Greetings Fellow Congregants,

It’s hard to reflect on the last month and not remember Seminary for a Day held on January 27.   More than than 300 hundred people attended Dr. Robin DiAngelo’s keynote address, “Seeing the Racial Water” and the workshops held over the rest of the day were rich and well attended. The Church Board has also been been working to understand how white privilege operates in our society, in our church, and on our Board. Dr. DiAngelo and the workshops provided us with new tools and perspectives to address these issues.

In “Board Land”,  February is focused on governance and policies.  After considerable work begun two years ago, the Board and its Governing Committee have prepared important changes to our Governing Policies, which include statements on our Church’s mission and practical rules on how the Board operates in relationship with the Executive Team.*  The proposed policy changes are on the Governance Committee website main page.   We want all congregants to understand how governance works at First Unitarian and explain these latest policy changes.  To that end, the Board will hold a congregational forum on February 25th, at 1 p.m. in Eliot Chapel.  Over half the time will be set aside to hear your comments and answer your questions.

A few more important items to share:

• Our Annual Fund Drive has wrapped up and Reverend Sinkford announced that we have reached 98% of our goal.  With new members and late pledgers, we should easily pass the 100% mark.  Congratulations to everyone who helped to make this possible!
• The Board is proud and joyful to recognize Mary Gear, now ordained by our church and the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Salem.The service on February 10 in Salem was inspiring. Congratulations Reverend Gear.  Your Board Moderator was honored to be a part of that service.
• Our annual congregational vote is approaching.  We will vote on the proposed annual budget and for candidates running for the Board of Trustees, Nominating Committee, and Church Foundation Board. Ballots will be mailed in late April. Completed ballots returned to the church in person must be received by 11:15 a.m. on Sunday, May 20. If you are mailing your ballot, it needs to be received in the church office by Thursday, May 17 (the office is closed on Friday and Saturday, so mail can’t be received then).  In order to vote you must, by Monday April 2 (this year’s Date of Record), be a member of the Church (signed the membership book) and have made a pledge.

Cheers,

Randy Russell

Moderator First Unitarian Board of Trustees

*The Executive Team (or ET) includes our Senior Minister, Bill Sinkford; Associate Minister, Tom Disrud; and our Church Administrator, Kathryn Estey.