Music Notes
Choir Rehearsals
Choir rehearsals are every Thursday evening from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Sunday
morning rehearsals for the month of March are 10:10 a.m. on the 14th
(tentative) and 8:10 a.m. on the 21st (special Choir music Sunday) and on the
28th. There is no Choir on 7th.
Song Circle, Mar. 15
Join us from 7 to 9 pm. We use the Rise Up Singing songbook, which has lyrics and guitar chords to more than 1,200 familiar
songs. Or, you can bring a song of your own to share.
Drumming Circle, Mar. 19
Join us at 7 p.m. on the
third Friday of the month for drumming circle. Some of the drummers have been
taking lessons and are getting to be good leaders, so join us if you want to
learn or just have fun. There are always extra instruments. Please contact Debra
Hathaway (410-770-9057) if you have instruments to donate.
Social Action
Welcoming
Congregation
The Social Action
Committee has agreed to lead the Fellowship in the process of becoming a
Welcoming Congregation. Welcoming Congregations are UU congregations that
support the rights and worth of bisexual, gay, lesbian, and transgender
persons. A task force has been formed to help our committee with this
project. Members of the task force include Sandra Stocker, Laura Winne, Carol Kabler, Sheila Lanahan, Jim
Richardson, and Tineka Tan. If you would like to join this task force,
please call Jim Richardson (410-745-5001).
A Big Thank-You
Ann Williams, our good friend from the
Quaker Meeting, extends her gratitude for the donations of nonperishable foods
and used and new greeting cards that we place in the receptacles under the
table in the foyer. Ann monitors the boxes and collects and distributes the
contents. The food items are taken to the Neighborhood Service Center and the
cards to adult day care. We in turn would like to thank Ann for her service to
UUFE.
Summary of the February
2004 Board Meeting
Minister’s Report
Jim
Bank reported on meeting with UU ministers Matt McNaught in Chestertown and
Mike Smith in Lewes, Delaware. The fourth UU congregation on the Eastern Shore
is Salisbury, which has no settled minister. Proposed was a possible round
robin among the ministers for the fifth Sunday of the month. Jim signed the
letter of agreement to be UUFE’s settled minister. He commended Mary Lou
Keller for her all-around leadership in the community. He explained that plans
for the May 2 minister installation service have not been firmed up.
Treasurer’s Report
George
McManus reported a bank balance of $17,391.56. He added that it did not
reconcile with the figure developed by Nancy Dimond, in part because of
difficulty working with the Power Church computer software.
Financial
Committee
Janet
Pfeffer announced the Financial Committee members: George McManus, Nancy
Dimond, Bob Woodall, Dick Doughty, Jean Rhian, and Janet Pfeffer.
Five-Year
Budget Projections
Dick
Doughty reported that a 5-year budget would help to manage the church’s
fiscal affairs. He factored in a 3% increase for base budget items, with a
possible 10% increase for the minister over 5 years. There is a need to look at
the church’s cash flow to determine an ability to carry a mortgage
of $18,000 or $1,500 month. He cautioned that the capital fund may have to
borrow money from the operating fund at times. Nancy Dimond mentioned a
possible need to alert committee chairs to face belt-tightening. The Board
approved the 5-year plan and accepted a recommendation to proceed with a
mortgage not to exceed $18,000 a year.
Sale
of Gifted Securities
Jerry
Fairbanks explained that he was unable to find a copy of a policy on the
procedure for dealing with securities given to the church. The Board approved a
motion that stocks given to UUFE should be sold immediately.
Capital
Campaign
Beth Jones said that the Capital Campaign was going at a gallop. The consultant has cost $980 so far, with the expectation that the overall expenditure could be $3,000. Gail Woodall stated that JPD suggested up to $1,500 could be forthcoming to help pay the consultant’s cost. Beth and Nancy Orr said that distinctive brochures for each campaign are being developed. The Board approved a motion to set the annual capital canvass goal at $250,000. Beth announced a schedule of events to start off the capital pledge campaign to be concluded by March 28. Janet indicated that Board members should be canvassers, with training sessions on Feb. 22 and Feb 23. Patti and Del Joiner will be heading up the all-Fellowship canvass. After both Feb. 22 services, Dick Doughty and the Building Committee will update building plans for congregants.
Piano
Committee
Del
Joiner updated the Board on the progress of securing a new piano. Margaret
Garey has offered to fund up to $10,000. Dave Moore has offered to assist,
including serving as a financial advisor. There is interest in establishing a
music fund.
Long-Range
Planning Committee
Nancy
Krueger is chairing this committee, with members Edie Swallow, Nancy
Orr, Amy Eutsey, Jim Richardson, Tom Anovick, and Steve Meehan.
Worship
Committee
Cynthia
Quast expressed a desire to start the summer schedule of one service at 10 a.m.
Because of space, George McManus suggested that children go directly to Sunday
school. Cynthia said that Mary Lou did not see it as a problem. Nancy Dimond
recommended that more childless parishioners help with the children. Janet suggested
that Nancy ask the RE Committee to make personal requests of members. The Board
approved a motion to begin the 10 a.m. summer schedule on May 30 to end on
Sept. 5.
Building
Expansion
Dick Doughty updated the
progress on the building expansion, including an upcoming meeting with an
acoustic consultant in Baltimore. Two bids have been received. The cost should
be $4,500. The Board approved a proposal to go ahead with digging a
new well.
A Safety Precaution
If
you are in the Fellowship building alone, whether at night or during the day,
please make sure that all the doors are locked. When leaving an evening
program, be certain that nobody is left to close up by him- or herself. Also,
look after each other by making sure that we don’t leave anybody stranded in a car that won’t start, particularly
at the close of an evening event.
Etcetera
Worship Associates Program
Are you interested in leading a worship program at some time in the
summer or during the church year? How about helping a visiting speaker or
working with Jim on a Sunday program? If so, our Worship Associates Program is
designed for you. Join us on Saturday, March 6, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., to
discuss resources and methods to accomplish this task. This program is
especially recommended for those who would like to design a summer program and
for anyone else interested in what makes a worship service tick. For more
information, contact Jim Bank. Please sign up through Jim to help us know how
many copies of materials are needed.
