MINUTES OF THE BOARD MEETING: THURSDAY NOVEMBER 17, 2005
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Northwest Unitarian Universalist Church

BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT:
Officers:
Christopher Doozan, Moderator
Mark Babcock, Associate Moderator
Amy Bachelder, Clerk

Governors/Vice Governors:
Jane Williams, Governor Interior Maintenance
Beata Lamparski, Governor Adult Programs
John Amberger, Vice Governor Membership
Diana Kohler, Governor Religious Programs
Tim Beckett, Governor Finance
Melanie Deeds, Governor Music Committee
Ron Barry, Governor Public Relations
Lisa Green, Vice Governor Youth Programs
Randy Block, Governor Social Responsibility
OTHERS PRESENT:
Rev. Kimi Riegel, Minister
Jan Price, Director of Religious Education
Michael Brown
Ted Danielson, Treasurer
BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT:
Peter Staples, Co-Governor Exterior Maintenance

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CALL TO ORDER:
Chris Doozan, Moderator, called the Board of Governors of Northwest Unitarian Universalist Church to order on Thursday November 17, 2005 at 7:35 p.m.
OPENING:
Rev. Kimi Riegel opened with a reading inspired by the time of the year, “On Becoming a Tree.”
APPROVAL OF AGENDA:
The agenda was approved with the addition of an item, certification of membership, under New Business.

AUDIENCE COMMENTS:
There were no audience comments.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
Jane Williams moved to approve the minutes of the Board meeting of October 27, 2005 as emailed seconded by Mark Babcock. Motion passed. Rev. Riegel thanked Beata Lamparski for preparing the minutes in the Clerk’s absence.

ORAL AND WRITTEN REPORTS:
Written reports were received from Rev. Riegel, DRE Jan Price and Tim Beckett.
Minister—Rev. Riegel noted that many of our experienced Board members are leaving their positions and it will be necessary for the nominating committee to involve newer members of the congregation. It is important that we welcome new Board members and help them make the transition to leadership positions.
Finance—Concerns were raised about the possibility that the price of the service auction meal/admission of $20 excluded some members from the event. This was also discussed by the Service Auction committee. It was noted that there has in the past been a mechanism to waive the admission fee for those who could not afford to attend. The Service Auction grossed about $17,000.
The Finance Committee is looking into consolidating accounts and transferring funds to increase our assurances of creditworthiness, to improve rate of return and to simplify and save fees.
The Finance Committee will be looking for someone to operate as interim pledge secretary.

The Capital Campaign has four new pledges totaling $7300. Dorothy Amberger will be preparing the “honor roll” of donors.
The Finance Committee needs a certified copy of the minutes of the last congregational meeting.
Beckett circulated a list of members and addresses to obtain current and accurate information for the Michigan Annual Report. He passed out a draft list of finance committee subcommittees and liaisons.
John Amberger has been designated by the Finance Committee as its representative to the Personnel Committee.
Beata Lamparski asked the Finance Committee to consider whether the Memorial Fund (with $96 in it) could be merged with the Endowment Fund because it is so small. Beckett will look into this.
REPORT ON GROWTH PROJECT
John Amberger and Ron Barry reported that they have addressed a number of items identified as important to the growth project, including better attention to visitors (“no person left out”) and including new members in Service Auction events. Growth is a subject that is discussed at every Board meeting. We have limited doing business during Sunday mornings and have increased our contact with the neighborhood association.
We are working on curb appeal of our building and have added our web site to the outside sign. Mark Babcock designed refrigerator magnets that we give to visitors. We will be doing small group potlucks to talk about growth and have more circle dinners.
We are working on revamping our website and preparing handouts that can be left in places to publicize the church.
COMMITTEE SHARING:
Membership— Doug Whitehouse has requested that he be replaced as governor of the Membership Committee due to health issues. John Amberger has talked to June Baughman who is a member of the committee and described the job to her. She has generously agreed to accept the position. The bylaws were reviewed and it was determined that an appointment to replace a governor was permissible until the next election.
Melanie Deeds moved to appoint June Baughman as Governor of the Membership Committee until the election in January 2006, seconded by Jane Williams. Motion passed. Rev Riegel noted that it will be important for Chris Doozan or Mark Babcock to discuss the role of Board member with her. Doozan or Babcock will call her.
Social Responsibility—Randy Block passed out a report he sent to all churches in the Heartland District.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Update on Building Renovation—Beata Lamparski reiterated that the Southfield City Council has approved our site plan with conditions. The next step is the Zoning Board of Appeals on December 5, 2005.
Follow Up on Board Retreat—Rev Riegel raised the issue of the staff salary plan and asked what the problem is in getting this underway. This evolved into a discussion of the church’s financial condition and the upcoming canvass and how we communicate our message to the congregation and what that message needs to be. We discussed the need to meet our financial obligations and to share the burden among members of the congregation, without excluding those who are in more difficult financial circumstances. Lisa Green described it as helping each member to “find your place at our table.”
The Personnel Committee is being constituted and will meet soon. The Finance Committee’s representative is John Amberger and the Interior Maintenance Committee’s representative is Michael Brown.
NEW BUSINESS
A certificate of membership is due to the UUA by the end of February. John Amberger will take it up at the next Membership Committee meeting.
The next Board meeting will be December 22, 2005.

Adjourned at 9:15 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Amy Bachelder, Clerk