Purpose/Agenda Item

Action/Result

Person(s)

Responsible

Due Date/ Completed

Transition/Chalice Lighting &Opening Remarks

Rev. Dowgiert opened the meeting by asking those in attendance to take turns reading the Covenant of Right Relations so that we might embody its principles during the course of the meeting. John Schaefer agreed to print up 12 copies for posting with the goal of eventually having copies in all meeting rooms.

John Schaefer

Consent Item/Minutes

The MOTION to approve the minutes of the July 28, 2009 board meeting as amended to correct the header was seconded and passed. Board members consented to distribution of the draft minutes to chairs of the following committees: Nominating, Ministry, and Finance, the Empowerment Team and Board. Final minutes approved by the board will be sent to the web master for posting on web.

Linda Selsor

Informational/Minister’s & Performance Reports

Reverend Dowgiert distributed the combined minister’s and empowerment team report for review and entertained questions. Items of particular note related to property. Owners of two lots in Douglas, valued at about $220 per lot, would like to donate them to No More Deaths (NMD). Representatives from NMD have looked at the property and would like it. The Empowerment Team will explore what needs to be done and bring the issue back before the board if they determine we should acquire the property. At a meeting of the church’s neighborhood association, permission was sought for changing the neighborhood Covenants, Codes and Regulations (CC & R’s) to allow use of Lot 6 for a Buddhist temple. Buyers of the property need to get notarized signatures from neighbors in order for changes in the CC& R’s to allow use of the property for a temple.

MOTION: The Board authorizes the president to provide a notarized signature authorizing the change of CC & R’s for the neighborhood to designate lot 6 for use as a temple. The motion was seconded and passed.

Empowerment Team

Fran Brazzell

Informational/Financial Report

Treasurer Margot Garcia summarized the first financial report for the new fiscal year which integrated No More Deaths. This increased the budget by approximately $100,000. The cash position is good thanks to members that pledged ahead. The church took in $8,000 more than expended. NMD spent more than they took in but they have a substantial balance. Expenditures are coming down. For example, this was the last month to pay for ads. More expense cuts are anticipated and there is hope of reinstating salary cuts. Given the addition of NMD to the budget and anticipated cuts in expenditures, Margot Garcia recommended that we have a congregational meeting to approve a revised budget. As budgets are a projection of anticipated expenses and the NMD change didn’t impact the bottom line, a congregational meeting to revise the budget did not seem necessary; however, the board agreed that the congregation needed to be informed of the change. Margot Garcia agreed to write an article for newsletter and get a pulpit announcement to Rev. Dowgiert regarding the change in the budget. An e-mail will also be sent to congregants.

Margot Garcia

Rev. Dowgiert

Informational/Board Retreat

The board retreat will be this coming Saturday, August 29^th from 8:30 to 12 or 12:30 at Fran Brazzell’s house; she will send e-mail directions.

Fran Brazzell

Discussion/ No More Deaths

Before addressing concerns raised relative to NMD, Rev. Dowgiert reviewed the history of UUCT’s involvement in the formation of NMD and sited recent successes to celebrate. While there has been a public story about NMD volunteers sited for littering, and our member, Walt Stanton, being convicted and sentenced. There is a back story. 50 faith-based and environmental groups signed on to a letter sent to the Department of the Interior, President Obama, Congressional representatives and officials overseeing the Buenos Aires Wild Life Refuge. Representatives of NMD met with Ken Salazar, Secretary of the Interior, and the Regional Director of Fish and Wild Life; another meeting is scheduled and there appears to be progress. The new administration seems open to working collaboratively with NMD to prevent deaths in the desert. There have been editorials and/or articles in the New York Times, on CNN and in the Tucson Weekly in favor of the work of NMD.

By establishing NMD as a ministry of UUCT, the congregation achieved two benchmarks in the strategic plan—forging a relationship with an agency doing either humanitarian or environmental work and broadening UUCT’s profile in broader UUA community. It was clear at the General Assembly that UUCT’s ministry with NMD has raised awareness among congregations about deaths in the desert. UUCT is not alone in this ministry; we have the support of the UUA and many congregations. The Empowerment Team researched the request from NMD. The UUA advised that the only legal way to set up the relationship was by establishing NMD as a ministry of the church.

Since establishing NMD as a ministry of the church, questions and concerns have been raised relative to the impact of NMD’s actions on the church’s tax status, liability coverage and financial accountability—particularly from the Finance Committee. Yet, final documents outlining the understanding between NMD and UUCT, the policies and procedures governing the relationship and clarification on questions raised in the past, have not been readily available and/or clarified sufficiently to allay concerns. The Finance Committee reiterated these concerns in a paper presented to the board which incorporated recommendations to seek professional outside consultation with a CPA and an attorney familiar with non-profits to help determine how to re-design the financial records and to assure that the relationship is in compliance with federal law and regulations relative to UUCT’s not for profit status. As a first step, the committee recommended a joint meeting with the Empowerment Team, Finance Committee, No More Deaths and the Board of Trustees.

Considerable discussion ensued regarding the Board and Empowerment Teams relative roles with respect to clarifying issues regarding NMD, the implications of policy governance, and overall accountability for risks associated with NMD or any other ministry of the church. While many questions regarding NMD may have been addressed, communication has not been optimal. The consensus was to act on the Finance Committee’s recommendation to organize a meeting with NMD for the purposes of building personal relationships between UUCT and NMD, learning about our respective operations, and addressing questions and concerns. Fran Brazzell agreed to organize the meeting and invite all parties; she will follow-up with Board members to identify possible meeting dates.

Fran Brazzell

Transition/Closing Remarks

Rev. Dowgiert closed by calling back to the Covenant of Right Relations among the board and the larger congregation.