The North Unitarian Universalist Congregation Newsletter February 2008

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From your Board and Committees!

From the President Some important sounding things…We begin our 2008 with a number of new and exciting projects proceeding in our congregation, all of which are part of our larger movement towards growth and expansion that has been discussed here and elsewhere in many forms.  To this end I’m pleased to announce: 1.         The Board of Trustees has agreed to engage Philip Markwood Architects as our architect as we consider how we will address our needs for additional space.  You can learn more about the firm at http://www.markwoodarch.com/.  In particular, I recommend you review the firm’s religious building programs in Ohio (and also note that there is a space for additional projects, such as NUUC!).  I want to thank Ron Mattox, Lori Torriero, Gary Rusk and Dick Leavy who formed the search committee and spent many hours reviewing and evaluating architects before their final recommendation.  Also, an interesting note: Philip Markwood Architects was the alternate choice when NUUC considered its first building project in the mid-1990’s; a nice bit of symmetry with our collective past as Dublin Unitarian Universalist Congregation.  We expect that you will be hearing more from Philip Markwood over the next few months as they engage with the congregation to review our space, our hopes and ideas concerning our facilities going forward. 2.         Part of any successful building program will be a capital campaign.  While a capital campaign has been rumored and discussed for a number of years, we have now taken the first steps towards this process by the Board’s decision to engage the UUA’s financial consultants to review our congregation and the feasibility of a capital campaign.  As part of the feasibility study, the consultants will be engaging in a thorough review of our finances and financial practices, but in addition will be conducting interviews with all of our members.  This will be similar to the stewardship interviews from last fall and the ultimate goal will be twofold: to produce an estimate of the potential capital campaign as well as identify blocks or concerns of the congregation which would prevent a successful campaign.  It is our hope to have the consultants in as soon as possible and working in conjunction with Philip Markwood to evaluate the congregation’s goals and desires going forward.  3.         Pursuant to our decision at the congregational meeting on December 16^th, I, along with our Treasurer Nancy Remer and Scott Grimshaw, have begun the process of collecting additional information concerning potential refinancing options on our existing properties and proposed purchases.  In addition, Delco continues to advise that progress (albeit slow progress) is being made on a final rendering of the 4.5 acres of land to be offered to NUUC (we are currently in the Del-Co General Manager’s current project “stack” as of January 18^th).              These three threads form part of the greater project for our church’s growth over the next few years.  We continue to manage each of these separate threads towards a goal of joining them all together in the near future (along with threads yet to be spun) into the rope that we will climb towards our collective future.  As I mentioned in Joys and Concerns on Sunday, Jan. 20^th, I, like many of our members, have been working towards this goal for many years and it is both exciting and satisfying to see these various threads begin to come together.  I was also greatly heartened by the open and free debate that occurred at our congregational meeting on December 16^th.  While there were differences in process, it was apparent to me that as a congregation, we continue to pull in one direction towards an expanded and robust church.  Thank you all for your commitment to this congregation and our collective vision of our future together.  In fellowship, David J. Petras

Treasurer's Report Outlined below is a summary of the financial reports presented to members of your Finance Committee and Board of Trustees for the month of November.    Actual $            Budget December, 2007 Pledge Income       $ 16,273          $  11,889 Other Income            $ 15,086        $   2,974 Total  Income            $ 31,359       $ 14,863 Total Expenses          $ 19,901         $  14,860 Year-to-Date Pledge Income          $136,513          $142,670 Other  Income          $ 41,697    $  35,688 Total Income         $178,210          $178,358 Total  Expenses          $181,494         $178,320 Additional detail for the “Other Income” line for the month of December: -- $3,000 was received from The Fidelity Advisor Charitable Gift Fund from an unknown benefactor. -- $7,988 was transferred from the Capital fund. Additional detail for “Total Expense” line for the month of December: --The  District and UUA dues were paid through June 30, 2008.  There will not be any expenses until July, 2008 for those two lines. Until next  month, Nancy  Remer Nametags: A Friendly Reminder As a courtesy to visitors (and those of us with faulty memories…), please remember to wear your name tag during Sunday services and other large gatherings. If you need a new (or replacement) nametag, please note so on the “Nametag” sign-up sheet located on the white “Greeter’s Table” located against the wall in the sanctuary overflow area. Go to: Page 1 Page 2 Page 4