Minutes of the Joseph Priestley District Annual Meeting

Timonium, Maryland, April 13, 2002

 

Call to Order.  The meeting was called to order by Evelyn Spurgin (Annapolis), President, at 3:15 p.m.  Evelyn thanked members of the district staff, especially Tina Sanchis, and board of directors member the Rev. Paul Maiorano, for organizing the spring conference.

 

Minutes.  Minutes of the April 7, 2001 Annual Meeting were accepted with one correction: In item3(d), “college age Unitarians” should read “college age Unitarian Universalists”.

 

LGBT.  Margaret Albamonte, Co-Chair of the LGBT Concerns Committee, presented the committee’s report and made an announcement.

 

Staff Reports.  District Executive the Rev. Dr. Richard Speck, Acting Lifespan Religious Education Consultant the Rev. Virginia Jarocha-Ernst, Growth Consultant Bob Johnsen, and CampUUs Organizer Kim Mason gave brief oral reports (see the 2002 Annual Reports for their written reports).  Kim reported that $2015.25 was raised for campus ministry at the Bridging Ceremony held earlier in the afternoon.

 

APF.  Pete Fontneau (Accotink), Annual Program Fund Chair, gave his report and recognized the following congregations for their cultures of generosity as exemplified by their fifteen or more consecutive years of meeting their APF full fair shares: Annapolis, Baltimore, Harford County, Greater Cumberland, Easton, Thomas Paine, Main Line, Delaware County, Restoration, BuxMont, West Chester, Bull Run, and Shenandoah Valley.

 

Chalice Lighters.  Elyse Reznick (Wilmington), Extension Committee Chair, recognized the following congregations with Chalice Lighter participation rates of 40% or more: South Jersey Shore, Easton, Main Line, River Road, Davies, Salisbury, BuxMont, Bowie, Shenandoah Valley, and Sterling; and recognized the following congregations with Chalice Light participation rates of 50% or more: Southern Delaware, Cedarhurst, and Cumberland Valley.

 

Compensation Consultant.  Peter Liveright (Towson), Compensation Consultant, gave his report and recognized congregations (among those responding to a survey) that follow the UUA fair compensation guidelines: Baltimore, Sterling, River Road, and Rockville; and that are committed to following the guidelines in the future: Delaware County, All Souls, Frederick, BuxMont, Hagerstown, Main Line, Lehigh Valley, Davies, Southern Maryland, Lower Bucks, Thomas Paine, Centre County, Annapolis, Cedarhurst, and Harrisburg.

 

MSR.  The Rev. Carol Taylor, Ministerial Settlement Representative (north), reported on behalf of herself and John Hansman (MSR, south; Cedar Lane).

 

Awards.  JPD Secretary Dave Hunter (Delaware County), on behalf of the Awards Committee and JPD board member David Chandler (Main Line), presented the district’s first annual Youth Award to Sachi Kobayashi, of Newark.  (It was noted that during lunch Dave presented the Unsung UU Award to Rich Dean, of Columbia, and JPD Vice President and Awards Committee Chair Mike Harris (Cedar Lane) presented the O. Eugene Pickett Award to the Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington, Virginia, which was represented by a delegation.

 

YES.  District Youth Steering Committee (DYSC)Youth Co-Chair Davin Taddeo (Fairfax), Adult Co-Chair Jan Taddeo (Fairfax), and Member Sachi Kobayashi presented Youth Empowering and Supportive (YES) Congregation Awards to River Road, Wilmington, Annapolis, and Rockville.

 

Renaissance.  Acting Lifespan Religious Education Consultant the Rev. Virginia Jarocha-Ernst recognized the Renaissance (religious educator training) participation of Natalie Fenimore (Paint Branch DRE), Jude Henzy (Wilmington DRE), and Tricia Rafacz (Centre County DRE).

 

UUA Nominating Committee.  Mandy Jacobson (Silver Spring DRE) made an announcement on behalf of the UUA Nominating Committee.

 

LRPC.  JPD Vice President and Long Range Planning Committee Chair Mike Harris explained the long range plan adopted by the board, which will be updated annually.

 

Bylaw Amendments.  JPD Secretary Dave Hunter described the two amendments to the district bylaws proposed by the board of directors.  Amendment #1 is a technical amendment reflecting the incorporation of the district in Delaware.  Amendment #2 reduces the size of the board of directors from 14 to 10, by eliminated the positions for areas within the district.  Amendment #1 was adopted with two votes in opposition.  The board’s reasons for recommending the adoption of Amendment #2 were presented by Board Member Marilyn Dyson (Restoration).  After lengthy discussion, which included an unsuccessful motion to table until the 2003 annual meeting made by Frank MacArtor (Mill Creek) and seconded by Bill Reilly (Arlington), the amendment was adopted, 46 in favor and 14 against, with 3 abstentions.  (Approval by two thirds of those present and voting is required for bylaw amendments.)  (The adopted amendments are attached.)

 

Treasurer’s Report and Budget.  JPD Vice President and Finance Committee Chair Mike Harris presented the Treasurer’s Report on behalf of Treasurer Ellen Cotts (Main Line), who is in the Ukraine at the request of the Peace Corps, and presented the proposed budget for 2002-03, which was adopted.  The new budget increases district dues by $1.50.

 

Elections.  Nominating Committee Chair Elizabeth Echols (Davies), on behalf of committee members Rob Dahlstrom (Silver Spring), the Rev. Nancy Dean (Mill Creek), Bill Reilly (Arlington), and Sheryl Winsby (Southern Delaware), presented the committee’s slate of nominees:

 

Board of Directors

                President                               Evelyn Spurgin (Annapolis, incumbent)

                                Vice President       Mike Harris (Cedar Lane, incumbent)

                Secretary                               Julia Sayles (Arlington, to fill an unexpired term)

                                At-Large Member                Charley Bersch (Davies)

                At-Large Member                Pam McEnany (Mill Creek)

                                At-Large Member                Elyse Reznick (Wilmington)

 

Nominating Committee

Chair                                       Bill Reilly (Arlington, continuing member)

                Member                 Elizabeth Echols (Davies, continuing member)

Member                 Will Emmons (Wilmington)

                Member                 Rev. Anne Herndon (Southern Delaware)

Member                 Dave Hunter (Delaware County)

 

No further nominations had been filed pursuant to Art. VII, Sec. 1 of the Bylaws prior to the opening of the Annual Meeting, and the slate was unanimously elected.

 

Credentials Report.  Pete Fontneau on behalf of the Credentials Committee members Sheryl Winsby and Peter Liveright presented the committee’s report:

 

lay delegates                         70

                                ministerial delegates            22

                congregations                      37

 

Other Business.  President Evelyn Spurgin recognized outgoing board members:

 

Dave Hunter, Secretary (whose resignation effective at the conclusion of the Annual Meeting had been accepted by the Board)

                                David Chandler

                Rev. Anne Herndon

 

Announcement.  The Rev. Mark Hayes (Center County) made an announcement.

 

The meeting was adjourned at 4:54 p.m.

 

Respectfully submitted,

David H. Hunter, Secretary

Amendments Adopted April 13, 2002

 

(deleted language struck out, new language underlined)

 

Amendment #1

 

Article 1 - Name

 

Section 1.  The name of this organization shall be “The Joseph Priestley District of the Unitarian Universalist Societies Association, Inc.”  It is a corporation of the State of Maryland Delaware.

 

Amendment #2

 

Article V- Officers and Directors

 

Section 1.  The Board of Directors of this District shall consist of the following: four officers: a President, Vice-president, Secretary and Treasurer; and six (6) members-at-large; and a representative of each of the geographic areas within the District.  The Association Trustee elected to represent the District shall be ex-officio a member without vote.

 

Section 2.  The President, Vice-President, and three (3) members-at-large shall be elected at the Annual Meeting held in even-numbered years.  The Secretary, Treasurer, and three (3) members-at-large shall be elected at the Annual Meeting held in odd-numbered years.  They shall serve on the Board for no more than six (6) consecutive years, not in any one office for more than two (2) consecutive full terms; except that the President may serve a second consecutive full term even it that term extends beyond the six year limit.  Representatives from the designated geographic areas shall be named annually by each area according to its own procedures and shall take office at the end of the District Annual Meeting.  A representative from any designated geographic area that is not organized shall be appointed annually by the Board.