Congregational Meeting: Sunday, May 20, 2018 at 1:30 p.m.

by Posted in Congregational Meeting Documents, Governance Documents

This is your official notice for our regularly scheduled congregational meeting on Sunday, May 20, 2018, 1:30 p.m.–2:30 p.m. in the sanctuary.

Copies of the meeting packet are available in the copy room at the church and by clicking on the link below:

May 20, 2018 Meeting Materials

The voting list will be posted by Sunday, May 6 in the copy room and on the welcome center board at the church. Please check the list and let Chris Jimmerson know if you have any questions or believe you have incorrectly been omitted from the list. Chris may be reached by email and at (512) 452-6168.

The church bylaws specify the following regarding voting eligibility: “Individuals who have been members of the church for 30 days or more and who have (as an individual or part of a family unit) made a recorded financial contribution during the last 12 months and at least 30 days prior to the meeting, have the right to vote at all official church meetings.”

We will be providing childcare during the meeting. Please RSVP to childcare@austinuu.org.

We look forward to seeing you at the meeting!

April 15 Pre-Congregational Meeting

by Posted in Congregational Meeting Documents, Governance Documents

Please join us for the pre-congregational meeting on Sunday, April 15, 2018 at 1:30 p.m. in the sanctuary. Childcare will be available. We will discuss the proposed agenda and materials to be voted upon at the formal congregational meeting to be held on Sunday, May 20, 2018 at 1:30 p.m.

Materials for the meeting are available here and in the copy room at the church.

As a reminder, the church bylaws specify the following regarding voting eligibility at the actual congregational meeting: “Individuals who have been members of the church for 30 days or more and who have (as an individual or part of a family unit) made a recorded financial contribution during the last 12 months and at least 30 days prior to the meeting, have the right to vote at all official church meetings.” Thus to be eligible to vote, you must have made a contribution between May 20, 2017–April 20, 2018. A voting list will be posted at least two Sunday prior to the actual congregational meeting.

Congregational Meeting: Sunday, December 17

by Posted in Congregational Meeting Documents, Governance Documents

This is your official notice for our fall congregational meeting on Sunday, December 17, 2017, 1:30 p.m.–2:30 p.m. in the sanctuary.

Copies of the meeting packet are available in the copy room at the church and by clicking on the following link:
Fall 2017 Congregational Packet

The voting list has been posted in the copy room and on the welcome center board at the church. Please check the list and let Chris Jimmerson know if you have any questions or believe you have incorrectly been omitted from the list. Chris may be reached by email and at (512) 452-6168.

The church bylaws specify the following regarding voting eligibility: “Individuals who have been members of the church for 30 days or more and who have (as an individual or part of a family unit) made a recorded financial contribution during the last 12 months and at least 30 days prior to the meeting, have the right to vote at all official church meetings.”  

Thus to be eligible to vote, you must have made a contribution between Dec. 18, 2016 – Nov. 17, 2017.

We will be providing childcare during the meeting. Please RSVP to childcare@austinuu.org. We look forward to seeing you there!

November 19 Pre-Congregational Meeting

by Posted in Congregational Meeting Documents, Governance Documents

Please join us for the pre-congregational meeting on Sunday, November 19, 2017 at 1:30 p.m. in the sanctuary. Childcare will be available. We will discuss the proposed agenda and materials to be voted upon at the formal congregational meeting to be held on Sunday, December 17, 2017 at 1:30 p.m.

Materials for the meeting are available in the copy room at the church, or by clicking on the link below:

Draft Fall 2017 Meeting Materials

As a reminder, the church bylaws specify the following regarding voting eligibility at the actual congregational meeting: “Individuals who have been members of the church for 30 days or more and who have (as an individual or part of a family unit) made a recorded financial contribution during the last 12 months and at least 30 days prior to the meeting, have the right to vote at all official church meetings.”

Thus to be eligible to vote, you must have made a contribution between Dec. 18, 2016 – Nov. 17, 2017. A voting list will be posted at least two Sunday prior to the actual congregational meeting.

Revisiting our Mission, Values, and Ends

by Posted in Governance Documents

Courage and Wonder: Envisioning Our Future Together
Guided Workshops at First UU

What are they?
Guided discussions to focus on the future goals of our church. In each workshop, we’ll talk about courage and wonder in our lives and how we want to use those qualities in our future. We’ll tell stories and share wishes for the future. We’ll consider what future we could build on our church’s strengths together.

Why do this?
Healthy congregations systematically and regularly renew their promises together. Since doing this seven years ago, 350 new members have joined the church—and now the voices of new and long-time members need to be heard. It’s an opportunity to participate in the life of the congregation in a deep and meaningful way and to connect with fellow congregants in fun and energizing workshop.

Who should attend?
You should! However you’re connected with the church, however long you’ve been here, we want to hear from you. We need a diversity of voices and visions.

When and where?
Please choose one of the following times and sign up with the simple form below. All workshops will be held at the church, childcare and food will be provided.

November

Sat 4
10am–noon
Sun 5
12:15–2:15pm		 Tue 7
6:30–8:30pm		 Wed 8
6:30–8:30pm		 Thu 9
6:30–8:30pm		 Sat 11
10am–noon & 1:30–3:30pm
Sun 12
1:30–3:30pm		 Tue 14
6:30–8:30pm		 Wed 15
6:30–8:30pm		 Thu 16
6:30–8:30pm		 Sat 18 
10am–noon & 1:30–3:30pm
Sun 19
12:15–2:15pm

December

Sun 3
1:30–3:30pm

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You may also call the church at (512) 452-6168 and let Shannon or Victoria know of your RSVP, or email info@austinuu.org.

October 15, 2017 Special Congregational meeting

by Posted in Congregational Meeting Documents, Governance Documents

This is your official notice for our special schedule congregational meeting on Sunday, October 15, 1:30 pm – 2:15 pm in the sanctuary. This meeting pertains to the congregational vote on a bridge loan for construction.

Copies of the meeting packet are available by clicking the link below:

October 15, 2017 Meeting Materials

We will be providing childcare during the meeting. Please RSVP to childcare@austinuu.org. We look forward to seeing you there!

December 18, 2016 Congregational meeting

by Posted in Congregational Meeting Documents, Governance Documents

This is your official notice for our regularly scheduled congregational meeting on Sunday, December 18, 1:30 p.m.–2:45 p.m. in the sanctuary.

Copies of the meeting packet, including the agenda and budget, are available in the copy room at the church and by clicking on the link below:

fall2016congmeeting-packet11-22update

The voting list will be posted by Friday, December 2 in the copy room at the church. Please check the list and let Chris Jimmerson know if you have any questions or believe you have incorrectly been omitted from the list. You may email Chris or call at (512) 452-6168.

The church bylaws specify the following regarding voting eligibility: “Individuals who have been members of the church for 30 days or more and who have (as an individual or part of a family unit) made a recorded financial contribution during the last 12 months and at least 30 days prior to the meeting, have the right to vote at all official church meetings.”

We will be providing childcare during the meeting. Please RSVP via email here.

We look forward to seeing you there!

November 20, 2016 Pre-congregational meeting

by Posted in Congregational Meeting Documents, Governance Documents

Please join us for the pre-congregational meeting on Sunday, November 20 at 1:30 p.m. in the sanctuary. Childcare will be available. At the beginning of the meeting, our architects will present the design for the sanctuary, kitchen, bathrooms and classroom wing. They’ll bring three-dimensional computer graphics so that we can “walk around” inside the sanctuary. We’ll also have the finishes on display, paint, countertops, tile, etc. that they will be using.

After the architects present, we’ll walk through the pre-congregational meeting packet for the actual congregational meeting (Sunday, Dec. 18 at 1:30 p.m.), but will not take any votes. Materials for the meeting are available in the copy room at the church, or by clicking on the link below:

fall2016congmeeting-packet

Building Renovation and Expansion: First Looks

by Posted in Capital & Building Campaign updates

(Article by Building Committee member Richard Cleary, as published in the June 2016 newsletter.)

More than 70 members of the congregation attended a presentation on Saturday, May 7, for a first look at the schematic design for the renovation and expansion of our campus. Al York, principal of McKinney York Architects, and Aaron Taylor, project architect, guided us through the project and answered questions. The drawings they presented are on display in Howson Hall. Please feel free to share your thoughts with our building team: Meg Barnhouse, Richard Cleary, Chris Jimmerson, Julie Lipton, Brian Moore, and Sylvia Pope.

Our desire to provide a welcoming environment for new and old members alike takes us on a challenging path of renovation and expansion. McKinney York’s schematic design is the first phase of design. It is their statement of direction based on consideration of our wishes, the constraints and opportunities presented by existing conditions, code requirements, and our means. A significant portion of our budget will be devoted to the unglamorous but necessary work: meet modern building codes for life safety and accessibility; address life-cycle issues of aging heating, ventilation, and air conditioning equipment; refresh a tired kitchen; and replace the sorry bathrooms serving the sanctuary. Much of this work has to be done regardless of anything else we do. More dramatic contributions to the welcoming spirit of our church will be an expansion of the sanctuary, new entrance lobbies, an expanded gallery, a possible extension of Howson Hall, and a master plan and improvements for landscape, including the playgrounds. The religious education wing will receive new interior wall finishes and cosmetic improvements.

Construction costs in Austin are high, and McKinney York has advised us that we are hard against the budget raised by our capital campaign. Our next step is to hire a construction manager (contractor) to work closely with the architects and the build team to refine the cost estimates. Once we are comfortable with the alignment of goals and means, the architects will proceed with design development and, subsequently, construction documentation to refine our plans and prepare them for review by regulatory agencies and bidding by construction firms. The anticipated start of construction will be in late spring 2017.

(Click image to expand)

Schematic Plan

 

The sanctuary will be expanded to the north to provide additional seating and an expansion of the platform to accommodate the choir and musicians. The former choir loft will become seating. New lobbies on the north and south will offer more spacious and welcoming entrances, and the lobby restrooms will be rebuilt. The gallery will be renovated. Howson Hall improvements will include storage and a possible expansion to the north. The kitchen will be enlarged. The structural repairs required along the walls of the Religious Education wing will result in new interior finishes.

(Click image to expand)

Schematic View Sanctuary

 

This view from the rear of the expanded sanctuary shows the proposed candle wall and, behind it, sanctuary garden, which will be similar in character to what we have now. An angled window above the new choir area will add eastern light, and a smaller candle wall will be opened along the ramp (now a hidden corridor) behind the organ console. The rectangles with landscape scenes on the wall behind the pulpit are tentative locations for video screens. The slender columns are structural supports that are buried in the existing wall and must be retained. The column behind the podium appears closer that it is. Seating will be arranged to minimize conflicts with sight lines.

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June 5, 2016 Congregational meeting

by Posted in Congregational Meeting Documents, Governance Documents

This is your official notice for our regularly scheduled congregational meeting on Sunday, June 5, 2016, 1:15 p.m.–2:30 p.m. in the sanctuary.

Copies of the meeting packet, including the agenda and budget, are available in the copy room at the church and by clicking on the link below:

6-2016congregationalmeetingpacket

The voting list will be posted by Fri. May 20 in the copy room and in the welcome center board at the church. Please check the list and let Chris Jimmerson know if you have any questions or believe you have incorrectly been omitted from the list. Chris may be reached at chris.jimmerson@austinuu.org and (512) 452-6168.

The church bylaws specify the following regarding voting eligibility: “Individuals who have been members of the church for 30 days or more and who have (as an individual or part of a family unit) made a recorded financial contribution during the last 12 months and at least 30 days prior to the meeting, have the right to vote at all official church meetings.”

We will be providing childcare during the meeting. Please RSVP to childcare@austinuu.org.

We look forward to seeing you at the meeting!

May 8, 2016 Pre-congregational meeting

by Posted in Congregational Meeting Documents, Governance Documents

Please join us for the pre-congregational meeting on Sunday, May 8 at 1:15 p.m. in the sanctuary. Childcare will be available. We will discuss the proposed agenda and materials to be voted upon at the formal congregational meeting to be held on Sunday, June 5 at 1:15 p.m.

Materials for the meeting are available in the copy room at the church, or by clicking on the link below:

5-2016pre-congregationalmeetingpacket

Meg’s update from the architects’ presentation

by Posted in Capital & Building Campaign updates

(As published in the March 2016 newsletter.)

Around a hundred congregants attended the architects’ presentation of their rough design draft for our building additions and renovation. My favorite part of the presentation was a chart which describing the architectural elements suggested by each of the seven UU principles. Al York, the principal architect, has a wonderful understanding of Unitarian Universalism, and the history of architecture’s intersection with Unitarian buildings. Also included in the presentation were inspiring photographs of the interiors of other Unitarian Universalist congregations’ buildings.

Page 18 1523-First UU-16_0214 - DRAFT

Most UUs gravitate toward natural light, interaction with nature, a human rather than a grandiose scale, and a design which welcomes a sense of democracy and egalitarianism rather than a priestly authority.

Mr. York handled all questions straightforwardly and with humor, giving us the hard truths gently but without glossing over the difficulties we will face in terms of temporary disruptions and must-do improvements. They will do their best to minimize disruptions, except when to do so would endanger us or cost us extra! I was impressed with their dedication to the principles of quality and sustainability. They will spend time now talking with the groups who use the church and its facilities: the theater folks, choir folks, children, RE folks, staff, etc. We will tell them how we use what we have, and what we feel is most important in our playgrounds, kitchen, bathrooms, sanctuary and fellowship spaces.

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