Board President’s
Message
on the January Congregational Vote
On January 23, we held a congregational meeting
followed by a paper-ballot vote on matters relating to our facility. The
votes are now in and counted. 190 ballots were received.
On the first question, regarding whether the
present facility, with only essential improvements, is adequate to carry
us into the future, the votes were 72% “no,” 25% “yes,” and 3%
abstaining or ambiguous.
On the second question, regarding which option
would be preferred if we were to consider a new facility, the votes were
fairly evenly distributed, with 35% favoring building new elsewhere, 33%
favoring major renovation at the present site, 29% favoring repurposing
or other out-of-the-box idea at another site, and 3% abstaining or
ambiguous.
The result of the vote on the first question is a
pretty clear signal that we should work toward creating a different
facility for our congregation. So we have our work ahead of us and we
should get started on narrowing down our options. Had there been a
clearer result on the second question, that might have helped us to
focus on what that would be; but it is fine that we are pretty much
evenly split, because there were no specific proposals there and we just
wanted to know people’s preferences.
The first step is to set some parameters; and Dick
Siefers, Doug Wallace, and I will be meeting to define the basic
requirements for space for programs, gathering, and worship; and some
boundaries for what kinds of options can be considered and that are
financially realistic. Then we will be ready to hold more congregational
forums to exchange ideas and information, and to form some task forces
to develop specific proposals. Please be ready to volunteer to serve on
these task forces. And if you are part of that 25% minority in the first
ballot question, please be assured that your opinions are still valid
and your involvement will still be valued.
We started this year with a process of discernment.
Now we enter a process of distillation of ideas to narrow down our
choices and to gather the needed specific information. This may be a
long road; but our journey has begun, and I look forward to working with
all of you as we move toward shaping a new future.
Finally, I want to thank the congregation for its
positive involvement in these processes so far. I feel that, in facing
up to our differences, our faith in our mission and in one another has
been strengthened. You are a community of creative people, and I believe
in your wisdom and creativity. Thank you.
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Unitarian
Universalist
Society
of Iowa City