"As IT Happens"

You will agree with me that UUCUC is served by a great staff!  Highly professional, competent, and compassionate, they are a treat to work with.  As head of staff, I am deeply grateful for their efforts and results.

Recently a number of staff positions came open, and in each case search committees worked well to find the best fit for UUCUC.  The situation I want to discuss with you in this blog is the search for a long-term part-time Membership Coordinator.

Last summer when the first-ever Membership Coordinator resigned for another job, member Erich Adickes stepped up to fill the position as the Interim Membership Coordinator.  The position description was for the summertime, with a full search to follow in the fall.

Summer, then fall, then winter, and now spring!  For several reasons, including tweaks to the job description, the search was delayed.  In that interval, Erich's willingness was very important in keeping the momentum going in the membership area of church life.  He gave his all to the position and advanced it in ways that made a real difference.

At the same time, Erich provided many hours of tech support to the church, sometimes as part of his job and other times as a volunteer.  We on staff were/are especially appreciative of his tech talents.

Recently, the search committee for the long-term part-time Membership Coordinator advertised the position via various media, including print. Sixteen applications arrived, and Erich's was among them.  The search committee carefully considered each application and decided to interview three persons, and Erich was again among them.

The search committee selected another applicant for the position who will begin work at UUCUC on June 1.  Their decision was based on the applicant's extensive experience with volunteers and non-profit organizations, community-wide interests, sample communications that demonstrated excellent skills, positive references, and other qualifications.  More information will be forthcoming from the search committee.

Erich will be recognized in a worship service for his enthusiastic efforts in membership coordination; watch your e-news for that date.

Erich is a highly valued member and skilled volunteer at UUCUC.  Please join me in supporting Erich in his volunteer work and as he pursues new endeavors in his work life.

Faithfully, Janet Newman, your Interim Minister, 2015-16  

As It Happens

"Our church culture is defined by a spirit of genuine care for one another.  We take seriously the practice of shared ministry, inspiring a membership that is active and engaged, with all giving generously of their gifts."

These words begin the UUCUC Strategic Plan 2013-2018.  The words "spirit of genuine care for one another"  and "all giving generously of their gifts"  motivated me several months ago to suggest that the Board designate a Discretionary Fund for the benefit of congregants.

In all lives misfortunes are bound to happen.  Many of us have experienced or will experience temporary financial difficulties, most likely during economic downturns.  At these times it is helpful to know that the church offers a safety net to support congregants when they most need it.

The Discretionary Fund has been established by the Board and put into effect by the Finance Committee.  Offerings to the Fund can be made year-round, but April and November are the months when congregants can be reminded of it.

How do you make a donation?  You may drop a check into the offering plate, with the memo "Discretionary Fund."  You may also go to the UUCUC.org website, click on the "menu," scroll down to "give," and click on "online donation and pledge payment" line.  You'll see that the Discretionary Fund is at the bottom of the page.

The minister and the treasurer are the only ones who know to whom disbursements are made, and there are financial safeguards throughout the policy.

Questions?  Please ask me, your Interim Minister for this year, or Treasurer Lynn Wiley.  

As It Happens

“Who are you?” said the Caterpillar. 

“I – I hardly know, Sir, just at present,” Alice replied rather shyly, “at least I know who I was when I got up this morning, but I think I must have changed several times since then.” – Lewis Carroll, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland 

Do you sometimes feel like Alice? Is UUCUC changing around you, and you wonder who you are today as a congregation? If so, you are not alone. 

Many staff changes are happening these days. I’ll take this opportunity to fill you in on some of them. 

First, the Personnel Committee chose a new part-time Office Administrator, Linda Scheidler. She begins work Monday, April 11, while your present Office Administrator Brittni Ballard is still here and can show her the ropes. Personnel worked through Spherion Agency to find Linda, and she is their employee until the Board determines her employment status with UUCUC. 

Second, the Personnel Committee is narrowing the field of applicants for the position of part-time membership Coordinator. Personnel is scheduling interviews with several highly well-qualified persons early in May. These persons found out about the position through the News-Gazette and other employment websites and organizations. 

Third, UUCUC has been without a professional Sunday Sexton since mid-January. Volunteers who are faithfully doing the Sunday morning tasks deserve a huge vote of thanks. Personnel has connected with organization Developmental Services Center (DSC), who can select a person to work with a companion staff member of DSC to learn the routines of the position. Later, the employee will function without the companion. We hope to see this team in place by May. 

Fourth, during Kitchen Helper Stephanie Cobb’s absence, UUCUC hired youth Tom McDermott as substitute. Many thanks to him and to the volunteers who also filled in. 

Last, the finances of UUCUC are in the capable hands of new bookkeeper Steve Bremseth, also found through Spherion. Todd Kinney, volunteer bookkeeper for many years, now gets to volunteer in other areas of church life. He, too, deserves a huge “Thank you!” for his expert and far-sighted management of church funds. 

This blog is longer than I like, but you now know about the multitude of staff changes during this first year of the Interim Transition.

As It Happens

I stole this title for my blog from a program on Public Radio that I listen to whenever I’m in communities that carry it. We’ll see if the creators of that program notice my unauthorized use.

Last week, I promised to tell you more about the General Assembly (GA) of the Unitarian Universalist Association. This year, it meets in Columbus, OH, at the Convention Center near the OSU campus. The dates are June 22 – 26.

You can get more information than you ever wanted via the UUA website. I have attended almost every GA since I represented my home church as a lay delegate and relatively new UU in 1975. Nowadays, GA staff and volunteers pay special attention to newcomers to the event, much as we do in our congregations. Also, long-time attendees often help newcomers to GA find their way and decide what to take part in. Claudia and David Gross are in this category, and they will be glad to talk with you. See their article in the eUniter on Wednesday, March 30.

At GA, you can get up early and attend meditation and worship services, participate in business sessions and workshops during the day, enjoy meals with friends old and new, hear world-class addresses and music, take direct action in social justice activities that are well-planned for GA, and – if you have energy left – gather and dance into the wee hours at venues specifically arranged for attendees.

Long-time GA-goers know to limit themselves and choose carefully among the offerings; otherwise, it is easy to become exhausted. But there is so much of interest and value to local congregations and the greater UU movement, that it can be difficult to choose!

I am delighted to talk or write to you further if you email me at interim-minister@uucuc.org or phone me at the office.

Let’s have a fulfilling experience at GA!

Introduction

Welcome to the new, weekly Unitarian Universalist Church of Urbana-Champaign (UUCUC) Minister’s blog from your Interim Minister Janet Newman. This blog is meant to let you know about: 1) events in the life of the congregation that I want to highlight, 2) my thoughts about transition opportunities that are available to UUCUC, and 3) comments and observations from me that don’t fit into the E-News and eUniter.

Blogs are meant to be brief, pithy, and informative. I hope that this one will be helpful to you as you enhance your connection with Unitarian Universalism in general and UUCUC in particular.

First, then, please note that I will lead a four-session series for newcomers and not-so-newcomers titled “Orientation to Unitarian Universalism.” The sessions will take place in the church library every Sunday in April beginning at 9:00 a.m.

Regular attendance will lead to greater understanding, but the sessions can be helpful regardless of continuity. Come when you can; all are welcome.

Childcare is available by request; please notify Cindy Wakeland, Director of Religious Education (DRE), at re-director@uucuc.org.

Next week in this blog, I will focus on the General Assembly of the Unitarian Universalist Association taking place in Columbus, OH, from June 22-26.

Reach me at interim-minister@uucuc.org.

Faithfully,

Janet Newman