|
||||
|
||||
|
|
|
Getting to Know Cedar Lane Unitarian Universalist Church
An Invitation to Friends and Members, Old and New ~
There are a number of ways to participate in life at Cedar
To
learn more about any of the committees or activities
Whether a new member or a long-time friend of Cedar Lane, your help is always
appreciated and certainly needed. Index to Cedar Lane Committees and Activities
CLUUC 2011-2012 List of Coordinators and Chairs of Committees, Boards, and Church-Related Groups 2010-2011 Annual Report
Meeting Dates The full committee meets on the third Wednesday, 7:30 p.m., September through May. The Executive Committee (officers plus the Rev. Susan Archer and Administrator, Jeannette Wilson) meets as needed, on the first Wednesday, this year, at 6:30 p.m. Mission The mission of the Adult Program Committee (APC) is to organize and present an integrated program of courses to our congregation and the community in the areas of spiritual search; social, economic, and political issues; personal development; and arts, literature, and hobbies. In each area, we endeavor to meet the needs of our members for greater personal enrichment, spiritual satisfaction, and communion as Unitarian Universalists, as individual human beings, and as members of a society as we journey through our life quests. Regular Activities Now in its 35th year, the Adult Programs Committee offered more than 24 classes and drew 301 participants in the fall 2008 session. Additionally, an interim meditation class had nearly 20 enrollees. The 25 winter/spring 2009 offerings attracted more than 220 participants. Courses covered topics of spiritual search, social, economic, and political issues; personal development; and arts, literature and hobbies. Classes included yoga, T’ai Chi, and an evening of Wii bowling and cow racing. Venues included tours, hikes, and dinner discussion groups. In addition, a large number of participants attended the weekly Sunday Morning Forum presentations at the Chalice House offering speakers and opportunities for discussion of current political and social issues. The Kiplinger Ethics Lecture attracted 112 attendees. Approximately 60 people participated in ten Connection Circles, where they formed new friendships in an intimate setting. Course participation extended beyond the immediate congregation helping us to reach out to the greater community. Committee members put extra effort into publicizing classes by putting announcements for classes starting in the upcoming month on the Cedar Lane web site and in the newsletter, and posting a select number of general interest classes on neighborhood e-mail lists, which brought in several neighbors. APC members serve a three-year term. Regular events include a potluck in May where we honor APC “graduates” and introduce new members, a June retreat for new and continuing members to organize and plan for the upcoming year, and a new member orientation in September. Another potluck in December allows members to socialize and celebrate the holidays. APC members also pitch in to stuff brochures, help with registration, and serve as course liaisons. Highlights Weekly gatherings of the Science and Religion Discussion Group remain popular averaging more than 35 participants each session. Inaugurated in the fall session, a “Beyond the Beltway” series featured reflections of Washington Post reporter John Kelly, and Ruth Kelly, attorney and university professor, during a session entitled, “A Year in the News: The UK Press from a U.S. Perspective.” In the winter-spring session, the “Beyond the Beltway” series will feature, Montreal, A Quebec Gem. A Meditation Class has developed a large following averaging about 25 participants in both fall and winter/spring sessions. Popular classes during the fall session included: the Messenger Mission to the Planet Mercury, and a Smithsonian American Art Museum tour. High enrollments classes during the winter/spring session included Kayaking on Little Seneca Lake, Side by Side: Mothers and Daughters, and Olive Oil Tasting. Adult Programs is the only standing committee at Cedar Lane that received no funds from the operating budget. All of its funds come from modest fees paid by class participants. The available surplus in fiscal year 2008 contributed to the purchase of needed equipment for the church. The committee donated a Night at the Opera and Dinner for Four at Trattoria Sorrento to the annual Cedar Lane Auction. At the end of December, the Adult Programs Committee said good-bye to long-time Religious Education Administrator, Glenis Bellais, who retired. Other Committees Under the Adult Program Umbrella Connection Circle Steering Committee Meeting Dates The committee meets on the fourth Thursday of the month at 7 p.m. Mission Grow and maintain connection circles in which members are invited to share matters of the heart and mind and their spiritual journeys, develop caring relationships, and minister to one another and the larger world. Vision A Cedar Lane community strengthened by small groups which create supportive connections among members in a safe and caring environment in the context of Unitarian Universalist principles. The Connections Circles Committee is a committee within Adult Programs. It promotes and encourages the development and success of Connection Circles within the church. We have an ongoing program that we would like to grow by reaching more Cedar Lane members and friends. As of March, there are ten groups with about 70 participants. Meeting Dates From mid-September to April 5, the Sunday Forum met at 10:10 -10:55 a.m. at the Chalice House. The forum has achieved institutional status. Highlights Attendance has increased; a core group of faithfuls plus new faces show up every Sunday. Coffee is served; more creative, colorful posters in designated places announce the forums; an e-mail list is being developed to inform participants of upcoming forums; special e-mailings go to targeted church groups; and finally, efforts have been successful in coordinating with other committees on programs of common interests, e.g., the UUA draft on peacemaking. Programming rose to another level of excellence and included the October energy alternatives series, Middle East prospects for peace, Red Cross disaster preparedness, US military operations abroad, and various religious and social concerns. Attendance was healthy most weeks (30-40+ persons), and on ten Sundays numbered in the 50s and 60s compelled by such relevant topics as the 2008 Presidential election, Montgomery County problems, Maryland State legislative issues, solar energy, and the new President's health care agenda. A presentation on separation of church and state drew 69 attendees, a record for the year.
Kiplinger Committee The Labyrinth Committee offers the church’s canvas Labyrinth to the congregation and wider community as a tool for meditation and prayer. The committee hosted a summer solstice walk; a Thanksgiving walk with proceeds going to the Manna food drive; a new year’s eve candlelight walk featuring live harp and piano music; and a silent retreat in January facilitated by the Rev. Heather Janules. The committee makes contributions to the church from donations received at walks and maintains the church’s membership in The Labyrinth Society. It publicizes the program within the church and to the regional UU churches and non-UU churches with labyrinths, public libraries, and local news media. Cedar Lane’s Alliance has been around a long time – at least forty years. Presently, it has a membership of about 89. Alliance has many activities. We meet for our pot-luck luncheon each month on the second Thursday at 11:30 of each month (except the summer months) for socializing and a fine meal (we have good cooks!) Other activities include Bridge, Alliance Jewelry (donated jewelry sold after Sunday services in the lounge), Alliance Books (also donated and sold after Sunday services), Films (once a month), Alliance Book Group (discussion of books chosen), and participation in memorial services when they occur. Anyone is welcome to join any of these activities –membership at Alliance is not a necessity. We welcome newcomers. At each of our once-a-month meetings, Alliance members are treated to some very interesting lectures on a variety of topics – Lobbying (for a unicorn); Elder Care and Health Reform; “Crazy for Gershwin,” a musical program; a recent talk by our own director of music, Henry Sgrecci; and, most recently, “Eye of the Explorer” by Paul D. McDermott, historical geographer. We are fortunate in our excellent program director, Len Adler. Alliance is not only a social organization. It supports two foster children, a boy on an Indian reservation and a girl in Central America, with monthly donations from our members Alliance has given $1000 for disaster relief to Haiti and Pakistan over the past year through Doctors without Borders, and, locally, we have given $1000 to Manna Food Center in Gaithersburg, $1000 to Shepherd’s Table in Silver Spring, $500 to Crossways in Kensington, and $500 to Wider Circle in Silver Spring. Local charities have been especially hard pressed to provide food and other services when they can during these bad times. There are hungry people and people without adequate housing here in Montgomery County. Alliance also donated $1000 to our church and $1000 to Chalice Lighters of the Joseph Priestly District. We recently donated $500 to the Auction. Alliance gathers funds from several sources – members contribute $12 each year. Jewelry sales and books sales both add funds and marathon bridge, which costs $2 per session, also adds something. We have some interest from CDs. In the past, Alliance held some specific fundraisers, like a Tea, but we haven’t had anything big in recent years. Mission: Organize the yearly auction, which makes a major contribution to Cedar Lane’s operating budget and provides an enjoyable all-church event for Cedar Lane adults. Regular Activities: Determine auction theme, raffle items and ticket prices. Recruit volunteers to assist with all auction tasks. Publicize auction to congregation and friends. Solicit and collect donations. Produce auction catalog. Sell admission and raffle tickets. Develop and implement arrangements for auction set up, evening’s program, take down and closure of auction purchases. The Board of Trustees is responsible for the overall direction of the affairs of the church. It provides leadership, sets policy, maintains liaison with and provides guidance to major committees, and recommends specific actions to the congregation for vote at scheduled congregational meetings. The ministers report directly to the BOT. The BOT approves the church budget and has authority to commit the Church to contracts and conduct other financial transactions. The BOT meets on the third Tuesday of the month and other times as necessary; these meetings are open to the members of the congregation. Members of the congregation are invited to bring matters to the attention of the BOT by communicating directly with the Chair or appropriate committee liaison. The BOT, which is elected by the congregation at the Annual Meeting, consists of nine at-large members elected for three-year terms; and the Secretary, Assistant Secretary, Treasurer and Assistant Treasurer are elected for two-year terms. In the spring, a Chair-Elect is chosen from among the at-large members, and serves as Chair in his or her last year of service. The Committee on Ministry (formerly Ministerial-Congregational Committee) is our expression of an important theme in UU life: the need to develop and maintain healthy relationships between the congregation and its ministers. By charter, it "serves as a support group for the ministers and a communication channel between the ministers and the congregation." Monthly meetings allow the committee to "help the ministers in carrying out their work, and to advise them about conditions within the congregation that may affect relationships between ministers and members." Its current members are: Committee Size: 6 Lay Members and 3 Ministers Meeting Time: Fourth Tuesday of each month Mission: - Reviving CLUUC's denominational involvement. Serves as the liaison between the congregation and denominational organizations at the national, district, and local levels, such as the Unitarian Universalist Association and Joseph Priestly District; - Keeps the congregation informed regarding denominational affairs; - Makes the congregation aware of services provided by the denomination; - Encourages representation of the congregation at denominational meetings such as the General Assembly (GA) of the UUA and meetings of the Joseph Priestly District, and assists delegations in gathering information necessary to be informed about matters to be discussed at such meetings; - Solicits congregational input and coordinates responses regarding denominational issues, in the form of position recommendations to the Board of Trustees; - Serves as a conduit for member- or congregation-initiated proposals for denominational action; - Makes budgetary recommendations for denominational affairs activities to the Board of Trustees Highlights - Revised Peacemaking SOC passed by General Assembly after substantial revision. - Liaisoned w/ Ethical Eating Study Group - Beginning work on Immigration as a Moral Issue Study-Action - Becoming more intentionally involved in JPD Mission: The Committee manages two investment pools. The primary pool includes the General Endowment, the Memory Fund Endowment, the CLUUC Social Justice Council funds, the Kiplinger Endowment, and the Morris Fund. The secondary pool is the Pooled Income Fund. The Committee monitors the performance of existing investments, evaluates prospective investments, sets targets for allocation of assets between stock mutual funds, bonds, and bond funds, and between domestic and international investments. This allocation is maintained to maximize the return on the money invested and to insure the security of the fund. Highlights: During this past calendar year the Committee monitored continued growth. As of Dec. 31, 2010, the primary pool contained about $2.9 million; Dec. 31, 2009 it contained about $2.6 million. (The Pooled Income Fund contained $135,079 on Dec. 31, 2010). This July the Committee will distribute to the church 5% of the General Endowment’s asset value according to a formula which does not allow a reduction in the principal of the fund. The distribution in July 2011 will be $99,705. The Memory Garden Fund will distribute $12,564 for the maintenance of the grounds. The Pooled Income Fund has distributed about $7,100 to the contributors to the fund. The Committee continues to favor index funds over actively managed fund due to their significantly lower management costs and generally better long-term returns. We continued using the Vanguard Group as our custodian because of its low cost structure. Mission: The Committee provides oversight and advice on the maintenance of the church buildings and other structures. It works closely with the Building and Grounds Manager to plan for expenditures from the capital budget and oversees other more routine maintenance projects and keeps tabs on energy consumption and utility bills. Highlights: A major goal of the committee is to improve the energy efficiency of our buildings and support our being a "Green Sanctuary." This past year windows in Rooms 32-35 were replaced with energy-efficient panes. Mickey Sigsbee worked with volunteers from the Facilities Committee to install the windows for half the cost of having the work done by a contractor. We plan to continue replacing existing windows with energy-efficient panes until all of our outdated windows are replaced. This year marks the third year for a new set of procedures by which the Capital Budget is planned and capital projects are selected, which opens up the process to make it possible for any church member to make suggestions for projects. Bob Pechacek led this year's process to develop the FY 2012 Capital Reserve Budget based on recommendations from Facilities, other committees, and members at large. A final budget is approved by the Finance Committee and voted on by the Board of Trustees. The number of projects that can be approved from among those that are suggested was severely limited last year by shortfalls in the operating budget, which were relieved by funding from what would otherwise have been used for capital expenditures. Our facilities are in good shape at the present time. A stroll around the buildings and grounds reveals that we are in better shape now than they were a decade ago when we began to use the annual endowment allocation to fund a series of much needed repairs. Because of the many improvements in the past decade, the Committee is not aware of any major building component that is expected to need investment in the next year or two. However, because of the age of our building, we continue to need a large share of the annual endowment allocation for the foreseeable future. Mission The Finance committee serves as the financial advisor to the Board of Trustees. We prepare the annual operating budget in conjunction with the personnel committee, program chairs and staff for presentation and approval to the Board of Trustees at their June meeting. We also monitor the approved budget monthly of revenues and expenses and make recommendations to the Board of Trustees as needed. Additionally we work with the Facilities Committee to prepare and present the capital budget for church facilities for approval by the Board of Trustees. The committee also monitors, reviews or audits the financial records and activities of the church including, but not limited to, the monthly treasurer’s report and any special funds that the Board of Trustees may authorize. In overseeing church funds, the Committee formulates policies and procedures as needed to manage the financial affairs of the Church. Highlights: Taking advantage of Lyn Peter’s scanning and editing skills we are making an electronic version of the Finance Committee Notebook. When we are finished it should be a searchable source of board and finance committee policies and other church documents. The other highlight is the submission to the board of a balanced budget for the 20011-2012 fiscal year. This will be a challenge unless the last pledge drive comes in at or near its goal. This year, 2010-2011, there will most likely be a shortfall in income of about $30,000, in spite of a $47,000 infusion into the operating revenue from the endowment distribution. My goal is to submit a balanced budget without tapping that distribution. The flower arrangements in the auditorium and chapel are a beautiful enhancement to our worship services every Sunday morning. The Flower Committee designs and arranges the Sunday morning flowers throughout the church, year round, as well as flowers for memorial services for church members. The committee members design arrangements which are typically presented in variety of Ikebana Japanese styles (i.e. Sogetsu, Ikenobo, Freestyle), small and large informal bouquets, and may even be personalized for memorials. Arrangements are provided in the Sanctuary every Sunday and in the Chapel when it is in use to support the Religious Education Program. The CLUUC Flower Committee is reported to have grown from a simple gesture of someone having used a basket of flowers to hide an announcement speaker! When the congregation was meeting at the Women’s Club in 1951, sermons from All Souls Congregation were relayed from a telephone into the speaker. The flowers were delivered from a florist to the Starks. A more recent reference to the Committee (1976) is written in the CLUUC 50-Year History as a comment from Marge Thompson on their mission. Marge Thompson and Doris Keyes were founding m embers of the committee. Doris Keyes, a current member, recalls that she was the instigator and Marge was the organizer of the group. From these humble beginnings, the committee has been lead and nurtured under the direction of Lois Delaha and Ellen Thompson. The Committee currently has 11 members, many of whom have been studying Ikebana and are long standing members. New members are welcome and can enhance their own skills through classes and work in flower arranging with more experienced members. Mission: The committee provides oversight and advice on tree maintenance and appropriate landscape development of the church grounds. It coordinates and directs the planning and design of any changes or improvements to the grounds in light of the provisions of the 1985 Master Site Plan. Regular Activities: Auction donation of ten hours of yard work, fall workday, spring plant sale, spring grounds cleanup day. The committee budget covers tree maintenance and snow removal.
Mission: The Leadership Development and Nominations Committee conducts searches form candidates, maintains a roster of candidates, and nominates qualified persons from among the active membership of the church as candidates for election to the Board of Trustees by the congregation at the Annual Meeting. The Committee also searches for appropriate candidates to fill unexpired terms on the Board of Trustees, and on other church committees as requested. Finally, it is responsible for recommending new members of the committee, itself, subject to the approval of the congregation at the annual meeting.
Highlights: The committee identified and secured the consent of the following appropriate nominees to fill the membership of the Board of Trustees: Debbie Scott Goodwin, Assistant Secretary Rick Offner, Assistant Treasurer Don Bliss, Member at Large Liz Nadeau, Member at Large Gerry Peterson, Member at Large The committee identified and secured the consent of candidates to fill its own membership for three-year terms: Val Carter, Mickey Grossblatt and Laurie Richardson. Mary Karimi will serve a one-year term on the committee as the past chair of the Board. Mission: The Member Services Committee exists to promote hospitality to visitors, facilitate the path to membership, integrate new members into church life, and maintain caring contact and support with members of Cedar Lane. Regular Activities - Communicating with visitors - Staffing the Visitor’s Center - Organizing the Sunday ushers and coffee servers - Hosting the First Sunday Community Lunch each month - Second Sunday Signing ceremony for joining members on the second Sunday of every month - New Member Welcome Services – a two to three times yearly ceremony/reception to introduce new members to the congregation at each service - Offering a special brunch bringing existing members together with new members in the spring as part of the auction. - Collaborating with Public Awareness Committee on advertising and outreach efforts - Holding an annual retreat to discuss the year’s upcoming goals - Hosting a water station for the Parks Half Marathon which goes by the church on Beach Drive each September - Entering a Cedar Lane group in the Kensington Labor Day Parade The Memorial Reception Committee works with the Cedar Lane staff to hold receptions for memorial services free of charge to church members and friends. Volunteers are organized in monthly teams with two co-chairs, one person who prepares flower arrangements for the food tables, and workers. The committee purchases supplies for punch, bakes cookies, and welcomes homemade cookies from the congregation. Volunteers commit three to four hours to set up, serve, and clean-up for each event. Committee Size: 33 people plus anyone who can help Meeting
Times: On call when needed Mission: The Memory Garden and History Committee is responsible for administering the Memory Fund, the Name Wall in the Memory Garden, and other history-related activities of the church. Regular Activities: We schedule dedications of new nameplates in May each year, but family members can order nameplates at their convenience. Newsletter announcements alert members of the congregation to the deadline to order nameplates for the specific dedication service. Family members or groups of interested individuals may make arrangements for a nameplate. The names of all who have contributed to the Memory Fund, either through a nameplate for a deceased family member or friend or through a contribution in memory of someone are recorded in a book, which is located in the library. The archives subcommittee, Glenis Bellais, Helen Strang, and Connie Nissley, has continued work on organizing the files containing the history of Cedar Lane, which are stored in a room on the lower level of the Chalice House. Because of concerns about mold, humidity and temperature control in this room reserve, the committee has initiated mold remediation work in this space. Highlights: Eleven nameplates were dedicated in May 2011, bringing the total nameplates to 204. The Memory Fund now totals approximately $304,000. The income from the fund is available for the maintenance of all the church grounds or for preservation of the church’s archives. Over $12,000 is currently available in the Grounds Maintenance Reserve Fund, which came from the Memory Fund earnings. The Music Committee, in conjunction with the Director of Music, actively supports and facilitates the operation of all aspects of the CLUUC music program, as well as overseeing long-term goals and direction. The Committee promotes communication among congregation, choirs, ministers, and the Board of Trustees regarding the role of music in our worship and congregational life. The Committee works with the Director of Music to identify congregants who might be interested in participating in the choirs and in other musical settings. Members of the Committee listen to the views of congregants concerning the Music Program and share those views, as appropriate, with the Music Director. Committee members regularly lend support to the Concert Series, either through their participation or by assisting with post-concert receptions. The Committee consults with the Senior Minister in his evaluation of the Music Director and provides guidance and support to the Director in any fundraising projects he identifies. Lastly, the Committee presents at least one musical performance for the enjoyment of the Congregation and the greater community in additional to the musical offering that constitutes its Auction contribution. Cedar Lane News is a primary means of communication within the Cedar Lane community. It is published biweekly, except through the summer when it is published monthly. Co-editors rotate duties. Having multiple editors increases time flexibility while decreasing the individual workload. Depending on length, each issue requires 2 to 4 hours of work. Co-editors are e-mailed compiled articles by Friday at noon (Submissions are due Wednesday at noon) from the Administrative Assistant. Articles are edited, and arranged and then sent back to the Administrative Assistant by Sunday night for printing each Monday. All co-editors need access to a computer with WordPerfect. Every other Tuesday morning, a small group of dedicated volunteers meets to collate, fold and label the Cedar Lane News. The work takes two to three hours, depending on the number of people helping. Volunteers are always needed since not everyone can come each session. If you are interested in helping on a biweekly or monthly basis, call the Church Administrator, Sara Deshler, at 301-493-8300. It's a good opportunity to get to know a nice group of Cedar Laners and make a valuable contribution to our church. Committee size: 8-10 Meeting Time: Every other Tuesday mornings
at 9 a.m. (Monthly in July and August) Transylvania Partner Church Committee Mission: The Transylvania Partner Church Committee is committed to strengthening ties between Cedar Lane and its partner church in Dicsöszentmárten, in the Transylvanian region of Romania, where, despite many difficulties, Unitarianism has been a continuing presence since the 16th century. The committee provides leadership in sustaining a mutually enriching dialog with the Dicsö congregation and its minister by providing some economic assistance and developing exchanges between the two churches. Highlights: Once again, we began the Church year by offering a brunch following the nowtraditional Jazz Service in July to raise funds to support the Dicsöszentmárten community. We also hosted Üsztürü, a traditional Hungarian folk ensemble, for a concert and community dance fundraiser in July. In the fall, we held our Auction contribution, an evening of wine, cheese, and Hungarian appetizers and desserts with live authentic Hungarian and Transylvanian folk music. This fall we also sent nearly $16,000 to our Partner Church Congregation raised through our scholarship drive, as support for the elderly through the Cedar Lane Alternative Giving program, from sales of rugs and other craft items created by women in the Dicsö congregation, from our fundraisers, as well as from program support through the Cedar Lane Operating Budget. These funds were used by our partner church to purchase a new heater for their main church, replacing the old heating system that failed during the fall, as well as a heater for their old school building – a property that had been confiscated during communism and has only recently been returned to the congregation. With our assistance, they now are able to rent it out for some much-needed additional income. They have also ear-marked some of the other funds to use this spring for additional needed building repairs to their beautiful historic church building. Our contributions (including those raised through the Alternative Giving program) also helped them organize social events and some gifts of groceries and toiletries for the needy elderly in the congregation. Finally, we were able to raise scholarship funds to support 16 deserving college students in the congregations. This spring we will again ask for contributions toward the expenses of scholars for 2011-2012. Meeting Dates Second Friday of the month at 11 a.m. in the Library. Mission The committee is dedicated to assisting the Associate Minister with her pastoral duties. We regularly visit the people who are unable to come to church and provide them with a link to the church and friendship. Regular Activities Meetings always include a personal check-in and support for the visitors as well as updates on those we visit. Continuing education and discussion of issues concerning shut-ins and the aging are a regular part of each meeting. The committee welcomes new members. There is a short training course run by the Associate Minister and attended by some current committee members. Mission: In close coordination with the Board of Trustees, to help the staff be a success in serving Cedar Lane Unitarian Universalist Church. Overseeing the Personnel Budget and Management: - Develops various budget scenarios for the Personnel budget for FY 2012; a final approved Personnel budget will be presented to the Finance Committee for inclusion in the FY 2012 CLUUC budget. - Reviews monthly personnel budget status reports that compared year-to-date actuals and balances. - Provides decision-making on contingency budget approvals for budget variations and unanticipated costs. - A PC Committee member attends monthly Finance Committee meetings during budgeting period from March to June 2011. - A PC Committee member attends and provides updates at various BOT meetings as needed Maintaining Communication with Church Staff: - A PC Committee member attends monthly CLUUC all-staff meetings. - Sponsors the annual Personnel Committee Staff Appreciation Breakfast in February 2011. - Receives monthly reports from the Sr. Minister and Church Administrator. - Receives monthly reports from BoT liaison. - Sends holiday cards and gifts to the staff in December. - Performs annual staff interviews between January and May 2011. Overseeing Human Resources: - Prepared ministerial agreements for 2011-2012. - Has discussed Rev. Roger Fritts and Rev. Susan Archer retirements and implications for Personnel Committee action budget. The Planned Giving Committee is a group dedicated to raising money specifically for the endowment of the church. The main focus of the committee is to plan a campaign that lasts the entire month of November. Gifts are accepted throughout the year with an ongoing acknowledgment program managed by volunteers. The committee hopes to schedule at least one fundraising seminar in a year to educate the congregation on the many ways of giving to Cedar Lane, including gifts through wills and other financial instruments. The Planned Giving Committee liaises with the Board of Trustees and the Endowment Committee as needed when doing long—term planning. This is a great committee to learn about fundraising and estate planning. Committee Size: At least five, more are welcome Meetings: As needed throughout the year, averaging six
Meeting Dates Second Thursday of every month, more often during Pledge Season Mission On behalf of our religious community, the Pledge Drive Committee seeks to encourage members to support their values through annual financial support of Cedar Lane. The Committee works to educate its members and the congregation about the church’s budget and financial needs, with the primary goals of providing fair salaries and benefits to staff, vigorously supporting programs, and caring for the grounds and facilities. Regular Activities Conduct annual pledge drive; follow up on obtaining pledges from new members and non‑pledgers. 2008-2000 Highlights · Trained 30 visiting stewards to assist in conducting Pledge Drive; similar training is planned for next year. · Featured Reverend Mark Morrison-Reed as speaker on Pledge Drive Sunday, February 8. Meeting Dates: At the present time the committee has no regular meeting schedule. Two members meet regularly with the Membership Services Committee Mission: The Public Awareness Committee seeks to make the surrounding community aware of Cedar Lane and attract new members. Regular Activities: Buys ads in publications and does advertisement mailings. Free advertising available in many news publications is used to make the community aware of the activities and functions at Cedar Lane to which the general public would be welcome. We look for new and innovative ways to reach out to those that need our faith. Highlights: Two postcard mailings were mailed to all new arrivals within a three mile area over the last 3 years advertising Cedar Lane in the spring and August. T-Shirts and a banner advertising Cedar Lane were bought for members participating in the Labor Day parade. Advertisements were placed in the local Gazette paper for various church events. CLUUC supported a Chalice Lighter grant to conduct an internet ad campaign to draw those who need our faith to UU congregations in our region. A "Standing on the Side of Love" banner was purchased to be displayed on Cedar Lane. Religious Education is a big, exciting program at Cedar Lane and there are many areas for volunteers to assist the teachers or the Minister of Religious Education (MRE) or the Religious Education Administrator. The Religious Education Council makes policies for the religious education of Cedar Lane's children by establishing educational goals; selecting and evaluating the curricula; training and supporting teachers; and planning many family and intergenerational activities such as Spring "B" and Holiday Craft Day. Presently the R.E. program has approximately 350 children and youth enrolled in a total of 34 religious education classes held during morning church services. All of the teachers, R.E. Council members, and room parents are volunteers. Parents (except for first year families) who have children attending R.E. classes are required to volunteer by teaching a class or assisting in many other ways. Although parents are required to participate in the R.E. program, the R.E. Council encourages Cedar Lane members who do not have children in the program to also volunteer. In addition to helping through teaching or assisting on Sunday mornings, leaders are needed to help the children implement social action activities. Also, two of the church's most popular events, Holiday Craft Day and Spring "B", rely on craft or course leaders from a wide variety of backgrounds. Please call the R.E. Office or let an R.E. Council member know of your volunteer interest, and we will try to incorporate it into the program. Mission Each evening a Security Check Team member inspects the church to see that windows and doors are locked and that lights and electrical equipment are turned off. Checkers also note and report any irregular situations that may compromise the security or safety of the building. The walk-through takes about an hour. Checkers serve for one week, and typically are invited to serve again in 12-18 months, though no commitment to do so is assumed. Some members have participated in this way for 10-15 years. Several experienced checkers serve as program supervisors. The program contributes to church security, by seeing that all is locked up tight, and benefits the church budget, by keeping lighting and heating bills down. Highlights Thanks to all the supervisors and checkers. Some have been on the job over 20 years, and some are new. It’s a big job and we need everyone. We are always happy to have new volunteers. It makes the burden lighter. The Cedar Lane Social Justice Council is an elected body that provides opportunities for members and friends to translate into action their shared commitment to the ideals of justice, peace, freedom, compassion, and service to those in need. The SJC establishes the annual social action agenda and provides opportunities to engage in social ministry — including helping others face to face and contributing funds, goods, and services to a wide range of social service agencies and groups. The SJC sponsors and facilitates the activities of several special Task Forces. Task Forces include:
·
Legislative:
Coordinates telephone and letter-writing campaigns,
direct lobbying, and educational activities on legislative issues, particularly
in Montgomery County and the State of Maryland.
·
Response to Religious Right:
Works with other groups, such as the Interfaith
Alliance, to remedy the unbalanced media coverage that often surrounds issues
raised by religious groups representing extreme conservative positions. · Martha's Table: Over 50 volunteers have prepared meals each month, for nearly 20 years, for food kitchens in Washington, D.C.
The committee makes recommendations to the Board of Trustees regarding congregational sponsorship of members of the Cedar Lane community who are seeking formal candidacy for a possible career in the Unitarian Universalist ministry. Further, the committee maintains contact with the church-sponsored ministerial candidates through their time in seminary. The committee is a resource for Cedar Laners headed for the ministry or merely exploring the possibility of embarking along this path. Sunday mornings present a variety of opportunities to assist the congregation and our visitors. In most cases, you will serve once a month on a specific Sunday (e.g., the first Sunday each month), though helping more often is always welcome! Greeters arrive 15 to 20 minutes prior to the service. They greet all who come. They also provide directions to the Visitors Center or religious education registration. After the service, greeters are encouraged, along with all members of the congregation, to seek out visitors and extend a special welcome. Ushers serve to seat and assist the congregation at Sunday morning services. They add chairs when needed, take up the offering, and generally insure that the sanctuary is comfortable for the congregation. This is a great opportunity for new members to help out and get to know the Sunday routine. Substitutes are also needed, and are not committed to any one Sunday, but may be called on to serve when others can't make it. Coffee Servers are needed after each service to pour coffee during the social time. The church staff prepares the coffee, sets up the table, and cleans up. The role of the server is to pour the coffee and offer a warm smile. It's a great opportunity to see our church members and to make our visitors feel welcome. All of us are moved to assist other members and their families in time of need, and to be a caring presence whether with a cake or casserole, a greeting card, a sympathetic phone call, or by helping in a temporary crisis. This makes every member of Cedar Lane a de facto member of the We Care Committee. The congregation is divided into a network of about 40 neighborhoods, each with a chairperson who is notified when the church becomes aware of needs. The chairperson calls other members in the neighborhood to alert them to ways in which they might be of help. Meeting Dates: No regular meetings, but we do a lot of telephoning and offer occasional training opportunities, such as a workshop on death and grieving. Regular Events: Neighborhood chairpersons make occasional contact with all members in their neighborhoods just to keep in touch. Some neighborhoods plan an annual brunch, supper or other activity. The Worship Committee focuses on the quality and mechanics of worship services at Cedar Lane Unitarian Universalist Church. The committee advises the Board of Trustees, ministers and music directors on matters that affect worship services. It provides a conduit for members of the congregation to express their views and feelings about worship services. The committee is also responsible for planning and organizing summer worship services, including engaging guest ministers when appropriate.
Committee size: 6
Term of service: 3 years
Meeting Time: Fourth Thursday of every month |
Cedar Lane Unitarian
Universalist Church |
