At the February 20, 2010, NoVES Board Winter Retreat held in the home of Mary Ellen and Andy Stanton, board members present were president Hank Gassner, vice president Mary Ellen Stanton, treasurer Sven Sinclair, secretary Andy Stanton, and Mary Bellamy, Marianne Moerman, Karen Raymond Hart, and Carole Rubin. Leader Jone Johnson Lewis also attended. Lynn Konnerth, DRE, Claire Stanton, chair of the Sunday school committee, and Marv Friedlander, chair of the publicity committee, arrived later in the morning to discuss their concerns.
Prior to the meeting, the Board approved the minutes of the January 9, 2010, Board meeting and reviewed the prior meeting’s “to do list” by email. The list included obtaining members to (1) participate in a nominating committee to recruit candidates for the Board, (2) serve on the publicity committee, and (3) serve on the platform committee. In addition, Andy agreed to start video-recording platforms.
Jone facilitated the Board’s discussion of NoVES’s priority goals. We brainstormed various goals the Society could focus on and decided that our three top priorities are: 1. attract younger members, 2. expand web presence, and 3. increase involvement in social issues and advocacy. We will wait for input from the focus groups before making any decision.
Lynn and Claire spoke about Sunday school issues. They are considering a “one room schoolhouse” in which classes would be combined. The Board made various suggestions, including field trips and social action projects. Marv then spoke about publicity. He thinks our biggest successes are on the web.
After lunch, the Board discussed Leader priorities. Members filled out a questionnaire containing hypothetical choices a Leader could make in allocating time based on appropriateness to our Society. After discussion, the Board decided to wait until the focus group results came in before making any decisions. Jone then gave her Leader’s report. She will continue to conduct birthday meetings with members. She said Richard Heffern has applied for membership. The Board approved the application subject to Jone’s meeting with him. Jone is going to try to do platform chair training by webinar (electronically). Jone reminded us that it’s time to start scheduling platforms for next year and we should think about themes the Board wants to emphasize. We will have to move our email server, possibly to Google Groups.
The Board approved a proposal by the Sunday school to move the graduation to June 6.
Sven will submit the treasurer’s report by email after the meeting.
Hank, in his president’s report, said that he, Karen, Ashby Boaz and Susan Teaford have expressed interest in attending the AEU summer school. The Board suggested that on one Sunday in March, 100% of the collection go to a scholarship fund for the summer school. Hank noted the resignation of Susan Kallem and Irene Napora as members, which the Board reluctantly accepted. Hank discussed the willingness of Dale McGowan, author of “Parenting Beyond Belief-Raising Ethical Caring Kids Without Religion” to come to Washington in the fall to give a parenting workshop and the Jerry Ziskind Platform. The Board enthusiastically endorsed the program. It also recognized the need for publicity and, possibly, the need for additional funds to make the program successful. Regarding the NoVES focus groups, Hank reported that facilitator training with an expert from the Alban Institute would take place on March 9. Both NoVES and WES will provide facilitators. There is a cost to the training, but the AEU indicated it would pay 50%. The focus groups will meet early spring.
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