Strategic Plan: Annual Implementation, Year 2, FY 2013-2014 2/18/13 GOAL 1 Grow and diversify our membership. Activity 1: Get assistance from someone outside of UUCR to help us understand our barriers by conducting an audit of current church culture, practices, and physical spaces. (Obj.1.1) Lead: CPC Tom Rowe Cost: $200 new budget to be submitted to Finance 1. Establish definitions for audits of physical space, current church culture and practices as they affect welcoming and sustaining members. 2. Identify volunteer auditor(s) for physical space audit from within UUCR and/or other local churches. To be completed in To be completed in 3. Conduct audit of physical space. To be completed in 4. Draft report To be completed in 5. Identify volunteer auditor(s) for church culture and To be 1 P a g e
practices audit from within UUCR and/or other local churches. 6. Conduct audit of culture and practices as they affect welcoming and sustaining members. completed in To be completed in 7. Draft report X 8. Final report X Activity 2: Improve accessibility of UUCR activities and welcoming and nurturing practices based on barriers audit. Lead: Lay Ministry Council Cost: Unknown 1. Review the report and recommend practices X Activity 3: Identify creative new ways to publicize sermon titles and music. Lead: Worship Arts, Web team Cost: Unknown 1. Brainstorm ideas at Worship Committee Meetings and make presentation to BoardNeed Activity X Activity 4: Get assistance to assess needs of central 2 P a g e
Montgomery County that might be filled by UUCR. Lead: Unknown Cost: Unknown 1. Need Activity Activity 5: Identify and regularly take advantage of ways to make UUCR a public church by enhancing its visibility in the community, specifically by creating links with the interfaith community and other groups. Lead: Lay Ministry Council Cost: Unknown 1. Get involved in interdenominational organizations, (e.g. community Ministry of Rockville, Interface Works) Activity 6: Hire a membership coordinator and establish a volunteer membership team to oversee visitor relations and membership growth. (Obj 1.2) Lead: Membership committee Cost:? 1. Hire Membership Coordinator Completed 2. Establish volunteer membership team to oversee visitor Completed 3 P a g e
relations and membership growth (Nancy Gregory) Activity 7: Design and implement a thorough welcoming process for visitors from their first contact through integration into the congregation. Lead: Membership Coordinator Cost: Unknown 1. Develop the process 2. Implementation Activity 8: Acquire headset microphone(s) for the sound system to allow greater freedom of movement by Minister and other speakers. (Obj 1.1) Lead: Worship Committee Cost:? 1. Purchase headset mic(s) Completed 2. Train Minister, Intern, Worship Com in proper use Completed Activity 9: Test the viability and sustainability of a regular Saturday vespers service. (Objective 1.1) Lead: Nathan Ryan-Ministerial intern, Worship Com, Intern 4 P a g e
Com Cost:? 1. Monthly vespers services implemented Completed 2. Establish criteria for success Completed 3. Evaluate success of vespers services Completed Activity 10: Publicity/ membership/ volunteer coordinator hired to help attract prospective members and involve them and newer members in our congregational life by, among other things, publicizing our signature social justice program, coordinating our outreach to Montgomery College, and matching people with our volunteer opportunities. (Objectives 1.1, 3.2) Lead: Board and staff Cost: $9,302; Above FY12 budget 1. Job description and staff realignment approved by Board. Completed 2. Search committee formed Completed 5 P a g e
3. Positions advertised Completed 4. Application deadline Completed 5. Review applications/phone interviews Completed 6. Face-to-face interviews Completed 7. Make offer Completed Activity 11: Establish wireless access throughout the UUCR buildings (Objective 1.1) Lead: Web team and staff Cost:? 1. Expand wireless access to all UUCR buildings Completed 2. Strengthen signal to all parts of UUCR campus Completed Activity 12: Contract for a professional assessment of the acoustics in the sanctuary and identify possible physical 6 P a g e
improvements. (Objective 1.1) Lead: Building and Grounds/Sound Team Cost: Conultation $2,500 1. Write RFP for project X 2. Identify contractor X Activity 13: Assess the potential for projection equipment in the sanctuary for use during worship and special events. (Objective 1.1) Lead: Building and Grounds/Sound Team Cost: $20,000 1. Identify equipment needs and affordability X 2. Write RFP for project X Activity 14: Acquire a new pulpit that will accommodate the varying needs of its many users. Lead: Worship Arts Team Cost: Unknown 1. Research best options and purchase a new pulpit XB 7 P a g e
Activity 15: Increase width of chancel stairs Lead: Building and Grounds/Staff Cost: $8,500 1. Write RFP for project X 2. Compete Project X 8 P a g e
GOAL 2 Strengthen and enhance congregational practices that support and connect all members and friends. Activity 16: Complete revision of the UUCR website to realize our vision of a home page that is an online visitor s center and make the site easier to update and use. Develop policies for using and communicating through the website. (Objective 2.1) Lead: Web Development Team, Board Nancy Gregory, Lisa Smith, Irene Eckstrand Cost: $15,000 1. Restructure Web team. DONE Year 1 2. RFP sent to prospective consultants DONE Year 1 3. Proposals due to Web Development Team DONE Year 1 4. Choose web developer DONE Year 1 5. Create new design and functions (test) Completed 6. Identify and train UUCR content leads X 9 P a g e
7. Upload content (test) X 8. Unveil site X 9. Establish appropriate division of labor between volunteer Webmaster/mistress with responsibility for site maintenance, staff member(s) with content management responsibility, and those who will post content to the website. (Objective 2.1) X Activity 17: Investigate leadership development programs available through the UUA, Joseph Priestley District (JPD), and other districts, and provide information to the Program (Lay Ministry) Council. (Objective 2.2) Lead: Staff Cost: $0 1. Provide all lay leaders with information on how to access District and UUA mailing lists and training information (Program Council Chair) Completed Activity 18: Create or revitalize social activities that bring generations together and build a stronger family orientation in our programming. Lead: Volunteers Cost: Unknown 10 P a g e
1. Plan and have an all church retreat X 2. Plan and have an all church Picnic (June) Completed 11 P a g e
GOAL 3 Improve UUCR governance and staffing. Activity 19: Restructure Program Council into a Lay Ministry Council (Objective 2.2 and 3.1) Lead: Fran Lowe leads Board, Program Council, and Minister Cost: $300; Board budget 1. Plan and prepare for new leadership development training for Lay Ministry Council and other leadership roles. (Objective 2.2) 2. Finalize proposal with Minister and Council and submit to Board for approval 3. Educate Congregation about lay ministry through quest, sermon, talks on Sundays and create Application (Lynn) DONE - in DONE in DONE in 4. Receive Applications and Conduct Interviews (Lynn) DONE in 5. Recommend & Select Lay Ministers (Lynn, Board) DONE in 6. Conduct Lay Ministry Training (Lynn lead, Intern Minister, Fran assist) 7. Plan transition from current Program Council to Lay Ministry Council (Lynn lead, Intern Minister, Lay Ministers DONE in DONE in 12 P a g e
with Program Council) Activity 20: Provide the Board with recommendations/proposal on an appropriate committee/team structure to support the Board in the functions of nominating, governance, and leadership development. Governance would include parliamentary guidance, congregational meeting facilitation, and board member training. (Objective 3.1) Lead: Vice President, Lay Ministry Council Cost:? 1. Quest article announce open positions, recruit volunteers X 2. Identify volunteers for elections in 2013 X 3. Prepare and post slate for 2012 elections (include bios); Submit candidate information to Quest 4. Hold elections at 2013 annual meeting 5. Make selections Select After annual meeting, new Board and new NC identify Board support needed re governance best practices and/or leadership recruitment and development 6. Develop a plan/assignments to provide leadership/governance support to Board and share plan with Board for feedback 13 P a g e
7. Begin implementation of research, recruitment, meeting facilitation training and other projects concerning leadership and governance support. Activity 21: Fill all current staff vacancies: Publication and Communications Office Assistant (part time) and Building Manager (part time professional). (Objective 3.2) Lead: Board and staff Cost:? ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH STAFF REALIGNMENT DESCRIBED UNDER GOAL 1. DONE - in 14 P a g e
GOAL 4 Cultivate UUCR s spiritual practice of engaging both the congregation and the wider community as a leader and partner in social change. Activity 22: Select a multi-year church-wide social justice programstarted by the Social Justice Empowerment Workshop. (Objective 4.2) Year 2 Goal Lead: Social Justice Committee Cost:? 1. DONE in 2. DONE in 3. Execute LGBTQ activities. 3a. Advocate for marriage equality at state level DONE in 3b. Living the Welcoming Congregation DONE in 4. Execute Immigration activities. 4a. Advocate for Dream Act at state level DONE in 15 P a g e
Activity 23: Create a process for encouraging and evaluating proposals for subsequent congregation-wide social justice programs. (Objective 4.2) Year Two Goal Lead: Social Justice Committee Cost: 1. Discuss draft process at Council meeting X 2. Finalize draft of the process to present to the Board X 3. Incorporate Board comments, finalize the process and publicize to the congregation with time for their comments and proposed changes 4. Publicize the process in Quest, after the service at lobby tables, and invite prospective groups to come to the Social Justice Committee metetings to discuss. 5. Schedule a vote on the process at the Mid-Year Congregational meeting 6. Request proposals for new congregation-wide social justice efforts. 7. Congregation votes on new SJ efforts X Activity 24: Develop a Green Sanctuary certification plan with twelve projects to submit to Board. (Objective 4.1) Lead: Social Justice Committee Antonio Carrillo and Teri Barr Cost: $ 900; In SJC budget X X X X 16 P a g e
1. Publish GS Survey Results DONE in 2. Meet with relevant committees to discuss results and potential projects 3. Finalize list of 12 projects and complete draft GS Certification Plan, including Communications Plan DONE in DONE in 4. Brief Council and Finance Committee on draft GS Plan DONE in 5. Provide draft GS Plan to the Board DONE in 6. Submit the GS Application to the UUA. DONE in 7. Make modifications requested by the UUA, if any, within 30 days of receipt DONE in 8. Implement the Green Sanctuary Plan In Progress 8a. Complete two environmentally themed worship services per year (September 2014) 8b. Celebration of nature through art exhibit (September 2014) In Progress In Progress 17 P a g e
8c. Sponsor environmental films and book discussion series (September 2014) In Progress 8d. Adopt a road youth project (September 2014) In Progress 8e. Conduct a series of family environmental field trips (September 2014) 8f. Increase awareness in the congregation about environmental justice 8g. Begin improving the ecological health of our community and promote justice for those affected by mountaintop removed coal by exploring the feasibility of installing solar panels on UUCR s roofs (September 2014) 8h. Educate members of the congregation and the community on the benefits of conserving and using less energy as a personal action each of us can take to help address climate change. (September 2014) 8i. Advocate for renewable energy at state and federal levels and among congregation members (September 2014) 8j. Improve/assess/educate on recycling, reduction of goods, and re-use to reduce the amount of trash and plastics both at the church and in the home. (September 2014) X In Progress DONE in In Progress In Progress In Progress In Progress 8k. Educate members of the congregation and the In Progress 18 P a g e
community on the benefits of using sustainable features in landscaping as a means to conserve water, reduce runoff, benefit wildlife, and minimize damage to streams. (September 2014) 8l. Raise awareness and educate people through books, discussions and films about ethical eating. (September 2014) In Progress Activity 25: Use internet-based social media to better connect UUCR with the larger community, including prospective members and friends, and engage on important social justice issues. (Objective 4.1) Lead: Web team and staff Cost: 0 1. Determine how to best link UUCR SJ activities with outside organizations X 19 P a g e