UU View  ~  Newsletter

A CONGREGATION OF PROGRESSIVE MINDS AND CARING CONNECTIONS
                                                                                           Bill Denton    
           June 2010


Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Franklin, NC
Board of Trustees Meeting
May 9, 2010


The meeting was called to order by President Mary Teslow at 12:50 p.m. in Celebration Hall.

Attendance:  Linda Winn Brown, Bill Denton, Ed Gettys, Bonnie Gramlich (by speaker phone), Joan Hawthorne, Sue Ann Reisdorph, Warren Riley, Mary Teslow. Absent:  Barbara Denton, Dotty Hiles.  Also in attendance:  Charlie Brown, Paul Chew.

Minutes:  Joan made a motion that the minutes of April 11, 2010, be approved as written.  Motion seconded and approved. 

Treasurer's Report:  Year-to-date income is $88,381.75.  Year-to-date expenses are $43,062.22.  Ed informed the Board that there is approximately $1,000 left in the Vangard Fund.  CareNet monetary donations are listed under Community Outreach.  There is approximately $-9,000 in the building fund.  The loan value is approximately at $29,000.  Warren made a motion to accept the Treasurer's Report as given.  Motion seconded and approved.

Building Steering Committee:  Bill informed the Board that he had written all the committee members with appreciation for all their efforts for the new Sanctuary and lower level accomplished in the last several years.  Code for the lower level dictates that the single sex restroom signs should stand.

Budget Preparations for 2010-2011:  Mary spoke to our housekeeper at UUFF, Sue Chatkin.  She is requesting an increase in pay in adding the lower level to her duties.  Linda made a motion that Sue be paid $30 more a week which would bring the total to $190; this would take place immediately.  Motion seconded and approved.  Bill made a motion that housekeeping needed for outside events be charged to that event.  Motion seconded and approved.  Ed reminded the Board that as of today there have been 16 pledging units turned in for the next fiscal year at approximately $29,000.  The consideration for a Thrift Store to be housed in the Fellowship Hall was discussed with voiced pros and concerns. 

Calendar Considerations: The Yard Sale is scheduled with the pre-sale July 16 and sale to the public on July 17.  No date has been set for the annual auction.  The executive committee of WNCA (Western North Carolina Alliance) and a contingency from the Fellowship will meet to discuss further collaboration for meetings and events.  May 27 at 6:00 p.m. will be WNCA's next meeting at UUFF.

Social & Environmental Justice:  Paul was asked to explain how the congregation can be involved in the Go Green-Drive Green Offset.  Paul discussed how this project could expand our driving visits to church by voluntarily checking our contribution of carbon offsets.  Paul was asked to clarify how much money or gallons per person/per vehicle can be calculated to see how prudent this project could be for the members.  Mary suggested that as a congregation perhaps we could initiate offsets from plantings/landscape with diversive native plants with approved sites on UUFF's grounds.

Building and Grounds:  Warren expressed thanks to Tom Reisdorph and Ed for finishing up the Playscape Area as a safe place for our children.  Safety issues involving getting from the Sanctuary to the the lower level was discussed.  The needed lift was talked about with the realization that the expense is prohibitive at this time.  It was suggested that the Greeters alert those who arrive at the Sanctuary for the service and wish to attend Celebration Hall activities after the service be informed that they may need to drive or be driven to the lower level, should it be beneficial for their own safety.

Rental Policy Development:  Linda discussed the need for a commercial refrigerator and ice maker as an advantage for events in Celebration Hall.  Discussion ensued as to the need of continuing to explore what is needed before big rental events versus small events that are more easily hosted.  A home-schoolers group has requested the use of the Fellowship Hall one morning weekly during the summer; they usually meet at the public library but summer activities prohibit them from being there every day.  Mary will check with Mary Smith concerning questions the Board raised for more factual information before commiting to this request. 

Publicity & Communication:  The website is up and running.  How the newsletter is folded into it will be addressed.  Barbara will continue to send About Next Sunday through the email.

Denominational Affairs:  Bill gave a report on the TJ District meeting that he and Barbara attended at St. Helena's Island, S.C.  The motion narrowly failed in changing the name of the district.

Additional Topics:  Instead of leaving items for CareNet every first Sunday of the month in the Fellowship Hall, personal & food items will be collected in a large basket in the Sanctuary and the membership will be informed as to the change.  This will be tried in June to see if feasible.  There was discussion as to the concern for safety at the top of stairs leading to the lower level.  Due to code, a landing would have to be in place for a door to be placed there.  Barbara and Bill Denton as well as Sue Ann were recognized and thanked for their service to the Board as outgoing Board members.

There will not be a Board meeting in June.  The Annual Meeting will be June 11.

Respectfully submitted,

Sue Ann Reisdorph, secretary Board of Trustees





                          Our Financial Status

Here are some financial highlights as of May 20 and for the year to date:
                                                                                   May           YTD
Operating Fund Pledge Donations                          $2,064        $44,189
Building Fund Donations                                             264          26,127
Designated Purpose Donations                           617               2,645

Building Account Balance (Still Negative!)           - 9,005
Playground Mulch and Boundaries                   482
Loan Payment, Principal + Interest                           1,632         16,317   

New Sanctuary Value                                     $658,608

Loan Balance                                                  $129,145

Our fiscal year runs from July 1, 2009 - June 30, 2010.
Respectfully submitted,
Ed Gettys, Treasurer

BOARD ACTION





Home   .   Schedules   .    Newsletter    .  Contacts

*          *          *          *           *
*        *        *         *         *


The Summer Coffee House takes place in the new Social Hall.
Tickets: Virginia Wilson or call 828/524-6777 or 828/524-3161.
Suggested Donation: $15 for individual tickets or $50 for the quartet.

               Summer:
              Marvin Cole as Mark Twain
                Saturday, July 10, 2010 - 7:00pm
Summer Coffee House. Marvin Cole is famous for his impersonations of Mark Twain.  Compelling performances by Cole as Twain have been lauded across the country and on major riverboats like the Delta Queen, Mississippi Queen and the American Queen.  Tharon Giddens' review of Cole in the Atlanta Journal Constitution says, "With the perfect timing of a stand up comedian and flair and fervor of an evangelist, Cole entertains an audience with recitations of tall tales and short anecdotes."

                     Fall:  "An Evening with Gary Carden" -  October 16th
        Dusk Weaver Opener - 6:30 p.m.
                    Winter:  The Franklin Consort  - December 19th - 3:00 p.m.
 

*        *        *         *         *

UUFF Yard Sale Pre-event
Friday, July 16, 2010 (All day)
Our pre-sale event for members and friends.  For information and to voluneteer, contact Bonnie Gramlich at 828/526-8971 or bgramlich@mindspring.com.

UUFF Yard Sale
Saturday, July 17, 2010 - 8:00am
Our annual yard sale for the public.  Information and to volunteer, call Bonnie Gramlich 828/526-8971 or bgramlich@mindspring.com

Thomas Jefferson Annual Meeting ~ April 30 - May 2, 2010

Our family discovered Hunting Island State Park outside of Beaufort, S.C. back in the 70s.  Leaving Beaufort on Highway 21, the traveler passes near Penn Center, located on St. Helena Island, recognized as one of the oldest and most significant African American cultural and historic institutions of the South.

Founded in 1862 as the Penn School by the Freedmen's Aid Society, Penn was one of the first schools for African Americans newly freed from slavery.  In more recent times, Penn became a key planning site for the Southern Christian Leadership Conference led by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  

We learned of Penn's illustrious history on occasional visits to the site.  What we didn't learn until recently was that Laura Towne, founder and principal of the school from 1862 to 1901, was a Unitarian.  This made our visit to Penn as UUFFNC delegates to the 2010 Thomas Jefferson District (TJD) Annual Meeting especially meaningful.

This year's meeting was clearly one of the most exciting annual meetings and with 219 in attendance the most well attended.  The major item of discussion was a motion to change the name of the district.  The issue stimulated passionate discussion.  Those in favor of he motion argued that the association of Jefferson's name with the district may be a barrier to our denomination's effort to become more diverse and multicultural.  Jefferson, as we know, was a slaveholder and defender of slavery.

Those who favored retaining the association with Jefferson cited his authorship of the Declaration of Independence and his promotion of religious freedom.  His views created a vision for a free and fair America that generations of social movements have pointed to us as a nation's promise to its citizens.

The motion to amend the by-laws require a two-thirds majority.  The motion failed passage with 64% voting for approval and 36% voting in favor of retaining Jefferson's name.  Your delegates voted as instructed by our board to retain the current name of the district.  This issue has come before the assembly several times over recent years, and is likely to come up again next year.

In other business, delegates approved a resolution in response to Arizona's anti-immigration law.  The resolution encouraged local congregations to engage and dialogue about the affects of immigration in their communities and to support efforts of the U.S. Congress to enact legislation that addresses, in an effective and compassionate way, the entire immigration issue.

The conference was ably hosted by the UU Fellowship of Beaufort and moderated by TJD President Jim Key.  Jim is former president of the Beaufort congregation. At the meeting he was re-elected as TJD president for a two-year term.

We were especially impressed at this local 81-member congregation's success in supporting our district's conference and its commitment to community outreach.  This commitment was evidenced by its close working relationship with the Penn Center (including an annual Laura Towne retreat) and its adoption of a cooperative demonstration gardens with a strong educational component.

In Fellowship,
Bill & Barbara Denton

A  WARM  WELCOME BACK TO MEMBER……

Harry Youngblood who was a Fellowship member in the 1990s.

First Day of Summer
        June 21st

For our First Friday Eco-Series on June 4th, music therapist and author Susan Hale will present her multi-media presentation Sing for the Trees.  You will learn about deforestation, climate change and our role as stewards of the Earth.  Social hour and refreshments begin at 5:00 p.m.  The presentation begins at 6:00 p.m.


      
  Happy Birthday to…

Irving Kagan - June 1 ~ Laura Chew - June 14 ~ Fia Scheyer - June 22
Bill Denton - June 26 ~ Mark Gramlich - June 26 ~
Kiera Smith - June 28 ~ Devon Suominen - June 28








CareNet SUNDAY  ~  June 6th
LET'S CONSIDER EVERY SUNDAY CareNet SUNDAY

Please leave your donations on the table just inside the Fellowship doors.    Thank you for continuing to assist the community with your caring hearts.
Volunteers at CareNet are also greatly needed.
June 20th