Congregational Leaders WebinarsDecember 1 and 7, 2011

AgendaOpening WordsHow We Got Here

Report on Staff ReorganizationReport on Regional Governance Activities

Proposal & Rationale Issues

Questions & AnswersFeedbackNext StepsClosing Words

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What is the Mid-America Region?Heartland District

54 member congregations in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan and Ohio7,500 UUs

Central Midwest District80 member congregations in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Missouri and

Wisconsin13,000 UUs

Prairie Star District59 member congregations in Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri,

Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin9,300 UUs

Current Status of Districts19 Districts with governance role in addition to UUA Trustees19 Boards, some Policy Governance, some not19 Dues structures and financial arrangements with UUA19 Budget and accounting systems19 Personnel systems19 IT systems19 Staff groups with duplicate responsibilitiesSome separate corporations, some notHistorically, little communication among boards

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Staff ReorganizationDownward pressure on our financial resources led us to

consider different ways of serving congregationsOpportunity provided by technology, resulting in new

ways to do the workCongregations of the future will need different things the old District Exec/Program Coordinator staffing

structure was based on an older Minister/DRE paid staff model which is no longer relevant

Results: changing the way we work; unified admin structure which will include some regional employees

Regionalization MilestonesSpring 2011 – MidAmerica Districts Adopt UUA ENDSGA 2011 – Trustees No Longer Elected by DistrictsOctober 2011 – Regional Officers’ Meeting

Vision for a thriving, future-oriented, religious organization to serve UUs in the Midwest

November 2011—District Board ActionsCovenants Replace Co-EmploymentProposal for Regional Governance

Why Change?Common VisionCommon CultureEffectivenessEfficiencyNew Organization for a New Era

How Will We Get There?Steering Committee

3 Presidents – Rev. Brian Covell, Amy Taylor, Kathy Burek3 Vice Presidents – Nancy Armstrong, Kathy Silver, Dave

Martin3 Treasurers – Warren Thom, Rae Jane Araujo, Bill Elwood

Workshop at 2012 Annual ConferenceProposal for Comment Fall 2012Frequent, Two-Way Communication Throughout

End ResultSteering Committee will create a proposal for a new

organizationBylaws & Election StructureBudgetAccountability System

Staff to Board Board to member congregations

Communications SystemStaff and Volunteer Relations

Delegates at each district’s 2013 annual meeting will vote

Camp UnistarEnterprise Management Group (EMG) Report

Identify options for camp ownership and managementReport to Board April 2012Workshop at Annual Meeting 2012

EMG is a PSD Board SubcommitteeBoard representativesUnistar Management Committee representatives

Delegates will decide at 2013 PSD Annual Meeting

Questions?I’ll be recording questions and answersI’ll send you a copy, so you can make corrections

Keep the GoodWhat about the PSD do you feel is of value, that we

should not lose as we consider a regional entity?What opportunities do you see from a regional entity?I’ll continue to record your thoughts and send to you for

correctionsSteering Committee will use this information to guide our

work

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More CommunicationsDistrict leaders Webinar held in NovemberCongregational Leaders Webinars in DecemberMeet with Unistar Management Committee in DecemberWilling to meet with whomever would like to know morePlanning documents will be available on the PSD website

as they are completed

Your Role as Congregational LeadersShare regionalization information Discuss the issues in your congregationEnsure that your delegates to PSD Annual Business

Meetings in 2012 and 2013 are: InformedRepresent your congregation’s perspective

Stay in touch, let us hear from you

OpportunitiesOnce-in-a-Lifetime change to change how our UUA

serves its member congregationsUnleash volunteers now engaged in governance to

Assist staff in serving congregationsMentor congregational leadersFoster cooperation among congregationsWhatever else we can imagine

We need your help to create a new future

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Thank You!Thank you for taking the time this eveningPlease share with the other members of your boards and

congregations