Action Avenues, Initiatives
and Goals To Support the
Board’s Tentative Strategic
Directions
Consolidated Draft
List -
Revised January 14, 2003
1. Act as a leading voice for social
justice and liberal religion
A. Grow Unitarian/Universalism in Dane
County—so that we are a more
visible
voice in the city/county. (Connections Council)
(1) Deepen and make visible collaborations with Reeb and Prairie on a
number of different projects.
2003-2004: plan and implement pilot initiatives
B. Become more visible witnesses and advocates for social justice in Madison and in our larger UU community. (RE Council and Craig)
(1) Develop a “children in poverty” advocacy program in partnership
with the UU Service Committee, and Wisconsin-based advocacy groups such as
the Wisconsin Council on Children and Families. (Economic Justice Committee)
2003-2004 – Identify areas of action targeting systemic causes of child
poverty in Wisconsin, and in the Madison area. Create action opportunities
for the congregation.
(2) Identify Welcoming Congregattion Advocates and Witnesses (Welcoming
Congregation)
2003-2004 - Identify individuals and groups within the congregation who will
participate as advocates and witnesses on GLBT community issues. Organize
ten percent of the congregation to march in the Gay Pride March.
$$ C. Engage in significant community service to redress injustice in our area.
$$ (1) Nurture a commitment toward social justice activities within our
Teen Programs . (RE Council)
2003-2004: Send a minimum of two FUS teens to a UUSC Summer Workcamp.
$$ (2) Build a UU work camp relationship with a Wisconsin Indian tribe.
(Human Rights Committee)
2003-2004 – Plan one or more relationship-building trip headed by Ron
Jetty, Treaty Rights Task Force.
2004-2005 - Organize the first work camp experience for youth, young adults
and adults.
$$ (3) Consider expansion of our participation in the Second Chance Apartment
Program to a second apartment and homeless family. 2003-2004 - Evaluate
the experience with the first family sponsored by the congregation. 2004-2005
- Dependent on that evaluation, consider the sponsorship of a second family
and apartment rental.
(4) Become a full participant in Circles of Support project of Madison Area
Urban Ministry (MUM). (Human Rights Committee)
2003-2004: Recruit volunteers from the FUS community to serve in Circles
of Support for recently released prisoners. In connection with the recruitment
of volunteers educate FUS community about current issues associated with
Wisconsin’s prison population.
D. Pursue education of FUS members in current Social Justice Issues. (Craig)
$$ (1) Review the Society’s commitment to antiracism and build one
or more meaningful programs into the Adult Education and/or Social Justice
curriculum. (Michael)
2003-04: Schedule a day-long event dedicated to exploring and developing
a long-range congregational antiracism and inclusionary strategy.
(2) Provide ongoing opportunities for multi-age social action projects.
(RE Council)
2003-2004: Plan one major social justice activity involving children, youth
and adults.
$$ (3) Offer comprehensive training in non-violent protest. (Task Force
on Peace and Justice.)
2003-2004: Provide training in non-violent protest. Encourage use of non-violence
in “witness” activities.
(4) Conduct a congregation-wide education program on the Civil Liberties
Study Action Issue. (Task Force on Peace and Justice.)
2003-2004: Offer educational programming, including reading groups, discussion
and speakers
2004-2005: Provide feedback to the UUA, identify opportunities for advocacy.
(5) Increase sustained cross-congregational dialogue on topic(s) of importance.
2003-04: see 2.B.(3)
E. Work to have a greater presence/impact in our District (CMwD) and the UUA. (RE and Connections Councils)
(1) Connect with other congregations –even across district lines (if
necessary). For example, connect with other large churches.
2003-04: meet with one district congregation and one “large church” regarding
an issue of mutual concern
(2) Do more General Assembly pushes – invite people in the congregation
to attend. Build community before, during, and after. Remember to tell people
that attending GA is not just for leaders – it’s for anyone in
the congregation–a wonderful learning experience–as well as community
building.
2003-04: 100 participants
2004-05: 150 participants
(3) Encourage people to attend district meetings, large church conferences,
Meadville Lombard Winter Institute, etc. Invite people personally.
2003-04: 30 participants at the Large Church Conference
Explore the possibility of hosting the CMwD women’s spirituality conference
2004-05: Host the CMwD women’s spirituality conference
$$ (4) MUUYACM continue spreading the word about how to support campus ministry —Beloit,
Rockford, other? Internship (Connections Council)
(No goals)
$$ (5) Encourage youth involvement in the various youth programs of the CMwD.
(RE Council)
2004-2005: Host one regional youth conference at FUS.
(6) Conduct an outreach campaign to UU congregations throughout Wisconsin
for the purpose of organizing a statewide UU response to social justice issues
within our state. (SJ Council)
2003-2004: Assess interest in working together in a networked fashion.
2004-2005: Based on assessment, develop initial coordinated efforts.
2. Financial and institutional stewardship
A. Cultivate a climate of generous giving; create a congregation of generous
givers (Finance and Connections Councils)
Are 1 & 2 new initiatives?
(1) Increase pledge revenue (Finance Council)
2003-2004: Increase pledge income to 1.6% of estimated congregational giving
potential
2004-2005: Increase pledge income to 2.0% of estimated congregational giving
potential
(2) Increase planned giving and capital gifts (Finance Council)
2003-2004: Increase Stonehaulers Fund by half the gap needed to reach $400,000
2004-2005: Increase Stonehaulers Fund to $400,000 level Jim will revise (perhaps “raise
visibility of foundation funds”); belongs under 1.
(3) Unpack the word stewardship – facilitate the congregation having
a sustained (over a significant period of time) conversation about stewardship
2003-04: a sermon series
published discussion questions in newsletter
chalice group discussions
set aside time in committee meetings to discuss
RE discussions
all congregation dialogue
(4) Create capital contributions--so that people can give to the “programs” or
areas that they most care about (Connections Council)
(No Goals) combine with 2 – maybe write in terms of “capital
contributions”
B. Update governance structure. (Craig)
(1) Review and update By Laws. (Craig)
2003-2004: Elect by-laws committee
Finish review and adopt any changes.
2004-2005: Begin operating in accordance with changed By Laws
(2) Inventory committees’ health and purpose; weed out as appropriate.
(Craig)
2003-2004: Finish inventory and analysis; and adopt any changes.
2004-2005: Begin operating with changed Committee structure.
(3) Review, refine, and document processes for prominent decisions. (Craig)
2003-2004: Finish review; adopt any changes; prepare and illustrated description
of major decision-making processes.
2004-2005: Widely distribute the description and begin operating in accordance
with changed processes.
(4) Create a leadership support mechanism at FUS.
Goal 2003-04: plan and develop
Goal 2004-05: implement a pilot at leadership retreat
$$ C. Improve balance sheet (Finance Council)
(1) Reduce our debt and replenish our operating reserves (Finance Council)
2003-2004: Reduce debt to under $100K and contribute at least $30K to operating
reserve accounts.
2004-2005: Further reduce debt to under $50K and contribute another at least
$30K to operating reserve accounts.
(We need to clean up our accounting.)
$$ D. Stem the drain on the general-purpose endowment funds in the Foundation (Finance Council) (per Jim: these funds are the Society Fund and the Program Enhancement Fund; not endowments)
(1) Adjust draws for operations, to compensate for high draws in past (Finance
Council)
2003-2004: Make no draw.
2004-2005: Limit the draw to less than actual increase (i.e. earnings plus
capital appreciation) during 2003-2004.
$$ E. Improve stewardship toward the denomination (Craig)
(1) Meet the Society's financial obligation to UUA (Finance Council)
2003-2004: Pay 100% of Fair Share contribution to UUA
2004-2005: Pay 100% of Fair Share contribution to UUA
F. Invest in sustained quality professional ministry (Craig and the RE Council)
(1) Move quickly to review the contracts of the three ministers and lay
the groundwork for upgrading the Assistant positions to full Associates.
Significant financial costs will be incurred over the next two years as a
result of this shift. While noting salient differences in experience and
length of service, greater consistency and equity need to be built into the
three contracts. (Michael) (Committee on Ministry should look into the consistency/equity
issue.)
(No Goals)
(2) Transition ministers from “developmental” to “called” ;
and appropriately compensate them. (Craig)
2003-2004: Call Kelly Crocker and increase her compensation 10%.
2004-2005: Call Scott Prinster and increase his compensation 10%.
(3) Call Kelly Crocker as Minister of Religious Education and increase her
compensation to meet UUA guidelines (RE Council)
2004-2005: Minister of RE compensation reaches minimum UUA recommended guidelines.
(4) Create an environment at First Unitarian Society that encourages ministers
to maintain a balance among work, leisure, and renewal.
2003-04: have a support committee for each minister
identify and assess factors in the First Unitarian Society environment that
prevent this balance
G. Invest in staff necessary to meet our program goals.
(1) Increase staff compensation to meet UUA Guidelines (or the local market?).
(RE Council)
2004-2005: 75 % of staff at UUA minimum recommended guidelines.
(We should do a compensation study; don’t tie goals to UUA guidelines
without info on local market. Also, there are no UUA guidelines for non-program
staff. We should change this by grouping ministerial staff under #1 and creating
another initiative for staff pay. We should also include something about
how we’re staffed for maintenance.
(2) Provide increased stability and leadership for our Teen Haven youth
group. (RE Council)
Goal 2003-2004: Hire a 10-hour per week Teen Haven Assistant.
(3) Make it possible to achieve our congregational and denominational goals
for social justice by increasing the work-time of the Social Justice Coordinator
from one-half to three-quarters time.
I. Strengthen Young Adult Ministry (Craig)
(1) Work on strategies for involving more FUS members in the Campus/Young
Adult ministry program, and to providing greater levels of service and more
opportunities for young adults at FUS. Bring more emphasis to young adult
ministry at FUS, to complement and complete the ministry taking place at
St. Francis House and on campus. (Michael)
(No Goals)
J. Enhance sustainability in our institutional operations. (Craig)
(1) Establish the action phase within UUA Green Sanctuary certification
program (Environmental Action Committee).
2003-2004: Implement recommended actions in partnership with appropriate
church leadership and staff, which may include improvements in the FUS recycling
program, and energy conservation measures, for example.
3. Spiritual growth and connections among members
A. Improve participation in parish meetings and activities (Connections Council)
(1) Reconceive leadership roles to include more participation as pulse-takers/links
to congregation.
2004-05: training for all leaders at First Unitarian Society (i.e., role
playing)
B. Commit to welcoming newcomers and integrating them into the community
(1) Get to know our newer members well enough to invite them into further
connection with FUS.
2003-04: make contact with all (roughly 300) newer members
explore/plan new leadership training program that includes newer members
2004-05: act on suggestion from contacts
implement training program
C. Provide opportunities for connection, nurturance, and growth: work to help members feel connected and cared for (RE and Connections Councils)
(1) Renew efforts to publicize Lay Ministry within the congregation and develop new publicity and communication tools. (Michael)Goal 2003-04: Undertake a thorough assessment of the Lay Ministry program and actively recruit for greater diversity –especially with respect to age and gender.
(2) Facilitate possibilities for FUS Families to interact and connect. (RE
Council)
2003-2004: Hold quarterly “Family Fun” nights including potluck,
activities, and worship.
RE Staff creates a monthly “Family Times” newsletter.
Create a strong Teen Worship Program.
2004-2005: Organize an off-campus, weekend Family Retreat.
(3) Increase the number of participants in the rideshare program through
collaboration among Environmental Action, lay ministers, and MUU-YACM steering
committee.
2003-04: have 10% of the people who currently attend and drive to Saturday
and Sunday services share rides (roughly 60 people).
(4) Have an in-depth UU study, action and reflection experience that would
include units such as Social Justice, Unitarian/Univeralism, General Assembly,
Democratic Process, etc. Encourage long-term commitment—not just a
class—but more like a Chalice Group where people not only learn, but
act and reflect together. There would be points where people could come in—when
a new unit begins. Invite Social Justice and Religious Education to participate
and plan together. (Connections Council)
2003-04: Plan for first year
2004-05: Implement first year
Plan second year
