Year Five Implementation Plan: Monthly Executive Report

Transcription

1 UUCA Long Range Plan Year Five Implementation Plan: Monthly Executive Report February 2017 Goal # EE1 We will be among the most Engaging and Enriching Congregations in Atlanta Visitors and members are finding their place within the congregational community. Specific Implementation Transformation of Hospitality system re-aligning all existing parts to a vision of weaving community (this incorporates Recruit Welcome Coordinator to supervise and revamp the Usher/Greeter program ) Progress Report UUCA Visitor and New Member Friend Program proposal from Rev. Rhett Baird and Marycallie Laxton is in hand and being evaluated Expanded membership development experiences through Faith Forward programs held during middle hour starting Jan 1, 2017, with Inquirers series starting in November Faith Forward programs began Jan 8, 2017 Launch and support of new covenant group in summer 2016, with more people recruited to groups throughout the year. Increased training & support for Covenant Group facilitators. From summer 2016: 8 new groups, 78 new members. From January 2017 sign up: 2 more new groups, bringing the total of new groups to 10. Roughly 1/6 of the congregational membership currently participates in a small group. 1

2 EE2 Many cultures and communities are reflected in our worship services and programming. *AVOM: Through inreach and outreach, we grow into our congregational commitment to ARAOMC Wonderful Wednesday overhauled to be more family friendly and engaging, with other offerings including games, social opportunities, and multi-gen RE. Worship Team membership is diversified to better reflect congregational diversity Prophetic Encounters Group is developed, which will help to spread ARAOMC awareness in the congregation Continuing and deepening our use of the Beloved Conversations curriculum, including new lay leader point person for program at UUCA First meeting was Oct 15; the second was January See Appendix. IN Oct. retreat cancelled because of insufficient sign-ups; Spring retreat is cancelled because the 2017 budget can t support Beloved Conversationsrelated expenses. Developing programming around GLBTQ issues, led by our JBI participant Bryce Thomason IN Bryce has had to step back from leadership because of personal issues. Diversification of worship spaces to accommodate different preferences around how to worship Carl Pelizza completed the renovation of the Family Room and it now has new carpet. Pursuing Accessibility & Inclusion Ministry (AIM) certification by the UUA An AIM team is in process of being developed now Developing a priority list of accessibility problems/solutions for older people 2

3 Programming around sexism and violence against women The Dec. 4 service was devoted to this Revising the Congregational and Staff Covenants in light of our ARAOMC commitment The UUCA staff engaged both covenants around ARAOMC at its Feb 6 Staff Inservice. A larger process which engages the congregation will take place in the spring 2017 Special programming Mark Morrison Reed events Nov Purim celebration in March, in conjunction with the March UUJA conference The above has been replaced by several Islamrelated programs: Meet a Muslim on Dec. 18 and guest preacher Rev. Dr. Mellen Kennedy, preaching on Islam on March 12 I Am a Mermaid event on January 15, focusing on issue of ability and accessibility. IN The UUJA will not be having a conference this year EE3 Educational programs for congregants and the larger community are offered. Faith Forward CORE courses are implemented Senior Minister to teach adult RE course in 2017: Pledging to Love and Justice starting January 8 and a marriage enrichment course starting in April Lay Ministers are trained and organized to offer ADHC (Advanced Directive for 3

4 EE4 Congregants are feeling connected to each other and supported by the larger UUCA community. Healthcare) support 55+ and Fine: Living Fully in the Autumn of Life program We re offering this a second time, starting in January. This time, it s being offered at 7pm at night and the attendance is dramatically lower than the first time. Safer Congregations Team in formation Covenant Group revitalization / EE1 Wonderful Wednesday revitalization / EE1 Congregants are experiencing spiritual nurture and growth. *AVOM: We experience the continued revitalization of our Lifespan RE programs. No one turned away policy implemented for Wonderful Wednesday and elsewhere Marketing materials developed and distributed for our Lifespan RE program Exploring affiliating with a UU community minister who delivers ministry through online platforms exclusively Rev. Clarenbach was affirmed as UUCA s new affiliated minister at the January Board meeting. Now the work turns to introducing the concept of online ministry and Rev. Clarenbach to the congregation in a way that is paced out well (given the current focus on the potential building sale). Engaging an RE consultant We want to coordinate this with the Long Range Planning process, at least in terms of timing. 4

5 Implementing SuperCharged Sunday SuperCharged Sunday began January 8 with a total adult attendance of 113 adults. This was on a day when the temperature was freezing Developing intentionally designed one-hour worship Trip opportunities Pilgrimage to Transylvania Women s March on Washington Service trip to Guatamala Goal # LW1 We will increase our impact in the Larger World An infrastructure is in place to empower congregants to perform, coordinate, & participate in peace & justice work. Outdoor Circle Worship Specific Implementation Improved over-all health of UUCA justice groups (including communication among groups and between groups and congregation) Strategic analysis of all social justice groups and restructuring as needed Two services have been offered so far: during the fall equinox and winter solstice Progress Report LW2 Congregants are educated about peace and justice needs. Regular meetings of social justice groups with Director of Congregational Life Offering a Refugee Advocate Training and an event on Family Detention (through RAICES) Offering Think Globally, Act Locally: How You Can Help in the Global Refugee Crisis Policy binder for SJ leaders in process of development 5

6 Lunch & Learn: Sunday November 20 th, 12:45 2:45 Meet a Muslim, Dec. 18 Women s March on Washington Guest presenters on disability and other issues (eg., I am a mermaid on Jan 22). Feb. 5 Lunch and Learn hosted by Mary Hook of Southerners on New Ground, focusing on Black Lives Matter and The Movement for Black Lives. Great turnout around 60 folks LW3 UUCA supports groups outside of UUCA to do peace and justice work in the Atlanta community. Rev. Makar s Love and Justice Pledge UUCA provides space and volunteers to support RAICES in its work to provide legal expertise to immigrant families UUCA offers space and support to BLM and black organizing groups free of charge The Love and Justice Pledge website and other marketing materials are in process of being developed. UUCA offers space for a clothing barrel for Lost and Found Youth UUCA youth are involved in the Interfaith Children s Movement Youth are engaged in an ICM action held at UUCA January 21 LW4 The congregation is collectively committed to/engaged in a shared social justice Our all-congregational commitment to ARAOMC We are exploring what it would mean to become a Sanctuary See EE2, LW2 Pax Riddle is heading this 6

7 mission that makes a difference in the lives of Atlantans. Congregation up Goal # MI1 We will Motivate and Inspire ourselves and others A communications plan is developed on an annual basis Specific Implementation Work on long-range communications plan including strategy, policy, budget and appropriate staffing Progress Report Communications policy is done; community conversation about communication was had on Oct. 23 Develop an annual content calendar for all communications Search for new Communications Specialist; Tiffany Kindred has accepted full-time employment from Emory University Our new communications specialist is Nicole Pressley. MI2 The website serves both members and newcomers effectively. New website Congregant team is helping to update website MI3 Congregants are sharing their UU stories and inviting others to participate in the UUCA community. The City - continuing to utilize this platform to engage members and friends Congregational Life Committee facilitates a congregational survey UUCA History Event, facilitated by Dan Hotchkiss The History Event was a great success New mission and ends statements for UUCA are developed UUCA participation in the 2016 Atlanta Pride Parade MI4 Inspirational messages and Messages on our new UUCA roadside sign 7

8 resources are made available in various venues. Shifting the paradigm in our monthly newsletter, from information to inspiration Weekly Update is being restructured so that it s easier to navigate Started Dec. 1 MI5 UUCA brand promotion and consistency is insured. UUCA a Poke-stop Brand guide developed (AND OVER) Goal # R1 We will have the Resources to fulfill our aspirations and potential UUCA has a stronger culture of generosity and stewardship. *AVOM: UUCA sees improvement in our finance and revenuegenerating processes, including progress towards multi-year budgeting and fundraising planning. Specific Implementation Stewardship consultation, to help us see where we are and what the gaps; to enable us to be less busy and more strategic/effective Progress Report Development Professional Linda McNay has completed her consultation. The Report has already been presented to Rev. Makar and Karen Roy, and on Feb. 13 it will be presented to the Generosity Team. On Saturday, March 18, from 2-5 pm, the report will be presented to other key leadership groups of the congregation: The Generosity Team The Finance Committee The Endowment Fund The Board The Staff Exploring the possibility of hiring a part-time Development Specialist 8

9 Linda McNay has developed a job description for this position. Currently, Rev. Makar and Karen Roy are finalizing financial plans for the position and will post the job description soon. Multi-year budget plan developed Implementing give-by-text in worship Special Ask letter sent out to a part of the congregation Example in hand from Asheville church Multi-year fundraising plan developed Improved congregational understanding of fair share giving and the fair share giving guide Addressing the issue of denominational dues (our GIFT responsibility) Recognition of major donors from 2000 capital campaign In our first 5 th Sunday plate offering, we took in $4251 Peabody Circle established First meeting was Jan 8 about the offering for our Cliff Valley Way property R2 Current deficiencies in our facility that can be fixed are identified and Leadership infrastructure to support planning and implementation in this area is developed. 9

10 prioritized. Addressing the proposed 6M offer on our Cliff Valley Way property R3 R4 A facilities maintenance plan is developed, one that addresses space utilization. A holistic volunteer development/suppor t program is in place. Leadership infrastructure to support planning and implementation in this area is developed. Skills and Talents Inventory, distributed congregation-wide and the results made available to all Five SUULE participants for 2016; SUULE re-entry Recharge: UUCA Volunteer and Leadership Development Conference We hosted this Aug 12 Various other volunteer development experiences Board Committee participation as a pipeline to Board leadership R5 R6 R7 R8 Fair Compensation for all staff is achieved. Sustainable staffing levels that meet UUCA needs are attained. Long-term needs in mission and membership are addressed through a facilities feasibility study. Long Range Planning on an ongoing basis has been established. Establish an ongoing process that uses UUA and local market data Write a Facilities Feasibility Study Report Dan Hotchkiss is hired as a consultant working with us for Given our current situation, Dan has recommended that we press pause on the plan 10

11 of doing a major long range planning process right now. We ll have a better sense of what s appropriate to our needs right now depending on what happens with the building sale negotiation. He did reiterate, however, that even if we don t do a major long range planning process, still, planning of some kind goes on. The annual vision of ministry that the Board + Executive develop annually is one form of planning. Another is our ARAOMC commitment this impels annual planning that further incorporates ARAOMC into our community. *AVOM: Annual Vision of Ministry. The growth vision of the Board of Trustees APPENDIX Notes from the January 28 th Prophetic Encounters Group Reporting back o Forever Young 2 responses to the Mary sent (the one a sample sent to PE was modeled after) with mixed levels of support. There was also resistance to the negative language of the ARAOMC resolution (i.e. desire to state what we are for instead of what we are anti ) o Stewardship Still keeping an eye out for short-term ARAOMC wins Goal of recruiting diverse team when current folks transition off o Children s Ministry Team Achieved low-hanging fruit Reaching for next level of changes to implement o Hope Hill School Outreach to mostly minority community Goal of opposing systemic injustices Open question: instructing volunteers to not see themselves as white heroes Goal of increasing accountability to leaders of color o Racial and Economic Justice 11

12 Focusing on what it means to be accountable (following black leaders, not disempowering them) Changed name from Racial and Ethnic Concerns Goal of person of color as chair No responses to ARAOMC (similar to sample sent to PE), will put on next agenda Goal of supporting SURJ (Showing Up for Racial Justice), group that offered session on accountability (JR note: I met with Collin Cornell, one of the SURJ organizers this week, and am excited about their upcoming protests around the Community Benefits Agreement regarding the Turner Field area being developed) o Covenant Groups Working to develop a covenant group session on ARAOMC Also focusing on how to incorporate ARAOMC work into groups o Worship Team ARAOMC evaluation document in use this year (though our GA program on this topic was not selected) Diversity in liturgists Tony Stringer has helped us recruit a more diverse team o Endowment Fund Looking at projects they approve through an ARAOMC lens Goal: include ARAOMC questions on formal project evaluation o TBD Outing to Civil Rights Museum Focus on accessibility of events o L Chaim Quiet in terms of overall activity since the first meeting Goals for 2017 o There seems to be the most heat (enthusiasm, interest, etc.) around the idea of creating identity groups/caucuses at UUCA in the group currently o o o o o Allies for Racial Equity is an existing national organization within our UUA ARE Steering Committee's Mission is to Build an antiracist movement by engaging white Unitarian Universalists in the mission of ARE. Foster accountable relationships with and serve as an organizational ally to communities of color. Provide anti-racist, anti-oppressive, multicultural leadership development to ARE members and leaders in the UUA. ARE chapters are traditionally paired with DRUUMM (Diverse Revolutionary UU Multicultural Ministries) chapters; partnership with a BLUU (Black Lives UU) chapter would also work Rev. Jan Taddeo of the Gwinnett UU Congregation is the current president of ARE and could be a good resource in starting a chapter We will discuss specific plans for organizing these groups at the next meeting Next meeting o April 22, 1-4pm 12