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Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Monmouth County Unitarian Universalist Congregation UUCMC
CONGREGATIONAL COMMITTEES Administration
Committee
The Administration Committee continues to focus on a comfortable and efficient work environment for congregation employees, volunteers, board members, and congregants. Please call if you would like to assist. This ongoing committee assesses the needs and interests of the congregation for classes, enrichment programs and fellowship groups (exclusive of Religious Education for children); works with existing congregational groups to develop quality programming as needs arise; identifies members and friends who are willing to share expertise by presenting or facilitating programs; provides a forum for evaluating proposed programs to ensure that they are consistent with UU principles and that skilled facilitators are available. We always welcome visitors and new members at our meetings.
Coordinates with other committees, providing guidelines for exhibits and consultation on the aesthetics of improvements to the Meetinghouse and grounds. Buildings and Grounds Committee The Buildings and Grounds Committees is responsible for coordination the maintenance and upkeep of buildings and grounds. Much of the success of our efforts depends on help from members and friends of UUCMC. We have organized tasks ranging from those that only require a short time commitment to those which are ongoing. Help from our congregation’s various groups (i.e. Men's/Women's and youth groups, retired members, those in business) is invited to help keep our home attractive and functional. Suggestions for long range planning are also very welcome. Please join us! The Caring Committee (renamed "The Caring Connection") is here for you. Composed of about 50 members of our congregation, this committee provides support to anyone in the congregation who has an emergency situation requiring help with food, shopping, errands, transportation, household chores, limited child care, or visitation as well as help with gatherings after memorial services. We also want to stay in touch by phone and make visits to persons whose ability to be "out and about" on their own is limited. Please call if you would like to assist. The Finance Committee is responsible for assisting the V.P. of Finance in the task of keeping our community fiscally healthy and responsible. In addition to overseeing the annual pledge drive, the committee also develops financial policies for Board of Trustees approval and helps other committees develop budgets. Another important responsibility is to prepare long range financial plans. Please call if you would like to assist. The committee, in conjunction with the V.P. of Community Life, plans and performs hospitality aspects of annual, congregation wide celebrations and provides consultation and assistance to other groups conducting events involving hospitality. The committee also sets up guidelines for food preparation and serving procedures in the Meetinghouse, maintains necessary kitchen supplies, and coordinates the Sunday coffee hours. We welcome new members and helpers. Our Committee Members aim to make each visitor feel welcome. The Membership Road starts at our UU front door on Sunday mornings. Committee members will be there to greet guests and show them the guest book, which enables visitors to receive the newsletter for three months. In the Community Room, after services each week, committee members can be found at the table with the red tablecloth and visitor sign. Here, members will answer questions about our UU philosophy, provide opportunities for visitors to join groups within our UU congregation, and explain our "Path of Membership." There are celebrations of membership several times a year. After a UU Introduction Class with our minister, Kathleen Hepler, and a formal commitment to our Congregation by signing our membership book we host a New Member Party. Come join us. Together with Rev. Kathleen Hepler, we plan and offer Sunday programs 52 weeks of the year. In addition, we are responsible for several holiday and special event programs, and our performance subcommittee arranges several performing arts events (mostly on Saturday evenings). Joining our committee is an opportunity to participate in the creative life of the congregation and to have a laugh or two. New members are welcome and suggestions/comments solicited. The Public Information Committee communicates programs, activities and beliefs of our congregation through press releases, news stories, the UUCMC Web site, speaking opportunities, and advertising. We endeavor to support our congregation and UUCMC Board by publicizing these programs and initiatives. If you are a member of our congregation and have an activity, program, or goal that needs to be communicated to the public, please feel free to contact Betty. The Religious Education Council (REC) is a democratically structured committee responsible for the overall operation of Sunday School and Youth Programming. Each member of the council is in charge of a segment of the council body. There a Secretary, a V.P., a Youth Representative, a Coordinator of Volunteering, a Chairperson for Social Concerns, a Chairperson for Curriculum, and a Special Events Coordinator. We meet monthly and review each of the programs. The REC works with the Religious Education Professional by providing support as well as ongoing evaluation of our programs. The Vice President of Religious Education serves as chair of the REC and is the Council 's representative on the Board.
This committee supports our Congregation's awareness and internal growth with programs like the Welcoming Congregation (directed toward an overt declaration and practice of acceptance of people of all sexual preferences) and the "Journey Toward Wholeness" (our current, deliberate effort to understand and eliminate from our congregations and communities the effects of racial discrimination). The Social Action Committee’s vision encompasses global concerns and the local needs of our surrounding community. We support, sponsor and participate in a variety of programs including: Crop Walk — Monmouth/Ocean Food Bank — HIV/Aids Center (food and meals) — Monthly Diversity Dances — New Amsterdam Boy’s Choir annual concert — Volunteer assistance for Habitat for America - Women’s Rights — Race Relations Committee. In June 2001, the Congregation voted to apply for status a Green Sanctuary Congregation. Efforts toward this end will be part of Social Action. There is a need and a place in our Congregation's Social Action Committee for your commitment. We encourage and welcome your involvement. The Young Adults Group is a recently formed collective that strives to make people between the ages of 18 and 35 (give or take a few years) feel more welcome in and connected to Unitarian Universalism and our congregation. We currently are discussing sponsoring a variety of social and spiritual events in the new congregational year…including young adult-oriented spiritual discussion groups and/or worship opportunities, a professionally led creativity workshop, a wilderness outing, and regular young adult Sunday brunches after services. If you are a young adult around the ages of 18 to 35 years looking to find your niche in our faith community, the Young Adults Group invites you to become involved with us! |