If you were unable to attend the annual business meeting last month, you may not be aware that, as of that date, our stewardship campaign received just over $141,000 in pledges for 2018, which was about $12,000 short of our goal.  Although this was a shortfall, it was actually greater than last year’s (2017) campaign amount.  All factors considered, we are very excited by this result.
 
Still, this presented the board (and our membership) with a decision on whether to cut the budget back to meet the $141,000 result or extend the campaign.  Considering the impact those cuts would have on our operations, and contemplating the renewed energy and spirit we’ve witnessed this fall, the board proposed and the membership agreed to extend the campaign to see if we can come closer to our goal by the end of the year.  Since that time, we have received additional pledges and the shortfall has been reduced to about $8,800.
 
We feel we have important work to do as a Fellowship, and we need your help.   If you haven’t pledged yet, please consider doing so now.  We would emphasize that we are asking for your promise of financial support next year.  It doesn’t have to be paid today, or this coming January, just sometime next year.  We need your promise so we can know what we’ll have to cover our expenses.
 
If you have already given us your pledge, thank you.  We’re asking now if you can consider a modest increase.  If that can’t happen, we understand.
 
If you can see your way clear to make a pledge or increase your pledge, let us know either by dropping it in the box below the chimes, give it to stewardship chair, Judy Donahue or to one of our board members.  Alternatively you can email your pledge amount to Judy at [email protected] or fill it out online.
 
In the event that we don’t meet our goal, the board will meet at year’s end and adjust our 2018 budget to correspond to the pledge amounts we have in place, considering that our mandate from the congregation.   
 
Thank you sincerely for your consideration of our request.
 

A message from the UUFoM Finance Committee -
 
Although it is not unusual as we approach the end of the year, there are still a significant number of 2017 pledges not yet paid in full.  As you know, we use these pledge amounts to budget for our year, so it is very important to the financial health of the Fellowship that we receive as much of the overall pledge payments as possible.  A shortfall in 2017 pledge payments could result in cutbacks to next year’s budget. 
 
If you find you will be unable to pay the remainder of your 2017 pledge before the end of the year, we would really appreciate it if you could let either Barb Rajewski or Tom Bailey know that as well.  It will help us make the decisions necessary for next year.
 
We can’t emphasize enough how grateful we are for the support of our members and friends, and hopefully this message will be perceived as it is intended -  not as a demand, but rather as a reminder and plea for action.
 

At last Sunday’s worship service, we heard stories from UUFOM’s history over the decades, told by some people who have joined the Fellowship since the 1950s.  Following the service, everyone had an opportunity to write down their own recollections of things that have happened over the years, and to post their notes on a timeline in the sanctuary and gallery.  If you weren’t there last Sunday—or even if you were—you still have the opportunity to add your notes to the timeline.

You can write not just the facts of what happened—and of course the facts themselves are subject to your memory and interpretation-- but how you feel or felt about those events.  Feel free to write about events that may have been challenging or difficult, as well as those that were happy.  You may also want to look around and see what others have posted, which may in turn spark additional memories and reactions.  Post-it notes and pens will be available nearby.

The timeline will stay up for another week or two, to give you a chance to add notes and read what others have written.  And after the butcher paper comes down, Rev. Connie and the Transition Team (Pete Carlson, Linda Rector, and Dan Sealey) will read, process, and offer reflections.