Posted Sep. 29, 2021.
Dear UUCF Community,
Welcome to a new congregational year! It is good to be able to gather safely in person and still offer virtual worship and other experiences. Your Board of Directors has been busy over the summer planning for the year and discerning where our energies should best be applied. Due to the rapidly changing nature of our current environment, we must remain nimble and adaptable, while also being proactive. Our priorities for the year are outlined below. Each priority will be addressed by a Board-assigned subgroup.
Living the 8th Principle
The Board recently advanced actions to guide how we are living the 8th Principle. These actions are based on recommendations from the Unitarian Universalist Association’s (UUA) report “Widening the Circle of Concern.” For example, how can our Bylaws be more inclusive? There will be a “Board Works” article about these actions in the near future.
Re-opening
The Board will continue to work closely with the Coordinating Team (CT) and the Re-opening Task Force to ensure a safe, successful re-opening while concurrently monitoring data such as vaccination rates, local cases and COVID variants.
Financial Sustainability
This effort will envision the “church of the new,” and how that translates into sustainable, short- and long-term budgets that support necessary expenses with appropriate funding sources and amounts. The current UUCF budget includes a $122,000 deficit, which was addressed by the use of surplus and reserve funds. The board does not believe that is a sustainable strategy going forward. We will begin strategizing immediately on how to approach this deficit in the next fiscal year. At the same time, we will consider how we can best modify our future financial structure.
Revisioning of the Endowment Fund
This effort will review how the UUCF Endowment Fund is used and administered to better align volunteer staffing with UUCF’s resources and needs. We will also consider how the Endowment Fund grant process could be made more efficient.
New Performance Evaluation Process
The Board is responsible for assessing the performance of the CT, the Ministry and the Board itself. This effort will examine and implement best practices to ensure accountability while supporting professional growth and congregational relationships.
The Potomac Partnership
The Board will lead a visioning process to explore how best to engage with our River Road and Cedar Lane UU partners through joint initiatives (e.g., Board training, retreats and workshops), partnering, resource sharing and collaborations.
Strengthening Communications
We will communicate regularly and effectively to the congregation through email and blogs, and we will hold town hall meetings as needed. In addition, we would love to hear from you on these priorities or any other topics! You may reach the entire Board by emailing board@uucf.org. You are also welcome to attend UUCF Board meetings. (Currently we meet via Zoom. Please contact us for a link). We also plan to host monthly informal conversations about topics of interest.
We feel privileged to serve the mission of UUCF. We look forward to hearing from you soon!
Sincerely,
The UUCF Board of Directors
Susan Bennett, President
Matt Higgins, Vice President
Megan Reynolds, Secretary
Darryl Branting, Treasurer
David Michael, Assistant Treasurer
Meredith Carr
Lydia Lewis
Mark Magee
Vicky Maldonado