Document Actions

Board and Governance

A Special Message About Next Year’s Church Budget

--from your Board of Trustees

Our new building has been extremely successful in attracting new members and participants in the church. This is wonderful but does increase program costs. At the same time, the annual fund drive this year did not reach its goal. As a result of these and other factors, we are experiencing a significant shortfall in this year’s budget. In order to avoid this next year, the proposed annual budget contains several important features. It does not have a cost-of-living increase for managerial staff or the ministers and it eliminates next year’s payment of our UUA and Pacific Northwest District Dues. We will be requesting that the congregation respond generously to our fall fund drive so that we can restore these items to the budget. In addition, program fees for non-pledgers will be set at higher amounts than for pledgers. To avoid these problems in the future, the budget strengthens our infrastructure by funding a position for a staff person to support our annual fund drive and generosity efforts.

The Board has also changed its voting membership policy to require that a voting member pledge an amount that is “generous within his or her means.” The current policy requires a voting member to pledge $120 per year, an amount that is not linked to personal commitment or to the cost of supporting our church. The new policy is effective July 1.

Your Board of Trustees invites you to a special Conversation with the Board to be held on Monday, May 12, from 6:30-8 p.m. to talk about the budget and the change in the pledge policy. Please attend to talk to get more information and to share your ideas about these issues. Childcare will be provided.

-----------------------------------------
The Board of Trustees of First Unitarian Church is a governing body that was created to share the leadership of the ministers and staff in supporting the church and all of its congregants. The Board meets every month, usually on the fourth Thursday, for a three-hour task-oriented, informative session. Board meetings are open to congregants who are interested in a brief glimpse of the workings of the church.

Listed below are the Board members for the 2007-2008 church year, with their titles (where applicable) and the date that their terms end.

Randy Russell, Moderator
Term ends 2008

Marilyn Scott, First Vice-Moderator
Term ends 2009

Cindy Cumfer, Second Vice-Moderator
Term ends 2010

Don Watne, Treasurer
Term ends 2008

Pat Malone, Secretary
Term ends 2010

Allison Frost
Term ends 2010

Helena Lee
Term ends 2008

Teri Martin
Term ends 2008

Dave Patterson
Term ends 2009