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Board Minutes
December 15, 2005

Members present: Margaret Knudsen, Shelley Ferer, Art Vaeni, Mike Harbour, Tim Ransom, Melissa Denton, Samantha Ritchie, Bernie Brady

Members absent: Mary Walton Cameron, Peter Teets

Visitors: Wendy Tanner, Harmon Eaton, Pam Davidson

Minutes: November Board meeting minutes were approved.

Treasurer’s Report:

• The treasurer’s report for December was unavailable.

Administrative Report: (written) accepted

Minister’s Report: (written) accepted

• Art also mentioned three other items:

1. The Washington Unitarian Universalist Vision for Justice is an organization that is attempting to present a stronger voice for liberal religious ideas to our governmental bodies. OUUC may be asked to help support this effort. More information will follow.
2. Ginny Taylor is the liaison with our partner church, North Shore UU Society, which was devastated by Hurricane Katrina. We are trying to determine how we can best support North Shore.
3. The Share The Plate dinner was a real success. Many kudos go to Howard Rosenfeld, who organized the event!

Liaison Reports:

• There will be a Leadership Team Meeting on January 8 at 12:30. Some of this meeting will involve discussion of Mike Durall’s ideas. Lunch will be served.
• Adult RE is looking for a new person to chair this committee.

Discussion:

• The draft of the Strategic Plan has been sent by Mike Harbour to the Executive Committee. Tim, Melissa and Art will make comments on the draft, then send it out to the rest of the Board.
• Donations by OUUC to the UUA and the PNWD are currently determined by number of OUUC “active members” rather than by members who pledge. Would it be more appropriate to donate by how many pledging members we have? We decided to find out exactly how many active members we have who don’t contribute financially, then re-address this issue.
• Staff Compensation has historically not been openly disclosed to the congregation, but has been available on individual request. The staff has requested that we continue this policy for now, but they are open to further discussion on this matter.

Space Committee Status Report:

• The Space Committee met with Olympia city officials, and found that it would be possible to build a significant expansion on our present site. The committee submitted preliminary plans to the county for a three story, 20,000 square foot expansion, and the county found no glaring reasons why this could not be done.
• The Space Committee’s next mission is to find out more about the possibility of moving OUUC to another site.
• The Space Committee noted that whether we decide to “stay or go,” there may need to be a “phased approach” to our plans – i.e., do what we can in stages, as our finances allow.

Action Items:

• Budget: Pam Davidson presented the final draft budget, and noted that it was very close to the budget requested. We discussed the fact that no building reserve contribution was made in this budget, but it will be added for the 2007 budget. Other items that were not included in the 2006 budget were the $250 for the Connexions affiliation, and $130 for the Conflict Management Team training at the Dispute Resolution Center. After some discussion, we determined that these items, though not specific line items in the budget, would be covered by discretionary funds. The budget was then passed.
• Changes to the Unitariana: The Communications Committee has suggested changes to the way the Unitariana is produced. (See written proposal by Riley McLaughlin.) The Board passed the changes as suggested by the Communications Committee.
• Endowment Committee Proposal: The Endowment Committee has requested that any undesignated gifts to OUUC in memory of others be transferred to and invested in the OUUC Endowment. The Endowment Committee further proposed that at least 50% of all undesignated bequests to OUUC be transferred and invested in the OUUC Endowment. After discussion, the Board added the following: the balance of funds from undesignated bequests, which are not placed in the Endowment Fund, will be directed by the Board to other funds. With this amendment, the Board passed the Endowment Committee Proposal.

Our next meeting will be January 12.

Respectfully submitted,

________________________

Samantha Ritchie, Co-Secretary

_______________________

Tim Ransom, Board President