ANNUAL REPORT

Transcription

1 UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST CHURCH OF VENTURA ANNUAL REPORT PRESENTED AT THE ANNUAL MEETING JUNE 14, 2015 Unitarian Universalist Church of Ventura 5654 Ralston Street, Ventura, CA

2 IN MEMORIAM TOM MACCALLA APRIL 19, 1942 AUGUST 5, 2014 LORETTA CLEARY December 31, 1914 March 15, 2015

3 BOARD OF TRUSTEES President... Carolyn Briggs Vice President... Kimberly Prieto Secretary... Joe Hutchins Treasurer... Jim Waldron Trustee at Large...Bryan Buck Trustee at Large... Katherine (Kassy) Erickson Trustee at Large... Gary Zinik Annual Report produced by Carolyn Briggs & Gretchen Buck with assistance from Harriet McNamara and many others

4 TABLE OF CONTENTS FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD of Trustees... 6 ENRICHING OUR SHARED LIVES... 7 Worship... 7 Choir... 7 Children s Religious Education... 8 Adult Programs Spiritual Journey Groups Caring Committee Ministry and Operations Team Leadership Development Membership Committee Bookstore Kitchen Cabinet Newsletter REACHING OUT Social Action Coordinating Committee (SACC) Lift Up Your Voice! Inreach Outreach Publicity Association District Representative CARING FOR OUR SPACE Building and Grounds Committee Green Sanctuary GROWING OUR GIFTS stewardship Finance Committee FUNDING THE MISSION Recommended 2014/2015 Operating... 22

5 If ever there is a tomorrow when we're not together, there is something you must remember. You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think. But the most important thing is, even if we re apart, I ll always be with you. Christopher Robin to Winnie the Pooh A. A. Milne We began the church year welcoming a new Audio Visual Tech, Brian Fortune. In August, we said good-bye to the Rev. David Pyle, our Assistant Minister. In September, we welcomed Beverly Jordan as our new Spiritual Life Coordinator and the Rev. Carolyn Price as our Affiliated Minister. In December, we said good-bye to Lily Starobinets, our Music Director, and we welcomed our new Music Director, Carolyn Howard, in January. And this June, you and I will say good-bye to one another and you will welcome an Interim Minister in August. And so it goes. In these thirteen years together, our membership increased by 50% and our budget doubled. We moved from a 4,000 square foot house to a 16,000 square foot building, paid off the mortgage and went solar. Staffing has doubled and we achieved Fair Compensation status. We created an Inreach/Outreach Fund funded by plate collections and this year we will donate around $50,000 to good works. Our savings and special funds experienced great increases. We created Lift Up Your Voice (to end homelessness). We achieved Green Sanctuary status. We received over $100,000 in grant money to help us grow our congregation and our programs. We received a number of awards and lots of publicity. But most importantly, we built our capacity to nurture our spirits and help heal our world. The Rev. Gordon McKeeman wrote: The future of the liberal church is almost totally dependent of these two factors: great congregations (whether large or small) and effective, dedicated ministers. The strangest feature of their relationship is that they create one another. In the thirteen years that I have been privileged to serve as your minister, I have often spoken of endings and beginnings. I have said Good endings lead to good beginnings. This has been a year in which we have focused on good endings and good beginnings. We have been served this year, as in previous years, by assuming good faith, practicing generosity in all its forms, and by a sense of humor. May it always be so. I love the above quote by A.A. Milne and I will simply add, And you will always be with me. In Faith and Gratitude, Rev. Jan Christian Unitarian Universalist Church of Ventura 5 Annual Report

6 FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES It is a privilege to serve as President of the Board of Trustees in this year of change and transition. And, the transition continues. Our Funding the Vision Task Group report in 2014 recommended meeting and sustaining personnel commitments made in the previous Five Year Plan the highest financial priority, creation of a Stewardship and Planned Giving Committee, and developing a process for congregational giving to specific projects in the current Five Year Plan. We created an incentive program to raise pledges and provide money for a staffing fund. New pledges and increase in current pledges were matched using a formula ranging from a 1:1 match for the highest pledges to a 3:1 match for the lowest pledges. David Smith and David Henkel served as Stewardship Co-Chairs and were instrumental in reviewing specific projects in the current Five Year Plan and developing the process for congregational giving to the roof replacement and solar installation project. The congregation approved using up to $65,000 from our Legacy Fund, matched by pledges from the congregation including a leadership pledge of $30,000 from David and Janice Frank. The Board of Trustees reviewed and approved a Publicity Coordinator Volunteer Staff Position Description, an Adult Program Coordinator Volunteer Staff Position Description, Associate Teams Policy, a Ministry and Operations Team (MOT) policy, an Operations Coordinator Volunteer Staff Position, and an Association District Representative Volunteer Staff Position Policy; and, created a Church Improvement Fund and approved a revised Life Within Principles policy. The Board approved changes recommended by the Finance Committee related to Long Term Investments resulting in our ability to invest funds not expected to be needed for months or longer in accounts with higher yields than available in shorter term investment instruments. The Board named an Interim Minister Search Committee and has worked with the Rev. Ken Collier on the process for establishing the Settled Minister Search Committee. From the pool of member candidates presented at the annual meeting, four members receiving the highest number of votes from the congregation and three additional members named by the board of trustees will comprise the 7-member search committee. As you read through this Annual Report, may you be inspired to find ways to be involved in our congregational community life. May it be so. In love and in faith, Carolyn Briggs, President Board of Trustees Unitarian Universalist Church of Ventura 6 Annual Report

7 ENRICHING OUR SHARED LIVES WORSHIP Sunday services are, in many ways, the heart of our congregational life. Worship is what distinguishes communities of faith from other volunteer associations. Worship is our time to come together, to welcome guests into our midst, to affirm our connections, to acknowledge our brokenness, to bring our gifts to sustain our community and the larger community and to seek to understand and embody that which is of worth. Our themes this year were Interdependence, Forgiveness, Grace/God, Letting Go, Love, Covenant, Rebirth/Renewal, and Memory and Hope. Our Worship Team was led by the Rev. Jan Christian and we were served for all or part of the year by Dorothy Wootan, Joe Hutchins, Marcy Burns, Celia Ortenberg, Chuck Samonsky, Rena Pezzuto, Kitty Merrill and Denny Thomas. Beverly Jordan also participated in our meetings and our services. Due to a change in ministerial presence, we only held Wednesday evening services on the first and third Wednesdays from October through March. These services were highly participatory and included music by our Eclectic Ensemble: Tom Ball, Jill Ball, Michael Siefert, Neal Ortenberg, Pat Erickson, Jacque Sebastian, and Kent Brinkmeyer. We continued to appreciate a wide variety of special music on Sunday mornings with regular offerings from evan austin and Andy Edgar-Beltran. Our new Music Director, Carolyn Howard, has been bringing a mix of music and her vocal talents to our services. This year we were treated once again to an intergenerational dramatic service directed by Gai Jones. Our MAGIC (Media And Graphics In the Congregation) team continued to bring an added element to our worship. The team consisted of evan austin, Gretchen Buck, Mary Nelson, Neal Ortenberg and Denny Thomas. Thanks to Celia Ortenberg and Dorothy Wootan, our sanctuary aesthetics were greatly enhanced. Painting was done by Chapel West. We are grateful to all of those who make worship a priority in their lives. Submitted by Rev. Jan Christian CHOIR The choir experienced a major change in as it bade a very fond farewell to its beloved director of so many years, Lily Starobinets, and saw a smooth transition to the leadership of our new director, Carolyn Howard. At the annual Russian Party hosted by Lily at her and Simon s lovely home in the Camarillo hills, the choir had gifted Lily with an empty scrapbook, before it was widely known that Lily would be leaving her service with the congregation. (Many thanks to Julie Moore for the donation of the scrapbook!) In the ensuing months to the end of the calendar year, choir members and others from the congregation filled that scrapbook with loving memories of our time together. Those who led that scrapbooking know who they are and deserve our continued thanks. In January 2015, our new Music Director and Choir Director, Carolyn Howard, joined our church family. Carolyn s passion for diverse musical selections, patient coaching, and commitment to music as worship, combined with a genial nature, made for a smooth, positive transition in our choral music program. Under Lily s and Carolyn s direction, the choir participated in worship once a month September through June, including Christmas Eve and Reverend Jan s final Sunday in the pulpit. Unitarian Universalist Church of Ventura 7 Annual Report

8 SOPRANOS Roseanna Bellino-Strickland Sally Sibley King Erin Merrill Janice Dallas Madelaine Okano ALTOS Susan Brinkmeyer Shirlee Morton Kathy Swift Donna Ingram Jim Merrill, for the Choir TENORS Jim Merrill Janice Frank Mary Nelson Jacquelyn Sebastian Ron Stewart BASSES Kent Brinkmeyer HaroldDale Cartlidge Geoffrey Dann Dennis Ashly CHILDREN S RELIGIOUS EDUCATION Director of Religious Education: Julia Tyler Committee Chair: Unfilled; Erica Duffy will become the new Chair for the program year. Committee Members: Rena Pezzuto, Erica Duffy, Erica Escalante and Linda Pietrzak Teachers: K-1: Grades 2-3: Grades 4-6: Grades 7-12: Laurie Lemson, Cheryl Gilbert, Barb Gardner, Krista Mendelsohn, Joann Marshall, Irma Sixby Christy Brigham, Debbie Ayers, Cary Davis, Carol Funnell Dorothy Fasthorse, Kappy Paulson, Erica Escalante, Kim Prieto Vel Linden-Akseven, Helen Petroff, Joyce Sattler, evan austin, Pat Erickson, Mark Gale OWL (Our Whole Lives) (4 th -5 th grade): Kappy Paulson, Julie Moore, Michael Akseven Nursery Room Childcare/Aides: Sidia Anderson, Kelley Ebersoll Our Religious Education Program (RE) consists of 58 registered children and youth, with 28 children and youth attending Sunday services on average. The average attendance decreased from 32 to 28 children and youth this year. We have a very dedicated group of volunteers: Four Committee members, 21 Teachers, and many additional Volunteers. We also have two paid aides and the Director of Religious Education. The DRE, Julia Tyler, served the congregation for 32 hours a week this year RE Curriculum: Nursery Room: Infants and Toddlers: Our infants are lovingly cared for in the nursery room by our dedicated, CPR and First Aid certified RE aides. Chalice Children Room (1): PreK-1 st Grade: PreK-1 st grade followed the Creating Home curriculum in the fall and World of Wonder curriculum in the spring. Window Room: 2-3 rd Grade: The 2-3 rd Grade followed Moral Tales in the fall and Love Will Guide Us in the spring. Ripple Room (3): 4-5 th Grade: The 4-5 th Religious Education program followed the Sing to the Power in the fall, and Windows and Mirrors in the spring. Unitarian Universalist Church of Ventura 8 Annual Report

9 COA Room (4): 6-8 th Grade: The 6-8 th grade youth follow Riddle and Mystery in the spring and joined the high school RE class in the spring. Drumbeat (Garage): 9-12 th Grade: The 9-12 th grade used the monthly worship themes to guide their worship and discussion during the fall, and they followed the Exploring Our Faith through Poetry curriculum with the middle school youth in the spring. The RE teachers have a variety of teaching experience and styles. Some teachers require detailed curriculum plans and others prefer general theme-centered plans. Julia worked with these various needs, and generally partnered more experienced teachers with less experienced teachers to provide mentorship for new teachers. We want to have two adults in the classroom and were not always successful. We continued to invite members to volunteer as RE classroom aides. This year we had four inter-age (Prek-12th grade) RE classes and two intergenerational worship services. In October, Gai Jones directed the intergenerational worship service based on the story The Lorax. In November, the R.E. Committee and DRE organized games, a children s altar, activities, face painting, and food for K-12th grade to celebrate Dia de los Muertos. In December, Lily Starobinets directed an intergenerational Christmas Pageant worship service. Over the winter holidays, the DRE and RE Committee led an interage winter worship service and interage New Year Resolution activities. This year they also ran an inter-age Easter Sunday with chickens and hard boiled eggs dyed with natural (turmeric, beets, cabbage) juices. Outside of Sunday mornings, the RE Committee and DRE have provided numerous opportunities for UUCV members to grow deeper in their faith, community, spirituality, and UU identity. In September, we reconnected families at the RE Welcome BBQ. In October and November, we offered OWL (Our Whole Lives) Sexuality Education for 4 th -5 th grade youth. We extend great thanks to the volunteer O.W.L. facilitators for making it happen: Kappy Paulson, Julie Moore, and Michael Akseven. In December, we supported the annual Homeless Memorial Service in downtown Ventura at Cannon Park, a service devoted to recognizing and grieving the loss of people who died while experiencing homelessness each year. Several UUCV youth played music for this service. The Committee also coordinated the annual Christmas Caroling Party. Families sang carols at the Lexington Assisted Living and then continued Christmas celebrations in Berg Hall. In January, the RE Committee and DRE discussed long-range R.E. planning, including building usage and outdoor play area improvements. In February, K-8 th grade children made Valentines for soldiers overseas. This month Marylou Faris connected the 4-6 th grade children with Pennies for Peace as well. On February 21, Rev. Carolyn Price and Julia Tyler coordinated and hosted a Returning to the Well: R.E. Leadership Retreat for RE teachers, committee members, and all UUCV members deeply invested in the RE program. We gathered at Rev. Carolyn s house to talk about the history of the R.E. program at UUCV and to share dreams for its future. The retreat produced three task forces: a diversity task force, a technology task force, and a welcoming task force. These small group task forces aim to and already are accomplishing many of the goals outlined at the retreat. In March, the RE Committee and DRE coordinated Mystery Pals, a much-loved UU program in which an adult is paired with a child. Over the course of several weeks in April, they exchanged letters, cards, hints, puzzles, and pictures in order to get to know one another. This culminated in a Reveal Party on May 3, where the pals met. The program nurtured new, intergenerational relationships within UUCV. On May 30, the RE Committee will host a Dessert and Massage Gratitude Party for the RE teachers and committee members at the Frank s house again this month to celebrate the time, talents, and treasures our committed volunteers offered to the RE program this year. On May 31, Julia will direct the annual RE Sunday/ Blessings of the Learning Community, in which teachers, children, and youth will share with the congregation their experiences in RE over the course of the program year. The R.E. summer session begins June 14, and families have voted to run a Seventh Principle program. We plan to teach children about bees, worms, chickens, and the 5 R s: refuse, reduce, reuse, recycle, rot. As always, we continue to seek RE teachers, committee members, classroom aides, and volunteers. Please contact the DRE with your interest, and she is certain to find a role that fits your time and talents. Unitarian Universalist Church of Ventura 9 Annual Report

10 This summer, the RE Committee will be hosting the All-Church Campout August 7-9th at Dennison Campground, including exciting, fun activities, exploration, and relaxation. Join us for the weekend or a few hours. We thank RE teachers for their steadfast commitment to UUCV children and youth. We thank the parents, grandparents, and guardians who take the time to acknowledge the work that the RE teachers do each week and who nurture faith at home. We offer gratitude to all the volunteers at our church who are committed to the ethical, spiritual, and faith development of our young ones. May each of our children, youth, and families know how deeply they matter in our church community. Julia Tyler, DRE and Kappy Paulson, RE Committee Chair ADULT PROGRAMS A concert called "One Light Many Candles" was performed March 29, 2014 which featured Noel Paul Stookey from Peter Paul & Mary fame and his wife Betty Stookey a UCC Minister. This concert featured readings and reflection in an interfaith format with Noel Paul's singing and guitar playing of music related to Betty's sharing. The concert also raised $3, for Lift Up Your Voice which is our church program that helps support the Homeless Population. Our own UUCV member Donna Lynn Caskey performed a concert related to the release of her new album featuring her original composition songs accompanied by her marvelous banjo playing. This concert also raised $1, which was used to help pay down our churches mortgage. A Pete Seeger Songfest concert performed by acclaimed singer songwriter Jim Scott was held at our church and seen by a packed house. The concert also raised $1, for our church. Watercolor painting, which started April 8, 2015 is being facilitated by church member Veronica Bear and is held every Wednesday from 12:30pm to 2:30pm and meets in Berg Hall. An exercise and body alignment class is being held in Berg Hall every Wednesday from April 8, 2015 until May 13th from 3:00pm to 5:00pm. It is called Your Feet, Your Alignment, Your Health and is being facilitated by Certified Restorative Exercise Trainers and church members Jayce Faber and Shelah Wilgus. Church members Ray Vargas and Tim Hill started Interweave at our church which is dedicated to the spiritual, well-being, and civil rights of Unitarian Universalists and others in the larger community who are LGBTQ and their heterosexual friends and allies. All of the many other continuing and on-going Adult Programs can be found in the Adult Programs Brochure which can be found at the Adult Programs Table in Berg Hall or by contacting the Coordinator of Adult Programs Steve Jacobsen whose is steve_jacobsen@yahoo.com. Steve Jacobsen, Adult Programs Coordinator SPIRITUAL JOURNEY GROUPS Ongoing lay led groups that chose to be included in Spiritual Journey Groups : CUUPS The Covenant of UU Pagans Friendship Sangha of the Heart (Buddhist Meditation) Committed Men s Groups Men s 5 th Tuesday Potluck Women s Support Groups (two of four groups, two remained as Adult Programs) Yoga and T ai Chi Chih Unitarian Universalist Church of Ventura 10 Annual Report

11 Lay led, time limited programs offered: A Day of Mindfulness; facilitated by The Friendship Sangha of the Heart Artist's Way Group, facilitated by Celia Ortenberg and Amada Irma Perez Living Your Legacy Series, First Sunday Sermon Discussions, Ageing to Sageing Class; facilitated by Beverly Jordan The Living Your Legacy Series was a 6 part series (over 5 months) offering the opportunity to prepare for our death by befriending it through philosophical and spiritual reflection and practical planning. The specific topics included: Stages of deep change and transitions as presented by Dr Susan Plummer (Session One 3 hours) Befriending our death by exploring the questions of after-life, what is a fulfilled life, how do science and spirituality converge? from the film documentary Death Makes Life Possible produced by Deepak Chopra and Marilyn Schlitz. (Session Two, 2 hours) Identifying practical steps for preparing ourselves and others in the event of illness or death. What are the decisions you need to make? Binder of Important Information for each participant includes: Glossary of Medical and Legal Terms, Identify Theft Awareness, Advanced Care Directive Options, Healthcare Options at Home, Funeral Planning, Emergency Information, Workbook for Recording ALL important information (Session Three, 3 hours) Education on Wills, Trusts & charitable giving as presented by David Smith, CFA and Eric Smith, Attorney & CFA (Session Four, 3 hours) Advance Directive education, private consultation and the completing of a 5 Wishes Advance Care Document assisted by The Alliance For Living & Dying Well, Santa Barbara (Session Five, 3 hours & Six by appointment) We averaged an attendance of 60 people at each session. To those who gave their time and talent to make Spiritual Journey a vibrant program we give our thanks. Silvia Hutchins, Spiritual Journey Program Coordinator CARING COMMITTEE The Caring Committee for has continued its function to send appropriate cards and to arrange meals and rides on a short term basis. The committee will also provide help at memorial services, weddings, and at a variety of other church related events. The current co-chairs for this committee are: Annette Heck, Cary Davis, Joan Larimore, Barb Paarmann, Rheina Rogart, Lynn Weeks, Pam Waldron, Marcy Burns, and Barb Dupree. Others who helped this year were: Joan Alger, Katherine Gooding, Thea March, Joyce Faber, Anne Escobedo and Jill Forman. Many thanks for all the caring Sylvia Wikholm did as chair for several years. Sunny Glessner, Caring Committee Chair MINISTRY AND OPERATIONS TEAM As in many other areas of church life, the church year was a year of transition for the Ministry and Operations Team (MOT), composed of voting members Senior Minister the Rev. Jan Christian and lay members Jim Merrill and Dorothy Wootan, with Joe Hutchins as non-voting staff to the team. Unitarian Universalist Church of Ventura 11 Annual Report

12 The MOT was originally appointed to be advisory to the Assistant Minister in his role as chief operations officer and to assist him in the interpretation of policy and procedure where there was a lack of clarity and to identify gaps in existing policy and procedure. In the latter role, the MOT provided input to a comprehensive revision of board policies as the congregation moved to charter-policy governance. In addition, the MOT was given the role of Personnel Committee. With Reverend David s departure prior to the beginning of the church year, the team s mode of operation shifted significantly. We were fortunate to have board Secretary Joe Hutchins agree to take on the role of staff to the MOT, serving as record-keeper and liaison to the Board of Trustees. The day-to-day operational decisions that Rev. David made have been taken on by various informed individuals. The MOT has continued this year primarily in the task of continuing the charter-policy revision to board policy and especially in its role as Personnel Committee. As Personnel Committee, the MOT has participated in the routine work of making initial recommendations on compensation to the Finance Committee, for its task in developing a budget to propose to the Board, which ultimately recommends a budget to the congregation for approval. In this year of transitions, the MOT has consulted on the terms of final compensation for Rev. Jan; on recommended job descriptions for staff; and, it worked through the process of the departure of longtime Music Director Lily Starobinets and the subsequent hiring process that brought us our new Music Director, Carolyn Howard. The MOT has consulted on initial discussion of potential compensation for the Interim Minister position, and the lay members participated in the negotiating team for the Interim Minister s contract. Jim Merrill, MOT LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT The members of the Leadership Development Committee: Chair: Katie Turner Members: Kent Brinkmeyer, Chuck Samonsky, Kappy Paulson, Stephanie Tiffany This year our committee: Interviewed members of the board finishing their terms to determine the needs of the board and congregation. We were attempting to create a good idea of what was needed in a good board candidate. Participated in the congregational outreach regarding the Settled Minister Search Committee. Successfully filled Vice President and Trustee positions on the board. Encouraged participation in Assemblies by creating $50 stipends for leaders in the congregation going to District Assembly and General Assembly. Decided that in order to support our leaders going to District Assembly, we would fully fund delegates fees. Featured lay leaders in our monthly On Common Ground column. We were attempting to feature leadership and volunteerism that wasn t necessarily seen or church members who went above and beyond the call of duty. Katie Turner, Leadership Development Chair MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE This year, the Membership Committee consisted of Orval Osborne (Chair), Gudrun Eastham, Kathy Swift, Anne Escobedo, continuing members, and Ray Vargas and Marge Lorraine joining this year. Reverend Jan Christian and Beverly Jordan provided Ministerial support. The Charter Policy describes the three areas of responsibility held by the Membership Committee, with one person coordinating each area: Unitarian Universalist Church of Ventura 12 Annual Report

13 1) Welcoming visitors and members on Sunday mornings, (Gudrun Eastham) 2) Conducting new member orientations, (Kathy Swift) and 3) Aiding the integration of new members into congregational life. (Anne Escobedo) The committee met monthly to conduct our business and to plan our activities. We brainstormed how to improve our current procedures and practices. 1) Welcoming visitors: Our goal is to greet each visitor properly. We greet visitors, encourage them to sign our Visitor Log, hand out information packets and answer questions. We have a list of members who will serve as greeters once every two months. One of the greeters will serve at the Welcome Table with a member of the Membership Committee. The member of the Membership Committee assigned to the Welcome Table is responsible for organizing the Greeters that Sunday and taking the attendance count. All Membership Committee members and greeters are instructed to seek out visitors after the services to welcome them again and to answer questions. Visitors who left their phone numbers are called to check in. Becky sends the Church Bulletins to visitors that request them. 2) Pathway to Membership classes: We require prospective members to attend new member orientation classes so they learn about Unitarian Universalism. The Membership Committee organizes and assists the Ministers in putting on the two two-hour classes. We organized orientation classes in October and in March this year. In the first session, Reverend Jan conducted a Circle Discussion about Unitarian Universalism, what each new member is seeking, and what it means to be an active member of this congregation. The second session is an opportunity to learn more about UUCV by meeting representatives of some of our committees, meeting a representative of the Board and receiving a tour of our church facility. If participants are interested in joining the church after taking the classes, they make an appointment to meet with Reverend Jan, make a pledge and sign the book; they are honored in the worship service on New Member Sundays. 3) New Member Integration: Our goal is to assist each person in their first year or two of membership to get as involved with the church s they want, encouraging activities beyond Sunday Services. We called all the members at least every six month in their first two years to find out how well they were integrating into church life. We are planning a new member luncheon in June for all the people who have been a member for less than two years. While some people have moved away or chosen to cease attendance, the great majority of new members are engaged with the congregation. Orval Osborne, Membership Committee Chair BOOKSTORE After many, many months of planning, the UUCV Bookstore officially opened on January 11, Pam Waldron and Silvia Hutchins worked with Rev. David Pyle to design the initial plan for the bookstore and to develop policies and procedures. Becky Burnham assisted the volunteers with setting up the necessary equipment to be able to accept credit cards at the bookstore. The bookstore stocks books, UUCV T-shirts and hats in adult and youth sizes, Standing on the Side of Love T-shirts in adult sizes, coffee mugs, jewelry, bumper stickers, license plate frames and donated items from the members such as mosaic rocks and stained glass. The majority of the books are purchased through the UUA. When 12 or more books are purchased from Skinner House, UUCV receives a 40% discount. Prices listed at the bookstore are no more that 20% above cost. Since the bookstore opened in January, 56 items have been sold. Books are also purchased through Amazon.com. A resale account has been set up so these purchases are not taxed. Tax is collected on all items sold at the bookstore. These taxes will be paid to the Board of Equalization annually. Unitarian Universalist Church of Ventura 13 Annual Report

14 The vision for the bookstore was to provide a service for the church community. Not only can members and visitors purchase books and other items, but they can also place special orders. Church staff, the Board and workshop leaders can also place special orders. These books are sold to the participants at cost. One of the UUCV Women s Groups has ordered books and currently books are being ordered for Beverly Jordan s next class. The bookstore has 4 lead volunteers who rotate being there on Sunday morning. They are responsible to handle all financial transactions. An assistant volunteer is also scheduled each week. The bookstore is open after church on Sundays. Our current bookstore volunteers are: Pam Waldron, Silvia Hutchins, Stephanie Tiffany, Diana Nolin, Celia Ortenberg, Pat Oberg, Irma Sixbey, Anne Escobedo, and Jim Waldron Pam Waldron KITCHEN CABINET Our small "kitchen" is used by the congregation for potlucks, parties, rental affairs and for "coffee and conversation" after Sunday service. Coffee, both regular and decaf and hot water for tea are served during social hour after Sunday service and we often feed more than 150 people. Noah's Bagels continues to generously give us the bagels left at the end of their business day on Saturday. Brad Bernstein picks up the bagels from Noah's Saturday evening and delivers them to the church on Sunday morning. Dave Davis makes coffee early Sunday morning. The rest of the crew arrives at 9 or so to cut bagels. We are always glad to welcome volunteers. The kitchen committee chair is Shelah Wilgus. Dave Davis, Tessa Weeks, Pam Waldron, Brad Bernstein, Trina Hollander and Carol Simmons continue to provide invaluable support. Shelah Wilgus, Kitchen Cabinet Chair NEWSLETTER On Common Ground, the 10-page newsletter of the UU church of Ventura is published monthly and available in full color on the church website. We thank the many contributors to our monthly newsletter. Co-editors Shelah Wilgus and Tessa Weeks are ably assisted by proofreader Harriet McNamara. The newsletter is also available as hard copy upon request. A small group of people take care of mailing the hard copy of the newsletter. They put them together, fold, stamp, label and take them to the Post Office. They are Merle Oberg, Pat Oberg, Sunny Glessner, Barb Paarmann, Harriet McNamara and folder emeritus Borgny Broughton. Shelah Wilgus Unitarian Universalist Church of Ventura 14 Annual Report

15 REACHING OUT SOCIAL ACTION COORDINATING COMMITTEE (SACC) members: Kent Brinkmeyer(chair), Sue Brinkmeyer, Lety Ball, Harold Cartlidge, Dorothy Fast Horse, Marylou Faris, Kitty Merrill, Dori Herrick, Jacque Sebastian, Scott Ellison, Kathy Powell, and Gryphon Seveney. We began the year by reviewing our 5 year plan in which we proposed centering our social justice work in the areas of homelessness, environmental justice, and education and establishing a fully developed and supported Action Team in each area. We also reaffirmed our intention to have the congregation informed about, and celebrating, the social justice work in which we are involved and to make sure that all ages are involved in this work. Goals for SACC for year two of the 5 year plan included putting together a Ventura County social justice/networking event or program, hosting a social action volunteer fair, creating events to educate the congregation about the root causes of injustice, and institutionalizing congregational behavior consistent with our green sanctuary application. Our Lift Up Your Voice and Environmental Action teams held networking events that will be covered in separate reports; SACC put together posters and answered questions about volunteer opportunities during our Mindful Eating Potluck in March, 2015; and due to the efforts of our Seventh Principle Environmental Action Team, UUCV was awarded Green Sanctuary Status by the UUA. With the final update of SACC s Charter Policy at the end of the year, SACC followed up by revising and updating its procedures and policies regarding recognition of Action Teams, Program planning guidelines, sponsoring of events hosted by outside organizations, and criteria for deciding how to respond to outside organizations requests for financial contributions or membership dues. A few highlights for SACC s year include: Sponsored and hosted Ventura County Reproductive Rights Network Write for your Rights event, in which over 1,000 letters were written to government representatives; hosted and fed the Tour de Dreams bike riders for the third straight year; partnered with the Ventura Center for Spiritual Living to prepare and serve lunch once per month at Family to Family; sponsored and hosted a talk by local physician and author Nancy Merrick titled Among Chimpanzees, in which she explored the connection between saving the great apes and protecting our environment and organized the purchase of books as Holiday gifts for all students at Will Rogers School. Kent Brinkmeyer, SACC Chair LIFT UP YOUR VOICE! In the church year, Lift Up Your Voice was active in 8 different projects: 1. The Advocacy and Political Action team called upon members of the congregation and community partners to show up and carry signs at rallies, events, Homeless Committee meetings, and meetings of the City Council. At times over 100 answered the call, as they did at the rally and candle light vigil on the steps of City Hall, and at the 9th annual Homeless Memorial Service. We were represented and spoke up on behalf of those who are homeless at many council and homeless committee meetings, calling for housing, for shelter, for compassion, and for cooperation and leadership by City leaders. Members wrote and recruited others to write letters to the editor throughout the year. 2. The Park Outreach team formed relationships with people who spent their days in our City parks or at the Promenade because they had nowhere else to go. They offered food initially, but when we were told a permit was required and would not be approved, members provided small items such as showers in a box (body wipes), socks, and bus passes, always with kind words, offers of assistance, and connections to services. On Unitarian Universalist Church of Ventura 15 Annual Report

16 many occasions, individuals were connected to housing or sober living, driven to the DMV to get IDs, and cared for after hospital release or before medical procedures. The team formed a partnership with Harbor Church that resulted in free-transportation and assistance at One Stop each Tuesday, and is currently working out the details of a partnership with River Community Church and Temple Beth Torah to provide a One City, One Meal-like experience with lunch and services each Thursday. 3. The Family to Family team partnered with the Center for Spiritual Living to provide lunch to 150 or more homeless or housed but poor neighbors on the first Monday of each month. At mealtime, we were able to make sure each diner knew essential information such as the times and location for the winter warming shelter, the need for and places to get TB tests, or the availability of free cell phones. 4. The Safe Sleep team enabled the occupants of up to ten vehicles at a time to sleep in their cars in our church lot. They provided supervision that kept the lot safe, and the congregation provided through offerings a portapotty for their use. LUYV even provided a doggie-bag center for use by our guests with pets. And at Christmas, the congregation took up an offering for, and LUYV did the leg work to ensure that each of our Safe Sleep guests received two nights in a motel and hot meals at a nearby restaurant. 5. The Riverhaven team continued its long tradition of providing meals two Mondays each month for the residents of Riverhaven until April, when other congregations joined us and Temple Beth Torah in this project. The team now provides a meal just once each month. 6. The two Photo Projects were displayed at several locations during the year, including at the County Government Center, at several houses of worship, and at a meeting called Partners for Change, co-sponsored by LUYV, at which 30 faith communities came together to discuss how each would be part of the process to bring an end to homelessness. 7. The One Stop team served at the One Stop Center in Ventura each Tuesday, welcoming those coming in for services, completing forms, providing IDs, and providing notary and translation services. Dorothy Fasthorse took on the responsibility of recruiting and training volunteers from UUCV and the community as well. 8. As the member responsible for Congregational Involvement, Scott Ellison wrote articles for the church newsletter and entries for the UUCV This Week Volunteer Opportunities section. Susan Brinkmeyer served as Interim Director. Many people not officially a part of the Lift Up Your Voice Steering Committee or one of our Action Teams participated in events. Steering Committee members included Kent Brinkmeyer, Susan Bronn, Harold Cartlidge, Rev. Jan Christian, Susan Dirrim, Scott Ellison, Anne Escobedo, Dorothy Fasthorse, Jill Forman, Rob Gibson, Tim Hill, Trina Hollander, Joe Hutchins, Silvia Hutchins, Darryl Marquez, Nancy Mauthe, Neal Ortenberg, Barb Paarman, Kappy Paulson, Rena Pezzuto, Linda Pietrzak, Kathy Powell, P J Robles, Rheina Rogart, Christine Rutter, Alan Shampine, Sally Shampine, Ray Vargas, Pam Waldron, Bill Wakelee, Diane Wamsley, Shelah Wilgus, Teresa Zdanowich. Sue Brinkmeyer, Lift Up Your Voice Coordinator INREACH OUTREACH The Inreach/Outreach Committee continued this year to facilitate the process by which the congregation s weekly Sunday offerings are donated to causes applying for funding via our UUCV s Social Justice grants. From July 6, 2014 through April 26, 2015 UUCV gave away a total of $41, through its Inreach/Outreach program. Members of the Inreach/Outreach Committee this year were Sue Brinkmeyer, Anne Escobedo, Pam Waldron, Chris Rutter, Suzanne Olsen, Shelah Wilgus, Nancy Mitchell and Michael Akseven. Diane Wamsley joined the committee midyear. Unitarian Universalist Church of Ventura 16 Annual Report

17 Members of the congregation opened their hearts and pocketbooks to support the following 36 causes this year: Abundant Table, AIDS LifeCycle, BASC Foundation, California Youth Connection, Camarillo Hospice, City Center Transitional Living Center, CLUE VC, Community Roots Garden, CSWCT, Crop Walk, Food Share, Friends of the Island Fox, Habitat for Humanity, Heart 2 Heart, Jewish Family Service, La Hermandad Hank Lacayo Youth and Family Center, Lift Up Your Voice s Family to Family Action Team, Lift Up Your Voice s Park Outreach Team, Mexican American Bar Association s Education Fund, MICOP s Voice of Indigenous Women program, One Step A La Vez, Operation School Bell, Prototypes Women s Center, Royal Family Kids Camp, San Buenaventura Women s Club s Victims of Domestic Violence, School on Wheels, Social Justice Fund, UUCV s Inreach/Outreach program, UUCV s Safe Sleep Guests, UU Justice Ministry in California, UUSC s Guest at Your Table, UU Scholarship for Incarcerated Students, Ventura Family YMCA, Ventura Homeless Prevention Fund, Ventura Homeless Prevention Partnership and Youth Empowerment Camp. Anne Escobedo, for Inreach/Outreach PUBLICITY The Publicity Coordinator publicized church events through social media and news releases this year, concentrating on social action campaigns such as Take a Hungry Person to Lunch, and the Homelessness Vigil at the Ventura City Hall. In addition, day to day events were publicized on the church s Facebook page. Kitty Merrill ASSOCIATION DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVE The role of the Pacific Southwest District (PSWD) Association District Representative PSWD ADR is essentially to be a two-way conduit of information between our congregation and the PSWD and UUA. Increasingly, as a result of the Unitarian Universalist Association s (UUA) movement to regionalization, that role has and will involve not just district news and reporting but reporting to and from the Pacific Western Region, the PWR. The UUA determined to consolidate the several districts, such as our PSWD, into regional operations, in a process known as regionalization. Thus, our PSWD is now administered by the PWR, the combination of the PSWD, the Pacific Central District, the Pacific Northwest District, and the Mountain Desert District. Collectively, we cover over half the territory of the United States. As PSWD ADR, Jim Merrill informs the congregation through newsletter articles of district activities, association activities, and the transition to regionalization. He has also responded to district requests for information about activities in our congregation. By pure coincidence, Jim Merrill is also a trustee of the PSWD Board. He welcomes your questions and comments about the PSWD and the PWR. Jim Merrill Unitarian Universalist Church of Ventura 17 Annual Report

18 BUILDING AND GROUNDS COMMITTEE CARING FOR OUR SPACE As its mission, the "Building and Grounds Committee (B&G Committee) and volunteers will ensure our property and facilities are maintained so that the church may carry out its mission and vision." To implement this mission the B&G Committee has a wide-ranging portfolio including: Routine maintenance of the church building and surrounding grounds; Implementing projects as requested by the other committees or ideas proposed by individual church members; Advising the Board of Trustees regarding any long term maintenance or replacement needs of the building and grounds; Reaching out to the congregation for skills Committee members do not have; Monitoring outside help hired to perform tasks Committee or church members cannot perform; Supervise special projects such as the installation of solar panels Respond to anguished calls from church for emergency services, and; "Other duties as assigned." The following members are the ones responsible for implementing B&G s mission: Merle Oberg, Linda Pietrzak, Bill Peltola, Scott Ellison, Dan Buckley, Joyce Sattler, Dale Condra, Chris C de Baca, Geoff Dann, John Puccetti, Mike Duffy and Mike Sixbey. Scott served as Chair this year while Linda was the Secretary. The Committee meets at 6:30 pm on the second Wednesday of the month in the Green Room. Everyone is welcome, and snacks are provided! All church members are invited to participate supporting our buildings and grounds regardless of skills. The easiest way of doing this is by attending the monthly UU Stewardship Saturday (UUSS). The UUSS is a chance for individual members or families to come out for a few hours on the 3 rd Saturday of each month to do light maintenance from 9 am to 12 noon. No amount of time is too small, an hours work is amplified when combined with the efforts of others. Basic tasks include emptying trash cans, cleaning the parking lot, picking up trash & weeding. Attendance this past year was typically 6 to 12 people but for next year we seek to double that amount. The committee undertook a wide range of projects this past year including: Oversaw replacement of the roof and installation of solar panels Developed and submitted Draft Short and Intermediate Term Facilities Plan Continued the conversion of fluorescent tubes to LED tubes, continuing to cut energy consumption Helped construct the UUCV Bookstore Replaced a parking lot light and trimmed tree limbs Replaced one irrigation control valve, and patched numerous leaks Helped make the church entrance more useable Continued to look at ways to further reduce water use Cut back out-of-control shrubs, cleaned up pine needles Continued the anti-graffiti program Maintained butterfly and other gardens Continued to seek out greater efficiency in our Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning systems SLOWLY cleaning the many, many mini-blinds Responded to anguished calls for help from people at the church Things we have probably forgotten And other duties as assigned Unitarian Universalist Church of Ventura 18 Annual Report

19 If interested, please feel to join us every second Wednesday or third Saturday. It is a great way to meet church members, learn about the church facilities, and make a significant contribution to our church home! Submitted by Chris C De Baca on behalf of Scott Ellison, Chair GREEN SANCTUARY On September 18, 2014, the UUCV was awarded Green Sanctuary status by the UUA, in recognition of completion of a variety of projects to increase awareness and action around environmental sustainability. The 7 th principle Environmental Action Team coordinated completion of the application and the 12 required projects. In the 2014/15 year, we have also worked to support fundraising for the installation of solar panels for UUCV. Kitty Merrill Unitarian Universalist Church of Ventura 19 Annual Report

20 GROWING OUR GIFTS STEWARDSHIP The accomplishments of the stewardship coordinators for this year are: Helped moved the solar/roof idea from a plan to a reality using a matching donation strategy. Participated in a Saturday morning Legacy series. Presented planned giving strategies available to potential donors as well as a basic estate planning presentation with questions and answers. Convened the Memorial Foundation and Endowment Fund trustees to determine whether or not they felt we should continue electing trustees for these entities. The trustees concluded that we should work to make the Endowment Fund successful and that they would design a plan to do so. Facilitated an after church discussion on the meaning of giving our time and money to the church. Rewrote the procedures and form letter for pledge renewals for the church year. David Henkel and David Smith, Stewardship Co-Coordinators FINANCE COMMITTEE Our committee this year consisted of: Jim Waldron, Treasurer; David Frank, Chair; Ray Escobedo, Jill Forman, and David Smith. Rev. Jan Christian actively participated in her ex-officio role. Our accounting consultant, Camilla Johnson, CPA, prepares financial statements each month and helps us with our accounting practices. Beginning this year she also provided payroll support services. The support given by office manager Becky Burnham in tracking pledge commitments and payments, and pulling together the details for the annual service auction is greatly appreciated. Each month, the Finance Committee reviews financial statements to monitor income, expenses and fund balances. We then address ongoing projects and review financial issues and policies. A treasurer s report is sent to the Board each month and the monthly financial reports are posted in the back hall by the copy machine. The major projects completed this year included developing three budgets instead of the usual one. With the departure of Rev. Pyle at the end of summer a revised budget was adopted by the Board of Trustees in August A complete second revision was then adopted by vote of the congregation in January 2015, and finally the budget for which will be voted upon at the June 14 th, 2015 Annual Meeting. Also a complete review of how we manage our operating funds and reserves was undertaken. Using a cash flow approach we identified monies that were not expected to be needed or otherwise obligated for the next five years. The previous investment policy which emphasized safety of principal that had resulted in negative return in the low interest environment was reevaluated in light of our substantial reserves (mostly in the Legacy Fund). After several months of evaluation led by Ray Escobedo and others, a new investment policy was adopted by the Board. We have currently invested $200,000 divided between two environmentally and socially responsible balanced investment funds. The third major accomplishment was supporting the financial evaluation and funding of the solar and reroofing project. David Smith led the fundraising efforts and the final bid evaluation and selection was done by Ray Escobedo from Finance, Bryan Buck from the Board and John Puccetti from Building and Grounds. Commitments to complete the project were made in advance of the congregational meeting to approve the project. Also instrumental in this effort was David Frank and his wife Janice who personally committed $30,000 to this effort. David Smith continues to coordinate the year-round pledge operation. He is assisted by the pledge team made up of Katie Hutchins, Stephanie Tiffany, Barbarella West, Kathy Swift, Dave Davis, Joyce Sattler, Manny Edgar-Beltran and Chuck Samonsky. Unitarian Universalist Church of Ventura 20 Annual Report

21 Besides pledges, our main income source is the annual service auction, ably run by Michael Akseven for many years, joined this year by Kathy Swift. As expected we saw a decrease in building use rentals due to a change in the property tax interpretation by the county tax assessor. We continue to give away over $40,000 a year from our Sunday offering to various needy causes in the community. In April 2015 the Finance budget sub-committee put the finishing touches on a proposed operating budget. This budget contains estimates for many variables related to the departure of Rev Christian and having an interim minister for one year. Also during the year the search for the next settled minister will occur with associated expenses. It is possible that a revised budget will be again be brought to the Board and congregation mid-year. The chair and treasurer thanks each member of the committee for their dedication, regular attendance, and humor in addressing the financial health of the church. David Frank, Finance Chair and Jim Waldron, Treasurer Unitarian Universalist Church of Ventura 21 Annual Report

22 FUNDING THE MISSION RECOMMENDED 2014/2015 OPERATING BUDGET The Board is elected by the congregation to ensure wise stewardship of our resources in service of the congregation s mission and vision. We consider that a sacred trust and we consider the budget a moral document. The Board helps the congregation articulate its mission, vision and values and then looks to the Finance Committee and the Subcommittee to work out the details. The Subcommittee seeks input from all the Committees and reviews current expenditures, projected costs and anticipated revenues. Our Mission Statement, our current commitments and our proposed Five Year Plan provided the blueprint for this budget. The budget is in a simplified format, which makes it easier to see the big picture and also helps us to be a bit greener in the size of the package we are sending out. Please note that the detailed budget with specific line item notes is available in the office and will be in the electronic version of the Annual Report and will be on our website. Our monthly reports are posted each month in the hallway. The fund balances are on the back of the budget page. Some of the details related to changes are below, but first the big picture and some background. This budget reflects anticipated income comparable to our 2011/2012 fiscal year but lower expenses. We have been able to grow our professional staff and our programming and to donate our offerings to the community due, in large part, to retiring our mortgage, making a move to solar power, and creating special funds. Our overall financial health is excellent as indicated in our fund balances. We also anticipate a bequest of $10,000 from the estate of Loretta Cleary and we received $5,000 from the estate of Gene Wheeler, which went into our current operating budget. We continue to maintain 4.5 months of reserves in our operating budget. During the year, the congregation approved using up to $65,000 from our Legacy Fund to replace the roof and install solar panels. This was matched by pledges from the congregation including a leadership pledge of $30,000 from David and Janice Frank. It is anticipated that we will use $60,000 from the Legacy Fund for this project. The move to solar power is estimated to save us at least $7,500 in electricity costs in the coming year. Some of our costs are due to charges not related to actual use and it will take us some time to estimate how high those costs will be. As approved by the congregation last June, we have had an incentive program to raise pledges and provide money for a staffing fund. Using Legacy Fund money, new pledges were matched dollar for dollar and raises in current pledges were matched using a formula ranging from a 1:1 match for the highest pledges to a 3:1 match for the lowest pledges. As of March 31 st, this has resulted in new and raised pledges totaling $23,136 resulting in a match from the Legacy Fund of $51,744. This is timely as most of that will be depleted with our 2015/2016 budget because we have a substantial amount of mostly one-time staffing costs due to ministerial transition. We have earmarked almost $50,000 to cover moving expenses for the interim minister, the departing minister s accrued vacation leave, and for the settled ministerial search. This is a high estimate as we believe actual expenses may well be less than that. Funding the Mission A new approach by the County Assessor meant that we had to adopt a new building use policy and our building use income has declined as a result. Supporting Our Staff and Ministry In keeping with our commitment to Fair Compensation and Cost of Living Allowances (COLA), we have offered a 1.7% increase in salary to our Music Director, Spiritual Life Coordinator, and Sound Tech. The UUA s Fair Compensation Guidelines were changed effective last July 1 and we are catching up this year by raising the salaries of our Office Manager (who hits the ten year mark this year) and our Director of Children s Religious Education (who becomes credentialed this year). There was a decrease in the stipend to the Affiliated Minister as she anticipates less involvement in the coming year. Other costs are explained in the narrative above. Unitarian Universalist Church of Ventura 22 Annual Report

23 Caring for Our Space We continue to earmark savings for Long Term Maintenance at the rate of $10,000 a year. The big savings is due to our move to solar energy. Enriching Our Shared Lives There is a modest decrease here. Supporting Our Movement There is little change here. Growing Our Gifts The increase here is due to costs associated with the search for a settled minister. Reaching Out The decrease here is due to lower requests by two committees. Covering the Basics There is little change here. This budget was passed unanimously by the Board of Trustees and the Finance Committee and they ask your approval of this budget at our Annual Meeting on June 14 at 11:30 a.m. Unitarian Universalist Church of Ventura 23 Annual Report

24 Recommended Operating R2 2/8/2015 Revised Draft Income Pledge Collections $ 357, $ 360, $ 350, $ 358, $ 360, Plate Donations $ - $ - $ 2, $ $ - Other Donations $ 6, $ 6, $ 5, $ 8, $ 6, FUNDRAISING $ 24, $ 25, $ 23, $ 21, $ 21, Interest Income $ $ $ $ $ 2, Other Income $ 3, $ 13, $ 19, $ 2, $ 2, FUNDING THE MISSION $ 391, $ 405, $ 401, $ 392, $ 392, Expenses SUPPORTING OUR STAFF & MINISTRY $ 320, $ 329, $ 339, $ 317, $ 333, CARING FOR OUR SPACE $ 74, $ 72, $ 70, $ 53, $ 46, ENRICHING OUR SHARED LIVES $ 14, $ 15, $ 15, $ 18, $ 16, SUPPORTING OUR MOVEMENT $ 17, $ 18, $ 19, $ 19, $ 18, GROWING OUR GIFTS $ 4, $ 7, $ 7, $ 7, $ 13, REACHING OUT $ 3, $ 4, $ 3, $ 4, $ 3, COVERING THE BASICS $ 12, $ 11, $ 13, $ 13, $ 12, Total Expense $ 447, $ 458, $ 470, $ 432, $ 445, Surplus or (Deficit) $ (55,258.00) $ (53,171.55) $ (68,579.98) $ (39,615.34) $ (53,086.02) Covered by Assistant Minister Fund $ 51, $ 36, $ 35, $ 17, $ - Covered by LUYV Fund for Director $ - $ - $ 7, $ 1, $ - Covered by Prior Years' Surplus $ 3, $ 17, $ - $ - $ - Legacy Match money for staffing $ 19, $ 53, Net Surplus or (Deficit) $ - $ 0.00 $ (26,579.98) $ 0.00 $ 0.00 Not Part of the Operating : Sunday Collections for Inreach/Outreach: $ 27, $ 38, $ 40, $ 45, $ 45, Operating fund deficit is covered by Legacy Fund Match for staffing, Net savings to church is $13,441 Unitarian Universalist Church of Ventura 24 Annual Report

25 Fund Balances UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST CHURCH OF VENTURA Fund balances As of April 30, 2015 CCB-Checking Pac West Bk BOW3 CD Synchrony Bk LPL Financial United Ch Fund Total Funds 1031 Checking Account $ 41, $ 41, Endowment Fund $ 2, $ 5, $ 7, Investment Funds $ 26, $ 252, $ 100, $ 100, $ 439, Total $ 43, $ 26, $ 5, $ 252, $ 100, $ 100, $ 527, Unitarian Universalist Church of Ventura 25 Annual Report

26 Recommended Operating Income 4000 FUNDING THE MISSION 4100 CONTRIBUTIONS Annual Approved Approved R Revised Draft Pledge Collections 350, , , , Pledges as of 3/31/2015 X 96% 4120 Plate Donations 2, , no Wednesday service planned 4190 Other Donations 5, , , , Total 4100 CONTRIBUTIONS 357, , , , FUNDRAISING 4210 Auction 20, , , , Other 3, , , , Total 4200 FUNDRAISING 23, , , , FACILITIES USE OFFSET 19, , , , current experience 4860 Interest Income , , current experience Total 4000 FUNDING THE MISSION 401, , , , Total Income 401, , , , Notes Expense 5000 SUPPORTING OUR STAFF & MINISTRY 5100 MINISTER 5110 Salary 53, , , , July, Aug, Sept Housing 36, , , , July, Aug, Sept 5120 Minister's Self Employ. Offset 6, , , , July, Aug, Sept 5130 Health Insurance & Reimbursement 15, , , , July, Aug, Sept 5140 Pension 8, , , , July, Aug 5150 Professional Expenses 11, , , , July, Aug Total 5100 MINISTER 132, , , , AFFILIATE MINISTER Professional Expenses 3, , as requested 5170 TOTAL AFFILIATE MINISTER 3, , Unitarian Universalist Church of Ventura 26 Annual Report

27 Recommended Operating Annual Approved Approved R Revised Draft Notes 5190 ASSISTANT MINISTER 5191 Salary 37, , , Housing 19, , , Self Employ. Offset 4, , Health Insurance 3, , Pension 5, , , Professional Expenses 5, , TOTAL ASSISTANT MINISTER 76, , , Intern Minister Interim MINISTER 10.5 months of fiscal year 5161 Salary 40, mid Aug '15 thru June ' Housing 31, division assumed, up to minister 5163 Self Employ. Offset 5, Health Insurance 10, could be less depending upon age 5165 Pension 7, Moving Expenses 8, cost up to 10% of 12 month S+H 5167 Professional Expenses 7, % of Salary + Housing 5190 TOTAL INTERIM MINISTER 110, OFFICE MANAGER 5210 Auto Expense Allowance Office Manager 45, , , , MOT recommendation 5230 Pension 4, , , , Health Insurance 3, , , , Total 5200 OFFICE MANAGER 52, , , , SPIRITUAL LIFE COORDINATOR 12 month 60% time temp. position Spiritual Life Coordinator 27, , COLA of 1.7%, full year, 25hrs/wk Health Insurance 2, , $50 per month Pension , pension as of 9/ Professional Expenses , full year 5260 TOTAL SPIRITUAL LIFE COORD. 30, , Unitarian Universalist Church of Ventura 27 Annual Report

28 Recommended Operating 5300 RELIGIOUS EDUCATION STAFF Annual Approved Approved R Revised Draft D.R.E. Salary 30, , , , th year, credentialed D.R.E. Pension 3, , , , D.R.E. Professional Expenses , , , D.R.E. Health Insurance 4, , , , % increase assumed Total D.R.E. 37, , , , R.E. Aides Salaries 5, , , , aides X 2.5 hrs X 52 wks X $15/hr Total 5300 RELIGIOUS EDUCATION STAFF 43, , , , OTHER STAFF SALARIES 5420 AV Tech 6, , , , % COLA; no wednesdays 5430 Music Director Salary 14, , , , % COLA 5440 Temporary Staffing Accounting Consultant 2, , , , Total 5400 OTHER STAFF SALARIES 24, , , , PAYROLL BENEFITS 5510 Employer Payroll Taxes 8, , , , more hours/months, decreased rate 5530 Workers Compensation Insurance 2, , , , Total 5500 PAYROLL BENEFITS 10, , , , Total 5000 SUPPORTING OUR STAFF & MINISTRY 339, , , , CARING FOR OUR SPACE 5610 Maintenance Reserves 10, , , , UTILITIES 5621 Electricity 10, , , , solar 5622 Gas Water and Sewer 3, , , , Trash Removal 1, , , , Telephone 2, , , , Internet Website and office backup Notes Unitarian Universalist Church of Ventura 28 Annual Report

29 Recommended Operating Annual Approved Approved R Revised Draft Total 5620 UTILITIES 18, , , , Janitorial 8, , , , Property & Liability Insurance 6, , , , B & G Routine Maintenance 2, , , , Property Taxes Building Security Mortgage, Principal & Interest 23, Mortgage Interest to Members 1, , , , Total 5600 CARING FOR OUR SPACE 70, , , , ENRICHING OUR SHARED LIVES 5710 Worship 3, , , , as requested 5721 R.E. Children's Programs 7, , , , Adult Programs Adult Spiritual Growth Programs as requested 5731 Music Kitchen Cabinet/Hospitality 3, , , , as requested 5770 Health Ministry/Caring Committee Personnel Committee Green Sanctuary Total 5700 ENRICHING OUR SHARED LIVES 15, , , , SUPPORTING OUR MOVEMENT 5810 PSWD Dues 5, , , , X $ UUA Dues 13, , , , X $60 Total 5800 SUPPORTING OUR MOVEMENT 19, , , , GROWING OUR GIFTS 5910 Stewardship 1, , , as requested 5920 TRAINING 5921 Leadership Development 4, , , , as requested 5922 Training for Staff 2, Notes Unitarian Universalist Church of Ventura 29 Annual Report

30 Recommended Operating Annual Approved Approved R Revised Draft Total 5920 TRAINING 6, , , , Board Expenses , , MOT + Search Min 5950 Endowment Committee Total 5900 GROWING OUR GIFTS 7, , , , REACHING OUT 6010 Public Relations , , , Social Action as requested 6030 Membership 1, , , , as requested 6040 UU Service Committee Total 6000 REACHING OUT 3, , , , COVERING THE BASICS 6110 Photocopier Lease/Maintenance 5, , , , Postage 2, , , , Payroll Service 1, , , , Office Supplies 3, , , , Bank Charges 1, , , , experience Total 6100 COVERING THE BASICS 13, , , , Total Expense 470, , , , Surplus or (Deficit) (68,579.98) (47,000.00) (38,515.34) (53,086.02) Notes Covered by Assistant Minister Fund 35, , , $22,385 remains in fund Covered by LUYV Fund for Director 7, , , Funds Available from Prior Year's Surplus Legacy Match money for staffing 19, , from staffing fund Remaining Surplus or (Deficit) (26,579.98) Not Part of the Operating : Sunday Collections for Inreach/Outreach: 40,000 45, , , Unitarian Universalist Church of Ventura 30 Annual Report

31 Unitarian Universalist Principles We, the member congregations of the Unitarian Universalist Association, covenant to affirm and promote 1. The inherent worth and dignity of every person; 2. Justice, equity and compassion in human relations; 3. Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations; 4. A free and responsible search for truth and meaning; 5. The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large; 6. The goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all; 7. Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.

32 Mission Statement We, the members of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Ventura, united by our liberal religious tradition, seek truths and meaning, and commit to right action. We will nurture our congregation and carry our principles forth to better ourselves, our community and our planet. To these purposes we pledge our hearts and hands, our minds and means. Unitarian Universalist Church of Ventura 5654 Ralston Street Ventura, CA