FALL 2005 CMWD UUMA RETREAT
Chapter Business Meeting
Sienna Center, Racine, Wisconsin
October 13, 2005

Current Reps:
The Rev. Paul Beckel - Continuing Education
The Rev. Kelly Crocker - Youth & Young Adult Minister
The Rev. Nina D. Grey - Good Offices (Chicago)
The Rev. William Haney - Good Offices (South)
The Rev. Dr. Andrew C. Kennedy - Good Offices
The Rev. David R. Weissbard - Good Offices
The Rev. Dr. Daniel O'Connell - CMWD Board
The Rev. Roger Bertschausen - Ministerial Settlement
The Rev. Axel Gehrmann - Ministerial Settlement

Chapter Officers (At beginning of meeting. By close of meeting? Read on.):
President - Vacant
Vice President - The Rev. Dr. William C. Sasso
Secretary - The Rev. Linda S. Slabon
Treasurer - The Rev. Martin E. Woulfe

9:00 a.m. The clergy gathered. The boisterous crowd got downright unruly as we waited for the CMWD leadership to join us. A young minister, full of oats and who shall remain unnamed (initials are C.R. though), began chanting words that further incited the crowd. Something needed to be done. The Right Reverend Bill Sasso stood before the mob and said, "Let's all try to work in a constructive manner. I can count to three and you all do not want to be in a time out." Many of the ministers recognized this advanced technique for crowd control and settled down immediately.

VP Bill Sasso called the meeting to order at about 9:25 a.m. 38 ministers in attendance.

Vacant UUMA Chapter Presidency - James Hobart, the duly elected chapter president at the April 15, 2005 chapter meeting, has accepted the position of interim Congregational Services Director and will not, therefore, continue as UUMA Chapter Prez. Bill Sasso described the options that the chapter officers discussed over the summer. Someone from the ranks cried out, "If Jim goes down, his whole slate goes down with him!" While there may be merit in this suggestion, a motion to this effect was not forthcoming. In the ensuing quiet, VP Bill presented the Executive Committee's recommendation that Dave Weissbard serve a one year term as interim president and that a Nominating Committee be elected to serve through April of 2007 and present a candidate at the spring meeting to fulfill the second year of Jim's term.

Action taken: Motion by Bill Haney that Dave Weissbard serve as interim president, second by Roger Bertschausen. Motion passed unanimously.

Action taken: Motion by Paul Beckel that a Nominating Committee (Slate of David Robins, Georgette Wonders, and Daniel O'Connell) serve until April of 2007, second by Martin Woulfe. Motion passed unanimously. The secretary dutifully records that while Tony Larsen voted in favor of the motion, he stated that he is fraught fully filled with dubious agreement.

Electronic Communications (Scott Prinster): Scott requested that everyone check the email list and add those who may be interested in connecting. Scott promised to work on completing a chapter web page. CMWD-UUMA.org site exists but nothing on it just now. Send info that may be appropriate.

Minutes from the Spring meeting (April, 2005) were distributed and reviewed.

Action taken: Motion by Drew Kennedy, second by Roger B. that the minutes be accepted. Motion passed unanimously.

Treasurer's Report (Martin Wolfe): We are not broke. There is a reserve balance in excess of $600. Expenditures are up to date. Mundelein refunded us $1200. If we do not hold a retreat there in the next 12 months we lose $2000. Martin approached a related organization with the suggestion that they use the site, use our deposit and refund part or all of our funds to us. We could at this point refund student's dues and still have over $2500 in the bank. Martin's recommendations: Increase travel equalization fund to $800. Add a second signatory on our account.

Action taken: Motion by Dave W., second by Emily Gage that we refund the $30 chapter dues to students and ministers in need. Motion passed unanimously.

Action taken: Motion by Roger B, second by Emily G., that Martin negotiate with Mundelein on our behalf. Tabled until later in the meeting.

Action taken: Motion by Gordon Gibson, second by Randy Becker that we rescind the dues rate increase (Increase from $30 to $50 was proposed at the Spring 2005 meeting.) Motion passed unanimously.

Action taken: Motion by Dave W., second by Roger B. that the secretary serve as the second signatory for CMWD UUMA accounts. Motion passed unanimously.

Action taken: Motion by Emily G., second by Daniel O'Connell that travel equalization be increased from $600 to $800. Motion passed unanimously.

Unsolicited, the clergy broke into swells of acclaim and applause for the excellent job done by Martin.

Program Committee (Scott Prinster): Proposal that we add a third gathering to the two (October & April) that we currently hold. Recommendation that this would be a retreat for personal renewal or professional development, NOT a meeting. A straw poll demonstrated interest. It was suggested that the retreat be scheduled in such a way so as to encourage participation by community ministers, (e.g. over a weekend). Discussion ensued about expectations for attendance. Possible cycle:

Fall - Professional development - Attendance expected
Winter - Retreat 2007 - Available, but attendance optional.
Spring - Collegial gathering with DRE's and CMWD Annual Meeting. Attendance expected. With the time commitment, might we make the spring meeting a day shorter?

Action taken: The body of ministers request that the Program Committee take the information and present specific program options at the Spring meeting (April 2006).

Action taken: Remove tabled motion. New motion by Dave W., second by Emily G., authorizing Treasurer, Martin W., to recoup the $2000 deposit from Mundelein "by whatever means necessary." (Question - How well do we really know Martin?) We will not return to Mundelein. Motion passed unanimously.

District Board & Staff Reports

Emily Gage - As would be expected, prominent issue is Angela's resignation and finding an interim. The Search Committee for new CSD is almost complete. Currently searching for a lay leader from central Illinois area. Hope to have new CSD by April, and introduce this person at the annual meeting. This CSD job is made for workaholics. Overwork and under-compensation contributed to Angela's leaving. Also we need more consultants. Don't expect the staff to be at our beck and call. We need to provide cluster workshops led by skilled lay leaders or clergy. Consider volunteering. Congregations may be expected to pay a fee for consulting services. There is much Board turnover as well. Rev. Chip Rausch will be serving on the CMWD Board.

Daniel O'Connell - Reports good feelings about Harlan Limpert at UUA, Director of Congregational Services. Carol Hosmer, District Office Manager, is planning to retire as soon as January, 2006.

Dori Davenport - UUA investing in denomination wide consultation with congregations about how we minister to and with youth. District news packet out on Friday. January surveys will go out to the youth. Need support from us to get them to fill out these surveys. In April-May there will be conversations with youth about youth ministry needs, especially with those not involved in the con culture. Then, in 2006-2007 we plan to talk about this issue at the district level. In Summer 2007 there will be a summit on youth ministry.

Chalice Lighter Committee - Jim Hobart was chair, Patsy Sherrill Madden took a year hiatus, and another member resigned. The committee is looking to rebuild. Daniel O'Connell recommends more PR for Chalice Lighters on the website including the history and examples of successful grant applications. There are 12,000 UUs in the district and only 800 chalice lighters. We need your help to grow this program. Julie Denny-Hughes and Darryl volunteered to serve on this committee.

The model for working with congregations that has been used in our district is Transformational Leadership. Dori will email clergy and ask for responses to trainings and workshops experienced in other districts.

November 1st is deadline for us to send proposals for GA - Submit programs used in your congregations that could be used by other congregations. Send proposals to Dori.

Exciting news: 1st Society Madison selected as a breakthrough congregation!!

April 21-23 is District Meeting in Madison

2007 District Meeting will be in south/central IL

Thanks and applause for Dori!!

Jim Hobart - There are a number of upcoming ceremonial events, start-up events, and program opportunities. Take advantage of options offered. Agree with and emphasize Emily's concern: We need to quit working our staff to death.

UUMA Exec (Randy Becker): GA is a day earlier and Minister's days will be a day earlier, beginning Monday evening, June 19, and will be minister's days only. Other groups (LREDA, UUMN) will have their own event. Center Program on Tuesday.

References continues to be an ongoing issue of concern. Need to provide names from all previous settlements. A congregation can ask of references, "Is there anyone else I should speak with?" They can talk with anyone they want without notifying you.

Tracks - You are trained in MINISTRY. Once in preliminary fellowship, if you have a majority of experience in an area, you will get specialized. You are not bound in the fellowship process to a specialization.

MUUC/MUUF retains all the $$ from the Western conference and bequest funds. Funds distributed to those in need.

Be aware that the fair compensation grid is based on area wages, NOT on living costs in that region.

Good Offices: No News

Ministerial Settlement:

Roger B. working with Geneva, Milwaukee, and Mukwanago.
Axel G. working with Appleton and Rockford.

Drew Kennedy raised a concern about our covenant with one another for attendance at our events. The program committee is asked to build in a discussion on this topic.

Effusive thanks and thunderous applause rose from the body as a colleague noted the excellent job that Georgette Wonders did guiding us through the discussion on polyamory.

Meeting adjourned to closing worship led by the Rev. Dr. Lindsay Bates.

Respectfully submitted,
Rev. Linda S. Slabon, Secretary