“Open Question” Responses and a Call For Proposals

First, the Board thanks all of you for your enthusiastic responses to the Open Question we posed:  “What would it look like for Albany UU to be a good neighbor?”  To date, we have received 52 separate ideas of how we could answer that question.  You can find all those responses, a tally of the number of “yeses” that each idea received from all of you at the January 27 service, plus the comments you submitted during that service, on our member website at the following link.

The Board invites you to submit to them a brief proposal on any of these ideas where you think that there is enough energy and enthusiasm for the Board to consider pursuing.  (Note: the Board is looking for proposals on new ideas, not on projects that we as a congregation are already pursuing,) 

The Board would like to be able to consider your proposals at our next Board meeting on Thursday, March 28, so please try to submit your proposals to OpenQuestion@AlbanyUU.org before then.  We realize this is very short notice.  But because there is already considerable enthusiasm behind a couple of the ideas, we want to move relatively quickly on this so as not to dampen the already palpable enthusiasm.  But at the same time, we do not want to leave out of consideration any ideas with significant support which fall within our mission as a congregation.  So please do not hesitate to submit a proposal if you think it is deserving of consideration.  And if your proposal is submitted after March 28, it will still be reviewed and considered by the Board.

In your proposal, please include the following:

1. The name of the proposed project and a brief description;
2. The vision and imagined goals of the project;
3. Names of the person(s) committed to date to being responsible for bringing the idea to fruition;
4. Names of the person(s) committed to date to help out as needed;
5. An estimate of how many volunteers would be needed to bring this idea to fruition. (Note: a small number of volunteers is not necessarily better than a large number.  The Board supports encouraging more of our members to get involved in carrying out our mission);
6. Any allies – organizations or individuals – especially persons/groups of color – in the community who could help us to ascertain whether or not your idea is one our neighbors would welcome and support, and/or who could help us bring this idea to fruition;
7. An explanation of how this idea supports Albany UU’s mission: “We welcome everyone.  Our Unitarian Universalist community seeks truth and deeper meaning, pursues justice through inspired action, and cultivates compassion and love for all connected with the web of life;” and
8. Any funding needs for the first year. (Note:  whether these funds would come from the annual operating budget or obtained by fundraising separate from our congregation’s budget is a decision that would be made at a later date).

The Board is excited to hear from you.  Feel free to talk with us individually about this initiative.

Board of Trustees:  Meredith Andrews, Dick Dana, Molly Daniels, Fred Eames, Linda Hunt, Jim Hutchins, Matt Lesniak, Lee Newberg, Patti Jo Newell, Annika Pfluger, Reese Satin, Nancy Shay, and Rev. Sam Trumbore.