Some liberties have been taken with format, but not content.
Subject: The numbers
Date: Thu, 12 Oct 2000 22:02:36 -0400
From: "Alex Machina"
To: "Birds of a Feather"
Last April, a letter was circulated to the Congregation by a group of UUCF members. The letter described certain matters of concern and asked for signatures of a petition to the Board for assistance from a UUA mediator. In particular, the letter signers perceived a lack of "respectful openness" in addressing their concerns. In August, the Board received signed petitions from eighty-five members of UUCF. This represented less than fifteen percent of our congregation.=============================
[....]
John Cunningham, for the Board
UUCF Newsletter
October 11, 2000
In July, we attempted to present to the Board 123 signed petitions. The Board refused to accept them under the confidentiality agreement we had requested.
We subsequently polled the 123 individuals and asked them if they would be willing to present their petitions to the Board without a confidentiality clause. Thirteen individuals declined to do so for various reasons. We presented to the Board 110 signed petitions. Of those 110, the Board apparently accepted 85 as legitimate. That means 25 individuals have concerns that the Board considers not relevant for various (unknown to me) reasons.
If 85 members represent "less than 15%", then 123 individuals represent more than 21% of the same number.
--
--Alex
Subject: Re: The numbers
Date: Thu, 12 Oct 2000 22:55:58 -0400
From: "Billye Stevens"
To: "Birds of a Feather"
Alex,
If you think it appropriate, please forward this to the UUCF Chat and Info lines, or give me your OK to forward your message. I want to ask about the difference between the 121 who signed originally. Perhaps the difference between 85 and the 109 who waived their confidentiality is reflected in the people who did not pledge for this year.
John Cunnningham says that we have 580 active members. I believe that the congregation passed the budget on the strength of a large quorum of 632 members..or was it 623? I know that the number reported to Boston was 605 this January.
I do not see some long time members represented in the new Resource Guide; some are former Board members. I called several of them. Some do intend to pledge. A friend of mine said that 2 of our former members joined Sterling this past Sunday. I miss them.
Say HI to Donna for me. Billye
[Letter from Alex Machina, 12 Oct 2000, Quoting John Cunningham, 11 Oct 2000 is quoted in full here.]
Subject: Numbers
Date: Fri, 13 Oct 2000 19:04:09 -0400
From: "Billye Stevens"
To: "John Cunningham"
CC: "UUCF Chat" "Birds Of A Feather"
John Cunningham, Esq.
President, Board of Trustees
UUCF
Dear John,
This is an e-mail I sent to the UUCF info, but the provider rejected. I sent it to Mary Foster, and she said that it is not appropriate for the informational line. Why would this not be information for the entire congregation?
Please do answer so that more people will know the meaning of your statement in the Newsletter that only 85 Petitions came to you, less than 15%. Respectfully, Billye Stevens [Read on, please]
=============================
Alex Machina wrote to the Birds of a Feather list October 12, 2000:
[Letter from Alex Machina, 12 Oct 2000,
Quoting John Cunningham, 11 Oct 2000 without the quote of
John Cunningham is quoted here.]
_________________________________
Dear John and the Board Members,
Is the difference between 85 and the 109 who waived their confidentiality reflected in the people who did not pledge for this year? Is it correct that you report UUCF now has 580 active members? I believe that the congregation passed the 2000/01 budget on the strength of a large quorum of 620 or more members.
I do not see the names of some former long time members in the new Resource Guide; some are former Board members. I called several of them with whom I had known through associations in the church. Some do intend to pledge and seem not to be aware of the By-laws change that they must pledge for the next year to remain members. They said to me they considered UUCF their spiritual home. Others are unhappy for various reasons, primarily lack of pastoral care or decisions made without sufficient input from the congregational members.
A friend of mine said that 2 of our former members joined Sterling this past Sunday. I shall miss them.
Billye Stevens