persons must tangibly make them free in a community of human dignity and equal justice.” James Luther Adams, A Faith for the Free

The next Board Meeting is on October 21, 2020, now from 6:30 pm to 8:15 pm on Google Meet. The Board will open the meeting to members/friends at 6:45 pm. All are invited to attend the entire meeting. The Finance Committee meets from 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm prior to the Board meeting. Questions about that meeting can be directed to Clark H.

With best wishes for a safe and healthy fall.

In Covenant,
Vivian Littlefield, President
Board of Trustees

October 5, 2020

Happy October!!

Two important church-wide meetings this month include a discussion led by the COSM, Board, and Justice League on recommendations for Prairie UU based on the UUA Widening the Circle of Concern document. The area of focus will be Theology, led by Andrew Paschetto and Pastor AJ. You can find the UUA findings and recommendations here. This meeting is October 20, 2020, at 6:30 pm on Google Meet.

The second church-wide meeting is a Town Hall Meeting on October 11, 2020, at 11:45 am after Worship Service, also on Google Meet. I welcome your suggestions for agenda items.

The agenda items currently suggested include:

  • What is the Restorative Process for Right Relations in Prairie UU? How does it work? Skit and presentation by the COSM.
  • What are the ways Prairie UU members can connect and communicate technically? How can members/friends and visitors suggest needs and changes?
  • Presentations by Prairie UU Communications staff (Mary and Rhonda) and Pastor AJ; How will the new Membership/Communications committee work and help guide communications?
  • What are the suggestions for resolving and replacing the Prairie UU Trust Fund: Presented by the Prairie UU Trust Committee: Janet Stevens, Michael McVey, and Tom Heisler.
  • Opportunity for Questions and Suggestions about ongoing projects of the COSM and Board.

The next Board Meeting is on October 21, 2020, now at 6:30 pm to 8:15 pm on Google Meet. The Board will open the meeting to members/friends at 6:45 pm. All are invited to attend the entire meeting. The Finance Committee meets at 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm prior to the Board meeting. Questions about that meeting can be directed to Clark H.

With best wishes for a safe and healthy fall:

In Covenant,

Vivian Littlefield, President

Board of Trustees