UUSB Strategic Plan

UUSB
Strategic Plan

Core Statement

We are an authentic, diverse, spiritual congregation that encourages everyone to participate and grow.

Objectives

*To achieve a higher profile, increasing our spiritual leadership and identity in the community.
* To grow our congregation.
* To assure a vibrant music program for all ages.
* To expand opportunities to educate and nurture people of all ages and interests.
* To increase opportunities to be together, have fun, work, and connect (Hersey, forums, affinity groups).
* To care for our building and grounds.
* To increase financial stability.

Long-Term Vision (7 years)

Public Presence: There is an increased awareness of UU values and spiritual identity, modeled by our membership. Area children know our beliefs of celebrating diversity, acceptance and non-judgment. All media seek UUSB opinions and perspectives on issues. UUSB leadership is expected/invited to attend and speak at major events -- and our carillon is sought after also. The UUSB forum brings together different opinions for public debate. We are known for community service and community leadership.
Growth: By October 2010 we will have 500 members and our building will be ablaze with lights and humming with activity every day and night of the week, with so many programs and participation that we are bursting at the seams. One Sunday morning service will be traditional, the other contemporary, with a full-time associate minister to help lead them. The building will be fully accessible with elevator, parking lot, and shuttle bus.
Music: We are providing a spiritual, emotional, intergenerational musical experience integrated with worship service and coordinated by a music department that utilizes talents available within and outside the congregation. We showcase our music program through church-sponsored musical productions.
Programming: We have accessible, well-attended, diverse programming that supports the nurturing and spiritual growth of people of all ages, in our congregation and beyond. Our programs promote acceptance, understanding, celebration of our diversity, and inclusion. Our infrastructure guarantees the success of this program.
Interconnection: UUSB is an intergenerational community that supports the development of relationships that foster spiritual growth and commitment to the community, while enjoying ourselves in the process. There are opportunities for everyone to participate in a way that nurtures our individual and collective gifts.
Building and Grounds: Our building is known for its historic value in Maine and nationally, and is prominently known in Bangor. It is an attractive, welcoming building that is a strong asset to our congregation and the greater Bangor community. We are currently negotiating the purchase of a nearby building for additional office, program and service space. Our building meets all codes and we employ state-of-the-art environmental engineering for upgrades and repairs.
Financial Abundance: We are a fun-loving congregation willing to happily assume our collective financial responsibilities. We enjoy a broad financial base that comes from pledges, endowments, and fundraising in the community. We have a fun, appreciative pledge campaign that results in abundant gifts and resources of time and money. Over 95% of the congregation pledges annually and fulfills their pledges of time and money. We have growing endowments that are invested wisely. We have a diversity of skills that we have innovatively applied to opportunities in the greater Bangor community that raise both funds and awareness of our society. We annually sustain the financial needs of the society -- building, staff, and community. Our funds are invested in the life-giving forces of our society. People are glad to be here and willing to contribute their time and money. We have a beautiful, restored front entry. The Dorothy renovations were completed in 2009 and the waiting list for rentals is nine months long. The building is accessible with an elevator connecting the two floors. We haven’t had peeling paint since 2004. We have completed a sound analysis and have a state-of-the-art sound system. We have increased rentals and multiple use of the building by having an aesthetically beautiful meeting space. The endowments support building repairs (because of successful pledge and fundraising). “Church-sino” in the basement!

Strategies for short-term goals

1. Public Presence
* Educate ourselves to identify as UU’s.
* Place ads about Unitarian Universalism.
* Establish a Wayside Pulpit.
* Publish more ministerial articles.
* Make sure our church is known as a safe harbor.
* Develop UUSB forum taped for TV and radio.
* Take advantage of community and public radio.
* Cooperate with Bangor Historical Society to organize building tours.
* Put Web site address on sign, stationery, ads, newsletters.
* Work for standard UU courses and endowed UU chair at Bangor Theological Seminary.

2. Growth
* Increase our visibility with quarterly op-ed articles, rejuvenated advertising, taking a stand on community issues and “invite a friend” Sundays.
* Retain visitors and friends.

3. Music
* Develop action plans to achieve our vision which do not require additional funding beyond current budget.
* Establish a functioning Music Committee to assist the music director in planning and implementing programs.
* Coordinate with RE to provide a music experience during children’s program time.
* Survey congregation (adults/youth) regarding musical talent and capabilities.
* Launch a biannual musical production (self-sustaining).
* Work on choir development project (recruiting/training/rehearsals).

4. Programming (RE)
* Fully utilize Hersey bequest for youth RE.
* Have a specific committee for older youths and adult programming that reports to council.
* Expand Small Group Ministry beyond affinity group model.
* Expand accessibility in time/space.
* Expand adventure-based programs.
* Market programs to community and on college campuses.

5. Interconnection
* Buddy system for newcomers and elders, focus on integrating, not just welcoming.
* Bulletin board with photos and names, interests.
* Small Group Ministries -- continue development, growth, recruitment of members.
* Opportunities for weekend, week-long programs.
* Welcome packet for newcomers to the church, community.
* Spontaneous events -- movie night, trips to ball games, museums, plays.
* Outreach to our elders, follow-up on joys and concerns.
* “Living Wake” -- celebrating our members, their interests, skills and involvement.

6. Building and Grounds
* Reconvene in October 2003 to develop strategies and action plan.
(Kathy Monahan, Karl Hill, TJ Goetting, Sandy Houtman, Lee Giles were listed as among those present. The October meeting did not take place.)

7. Financial Abundance
* Invigorate a fun pledge campaign.
* Review our use of endowments.
* Develop fundraising programs to take into the community, such as at the folk festival, catering, auction, canoe race.
* Explore successful fundraising strategies used by other UU churches.
* Train the Pledge Committee.
* Explore grant writing.

Action Plans

1. Public Presence
What: Offer a course on “Being UU” (history, theology, 6-minute elevator speech)
Who: Elaine Peresluha
When: Spring 2004

What: Historical tours
Who: Sandy Houtman
When: Fall 2004

What: Web site on sign and all correspondence
Who: Sandy Houtman, Lee Giles

What: Newspaper articles
Who: Elaine Peresluha, Mary Phillips

What: Safe harbor -- worship, open sanctuary, speaker and material aid
Who: Elaine Peresluha, Mary Phillips, Sandy Houtman, Lee Giles
When: World AIDS Day, Dec. 1, 2003

2. Growth
What: Quarterly op-ed piece
Who: Bill Carlin and Tom Bickford to contact people
When: First article by Dec. 31, 2003

What: Consult with Membership/Fellowship Committee about retention strategy and invite-a-friend Sundays
Who: Paul Riechmann and Connie Huntley
When: Next Membership Committee meeting (first Monday in November)

3. Music
What: Functioning Music Committee
Who: Thorny Merriam (temporary chairman)
When: End of October 2003

What: Survey congregation for musical talents
Who: Lori Wingo
When: Oct. 26

What: Funding for music director (Ovation Fund, Union Street Church organ sale fund)
Who: JoDee Creighton

What: Connection with Sunday School (singing with children weekly)
Who: Phyllis Havens
When: End of October 2003

4. Programming (RE)
What: Expand Small Group Ministry
Who: Kent McKusick -- will connect with Elaine; Margaret Beckman to connect with Committee on Ministry; Tom Levasseur and Maureen Fortin to connect with Membership Committee
When: Before Oct. 19, 2003

What: Utilize Hersey bequest
Who: Patti Woolley -- to connect with Hersey trustees

5. Interconnection
What: Develop a pilot buddy system to support new members
Who: Heidi Crosier (convener), Catherine Foxson, Karl Hill, Jakki Austin, Paul Grosswiler
When: by the end of the “New UU” class

What: Reconvene HB Task Force
Who: Kathy Monahan (convener), Suzanne Kelly, current task force members?
When: By the end of October 2003

7. Financial Abundance
What: Have a fundraising booth at the National Folk Festival and Kenduskeag Canoe Race
Who: Empower and expand the Ways and Means Committee -- seek more volunteers!
When: Start planning this fall

What: Identify grant sources that could help support our church and services
Who: Vicky Blanchette, “Grant Diva”
When: Starting in October 2003

What: Have a successful, fun pledge campaign (time and money) in March 2004
Who: Pledge Committee
How: Consult with Wayne Clark
When: Meet early in November 2003

What: Identify 2-3 successful models that other churches have used that resulted in lots of $$$.
Who: Marie Tessier (Golden, CO church); Jodi Rosen
When: Winter 2003-04

What: Volunteer time tithe, card in the offering, also donations for auction
Who: Jodi Rosen, TJ Goetting
When: This fall and recurring (revisit time contribution at pledge time); reconvene Nov. 9, 11:30 a.m.