Community Life Council-2011-January 25
Minutes
Community Life Council
January 25, 2011 7:15 pm TJMC Summit 1
I. Call to Order: The meeting was called to order with the lighting of the chalice and the reading of the Council Covenant at 7:15pm. In attendance were Sally Taylor, Covenant Group Coordinating, Membership and History; Lynn Heath, Communications Committee; Wendy Repass, Social Activities; Chip Bumgardner, Web Committee; Elizabeth Breeden, Coffee Service; Cathy Lawder, Carenet; Shirley Paul and Nancy Lewis, Pastoral Visitors; Bev Thierwechter, Denominational Concerns; Raven Long, FFUUN; Carol Silaba, Guest; Rev Dr. Janet Newman, Interim Minister; Jen Lucas, Board Liaison; and Betty Warner, Chair.
II. Introduction and Check-in: Committee and group chairs reported on wide-ranging activities which enhance the community life of TJMC-UU. Problems were also noted, resulting in the request for additional discussion on Care-Net, Denominational Concerns, Social Activities, and History.
III. Old Business:
A. Position Descriptions: Betty promised to review those which had been submitted and respond to Council members about any questions.
B. Membership Resolutions: The Board has not yet dealt with the resolutions submitted to it via Council approval after the last meeting. These will be presented again.
i. Members who become inactive for any reason can reactivate their membership with a simple request; they do not need to sign the book again.
ii. Members with no financial contribution or participation of record over a two-year period will be considered “inactive” unless they request otherwise.
iii. A comprehensive TJMC-UU procedures manual should be available to all members.
IV. New Business:
A. Budget for 2011 - 2012: A copy summarizing the budgets submitted by the Council members was distributed for Council review. Comments and/or changes should be submitted to Betty by Thursday, Jan 27, 2011 at which time the budget will be submitted to Finance.
B. Policies, policies: A discussion about the Procedure to Amend the Policy Manual raised questions about the responsiveness of a multi-level approval process and about whether there was need to review procedures beyond the committee level. It was agreed to continue the discussion on procedures at the next meeting.
C. Discussion on Tabling in Social Hall: It was agreed that the purpose of the sign-up sheet was education and communication. After some discussion about confusion related to RE functions in the Social Hall, Raven promised to expand advance communication about the lunch plans of the Coming of Age group.
D. Covenant of Healthy Relations: In a wide ranging discussion of how the Council’s activities might address the new Covenant, it was agreed that small groups provided the most emotionally engaging opportunity. Circle dinners, the proposed contact group, covenant groups, committees etc all have the potential to enhance bonding. Care-Net and Pastoral Visitors commented on the difficulties involved in knowing who needs help; it could be that covenant facilitators, group leaders, etc would be a good channel of information for these groups.
E. Care-Net: Cathy reported that Care-Net is considering a name change to Helping Hands, among other changes. As noted earlier, few congregants are requesting help, or seem to know of its availability. Suggestions for Care-Net included: focusing publicity on encouraging friends to call Care-Net on behalf of those in need, and working with leaders to channel information about Care-Net.
IV. Evaluation: It was agreed that the Council had focused its time on enhancing the community life of TJMC. Agenda items for next time include a focus on Denominational Concerns, Social Activities, procedures and History.
V. Next meeting: Probably during Candidating Week (April 10- 17). Next official meeting is April 26, 2011.
Respectfully submitted,
Betty Warner, Chair