Greetings from the Board of Trustees,

Two activities will be occurring in the months of February and March that are crucial to the healthy future of our Fellowship. The first is the series of the Cottage Meetings. The second is the annual Pledge Drive.

The Cottage Meeting

The Cottage Meetings are an opportunity for everyone to help craft the next evolution of our Vision, Mission, Covenant and are a Fellowship-wide activity. The process is an inclusive and democratic one. All are invited to participate and have their thoughts and insights heard. Many Cottage Meetings are scheduled throughout February and the first week of March.

Please sign up to attend one of them by going to the following link: http://signup.com/go/oAQNnEK . If you have questions about the meetings or the process, please contact Bob Holden, Polly Ragusa, any member of the Interim Minister Transition Team, any member of the Board of Trustees, or Rev. Gretchen.

Our Annual Pledge Drive

We will be kicking off our annual Pledge Drive in a month. Chris Stovall and Jo Mutch have generously volunteered to lead the drive this year. Thank you to them. Leading the drive is a very laborious activity. It is also possibly the single most important activity to be done in our Fellowship. We have a blessed community here at the UUFRC. Finances and pledges may seem a bit non-sacred, but the Pledge Drive is what allows us to maintain our blessed community.

The Pledge Drive provides about 80% of our annual operating revenue. Essentially, it is what pays for our utilities and the upkeep of our building; the salary of our Music Director and support for our wonderful choir and music program; and the salary of our Director of Religious Education and support our many religious education programs. It provides the funding for our office staff, other paid staff, and the general operations of our Fellowship. It is what pays for the salary and activities of our Rev. Gretchen.

Without the Pledge Drive, our doors would not be open with the activities and programs we offer today. Whatever it is that you value at the UUFRC, whether it be our blessed community, our music programs, the religious education programs, social action, the MOCA after-service social time, or any of our other UUFRC activities, the Pledge Drive is what provides the required foundation on which all our activities operate. Please pledge generously.

With hope for the future and appreciation of efforts given, Robert Holden President – UUFRC Board of Trustees