On September 19, 2009, the NoVES Board of Directors met at the home of Mary Ellen and Andy Stanton. Present at the meeting were President Hank Gassner, Vice President Mary Ellen Stanton, Secretary Andy Stanton, Mary Bellamy, Karen Raymond Hart, Carole Rubin, and Leader Jone Johnson Lewis. Treasurer Sven Sinclair and Marianne Moerman did not attend.
After a candle lighting and go round, the Board approved the minutes of the previous Board meeting and reviewed the To Do list to see what had been done since the last meeting. Among the items noted were that our contract with Green Hedges for 09-10 had been finalized and signed. The Board was informed that Mike McManious and Howie Kallem had purchased a new wireless microphone for NoVES. The Board expressed its appreciation to Mike and Howie for their help with this.
Jone then gave her Leader report. She spoke about a panel discussion she was invited to attend on “How to be good without God” at a liberal Lutheran church. NoVES had a literature table and several young Ethical Humanists were there. Jone thought it would be a good idea to have a committee dealing with how to attract younger people to our Society. She said that Mary Herman of WES (Washington Ethical Society), who is currently undergoing Leadership training, will do some work for NoVES this year and would like to work with our festivals committee and leadership committee. She would also like to attend at least one Board meeting. The Board agreed to this. Jone noted that on October 11 there will be a rally on the Mall in D.C. , following a march at noon, on behalf of National Equality Month, which promotes equal rights for gay people. Jone suggested that we send at least one or two people to carry the NoVES banner at the march and encourage other NoVES members and friends to attend the rally after Platform. The Board agreed to use the NoVES banner at this event.
Jone then presented a Learning Component about congregation growth. What message do we convey to the surrounding community about our mission and purpose? Most Board members said we’d like to be more activist than we are now in the area of social justice Could we combine with other groups on big ethical action projects?
Hank gave the treasurer’s report on Sven’s behalf. He said that we currently have $57,000 in pledges for 09-10 and expect to eventually get $59,000 from existing members, with the hope of getting an additional amount from any new members. This is $2,000 less than the budgeted amount. Hank reported that our income from the work of our officiants is up. The Board felt that we would like to have another officiant. Hank presented the president’s report. He mentioned that new badges will be provided to all new members and to existing members on a replacement basis. Hank said there had been proposals to amend the By Laws. The Board agreed to consider the proposals once we establish a method for eliciting input from NoVES members in connection with a survey.
The Board discussed a possible year end schedule and agreed to have the membership meeting on May 16, after the Platform, which will start at 10:30 instead of 11. Sunday School recognition will take place on May 23 and our last meeting will be on June 13, when we will have recognition Sunday.
Carole then spoke about an hour-long teleconference that she, Hank and Jone had with a representative from the Alban Institute about a NoVES survey. The Alban representative recommended an oral survey using focus groups. The Board decided to seek more information about possible focus groups from NoVES members with experience in this area, WES and the American Ethical Union.
The Board dealt with several additional issues. It decided that more details were needed about a proposal made by a NoVES member to sell fair trade coffee and chocolate at the book table. It agreed to the contract terms requested by the Director of Religious Education, Lynn Konnerth. It discussed the functions of a personnel committee and agreed to revisit this issue at the next meeting. Finally the Board approved a appreciation ceremony for last year’s Leader in training, Hugh Taft-Morales, on November 1, when he is scheduled to speak at NoVES. A luncheon with Hugh may also take place after the Platform.
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