Leadership Development Team

Below are job descriptions of positions on the Board of Trustees for the UUAA. If you are interested in any of these positions, please contact Royla Furniss.

Role of the UUAA Board and Job Requirements

Role of the UUAA Board of Trustees

The Board governs with emphasis on (1) the seven Unitarian Universalist Principles, (2) outward vision, (3) open and candid deliberations, (4) collective rather than individual decisions, (5) shared responsibility for decisions, (6) spiritual and strategic leadership more than administrative detail, (7) clear distinction of Board and Executive roles, and (8) the future while learning from the past and present.

Board trustees know the congregation's mission and purpose, and understand how its programs and services support the Ends established by the Congregation. Board trustees steward the Congregation toward its Ends; Board trustees resolve issues appropriately with the Congregation they serve.

Effective board members are committed to "above-board" governance that complies with all laws on all governmental levels. Board trustees faithfully attend board meetings and special organizational events. They talk with congregation members. Board members do their homework; they come to meetings informed and ready to discuss concerns, questions and disagreements about Congregation methods and goals. Board trustees are eager to learn, willing to be team players, and energetic in their service.

The Board is composed of trustees from various fields of expertise to ensure that the board is well balanced in its strengths. Board trustees accept responsibility for their functions and for their actions. Board trustees acknowledge the role and value of the Congregation's staff and the need for committed, consistent volunteers. Board trustees demonstrate their faith in the Congregation through personal financial contributions.

Expectations for Members of the Board of Trustees

Commitment to UUA principles and values, UUAA bylaws and policies, and to the support of the wider organizational structure of the District and the UUA.
Member (as stated in the Bylaws) in good standing for one year.
Past or current experience in volunteer positions in the congregation and/or professional experience or skills which support the work of the Board.
Willingness and ability to attend:

Monthly Board meetings (at present the first Tuesday from 7 PM to 9:30 PM) and a monthly 2 hour informal meeting (second Saturday after the BoT meeting)
Day-long Board retreat annually
Attend Sunday Service regularly
Major congregational events
Additional monthly commitment of 4 to 8 hours in "listening", preparation, or other projects as requested by the Board President.
Desired: Ability to attend District meetings, GA or Large Church Conferences.

Ability and commitment to hold the welfare of the congregation foremost, to work collaboratively with other board trustees, and to let go of personal agendas.
Knowledge of /or willingness to learn about Policy Governance and commitment to adhere to our policies.
Ability to listen well and willingness to further this ability with the help of the Board and ministry team.
Good communication skills, willingness to engage in honest dialogue and to face conflict in love and respect.
Financial support (Prefer 5% or better of income).

Role of the UUAA Board President and Job Requirements

Role of the UUAA Board of Trustees President

The President ensures the integrity of the Board's process and represents the Board to congregants and outside parties.
It is the responsibility of the President to ensure the Board behaves consistently with its own rules and those legitimately imposed upon it from outside the organization.

Meeting discussion content will be only those issues which clearly belong to the Board to decide, not the Executive.
Deliberations will be fair, open and thorough but also timely, orderly, and kept to the point.

The President shall set the agenda in consultation with the Executive and preside at all business meetings of the congregation
The President shall set the agenda in consultation with the Executive and chair Board meetings.
The President shall organize and set the agenda for a board retreat at the beginning of the term or whenever necessary.
The President, as an individual, has no authority to supervise or direct the Executive.
The President may represent the Board to outside parties in announcing Board-stated positions and in stating the President's own decisions and interpretations within his or her authority.
The President may represent the congregation at congregational ceremonial events (e.g., new member welcome)

Expectations for President of the Board of Trustees

In addition to those qualities and attributes that are desired of all members of the Board, the President is expected to:

Have had previous Board experience, either with the congregation or another organization.
Have organizational skills to assure that the Board business is dealt with efficiently.
Be committed to good group process
Be able to nurture and develop the trustees to work as a group
Meet with the Senior Minister on a regular basis to talk through issues affecting the congregation and to plan Board and congregational meeting agendas.
Lead congregational and Board meetings in a way to assure all relevant, important issues for any decision are explored before a decision is made.

Role of the UUAA Board Secretary and Job Requirements

Role of the UUAA Board of Trustees Secretary:

In addition to those qualities and attributes that are desired of all members of the Board, per congregational bylaws, UUAA Board of Trustees Secretary responsibilities include:

ARTICLE IV. MEETINGS

3. The Secretary shall give the membership of the congregation at least two weeks before the date of any congregational meeting a notice specifying the business to be transacted. Publication of such notice in the official Congregation media may be considered tantamount to such notification. The Board of Trustees shall specify in advance the media to be used for this purpose. When possible, meetings shall be announced from the pulpit on the two Sundays preceding the date which has been set.

ARTICLE VI. OFFICERS AND GOVERNING BODY

3. Officer Responsibilities

3.3. The Secretary shall keep minutes of congregational meetings and meetings of the Board of Trustees. The responsibilities of the Secretary shall include, but not be limited to:

3.3.1. Reviewing and ensuring that all official minutes of the Board meetings and of the annual and/or special membership meetings are recorded accurately, distributed, and made part of the official record.

3.3.2. Determining the presence or absence of a quorum at each membership and Board meeting;

3.3.3. Maintaining a permanent record of the Board's proceedings and official documents.

Role of the UUAA Board Treasurer and Job Requirements

Responsibilities Explicitly Stated in the By-Laws

3.4. The Treasurer shall see to it that all the financial records of the congregation are maintained in good order. The responsibilities of the Treasurer shall include, but not be limited to:

3.4.1. Advising the Congregation, the Board of Trustees and other groups as necessary of financial aspects and implications of proposed actions;

3.4.2. Preparing such financial statements as the Board of Trustees may require, and in such forms as may be reasonably required.

Operational Fiduciary Responsibilities

Is a signer on all church financial accounts. This includes the day-to-day operational accounts and the Endowment accounts.
Signs checks on a bi-weekly basis.
Facilitates the receipt of pledges and gifts in the form of stocks and securities. Transfers these funds to the operational accounts.
Transfers funds between endowment fund accounts and operational accounts to meet cash flow needs, if directed by the Board.

Specific Calendar of Duties

Following the Annual Meeting and Election of New Officers in May: Prepares and delivers updated, signed authorization cards for all 6 endowment accounts held with Charles Schwab. These cards need to be revised each year after the election of officers in May with the new officers' (President and Treasurer) information. Signatures need to be notarized before delivery to Schwab.
Reviews and forwards monthly Schwab endowment fund statements to Executive Director by the 15^th of each month for inclusion with the monthly financial statements to be reviewed for acceptance by the Board of Trustees regular meeting the following month.
Prepares Treasurer's report to be included with the Board of Trustees agenda for regular meetings.