OMD Board Meeting Summary
August, 2006

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Other Summaries: Annual Mtg 2008 | February 2008 | December 2007 | October 2007 | September 2007 | August 2007 | June 2007 | April 2007 | Annual Meeting 2007 | Feb 2007 | Jan 2007 | Dec 2006 | August 2006 | July 2006 | June 2006 | Annual Mtg 2006 | March 2006 | Jan 2006 | Dec 2005 | Oct 2005 | Aug 2005 | June 2005 | April 2005 | Annual Mtg 2005 | Feb 2005 | Dec 2004 | Oct 2004

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This is a summary of the board minutes from the August 26, 2006 board meeting. If you have questions about any of the items mentioned, please contact a board member. Please note that items voted on are led by ***

The Board heard reports from those who attended General Assembly.

Board Mission Statement
The board decided that their mission statement will be:

Grounded in shared ministry and Unitarian Universalist values the Ohio-Meadville District exists:

  • To resource congregations and the District for transformation and growth
  • To cultivate relationships at every level of association
  • To build a regional community of Unitarian Universalists

Board Priorities
The board set 1 year, 3 year and 7 year priorities.
Long range goals (7 years):

  • Transition from pastoral to program as a district
  • Shared Congregational Ministries program is integrated within the district
  • Investment Portfolio is not part of the operating budget. Congregational giving sustains the district and the portfolio becomes a growth fund

Short term goals (3 years)

  • Reducing the draw on the investments to the 5.5% over five years, which is our current existing policy.
  • Create documentation for being a program district and policy board (writing job descriptions, policies and procedures, lines of communication, accountability and roles and responsibility).
  • Every congregation will be involved in a shared ministry with at least one other congregation.
  • Established leadership development program
  • Transform Annual Meeting to a District Assembly
  • Highly effective communication system
  • Young Adult & Campus Ministry position evaluation & decision
  • Administration/Office

One year goals

  • Create a Leadership Development Committee
  • Learn more and participate in Shared District Ministry with 4 districts
  • Create a Financial Resources Group
  • Participation in a Shared District Leadership School
  • Integrate Young Adult and Campus Ministry staff into district
  • Rework youth programming with YPC position
  • Successful President's Conference (Sept. 16th)
  • Implement the new Communications system
  • Develop a plan for the Administrative Office
  • Finalize the Public Witness/District Affiliation Policy
  • Create a financial policy and plan to reach our 7 year goal
  • Create a leadership development staff plan
  • Create a search committee and have a successful search for a DE
  • Schedule a start-up weekend with the new District Executive
  • Have a facilitated conversation on anti-racism and anti-oppression as a board

The executive committee will begin looking at our goals and mission to see if a vision statement can be created for the district.

District Executive Search Committee
The board discussed options for the DE search committee. We need a minister, a religious educator, a board member and two lay persons. It was decided to ask OMDUUPRL to nominate the ministerial representative and ask LREDA and the Lifespan Faith Development Committee to nominate the religious educator. The final committee will announced in early October.

Financial Report
We brought in slightly more money than last year ($116), so our dues have hit a plateau. $83,000 came out of the investments this year.

Committee Review
The committee structure for the district was reviewed and liaisons were assigned. Committees were divided into Administrative and Program committees as well.

Administrative Committees

  • Finance Committee - Treasurer is liaison
  • Nominating Committee - President is liaison
  • Personnel Committee - Beth H will be liaison
  • SI Committee - Linda will be liaison
  • Financial Resources Group - to be assigned later/shared with staff

Program Committees

  • Accessibility - Tom
  • Commissioned Lay Leader - Jeanne
  • Growth & Leadership - Jeanne
  • Lifespan Faith Development - Karen
  • Friends of the OMD - as part of the Finance Resources Committee
  • Men's Retreat - sort of defunct
  • Social Justice Committee - Tom
  • Summer Institute - Karen
  • UU Young Adult Network - Ellen and Karen
  • Winter Institute -Kathie will liaison
  • Youth Adult Committee - Mary S and Karen
  • WomenSpirit - sort of defunct
  • Financial Resources Group - Tom - includes APF, Chalice lighters, fundraising.

District Assembly/Annual Meeting Task Force Report
The task force reported that the theme will be Public Witness, Fred Garcia will be the theme speaker, and the costs will remain the same as last year.

Awards Task Force Report

  • The task force recommended we change the President's Visibility Award to UU Visibility Award; that the Unsung Hero award be revamped to be specific to long time commitment and that the Faith In Action Award remain unchanged. A new designation of Rising Star for each congregation for newer leaders was created. The board accepted the task force's recommendations.
  • Accessibilities Award - the board granted the Accessibilities Committee permission to give an award at the Annual Meeting each year to recognize congregations who have become more accessible.

Blanchard Valley Liaison - Bob Keith will be their liaison.

District Directory
Final Deadline is October 1 with release as soon as we can after that. We'll use UUA directory info with a sentence about where it came from.

Next meeting is October 15 at 7 pm via conference call.