Council Minutes

 Council Minutes

  1. April 2025 Council Minutes: April 13, 2025

    The UUWC Council met in the Conference Room at 12:33 p.m.

     Lighting of the Chalice by Moderator Nika Quirk

     Members Present: Nika Quirk, Kathy Wright, Ruth Tucker Bogart, Carol Eagleheart (remotely), Delbert Schafer, and Nancy Hitt

    April is Child Abuse Prevention for the monthly topic.

    Financial Report: Ruth: Monthly and YTD Reports.

     Ruth and Karen met with Josephine, our Book keeper. Josephine will send financials earlier each month to allow time for feedback by Treasurer and the Council.

    Executive Session.

    Ruth sent out Pledge Statements and Donations to Date to individuals who pledge.

    Received letter from UUA for dues for fiscal year starting July 1, 2025: $2,124. Will wait to pay until closer to due date.

    New Business:

    • Consent reports. Discussion about Social Justice and Pride Parade (see below).
    • Leadership Training Update from Nika: Nika is creating a proprietary proposal for $1,600. Will receive help from Emily Wilder and Ilean Galloway. Will have a design meeting this coming Week. Will build a budget for the program, including an honorarium for Emily and Ilean.
    • General Assembly Funds available of $410 for a participant. Would require accountability by reporting at Town Hall. Also, can attend online, so could split amount. June 17-21st is the GA. Could we put it as a group online account shown at UUWC? Nancy will research online costs. Suggestions about people who might want to attend. Nika to contact some possible attendees. Topic may be added to April Town Hall.
    • UU Green Sanctuary Project Social Justice has assumed interest, but want a partner. Contribute funds for Southwest Charity. SJ should make a proposal to Council about how to raise funds.
    • Proposal for Free Yard Sale from Social Justice Committee, but no further information. Does it conflict with Paid Yard Sales that UUWC have held in the past? How to limit people taking stuff and re-selling it. Perhaps call it a Community Give Away.
    • Community Info. Fair perhaps one a year during a fifth Sunday in the first quarter. Perhaps another one in the Fall. Will calendar in the future.
    • Council interest – would anyone like to join Nika for a coffee date with 4 people? Ruth will join in the discussion about what it means to serve on the Council.
    • Candidates for Nominating Committee? Need Suggestions for members for 2025-2026.
    • Nancy discussed programming and other ministry topics. Membership group of seven, five took class and want to join. Will have June 1 induction of new members.

    Programming of Associates: Have nine people interested in serving. Will meet May 9 or May 10 for training in Sanctuary. Some overview, but primarily hands-on. Later, a second session about how to write own manuscript. Also, need to develop more primary speakers for programs.

    Social Justice would like to make contributions to the social issue each month. Want to make a special contribution. We have some direct contributions to Storehouse West and Feed Rio Rancho Kids. Council Will revisit in May meeting.

    Membership class curriculum. Nancy has requested an updated video from Carol. Involve Community Care with new member information. Allow people to view. Send links to people before the class.

    Nichole wants to be involved with children programming. Nancy linked her with Laurel and childhood education. Interested with middle-school kids and gender identity. Nancy will explore, perhaps for next school year. Kelly and Jenny are also interested. Will develop a proposal.

    Kathy’s Corner in the Sun Room/Library to be archived.

    Cacti in the Sanctuary, donated by Theresa. They are currently on the shelf.

    Laurel picked up shadowbox of books, which have value of a couple of hundred dollars.

    Nancy showed a painting donated by Bonnie McCarey. Will be displayed in minister’s office.    

    Old Business:

    • UUWC response to ICE. UUA has a toolkit. Privacy signs are on Offices and added a lock on the archival storage closet. Kathy has provided more policy information. Review and determine next steps.

    Forms that explain how to respond to ICE. Will blowup, frame, and post on Social Hall. Kathy will ask Dee to implement.

    Policy to ask to contact person and then go to minister, or moderator.

    Nika moved accept policy. Ruth seconded. Passed unanimously. Will present to May Town Hall. Supplement with written information to people that may be in building alone. Nika will write introductory to the proposed policy. Kathy will send images of warrants. Publicize in Newsletter prior to May Town Hall. Also need to inform Cathie Frank. Erin may need information to give to potential renters.

    • Council and Clergy Discussion: Nancy preparation for successor, who and how to choose. Deferred from March meeting. She is not in a rush to retire. Considers the Council moving the Congregation in the proper direction. She is trying to pass on questions and information, creating buffers. Functional Chart helps. Hopes to have group of trained leaders. Don’t have to have a person leave before beginning the search.

    Nika: Would be helpful for Nancy to write a current scope of work, including ministerial activities.

    What do we need to produce to explain to prospective replacement? What questions do we need to answer? When interviewing candidates, what we have done and need to do. Then hand off to search committee. Potential role of Community Conversation Circles?

    UUA has information. Tanya from Pacific Western regional UUA can help.

    • Stewardship: Nika to present in Town Hall if people are interested in activities to contact Nika and discuss Stewardship. Need to discuss how to brainstorm. Kathy and Ruth can assist in discussion.
    • Art Team request for Artist Exhibit. Suggestion for a month-long show by one artist. Have not heard from initial request for an art show. So, more information is needed before Council can decide. No update provided from March meeting of Council.
    • Native American Charities to support Honoring the Land. Referred to Social Justice Committee that we are looking at providing some financial support to reflect our commitments to the land. Any update?
    • Solar panel installation at UUWC. Project Put on hold as economy is unsure so do not want to assume more debt at this time; will reconsider in September Council Meeting.

    Consent Reports:

    Facilities

    Humanist Group

    Community Care Committee

     Shared Ministry

    Pride Event: Need to register for event. Jenny Cook is coordinator.  Erin can provide debit card to pay for registration for parade. Booth space is sold out.

    Programming

    Town Hall Topics for April 20th

    Treasurer’s report from Ruth

    Report on Cleanup Day

    Reminder about Donations for Storehouse West

    Nika Leadership Training Development Update

    UUWC T-Shirt Orders – Rev. Nancy

    Congregation Poll: interested in being notified of UUWC congregants’ participation in community social justice events such as protests? If so, we can create a Breeze Tag with those interested.

    Open Floor

    Adjourned at 3 pm.

    Submitted by Delbert Schafer, UUWC Council Scribe

     

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