FUSsa-talk Mailing List: Re: Update on Friendship Force NEW VOTE

[jojane (jojane]

I agree - it's big - when we meet in August, we should figure out how
best to approach it.

(Reminder: starting in August, we have a new monthly meeting schedule for
SAC - the second Sunday of each month - HOWEVER, we chose Sunday, August
24th for our meeting date that month.....)
Jo


On 01 Jul 2008 09:05:47 -0500 hanse002 [at] umn.edu writes:
> I think this is a big issue, and we need to have more than SAC people 
> 
> involved. The Board okayed the resumption of a building use policy 
> that had 
> not been enforced for some time. There was some initial feedback 
> about this 
> decision, but it continues to be implemented.I certainly think 
> Caiden and 
> Will need to be part of the discussion, and it should probably be a 
> Board 
> discussion.
> 
> However, the Social Action Committee, with its various hats, 
> probably would 
> be getting the most requests for co-sponsorship of an activity, and 
> thus 
> SAC probably needs a policy defining what "co-sponsorship" means.
> 
> Adele
> 
> 
> 
> On Jul 1 2008, Carole Rydberg wrote:
> 
> >This issue of "building use" is a far bigger issue than Social 
> Action 
> >sponsorship; sponsorship may only arise because a group that wishes 
> to 
> >show an enlightening film in our lower auditorium cannot afford the 
> $350 
> >charge (plus possible equipment rental fees) to do so.
> >
> >I come at this issue wearing many hats. One is as a supporting 
> member 
> >who understands that the First Unitarian Society has a budget and 
> >financial needs and often struggles to meet the latter.  Another is 
> an 
> >individual who is a Unitarian _because_ I attended an event held at 
> (but 
> >not sponsored by) a Unitarian Church in Detroit; perhaps some of 
> you 
> >found your way to Unitarianism that same way. Third, in my role 
> with NW 
> >Neighbors for Peace, I have found venues for speakers, films, and 
> >potlucks at least twice a month for the past three years. Our 
> programs 
> >have been held in three different libraries and seven churches of 
> five 
> >denominations (Catholic, Lutheran, Methodist, Presbyterian, and 
> United 
> >Church of Christ).  _Not one of these venues has ever charged us 
> one 
> >cent for the use of_ _their property and only the libraries have 
> charged 
> >for the use of equipment!_  Perhaps these churches have wealthier or 
> 
> >more generous members; perhaps they have larger congregations 
> (although 
> >I believe that most are smaller than FUS  in terms of membership 
> and in 
> >the size of their facilities). Yet, they welcomed us.  Why?  I 
> believe 
> >they share our goals and feel that providing space for our 
> activities is 
> >a way for them to promote causes that they support with words. Of 
> >course, it is also possible that they have noticed that some 
> people, who 
> >first came to their church for one of our events, have also stayed 
> to 
> >become financially supportive members of their congregations.
> >
> >The First Unitarian Society building is an asset that can be used 
> to 
> >support our values and it is an asset that can be rented to groups 
> and 
> >individuals for income enhancement.  It is also an asset, when 
> properly 
> >managed, that increases our visibility and our _significance_ in 
> the 
> >community.  Striking the balance between these is ... and always 
> has 
> >been ... a balancing act. Unfortunately, I have seen the pendulum 
> of 
> >emphasis among these priorities swing back and forth several times 
> 
> >during my 34 plus years as a member.  I can recall when WAMM held 
> >meetings regularly at FUS and when the Women's International League 
> of 
> >Peace and Freedom traditionally held their yearly winter bazaar at 
> FUS.  
> >WILPF moved to St. Stephens Church when we raised our rent ... and 
> St. 
> >Stephens happily opened their doors to them and their many 
> customers. 
> >(It is only fair to note that parking can be a problem at FUS and 
> this 
> >may always influence some groups to use Hennepin Avenue Methodist 
> >Church, for example, rather than  FUS.)
> >
> > As I said in my previous note ... Friendship Force has a treasury 
> and 
> > they can afford to pay. However, when a group that does NOT have 
> funds 
> > asks to use FUS space to put on a public program that will be of 
> value to 
> > the community and is in keeping with values which we espouse, I 
> think our 
> > building use plan should be able to "bend" and ... if it cannot or 
> will 
> > not bend ... that social action sponsorship is then appropriate 
> even if 
> > our members are not active with that specific group. Given the 
> size of 
> > the Social Action treasury, "sponsorship" may also mean that 
> Social 
> > Action simply pays the rental for that deserving group. What do 
> you 
> > think? Carole Rydberg 
> > __________________________________________________________________ 
> First 
> > Unitarian Society Social Action TALK To unsubscribe, update 
> address, see 
> > archives of message, or subscribe, go to: http://muusja.org/FUSsa
> >
> >
> 
> -- 
> Adele Hansen
> 
> __________________________________________________________________
> First Unitarian Society Social Action TALK
> To unsubscribe, update address, see archives of message, or 
> subscribe, go to:
> http://muusja.org/FUSsa
> 
> 
> 
 
____________________________________________________________
Click here for financial aid options.  Quick and Easy.
http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2141/fc/Ioyw6i3oIGk5iInl3b7fNmsInBS9foOCxXuTBWfRPDOJiY83BeuPN0/