SOUTH NASSAU UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST CONGREGATION

BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING MINUTES

FEBRUARY 25, 2009

Approved March 18, 2009

Present: Rob Esformes (President), Rosemary Olander-Beach (Vice President), Tom Weingarten (Treasurer), Barbara Singer (Secretary), Ken Lawson, Arlene Brown, Martha Chamberlain, Jayne Davison, Travis Compton, and Rev. Catherine Torpey.

Absent: Anne Fleming

Chalice Lighting & Opening Words:

Rosemary Olander-Beach read opening words and lit our chalice lighting.

Rob Esformes (Board President) then called the meeting to order and welcomed new board members Arlene Brown, Martha Chamberlain and Jayne Davison. Ken Lawson agreed to be our process observer for the meeting.

Invited Guest:

Rev. Paul Ratzlaff, minister of the Huntington Congregation, addressed the Board regarding the 2009-10 Long Island Leadership Institute (LILI) which will take place on five Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on September 26, the Shelter Rock Leadership Conference Day (Oct. 3?), November 14, January 23 and February 27 (Snow date March 20) and an evening celebration event on April 17. Each congregation wishing to participate must register by March 15 by sending a contribution of $150.00. Each individual participant’s fee is $90. Potential participants will be selected by the minister and members of the Board and screened as to their willingness to commit to the program and share their learning with SNUUC.

Personal check-in:

There was a brief period of conversation for personal check in.

Action Item:

March 21st was set as the date for a half-day Board retreat to be held at SNUUC from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Everyone present is available to attend.

Fundraising with Recommendations for SNUUC presentation: - Rev. Catherine Torpey

Catherine presented an overview of the potential and possibilities of planned giving.

Solicitation for Financial Commitment:

Barbara Singer presented to the Board “This Special Place” invitation to commitment – this year’s Stewardship’s theme for SNUUC’s annual canvass campaign. The giving guide was distributed and explained. Financial commitments were received immediately from five Board members.

Old Business:

Thrift Shop Visioning Task Force (TSVTF) Proposal submitted to the Board at its January 21 meeting was reviewed.

The Board went into Executive Session for a fuller discussion of the TSVTF proposal.

The Board came out of Executive Session and Rob Esformes asked that Barbara Singer, Anne Fleming and Ken Lawson prepare a report to the Board outlining the pros and cons of the dynamics of the Thrift Shop Committee, the Thrift Shop Manager and the Congregation. Jayne Davison requested that the report include a clarification of the respective roles.

Consent Items:

The minutes of the JANUARY 21, 2009 Board meeting were approved. These minutes will be sent to Peter Larsen for posting on our website as well as being posted on the bulletin board and filed in the office.

Rosemary Olander-Beach moved to accept the Reports from the Minister, the DRE, and the Treasurer as presented. Jayne Davison seconded. Motion passed.

Rosemary Olander-Beach moved that Lori Strumeyer be accepted to Catherine Torpey’s committee on Ministry. Martha Chamberlain seconded. Motion passed.

Action Item:

Ken Lawson moved to commit $150.00 from the Board’s Discretionary fund to enable SNUUC’s participation in the Long Island Leadership Institute for 2009-2010. Tom Weingarten seconded. Motion passed. Tom will see that the check is cut and mailed by the March 15 deadline.

Discussion Items:

Tom Weingarten (Treasurer) presented his Treasurer’s report to the Board. He pointed out that we are still basically tracking to the deficit budget we had agreed to for this year. Tom reported that Alexis Surve is looking for a replacement to handle the Gift Card Program. There was a brief discussion clarifying that the money spent on the driveway repair is part of the Capital Budget and not part of the Operating Budget.

Board Homework:

Barbara, Ken and Anne to get together to discuss TSVTF plan.

Process Observer’s Comments:

Ken noted that the time allotted for our agenda was unrealistic. Board participation was appropriate and enthusiastic. Check in was too lengthy.

The meeting was adjourned.

Reports received: Minister’s Report, DRE’s Report, and Treasurer’s Report

NEXT MEETING: March 18th at 7:00 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Barbara A. Singer, Secretary