News from UUCNWT

Gene Zonge of Community Gardens of Tucson has been up on our north campus putting in an irrigation system. He hopes to finish it this week before the rains come.
We got a lead to a ranch in Marana that has lots of well-aged manure and will deliver a whole truckload for a modest fee to cover the transportation cost.
We have put together a mailing list of 265 names and addresses for the properties nearest to us. When the time comes, we can notify them this way, as well as by notices in area publications.
Sunday, July 11 we had a salad lunch and bake sale after the service and were able to raise almost $200 for the garden account.
We have had inquiries about the garden from the CGT website and word-of-mouth among acquaintances.

There will be a few more startup expenses for a soil test and for installing the fence. We have some chain link material, but we will need to get some special fencing to go underground and turn outward at the bottom to keep away the underground predators. We also need to pay back some loans from members. This project is a green grass-roots effort. Anyone who wants to support our Green Ministry in this way is welcome to make a donation of any size, which will be gratefully

accepted. See Dorothy Fausey or John Fleming.

All-Church Potluck Supper on August 14

Come to Jane and Conrad's home on Saturday, August 14, to celebrate our community with a potluck supper and pool party. We'll provide and grill veggie burgers, brats, hot dogs, and hamburgers.

Come at 6 p.m. for supper at 7. Your contribution of chips-salsa-dips, salad, vegetables, buns, dessert, or cold beverages is needed. Bring your whole family, swimsuits and towels. Newcomers are especially welcome. This is a good opportunity to widen your circle of friends in the church.

Mark your calendar to Respond by August 9 so we can get a count and plan the meal. To RSVP and get directions, call Jane at 572-2011 or email membership@uucnwt.org .

Excerpt of UUCNWT Board of Trustees' Minutes           Tuesday, March 23, 2010

1)     Review/Approval of Minutes of February 23, 2010 Meeting-The March 23, 2010 Minutes were approved as submitted. Seconded, none oppose, one abstain.
2)     Matters arising from the Minutes:
a.     Response to Michael Durall--Meg has received several responses but needs the remainder sent to her soon.
b.    Donated organ--Debbie has sent a card of thanks to Ruth Knittel for the generous donation of her electric organ, which Jane Paul plans to play on Easter Sunday.

Board Reports
1)     Membership Auditor's Report--Anne reported that, after accepting the resignations of Jeff Chamberlain, Suzanne Borth, and Jeaneen Vogel, our membership stands at 153, including one Life Member. As a routine matter, Debbie will send thank-yous to former members for their service to the congregation; confirm their new status, if any; and tell them they will be welcome to come back in the future, should they so decide.
2)     Treasurer's Report--Bill reported that the income of $5967 for February was short, with expenses of $11,015, showing a loss of $5000; last year showed a loss of $3500. Year-to-date operating loss this year shows $3000; last year was $11,000. He estimates we may be $5000 low for the end-of-year figure. From the Balance Sheet, he noted that 2220 has been reduced by $400 for outside display boxes on the Goldblatt, as authorized by the Social Action Committee, and questioned whether funding designated for supporting diversity should be so used in this time of tight money. Do we need a policy for how such monies are authorized and disbursed? Green Basket offerings are: TIHAN $163.30, Haiti $559, Food Bank $684, and ICS $488, with no evident impact on church giving. Bill will ask the Finance Committee to propose a policy for how 2220 monies are disbursed and authorized, which the Management Committee can then bring to the Board.
3)     Minister's Report--Susan reported that, at the Ministers of Diversity Retreat, she'd gotten to know Alicia Forde, Program Coordinator for Multicultural Congregations, Identity-Based Ministries, and Office of Racial and Ethnic Concerns. Susan has invited her to visit and speak to us May 15-16, 2010, on the Diversity of Ministry Initiative. Following up in regard to our own ITF, Betty will contact Janice at the Office of Ministerial Diversity to learn more about the ministerial diversity program.

Task Force and Other Reports
1) Site Evaluation Task Force: Recommendation for Short-Term Action Regarding Our Current Site-Tom emphasized that this report should be regarded as a short-term progress report. Richard Giachetti will submit a proposal and resume/CV to the Board, prior to beginning work. Tom noted that Giachetti will have to know from us exactly what he has to do or redo, which may take some time to figure out.

Executive Session
1) Proposal to the Board (letter previously circulated)-Following an Executive Session, the Board voted unanimously to retain Steve Weatherspoon as the Congregation's attorney to contact Greg Fahr and George Holquin to obtain usable copies of the work product developed by each, pursuant to their respective 2009 contracts with the Congregation.

Task Force and Other Reports (cont.)
1)     Stewardship Committee Report-Jim Gessaman. From Part I - Results of Pledge Drive FY 2010-11, Jim noted that any additional monies have come in from new members and that current members pledgers are just keeping up with members we've lost. Being optimistic, he hopes for an additional$25,000, just $5000 more than this year. Last year, an estimated $17,500 for donations was extremely high, compared to an actual receipt of $5300 so far. Betty suggested that new members pledge when they sign our book. Jim will talk to Membership Chair Jane Paul about this idea.
2)     Nominating Committee-Ron Meikle.
a.     Report: The Nominating Committee has been talking to people to fill slate positions for next year; but he's finding that no one wants to be on Endowment, a committee which serves an advisory function when appropriate requests (not budget deficits) are made for projects. He will continue to work on this challenge, but this committee would definitely not be disbanded at this time.
b.    Proposal for update of Nominating Committee description: The Board, having given the Nominating Committee the additional responsibility to find a slate of up to seven church members to make up the Ministerial Search Committee, means that there are many qualifications to meet, which will have to be balanced by considerations for Board members and other essential governance positions over a two-year period. It was moved that we accept the 3/23/10 Draft for the Nominating Committee, adding the responsibility for the Ministerial Search Committee. Seconded, none oppose, none abstain.
3)     Interim Task Force-Betty. Betty reported that our early application has been submitted to the UUA Interim Ministry Office. Elizabeth Reed is currently putting together an overview packet of 15 items to introduce us to the candidates, which will be added to our website once some security issues have been solved. Around April 20, the Task Force will review the UUA contract template for any needed changes; a matrix in the Settled Ministry area might be helpful or might be altered for evaluating interim ministry candidates. After that, they will begin making phone calls, background checks, etc. in order to evaluate what candidate will be best for us and reasons why so the congregation can decide. In early May when we make offers, the Task Force will need the Board's help in a timely manner. Betty is asking all of us to think seriously about the characteristics and capabilities we're looking for in an Interim Minister, and email our thoughts to the Task Force in the next two weeks so this information can also go into the packet. The Board has asked Betty to make phone calls to sister churches (22nd Street, Flagstaff, and Chandler) for advice on their recent or current IM searches.
4)     Planning Minister's Retirement party, Saturday, May 8, 2010, 6:00 p.m.-Jan reported that she has organized set-up and clean-up crews, but she still needs help with ideas for the entertainment portion. "The food part is easy."

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