Greenfield Group Minutes
Since 1927
A Unitarian Universalist Ministers Study Group
BUSINESS MEETING MINUTES - December 3, 2008 - DRAFT
The meeting at the Barbara Harris Center in Greenfield, New Hampshire, was called to order by our Moderator, Mary Harrington, at 10:15 AM.
Appreciation was expressed for all the work of presenters and the Anchor as well as other individuals involved in the program.
Treasurer, Bob Thayer was nable to atten the gathering so there was no Treasurer's report. The Scribe met with Kelsey Young of the Harris Center and reports that we have about $100 on account to put toward the deposit for our next meeting. The full despsit would be about $360 or 10% of the complete bill. Final registration numbers need to be at the site six weeks ahead as is the full amount of money for rooms/board.
People are happy with the Barbara Harris Center. Cost: Cabins, $100, Lodge: Double, $160, Single $240. $5 extra per person for lunch. $20 for dues each spring.
There was no resolution of the money deposit at La Saletter Center in Attleboro. About $500 remains on deposit there for the fall 2009 meeting. THe Treasurer and the Scribe will continue to work to get at least half of the money rturned to Greenfield Group. Note: We left La Salette after we learned that they were unable to keep their promise to provide true handicapped facilities.
Moved that we give money to La Salette as a gift in appreciation for past hospitiality. We do feel that the Center shouls take seriously their role in the loss of our business. They indicated that they were able to accomodate disabilities and that they had all the facilities and accrutraments required and they did not follow through. Copy of a leter to them goes to the Boshop. Accepted by the group.
The Scribe asked for acceptance of the minutes which had been posted on the web site. The minutes of the Fall 2008 meeting were accepted. He reminded everyone to check the list of names and contact information to make updates if needed.
Absences, excused and unexcused, are listed here:
Marta Flanagan scheduled an inspection of her new condo which could have been schedled out of Greenfield meeting time. The absence is unexcused and does not affecct her membership. Tracey Sprouls Jenks is again away for school (working on a doctorate) and this absence is not excused. It does not affect her membership in the group. Nina Grey was excused bcause of a death in her congregation and the funeral is this week. Bob Thayer was excused because of a difficult meeting of the congregation and his need to be nearby during this time. Rosemarie Smurzinski was absent as he was spending time with her mother following the death ofher father. The absence is excused. Keith Goheen, acommunity minister, has a CPE group meeting on Tuesday afternoon and could not make the meeting. This absence is excused and does not affect his membership. Paul Ratzlaff is in Albany lobbying for equal rights for gay marriage. As it is job related and this effort could not be scheduled at another time, however the absence is unexcused though it is right on the margins of being an acceptable excuse. Frank Hall is dealing with the aftermath of a forced resignation of his colleague, having been away at a retirement seminar last week and a general dislike of the subject! The Scribe is asking the group to support an excused absence but finds it borderline. Naneene Gowdy was absent because she had problems witht he modality of the topic - and the absence is unexcused. There is no threat to Naneene's membership status.
Send a letter expressing the sense of diminishment and disturbance because of the loss of so many members this time - we missed those not present - mowt of us felt that we missed each person who absented him-herself. We find that takeing the disciplines are a prescious part fo the group and wish that more people had taken the effort to hue to them. Scribe draft letter to be sent out bymoderator.
There is one opening in the group and there are four nominations:
- The Rev. Ian White Mahar serves the UU Congregation of Queens, NY. He is very active in local and UUA anti-racism initiatives. (John Pawelek)
- The Rev. Jeanne Lloyd serves UU congregations in Greenfield, MA and Woodbury, CT. She has been a leader in developing UUA structures such as the Society for Community Ministry, dedicated to serving the needs of community ministers. She currently serves on the UUMA's Anti-Racism, Anti-Oppression, Multiculturalism Committee.(Josh Powelek)
- Rev. Sally Hamlin Phone Number: 716-907-2882
Address: 150 Clinton Ave S, Rochester - (585) 546-2826
E-mail: minister@uuroc.org (Joel Miller)
- Jackie Clement. She lives in Harvard, MA, does interim ministry but is restricted to this area because of her husband's job. She was a lay person when I was in Lilttleton, serving as Church Administrator for awhile. Best damn secretary I ever had. She's bright and has a good sense of humor. She worked for Hewlett Packard, and had a catering business before entering the ministry. She designed the web site for the UU Trauma Response Ministry (Naneene Gowdy and Susan Suchocki)
Ian Mahar has been selected as the invitee.
The Scribe questined the size of the group, set at 28 some years ago to fit the number of rooms at a meeting site. Becaise of the lower attendance over the past few years the Scrib wonders if we could raise the size of the group to 30 or even 31 (which would allow inviations to be extended to all nominees.) Scribe reminded the group that nominations for membership have to be checked out with the person being nominated and should be submitted to the Scribe at least two weeks before the meeting at which the name will be brought forward.
Moved by SS that the group go to 30, 2nd bg, vote passed 3 opposed 1 abstantion. Question about quorum - decided to bring topic up next time invalidate the vote and move discussio to next meeting - JP CR , vote to move passes.
Question raised about validit of vote on new members if we have the mess overf the above vote. Some of this reflecs a beakdown in our community of the discioline.
A nominating Committee was appointed With Carol Rosine and Martha as co-schairs - to fill out a slate of officers for the Spring meeting. Josh Pawelek is to be Moderator (09, s10)Jim Sherbloom as Vice Moderator, , Bob Thayer is willing to continue on as Treasurer, Brian Kopke is willing to continue as Scribe and web site maven, Anita Farber Robertson wishes to remain as the Keeper of the Gong and Stapler, Nina Grey can continue as Historian. We need the following posts filled: Keeper of the Spirits, Purchaser of the Spirits, Cantor. Caring maven (GET FROM MODERATOR)
Reort of thepruchaser of the Spirits protem: The extra $5 beverages seems to be working. There was minimal cost for snacks as we forgot to make aggangements for such.Keeper of the spirits and purchaser of the spirits both noted that they would like to step down. The purchaser comes from Buffalo, N.Y., and feels that a local person would be better suited for the job. Will take it home - keep tack of our use and settle with treaurer later on. Need better arangements for ice, sicial space and cleanup. Moderator wil remind us all about the cleanup required to help the Keepers of spirits and snacks. Carol rosine keeper of snacks.
Moved to cancl fall greenfield group meeting due to convo dates/ Carol. Bill G. Second. 12 no meet, 2 no 1 abstain. Done with great regret. Next topic is moved to the spring convocation.
The keeper of the Gong and Stapler noted that both were conspicuously present at the meeting this time.
The Web Site Maven reported that as we are getting many pages viewed each month that it might be good to develop a page for each congregation. What he would like is three great photos: inside or outside of the building, two of great smiling active warm fuzzy photos of people at church events. In addition there would be a paragraph about the history fo the congregation, mentining its founding, important defining moments, and current moments of some pride.
There was discussion of whether or not to meet in the fall of 2009 because of the time proximity of CONVO 2009 in Ottawa.
There was a process for the selection of the fall 2009 and spring 2010 gatherings, both to be held at the Barbara Harris Center. NO will take place at sprint 2010 session.
The moderator closed the meeting at 11:30 and we all headed off to chapel.
Respectfully submitted,
Brian Kopke
Scribe
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