Wy’east UUC Board Meeting March 6, 2023

Wy'East Community Board Meeting Minutes Mar. 6, 2023.  7:00 – 8:30 pm.

Next meeting date: March 6, 2023, 7:00-8:30 pm.

Notes taken by Diane Arnold

Present: Board members: Lana Quackenbush (Moderator), Barbara Dow (Treasurer), Diane Arnold (Secretary), Linda Burk (At-large), Ruth Jenkins (Vice-Moderator). All board members were present.

Other attendees:   Ron Thurston (member, Membership committee), Rev. Leslie Becknell Marx

Previous minutes:  Feb. 6, 2023 meeting minutes were approved. 

Committee reports  

• Minister report: Leslie will announce a workshop at the Mar. 12 worship about an “After the pandemic, What's Next in Wy'East's Garden” Workshop on March 18 on-line. It will cover comments from a survey sent in advance to the congregation. All board members will attend and participate in breakout rooms as moderators. Leslie will send the email.
• Membership report submitted by email:  There has been good in-person attendance.
• Social Justice:  submitted by email
• Religious Education: submitted by email.
• Treasurers report has been submitted with current financial status and confirmed the availability of $1050 being within the budget for the Worship Committee.
  • Barbara reported that it is time to create the next church year budget.  It will be based largely on the 2021-2022 budget and she will check in with the financial committee on key projects to include.
  • Canvassing will start in April.  Goals for canvas will be based on previous year also.

Other Business:

• Webpage updates: Month of Sundays needs to be updated with board meetings starting at 7:00, Ruth will work with GiGi and Debra together to make the change in web and other places the time is listed (Month of Sundays, etc.)

• Advertising and Mt Hood Cluster practices: Lana contacted the Mt. Hood Cluster about advertising and received feedback from several that they are relying on word of mouth and community connects, some through shared spaces and signage, but not doing much advertising. Facebook was key to most of them, and we can encourage the congregation to Like and Follow in Facebook and share, versus paid advertising. 

• Our Facebook page has been updated by GiGi with our services and dates.  

• Mid-Columbia/Elaine Castle started submitting announcements to Gorgecurrent.com which is a local free things-to-do website.  We can try this for other free Portland websites to post our services and events.
  • Lana will research free sites through friends and organizations she is in contact with.  The Star newspaper is a possibility especially for special Wy'East projects of social service, 5th Sunday.
  • The question about paid advertising came from the membership committee and approval to pay would go through the board.  Other announcements that can be posted for free wouldn't need board approval.  
  • Ron will discuss ideas for free advertising options, and decided word of mouth is still the best method to advertise about Wy'East, and the 5th Sunday community service projects would be a place to start, for example to get into the Hollywood Star events calendar.
  • An article about us getting a new minister will be good as a press release to local outlets for free like the Star.  Leslie will follow up with GiGi.
  • GiGi is making sure that the UUA is getting accurate info about news and events about Wy'East and is reflected the same on our website.  GiGi has sent updates already.

Canvas

• Barbara is working with the finance committee on planning.  The worship committee is working on the announcement for the first Sunday in April Canvass kick off with a theme Rebirth, Renewal in the Wy'East Garden.  It is also our potluck Sunday.  
• Barbara will email Paul, Matt and Bruce M. about status of planning the canvas committee this year.  Barbara will give the board an update.
• Leslie is available to assist as needed.

Board changes 

• Four candidates are needed for the next board year starting July 1. Ruth, Linda and Lana will be ending their terms, and Barbara will be moving to Jackson Co. The nominating committee is Diane Hogan, Diane Ingle, and Ron. The roles of Moderator, Vice-Moderator, Treasurer, and At-Large will be open. Current board members can write up what their tasks are.  The vote for new board members will be at the congregational meeting.
• This can be discussed at the March 18 Workshop.
• Ruth will put it in the Newsletter.

Worship committee: Leslie will let the worship committee know that the $1050 speaker fees have been approved.

Zoom technology and in-person meetings:  Worship committee feels Zoom offers advantages in getting speakers, and for participation remotely for members of the congregation.

• Yolanda Zoom position job posting needed to hire a local person:  What will it cost, and should we have a sunset deadline? 
• How would we transition to a local Zoom producer/tech person who is expert in Zoom the application and the equipment. Local congregation volunteers assist will be needed.
• Diane A. will contact Linda M. about the job description and posting status.
• Barbara will need to discuss costs for equipment, hiring a technician for multi-platform and impact on the budget.
• Discussion took place for a possible schedule of alternating Zoom only and in-person only services.
• The presence of children is enhanced by in-person services, as well as being key to our in-person services. 
• Those that have been relying on Zoom have benefitted from it.  
• Attendance data is available through Ron: we're running about 20 virtual, and 15-20 in person. Who is always online? Are they online because they can't come, or they out of town, are they members.  It would be good to ask if they will come if we go in-person only for two out of four services.  We have had new members ceremonies virtually.
• It would be good to do another survey to find out the potential impact. A live survey would be good.  

March 18 Workshop: Leslie will send an email to the congregation about the workshop 3-4 pm after announcing it at the March 12 service.

Board get together on a Monday night on April 10, 6:30 pm, at Rose Park Presbyterian.  Lana will contact Rose Park Presbyterian.