{"id":2820,"date":"2009-07-25T17:23:39","date_gmt":"2009-07-25T23:23:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.austinuu.org\/wp2013\/?p=2820"},"modified":"2009-07-25T17:23:39","modified_gmt":"2009-07-25T23:23:39","slug":"june-2009-board-of-trustees-minutes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/austinuu.org\/wp2013\/june-2009-board-of-trustees-minutes\/","title":{"rendered":"June 2009 Board of Trustees Minutes"},"content":{"rendered":"

First Unitarian Universalist Church of Austin, Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes<\/strong><\/p>\n

Tuesday, June 16, 2009 at 6:30 P.M.,<\/strong><\/p>\n

First UU Church of Austin, 4700 Grover, Austin, TX 78756 in the Gallery<\/strong><\/p>\n

Members Present:<\/span> Nell Newton, President; Eric Stimmel, Vice-President; Luther Elmore, Treasurer; Chris Jimmerson, Secretary; Sheila Gladstone, Immediate Past President, Ex-Officio; Margaret Borden; Derek Howard; Jeff Hutchens; Aaron Osmer, Youth Trustee; Brendan Sterne; Michael West; Laura Wood.<\/p>\n

Staff Present:<\/span> Sean Hale, Executive Director; Lara Douglass, Director of Religious Education; Brent Baldwin, Music Director<\/p>\n

Visitors Present:<\/span> Rev. Janet Newman, future Interim Minister, Ron Turner. Henry Hug and Stephan Windsor appeared later during the meeting.<\/p>\n

Call to Order and Introductions<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

The President called the meeting to order with all trustees present. Trustees, staff and visitors briefly introduced themselves to the church\u2019s new Interim Minister, who will be joining the church in mid-August.<\/p>\n

Adoption of Agenda<\/p>\n

Motion:<\/strong> Derek Howard \u2013 Adopt the agenda as presented<\/p>\n

Second:<\/strong> Luther Elmore<\/p>\n

The agenda was adopted as presented.<\/p>\n

Opening Words<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

The Treasurer read the selection \u201cWe need one another\u201d from the church hymnal, and the President lit the chalice.<\/p>\n

Visitor\u2019s Forum<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Ron Turner expressed the profound, positive opportunity this Board of Trustees will have working with Interim Minister, Janet Newman and wished the group well.<\/p>\n

Consent Agenda Items<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

The trustees had reviewed the consent agenda items prior to the meeting. In addition to the prior meeting minutes, these included:<\/p>\n

Appendix A: Director of Religious Education Report<\/p>\n

Appendix B: Treasurer\u2019s Report<\/p>\n

Appendix C: Direct of Music Report<\/p>\n

Appendix D: Executive Directors Report<\/p>\n

The President reported that three new members had joined the church since the last meeting, Margaret S. Nott, Douglas Manger, and Pat Whalen. No members had resigned. The trustees present also discussed the following items related to the content of the consent agenda items:<\/p>\n

A Trustee asked if there were any major items left to be completed related to the installation of the solar panels. The Executive Director (ED) reported that major work had been completed. A trustee also asked for an update on the timeline for installation of the large speakers stored in Howsen Hall that had been donated. Staff reported that this was on a timeline for October.<\/p>\n

The Chair of the Stewardship Committee gave a verbal presentation and reported that over 100 church members had attended the Stewardship Committee\u2019s meeting to establish a \u201cstretch goal\u201d to motivate increased giving for the Fall Campaign and that Elizabeth Grey had provided outstanding facilitation for the meeting. The members attending the meeting had established balancing the budget as their top priority, followed by a \u201cface lift\u201d for the building interior and then by updating the church kitchen. The Stewardship will get with the Finance Committee and then the Board to establish goals for the campaign. He reported that the committee had a great meeting with Rev. Newman and that she has much experience in this area.<\/p>\n

The Treasurer presented on several ways in which he is working to streamline and simplify the financial statements and to make them more specific and organized, with a goal of completing these changes within three months. He answered several questions from Trustees on how the different reports related to one another. Several trustees suggested that setting up a separate time to do a \u201cfinancials 101\u201d for trustees would be very helpful.<\/p>\n

Motion:<\/strong> Michael West \u2013 Accept the consent agenda items.<\/p>\n

Second:<\/strong> Derek Howard<\/p>\n

Discussion:<\/strong> There was no further discussion.<\/p>\n

Vote:<\/strong> All affirmative<\/p>\n

Discussion and Action Items<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Bridge Builders Report:<\/span> The Action Planning Team (APT) reported that no changes had yet been made to the report since the recent Board of Trustees retreat. The APT had met with Rev. Newman and will be refining the report further as related to target dates and responsibilities.<\/p>\n

The trustees discussed whether this report was an APT report or a Board of Trustees report and that it would need to become a board responsibility at some point.<\/p>\n

Motion:<\/strong> Brendan Sterne \u2013 Ask the APT to review and revise it as needed to ensure that timelines are reasonable and consistent and appropriate accountability is assigned and then bring it back to the board.<\/p>\n

Second:<\/strong> Chris Jimmerson<\/p>\n

Discussion:<\/strong> There was no further discussion.<\/p>\n

Vote:<\/strong> All affirmative.<\/p>\n

Committee Liaisons:<\/span> The President asked that each Trustee serve as a liaison to at least one church committee and noted that liaisons did not have to attend all the meetings of their committees but would serve as the primary contact for that committee. The Trustees discussed the following in relation to committee liaisons:<\/p>\n