Social Action Council-2011-January 25
TJMC Social Action Council Minutes
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Church Parlor, 5:30 to 7:00 P.M.
Attending: Sahron Baiocco, Elizabeth Breeden, Jean Sorrells-Jones, Al Reynolds, Mary Rose Curtis, Cynthia Pulaski, Kip Newland, Rev. Dr. Janet Newman, Greta Dershimer (chair)
Absent: Dick Somer, Edith Good, Beverly Ryan, Bob Gross, Cherry Stewart, Patti Wallace, Dan Grogan (Board Liaison)
1. The meeting was called to order at 5:35 p.m. We renewed our covenant.
2. Brief oral check-in. The following items were submitted electronically.
PACEM- We are signing up volunteers to host the Women of PACEM from Feb 5-11. We expect between 15-20 women. We have a slightly new partner for this season, the Muslim Student Association. We used over 100 church volunteers when we hosted the Men and will use about the same for our Women.
Emotional Wellness Ministry-We held our first meeting of the year and are looking forward to creating a program similar to Welcoming Congregation that will encourage our Church to welcome those who have experienced mental illness and their friends and family. We plan to host the May art show.
Food Pantry-We created a written document of our procedures! We are giving out about 100 units (or 300 people) and more than a ton of food per month. USDA seems more generous so we are staying in budget.
Refugee Partnership-We’ve hosted an emergency community dinner to address concerns for which we invited SARA to make a presentation to the Burmese/Bhutan refugee community. We also hosted a wedding within that community.
Peace Action - United Nations is currently focused on the February 20th visit to TJMC by Bruce Knotts, Executive Director of the Unitarian Universalist United Nations Office (UU-UNO). He will (1) deliver the sermon at the worship service Sunday morning, (2) present a lecture to the local chapter of the United Nations Association Sunday afternoon at TJMC at 3:00, and (3) be honored by church leaders at a potluck dinner at TJMC Sunday night at 6:30. As TJMC church leaders, the leaders of each of the Social Action Council member groups are invited to the dinner.
3. Vote to confirm the electronic votes taken since the October 26 meeting.
The minutes of the October 26 and November 30 meetings were approved.
.
4. Financial Report.
The Financial Report provided in the Agenda was taken as information. No questions were raised.
The Chair reported that $500 has been donated to the SAC to support the IHS Food Bag project. The Council voted to use that donation to support the IHS project for a third round of activity this program year, and carry the remaining $500 Ford Foundation grant money over to partially support the IHS project next program year. The Chair will make the carryover-of-funds request to the TJMC Board.
Groups are not required to have meetings and take minutes, but some of our groups do so. If your group takes minutes, be sure to send copies to the S.A. Council chair, as well as to the Vice President and Congregational Administrator.
6. Council of Chairs Activities
The New Procedures for Tables in the Social Hall after services, which were sent out with the Agenda, were discussed briefly. A motion to endorse the procedures was voted on, but not approved. Members with concerns were asked to direct them to the Vice President.
The Procedures for Amendments to the new TJMC-UU Policy Manual were taken as information. Members with suggested changes in policies and procedures should bring them to the Council for approval. Once approved by the Council, they will be sent to the Council of Council Chairs and the Board for final approval.
There will be a Social Action Council Report in the March Bulletin, focused on applications for Social Action Collections and Free Use of Space.
The Chair reported that all Council and Committee minutes are now to be submitted for inclusion on the TJMC-UU website. A much abbreviated style of minutes is to be used. Several members expressed concerns about this decision and were told that their views should be sent to the Vice President.
7. Social Action Council Budget for 2010-2011
Our allocated budget for 2010 - 2011 is $750. $75 is allocated for Council Chair’s supplies.
PACEM asked for an additional $25, raising their allocation to $125. Peace Action - United Nations (PAUN) asked for $120. Council approved both requests.
8. Budget Requests for 2011-2012 Budget (Due to Treasurer Jan. 27)
The UUA-related line item requests (Partner Church - $150; UUA-UNO - $100) and the IMPACT line item request (.5% of TJMC Budget) were endorsed and supported by a Council vote.
Social Action Council Member Group Requests were: $100, PAUN; $150, PACEM; $150, Partner Church; $100, Council Chair’s supplies. These were all approved by Council vote, in addition to a request for a $250 contingency fund. The total Social Action Council budget request is $750.
9. Reports on SAC Tasks for this program year from assigned work groups
Council members voted to accept the proposed Policy on Criteria for Approval of Organizations for Free Use of Meeting Space, with one addition to the procedures. The addition states that “If an electronic application is submitted for a single meeting to be held between scheduled Council meetings, it can be sent by the Council Chair to Council members for an electronic vote on approval.”
Council also voted to accept the proposed Application Form for Free Use of Meeting Space, with the same additional item to be included in the list of procedures.
There was no time for brief updates on joint activities with Ebenezer Baptist Church or the IHS Food Bag Project projected spring activities.
10. Check accuracy of Attendance Records and Materials Submitted Records
Members agreed that attendance records and records of materials submitted were up to date and accurate.
11. New Business
The New Food Pantry Procedures, sent out with the Agenda, were approved by a Council vote. They will be sent on to the Council of Council Chairs and the Board for their approval.
The suggested changes to the Social Action Collection application for the 2011-2012 Program Year, sent out as part of the Agenda, were approved by a Council vote, with one slight change. The revised application form will also be sent on to the Council of Council Chairs and the Board for approval.
The heavy agenda for the April 26 meeting was raised as a concern (Social Action Collection Applications plus Free Use of Meeting Space Applications both to be considered and selected/approved). Council members voted to consider only the Social Action Collection applications in April, and schedule an additional meeting in May to deal with the Free Use of Space applications.
12. The meeting was adjourned at 7:05 p.m.
Next Meeting - April 26, 5:30 - 7:00 p.m. in Church Parlor
Decisions about Social Action Collection applications for the 2011-2012 Program Year will be the major item of business.