Minutes of the Board of Trustees
First Unitarian Society Madison, Wisconsin
May 17, 2006 7:00 p.m. Lower Meeting House
Present:
Officers:
Alan Knox, President
Pat Anderson, President-Elect
Tom Detmer, Secretary
Jim Jaeger, Past President and Acting Treasurer
Council Trustees:
Barb Avery
Chris Glueck
Kathy Luker
John Mathis
Hilary Cronin, Youth Representative
Ministers:
Michael Schuler, Parish Minister
Scott Prinster, Associate Minister
Staff:
Dan Broner, Music Director
Susan Koenig, Church Administrator
Jim Christensen, Facilities Project Coordinator
Leslie Ross, Religious Education Coordinator
CALL TO ORDER
After an
opening and chalice lighting, Kathy Luker, Alan
Knox called the meeting to order at time 7:00 p.m. and reviewed the agenda.
CONSENT ITEMS
MOTION to approve the following Consent Items:
- Approval of minutes from April 19, 2006 – Exhibit 1. Jim Christensen should be added to the attendees.
- Motion CARRIED
TREASURER’S REPORT
Jim Jaeger reported that we are ahead of all prior years on the pledges we have received. We are making progress in eliminating the budget shortfall in the current year. It is expected that we will finish the year with only a small short fall.
Kathy Luker asked the timing to finish Bill Love’s request to make phone calls. She just received the material and will be pressed to do it quickly. It should be done within a week or two.
Susan pointed out that there are no personnel cuts at this point in the upcoming fiscal year’s budget depending on how the pledges come out. We should know enough by late June and early July what our budget will be and we can make a better decision on what to do. Also we can decide where we stand on making a UUA fair share contribution in the coming year and also making the Central Midwest District fair share contribution.
In the future we would like to move the annual pledge campaign into the fall so we will know our income before planning a budget in the spring. We won’t make that change this year because of the way it would conflict with the potential capital campaign.
Susan reported that we will apply $250,000 from the sale of the Wood house to reduce our loan against our credit line. We will also move $55,000 from the Money Market Account to reduce the loan against the line of credit. Finally we will have the Foundation fund a portion of the Society’s bookkeeping costs, which will help the overall budget.
Jim Jaeger MOVED to have Foundation reimburse the Society by $5000 for expenses in the 2006-2007 year and this request will be reviewed annually in future years. Barb Avery seconded the motion. The motion CARRIED.
Jim Jaeger MOVED to transfer $250,000 from the Jane Wood account to the line of credit account. The motion CARRIED.
Jim Jaeger MOVED to transfer $55,000 from the Society Money Market Account to be applied to the “500 account.” Barb seconded it. The motion CARRIED.
SUMMER PLANS
There is a question about what needs to be done in the small window of time in late July and in August to repair the historic meetinghouse. Who is designated to help get this work done? Also who determines what can be done? There have been some discussions with Susan and Alan about getting this process. Getting the bids and an evaluation of the work to be done is the critical next step.
Electrical improvements in the auditorium are one of the key elements that need to be accomplished. There are two others as well. Susan and Alan will continue to work on this effort.
RETREAT
Pat Anderson said that the leadership retreat plans are pretty well established. There was some discussion about the role of the Trustees at Large. Should they exchange roles with each other? Kathy expressed concern about not knowing what the various trustees do. Alan feels that the annual reports do an excellent job of describing the councils’ accomplishments. However those reports do not get into a description of the operations of the councils. This can be discussed Saturday at the retreat.
Alan asked for thoughts about how we use our indicators of success. Jim’s attachment tonight shows how we are doing at this time.
IMPORTANT DATES
On May 23 the Steering Committee will meet. On June 8 the Steering Committee will meet again. And on June 14 the Board will meet prior to the General Assembly. The Board will meet on its normal dates in July and August.
BOARD AND FRIENDS OF THE MEETING HOUSE RELATIONSHIP
It is important that we continually think about what can we do to work together? There are some minor issues to be resolved. However, there is progress being made with the continuing discussions and attendance at meetings by members of both groups.
ELLSWORTH SNYDER’S ART
Alan summarized the disposition of ellsworth snyder’s works of art. We have received a bequest of a number of works that are restricted in that we cannot sell them. We may store them and rotate what is on display. We are considering use of the pieces in the new music room in the new facility. Another residuary legatee of ellsworth’s has requested that at least some of the art could be auctioned off for fund raising. The personal representative for the estate is determining whether or not that is possible.
We have a one-time offer to accept or reject. Barb Avery MOVED to accept the bequest. Pat Anderson seconded. The motion CARRIED.
OTHER BUSINESS
Jim Jaeger recommended that General Assembly attendees try to also attend the pre-General Assembly session on leadership.
Susan provided dates for the new facilities development meetings.
ADJOURNMENT
- MOTION to adjourn.
- Motion CARRIED
Meeting was adjourned at 8:15 p.m.
Minutes by, Tom Detmer, First Unitarian Society Board Secretary
EXHIBITS
- Minutes from April 19, 2006
- Income statement
- Balance Sheet
- Secretary’s Annual Report
- Valuable indicators
OTHER HANDOUTS
