Annual Administrator’s Report
January 26, 2014 Congregational Meeting
I begin writing my Annual Report each year by reviewing the reports from the previous year. I find it encouraging reading about what the church wanted to accomplish in 2013 and reflect on everything that has been done. This year I was able to notice the changes before even opening my report from 2013. The file was in the format Open Office where as during 2013 the church upgraded to Microsoft Office. It is subtle changes like this that underscore just how far the church has come as we enter the final stretch of the search process. Below are some highlighted happenings at the UUCB office during 2013. Another report is also in this packet that is meant to update the congregation on the capital repair list approved during the June 2013 Congregational Meeting. As always, the church office is available to answer any questions about what is included in these reports.
The most significant change to office is the bookkeeping of the church has become a professionalized position rather than being contracted out. I would like to personally thank Brian Krauss for his work over the past eight years as the church’s contract accountant. His professionalism and attention to detail has been an asset to the church. In July Donna Sentz was hired to become the staff bookkeeper as a half time position. It has been a pleasure working with her as her duties have quickly increased through the months to include reconciling deposits, running payroll, as well other general administrative duties. I look forward to Donna’s expanding role as she settles into the position and pleased that the church office has the added coverage. The added staffing has increased the likelihood of someone being present at the church when a member stops and it is wonderful that we are available to serve our congregation in that capacity.
The ability to have staff onsite more often and the scheduling system the church has adopted has allowed for a greater ability to utilize the church to its fullest potential. The church board has also recently considered a policy on building usage that once adopted will further clarify the direction the office should take when allowing groups to use the facility. This clarification has allowed the office to drastically increase the number of rentals, church group meetings, and other various events held at the church. The UUCB currently has a dance group meeting twice per month, a yoga class that meets very early in the morning, six weekly AA/NA meetings, Family Promise, as well as many other groups. Sara Kirkland has been wonderful at setting up, tearing down, and preparing the church in a timely fashion for all of the various events. Her diligent work ethic is to be commended and it is wonderful the church has such a dedicated and hardworking sexton. This has led to an overall increase in rental income during 2013 while continuing heavy usage of the facility for church functions. It is truly wonderful to see a church that is able to have so much vitality on days other than Sunday.
As stated earlier in the report a capital improvement update is in this packet however I would like to quickly address the maintenance issues of the UUCB as the final item of this report. Kurt Vonnegut once said, “Another flaw in the human character is that everybody wants to build and nobody wants to do maintenance.” The roof will always find a new place to leak and the furnace problems during the winter of 2013/14 have become almost comical. The church historically has repaired what was necessary and held off on improving, what some would consider, optional maintenance items. It is my belief that the proactive step taken at the June 2013 Congregational Meeting to improve areas of the church and ambitiously “do maintenance” on items such as the elevator and furnace rather than making the bare minimum repairs will eventually pay dividends. Displaying that the church is willing to take the steps to improve the church rather than try to find a band aid to put over maintenance issues is a powerful step forward and should assist in finding the best possible settled minister.
Joshua Layton
January 26, 2014 Congregational Meeting
I begin writing my Annual Report each year by reviewing the reports from the previous year. I find it encouraging reading about what the church wanted to accomplish in 2013 and reflect on everything that has been done. This year I was able to notice the changes before even opening my report from 2013. The file was in the format Open Office where as during 2013 the church upgraded to Microsoft Office. It is subtle changes like this that underscore just how far the church has come as we enter the final stretch of the search process. Below are some highlighted happenings at the UUCB office during 2013. Another report is also in this packet that is meant to update the congregation on the capital repair list approved during the June 2013 Congregational Meeting. As always, the church office is available to answer any questions about what is included in these reports.
The most significant change to office is the bookkeeping of the church has become a professionalized position rather than being contracted out. I would like to personally thank Brian Krauss for his work over the past eight years as the church’s contract accountant. His professionalism and attention to detail has been an asset to the church. In July Donna Sentz was hired to become the staff bookkeeper as a half time position. It has been a pleasure working with her as her duties have quickly increased through the months to include reconciling deposits, running payroll, as well other general administrative duties. I look forward to Donna’s expanding role as she settles into the position and pleased that the church office has the added coverage. The added staffing has increased the likelihood of someone being present at the church when a member stops and it is wonderful that we are available to serve our congregation in that capacity.
The ability to have staff onsite more often and the scheduling system the church has adopted has allowed for a greater ability to utilize the church to its fullest potential. The church board has also recently considered a policy on building usage that once adopted will further clarify the direction the office should take when allowing groups to use the facility. This clarification has allowed the office to drastically increase the number of rentals, church group meetings, and other various events held at the church. The UUCB currently has a dance group meeting twice per month, a yoga class that meets very early in the morning, six weekly AA/NA meetings, Family Promise, as well as many other groups. Sara Kirkland has been wonderful at setting up, tearing down, and preparing the church in a timely fashion for all of the various events. Her diligent work ethic is to be commended and it is wonderful the church has such a dedicated and hardworking sexton. This has led to an overall increase in rental income during 2013 while continuing heavy usage of the facility for church functions. It is truly wonderful to see a church that is able to have so much vitality on days other than Sunday.
As stated earlier in the report a capital improvement update is in this packet however I would like to quickly address the maintenance issues of the UUCB as the final item of this report. Kurt Vonnegut once said, “Another flaw in the human character is that everybody wants to build and nobody wants to do maintenance.” The roof will always find a new place to leak and the furnace problems during the winter of 2013/14 have become almost comical. The church historically has repaired what was necessary and held off on improving, what some would consider, optional maintenance items. It is my belief that the proactive step taken at the June 2013 Congregational Meeting to improve areas of the church and ambitiously “do maintenance” on items such as the elevator and furnace rather than making the bare minimum repairs will eventually pay dividends. Displaying that the church is willing to take the steps to improve the church rather than try to find a band aid to put over maintenance issues is a powerful step forward and should assist in finding the best possible settled minister.
Joshua Layton