The First Unitarian Society of Milwaukee
A Unitarian Universalist Congregaon
Established 1842
ANNUAL REPORT
2014-2015
CHURCH STAFF:
STATISTICAL INFORMATION:
INTERIM SENIOR MINISTER
The Reverend Elaine Beth Peresluha
2014-2015 Operating Budget:
Adult Members:
Church School Enrollment:
Contributing Households:
ASSOCIATE MINISTER
The Reverend Dena McPhetres
DIRECTOR OF ADMINISTRATION
Jean Johnson
DIRECTOR OF MEMBERSHIP & DEVELOPMENT
Kathy Porter
DIRECTOR OF RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
Beryl Aschenberg
YOUTH COORDINATOR
Deb Solis
FACILITIES MANAGER
Ed McGraw
LEAD MUSIC DIRECTOR
Alissa Rhode
ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE
Jack Forbes Wilson
CHOIR DIRECTOR
Tristan Strelitzer
MEMBER:
CHURCH SECRETARY
Sharon Murphy
OFFICE ASSISTANT
Bonnie Poquette (through April 8, 2015)
R.E. ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
Christina Nichols (through May 3, 2015)
Kari Strenitzer (beginning April 12, 2015)
SENIOR FACILITIES ASSISTANT
Matt Bell
Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA)
MidAmerica Region, UUA (MAR)
Common Ground of Southeastern Wisconsin
Southeastern Wisconsin Unitarian
Universalist Council (SEWUUC)
Interchange, Inc.
Interfaith Council of Greater Milwaukee
Milwaukee Inner-City Congregations
Allied for Hope (MICAH)
FACILITIES ASSISTANTS
Paula Polman/Jim Spice
The First Unitarian Society of Milwaukee
1342 North Astor Street Milwaukee, WI 53202
Telephone: 414 273-5257 Fax: 414 273-5254
E-Mail: offi[email protected]
Visit us on the World Wide Web at www.uumilwaukee.org
$992,503
797
207
508
2
TABLE OF CONTENTS
From the President
4
Interim Transion Team
5
Minutes of the 2014 Annual Meeng
6
Financial Report
8
Investment Report
9
Income Statement
10
Balance Sheet
13
Notes to the Balance Sheet
13
2014-2015 Sermon Schedule
14
2014-2015 Church Leadership
16
Wheel of Life
18
Staff Reports
19
Interim Senior Minister
Associate Minister
Director of Administraon
Director of Membership & Development
Director of Religious Educaon
Youth Program Coordinator
19
20
21
22
23
25
CommiFee, Coordinator and Group Reports
26
Adult RE CommiFee
Building & Grounds CommiFee
Chalice Circle Steering CommiFee
Children’s RE CommiFee
Denominaonal Affairs
Flowers CommiFee
Membership CommiFee
Nominang CommiFee
Pastoral Care Associates
Pastoral Care Providers
Pulpit Guest CommiFee
Stewardship CommiFee
Sunday Morning Forum
SWANS
WomanSpirit
UU Parenng Group
26
26
26
27
27
28
28
28
29
29
29
29
30
30
30
30
Social Jusce Council
31
Common Ground
Earth Jusce Ministry
Economic Jusce CommiFee
First Friday Films
Share the Plate CommiFee
31
31
32
32
32
3
A Message from the President
I
•
•
•
•
•
n this first year of a two-year Transion Process, the congregaon has been busy reflecng on the past and
preparing for the future. We formed the Interim Transion Team and gave them the charge of:
Coming to terms with history
Discovering a new identy
Allowing needed leadership to emerge
Renewing denominaonal linkages
CommiJng to new direcons in ministry
They have accomplished this through holding “listening sessions,” parcipang in a BBBC that included a history
meline of events that have happened at and around our church, monitoring congregaonal engagement, and
iniang the forming of the Senior Minister Search CommiFee. I am impressed with the commitment of the members of this commiFee and know that their second year of service will be as important and engaging as their first.
The Board goals of this past year have focused on supporng the transion tasks certainly, but also forwarding the
Strategic Planning CommiFee Goals and looking towards strengthening our Board and congregaonal leadership
in preparaon for a new Senior Minister.
We as a congregaon took a stand, and put a spotlight on, “Black Lives MaFer” aMer a year of naonal and local
headlines brought this to center stage.
A renewed focus was placed on the Markeng CommiFee to help us retain exisng members, and recruit new
ones. This commiFee, working with a consultant, is puJng together a comprehensive markeng plan that will use
social media and radio announcements, among other methods, to “get the word out” about our church and our
Mission.
The Board worked with the Interim Transion Team and Nominang CommiFee to review and recommend members for the Senior Minister Selecon CommiFee (SMSC). The task of this important commiFee is to work collaboravely to research, find, and recommend the person who will become our new Senior Minister. Theirs will be a
year-long effort requiring ongoing commitment, and they will need our full support in this endeavor.
The appointment of the SMSC will kick off the second year of this two year Interim process. We as a congregaon
will want to take advantage of this period to strengthen our church by commiJng the me, energy, and resources
needed to recruit the highest quality minister available to us.
Of course, most of these transion tasks could not have been executed without the guidance and direcon of our
Interim Senior Minister, The Rev. Elaine Beth Peresluha. Elaine has brought exactly the right experience and personality to First Church that we hoped she would when she came here 9 months ago. She has integrated well with
Associate Minister Dena McPhetres, the First Church staff, and our congregaon. With her connued leadership,
we are well poised to complete this transion period successfully.
RespecOully,
Joe Schuller
We as a congregation will want to take
advantage of this period to strengthen our
church by committing the time, energy,
and resources needed to recruit the
highest quality minister available to us.
4
Interim Transi7on Team
The Interim Transion Team convened in August 2014 to begin our charge of the following five interim developmental tasks for First Church:
•
•
•
•
•
Coming to terms with our history
Discovering a new identy
Allowing needed leadership to emerge
Renewing denominaonal linkages
CommiJng to new direcons in ministry
In Fall 2014, we held seven open Meet and Greet listening sessions with the congregaon. Approximately 100 people went through an Affirmave Inquiry process with the goal of elicing thoughts on the heart or essence of First
Church and dreams for our future. These sessions were also an opportunity to ask quesons about the interim
process. The results were posted on the website.
In November, we launched a history project with a Breaking Bread, Building Community event entled “My Story,
Your Story, Our Story.” Parcipants recorded events in their personal lives and the history of our church, Milwaukee, and world, going back to 1842. Over the next two months, the congregaon was encouraged to add their
pieces of history. The Children’s Religious Educaon program spent their January First Sunday classes sharing stories and adding to our meline as well. The final project, filled with hundreds of stories, events, ribbons, drawings,
and memories were recorded and shown at our all-church dinner in March.
In Spring 2015, we developed applicaon materials and the process for solicing nominaons for the Senior Minister Search CommiFee and parcipated in the evaluaon and selecon of the commiFee, along with the Board of
Trustees and Nominang CommiFee.
Throughout the months of April and May 2015, we are holding discussions with affinity groups and commiFees, as
well as open sessions with the congregaon, to consider revising our church’s Mission Statement. From these
reflecons, our goal is to create a new Mission Statement to capture the essence of our beloved community. Several proposals will be presented to the congregaon and a vote held in Fall 2015.
Sam Mueller
The Interim Transi7on Team
Kirsten Anglea
Maria Dorsey
Stacy Koenen
Gordie Mueller
Sam Mueller
Chrisna Plum
Patricia WiF
Our Charge…
•
•
•
•
•
Coming to terms with our history
Discovering a new identity
Allowing needed leadership to emerge
Renewing denominational linkages
Committing to new directions in ministry
5
Minutes of the Annual Mee7ng
May 18, 2014
Congregaon President Elizabeth Lenni called the meeng to order at 12:35 p.m. aMer a congregaonal quorum was achieved.
Chris Aiken served as Secretary.
Minutes: On a moon by Rod DePue, seconded by Mark Gill, the minutes of the annual meeng on May 19, 2013 were approved.
Nomina7ng Commi9ee: On behalf of the Nominang CommiFee, Diane Reynolds presented the candidates for the Board of Trustees. On moon by Diane Reynolds, seconded by Elizabeth Lenni, the church membership unanimously approved Sally Lewis,
Dale Skaggs and Don Weimer for three year terms on the Board of Trustees. The three rering Board members, Chris Aiken, Elizabeth Lenni and Deb Solis were thanked for their service.
Diane Reynolds introduced Gordie Mueller and Bronze Quinton as candidates for the Nominang CommiFee. On moon by Diane
Reynolds, seconded by Elizabeth Lenni, the membership unanimously approved the nominees. Thanks were given to outgoing
members JeaneFe Bree, Gretchen Neuwald and Russ Sherman.
The names of the 2014-2015 commiFee chairs and coordinators, recently appointed by the Board, were distributed to the membership as a handout along with the Annual Report.
Stewardship Report: Cheryl Maranto from the Stewardship CommiFee provided an update on stewardship. The current pledge
drive has resulted in pledges totaling $701,000, comprised of 466 pledges. This is in line with expectaons and is about the same as
last year. Last year was very successful with a 4 year plan to close a $100,000 gap between pledges and expenses completed in a
single year. Cheryl thanked the congregaon for its ongoing generous support.
Financial Condi7on Report: Mike Radtke, chair of the Finance CommiFee presented the Financial Condion Report. Mike thanked
all of the exisng members of the Finance CommiFee for their hard work over the year. Mike reported that for the last church year
ending on June 30, 2013 there was an ancipated budget deficit of $21,000. However, as a result of good fundraising and expense
control we ended the year with income $52,000 above budget and operang expenses $31,600 below budget. With a surplus for
the year the Board voted to use the surplus to pay off an outstanding loan against the Morter fund and an outstanding loan made
by an anonymous member for a new boiler. AMer paying off these loans the year ended with a small deficit of $1,835.
With unrestricted reserves of approximately $700,000 the balance sheet of the church is strong. Reserves have been used to support the McLaughlin Social Jusce iniave and for capital maintenance. In the future we can expect to use reserves to fund certain ancipated one-me costs such as expenses related to ministerial transion. Reserves have also been used to support an increase in the payment of UUA dues. Last year we paid 50% of our “Fair Share” UUA dues (based on total church pledge income).
The plan for next year is to increase our payment to 75% of our Fair Share. The Board also voted to use reserves to support other
iniaves, such as: increases in staff pay to approach UUA guidelines, adding a part me Facilies Manager, invesng in markeng , expanding the music program and updang the church website. Overall the financial condion of the church is sound.
Interim Minister Task Force Report: Sarah Stehly, Vice President of the congregaon and a member of the Interim Minister Task
Force, introduced and thanked her fellow task force members Alexis Fielek and Kathy Rivera for their hard work on the Interim
Minister Task Force (IMTF). The members of the IMTF were appointed by the Board of Trustees a year ago and had several important tasks to complete. The first was to provide a recommendaon to the Board on the duraon of the interim minister’s term.
AMer performing research and consulng with the UUA the IMTF recommended a 2-year interim term. The Board approved this
recommendaon. The second task was to prepare a packet of informaon about the church for potenal interim ministers to review when considering our congregaon. The final important task was to conduct interviews and finalize an offer to present to the
Board for approval. The final task takes place within a very accelerated me frame, with only a 10 day period for potenal interim
ministers to review the informaon packet and for the IMTF to conduct interviews and finalize an offer to present to the Board.
This process concluded on May 8 with the IMTF recommending that the Board extend an offer to the Reverend Elaine Beth Peresluha to become our Interim Minister for the next two years. The Board approved this recommendaon and the Reverend Elaine
Beth Peresluha accepted our offer and will become our Interim Minister for a two-year term starng August 1, 2014. Informaon
about Rev. Peresluha will be handed out aMer the meeng.
Remarks from the Associate Minister: Dena began her remarks by relang how fortunate she feels to serve as our associate minis(Connued on page 3)
6
ter. The past year with Drew’s rerement approaching has been sad at mes but also inspiring. Dena is looking forward to walking
with us during this transion and being our associate minister into the future. There are many adventures yet to come.
Remarks from the President: Elizabeth Lenni, the outgoing President of the congregaon, began her remarks by reflecng on
the year and what an honor it has been to serve as President of the congregaon, especially during this final year of Drew’s ministry. At this me we find ourselves in a good financial posion due to the McLaughlin bequest but there are sll financial challenges to meet. We should challenge ourselves to cover operang expenses with pledges going forward. Elizabeth reminded us that as
a congregaon we are not strangers to transions and that we actually have a history of dealing well with change. For example,
we have been through a ministerial selecon process where the minister was not called and moved from two services to three
and back again. Today marks the end of the interim minister selecon process with the announcement of Elaine as our Interim
Minister. Elizabeth talked to Elaine and her first impression is that she will be a joy to work with going forward. We have much to
look forward to.
Elizabeth introduced a moon to honor Drew with the disncon of Minister Emeritus of the First Unitarian Society of Milwaukee
by approval of a resoluon previously provided to the members. The moon was seconded by Liz Irwin Moore. The congregaon
was excited to approve the resoluon as it was read but Judy Anderson the parliamentarian for the meeng menoned that we
need to allow for discussion of the moon before proceeding. Janet Nortrom asked for clarificaon on the meaning of Minister
Emeritus. Elizabeth responded that Minister Emeritus is a special status granted to honor ministers for long and meritorious service to a congregaon. While a Minister Emeritus does not receive any salary, he or she will thereaMer be noted in the records of
the church as Minister Emeritus and will also have the right to vote at the UUA General Assembly. It was noted that there has never been a Minister Emeritus at First Church. A queson was raised about if this means that Drew can stay a member of the congregaon. Drew then explained that, the UUA makes it very clear that it is a best pracce for a rering minister to not be a presence
in the church for at least three years. To clearly document this there will be a covenant between Drew, Elaine and the new Senior
Minister regarding their relaonship. AMer the discussion the congregaon enthusiascally and unanimously approved the resoluon naming our current Senior Minister, The Reverend Andrew C. Kennedy, Minister Emeritus of the First Unitarian Society of Milwaukee, effecve upon his rerement on June 30, 2014.
Remarks from the Senior Minister: Drew noted that we have a remarkable legacy of generosity and progressive acvism going
back to 1842, which he has addressed in the past. Today, he wanted to address another remarkable legacy that many people may
not be aware of.
Going back almost 100 years to 1919, we also have a tradion of long-term ministries. The Reverend Robert Loring was here for
16 years. Ralph Bailey was here for 21 years. John Cyrus was here for 25 years. Dale Robison was the excepon; he served First
Church for a liFle less than three years. It ended unhappily with a negoated resignaon. But then Drew came along and served
for 28 years – the longest of all of our ministers to date.
Drew went on to argue that long-term ministries, generally speaking, are a good thing. While, from the minister’s point of view, it
might look like it would be beFer to follow a minister who didn’t do so well, the “smarter money,” Drew said, is on longer-term
ministries because they have built up a store of trust in the office of ministry. “And trust, like integrity, is gold in the ministry business.”
Drew also addressed the issue of grief surrounding his leaving by telling a story involving The Rev. Forrest Church’s widow who
told Drew that Forrest used to say, “You should pray to have your heart broken, because it is a testament that you have learned to
love again.” So, let us pray, Drew concluded, to have our hearts broken again and again.”
NEW BUSINESS:
Member comments: Claude VanderVeen suggested the creaon of a First Church yellow pages where members could offer services. Claude requested help from anyone interested in helping to get this project off the ground.
Janet Nortrom encouraged members to get more involved with General Assembly and the Midwest Region Convenon. Janet also
suggested that we consider purchasing new hymnals.
Elizabeth Lenni was assisted by Jeff Pearcy in the unveiling of and presentaon of the official portrait of Drew. Elizabeth thanked
Jeff for donang his photographic services in the creaon of the portrait.
The meeng was adjourned at 1:31 p.m.
— RespecOully SubmiFed
Chris Aiken, Congregaon Secretary
7
FINANCIAL REPORT
Overview
The Finance Committee is responsible for overseeing the financial condition of the church. Its primary areas of responsibility are:
•
•
•
•
monitoring the current year’s financial performance to determine if actual performance is in compliance with the budgeted
performance;
analyzing financial data and developing alternatives and strategies when necessary;
preparing the budget for each new fiscal year;
serving as a resource for the various committees and the Board concerning financial matters.
The Finance Committee closely monitors the financial results of our church throughout the course of the year and attempts to
keep the Board of Trustees and the congregation informed of any noteworthy developments. We generate projections to help
forecast the financial capabilities of the church over the near and long term and to assist with the formation of a balanced budget
for the next fiscal year and developing strategies to help improve the financial status of the church. The Finance Committee is
committed to fulfilling the diverse goals established for the church while attempting to meet the needs of the various committees,
groups and members of the congregation.
I would like to thank the committee members: Tom Briscoe, Mark Bishop, Gordon Mueller, Russ Sherman, and Alan Jaberg; and
the staff liaisons, Jean Johnson and Kathy Porter for their many hours of hard work and valued input. Without their much appreciated involvement, this committee could not accomplish its important responsibilities.
July 1, 2013 — June 30, 2014 Operating Results
The fiscal year was a very good one with operating income approx $40,300 above budget and operating expenses approx $20,300
below budget. As First Church neared the end of the fiscal year, the Board voted to use some of the surplus funds to replenish the
Sabbatical Accrual account. Due to budget constraints for the previous six (6) years, annual contributions to this account were suspended. After allocating $12,000 of the surplus funds towards the Sabbatical Accrual account, First Church finished the fiscal year
with a net surplus of $48,710 compared to an originally forecasted nearly balanced budget of $152. The financial results are summarized below (rounded $’s):
Total Operating income variance from budget
Total Operating expense variance from budget
Less replenishing Sabbatical Accrual account
Stated Overall Net Positive Variance
$40,300
$20,300
<$12,000>
$48,600
The main factors leading to $40,300 Operating Income positive variance from budget (excluding transfer funds) were:
BeFer than expected Investment Gains
Nearly full apartment occupancy
$29,300
$8,600
The main factors leading to a $20,300 Operang Expense variance under budget were (prior to replenishing sabbacal account):
Church commiFees underspending their budgets
$10,800
Savings from vacant staff posions during turnover
$6,000
Other notable comments regarding this fiscal year were: 1) a spectacular $83,000 increase in pledge income that enabled the
church to balance their budget for the first year without Vision 2010 funds available. (Vision 2010 funds were used up in ’12-‘13 as
planned); 2) $10,100 was expended on Sustain our Society; and 3) $43,800 was expended on various capital improvement projects
for the church building.
June 30, 2014 Balance Sheet
Total net assets increased by $24,717 (since June 2012) due mostly from:
Net Operating Income
Memorial Trust Fund investment gain
Capital maintenance expenditures
SOS fund expenditures
$48,700
$30,000
<43,800>
<10,200>
8
The Finance Committee completed their transferring of funds from Raymond James gradually as Certificate of Deposits (CD’s)
became due. During fiscal year ’13-’14 the remaining $90,100 of the Raymond James CD’s was transferred to investments with
the UUA Common Endowment Fund and to CD’s with other banking institutions.
The Board of Trustees designated an additional $100,000 to the Capital Maintenance Reserve Fund from the McLaughlin Bequest as needed based on the 2011 Facility Condition Report.
Unrestricted Fund balance decreased from 78.9% to 71.4% of budgeted expenses. This is still higher than it has historically been
because the McLaughlin bequest is unrestricted. The balance sheet is sound with considerable liquid assets and no debt.
2015-2016 Budget
It appears that pledge income for ’15-’16 could remain flat for the second year in a row. Without pledge income increasing,
First Church will likely be in an operating budget deficit condition similar to ’14-’15 and need to use unrestricted reserve funds
to cover some operating expenses and cost of minister search expenses. An operating budget funding gap remains and will
need to be addressed. Reserve funds are expected to continue to be expended on building capital maintenance to address the
needs outlined in the 2011 Facility Condition Report.
To those members who give so generously of their valuable time, talents, and pledges, we are truly grateful. Without your financial backing the church could not operate. Without your many volunteered hours this congregation would not be the enlightening, welcoming community that it is for members, children, and guests.
— Mike Radtke,
Finance Committee Chair
Investment Report
2014—15 Church Year
During the year the Investment Committee and the Board of Trustees did not change its risk tolerance with the expectation that
approx 60% of our investments should be made in CD’s covered by the US Government FDIC or comparable credit union insurance. The balance of our funds is invested in the UUA Common Endowment Fund (which is currently 55.1% bonds, 39.8% equities, and 5.1% cash and other) consisting of the Memorial Trust Fund and a General Fund. The church funds are invested with the
current value as follows on 3/31/2015.
Memorial Trust Fund
General Fund
General Fund
General Fund
General Fund
General Fund
TOTAL
UUA CEF
UUA CEF
Landmark Credit Union
Brewery Credit Union
Oikocredit
BMO Money Market & Cash
$ 339,764.20
$ 237,381.45
$ 256,253.47
$ 101,760.31
$ 10,510.45
$ 267,400.37
$ 1,207,080.20
The UUA Common Endowment Fund has a return on investment of 3.2% for the YTD and 5.4 %/year for the last 3 years; Landmark CU of 1% fixed for 2 years, and Brewery CU of 0.9% fixed for 1 year. Money Market rates at BMO vary but are low, around
0.15%.
Our investments for the 2013-14 year returned $2,526 from Landmark CU (interest), $2,165 from Brewery CU (interest), $12,893
in cash and $16,320 in capital gains ( realized and unrealized) from the Memorial
Trust Fund, and $21,406 in capital gains (realized and unrealized ) from the General Fund. Total approximates $55,020.
— Russ Sherman for the Finance Committee
9
First Unitarian Society of Milwaukee
Income Statement
For the twelve months ending June 30, 2014
Actual '12-'13
Actual '13-'14
Budget '13-'14
Ra7o
Income:
Contribu7ons
Pledge income
Other contribuons
641,693
36,994
678,687
725,078
39,253
764,331
722,300
36,600
758,900
79.41%
4.02%
83.43%
190,578
53,952
62,074
6.82%
4,433
24,175
9,933
2,642
9,934
51,117
3,870
24,933
10,544
2,524
9,575
51,445
4,500
25,000
10,000
2,500
10,900
52,900
0.49%
2.75%
1.10%
0.27%
1.20%
5.82%
Income - Memorial Trust
15,448
15,967
15,000
1.65%
Other Investment & Savings
10,296
33,184
21,500
2.36%
Morter Fund Loan Payment
(56,507)
(30,763)
49,151
(500)
22,500
-0.05%
2.47%
50,403
(26,651)
23,752
55,536
(32,672)
22,865
44,100
(30,874)
13,226
4.85%
-3.39%
1.45%
913,371
941,744
909,600
100.00%
386,377
409,288
415,372
45.67%
84,895
87,443
87,540
9.63%
17,375
43,961
42,004
21,618
14,181
610,411
22,340
43,265
41,539
22,251
24,052
650,178
26,531
43,252
42,005
24,725
9,434
648,859
2.92%
4.76%
4.62%
2.72%
1.04%
71.35%
Transfers
Ac7vity Income
Building Use
Feast for Funds
RE Fees
Script Sales
Other income
Net Investment Income
Apartment Income - Net
Rent
Expenses
Total Income
Expenses:
Human Resources
Salaries & Wages
Ministers Housing Allowance
Ministers & Staff Professional Exp
Health Insurance
Rerement Savings
Payroll Taxes
Other expenses
10
Budgeted Contribu7ons
Building
Gas
Electric
Insurance
Maintenance
Cleaning fees
Supplies and other fees
Basic Opera7ons
Telephone
Mailing
Office Supplies
Prinng
IT & Computers
Musicians + Collaborave Musician
Sunday Speakers
Accounng Fees
Others
Religious Educa7on
Commi9ees
Stewardship
Markeng
Social Jusce Council
Social Jusce Project
Others
Extra Opera7ons
Audio & Live Streaming
Two Services Transion
Payment on Boiler Note Payable
Capital Maintenance
Equipment purchases
Sustain our Society expenditure
Total Expenses
Net Income
17,781
30,889
31,189
3.43%
6,476
12,379
12,896
6,973
15,600
11,978
66,302
10,221
12,879
13,621
8,935
15,600
12,310
73,567
10,500
12,500
13,000
7,500
15,000
12,313
70,813
1.15%
1.37%
1.43%
0.82%
1.65%
1.35%
7.79%
2,514
5,260
3,927
4,623
7,110
15,975
1,992
11,299
12,836
65,536
2,436
8,181
4,362
3,198
6,775
7,565
1,962
11,960
15,899
62,337
2,600
7,800
4,200
4,500
6,775
9,363
3,160
11,350
13,905
63,653
0.29%
0.86%
0.46%
0.49%
0.74%
1.03%
0.35%
1.25%
1.53%
7.00%
6,134
6,197
6,800
0.75%
2,656
6,031
1,838
57,000
4,782
72,307
1,464
3,830
1,741
6,483
13,518
2,000
11,250
2,000
9,050
24,300
0.22%
1.24%
0.22%
0.00%
1.00%
2.67%
12,310
8,001
44,688
2,938
8,798
76,735
2,397
43,797
10,155
56,348
1,760
46,074
16,000
63,834
0.19%
0.00%
0.00%
5.07%
0.00%
1.76%
7.02%
915,206
893,034
909,448
100.00%
(1,835)
48,710
Unaudited - for management purposes only
11
152
First Unitarian Society of Milwaukee
Balance Sheet
June 30, 2014
CHURCH YEAR '11-'12
CHURCH YEAR '12-'13
June 30, 2013
June 30, 2014
ASSETS
Current Assets
Current Assets
10000
Cash in Bank & Money Mgr - BMO
10300
Script Business Savings - BMO
10400
Money Manager - BMO
10600
Apartment Working Capital
10700
Scrip Inventory
10900
Prepaid Expenses
$ 128,771.34
$ 35,260.58
6,669.30
834.14
-
135,366.05
1,000.00
1,000.00
-
7,761.00
2,310.00
9,752.72
Total Current Assets
138,750.64
189,974.49
Other Assets
19000
Memorial Trust Fund Investment
317,087.29
347,046.13
10500
Oikocredit USA
10,303.56
10,303.56
19000
CD - Raymond James
90,138.47
-
20200
CD - Brewery Credit Union
250,730.83
252,991.58
20500
CD Landmark Credit Union
251,634.78
254,162.68
20600
UU Common Endowment Fund
206,324.10
236,719.27
Total Other Assets
Total Assets
1,126,219.03
1,101,223.22
$ 1,264,969.67
$ 1,291,197.71
LIABILITIES AND FUND BALANCE
Current Liabili7es
Current Liabili7es
22000
Deferred Pledges
$ 29,723.01
$ 13,615.00
22100
Prepaid Other Ident. Unassigned
3,100.00
-
22500
Apartment Security Deposit
7,867.00
8,251.00
22700
YRUU Account
2,618.09
(1,219.74)
22750
YRUU Mission Trip Savings
5,121.01
8,566.59
24000
Pension Deducons Payable
-
-
24050
Prepaid RE Fees
3,525.00
4,670.00
24060
Prepaid Silent Retreat
2,390.00
3,800.00
24300
Accounts Payable
923.42
7,095.73
24600
Sabbacal Accrual
8,000.00
20,000.00
Total Current Liabili7es
63,267.53
64,778.58
Total Liabili7es
63,267.53
64,778.58
12
BALANCE SHEET (con’t)
Restricted Funds
37800
Estate Designated-Morter Fund
38150
Sustain our Society Reserve Fund
38200
Memorial Trust Fund
84,319.34
84,319.34
10,155.00
-
317,087.29
347,046.13
Total Restricted Funds
411,561.63
431,365.47
Designated Funds
38100
Capital Maintenance Reserve
38500
Social Jusce Project
89,659.07
145,862.32
-
-
Total Designated Funds
89,659.07
145,862.32
Unrestricted Funds
39005
Unrestricted Fund Balance
Net Income
39010
McLaughlin Bequest
295,135.53
293,300.56
(1,834.97)
48,709.90
407,180.88
307,180.88
Total Unrestricted Funds
Total Fund Balance
Total Liabili7es & Fund Balance
700,481.44
649,191.34
1,201,702.14
1,226,419.13
$ 1,264,969.67
$ 1,291,197.71
Unaudited - for management purposes only
Notes to the Balance Sheet
June 30, 2014
Restricted (by donor) Funds
Morter Fund: This fund was established in accordance with a bequest of a former member. The funds are designated to sponsor
seminars on individual responsibility.
Sustain our Society Reserve Fund: This fund was established to make environmentally wise investments in our church building to
become a Green Sanctuary.
Memorial Trust Fund:
This fund contains unspecified bequests. Money placed in the fund can be expended or borrowed against only by a super majority of
the congregaon. The Investment CommiFee manages it. A fixed percentage of the fund's assets provide quarterly income to the
church's operaons.
Designated (by Board) Funds
Capital Maintenance Reserve: This fund contains unrestricted bequest and donaons that the Board designated for capital improvements.
Unrestricted Funds
Unrestricted Fund Balance: This fund is the amount retained aMer payment of expenses or the allocaon to designated funds. It
increases during fiscal years in which there is an operang surplus and decreases during years in which there is an operang deficit.
For fiscal security, the Board has adopted a policy of maintaining a balance in this fund that is equal to or greater than 15% of the
operang expenses for the most recent fiscal year. If the balance drops below this 15% level, the restoraon of the fund becomes a
fiscal priority.
McLaughlin Bequest: This fund is the remaining unrestricted bequest balance that has not been designated for other purposes by
the Board.
13
2014-2015 Sermon Schedule
2014-2015 Church Year
Summer Services
2014
September
June
8
Change Alone is Unchanging
The Rev. Dena McPhetres
15
The House on the Rock: An
Explora7on of Fantasy, Faith,
and Founda7ons — Reflec7ons on
an Almost Lost ANernoon
The Rev. Hilary Krivchenia
SEPTEMBER 7:
INGATHERING SUNDAY!
“Unpacking the Interim Bag”
The Reverend Elaine Beth Peresluha, The Reverend Dena
McPhetres, Beryl Aschenberg
SEPTEMBER 14: “Kindness That Makes Sense”
The Reverend Dena McPhetres
22
Reverence Lost and Found
The Rev. Dena McPhetres
SEPTEMBER 21: “The Fall Equinox: Balance and Uncertainty”
The Reverend Elaine Beth Peresluha
29
Staying Put
The Rev. Dena McPhetres
SEPTEMBER 28 : “Atonement: High and Holy”
The Reverend Elaine Beth Peresluha
July
6
Venturing Out
The Rev. Dena McPhetres
13
Laughing With Buddha
Member Andy Agacki
20
Wisdom: That Old Ace in the Hole
The Rev. Brian Covell
27
Cul7va7ng a Sense of Humor
Member Mary Buchel
August
3
GiNs of the Introvert
The Rev. Dena McPhetres
10
Chants/Chance: Making Room for
the Spirit II
The Rev. Dena McPhetres, Jack
Forbes Wilson, and Tristan
Strelitzer
17
Rowing Across the Atlan7c
The Rev. Dr. Lisa Presley
24
Finding God in the Ditches
Member James Galasinski
31
New Chapters in an Unfinishable
Story
Members Dale Skaggs & Alexis
Fielek
October
OCTOBER 5:
“The Flexible Heart is a Strong Heart”
The Reverend Elaine Beth Peresluha
OCTOBER 12:
“Life’s Peniten7aries”
Pulpit Guest Reverend Dr. Nicole Kirk
OCTOBER 19:
“Nike, 3D Printers, and a Brave New World”
The Reverend Elaine Beth Peresluha
OCTOBER 26:
“Ba9ling Giants”
The Reverend Dena McPhetres
November
NOVEMBER 2 :
“All Souls Day”
The Reverend Elaine Beth Peresluha
NOVEMBER 9:
“Recovering From Moral Injury”
The Reverend Dena McPhetres
NOVEMBER 16: “The Marriage of Church and State”
The Reverend Elaine Beth Peresluha
NOVEMBER 23: Thanksgiving Service
“For All That is Our Lives”
The Reverend Elaine Beth Peresluha, The Reverend Dena
McPhetres, & Beryl Aschenberg
NOVEMBER 30: “The 3 (or 4) Rules of Life”
The Reverend Linda Hansen
14
MARCH
DECEMBER
MARCH 1:
Youth Service: “Contradic7ons: The
Oxymorons of Life”
Members of First Church YRUU Group
“’Tis the Season”
The Reverend Elaine Peresluha
MARCH 8:
Winter Holiday Service
Beryl Aschenberg, Director of Religious
Educaon
"What Good Is Intui7on in a
Ra7onal World?"
The Reverend ScoF Gerard Prinster
MARCH 15:
“The Uses of Anger”
The Reverend Dena McPhetres
MARCH 22:
“World Water Day”
The Reverend Elaine Beth Peresluha
MARCH 29:
“Heroes and Their Fall from Grace”
The Reverend Elaine Beth Peresluha
DECEMBER 7:
“Going Dormant”
The Reverend Dena McPhetres
DECEMBER 14:
DECEMBER 21:
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 24:
Christmas Eve Candlelight Services
3:30; 5:00; 6:30 p.m.
The Reverend Elaine Beth Peresluha, The Reverend Dena
McPhetres, and Beryl Aschenberg
DECEMBER 28:
One service only at 10 a.m.
“Speaking from the Decades”
The Reverend Dena McPhetres
APRIL
APRIL 5:
“Hard Truths and Redemp7ve Stories”
The Reverend Elaine Beth Peresluha
Easter Sunday
“Dead Reckoning”
The Reverend Elaine Beth Peresluha
APRIL 12:
“The Task within the Task”
The Reverend Dena McPhetres
“Can I Forgive Myself?”
The Reverend Dena McPhetres
APRIL 19:
Earth Day Service: “Enter There:
Doorways to the Divine in the Natural
World”
Philip Chard, Pulpit Guest
APRIL 26:
Poetry Month: “The Music in Words”
The Reverend Elaine Beth Peresluha
JANUARY
JANUARY 4:
JANUARY 11:
JANUARY 18:
“Dreams in the Heart: Skin in the Game”
The Reverend Elaine Beth Peresluha
JANUARY 25:
“Longing to Belong”
The Reverend Dena McPhetres
MAY
FEBRUARY
FEBRUARY 1:
“Liar, Luna7c, Legend”
The Reverend Tony Larsen
MAY 3:
“Whiteness and Privilege”
The Reverend Dena McPhetres
FEBRUARY 8:
“Giving Voice: Black History Month”
The Reverend Elaine Beth Peresluha
MAY 10:
“Arise Then for More Than Flowers”
The Reverend Elaine Beth Peresluha
Mothers Day
FEBRUARY 15:
“Money Ma9ers”
The Reverend Elaine Beth Peresluha
MAY 17:
Religious Educa7on Sunday
“Learning and Living Religion”
Annual Meeng 12:15 p.m.
MAY 24:
“The Grace of the World”
The Reverend Dena McPhetres
Memorial Day Sunday
MAY 31:
Flower Communion Sunday!
The Reverend Elaine Beth Peresluha
FEBRUARY 22:
“Apprecia7ng What Is”
The Reverend Elaine Beth Peresluha
15
2014-15 Church Leadership
BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS
PRESIDENT
VICE PRESIDENT
SECRETARY
TREASURER
Joe Schuller
Alexis Fielek
Dale Skaggs
Tom Briscoe
MEMBERS:
Michelle Boehm
Mary Ann Fisher
Sally Lewis
Sarah Stehly
Scot Henry
Don Weimer
“Breaking Bread, Building Community” Subcommi9ee
Sally Lewis, Dale Skaggs & Don Weimer
Fund Raising Requests Subcommi9ee
Michelle Boehm & Don Weimer
COMMITTEES, COORDINATORS, AND GROUPS
ADULT EDUCATION
Chris Linder
COFFEE, CHRISTMAS
Jackie Zandi
HISTORY/ARCHIVES
Linda Presto
AUDIO
Mike Paulson
COFFEE, SUNDAY
9:00:
Jill Erickson
11:00: Sally Miles Heuer
IT COMMITTEE
Allan Ries
BOOK SALES TOWER
Jennifer Hong
BOOK DISCUSSION GROUP
Chris Linder
BUDDHIST STUDY GROUP
Steve & Jeanne Lowry
BUILDING & GROUNDS
Russ Drewry
CHALICE CIRCLE STEERING COMMITTEE
Michelle Naples
CHANCEL CHOIR
Tristan Strelitzer
CHILD CARE
Sonya Fitak
CHILDREN’S RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
Julie Bock
CHRONOLOGICALLY GIFTED (TCG)
JoAnn Bachar
CIRCLE SUPPERS
Sam Mueller
Jessie Moffat
DENOMINATIONAL AFFAIRS
Bruce Wiggins
LEADERSHIP ENHANCEMENT
COMMITTEE
Lynda Lambert
ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS
Jeremy Koenen
LIBRARY
David BancroM
FEAST FOR FUNDS
JoAnn Bishop
MARKETING
Phil Marn
FINANCE
Mike Radke
MEMBERSHIP
Cindy Graham
FIRST FRIDAY FILMS
Mary-Alice Marnes
PAGAN CELEBRATIONS GROUP
Kathleen Miezio
Nick DaVia
FLOWERS
Carla Ernst
PASTORAL CARE ASSOCIATES
COORDINATOR
Pete Neuwald
FORUM
Lorraine Jacobs
FFUUN: For7es & FiNies UU Network
Scot Henry
Diana Altstadt
PASTORAL CARE PROVIDERS
COORDINATOR
Nicole Bruner
POETRY GROUP
Barbara Collignon
GALLERY
Alisha Koneazny
16
PULPIT GUEST COMMITTEE
Jessie Moffat
SOCIAL JUSTICE COUNCIL
SCRIP SALES
Chrisna Plum
EARTH JUSTICE MINISTRY
Mark Gill
Terry Wiggins
SILENT RETREAT COMMITTEE
Beth Bender
Liz Irwin Moore
ECONOMIC JUSTICE COMMITTEE
Nancy Pajewski
STEWARDSHIP COMMITTEE
Noreen Gilbertson
Mark Richards
SHARE THE PLATE COMMITTEE
Bob Monahan
Nancy Spransy
SPECIAL COMMITTEES
SWANS
Jacki Zandi
COMMITTEE ON MINISTRY —
ASSOCIATE MINISTER
Jeremy Koenen
USHERS
9:00:
Jesse Hagen
Judy Anderson
11:00: Tom LeBel
Steve Ferguson
NOMINATING
Stacy Koenen
PERSONNEL
MaF Byrnes
UU PARENTING GROUP
Stacey Thieme
Sarah Richards
STRATEGIC PLAN STEERING
COMMITTEE
Kathy Donius
WOMANSPIRIT
Janet Nortrom
Y.A.N.K.S (Young Adults Needing
Kindred Spirits)
Ty Sessums
Nick DaVia
YOUTH STEERING COMMITTEE
Jane Dorweiler (adult)
Elizabeth Hayes (youth)
OUTSIDE FAITH-BASED
ORGANIZATIONS
COMMON GROUND
Rod DePue
Jerry Fredrickson
INTERCHANGE
Bryna Goeckner
Annie Wegner LeFort
INTERFAITH CONFERENCE OF GREATER
MILWAUKEE
Dianna Dentino
MICAH (“MILWAUKEE INNER-CITY
CONGREGATIONS ALLIED FOR HOPE”)
Pete Koneazny
Mary Devitt
UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST SERVICE
COMMITTEE
Louise Ptacek
INTERIM TRANSITION TEAM
Kirsten Anglea
Maria Dorsey
Stacy Koenen
Gordie Mueller
Sam Mueller
Chrisna Plum
Patricia WiF
SENIOR MINISTER SEARCH
COMMITTEE
TBA
We would also like to thank some of the people who, week in and week out, do so much for the
First Unitarian Society of Milwaukee:
Our Office Volunteers — for Chanticleer and Order of Service Assembly
The MANY, MANY volunteers who make our Religious Education program possible
Our dedicated and talented choir members
17
Wheel of Life
May 13, 2014—May 10, 2015
New Members
Mary Joy Johnson
Bertram Kelley
Juliana Kelly
Chrisna Keppel
Kellie Krawczyk
Amy Machgan
Rich Majeski
Tina Maz
Larry Meisgeier
Eli Miller
Kelly Miller
Joel Mogren
Susan Mogren
Joan Moore
SuzeFe Nelson
Julia Nesheiwat
Denise Nolan-GoF
Sue Nuyda
Tony Panciera
Margot Acevedo
Elizabeth Anderson
Antonieta Avila
Jerome Bartosch
Ann Baza
Mary Ann Beaumont
Beth Bruch
Michele Burke
Anne Dawidziak
Jean Doe
Kevin Driscoll
Jason GoF
Joe Herring
Mary Herring
Thomas Hester
Becky Hollman
Kelli Hook
Jessica Hutchings
Hari Iyer
Carlos Pastrana
Krisne Radtke Norris
Elizabeth Reck
Ethan Reilly
Krisne Richards
Ryan Saunders
Kevin Schroeter
Molly Schuller
Paul Tabet
Ben Tesch
Susan Thaney
Thomas Thaney
Sue Wakefield
Kelly Wesolowski
Shannon Widlansky
Adele Kaferly & Loren
Leys
Linda & Mike Katz
Andrew Kennedy & Lois
Wesener
Lucille Krug
Hank Kulesza
Michael Lewis
Sally Lewis & Kathy
Rivera
Chrisne Linder & Don
Weimer
Katherine Marrs
Patricia McFarland
Ellyn & Mike Newman
Janet & Marlowe
Nortrom
Mimi Notestein
Liam Alexander Bruch
Child of Beth & Bob Bruch
Ryan Finneas Bruch
Child of Beth Bruch
Tristan Sco9 Hutchings
Child of Jessica & Brian Hutchings
Jonas Mark Strelitzer
Child of Anna & Tristan Strelitzer
Weddings and
Union Ceremonies
Patrick Todd Gray &
Chrisna Suzanne Pano
Marilyn Agnes Vohs &
Susan Joan Sedlachek
Heritage Society
Judy Anderson
Paula Anderson
Joann Bachar
Chrisan Becker
Jo Ann & Mark Bishop
Joy & Rod BoFs
Cheri & Tom Briscoe
Paul & Susanne Carter
Susan Comstock
Steven Culver & Sally
Miles Heuer
Jill Erickson & Jerry
Fredrickson
James & Judith Ford
Scot Henry
Elizabeth Irwin Moore &
Robert Moore
Nelson Kading
Dedica7ons of Parents
and Children
Barbara & Patrick
PaFerson
Tom Radoszewski
Lisa & Michael Radtke
Max & Patricia Scharmach
Dale Skaggs & Lynda
Lambert
Nancy Spransy
Robert Szymanski
Christopher & Melinda
Vernon
Bruce & Terry Wiggins
Edwin Wiley
BeJe Zillman
18
Michael Jay Bryant &
Olesya Ostapenko
Dylan Joseph McConaghy &
Amelia Meagan Butler Nalin
Jordan Richard Junion &
Julie Ann Baewer
Michael James Moore &
Sarah Marie Berndt
Memorial Services
Kathleen Mary Thompson
Judith Lindsay
William Howard Fernholz
Staff Reports
Interim Senior Minister
At the beginning of 2014 the First Unitarian Society of Milwaukee, was managing the final months of the Rev.
Drew Kennedy’s planned rerement.
AMer much goodbying, celebrang and
crying, Drew vacated the premises.
When I arrived for a visit in June the
competence, thoroughness and unity
you had established were palpable. I
could feel your efforts, your ancipaon and just an edge of anxiety you
were all working hard to manage. All
had stepped up to see First Church
seamlessly through the many challenges of entering a major transion. Your
skill inspired me to enthusiascally
accept the posion as your Interim
Senior Minister.
I began August 1 focusing my efforts
and hours on learning about the leadership, volunteers, building a Transion Team and supporng staff. I
affirmed my inial assessment, finding
competence, commitment, enthusiasm, and warmth in all of my encounters.
My first day in your pulpit was September 9 for Ingathering where I discovered a whole new dimension to
“high holy days”! What? No robes?
Since that day, staff, Dena, Worship
Associates, and I have worked well
together holding on to what is good,
discerning what may have outlived its
sustaining and even improve the quality of worship you have all come to
expect and appreciate. We are sll
thinking about how to build consensus
about applause!
es, while paid staff is reviewing
the sustainability of our organizaonal
structure. Both the Board and staff are
assuring an appropriate division of
roles and expectaons. We have engaged in a stewardship campaign and
made several important policy decisions, which are detailed in other annual reports. I think that First Church
members and friends are beginning to
relax and appreciate the opportunies
in an interim transion.
The Transion Team has becoming
skilled in the appreciave methods I
bring to this interim process, facile
with the tools useful for reviewing the
history of First Church, reclaiming and
celebrang its unique identy and
presence in the Milwaukee area. The
Transion Team is currently engaging
members and friends in an appreciave mission statement process which
we will complete this summer.
We are off to an excellent start. Together, during this first year we have
walked through the predictable, normal lows of the roller coaster of
change. We have been together
through unexpected changes in staff,
the joys of births and the sadness of
deaths. You have chosen your Senior
Minister Search CommiFee who will
enthusiascally begin the work of selecng a candidate for your next senior
minister. I applaud you all wholeheartedly for your successful engagement in, and compleon of, our first
interim year. Well done!
─The Rev. Elaine Beth Peresluha
The Board of Trustees and I have been
working on an understanding of best
pracces for leadership, governance,
commiFees, stewardship and financ-
19
We are off to an
excellent start.
Together, during this
first year we have
walked through the
predictable, normal
lows of the roller
coaster of change. We
have been together
through unexpected
changes in staff, the
joys of births and the
sadness of deaths.
Associate Minister
The white-throated sparrows have arrived on their annual migraon singing
their song sweet and high, a sign of
spring! They remind me of Earth’s
changing seasons, predictable in their
course yet always experienced anew. It
has been a joy to welcome our Interim
Senior Minister Elaine Peresluha to our
congregaon to receive her wisdom
and reassurance that we are moving
through our transional years right on
course, predictably, even as we newly
experience the process.
I remain, as always, delighted to connue to serve as your Associate Minister.
It feels like we have drawn closer this
year as we look to one another for stability, encouragement and inspiraon.
You inspire me as you step up to greater responsibility with healthy curiosity
and ongoing passion for our shared life
of faith.
We think we know what is possible in
life and then comes a marvelous surprise, like Marriage Equality in Wisconsin! I was so honored to officiate at the
first ever legal same gender wedding in
our sanctuary in October for a couple
who have been together 25 years. It is
hard to over-state the poignancy of that
moment signing their marriage license!
We think we know what is fair and right
and then comes a tragic sequence of
killings of unarmed black men by white
police officers across our naon, including the death of Dontre Hamilton in Red
Arrow Park in Milwaukee. Policing is
incredibly hard work, yet there is something wrong in the system when officers
are not at least prosecuted for using
excessive force against people of color.
With Elaine’s encouragement, our
board voted to join the Black Lives
MaFer movement and we connue to
learn how we can be allies in the struggle for jusce.
of loss, grief, illness, surgery, divorce
and other difficult life transions.
Many thanks to this team who will conclude their three year term of service in
October, when we will commission a
new team of trained listeners ready to
offer their compassionate presence.
Nicole Bruner steps down from her
three plus years serving as our Pastoral
Care Provider Coordinator, connecng
members who need rides and meals on
a short-term basis. Thank you Nicole!
And welcome Desiree Pasbrig to this
important leadership posion. The providers who are available to provide a
pot of soup, pan of lasagna or last minute ride to the doctor extend the hand
of care and make such a difference.
Small Groups
We have eleven acve Affinity Groups
this year with the addion of the popular Chronologically GiMed Group for
those age 60 and above. Acve groups
include Book Club, Buddhist Group,
Chancel Choir, FFUUN Group, Pagan
Celebraons Group. Poetry Group,
SWANS, UU Parenng Group, WomanSpirit and YANKS.
I work closely with Kathy Porter and our
Chalice Circle Steering CommiFee to
support and guide our Chalice Circle
program. I also work closely with our
Chalice Circle Facilitators and their
coach Nancy Spransy. We had seven
facilitators and five circles this year,
serving about fiMy members as they
meet twice a month to explore meaningful topics and build trusng relaonships in a small group seJng.
Updates on my four focus areas include:
Social Jus7ce
Our Social Jusce Council funconed
without a chairperson this year as the
leaders rotated facilitaon of meengs,
coordinang support and communicaons between our eight social jusce
programs which serve our wider community in a variety of ways. This group
of social jusce leaders inspired me
with their passion, commitment, cooperaon and good-humor!
Pastoral Care
Our team of nine Pastoral Care Associates connued to serve members in
need of a listening ear, helping in mes
We added three new Social Jusce Acon Groups this year: Community Building, Escalang Inequality and Immigraon Issues.
20
Summer Services
For some of us, the church year
doesn’t end as we enjoy coming to
10:00 a.m. summer services! A highlight for me was collaborang with
Jack Wilson and Tristan Strelitzer for a
second round of a channg service
(pun intended). With the Pulpit Guest
CommiFee’s support, we welcomed
three members to our pulpit, four
guest ministers, and I preached five
mes.
Conclusion
It has been a busy year riding the des
of change, learning new ways of doing
things and opening our minds to new
possibilies under the guidance of our
interim minister. Next year promises
to be even more busy as the search
commiFee engages in their noble
work to bring us the best Senior Minister candidate possible. I have every
confidence that our congregaon will
aFract exactly that person!
I love being your Associate Minister
and I look forward to seeing how the
next years unfold.
With love and gratude,
Dena
It feels like we have
drawn closer this year
as we look to one
another for stability,
encouragement and
inspiration. You
inspire me as you step
up to greater responsibility with healthy
curiosity and ongoing
passion for our shared
life of faith.
Director of
Administra7on
This year we’re well on our way on
another truly significant period of
change at First Church. AMer Drew’s
rerement last June, we embarked
on the process of finding a new
seFled senior minister who will lead
us into First Church’s next chapter.
Much of my work this past year has
been related to this “Senior Minister
Transion” … and other staffing transions.
Reporng to the Senior Minister, I
am responsible for administraon of
the church, including the areas of
financial management, strategic assistance, personnel, and facilies
management. I manage these areas
with a combinaon of contracted
services, a talented staff, and wonderful volunteers. I work closely with
several commiFees: Building &
Grounds, Finance, IT, Personnel,
Strategic Plan Steering and Nominang, as well as the Execuve Team
of the Board. My days are filled with
keeping things on track, fixing things
as the need arises, and planning for
improvements. During the Senior
Minister Transion, I have addional
responsibilies for orienng and supporng our Interim Senior Minister
Elaine, and eventually the new
seFled senior minister, as well as
providing connuity to the Board of
Trustee.
This summer, as the staff helped
Drew clear out his office and prepared it for Elaine’s arrival, we hired
our first-ever half-me Facilies
Manager Ed McGraw. The staffing
assessment provided by a UUA consultant last year confirmed that it
was a sound idea to hire a half-me
facilies manager—a long-held and
overdue goal of our previous strategic plan Vision 2010. Having Ed in
this posion relieves me of the many
facilies responsibilies including
managing building maintenance and
use, as well as supervising and direcng our friendly and talented
facilies assistants Jim Spice and
Paula Polman, and handyman MaF
Bell. It’s been wonderful working
with Ed as he learns the charms of
our beloved church facilies and our
extensive programming. He brings us
decades of experience with large
historic buildings and care facilies in
Milwaukee, as well as great energy
and humor. We’re extremely fortunate to have Ed on our staff team!
With Drew’s departure (and with
him, an enormous amount of instuonal memory), my new responsibilies for providing connuity and support for the Board of Trustees began
in earnest. I’ve worked with the Execuve Team of the Board for some
years, but this year all three of the
church officers who sit on the Board
are new to the Execuve Team. It’s
been a privilege and delight to work
with these dedicated and talented
Board members who’ve stepped up
to leadership during this crical and
excing period in the life of First
Church.
With Elaine’s arrival on August 1, our
Interim ministry period began! I’ve
been proud to help orient Elaine to
First Church processes, structure and
staff. I’ve enjoyed supporng her in
these first stages of her interim ministry with us. It’s been wonderful
imagining with her the new and
different ways we could do our
church work, as well as beFer understanding this journey of the Senior
Minister Transion that she’s leading
us through.
Last summer, Sharon Murphy, our
Church Secretary for nearly 27 years,
informed me she was rering June
30, 2015. In her caring way, she
wanted to work long enough to get
Elaine seFled in, but let her replacement be in place before our seFled
senior minister arrives. I’ve been
Sharon’s supervisor for all of my 17
years here, and it’s hard to imagine
the First Church administrave office
without her. She started out taking
shorthand from Drew’s dictaon and
has grown and changed her skills as
the church has grown and technology has changed. She’s always said
21
that the key to success in her job is
to be flexible. Also, we’ll especially
miss her caring recollecons of so
many of the long-me members of
the church. Because of health issues
that emerged this winter, she’s been
working about half-me recently. Of
course we’re planning a rerement
recognion, but whenever you might
see her, please join me in thanking
her for her many, many years of dedicated service!
Preparing for Sharon’s rerement,
this winter I worked with a markeng consultant to develop a new
job descripon for a Communicaons Coordinator. At this juncture
I’m interviewing some very strong
candidates and I’m excited about the
possibilies this new staff posion
will bring.
One more staff transion … aMer
nearly six years as our half me
Office Assistant, Bonnie PoqueFe
resigned in March. Among other
things, Bonnie provided expert database skills, masterful coordinaon of
our room reservaons, and wonderful order to the administrave offices. I truly appreciate her aFenon to
detail and dedicaon to this job. I
currently have over two dozen applicaons for this posion on my desk
and will be hiring someone soon.
Finally, the other large transion this
year is changing our church management soMware. We replaced our 20 –
year old database (and room scheduler) which was not keeping up with
the mes or our church growth. It’s
been a quagmire geJng the data
conversion straightened out and
staff learning a new and very different system. But in the end the improvements will definitely be worth
it. This ChMS will eventually allow for
more informaon and services for
church members. We’ll soon be unveiling a member portal where
church members can access an
online member directory (to which
they can upload their photos if they
wish) and access their own pledging
informaon. Eventually we’ll be able
to provide on-line registraon for
events and ministry team contact
informaon. Thanks so much for
your paence as we work through
this major change in our church
work.
This has been a year filled to the
brim with change in my areas of responsibility and the church as a
whole. It’s excing to imagine all the
possibilies! It’s excing for me to
watch church members also imagine
the opportunies of this new First
Church adventure. Let’s move
through this important Senior Minister Transion with grace, holding
each other with care.
Love to each of you on your journey,
— Jean Johnson
This has been a year
filled to the brim with
change in my areas of
responsibility and the
church as a whole. It’s
exciting to imagine all
the possibilities! It’s
exciting for me to
watch church
members also imagine
the opportunities of
this new First Church
adventure.
Director of
Membership &
Development
the same as the current year, at
$722,300. The full Stewardship report
from Noreen and Mark can be found on
another page.
At the end of December, I completed my
tenth year as your Director of Membership and Development (DMD) and we
marked this milestone at services on a
Sunday in January. Looking back, much
has changed in this decade. Stewardship
acvies have expanded as has the markeng program, and the Journey to
Membership series became a requirement to join the congregaon. Broadly
speaking, my role as the DMD is to promote church membership and financial
growth. I report to Dena and collaborate
with her and other staff, as well as with
many church members from the various
commiFees with which I work.
In May, the Stewardship CommiFee
hosted a luncheon for the Heritage Society members — those who have named
First Church in their wills or estate plans.
Guest speaker Venice Williams' message
about her community building work with
Alice's Garden was truly inspiraonal —
a perfect message for those who want to
leave a legacy in our spiritual community.
What follows are highlights from the
year.
I again had the pleasure of working with
an enthusiasc Feast for Funds CommiFee. Our October aucon was wildly
successful, exceeding our goal of raising
$25,000. There has been a fabulous buzz
from the fun events all year. Jo Ann Bishop chaired the team of Feast for Funds
team this year.
ACS, Our New Database
Membership Services
We switched to a new database, ACS,
during the summer. It is a more powerful database than our previous system,
but this was a much bigger learning
curve than ancipated! It is taking considerable me to learn how to use all
funcons of the system. In May, I expect
to roll out the eagerly awaited online
member portal to the database, which
we are calling MyFirstChurch. Members
will be able to log on to check their contribuon records, update their contact
info and photo of themselves, and access a member photo directory.
As always, I worked closely with the
Membership CommiFee, this year
chaired by Cindy Graham, to ensure that
our guests and members have a posive
experience at First Church. I provide an
annual training for our ushers and greeters, this year teaching them to use a new
online scheduling tool — VolunteerSpot
— which has simplified usher scheduling
and provided volunteers with automac
reminders prior to their work dates.
Development Services
My work with the Stewardship CommiFee is always a major part of my
church year. This year Noreen Gilbertsen
and Mark Richards co-chaired the commiFee. Our goal is to work collaboravely with the Board of Trustees and Finance CommiFee to understand the
financial goals for the year and communicate those in a compelling message
to the members. I worked with the
commiFee to hold two events for the
financial leaders, and a fun all-church
fellowship event that was at the Italian
Community Center. While all of the
pledges are not yet in, it is clear that
next year's pledge budget will remain
22
I connue to co-lead the “Journey to
Membership” series — a requirement
for membership — with Elaine, Dena,
and Beryl. Due to ministers' schedules,
we offered the series only in the fall and
spring, skipping the winter series. This
year, 18 individuals signed the Membership Book in the fall, and18 joined in the
spring. We have plans for a summer series in July for the very first me. I love
interacng with our newest members in
these classes. I am amazed at how many
members I can greet by name on Sunday
mornings — owed in great part to the
Journey classes.
Chalice Circles
The Chalice Circles program connued to
provide a space that supports the spiritual and personal growth of members.
Throughout the year, Dena and I alternated meeng with the Chalice Circle
Steering CommiFee, chaired by
Michelle Naples, which provides evaluaon and oversight of the program.
About 50 First Church members parcipated in 5 groups this year.
Marke7ng
I connued to work with the Markeng
CommiFee, chaired by Phil Marn, to
get the good news of First Church and
UUism to more new people. The Markeng CommiFee hired consultant Nancy Schwartz to assist us in creang a
strategic markeng plan, which will be
finished before Flower Communion
Sunday. We also purchased program
underwring with WUWM public radio.
The commiFee is developing an advocates program, in which we will recruit
and train members to be regular online
advocates for First Church. Many of our
guests aFend First Church on the recommendaon of friends. The advocates
will be trained to use social media regularly to promote and recommend First
Church services, programs, and classes.
I have greatly appreciated the talents of
all the staff and the
many volunteers
and members with
whom I have worked
closely. The love
and passion for
First Church shines
forth to create our
beloved community!
Director of
Religious Educa7on
Things change. We change. There is always something new. We are always
moving from one thing to another, one
age to another, one place to another,
one school or home to another…. We
call these changes “transi/ons.”
— Excerpt from the K5 Gradua7on
Ceremony, RE Sunday
This church year has been one of transion. As the year progressed, those of us
focused on the Religious Educaon programs have explored some previously
unfamiliar areas, challenged ourselves to
be more inclusive, braved nasty weather
and our response to it, welcomed new RE
staff and new families, grieved and celebrated the rerement of our long me
Senior Minister, started to know our Interim Senior Minister, and connued to
provide opportunies for spiritual growth
and learning to our intergeneraonal
church community.
A Single Goal for the Children’s
Religious Educa7on Commi9ee
Denomina7onal Work
As Julie Bock notes in her Children’s RE
CommiFee report, the commiFee chose
to focus energy this year on exploring
best pracces and community priories
with regards to addressing racial straficaon and injusce in our Milwaukee
community.
I am compleng a 2-year term on the
board of the UU Associaon of Membership Professionals. Our mission is to
develop and support the ministry of
membership through professional development and collaboraon. I co-led
workshops with the UUAMP board at
General Assembly last summer and at
the MidAmerica Regional Assembly in
April.
LiFle did we know then just how immediate the issues involved in racial jusce
would become in 2014-2015. In August,
2014 riots broke out in Ferguson MO aMer
the shoong death of a young, unarmed
black man, Michael Brown, by police.
UUA President, the Rev. Peter Morales
wrote, “Ferguson is not about Ferguson.
It is about the systemac dehumanizing
of people all over America. As Unitarian
Universalists, we have faith that it need
not be this way.”
In Conclusion
Much of the work this year was focused
on our ministerial transion. It has been
a pleasure to work with our talented
Interim Senior Minister, who has
brought new ideas and styles to our
beloved congregaon, and has provided
skilled leadership for the Board, staff,
and members. I have greatly appreciated the talents of all the staff and the
many volunteers and members with
whom I have worked closely. The love
and passion for First Church shines forth
to create our beloved community!
Here in Milwaukee we are familiar with
segregaon, poverty, gun violence, disparies in educaon/job markets/
housing. As our congregaon took a
stand against systemic racism and raised
a banner that proclaimed “Black Lives
MaFer,” I worked with fiMeen members
With abiding affecon,
Kathy Porter
23
of our church community over four
months in a program called “Empathy,
Ignorance, and Compassion” where we
explored:
a. Quesons that highlight our
b.
different experiences and percepons about the kinds of problems
our community/society is facing
with regard to race.
Experiences and observaons
shared by a panel of nine people
of color from the greater Milwaukee community, as well as their
vision for our predominantly
white congregaon as allies and
teachers of children.
Possibilies and recommendaons
towards RE programs that explicitly
idenfy and address issues of racism
with K5-12 grade children and youth in
the year ahead.
Recommendaons have been made,
and will be considered by the Children’s RE CommiFee at their annual
retreat in June. Our intenon is to provide programming in the next church
year that explicitly explores racial issues and culvates an environment
that encourages our children to be
both an-racist, and advocates for
jusce.
Religious Educa7on — the Year in
Highlight:
•
•
•
Worship was offered in some form
each week, including Children’s
Chapel, First Sunday Focus, Family
Services, and Intergeneraonal
Services.
The Adult RE CommiFee deconstructed their understanding of
how to “do” Religious Educaon
during their September retreat,
and streamlined their offerings
this year. This resulted in fewer
canceled classes and less burnout
among members. One example of
excing new ARE programming:
“Keep the Flame Burning: Passion
& Purpose in a CommiFed Relaonship” a four-part workshop led
by Dianna Denno and John Gielow.
The Our Whole Lives (OWL) comprehensive sexuality educaon
program was offered to eighth
•
•
graders during extended aMernoon
classes between SeptemberDecember. New advisors Kae
Maedke Hall and Jeremy Koenen
were trained and will begin their
teaching commitment in the fall.
Chalice Lighng sign-ups for Family
and Intergeneraonal Services
went electronic with a link in VolunteerSpot.com
The 2014 Intergeneraonal holiday
service had a solsce theme for the
first me in at least fiMeen years,
and was an unqualified success!
High school seniors will once again have
the opportunity to speak (and share)
their truth at the annual RE Sunday Services to be held on May 17. This year’s
senior presenters include: Tanner Aumend*, Ben Boehm*, Kyle Byrnes*,
Natalie Dellutri*, Elizbeth Hayes*, Natalie Hogan, Noah Katz*, Dylan LarsonHarsch*, Helena Rose, Ivan Roth*, and
Tony Stano*. We send them forth with
love, and hope they have an enduring
sense of First Church as a spiritual home
they can return to at any me. (*These
Seniors will be presenng statements to
the congregaon on May 17 during our
RE Sunday services).
Doing the Work of Religious Educa7on
While navigang this year of change, we
have been especially fortunate to have
had the leadership of so many dedicated RE staff and volunteers who have
enthusiascally supported our vibrant
RE programs. Deb Solis joined us as
Youth Program Coordinator last summer, and hit the ground running; we are
so lucky to have her on our RE staff
team! Chrisna Nichols brought fresh
eyes and innovave organizaon as the
RE Administrave Assistant before leaving the posion in May for full me employment. We are thrilled to welcome
Kari Stenitzer to that role; her warmth,
creavity, and tenacity in learning complicated systems have already made her
a valuable member of our team.
I expressly want to acknowledge Julie
Bock (CRE Chair) and Jen Twente (CRE
Vice Chair), Elizabeth Hayes and Jane
Dorweiler, (Youth Steering CommiFee
Co- Chairs), and Chris Linder and Nina
Davis (Adult RE Co-Chairs)… not only
24
have each of these people provided
exceponal leadership, but they have
provided guidance and support to others modeling what it means to lead.
In addion to our commiFee chairs,
over one hundred people volunteered
as class leaders, advisors, assistants,
commiFee members, facilitators, and
coordinators this year in RE programs.
This hands-on interacon is the backbone of our Sunday morning Religious
Educaon experience, for special
events, for classes and workshops for
adults, and for teen programming.
Thank you to all who contributed their
me and effort!
Conclusion
There is more change ahead. I believe
that our strong and loving faith community is posioned well to create lifelong memories and commitment for
people of all ages. With a solid foundaon of both proven programs and innovave ideas, this church transforms
lives. As our community grows and
changes, I connue to feel honored to
be a part of this good work. I am looking forward to our connued journey
together.
In Faith,
Beryl Aschenberg, DRE
Our intention is to
provide programming
in the next church
year that explicitly
explores racial issues
and cultivates an
environment that
encourages our
children to be both
anti-racist, and
advocates for justice.
Youth Program
Coordinator
I was very pleased to join the Religious Educaon staff team in the
summer of 2014 and found making
the transion from a long me acve
congregaonal member to a partme staff member to be very
smooth and comfortable. Since joining the RE team, the warm recepon
and friendliness of the staff, advisors
and youth has been overflowing.
weiler, Jacqi Akert and Heather Hansen as well as Maya George, a former YRUU member and YSC Co-chair.
We are hoping to begin launching
program acvies in the Fall of 2015.
A few youth program highlights from
the past year….
•
At First Church, our Youth Programming proudly provides:
•
•
•
•
A safe and supporve environment for youth to be who they
are, and to explore their
thoughts and feelings about
themselves, their world, and
their religion.
A foundaon for the lifelong
endeavor of idenfying that
which is valuable and, meaningful, and tools to use in pursuing
value and meaning in one’s life.
Lasng relaonships within this
community and denominaon.
Mentorships for youth by adults,
as well as opportunies for
youth to mentor young children
My responsibilies as the YPC include managing and overseeing the
religious educaon programs for
youth from eighth through twelMh
grades. I provide planning, scheduling, and administrave assistance to
our teams of facilitators/advisors for
the Our Whole Lives (OWL) eighth
grade program; our “Pillars” ninth
grade junior youth group; our Young
Religious Unitarian Universalists
(YRUU) senior high youth, and to the
members of our Youth Steering CommiFee (YSC). It is also my responsibility to coordinate the annual Mission
Trip for Habitat for Humanity, and
any fundraising events that are required to make this trip happen.
•
•
Housing in the BaFle Creek,
Michigan area Habitat for Humanity locaon was destroyed
by a fire in 2014 and with generous donaons made possible
from our congregaonal members, our annual mission trip
2015 youth will be staying in
new housing in one locaon.
In April 2015 our YRUU youth
presented a forum focusing on
what happens in YRUU on Sunday mornings and what the
youth do at First Church. Congregaonal response was quite
posive and encouraging to repeat this format in the future.
We had seventeen eighth grade
OWL graduates in January 2015.
I am so pleased to be in this posion
working closely with our esteemed
DRE, Beryl Aschenberg, who has developed such strong youth programming at First Church to inspire our
youth as they move forward in their
lives. Our youth are truly amazing
and I am quite confident that we will
connue to guide them spiritually on
their journey through life with our
comprehensive youth programming
here at First Church.
In love,
Deb Solis
Youth Program Coordinator
Part of my me this year has been
allocated to exploring ways to engage young adults who have graduated from YRUU and high school. I
am working on this program with
congregaonal members Jane Dor25
Our youth are truly
amazing and I am
quite confident that
we will continue to
guide them spiritually on their journey
through life with our
comprehensive
youth programming
here at First
Church.
Commi9ee, Coordinator
and Group Reports
Adult RE Commi9ee
The mission of the Adult Religious Educaon CommiFee is to promote wisdom, understanding, tolerance and fellowship within the church and community and to help members and friends
improve the quality of their lives according to UU principles.
Examples of classes that we sponsored
this year were “Doubt and Belief” with
Carolyn Sweers, a marriage encounter
workshop, Buddhist meditaon, breath
meditaon, “Walking the Camino de
Sanago in Spain,” “Transions — Reclaiming the Creavity of Your Soul,” as
well as many others. We have on-going
yoga classes twice per week for most of
the church year and the summer.
Our classes are taught by church members and friends of the church who enjoy sharing their wisdom, knowledge
and experience. The classes are announced in the Chancleer, on the
church website, and in Sunday wriFen
announcements. More informaon and
registraon is available at the RE Table
in the Common Room aMer Sunday services. Our primary purpose is service,
but we charge a small fee to offset the
costs of presenng the classes.
During the 2014-2015 year commiFee
members were Chris Linder (chair), Paula Anderson, Nina Davis, Kevin Gibson,
Trina Koch, Laurie Petersen, Jane Stoltz
and Beryl Aschenberg (DRE and staff
liaison). Our commiFee plans, produces
and evaluates all of our classes. We
appreciate the posive feedback we
receive from the class parcipants.
— Chris Linder
Buildings and Grounds
Commi9ee
Chalice Circle Steering
Commi9ee
It was another busy year for the Building and Grounds CommiFee overseeing
the maintenance and improvements to
our historic building. Highlights include:
The Chalice Circle Steering CommiFee
provides support and guidance for the
Chalice Circle Program, our congregaon’s pracce of small group ministry. Chalice Circles provide a space that
supports spiritual and personal growth
through discussions of interesng topics
led by trained facilitators twice a
month. The Chalice Circle Steering
CommiFee connues to evaluate the
program through surveys of parcipants and facilitators and makes changes as necessary. In addion, we promote service projects as a way for parcipants to deepen their connecon
with one another and to the broader
community. This year, the Chalice Circle Steering CommiFee provided
brunch to over 30 families at the Ronald
McDonald House.
•
•
•
•
•
•
Developing wheelchair accommodaon at the front of the sanctuary
by shortening the front pew on
each side (special shout-out to MaF
Bell for the expert craMsmanship).
Replacing the basement window
grates along Ogden that were purloined by a scrapper.
Overseeing addional exterior masonry repair on the north and west
facades.
Arranging for the painng of exterior trim in the courtyard.
In consultaon with our Design
Coordinator, planned and then
completed the installaon of the
courtyard sculpture, a very generous giM from Joy & Rod BoFs.
Also in consultaon with our Design
Coordinator as well as the Gallery
CommiFee, began planning for the
Common Room Finishes project to
be executed during the Summer of
2015, a project that will include
new hallway and stair carpet and
sanctuary railings.
B&G CommiFee members include
Chrisan Becker, Bill Frink, Paul Doperalski, MaF Bell, Don Menefee and our
new recruit Michelle Burke, along with
Design Coordinator Cassandra
Zumstein, and with much assistance
from Jean Johnson and Ed McGraw.
Five Chalice Circles met this year, including four newly formed Chalice Circles and one connuing Chalice Circle
from the previous year. Chalice Circles
formed this year will have the opon to
connue for another year.
Steering CommiFee members are Omega Burckhardt, Eileen Collins, Jeff Farren, Alan Jaberg, John McNally, and
Michelle Naples, chair. The commiFee
is fortunate to work closely with Kathy
Porter and the Rev. Dena McPhetres.
─ Michelle Naples
Respecvely SubmiFed,
Russ Drewry, Chair
Chalice Circles provide a space that supports spiritual and personal growth
through discussions of interesting topics...
26
Children’s Religious
Educa7on Commi9ee
Denomina7onal Affairs
The Children’s Religious Educaon CommiFee is thankful for the leadership of
Beryl Aschenberg as well as the 120 volunteers who make programming possible for the 203 kids registered for Religious Educaon.
•
This year’s CREC theme was “Partnering
to Create Healthy Communies for All”
with the explicit goal being: expanding
the discussion of racial/cultural issues
and representaon within the CREC programs and acvies. We held Empathy,
Ignorance, Compassion Dialogues to
inform the CREC on best pracces and
community priories with regard to addressing racial straficaon and injusce
in our community
•
First Sundays: This is a very well received approach to RE, on the first Sunday of each month. Different monthly
themes included homelessness (making
150 Good Neighbor Bags containing
socks, water, sunscreen and other helpful items), poverty (MiFen Tree yielded
251 winter wear items which were given
to local families through the Next Door
and Pathfinders programs), friendship
day (the children created 375 valennes
for 75 people in our congregaon), and
the church meline (in conjuncon with
the Interim Transion Team).
Share the Plate: The children and youth
selected, by majority vote, the Walnut
Way Conservaon Corps – Commons
Project as the Share the Plate recipient
for May 2015.
General Assembly in Providence, RI
•
This year’s Children’s
Religious Education
Committee theme was
“Partnering to Create
Healthy Communities
for All” with the
explicit goal being:
expanding the
discussion of racial/
cultural issues and
representation within
the CREC programs
and activities.
•
•
Regional Assembly in Naperville, IL
•
•
Five delegates aFended (Terry and
Bruce Wiggins, Janet Nortrom, Kate
Marrs, Nancy Pajewski)
2 staff aFended in person (Kathy
Porter and Beryl Aschenberg)
Southeast Wisconsin Unitarian Universalist Congrega7ons (SEWUUC)
•
•
•
The RE program staff is experiencing
turnover. Chrisna Nichols, the RE Administrave Assistant, was hired in April
2014 and resigned effecve May 2015
due to her need for a full me posion. Kari Stenitzer was hired in April
2015. In addion, our new Youth Coordinator, Deb Solis, was hired in July 2014.
Bruce Wiggins, Terry Wiggins, and
Lois Wesener aFended in person as
delegates plus 2 aFended as off-site
delegates (Janet Nortrom and Nancy
Pajewski)
2 staff aFended in person (Kathy
Porter and Beryl Aschenberg)
James Galasinski aFended as seminary student
Senior minister the Rev. Dr. Drew
Kennedy aFended as ministerial
delegate and was recognized as
rering minister at Service of the
Living Tradion
Terry Wiggins led the naonal effort
to pass a business resoluon to divest the Common Endowment Fund
from fossil fuels
•
SEWUUC was formed to enable UU
representaon on the Interfaith
Conference of Greater Milwaukee
(IFCGM)
One of three UU delegates to IFCGM
Steering CommiFee is First Church
member Dianna Denno
Terry Wiggins represents UUs on
the Steering CommiFee of the Interfaith Earth Network, an IFCGM program
Successful Fruit and Nut Sale was a
fundraiser to purchase radio ads for
UUism in Milwaukee region
Social Jus7ce
•
•
Respecvely SubmiFed,
Julie Bock, CREC Chair
•
27
First Church Social Jusce Council
representaon
Commented to UUA on draM Statement of Conscience on Reproducve Jusce
Commented to UUA on current
Study-Acon Issue, Escalang Inequality
Financial
•
•
•
$28,500 paid for UUA dues (75% of
requested “Fair Share” by UUA
based on percent of budget)
$13,800 paid for MidAmerica region
dues (75% of requested “Fair Share”
by UUA based on $23/member)
$1200 paid for SEWUUC contribuon (based on $1.50/member of
congregaon)
— Bruce Wiggins, Denominaonal
Affairs Coordinator
Flowers Commi9ee
The weekly Flowers Program connued
to flourish, growing to 90% coverage.
Flowers have been enthusiascally received and appreciated by congregants
and have provided high sasfacon for
the donors. We lowered the recommended donaon to $45 to encourage
sponsorship; promoted the program
with several Coffee Hour sign-up table
sessions; and improved the process with
a sign-up sheet and spreadsheet tracking
system.
Warmest regards,
Carla Ernst
Membership Commi9ee
The Membership CommiFee serves as
the front door of the church. We meet
and greet members and visitors at the
glass doors each Sunday and staff the
Membership Table during Coffee Hour
aMer each service. In addion to the
weekly greengs, we also contact visitors and answer quesons about the
congregaon and Unitarian Universalism. When someone is ready to join
First Church, they aFend a Journey to
Membership class conducted by our
ministers and Director of Membership
and hosted by the Membership CommiFee.
The Membership CommiFee has connued the conversaon about a photo directory which will be realized this year.
Our new soMware allows members to
add photos through a soon-to-be
opened membership portal where
members can make changes to their
membership directory informaon as
well as add a photo. The commiFee
also provided meals and snacks for
two Journey to Membership classes,
and have a third planned for the summer. These sessions allow us to talk
with new members and beFer understand their interests so we can connect them with a commiFee, social
jusce group or affinity group that fits
their interest.
Our commiFee goal is to talk with
visitors and new members and make
sure they have connecons to other
individuals, groups and organizaons
within First Church.
— Cindy Graham
Nomina7ng Commi9ee
The mission of the Nominang CommiFee is to recruit church members
for leadership posions. In general,
the church allows volunteers to stay
in a specific leadership role for a maximum of three years, so every three
years virtually every leadership positon needs to be filled. Each year, our
process begins in late fall. We review
the status of all leadership posions,
contact current chairs to remind
them about succession planning, and
inform them that we’ll be calling back
in winter to hear about how those
plans are progressing. We take recommendaons from exisng chairs
for new leaders, and we acvely
brainstorm names of people who
might be interested in filling a leadership role. Once all posions are idenfied, we present the nominees to
the Board of Trustees, which makes
the appointments. In addion, nominees for the Board of Trustees and for
the Nominang CommiFee are recruited and elected by the congregaon at the Annual Meeng in May.
Being in our first year of ministerial
transion, there were addional requests made of the Nominang CommiFee. Working with staff, the Transion Team, and Board we a strong
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Senior Minister Search CommiFee, to
begin their work next year.
CommiFee members this year were
Stacy Koenen, Chris Lindner, Gordon
Mueller, Diane Reynolds, Kathy Rivera, and Bronze Quinton, with Jean
Johnson, our Director of Administraon, working closely with the commiFee. Our church is dynamic and
acve with many “behind the scenes”
roles that must be filled in order for
services to occur as we have come to
expect, for the administrave acons
to happen and for the many community building acvies that are enjoyed.
I’m grateful to have been able to
work with and get to know such a
commiFed group of people. Our success as a congregaon is due in large
part to the willingness of members to
serve in leadership positons and on
commiFees – thank you to those of
you who have agreed to do so! I appreciate those who are willing to
serve and help First Church build and
grow.
— Stacy Koenen, chair
Pastoral Care
Associates
Since our last annual report, our nine
pastoral care associates have provided a caring presence to almost 100
members of our church community as
they faced significant life events. This
year marks the end of the three commitment for our current associates
and we would like to offer our gratude for their caring, compassionate
service over the past three years. We
will be inducng a new group of associates this Fall as they pick up the
torch of pastoral care service to our
church community.
— Pete Neuwald
Pastoral Care Providers
•
•
•
•
•
Contacted 30 people
5-babies
accidents-2
Surgeries-19
Broken arm, leg etc-4
•
either no thank yous or no calls
back-12
Rides-8
Meals-10
•
•
20 PCP’s helped out
— Nicole Bruner, Coordinator
Pulpit Guest
Commi9ee
The Pulpit Guest CommiFee recruits,
selects, and assists the ministers and
lay people who are in our pulpit for
services not conducted by our own
ministers or planned by Religious Educaon.
A commiFee member works with each
minister or lay member to plan, coordinate, and publicize the service by
working with church staff, The Chancleer editor, Music Directors, and Worship Associates.
The commiFee also recruits and selects First Church members to lead
summer services. Dena McPhetres
helps them develop sermons, and PGC
members help them put together orders of service and publicity. We have
invited five members of our congregaon to speak this upcoming summer.
The PGC met three mes this year,
coordinang many of its acvies
online. CommiFee members for the
2014-15 year were Jessie Moffat
(Chair), third year member Sally Lewis,
and first year members Jane Cliff, Jeff
Farren, and Charlie Persch.
Katy Phillips leM the commiFee in the
fall, and Marcus Dimick joined us this
spring. The Rev. Dena McPhetres is an
ex-officio member.
To join the commiFee, please contact
our new Chair, Jeff Farren.
— Jessie Moffat, Outgoing Chair
Stewardship Commi9ee
Overview
Stewardship includes all the work that
nurtures, promotes and builds the resources which enable First Church to
fulfill its ministry. This year’s challenge
was to encourage the congregaon to
dig deep to strengthen the church financial posion to aFract the best senior
minister, to move toward full funding of
our fair share pledge to the UUA, and to
cover the increased facilies and music
costs. Because this was a transion year,
there were several uncertaines – including the effect of Drew Kennedy’s rerement, the very successful pledge drive
two years ago, and the ancipaon of
searching for the new minister. Our intenon was to focus on the opportunies
that await us as we move forward.
Many thanks to Jo Ann Bishop, Tim
Greene, Jeremy Koenen, Lisa Koneazny,
Cheryl Maranto and Holly Patzer. Special
thanks to Kathy Porter for her invaluable
help.
Strategy
During this first year of transion, the
commiFee wanted to acknowledge the
stories of the past while looking forward
to the stories to come. We chose the
pledge drive theme “Honor our past,
shape our future.” Two years ago, the
congregaon really stepped up to close
the financial gap; however, last year’s
the pledge drive was flat. We held two
financial leaders events in January and
Elaine talked to many congregants in
person. Mark Bender helped tremendously by creang this year’s brochure.
The all congregaon Fellowship Event
was held at the ICC in March and the
Heritage Society was honored with a
luncheon in May with guest speaker Venice Williams.
Pledge Drive Results
As of the beginning of May, we have received 461 pledges totaling roughly
$665,000. We esmate that we will receive addional pledges totaling $25,000
from new members in summer, fall, and
winter, and there are 90 households that
have not yet pledged, but the 2015-16
pledge budget will need to remain at
$722,300 – the same as the current
year.
— Noreen Gilbertsen
and Mark Richards, Co-Chairs
Sunday Morning Forum
Having aFended the Forum at First
Church for several years I joined the
commiFee to learn the “inside story.”
My first year as Chair has been an excing and rewarding experience. Despite cancellaons, replacements,
scheduling challenges and publicity snafus, the forum always came together
every Sunday due to the commitment
and supporve aJtude of the Forum
CommiFee members. 2014-15 CommiFee members are Jo Ann Bachar,
Chrisan Becker, Mary Buchel, Joan
Christopherson-Schmidt, Thallis Drake,
Jerry Fredrickson, Mark Gill, Mark
Mueller, Janet Nortrom, Jim StarF and
Krisne Hansen.
There are 30 Sunday’s for which to plan,
therefore we always welcome new
members who bring fresh ideas and
broaden our range of contacts. We
also welcome forum topic ideas from
the broader congregaon. There will be
contact and hosng responsibilies
which accompany your suggeson. The
commiFee meets to consider topics
twice a year, in June and October, otherwise commiFee communicaon is
through email. Once approved, individuals work independently to contact and
assist their presenter as well as to host
on the scheduled Sunday.
The 2014-15 Forum schedule offered a
variety of topics and speakers, including
a number of First Church members. We
thank everyone for maintaining consistent aFendance numbers. Your posive feedback has been very encouraging. Forum topics range from local iniaves, the arts and creave programming, polical and spiritual. Remember,
the forum is free and open to the public, so please consider using the Forum
as a way to invite visitors to our church.
If you have quesons or wish to know
more about commiFee involvement,
contact Lorraine Jacobs, Chair.
— Lorraine Jacobs
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SWANS
We provide friendship, social acvies,
and a network for seasoned women
50ish and beyond. About 10 women
gather monthly for lunch following the
11:00 service. Events are suggested. A
special summer party at a member's
home was enjoyed by many. A New
Years Day party provided an opportunity
to donate baby items to a hospital charity. We recently changed the meaning of
the group, “seasoned women alone and
newly single,” to “seasoned women are
naturally social”!
— Jacki Zandi
WomanSpirit
WomanSpirit is our connecon to the
Naonal Unitarian Universalist Women’s
Federaon and to the MidAmerica
Woman and Religion CommiFee. Our
mission is to join together for mutual
support, personal growth, and spiritual
enrichment. We welcome UU women of
all ages, straight or gay, to join our
meengs celebrang the meaning of our
lives through music, ritual, social jusce
concerns and social acvies. We encourage women to join in the fall for a
nominal membership fee that supports
our naonal and district offices. Our
naonal dues help us advance jusce for
women through educaon and advocacy. It also provides scholarship money to
members aFending UU women’s conferences. Our programs vary in topic and
diversity and are also open to men in our
church.
This year we concentrated again on social jusce concerns. We collaborated
with SWANS and others for a Water Ceremony. We joined the Book Group for
Women’s History Month to share
“Rachel Carson and Her Sisters” and
showed the film “Since Silent Spring.”
We collaborated and studied with others
about human trafficking. Several of us
aFended the Womanspirit Conference at
Lake Country UU, and Janet presented a
"Woman's wring for a change" workshop. The Fall Women’s Connecon
retreat in Racine appealed to many. We
helped with the newly organized UU
Pagan Group in our church. Janet
Nortrom connues to be on the Margaret
Fuller Board for the UUWF which awards
grants to women’s spiritual projects. We
are always searching for new leadership
and invite others to parcipate. With joy,
peace, love, and friendship,
— Janet Nortrom
and Jude Bringe, Co-Chairs
UU Paren7ng Group
The UU Parenng Group is a support and
social group for parents of children ages 018. We discuss the challenges of raising UU
children, share resources, and do fun family acvies. Our group usually meets on
the Second Sunday of the month.
We start our monthly meengs eang a
pot luck lunch and then child care is provided in the preschool room while parents
get a chance to talk. In past years we have
discussed a variety of unrelated topics.
This year, we decided to use the books
Parenng Beyond Belief by Dale McGowan
and the guidebook Raising Freethinkers to
guide our discussions. These topics included: encouraging wondering and quesoning, discovering our values and virtues,
how to discuss death and life with our children, and living and teaching ethics in our
family.
Last summer we held picnics in local parks
in lieu of our monthly meengs at church.
We had a great turnout at them and will
have picnics again this summer starng
June 14. In past years we have also done
more social events during the “church
year” both inside and outside of church.
Next year we would like to connue these
monthly meengs and in addion provide
more social opportunies for our group.
We are also discussing the possibility of
hosng another guest speaker.
— Stacey Thieme and Sarah Richards
Youth Steering Commi9ee
The Youth Steering CommiFee connues
to provide leadership opportunies for a
select number of YRUU members, as well
as serves as the backbone of YRUU organizaon. This year’s members included:
YRUU youth- Ally Alioto, Tony Stano, Ivan
Roth, Clare Loughran, Mary Ann Aiken,
Annalise Lozier and Elizabeth Hayes and
adults- Jane Dorweiler, MaFhew Finco and
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Marie Andrae. We were pleased to
welcome Deb Solis as our Youth Program Coordinator this year.
The youth group planned and conducted three fundraisers this year to raise
money for the annual summer Mission
Trip to BaFle Creek, Michigan. Instead
of puJng on the usual YRUU Palooza,
this year’s group decided to hold the
Fancy Freakin’ Feast, a five-course meal
cooked and prepared enrely by YRUU
members. This evening also included
live music and an art aucon, created
and performed by youth. This change
in events proved to be very effecve
for congregaonal involvement as well
as finances. The second fundraiser was
the annual Youth Service. This year’s
topic was “Contr4adicons-the oxymorons of life” and the service was
received with much praise. The third
and final fundraiser was the Mother’s
Day Gourmet Dessert Aucon which as
usual, was a success.
The youth group was much smaller in
size than year’s past, which was an
added challenge for the group. This
change made each member more accountable for their work load, and created a ghter bond among members.
As usual, YRUU hosted several lock in’s
this year, as well as a Lessons of Loss
Lock In, where members discussed the
many forms of loss.
Youth CONferences were aFended by
Ivan Roth, Mary Ann Aiken and Annalise Lozier in the Fall in Brookfield,
WI and in the Spring in Naperville, IL
with chaperone John Fitak.
We nominated three youth to aFend
the Summer 2015 Midwest Leadership
School in Beloit, WI at the me of this
report. YRUU members who aFended
last summer included Ivan Roth and
Clare Loughran.
We thank our YRUU advisors, Jean
Crandall Jacobs, Jane Dorweiler,
MaFhew Finco, Beth Grimm, Krisne
Radtke-Norris and Don Weimer. Addionally, we thank Beryl Aschenberg for
all of her support.
RespecOully submiFed,
Elizabeth Hayes and Jane Dorweiler,
Co-Chairs
Social Jus7ce Council
The Social Jusce Council is a vehicle
for communicaon and collaboraon
among the various social jusce programs at First Church, and with the
congregaon at-large, meeng on a
monthly basis. Last year we had very
capable leadership with Sharon De Pue
and Melinda Vernon at the helm. Unfortunately, we have been unsuccessful
in finding new council chairs to replace
them, so we have been rotang that
responsibility amongst our council
members. First Church connues to
have enthusiasm for expanding social
jusce work, but we are always looking
for more leaders to replace those who
move to other areas of interest. Should
you have an interest in being a leader
within our diverse social jusce program, feel free to speak to one of our
staffers at the Social Jusce Table.
— Jerry Frederickson
Common Ground
Common Ground is a group of nonparsan, proacve, everyday cizens in
Southeastern Wisconsin, dedicated to
idenfying pressing social problems
facing our community and bringing
about creave soluons. Common
Ground’s strength is in the commitment of more than forty congregaons,
neighbor-hood groups, nonprofits,
schools, small businesses and unions to
take acon on regional issues. Our
40,000 members live and work in four
counes in Southeastern Wisconsin –
Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Washington and
Waukesha. We capitalize on the power
that our diverse member organizaons
bring to our common goals.
First Church has been an acve member of Common Ground since 2012. Our
dues are paid by First Church Friends of
Common Ground, as no funds come
from the church's operang budget.
Fair Play and Milwaukee Rising
The original goal of the Fair Play campaign was to secure funding for improv-
ing Milwaukee County public schools
athlec facilies and recreaonal
spaces if public money is used to finance an arena for the Milwaukee
Bucks, and this goal remains in effect.
But, through some great research by
one of the Common Ground organizers, it was discovered that Naonstar,
which is one of the Buck's owners
companies, controls some 300 foreclosed homes in Milwaukee with
many in decay. Due to this discovery,
a decision was made to combine the
Fair Play and Milwaukee Rising campaigns. Common Ground is now demanding that Naonstar contribute
$30 million to secure the rehabilitaon of foreclosed properes. To foster this iniave, Common Ground
has met with all city aldermen,
aFended numerous meengs at city
hall and will be aFending the upcoming Naonstar shareholders meeng.
To date the Milwaukee Rising Campaign has rehabbed 55 homes with a
goal of 100 in Sherman Park.
on: Educate residents about steps
they can take to reduce polluon flowing into Lake Michigan during large
storm events, begin to grow an issue
team that can address pressing water
infrastructure needs, and to have fun!
To get involved at the onset of this campaign, sign up at the Social Jusce Table.
Healthcare Coopera7ve
For more informaon, visit
www.CommonGroundWI.org
When Common Ground Healthcare
Cooperave began enrolling members in October of 2013, the hope
was that it would be a viable insurance opon for Southeastern Wisconsinites, and the goal was 10,000 enrollees by the end of 2014. That
dream was quickly realized by the end
of January 2014. Now, a new milestone has been reached as CGHC
leads the way as Wisconsin’s number
one choice in the marketplace –
with around 30,000 enrollees. Several
First Church members belong to the
CGHC.
Watershed Campaign
This is Common Ground's first foray
into an environmental issue. This
campaign will be rolled out on June 6
from First Church, with a door-todoor acon in the East Side neighborhood north of us. We intend to accomplish three things with this ac31
One to One Rela7onal Mee7ng Training
On April 18, Common Ground lead organizer, Keisha Krumm, and Milwaukee
Rising organizer, Ali Gardner, facilitated
one to one relaonal training for First
Church leaders as well as for some leaders from Immanuel Presbyterian. The
intent of this training was to strengthen
our church internally by encouraging
these relaonal meengs with other
congregaon members. Through these
meengs we hope to find out what issues are meaningful to them, to get to
know each other beFer and to find new
leaders.
Common Ground Core Team at First
Church: Rod De Pue, Mary Ann Fisher,
Jerry Fredrickson, Larry Krolikowski,
Nancy Pajewski, Cathy StarF, Tom
Thaney.
— Jerry Fredrickson
Earth Jus7ce Ministry
Climate Change Acon remained the
major theme of Earth Jusce Ministry
acvies this year. Acvies included:
•
•
•
Leading the charge for the General
Assembly of the Unitarian Universalist Associaon to pass a Business
Resoluon, “Divestment from Fossil Fuels,” in June, 2014.
Holding our twelMh annual Water
Service in August, 2013.
Parcipang in the Common
Ground Watershed Walk which will
be held at First Church on June 6.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Holding a retreat in September,
out of which came the recommendaon to provide an offering
to meet the emoonal needs of
congregaon members who might
“shut down” over the climate crisis.
Learning about Focus on Energy’s
new program for instuons, having a walk-through to update facility energy conservaon needs,
and geJng esmates for the recommended work.
Parcipang in the religious service for World Water Day on
March 22, the kick-off of Climate
Jusce Month, as planned by the
new coalion of several UU organizaons, Commit2Respond.
Sponsoring a Climate Change
presentaon by Organizing for
Acon’s Paul Geenen.
Planning and holding a workshop
on April 11, called Acve Hope:
How to Face the Mess We’re in
Without Going Crazy.” It was led
by Barbara Ford of Portland, Oregon, a former chair of the UU
Ministry for Earth, and based on
the work of Joanna Macy, Buddhist scholar and eco-philosopher.
Hosng a potluck called “Eat Your
Values,” on April 22, Earth Day, to
wrap up Commit2Respond’s Climate Jusce Month.
Revising First Church’s 2013 Divestment Resoluon, given that it
became out-of-date with the passage of the UUA resoluon. It was
revised by Elizabeth Lenni, Terry
Wiggins, and Mike Radtke. The
new resoluon was passed by the
Board of Trustees in April, and
sent for consideraon by the congregaon to the 2015 annual
meeng.
Facilitang the hosng of Cizen
Climate Lobby’s (CCL) monthly
meengs at First Church.
—Terry Wiggins and Mark Gill
Economic Jus7ce
Commi9ee
The Economic Jusce CommiFee
coordinated 5 meals at the Guest
House shelter for men and 5 meals
at the Cathedral Center shelter for
women and families. Our Fair Trade
Holiday Bazaar, featuring new vendor Fair Trade for All, raised $550 for
Dryhootch veterans’ coffee shop.
Our holiday collecon gathered 72
giM cards worth $740 for Guest
House residents. We also sponsored
teams for the CROP Walk for worldwide hunger relief in October and
the NAMI (Naonal Alliance for
Mental Illness) Walk in May.
CommiFee members are Nick Davia,
Gladys Derksen, Nancy Pajewski, and
Dot Sherman. Maggie Krochalk ably
served for a second year as NAMI
Walk team captain. Sam Mueller
connues as our reless, wellorganized meal coordinator for the
Cathedral Center. Jeanne and Bob
Kollmeyer semi-rered aMer years of
dedicated work as our Guest House
meal coordinators. Now we have a
system in which several people-BeFy
Schroeder, Molly Zillig, Jerry
Fredrickson, Jill Erickson, Nancy Pajewski, and the Kollmeyers —are
taking turns organizing individual
meals.
— Nancy Pajewski
First Friday Films
First Friday Films is pleased to report
that eight films were presented this
year, with good discussions held
while everyone finished off the cider
and popcorn (we're lisng them here
for the record): Groundhog
Day; Heist: the history of why the
2008 world-wide economic collapse
occurred; Wings of Life: buFerflies,
bees and the work they do to feed
us; Mad Hot Ballroom, beloved classic as New York public school kids
learn to tango; Cracking the Codes:
the causes and consequences of
systemic race inequies; Flying Paper: Palesnian kids break the Guinness World Record for the most kites
32
ever flown; Fresh: cleaning up our food
producon system; and finally, 9500 Liberty, a suburban county in Virginia tries to
stop immigraon from Mexico.
Some projects which added interest and
fun to this 2014-2015 year:
Bringing the documentary Wisconsin's
Mining Standoff for a viewing at First
Church;
2. Lending support to First Church's
sponsorship of The Overnighters at
this year's Milwaukee Film Fesval; and
3. Parcipang in the organizaon of the
new DVD lending library called GREENBOX.
The First Friday Films Five: JoAnn Bachar,
Jeanne Kohlmeyer, Kate Marrs, Bernice
Popelka, and Mary-Alice Marnes, Chair
1.
—Mary Alice Marnes
Share the Plate
Commi9ee
Since January 2011 contribuons to the
Share the Plate (STP) program through
March 2015 have totaled more than
$77,800 and have benefited 48 local organizaons and iniaves. A full lisng of recipients and amounts can be viewed in the
Social Jusce secon of the church website.
With average disbursements of $1,620,
First Church connues to have a significant
posive impact throughout the surrounding communies. Services provided by
these non-profit recipient organizaons
align with our UU principles and help fulfill
the outreach wishes of our congregaon.
Your 2014-2015 Share the Plate CommiFee
included: Sarah Fowles, Jennifer Hong,
Dena McPhetres, Bob Monahan, Janet
Nortrom, Nancy Spransy, and Florence
Waterston. We are pleased to welcome
Gretchen Neuwald and Camille Johnson to
our group in the coming church year.
THANKS from all of us on the commiFee
and from the many people touched by
your generosity. Keep those nominaons
coming!
—Bob Monahan, Co-chair