MINUTES OF THE BOARD MEETING: THURSDAY DECEMBER 22, 2005
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Northwest Unitarian Universalist Church

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

Governors/Vice Governors:
Jane Williams, Governor Interior Maintenance
Beata Lamparski, Governor Adult Programs
June Baughman, Governor Membership
Diana Kohler, Governor Religious Programs
Tim Beckett, Governor Finance
Melanie Deeds, Governor Music Committee
Doug Weiss, Vice Governor Social Responsibility
John Amberger, Vice Governor Membership
OTHERS PRESENT:
Rev. Kimi Riegel, Minister
Jan Price, Director of Religious Education
Michael Brown
Lynda Smith, Intern
Peg Collins
Mark Denney
BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT:
Peter Staples, Co-Governor Exterior Maintenance
Mark Babcock, Associate Moderator
Ron Barry, Governor Public Relations
Julie Stitt, Governor Youth Programs

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CALL TO ORDER:
Chris Doozan, Moderator, called the Board of Governors of Northwest Unitarian Universalist Church to order on Thursday December 22, 2005 at 7:40 p.m.
OPENING:
Rev. Kimi Riegel opened with a reading about “bridging our dreams.”
APPROVAL OF AGENDA:
The agenda was approved with the addition of an item about the energy audit.

AUDIENCE COMMENTS:
Mark Denney spoke about the canvass and read the case statement which has been posted. He handed out a list of important canvass dates and explained that we would be meeting in small groups. The canvass needs executive committee approval to serve beer and wine at the canvass celebration cabaret. Many positions have been filled. Sam Kirkland and Laura Orton are planning the cabaret. A dinner planner is needed. All Board members are expected to attend a small group leadership event.
Beata Lamparski noted that she would like the budget to reflect a line item of overflow parking of $1000.
The Board expressed its appreciation for the early and eager efforts of Mark Denney and Norma Barry in getting the canvass under way. Denney will be doing the canvass next year also and Norma Barry will head it the third year so we have three years of leadership in place.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
Tim Beckett moved to approve the minutes of the Board meeting of November 17, 2005 as corrected and emailed. Seconded by Beata Lamparski. Motion passed.

ORAL AND WRITTEN REPORTS:
Written reports were received from Rev. Riegel and DRE Jan Price.
Minister—Rev. Riegel raised the issue of not being able to fill the adult programs position. This is an important feature for future growth. She has been organizing a number of classes but more needs to be done to attract people to the church. She proposed creating an ad hoc group to fill this need until a person to head the committee can be found. The Board approved this approach. She will be taking a four month sabbatical sometime between January and June of 2007.
We discussed the importance of the nominating committee picking and inspiring leadership and coordinating the efforts of our volunteer leadership.
John Amberger stressed the importance of increasing the membership of committees and Rev. Riegel stressed the importance of involving new members.
Diana Kohler suggested having a “committee of the month” which would be a short presentation during announcements describing what the committee does and soliciting new members. Rev Riegel stressed the desirability of using language that the committee “wants” new members rather than “needs” them. A signup sheet was passed around so that committees could sign up for a month. Diana Kohler will send out notices ahead of time to remind the committee when the presentation is due.

Finance— there are no written financial reports this month because of the transition to the new pledge secretary. Tim Beckett reported that we are moving funds and consolidating our banking. Most of the money that was in the Ford Credit money market account has been transferred to a bank account. There was a meeting with a Charter One Bank representative and the committee proposes to open accounts.
Tim Beckett moved to authorize the opening of 3 bank accounts with Charter One: a general checking account, a general fund money market account and a capital fund money market account and to close Franklin and LaSalle Bank accounts over the next few months. Seconded by Diana Kohler. Motion passed.
Beckett filed the Michigan Annual Report for the church. Tracy Goddeeris volunteered to fill the pledge secretary position.
The personnel committee has made its allocation of the wage supplement passed at the last congregational meeting.
The audit has been completed and the Finance Committee will look it over and report on it at the next Board meeting.
The bridge club has offered to donate $350 which would be designated to be spent on the recently purchased stove. Beckett moved to accept $350 from the bridge club which will be applied to the purchase of the stove. Seconded by Amy Bachelder. Motion passed.
The IRS has adopted a regulation that permits companies which administer cafeteria plans to extend the period of time in which such benefits can be used.
There was a brief break in the Board meeting while the Executive Committee conferred. Beckett then reported that the Executive Committee had decided to extend the period of time in which cafeteria benefits could be expended from 12 months to whatever the IRS allows (15 or 18 months). He also reported that the Executive Committee approved the serving of beer and wine at the canvass cabaret.
REPORT ON GROWTH PROJECT:
June Baughman gave a report on the Growth Project. We are concentrating on making visitors welcome in their first few visits. On occasion a person is designated to sit with a visitor, especially if the person is alone. Board members may be asked to do this.
COMMITTEE SHARING:
Social Responsibility—Social Responsibility in conjunction with the Farmington church is planning a reunion of Katrina families on February 17, with a valentine theme. The Katrina fund currently has $455 left.


UNFINISHED BUSINESS:
Building Renovation—Beata Lamparski reported that the Zoning Board of Appeals met and approved our site plan with two requested variances 1) we do not have to build a wall between the parking lot and our neighbor (but must replace trees with like trees at least 6 feet high if they die) and we do not have to build a sidewalk down Mapleridge (but if the city decides to build a sidewalk there we will pay our fair share.)
There are proposals from construction mangers which the committee is reviewing. They will interview the top four. The Design Committee will make a recommendation to the congregation.
We discussed soliciting pledges from new members for the building project. The ground breaking will provide a good time for this.

NEW BUSINESS:
The congregational meeting will cover the election of officers, a report on the building renovation and approval of a construction budget and construction manager. There are no bylaw issues.
Report from the Personnel Committee—the personnel committee has met twice. They made a decision to allocate the $5000 wage supplement proportional to base salary. This has been implemented. (Note: the Personnel Committee was authorized to make this decision at the congregational meeting. In the future it is contemplated that the committee will make a recommendation to the finance committee which in turn will recommend the budget to the Board.)
The Personnel Committee discussed a “personnel plan” which will establish a road map to bring staff salaries and benefits in line with UUA guidelines. The next meeting will be January 28, 2006.
The energy audit issue was deferred to the next meeting, as the person who could have answered questions was not present.

OTHER BUSINESS AND ANNOUCEMENTS:
We need a sexton schedule. Amy Bachelder will be sexton for January 2006.
We will have a special Board meeting on January 15, 2006 at noon at the church to review the construction manager recommendation.
Adjourned at 9:45 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Amy Bachelder, Clerk