Covid Task Force Recommendations
Nov 14, 2022
August 25, 2022
March 3, 2022
Feb 2, 2022
Jan 12, 2022
Dec 29, 2021
Dec 2, 2021
Nov 11, 2021
Oct 28, 2021
Oct 14, 2021
Present: Bev Harrison, Connie Hall, Ram Kakarala, Janet Berry, Rosemary Baez, Rev. Nancy Palmer Jones, Moria Merriweather, Linda Yepiz, Bill Bowman
a) Moria presented extensive research on what other UU groups in the Bay area are doingb) Santa Clara County is still in the Orange Tier
Sept 30, 2021
We voted in favor of this wording
–We require anyone entering Hattie Porter Hall or classrooms while Third Street programs are in session be vaccinated to protect the health of children who cannot be vaccinated. (Third Street requires vaccination of its adult volunteers.)
Rick: Maybe you could add my email (ramkakarala@…) next to my name (where you list all TF members) in your writeup for the all-church email? That way, people have a way to follow-up with questions or concerns. I will pass on anything I hear to the Task Force.
Return to in-person
We discussed, and there is support for a gradual, step-by-step approach to slowly returning to in-person worship. We are already doing that. Rather than set a date for the big return, let’s try to gradually increase the envelope of what we do in the building.
Church social — outside our building, Sunday, 10th October at 2:30pm
Please RSVP to churchsocial@…
We will set up chairs for all those who would like seating.
Sept 23, 2021
- Communication. To improve communication with the congregation, Rick will summarize these minutes (and ones from previous meetings) for inclusion in the weekly all-church email. Linda will then provide an update from Rick’s summaries for the church’s monthly newsletter. In previous meetings, the Task Force approved in-person meetings of SGM, Circle Suppers, and other activities subject to the guidelines written by Dena (attached). Though the title of guidelines refers to building use, they do have common-sense precautions that also apply to church activities outside of our building: 1) vaccination when eligible; 2) social distancing; 3) masks. Would someone connected with SGM, Circle Suppers, UU Hikers, etc, please pass these along? Also, the guidelines should appear in the weekly email, and the Church newsletter.
- Protecting children in HPH during class hours. When 3rd street students are in HPH, we require anyone entering HPH to be vaccinated. Rosemary will check any vendor coming in. We will also make the same announcement in weekly email and church newsletter so that anyone connected with the church (bldg committee, sec. committee, etc) knows this. Linda and Janet will talk to vendors to make sure they are aware of our requirements.
- Covid updates: Case numbers are trending down, positivity rates are at 1.5%, vaccine requirements are appearing in more organizations.
- Church Social: Oct 10th, outside the church building, at 2:30pm, ice cream, sidewalk chalk, fun for all ages. Everyone from the Task Force– let’s meet there in person!
- For next week, let’s discuss
- what are the criteria to resume in person worship?
- maintenance of purifiers
Sept 9th, 2021
Sept 2, 2021
a) Covid Act Now raised Santa Clara County risk level to very high, their second highest levelb) First Unitarian of Wilmington is planning to meet in person on Sept 12, with vaccination for those eligible stated as a requirement.
a) If we are in a committee, see if that group would like to meet in person under the guidelines adopted by the Task Force. Meetings could be outdoors, perhaps in a picnic. Ram to organize such meetings with the Board and the Task Force. Everyone else: if you are on a committee, please see what interests them.b) Encouraging our Small Groups to meet, at least occasionally, in the Sanctuary–under our guidelines. This may also interest our social groups (knitting, writers, etc). Ram to follow up with Rebecca for SGM.c) Labyrinth walks on a reservation basis.
d) Sunday afternoon visits to the Sanctuary. Rick: did you volunteer to be a host?
e) Reach out to any that are feeling isolated, stressed, and go for a walk together. This can be advertised in the weekly email.
5) Criteria to resume in-person worship: We discussed extensively. The consensus is that we need to be cautious, be patient, to take the pulse of the congregation, and to start slowly with baby steps as described above. Here are some discussion points:
a) Should we wait to see if a booster shot is rolled out?
b) Should the risk “thermometer”, from Covid Act Now, be at Moderate Risk or lower?
c) We also need to get feedback from the Congregation, perhaps on a regular basis.
d) Government guidelines, such as from CDC, are important, but we need more than that, to make a call on resuming.
August 26, 2021
Joint meeting of the Task Force and the Board
- Air purifiers will be delivered to the Church tomorrow.
- By a vote of 11-2-1, we decided to cancel our plans to reopen for in-person service on 12 Sept
August 17, 2021
- The Task Force unanimously recommends purchase of 7 Medify purifiers, with 2 spare filters each, for the 3 classrooms, bull pen (2 units), library, and conference room.
- With 8 votes for, and 1 abstaining, the Task Force recommends proceeding with the plan to reopen with a hybrid of in-person and zoom worship on Sept 12th, with these provisions:
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- Masks must be worn by all inside Church buildings
- Vaccines are recommended but not required, and status will not be checked;
- Limited capacity inside the sanctuary achieved through a reservations system.
August 4 2021
- Ecstatic Dance — we approve this rental, subject to our existing guidelines that are provided to all groups.
- Viva Calle — we approve visitors using our bathrooms, subject to the discretion of the volunteers staffing our tent. At most 1 person at a time or 1 kid with an adult accompanying.
- Women’s Alliance–we approve the Women’s Alliance meeting in HPH. WA and 3rd street will have a small overlap, but that can be worked out.
- Men’s group — we approve the Men’s group meeting in the library.
- Air Purifiers — The Task Force will vote on recommendations after research by Janet
- Reopening Sept 12th–After discussion, our consensus is to go ahead and plan for hybrid reopening on Sept 12th.
June 30, 2021
June 9, 2021
- Service is our prayer day-Volunteers are encouraged to meet in the building on Saturday, 12 June, wearing masks, practicing social distancing, leaving windows wide open, and signing-up on arrival.
- Rental agreements–Dena will provide written guidelines for Linda to discuss with our first renters, AA, who will start after June 15th.
- Plans to return to services in the building—We are returning to the Sanctuary for Homecoming, 12 September, and Worship Associates have signed up for training for hybrid services.
- SGM and Circle Suppers–Summary: the goals are inclusion and maintaining the integrity of the group. Dena to provide guidelines for these meetings next week.