NOTE: The official minutes of the 2004 ACM will be reviewed at
the 2005 ACM.
Bylaw Revision
Motion to amend Articles 9(1), 11(1) and 11(2) of the Bylaws
of the Unitarian Church of Edmonton as follows:
Amend Article 9(1) by adding “in an elected position” after
the words “but for six consecutive years” in
the last sentence.
Amend Article 11(1) by inserting “Members of the Nominating
Committee may serve a maximum of two consecutive terms in an elected
position.” between the first and second sentences.
Amend Article 11(2) by striking out “All” at the beginning
of the second sentence and inserting “elected” in its
place, and inserting after the third sentence : “Appointed
members will each serve a one year term. Members may be re-elected
or re-appointed for a second term. An appointed member may
serve an elected term after serving an appointed term, or
vice versa.
Members of the Ministerial Relations Committee may serve
a maximum of four consecutive years.”
Amended motion carried unanimously.
Budget
Motion that the budget be accepted as presented. Carried with one
against.
Ways and Means
Motion that Ways and Means funds be put toward balancing the budget.
Carried unanimously.
Consideration of the Sale of Existing Building
Amended motion that upon reception of the Development permit, that
the Board in its best judgment be authorized to accept the best offer
for the sale of the building. The amended motion was carried with
9 opposed.
Consideration of Renovation Budget
Motion to increase renovations budget to $537000 plus any money
received through the sale of debentures. Carried with 24 in favour,
7 opposed.
Plan for Issuing Debentures
Motion that the Board be authorized to raise money for the renovations
of the new church by borrowing money secured by debentures at such
interest rates as the Board deems appropriate from time to time,
the debentures to be of t hree types: a) redeemable at any time,
interest paid twice a year; b) 5 year term, interest paid once a
year; c) 5 year term, interest paid at the end of the term. Carried
unanimously.
Elections and Nominations
Board of Trustees
President - Marg Roche
Vice President - Sylvia Krogh
Secretary - Evelyn
Porter
Trustees - Pam Willerton and Larry
Charach
Ministerial Relations
Bonnie Sharplin and Jeanne Irwin
Nominating Committee
Stella Clarke, Rosemary Manning and Susan Ruttan.
CUC Delegates
Paul Childs, Lise Cloutier, Jim Logan, Russ Smith, Stella Clarke,
Beth Jenkins and Marge Roche.
NOTICE OF PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO BY-LAWS
The Bylaws contain some inconsistencies in the terms of office
for the elected committees. The following proposed amendments
have been made in consultation
with the Board, the Nominating Committee, the Ministerial Relations Committee
and the Bylaws Committee.
This is a notice that Beth Jenkins and Jim Campbell
intend to present a motion at the Annual General Meeting to amend
Articles 9(1),
11(1) and
11(2) of the
Bylaws of the Unitarian Church of Edmonton:
1. Amend Article 9(1) by adding "in an elected position" after the
words "but only for six consecutive years" in the last
sentence.
2. Amend Article 11(1) by inserting "Members of the Nominating Committee
may only serve a maximum of two consecutive terms in an elected position. " between
the first and second sentences.
3. Amend Article 11(2) by
striking out "All" at the beginning of the second sentence
and inserting "elected" in
its place
inserting after the third sentence: "Appointed members
will each serve a one-year term. Members may be re-elected
or re-appointed for
a second term.
An appointed member may serve an elected term after serving
an
appointed term, or vice-versa. Members of the Ministerial
Relations Committee may
only serve
a maximum of four consecutive years."
NOMINEES FOR ELECTED BOARD AND COMMITTEE POSITIONS
The nominating committee is nominating the following people for
positions at the annual general meeting on May 2.
President: Marg Roche
Marge is currently past-president of the Board. She is actively involved in
a number of areas of church activity: Friendship committee, Renovations committee
(kitchen and grounds and signage), VSOP, music technician, and whatever else
comes along. She is also the consultant
for Vision, Mission, and long-range planning for the CUC. She is a retired
clinical social worker which allow her to spend time with her family - with
Mike, their combined families include 7 children, 15 grandchildren, and 2 great-grandchildren.
Marge has considerable volunteer experience in many different agencies,
including Scouts Canada where she became the first woman Regional
Commissioner. With
her love of learning she has earned three degrees: B.A., B.S.W., and M.Sc.
(organization development). She has presented workshops in diverse areas
for over 20 years. One of her greatest joys is to watch people
develop and use
their own skills.
In her spare time Marge enjoys cross-stitching, skiing (alpine
and x-country) and walking her dog.
Vice-president: Sylvia Krogh
Sylvia was born of Danish parents in the little town
of Forestburg, Alberta, two hours south-east of Edmonton. After
attending the
University of Alberta,
Sylvia spent five years travelling and working throughout Europe and
Asia. While working as a secretary for the US Air Force Headquarters
in Wiesbaden,
Germany, Sylvia was introduced to wonderful people who attended a Unitarian
Fellowship every Sunday. Immediately, she felt a kinship, so when she returned
to Edmonton to teach with the Edmonton Public School Board, she searched
for the Unitarians. She has been president of the Unitarian Single
Adults,
canvas co-chair, adult advisor to the youth group, member of the ministerial
committee, board, etc. She met her husband, Alan Boyle at the Unitarian
Church 10 years ago. As well, she has attended six conferences of the
international
organization that Unitarians belong to, the International Association
of Religious Freedom (IARF).
Secretary: Evelyn Porter
I have been attending UCE since late November, 2002 and a member
of UCE for a year now. I am the president of Pride Curling
(the GLBT League) in Edmonton,
and am known from coast-to-coast within the Gay Curling, if not the
entire GLBT Community. I sit on the board of managers for the Joint
Boards of
Lambda Christian Community and Garneau United Churches. I
am a member of Chorealis,
and am owner/operator of Snaggs, a Ladies New & Consigned Fashion
Shop, located on Whyte Avenue.
Trustee: Pam Willerton
Pam finished her bachelor degree in theology in 1993 at Gardner
Bible College in Camrose. As a minister, she moved to Edmonton
right after graduation and
was working on her Masters degree in theology at St. Stephens College when
she began dealing with her sexuality. Realizing there was no room for her
in her church as a lesbian, Pam had since longed for a church to call home
and found it at the Unitarian Church of Edmonton in 1999. Pam comes with
10 years of board and committee experience, primarily with churches, but
also with youth programs. Pam lives with her partner Tammie in Edmonton
and has been working as a Child and Youth Care Counsellor for
the past 9 years.
Trustee: Larry Charach
Larry Charach moved to Edmonton in 1979 to work for
the Alberta government on policy development and strategic planning
for health
care. Subsequently
he moved to the Energy Department where he has led a number of policy
initiatives. Larry, along with his wife Louise, joined the Unitarian
Church last July
after attending a number of times as a guest. He has helped organize
the post-conference program for the upcoming CUC conference and
you occasionally
will see him when he is the volunteer Sound Tech. Larry enjoys theatre
and is an avid reader. Larry and Louise participate in the
World Vision Foster
Parents program and sponsor a child in Costa Rica.
Louise Charach has worked for over 20 years in the addictions area
with a focus on youth, prevention and specialized treatment programs
for the province. Other
career highlights include work in film and media as a writer-producer.
Volunteer work on a youth board and more currently in the arts
is an important area
of interest. Louise graduated from the University of Alberta
with a Masters of
Arts Degree in 1980.
Walking in the river valley and the many Edmonton parks are a
highlight in spring and summer combined with regular golf with
her husband, Larry
and
friends help keep life in
perspective
2. Bonnie Sharplin
A native Edmontonian, raised in the United Church, Bonnie joined
UCE 26 years ago, having decided that UCE's church school was
the right place for her
preschool son, with the bonus of finding her own spiritual home as well.
A junior high school teacher and librarian prior to stay-at-home parenthood,
she now is administration coordinator at an architectural firm. Over the
years at UCE she has taught church school, been on committees including
Religious Education, Membership, Personnel, Church Services,
Canvass, Website and Chaplaincy,
has served terms on the Board and leads Sunday Services from time to time.
3. Audrey Brooks
Audrey is 63 years old, has 5 children and 12 grandchilren,
with two great-grandchildren expected before June. She spent
20 years teaching English, History and ESL
with Edmonton Public Schools. Audrey obtained her Unitarian Universalist
Master's of Divinity degree in 1985, from Bangor Theological Seminary
in Bangor Maine,USA. She was ordained to Community Ministry in
1987 by the Independent Unitarian Church of Bangor. She returned
to teaching and
acting as an acknowledged pastoral care giver from 1985 to
1993, when health considerations then put her on extended disability
leave.
Audrey
has over 20 years of service to UCE as a volunteer. Presently she is
team leader for Care and Connections, and is a Youth Advisor.
4. Ann-Marier Harder
I first began attending services
at UCE 11 years ago. Although I did not immediately become a
member, I participated in the Children's Program where I enrolled
my children. I assisted with the planning, organizing, and leading of
various
age groups. Even though my four older children are grown up now, I have
two preschoolers who will continue in the program for many years
to come. To
date, Religious Education has been the main area of my participation
at UCE. I have
a history of taking part in church work for the majority of the past
32 years acting as: Board Member, Secretary of the Board, Treasurer,
Building Committee
Member, Social Event Coordinator, Religious Education Leader for Children,
Youth, and Adults, Children's Church Coordinator, Youth Leader, Service Leader, and Selection Committee
Member.
Nominating Committee (3 positions open)
1. Stella Clarke
2. Susan Ruttan
Susan joined the church about three years ago after a lifelong
search for a spiritual home. She is currently on the nominating
committee and the grounds
committee for the new church, and sings in the choir. She works as a newspaper
reporter.
