Gordon gaveled the meeting to order without a gavel or a pocket knife (which is how Stan does it.)  It was moved and seconded that we recess for Standing Women at 1PM.  It evenually emerged that May’s meeting was supposed to have been the bi-annual congregational meeting even though the special meetings are supposed to be semiannual.  As of November 14, 1999 the offices of President, President Elect, Secretary, member at large, and Treasurer are at stake in the semi-biannual congregational meeting.  However the meeting must be announced two weeks in advace of its being held, so the earliest that it can be held is 2 weeks.

The end of the year means pledge time.  Jim proffered a suggested note asking for donations, but there were several objections resulting in withdrawing the document.   Marcos and Jan will create a better document and return with it next month.  The UU head office requires a donation of some number of dollars a month and the expenses of running the building run some number of dollars a month and we need people to give their coin in order to pay the expenses.   The document is all about explaining that to the members.

The new Kroger program requires the non-proffit organization to produce a form 501(c) 3 form which we have not got.  The application fee cost $400.  The IRS will send a note that explains why the designation is not reqired for tax purposes.  Hope it works, don’t hold your breath over it.

Rick

We had to spend substantial sums to have the snow removed from our parking lot twice this winter.  In addition, the Electric bill have been extremely high this winter.   We are still trying to arrange it to allow for people to have their Kroger Plus Card benefits to be donated to the church.

We purchased 10 Hymnals recently.  Betty has inscribed them beautifully as per the instructions of the hymnal’s sponsor.  14 hymnals have been dedicated in total.

Sue gave us the summary of the results from her survey.

Someone mentioned the importance of the “Church of the Larger Fellowship”  to some of our isolated members.  Check it out for yourself at http://clf.uua.org/.

The Space Cadets have really cleaned up the sanctuary to make more… um… space.  The Statue of Liberty was bubble-wrapped and stored… ok, she was put out on the back porch but there is a foot of snow on the ground right now.  The easy chair was easily taken by Material Subsistence Providers who apparently take furniture and keep it until someone needs it.  I couldn’t find a link on the internet to this outfit so you have to take the Space Cadet’s word for it.

A group called Sustainable Reynoldsburg has contacted us to inquire whether we would be interested in participating in their community garden project.  We told them our garden project had guardn’ problems because the rabbits and raccoons feasted until the deer came to muscle them aside.  Anyone interested in participating in Sustainable Reynoldsburg can find out more at:   http://groups.google.com/group/sustainable-reynoldsburg?lnk=srq

The Potluck is canceled for February 2010.  We are all looking forward to March.  More snow tomorrow– President’s day.  Stay healthy.

Rick

Ballroom dance lessons are in our future… probably Friday nights.  Stay tuned for more information.   Stay toned for good dancing.  It is a good workout to go ballroom dancing.

The Three Cranes group will meet at Blacklick park on Jan 31.

A new group will be using our space starting next week:  HJCC.  Humanistic Judaism embraces a human-centered philosophy that combines the celebration of Jewish culture and identity with an adherence to humanistic values and ideas.  It offers a nontheistic alternative in contemporary Jewish life. It was established by Rabbi Sherwin T. Wine in 1963 in Detroit, Michigan, to provide a home for humanistic, secular, and cultural Jews.

…and they have invited everyone from UUCE to join them at 2pm Jan 24.  The program, however, starts at 3pm.  This week:  *Good without God* a discussion of the new book by Greg Epstein.