Unitarian Universalist Church of Buffalo Annual Congregational Report 2014
Membership Coordinator Christine Derby-Cuadrado
WELCOMING and HOSPITALITY · 168 Visitor information request sheets (increase of 51 requests over last year).
· Buddy System created and implemented in October and so far has been successful.
· We have 8 members who rotate volunteering at the Welcome Table.
MEMBERSHIP
New Member Potluck held in July.
Membership Team met 9 times and held one training program.
Total of 18 New Members, 1 Reaffirmed.
In July there was a switch from a one step approach to membership to a two step process. “Discovering UU”, which combined an introduction to the Unitarian Universalist faith and the opportunity to join, was used in the previous year up through June 2013. In July 2013 we began the two step process to membership. The first step, “Explore UU” is an introduction to the UU faith plus provides participants with specific ways to become connected to the UU Church of Buffalo. The “Explore UU class” is a prerequisite to the second step which is the “Membership Commitment” Class.
In the former “Discover UU” Class we had on average half the people commit to membership with some occasional status retraction. With the new process participants learn about the UUCB and become connected through the first class, “Explore UU.” After, if they want to commit, they take the second part of the process, the “Membership Commitment” class. In all three of the “Membership Commitment” classes we have 100% commitment and currently none have retracted status. Though we have less new members compared to the previous year those who committed were already involved and are staying.
From Jan.- June: One “Discover UU” class was held. 6 participated, 3 committed to membership, 1 to “friend” status and two did not commit to membership. Of that group we had one retraction.
From July – Dec.: Six “Explore UU” classes were held with 30 participants total.
From July-Jan4th: Three “Membership Commitment” classes were held. 15 people attended and all committed (1 was a reaffirmation).
Membership Coordinator Christine Derby-Cuadrado
WELCOMING and HOSPITALITY · 168 Visitor information request sheets (increase of 51 requests over last year).
· Buddy System created and implemented in October and so far has been successful.
· We have 8 members who rotate volunteering at the Welcome Table.
MEMBERSHIP
New Member Potluck held in July.
Membership Team met 9 times and held one training program.
Total of 18 New Members, 1 Reaffirmed.
In July there was a switch from a one step approach to membership to a two step process. “Discovering UU”, which combined an introduction to the Unitarian Universalist faith and the opportunity to join, was used in the previous year up through June 2013. In July 2013 we began the two step process to membership. The first step, “Explore UU” is an introduction to the UU faith plus provides participants with specific ways to become connected to the UU Church of Buffalo. The “Explore UU class” is a prerequisite to the second step which is the “Membership Commitment” Class.
In the former “Discover UU” Class we had on average half the people commit to membership with some occasional status retraction. With the new process participants learn about the UUCB and become connected through the first class, “Explore UU.” After, if they want to commit, they take the second part of the process, the “Membership Commitment” class. In all three of the “Membership Commitment” classes we have 100% commitment and currently none have retracted status. Though we have less new members compared to the previous year those who committed were already involved and are staying.
From Jan.- June: One “Discover UU” class was held. 6 participated, 3 committed to membership, 1 to “friend” status and two did not commit to membership. Of that group we had one retraction.
From July – Dec.: Six “Explore UU” classes were held with 30 participants total.
From July-Jan4th: Three “Membership Commitment” classes were held. 15 people attended and all committed (1 was a reaffirmation).