Call to Order
The meeting was called to order by the Moderator, Dan Anderson.  A quorum was confirmed by the Clerk, Holly Lewis, with 44 members present.  The Rules of Order were reviewed by the Moderator.

Minutes
The minutes were approved as submitted.

Proposed Change to UUCB Bylaws
Neal McBurnett presented a proposal to change the name of the Program Planning Council to "Sunday Service Coordinating Council".  The mission statement of the Program Planning Council was read.   Some people feel that the name "Program Planning" does not adequately reflect the main activity of the council, which is to plan Sunday services.  Current members include Bob Davis, Neal McBurnett, Strider Benston, Jean Cannella, Gloria Price, Bob Gailer, Shari Storm, Renee Van Meter, Jonathan Williamson, and Rev. Jackie Ziegler.  Alan Davis provided some history.  During Forrest  Whitman's time, program planning was active but informal and loosely organized.  When Forrest left in 1993, program planning, under Paul Gibb, was thrust into the role of planning and conducting services for months, in the absence of a minister.  Over time, program planning has maintained its important and central role.
Discussion:  Concerns were raised about 1) breadth of focus, as there are many non-Sunday services planned such Christmas Eve, Solstice, 9/11, memorials, 2) role, and the desire to maintain a planning, vs strictly coordinating, role in keeping with the tradition of shared ministry,  3) losing the sense of tradition embodied in the name "Program Planning Council", as written in the original bylaws for UUCB, and 4) the process itself being more time consuming than warranted.
A straw poll was conducted asking if people would come to meetings over the next six months to discuss this, and little interest was shown.  A full discussion will thus be held at the next congregational meeting in conjunction with a bylaws proposal from program planning at that time.  In the meantime, feedback may be directed to any of the current members.

Finance Council Report
Presented by Jennifer Skiendzielewski.  See attached report.  She also mentioned the Unitarian Universalist Funding Program, a grant program funded by the UU Congregation at Shelter Rock in New York.  They have $860,000 to be given out this year through four different funds: Fund for Unitarian Universalism which aims to strengthen UU institutions and community life, Fund for International UUism to strengthen UU institutions worldwide, Fund for UU Social Responsibility to increase UU involvement in social responsibility, and Fund for a Just Society which provides grants to non-profit organizations working to create systemic social change through collective action.  Their website is www.uua.org/uufp and their email address is uufp@aol.com.
She also acknowledged an accounting error made regarding income expectations from grocery coupons this year.  The 2003-2004 budget projected $11,000 in income, and this was revised downwards to $5000.  Income realized from grocery coupons could be much higher, however.  While most participating stores return 5% to us, Liquor Mart  returns 10%.
Reed Bailey has agreed to act as treasurer through the end of this fiscal year, 6/04.

Endowment Committee Report
Presented by Elena Slusser.  See attached report.  The account is currently valued at $285,357, reflecting a recent year-end contribution.  The deadline for applications for the next granting cycle will likely be in November, 2004, rather than October, 2004.

Membership Committee Report
Presented by Barb Richards, who read the following statement:
"We would like to recommend that we hire a volunteer coordinator who will handle the placement of volunteers in the existing church committees, and do the annual canvass drive.  Since 1996, the Membership Committee has discussed the need for incorporating new members into the church as fast as possible.  If a new member doesn't feel like they belong, they won't stay.  All committees of the church are low on number of members which makes it difficult to promote the concept of shared ministry.  The same ol' work horses keep going, but we find that they get burned out and leave.  The lack of volunteers affects the functioning of the church at both ends: those coming in don't stay, and those who are over-worked go.  The volunteer coordinator would also coordinate and run the canvass drive, which would become an ongoing process, with new people joining right away, rather than waiting until the Jan-Feb drive begins each year."
The position would be part-time, 10-12 hours/week, Sept-June.  Preference is to hire within the church.  Rev. Ziegler stated that this has worked well in other churches. As yet, no one has volunteered to run this year's canvass drive.
Reed Bailey moved to recommend that the Membership Committee put in their fiscal year 2004-2005 budget money for a membership/volunteer coordinator.  Motion was seconded by Leonard Lewin.  A short discussion ensued, and then the moderator called the question.  Motion passed with 4 abstentions.

Long Range Visioning Process
Presented by Liz Case, representing the Board of Trustees.  The Board has formed a long-range visioning task force, on behalf of the congregation, with the objective of unifying the community around common goals.  To that end, a survey will be conducted, and should be received soon in the mail.  Focus groups will be created to discuss the questionaire.  Additionally, feedback forms regarding the Sunday service will be included with the order of service.  The task force plans to meet in February with the gathered information and present it to the Board.  The Board will then create a long-range plan, with a budget to support it.

Items for the Good of the Community
Barb Richards read a letter from Rev. Barbara Molfese regarding her need for formal endorsement from a UU congregation, now that she has been accepted into Preliminary Fellowship.  She would like UUCB to endorse her.  In return, she would like to develop a mutually agreeable relationship that would outline services  she would provide.  As a community minister, a primary concern for her is that she not operate out in the world without maintaining a close and reciprocal relationship with a UUA member congregation.  The Board and Rev. Ziegler are excited about this!
Also from Barb:  Many thanks to Jennifer Skiendzielewski for being treasurer extraordinaire under duress, and to Liz Case for putting together the beautiful document we're about to receive in the mail.
Bob Ford announced that 2 months ago, the Board voted to endorse the Earth Charter, and that they are urging the City Council of Boulder to adopt it as well.  Copies of the charter are  available from Bob, and can be read online at www.earthcharter.org.
Fred Cole just returned from an MDD meeting excited about the re-organization plans which promise to improve and maximize services to the district.  He reported that the recent chalice lighter call has raised $9700, the largest in history.  This call is for money to support projects in congregations which are not traditionally covered.  The first allocation of monies will be $6000 to create a congregational consulting network.   Finally, he welcomed Dan Anderson as the new moderator.

New Business
Leonard Lewin, on behalf of Daphne Lewin, requested that a few chairs be brought into the skyroom for coffee hour following the service, especially as we are being asked not to sit on the benches below the art work display.

The meeting was adjourned, in true Anderson fashion, with a blessing from the Goat God.

Respectfully submitted,


Holly Lewis, Clerk of the Congregation