Article III: Membership
1. Any person, regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, spiritual background or economic status, may become a member of this congregation who is in sympathy with its purpose and programme, who has signed the membership book in the presence of a Board member and who makes an annual financial contribution of record.

The Executive Board shall consist of seven members, elected by the members of the congregation at the annual meeting. Each board member shall be a voting member of the Congregation: five officers (a President, a Vice President, an Immediate Past President, a Secretary, a Treasurer) and two Members-at-Large.

The Secretary, Treasurer and the two Members-at-Large shall each serve two year terms. The Secretary and one Member-at-Large shall be elected for terms that begin in odd numbered years. The Treasurer and the other Member-at-Large shall be elected for terms that begin in even number years.

A Vice President shall be elected each year. The person elected as Vice President shall serve on the Executive Board for three years: Beginning in the first year, he or she shall serve as Vice President. Barring resignation, death, or removal (by unanimous action o f the remainder of the board), at the beginning of the second year, he or she shall automatically become President, and likewise at the beginning of the third year, Past President. The role of the Immediate Past President is to provide continuity, and to serve in an at-large capacity.

The Executive Board shall have general charge of the property of the Congregation and the conduct of all of its business affairs and the control of its administration, including the appointment of such committees as it may deem necessary. It may fill Executive Board vacancies with persons who shall serve until the next annual meeting.

Term Limits: No person shall serve for more than six consecutive years in any executive board role or combination of roles, appointed or elected. After an absence of at least 12 months, he or she shall again be eligible for election or appointment to a board position.

Transition: In order to allow for a smooth transition to staggered terms, adjustments as to lengths of initial terms and numbers of board members elected may be made as necessary during the first year of implementation. [Article V revised June 2007]

  [Note: Article VI was drafted and approved on Nov. 12, 2000. Article VI, 4. was revised June 2007.]

. The Standing Committees of this Congregation shall include:

·
• Nominating Committee (to consist of three voting members who shall not be officers and who shall be elected by the members at the annual meeting). ·
• Worship Committee ·
• Religious Education Committee ·
• Site Committee ·
• Communication Committee ·
• Membership Committee ·
• Campus Ministry ·
• Finance Committee ·
• Pastoral Care Committee ·
• Social Action Committee ·
• Stewardship Committee ·
• Committee on Ministry (This committee shall consist of three members, initially one chosen by the minister, one chosen by the Executive Board, and one member chosen by the other two, with members serving three-year terms, staggered so that there is one new member each year.  New members to an ongoing committee shall be chosen by the Board from a list of three names submitted by the minister.).  This committee’s charge is to support, inform, advocate for, and evaluate the ministry of the congregation in its entire context, including the minister. [Article X revised June 2007.]

Executive Board Position Descriptions

The Executive Board shall hold regular monthly meetings. Special meetings shall be held at the call of the President, or upon written request of three members of the Board.

ALL OFFICERS AND BOARD MEMBERS SHALL

• Attend board meetings
• Facilitate communication between UUCNC members and the board
• Keep informed of UU issues and activities
• Represent UUCNC members at board meetings
• Use their talents, gifts, and abilities to the best of their ability to further the well-being of the UUCNC and its members.

PRESIDENT

• The President shall preside at board and congregational metings
• Serve as ex-officio member of all standing and special committees
• Appoint annually, with the concurrence of the board, chairpersons of all authorized committees, and confirm the membership of all committees recommended by the respective chairpersons
• Serve as the representative of the UUCNC to St. Lawrence District and UUA, and/or appoint representatives with the concurrence of the board to functions of the District and the UUA
• Be authorized to draw warrants on the Treasurer for expenses within the limits of the budget as adopted by the congregation
• And perform such other duties as are commonly associated with the office.

VICE-PRESIDENT

• The Vice-President shall assist the President and assume the duties of the President when the President is absent or unable to perform his or her duties.

SECRETARY

• The Secretary shall fulfill such duties as are customarily assigned to the office and shall have a list of voting members at each meeting of the congregation
• Record and maintain minutes of board and congregational meetings and prepare copies for distribution to board members and the congregation
• Keep and maintain files of communications and UUCNC documents
• Prepare communications (letters, memos, etc.) between the board and other entities when requested to do so by the board
• Receive and sort incoming mail and communications and redirect them to the appropriate office or person.

TREASURER

• The Treasurer shall administer the system of collection, care and disbursement of all funds belonging to the congregation, subject to the approval of the board, and shall be present at board meetings
• Keep and maintain the UUCNC bank accounts and other financial accounts
• Keep and maintain all financial records of the UUCNC
• Report financial activity to the board on a monthly basis
• Issue payments and checks as authorized to do so by the board or board President.

MEMBERS-AT-LARGE

• Attend board meetings
• Represent the congregation
• Advise the board President.

  Prepared by the FUUtures Committee, April 2006

[Note: Our name has changed since this report was filed. We are now Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Northern Chautauqua.]

One of the recommendations in this plan is that the UUSNC begin acting the size of the congregation it wants to become. It should be noted that we have been acting this way for almost two years now by hiring a half time minister. This act of stewardship towards ourselves and the outlying community comes at price we could not sustain at the present time on the basis of our pledging units alone. It has caused us to deplete our financial reserves and it is quite possible we will not be able to maintain this level of ministry beyond next budget year unless we see a substantial increase in membership and corresponding increase in the level of financial commitment of our membership.

With this in mind the Fuutures Committee believes this plan, if implemented, will provide the means necessary for continued growth and continuance of the present level of professional UU ministry.

I. Continue Halftime Professional U-U Ministry

By far the most consistent response of all the information gathering groups held this pat summer was the satisfaction with and desire to continue half-time professional U-U ministry, especially the two professionally led worship services a month. Also heard was that maintaining professional UU ministry was important, not only for our own benefit, but an obligation to share our liberating faith with the larger community in northern Chautauqua and neighboring Cattaraugus County.

This satisfaction correlates with the data collected by the Ministerial Relations committee over the past few years and is also borne out by the numbers of persons attending worship services led by Rev. Terry Kime. During the past year and a half Rev. Kame's services have been attended by an overall average of 16.5 % more people per service. There has also been a growth in the average number of attendees for Rev. Kime's worship services by about four people or 10% from last year.

The down side of half-time ministry for our small congregation is that annual pledges are not enough to cover Rev. Kime's salary, which has necessitated spending reserve funds to make up the difference. The plan has been to use these funds as an investment in ministry while at the same time intentionally working towards boosting congregational membership levels to sustain halftime ministry.

Fuutures feels continuity in maintaining half-time professional U-U ministry is vital to the success of the following strategic growth plan.

Cost : 2006-07, $36.200.00

II. Institute Ministry Council

A primary belief of Fuutres is whatever recommendations are adopted the congregation should function as much as possible in the manner of the size congregation which we want to become. It is especially important to begin operating this way in the everyday operations of the congregation.

For years much of the scheduling and planning have been done in a mixture of formal and informal process. Coordination and scheduling have become more difficult as our program offerings have expanded. To alleviate this problem we recommend the formation of a Ministries/Mission Council

This bi-annual council will include the Executive Board, Committee Chairs and/ or co chairs, and representatives from affinity and mission groups. The purpose of the council is to develop a master calendar and to offer a forum for synergistic communication between congregational entities to help foster intra congregational coordination, cooperation and collaborations.

They would be scheduled to take place before the beginning of services in September and again just prior to the halfway point in our congregational year. Two smaller councils would take place mid-way between the larger councils for evaluation and to make adjustments.

Fuutures also recommends that the Executive Board continue to explore ways to streamline our current bureaucracy and explore new trends in church governance. Included in this process would be the development of a governing structure that fosters the creation and implementation of various missions/ministries while encouraging individuals to follow their callings and utilize their gifts. The governing structure should include a panel (we called it Extra-Sight) to help individuals navigate the system in creating, implementing and evaluating missions/ministries.

Cost: Childcare, refreshments, rent misc: $500.00

III. Cultivate a Culture of Invitation and Hospitality

The journey of cultivating a culture of hospitality and instituting a new member ministry is guaranteed to be spiritual exploration for us as individual Unitarian-Universalists and together as a religious community. Why Unitarian Universalism? Why is our Unitarian-Universalism faith important? Who do we want to share our chosen faith with? How do we reach them and allow them to become one with us? How will our U-U faith move through us to benefit the larger community? How is this reflected in our congregation's missions and ministries, our works? This deep process will take a number of years, but institutionalizing a New Member Ministry should not be delayed while we wrestle with these larger themes. In fact it will help clarify them.

We can begin immediately in an orderly, intentional fashion by implementing a number of activities that coincide with the five elements of New Member Ministry.

• Invite: Invitation needs to be made intentional. The most powerful invitation is one that is made face to face. We recommend instituting two Invitation Sundays per year, one in October another in February. The congregation will be asked to personally invite a person they know might be interested in Unitarian-Universalism. We recommend that these be extra special worship services coincide with a special potluck or social gathering afterwards.

  Cost: Refreshments: $100.00

• Greet: Again, greeting of newcomers must be well planned and intentional. Fuutures recommends that this summer a cadre of greeters be recruited and trained to welcome newcomers at worship services, collect newcomer data and conduct initial follow-up after their first visit. We recommend that trained greeting teams will be in place for the beginning of services after this summer's break.

  Cost: Training $50.00

• Orient: One of the challenges of small congregations like ours is how to make it permeable for outsiders. Orientation is the first step in the process. Orientation is a two-way information sharing opportunity. Not only does the congregation get to explain about congregational structure, program offerings, and membership requirements, it affords the congregation to discover the unique needs, abilities and gifts of the newcomer. Vital information if the newcomer is to be incorporated into the congregation within the six month window church growth experts claim needs to be met for successful incorporation of most newcomers. Fuutures recommends a minimum of two newcomer orientations occur every year. It should be noted that in early April, the Membership Committee conducted pilot, newcomer orientation.

  Cost: Orientation materials, refreshments: $100.00

• Incorporate: This might be the most difficult element for a familial size congregation to successfully implement because if done well it virtually guarantees the eventual extinction of the familial size congregation as it grows into a pastoral sized church. (>50 members) The recommendation is to intentionally invite new members and recent attendees to participate in small group activities and affinity groups. This low effort recommendation (requires little more then a change in attitude) has a high potential benefit of getting others initiated into active congregational life.

  Cost: $0

• Send: Thriving, growing churches have an outward thrust to their ministry. For evangelical Christians this manifests itself in sending missionaries out to save unbelievers and possibly to spawn other churches with the same mission.. Unitarian-Universalists would have a more earthly mission in mind in sending forth its faithful into the world. Relying on our principles and living traditions U-Us concentrate their efforts less on guarantees of heavenly rewards, but towards making our world a more just and better place here and now and for future generations.

  Our congregation has always been involved in service projects and we suggest that we continue to do so. We also recommend the incorporation an annual, congregational, service project (mission) that would be short lived, completed in a few months or less; something the whole congregation backs and can sink their teeth into. A selection process would be developed and the project would formally begin at a worship service in March to coincide with U-U Justice Sunday. We recommend that the first annual Congregational Service Mission be undertaken in March 07.

  Cost: Variable but low.

IV. Institute Foundational Courses

Instituting a regular offering of U-U foundational religion courses could initiate profound change in our congregation at both the individual and institutional levels. Being non-creedal and allowing for a wide array of personal belief systems shaped by direct experience, Unitarian-Universalism can be a demanding religious exercise for those who embark on its path. It's not easy being both prophet and priest. Foundational religious education is important for both individuals and the congregation in developing a cohesive spiritual identity and the capability to articulate this identity and our religious vision to others, a vital attribute if we are to attract others into the fold.

Foundational courses are a powerful tool in cultivating a culture of hospitality as they coincide with many of the elements of New Member Ministry. Offering foundational courses to the public allows us to invite newcomers while at the same time orientating them to the tenets of Unitarian-Universalism. Foundational courses allow for mingling between new and longer standing congregants facilitating incorporation of newcomers. Foundational courses help to send us into the world by expanding our religious values and motivating us to move outside of ourselves to make the world a better place.

Fuutures recommends minister/lay-led Foundational Courses be conducted a minimum three times per year. The times of these courses should be staggered to allow for maximum attendance. Courses should be intensive with a minimum length of 20 hours. A fee can be collected do defray expenses with a scholarship system enacted for those who can't pay. Recruitment and enrollment of the first class should take place this June with the first course scheduled to take place over the summer.

Cost: Childcare, curriculums, copying, refreshments, rent: $350.00 per course Total $1150.00 Could be offset by charging a fee.

V. Utilize UUA's "Uncommon Denomination" Marketing Resources

The UUA is offering a professionally designed package of marketing resources to all member congregations. The program features resources not only for outreach but also aids for in-reach that dovetail nicely with development of New Member Ministry.The only requirement to begin is to submit a congregational questionnaire and sign a covenant agreeing to reporting and usage stipulations. In return we can utilize the UUA's marketing resources.

After examining the different levels of commitment involved in the Uncommon Denomination's three-tier approach to marketing, Fuutures recommends the congregation move as soon as possible to join Uncommon denomination at the first tier level. We believe it important to move quikly,; and be formalized by the current Executive Board at the meeting immediately following the annual business meeting. After six months th e program should be evaluated to determine whether we should begin the second tier.

Cost: About $250.00 star up and additional costs depending on advertising dollars budgeted.

VI. Develop a Protocol for Site Procurement

Our present worship space in the Fredonia Grange has a number of deficiencies that cannot be corrected including: handicapped accessibility, less than ideal Childrens' RE and small group meeting space, inadequate and even dangerous parking and pedestrian access, uncomfortable seating, inability to fully utilize the kitchen, small worship space and a sometimes difficult landlord/renter relationship. These factors are an impediment to church growth.

While Fuutures is not recommending a search for a new site, we do recommend that the incoming executive board establish and codify a site procurement protocol in case an opportunity to move operations occurs.

A Site Committee structure should be determined and protocols developed for who is responsible for conducting negotiations on behalf of the congregation. Members with expertise in building/construction, finance, and law should be recruited for a Site committee to be called to action on an ad hoc basis.

Fuutures recommends the congregation begin allocating a percentage of funds derived from general fundraising events to a dedicated reserve in anticipation of a future move.

Cost: $0

Progress Report On Past Recommendations

A number of recommendations arose out of concerns about comfort and esthetics voiced at congregational meetings held this fall as part of Fuutures planning. Recommendations included changes to the adult Worship and children's Religious Education spaces and he beginning of a name change process.

A number of issue were resolved including improvements to the sound system, the availability of drinking water, a much improved nursery area, the painting and reorganization of the literature rack, and better climate control of the children's R.E. space. Other recommendations including privacy dividers and a carpet for the children as well as green plants in the worship area were not allowed by the Grange. Privacy screens or dividers for the worship area have been put on hold until a prototype and estimated cost are procured. Another recommendation was to construct a number of translucent banners replicating stained glass windows, which could be hung in the windows of sanctuary as well as carried during ceremonies. A design for one window has been done but the small number of people working on this project has slowed work considerably.

There has been general disaffection with the name Unitarian Universalist Society of Northern Chautauqua County. Some fee the name is to long and many believe the word Society is a misnomer and not particularly religious in nature. Two congregational meetings have been held to date to consider a name change, with final meeting scheduled for May 7. If a new name arises out of the process it will be put to a congregational vote at the annual business meeting.

CONGREGATIONAL RESOURCES

Stained Glass Notecards

Click below to download .pdf files containing notecards featuring of one of our stained glass windows.

• Unitarian Universalist (Chalice)
• Christianity (Cross)
• Earth-centered Spirituality (Tree of Life)
• Eastern Religions (Yin Yang)
• Judaism (Star of David)
• Islam (Cresent Moon and Star)
• All Six Images on One Card

EarthFest Publicity Materials

Click below to download .pdf files containing invitations, small information cards, 1/2 sheet posters, and full sheet (8 1/2 X 11) color posters. The invitatons can be folded to fit in a standard envelope.

• EarthFest Invitation
• EarthFest Small Information Cards
• EarthFest 1/2 page Flyers
• EarthFest Full Page Flyers

Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Northern Chautauqua