MINUTES Carbondale Unitarian Fellowship Congregational Meeting May 29, 2016

Transcription

1 MINUTES Carbondale Unitarian Fellowship Congregational Meeting May 29, 2016 Call to order by President Janet Harris at 12:15 p.m. Rob Gallegly certified the Quorum with a count of 50 present of our 157 members which was enough to hold the meeting, but not enough to vote on the proposed change to the By- Laws. Amy Weber presented information about the Proposed Congregational Covenant. The short Covenant was read by Amy Weber. The long Covenant was read by Jonathan Springer. Motion by Rhonda Curtis, second by Chris Ortolano. Unanimously passed. Both Covenants are attached as Congregation Minutes Addendum A. President Harris presented the proposal to pay 50% of our FY 16 dues to the MidAmerica Region and the national Unitarian Universalist Association. Motion by Mary Campbell, second by Carolyn Davis to pay 50% of our dues for FY 16. Virginia Tilley suggested we not pay 50% of our dues without first looking at the budget for FY 17 to see if we need the money for something else and so moved. Second by Nolan Wright. This topic was tabled until after discussion of the FY 17 budget. Martha Shum presented the proposed FY 17 budget. Motion by Miriam Link- Mullison to adopt the budget as proposed. Second by Bob Swenson. Judy Aydt asked about the status of the choir director. President Harris stated the budget does not have any money for a choir director, however there is an anonymous gift to cover the cost for a choir director and an accompanist. Also there is money left in the Ed Phillips Memorial Fund that Susie Phillips stated she would like to go towards a choir director for FY 17. Jerry Molumby asked what constitutes the carry over listed in the budget. President Harris stated that is the carry over the Finance Committee and the Treasurer project we will have left over after the FY 16 expenses have been

2 paid. Treasurer Schmit has projected we will have 15,000 more than the 169,000 budgeted for FY 16. Board member Bob DeFilippis stated it is also because we have not spent as much as expected. Being no further discussion a vote on the motion to approve the proposed budget for FY 17 as proposed was held. One opposed. Two abstained. The motion passed. The proposed budget for FY 17 is attached as Congregation Minutes Addendum B. The discussion returned to the previously motioned and seconded proposal to pay 50% of our dues for FY 16 in the amount of $6,069. After brief discussion President Harris called for a vote. One abstained. Motion approved. Miriam Link-Mullison discussed developing a committee for Generosity - a Path Forward. Miriam will be forming a committee and holding cottage meetings to form a path that hopefully will be brought to the congregation next January. The next item on the Agenda was the proposed change to the By-Laws. Bill Sasso pointed out that our By-Laws state 20% of the membership must be present to conduct any meeting. Additionally, the By-Laws require in order to change the By-Laws there must be 40% of the entire congregation to vote affirmatively. 40% of the congregation would be 63 votes. There were 50 people present plus 8 absentee ballots, so Bill suggested the appropriate thing to do would be to wait for the next congregation meeting to vote on the proposed By-Laws change. There was no further discussion on the proposed By-Laws change. President Harris thanked outgoing Board members Robert Herzog and Bob DeFilippis for their membership on the Board. Laura Herzog presented the Nominating Committee ballot for 2016/2017. Herzog stated President Janet Harris has served one two-year term as President of the Board, and the Nominating Committee is nominating Harris for a second two-year term as President of the Board. Herzog asked for any nominations from the floor. None were heard. Nominating Committee proposed Janet Harris be elected as President of the Board for a second twoyear term. Unanimously approved.

3 For Vice President the Nominating Committee nominated Rhonda Kosmicki. Kosmicki has served one two-year term and one year of a second term as a Board Trustee. No nominations from the floor were heard. The Nominating Committee proposed that Rhonda Kosmicki be elected as Vice President of the Board. Unanimously approved. Amelia Robinson has served one two-year term as Board Trustee. The Nominating Committee nominated Amelia Robinson for a second two-year term as Board Trustee. No nominations from the floor were heard. The Nominating Committee proposed that Amelia Robinson be elected for a second two-year term as Board Trustee. Unanimously approved. The Nominating Committee nominated Jonathan Springer for a two-year term as Board Trustee. No nominations from the floor were heard. The Nominating Committee proposed Jonathan Springer be elected for a two-year term as Board Trustee. Unanimously approved. The Nominating Committee nominated Margaret Peggy Degen to complete the remaining year from Rhonda Kosmicki s two-year term as Board Trustee. No nominations from the floor were heard. The Nominating Committee proposed that Margaret Peggy Degen be elected as Board Trustee to complete the one year remaining in the two-year term vacated by Rhonda Kosmicki who was elected to Vice President of the Board. Unanimously approved. Laura Herzog thanked the outgoing Board members and thanked all members of the Board for their work. President Harris stated two members of the Nominating Committee will be leaving. Ken Starbuck and Jerry Molumby will be leaving the Nominating Committee. Harris asked for nominations from the floor for members for the Nominating Committee. Laura Herzog nominated Ken Starbuck for another two-year term on the Nominating Committee. Unanimously passed. Laura Herzog nominated Toby Saken to the Nominating Committee for a twoyear term. Unanimously passed.

4 Harris thanked the members of the Nominating Committee, those leaving and new members for their work and explained the importance of their work. Reverend Sarah Richards thanked Al Babbit and Rhonda Curtis for completing their term on the Committee of Shared Ministry. The new members on the Committee of Shared Ministry will be Jess Jobe and Rob Gallegly. President Harris presented the Board of Trustees Endorsed Resolution which is as follows: The Carbondale Unitarian Fellowship resolves to continue to participate in and support Nonviolent Carbondale and the Carbondale Community in the ongoing Compassionate Community Campaign. Motion by Jess Jobe, second by Yo Presley to approve the Resolution. Unanimously approved. President Harris asked for any issues from the floor. Virginia Tilley stated she finds the Nominating Committee to be very opaque. She does not know how decisions are made, how lists are put together. Tilley stated things seem to manifest and be wonderful, but they appear to be behind a veil. President Harris stated the Nominating Committee requests people to get on the committee and stated the Board attempts to be transparent. An example of the transparency is ing the Board Agendas and Minutes to the congregation. Harris asked for suggestions of methods to educate members about Fellowship governance that would clarify roles of the different committees which are described and mandated by our By-Laws. Yo Presley suggested that an Annual Report would help. For the last several years we have not done an Annual Report. President Harris responded that the Board has requested reports from the committees to begin that process. Several committees have complied, some have yet to do so. Jerry Molumby requested that the new Board members stand up. President Harris requested all Board members to stand up except for Alan Christensen who is the Board Secretary and taking the Minutes. Board members stood to a round of applause. Motion by Rob Gallegly, second by Yo Presley to adjourn the meeting. Meeting adjourned at 1:31 p.m.

5 Submitted by Alan Christensen Board Secretary