Present:

Attendees

• Rev. Xolani Kacela, John Burk, Jan Theiss-Guffey, Steve Madden, Madeline Morrow, Diana Mecum, Susan Pelmulder, K’Ailsa Rowan, Patrick Canonge, , Connie Hall, Sundar Mudupalli, Lynn Morison, Bill Baldwin

Building – We will hopefully receive a bid for the roof and painting within the next 4-6 weeks.  Two paint colors are at the top of the list – the other samples will be painted over – Sue Pelmulder will host a ‘look at discussion’ outside the building, including other ideas, to discuss.  Historical colors – range of colors used in 1890’s (Madeline Morrow’s research).  Building security is an ongoing issue – front door left unlocked for several days recently – fires in stairwells – Patrick will ask Garden City our contractor for ideas for a temporary fix to block off the stairwells (it is an egress point for the building). Jim Guffey installed motion lights on that side recently.  

Membership and Connection

• Several new members signing the book
• Ruby Delgros is now a member
• Eileen Scroden is  now a member
• Bob and Carol Roskowski – longtime friends – have been active – did not want to join the church because it would cost the church when they became members
• Amanda Sullivan – also need to recognize her.

• It would be good to have a QR code to take visitor’s information.

Personnel

• Personnel Policy update –
  • Sick leave policy
  • Anti Harassment policy
  • Members becoming staff 
  • UUA recommends against having members as staff – does not need to go to the board

RE position

• Job Description of the RE coordinator – delegated to personnel officers and rev XK

Motion by Madeline – approved

• Discussion on current person – 
• Julia was working 17 hours – nursery staff and school age kids – coming of age 
  • RE coordinator cut to 12-13 hours a week
• Would like to have a discussion on the interim situation
• We need to be very careful about financial implications – not yet at budget – Madeline
• We need to be careful about cutting hours
• How Rev. XK sees the RE position going forward
  • Strongly lacking in millennial
  • How they create community – Gen Z are anti institutionalists – not drawn to organized religion – Gen Z are not bringing children to church – Gen Z least churched demographics – they interact and are following each other via Instagram, and TikTok.
  • Person skilled in content creation 
  • RE content, curricula get more engagement
  • Restructuring the hours
  • Social content creation – 4-6 hrs
  • Sunday 3 hrs + 3hrs for prep for Sunday
  • Focus energy to get biggest payoff
  • Wants someone who understands how Gen X and Gen Z engage
  • If we keep doing it the way we have been doing it – we will not get the people
  • Suggesting Social media for engagement – not into community – their aspiration is individuality – they are already isolated – they engage on these platforms.

Social media feedback

• Cautious about idea of social media
• A split between engaging on social media and creating social events
• We used to have talent school, new 20’s and 30’s

Hunger for Adult activities – Madeline Morrow

• Having adult 
• Working with lay leaders – someone who can help plan engaging activities
• Having the resource – be a resource for that

Motion:

We recruit to hire an interim RE Coordinator for 12 hrs a week until May 31, 2025. – Motion by Madeline – Second by Diana Mecum – Passed

Rev. XK – It is a big lift to hire a RE person – it will be in the new minister’s interest to have the RE coordinator for one calendar year.

What do we do until the Interim RE Coordinator gets hired ? 

• Don’t do Sunday school
• Just cover the Nursery – recruit volunteers (vetted congregants) as a backup
• RE committee had a meeting – let them know right away – Krysten, Rick Morris – Ray Kiddy, Susan Miller.Rev Xolani will reach out to them.
• No change in hours for childcare people

Typically, the RE are working on activities during Sunday School

• Susan Miller and Krysten are working on this right now

It would be good for someone to go to the Parents committee

• We need to be nurturing of the young families
• Young Families are very precious to us.
• Agree to try to recruit within the congregation
• Importance of younger members of the congregation – children and youth

Rev Xolani – he will contact the parents – Sarah Jiang Pu – has an education background

Shifting Hours

• Don’t have time to do this tonight
• There is an extra cost – when someone is part time – 
• Will have to wrestle with the budget on April 9 and April 23, 2024
• Will have a better idea on where the stewardship campaign will be
• Will talk about this next time
• We have been talking about this for some time – John has worked for us for 11 years – a long time – would have benefits and sabbatical and due recognition from the congregation
• Acknowledge the needs of the music program to help it grow
• What the program needs to go to the next level
• Basis for evaluating the position

Social Justice

• We joined SURJ (Showing Up for Racial Justice) for a meeting with Mayor’s staff to fund for another TRUST (Trusted Response Urgent Support Team) van.
  • Only 4 vans in Santa Clara county compared to 35 in Los Angeles
• We will have Social justice table after the service against the back hall
• Working on a brochure for the newcomer’s table
• Marnie and Joyce working on the welcoming congregation
  • Continue as a welcoming congregation
• Homeless concerns committee – made 42 personal kits
• Next meeting in April

Stewardship

• Inspiration Sunday Feb. 4 – good attendance despite rain
• 103 attended Celebration Sunday March 10!- 19 on zoom – we have received pledges from 52% of the targeted households and we have received $332,351 in pledges so far, or 78% towards our goal of $425,000

Worship

• Busy month with candidating.
• March 17 – service introducing the right relations team – Skit
• Ram Kakarala – is worship associate
• March 24 – Congregational Meeting
• Easter – We are risen – inspirational – 
• Next month – have not finalized all Sunday
• Candidate on the second to last (April 21) or last Sunday in April (April 28)
• Remaining 2 services we need to have – guest ministers
  • Pin down the topics
  • Alegria singers – we had a great – for the chorus
• Flower Communion on Easter Sunday possibly…

Transparency in our Bylaw changes

• They are on the website – Discussion ensued about the changes – Town Hall to discuss March 17, voting at Congregational meeting March 24.

Two additional items from Jan: She will be reaching out for soup chefs for soup and bread lunch on March 24; and will be heading up another Service Is Our Prayer Day, date set Saturday April 6, to spiff up the building before the new minister arrives.

Sundar Mudupalli; edited for clarity byJan Theiss-Guffey

This is great, thank you! Thanks for this.

Present:

Attending: Jan Theiss-Guffey, Diana Mecum, K’Ailsa Rowan, Bill Baldwin, Art Henrick, Connie Hall, John Burke, Sue Pelmulder, Dr. XK

 

FYI:  Rev Xolani will be on study break Apr. 9-17, vacay May 9-18.  

Worship – Diana Mecum

 

• April we have the new ministerial candidate, Rev. Matthew McHale.  
• Rev. McHale will be the Worship Leader for April 21 and 28
• There will not be a Worship Associate gathering until September when we will hopefully have the new settled minister.

 

Stewardship – Steve

 

• We have gotten 124 out of 147 households to be canvassed or 84%
• We have gotten pledges of $376,748.72 or 89% of our goal of $425,000.
• Since March 13, our Stewards have been calling, texting, emailing, talking to people in church and even making a home visit.
• Two of our highest 20 pledging households from 2023 have not yet made a pledge, but at this point probably won’t.

 

Personnel – K’Ailsa

 

• Created a job description for a 12 hour/week RE Coordinator
• Some people are interested in the Personnel Committee
• Nursery has not been staffed on some Sundays and that has been pointed out by the RE Committee

 

Membership and Connections – Connie

 

• Reinstituting a welcome email message for new people
• All should welcome newcomers and encourage them to visit the Newcomers Table.

 

Building – Sue

 

• Colors have been selected by vote

 

Social Justice – John

 

• Activities rescheduled because other activities went on.
• Colleen Cabot is the one to contact to join Social Justice

 

Finance – Bill B

 

• We examined the 2024-2025 preliminary budget line-by-line.
• The garbage fee sounds high, but we fill it up all the time and so do our renters.
• We need a new service to collect compost so that we are in compliance.  This needs to be added to the budget.
• Should we need a sabbatical set-aside for the Sr Minister during this fiscal year?
• The staff’s wages were raised last year to meet UUA guidelines.
• We will need 12 guest ministers during the fiscal year.  Many feel that this is a minimum.
• Why is the AUUMM conference in Outreach Ministry rather than Professional Expenses?
• We need clarification about the RE Coordinator (reducing the hours or the salary now that the RE is not a manager)
• We have an apparent deficit and we need to find a way to deal with it.
• Jan has volunteered to coordinate a Service Auction in the fall that could raise $8000.

Present:

Members of the OMC:  Rev Dr. Xolani Kacela (Interim Minister); Bill Baldwin (Finance Officer); John Burk(Denominational Affairs); Patrick Canonge(Co-Building); Ruby Delgros (Scribe); Connie Hall(Co-Membership and Connections); Steve Madden (Stewardship); Diana Mecum ( Worship Associates Coordinator); Madeline Morrow (Co-Membership and Connections); Sundar Mudupalli(Co-Personnel); Sue Pelmulder (Co-Building);K’Ailsa Rowan, (Co-Personnel); Jan Theiss-Guffey(COO); Social Justice,rotating

Attendees at this meeting:  Diana Mecum, Steve Madden, John Burk, Connie Hall, Bill Baldwin, Patrick Canonge, Jan Theiss-Guffey

REPORTS

Worship (Diana Mecum)Reviewed the upcoming services.Rev. XK will be absent from the pulpit after June 30; need to plan for a goodbye party for him.  Flower Communion will be celebrated on May 19.Rev. Matthew will begin the third week in August.

Stewardship (Steve Madden) We now have about $422,000 pledged. Note: we owe the UUA $2,000 less than was calculated at the beginning of our fiscal year.

Social Justice (John Burk) No report.

Personnel  Neither K’Ailsa or Sundar were able to attend, but  Jan Theiss-Guffey reported that K’Ailsa was working on a Personnel Manual which she hopes to have ready for the OMC  to approve in June.

Membership and Connection (Connie Hall) We are getting more visitors now, and are making concerted efforts to follow up with visitors.

Finance (Bill Baldwin) – We are bringing in more money than budgeted, spending less than budgeted—looks good!

Building (Patrick) We had a good Service Is Our Prayer Day, there were 14 people in attendance, and a lot got done! We’re 98% of the way to Garden City Construction beginning work,  probably late June or early July; as of this writing (6.3.24), the contract has been signed.  The front doors are repaired and painted as of this writing (6.3.24)

Budget Rationale (Jan Theiss-Guffey) Jan proposed an addition to the budget rationale for presentation at the Congregational Budget Meeting on May 19, to the effect that the OMC would be in favor of increasing John Ector’s hours to 20 and give him benefits at some point if that were possible.  Motion did not carry.  There was talk of giving him a longevity bonus, as he is our longest employee (12 years).

FYI (from Connie Hall) Monty is preparing some Partner-Church-related events—members of the partner church will be visiting. There is also a local Hungarian festival coming up.  (update:  Monty hosted a Town Hall after church on 5.26 to talk about our partner church visitors who will be coming in September 2024.

Additional actions since May 14:  By majority email vote on May 28, we voted to pay Jim Scott. Musician,  $600, more than what we normally pay visiting ministers,  for a church service on July 21st.