Board of Trustees Meeting Agenda
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BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING AGENDA FRIDAY, JANUARY 27, 2017 24 Farnsworth Street Boston, Massachusetts 9:00 – 9:30 Check In Without observers 9:30 – 9:45 Opening Worship Andy Burnette 9:45 – 10:00 Approval of Consent Agenda Jim Key 10:00 – 10:20 Appointments Committee Report Tim Atkins 10:20 – 10:40 President’s Report Peter Morales 10:40 – 10:55 Break Moderator’s Report (including discussion/approval of Jan. 2018 10:55 – 11:10 Jim Key meeting location) General Assembly • 2017 GA Fees 11:10 – 11:40 • Bylaw changes Jim Key • Program slots • 2020 Location 11:40 – 11:55 Renewing the Covenant Task Force Kathy Burek 11:55 – 12:15 Commission on Social Witness Susan Goekler 12:15 – 1:00 Lunch 1:00 -1:15 Journey Toward Wholeness Transformation Committee Wendy von Courter 1:15 – 1:35 Regional Leaders’ Group Mary Lu Love 1:35 – 1:45 Vice Moderator’s Report Denise Rimes 1:50 – 2:05 Communications/Linkage Working Group Christina Rivera 2:05 – 2:15 Congregational Boundaries Working Group Denise Rimes 2:15 – 2:45 Secretary’s Report Rob Eller-Isaacs 2:45 – 3:00 Break 3:00 – 3:15 Committees and Appointments Working Group Tim Atkins 3:15– 3:45 Governance Working Group Andy Burnette 3:45 – 4:00 Inclusion and Empowerment Working Group Patrick McLaughlin V.6 01/26/2017 4:00 – 4:15 Board Actions to Report 4:15 – 4:45 Process Observations Dorothy Holmes 4:45 – 5:00 Closing words Dick Jacke 6:00 – 7:00 Dinner at 24 Farnsworth 7:00 – 7:30 Vespers Rob Eller-Isaacs V.6 01/26/2017 BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING AGENDA SATURDAY, JANUARY 28, 2017 24 Farnsworth Street Boston, Massachusetts 9:00 – 9:15 Opening Words Patrick McLaughlin 9:15 – 10:15 Generative Discussion (Bylaws Study Commission) Jim Key Sean Rush 10:15 – 10:45 Treasurer’s Report / Audit Update Tim Brennan 10:45 – 11:00 Break 11:00 – 11:15 Financial Advisor’s Report Lucia Santini Field Larry Ladd 11:15 – 11:35 APF Task Force Update Mary Katherine Morn 11:35 – 12:00 Stewardship & Development Mary Katherine Morn 12:00 – 12:45 Lunch 12:45 – 1:30 Executive Session Jim Key Jim Key 1:30 – 2:30 Duty of Care Responsibilities (mini training session) Tom Bean 2:30 – 2:35 Financial Secretary’s Report Christina Rivera 2:35 – 2:50 Break Jim Key 2:50 – 3:30 BLUU Update/Funding Mary Katherine Morn 3:45 – 4:15 Motions and Action Items Denise Rimes 4:15 – 4:45 Board Actions to Report Christina Rivera 4:45 – 5:00 Process Observations Sarah Dan Jones 5:00 – 5:10 Closing Reading Jim Key 5:10 Adjourn V.6 01/26/2017 Changes in Congregational Status January 2017 UUA Board of Trustees Meeting ITEMS FOR INFORMATION, AND REPORTING TO THE BOARD: SunPoint Farm (Derry, NH) has been accepted as a Covenanting Community Castle Rock Unitarian Universalist Community (Sedalia, CO) has been accepted as a Covenanting Community. Ann Arbor Unitarian Fellowship (Ann Arbor, MI) has dissolved. The Hattiesburg Fellowship (Hattiesburg, MS) has dissolved. Formerly: Atkinson Memorial Church (Oregon City, OR) Now Known As: UU Congregation at Willamette Falls Brent Lewis Administrator, Congregational Life 24 Farnsworth Street, Boston MA 02210 | P (617) 742-2100 | F (617) 367-3237 uua.org 53rd General Assembly June 25-29, 2014 MINUTES FIFTY-THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST ASSOCIATION HELD IN PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND The General Assembly was convened on Wednesday, June 25, 2014, at 7:30 p.m. by Moderator Jim Key at the Rhode Island Convention Center, Providence, Rhode Island. The Assembly adopted, by a vote of two-thirds or more, Rules of Procedure for the conduct of the meeting. One new congregation was recognized as having entered into membership in the Unitarian Universalist Association during the past year: 2013. The Assembly received written, and in some cases oral, reports from the President, the Moderator, the UUA staff, the Treasurer, the Financial Advisor, the Secretary, the Board of Trustees, the General Assembly Planning Committee, the Commission on Appraisal, the Commission on Social Witness, the Presidential Search Committee, Beacon Press, the Journey Toward Wholeness Transformation Committee, the Nominating Committee, the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee, and the Unitarian Universalist Women’s Federation. On the basis of an initial report by the Secretary of the Association, a quorum was declared present from the time the meeting was called to order. Members of the Distinguished Service Award Committee presented the 2014 Award for Distinguished Service to the Cause of Unitarian Universalism to the Rev. Dr. Kenneth Torquil MacLean. ============================================================ Proposed CSAI: Renewing and Securing Our American Democracy Issue and Grounding in Unitarian Universalism • Negative campaigning, • Voter suppression efforts, 1 53rd General Assembly June 25-29, 2014 • Huge infusions of cash from super-rich donors and narrow special interests into our election and political processes, • Hyper-partisan politics, • The alienation of ordinary citizens, • Decreasing voter turnout, • The erosion of our civil liberties, —All contribute to a growing fear that our American democracy and government of, by and for the people are in jeopardy. What can we Unitarian Universalists—with our commitment to justice, equity and the use of the democratic process in society at large—do to protect, renew, secure and further democracy in America? Topics for Congregational Study • Stop or restrict virtually unlimited contributions to political campaigns; if so, how? • Publicly finance campaigns • Support the “people’s pledge” by candidates to keep “outside money” out of campaigns • Require much greater education in our public schools in the areas of civics, economics, current events, foreign affairs, international organizations • Schedule a national voter information holiday one week before each federal election; would such a holiday, properly structured, promote “positive” campaigning? • Oppose voter suppression efforts • Support the National Popular Vote (for President) campaign • Determine and advocate whether, and how, we can have security without sacrificing our civil liberties Possible Congregational / District Actions • grassroots organizing • legislative lobbying • registration of voters • develop and publish educational guides and hold pertinent educational and informational sessions • host candidate forums • support the establishment of independent, non-partisan boards to accomplish political redistricting • work with groups such as Common Cause, National Popular Vote, ACLU, etc. • support full restoration of the Voting Rights Act • hold “brainstorming” sessions that would encourage people to think “outside the box” as to possible ways we can renew and secure our democracy 2 53rd General Assembly June 25-29, 2014 Related Prior Social Witness Statements • “Amend the Constitution: Corporations are not Persons and Money is not Speech” (Action of Immediate Witness, 2013); • “Oppose Citizens United—Support Free Speech for People” (AIW, 2011); • “Advocate Pending Legislation Toward Clean, Honest, and Fair Elections in the United States” (AIW, 2009); • “Defending and Expanding Freedom of the Airwaves” (AIW, 2005); • “Civil Liberties” (Statement of Conscience, 2004); • “Electronic Voting” (AIW, 2004) Proposed CSAI: Gun Violence: A Public Health Issue Issue Since 1963 166,500 children and teenagers have lost their lives to guns. That is an average of 3,470 deaths every year for 50 years. The number of children and teens killed by guns since 1963 is three times as great as the number of personnel killed in action in the Vietnam, Afghanistan, and Iraq wars combined. That is an average of eight children a day. Every time a tragedy like Newtown occurs the gun industry would have us ask ourselves, “How did this happen?” The events of Newtown, Aurora, Columbine, Seattle, Fort Hood, Virginia Tech, Wisconsin and oh, so many more are not isolated. They are the direct result of the NRA’s perpetration to sell more guns, to make guns more accessible, to reduce the restrictions on gun purchasing. It is all about the selling of guns and creating new markets for guns. We are in the midst of an epidemic of violence fueled by the gun industry. The problem of gun violence is a public health issue. We can approach the situation the same way we challenged the tobacco industry, namely by exposing the facts. Because of the facts we have learned to wear seat belts, we have safer highways. We have learned the dangers of smoking, and that foods and drugs need to be regulated. It is our right as citizens to have access to this data and to all facts regarding consumer products. It is how we make informed decisions. It is unbelievable to me that guns and firearms are not regulated by the Consumer Product Safety Act. The gun industry has strategically protected itself from the consequences of its very harmful products. Let’s learn the facts and take on the national gun industry. Grounding in Unitarian Universalism As our first UU Principle states, we affirm the worth and dignity of all people. We are called to action on behalf of the innocent victims of gun violence. Topics for Congregational Study • What are the cultural factors that contribute to gun violence? • How is the second amendment used to justify current gun laws? 3 53rd General Assembly June 25-29, 2014 • What are the laws and policies of other nations in regard to gun laws? • How does the culture of violence affect the lives of children? • What is the relationship between gun violence and unaddressed mental health issues? Possible Congregational / District Actions • Work with state and federal legislators to pass common sense gun laws. • Work to create a federal agency to collect, integrate all data regarding gun crimes. • Schedule a series of forums to educate the public about this issue. • Initiate programs that support families affected by gun violence. • Establish local vigils to build community awareness of this issue.