[Fuusm-l] From FUUSM Board of Trustees

Wed Aug 16 18:02:53 CDT 2023

Thank you, Tom, for the clarification.  I had the same questions as Ted so
I really appreciate it.
Kelcey

On Wed, Aug 16, 2023 at 6:02 PM Adeline Bailey via Fuusm-l <
fuusm-l at fuusm.org> wrote:

> Thank you, Tom and Board members! Policies matter (to me, anyway), and the
> extended explanation is very helpful. And thanks, Ted, for asking the
> questions that brought clarification.
> Adeline
>
> On Wed, Aug 16, 2023, 5:53 PM Tom Cunningham via Fuusm-l <
> fuusm-l at fuusm.org> wrote:
>
>>
>> Here is the further explanation Ted invites about the proposed Policy and
>> Procedure on Congregational Meetings that I sent out yesterday.  (I have
>> attached a copy to this email.)
>>
>> Mainly I will talk about the part of the document called "Procedure" --
>> parts 1, 2 & 3, then I will say something about the "Policy" part of it.
>>
>> *Part 1* of the procedure began as a request from some FUUSM members
>> that future congregational meetings should not include a vote on any
>> business items that the congregation did not know would be brought up at
>> the meeting.  That was a reaction to Darryl's motion (at the April 23
>> annual meeting) for the types of meetings that resulted in the Dialogue
>> Sessions going on now - it was raised under "items for the good of the
>> Society."
>>
>> The concern was, members who choose not to attend a certain
>> congregational meeting might have decided otherwise, if they knew that a
>> specific piece of "business" was at issue.
>> (E.g. Ted, as I recall, you and Linda left part way through the April
>> meeting -- if the agenda had let you know about the motion Darryl was going
>> to make, and if you were sufficiently concerned or interested, you might
>> have stayed to the end.  Just an example.)
>>
>> *Part 2*  of the procedure simply puts in writing, what has been the
>> practice (as long as I've seen) for Zoom attendees at congregational
>> meetings -- that if they are voting members of FUUSM, their Zoom attendance
>> lets them count toward a quorum as well as vote in that meeting.
>>
>> *Part 3* of the procedure is to make clear that under our bylaws, there
>> is another way for members to call an actual congregational meeting,
>> instead of the "congregational style" meetings that resulted in the
>> Dialogue Sessions.  That other way is the "Special Meetings" that can be
>> called by a petition 10 or more members.
>>
>> Between the April 23 meeting and the first Dialogue Session, questions
>> came up about with the Dialogue organizers about whether the April vote on
>> Darryl's motion was itself, a petition sufficient to make the Dialogue
>> Sessions a "congregational meeting" (at which business binding on the
>> congregation could be transacted).  I explained to the organizers why, in
>> my view, it was not --  with the result that the Dialogue Sessions cannot
>> decide any business issues binding on the congregation.  (On the other
>> hand, they can result in recommendations, and I have urged the organizers
>> to have some kind of a report to the Board as an end product of those
>> sessions).
>>
>> So, Part 3 clarifies how the "Special (Congregational) Meeting" by
>> petition works, which in turn might help those who feel strongly enough
>> about the dialogue sessions issue that they have a way to call a
>> congregational meeting - if they want - in which specific items of business
>> might be decided with binding effect on the congregation.  On the other
>> hand, they may choose (at the dialogue sessions) to just make
>> recommendations to the board, or choose to do nothing at all.
>>
>> The *Policy* part of the document was put there because our FUUSM ground
>> rules (the 2003 "Policy on Policies" that we on the Board look at when we
>> are considering something like this) says that the Board can adopt a
>> "procedure" by itself (with 2/3 vote of the board) -- but *policies* must
>> first be sent out to the congregation, to let them know that board intends
>> to vote on the matter at its next meeting, and that we invite
>> congregational input.   We on the Board felt that the things we were
>> proposing in the above procedures were important enough that we should
>> invite congregational input.  So it made sense to also put in the relevant
>> Policy language (what we believe, what we want to accomplish) as well as
>> the procedure (how we want it accomplished).  Those "what" and "how"
>> statements come directly from the 2003 "Policy on Policies" that, as I
>> said, the board follows on these things - our ground rules, which this
>> board didn't invent, but which have been there since 2003.  (You can find
>> it on FUUSM's website).
>>
>> Thanks for inviting more input, Ted.  There you have it.
>>
>> Tom
>> Board President
>>
>>
>> ------- Original Message -------
>> On Wednesday, August 16th, 2023 at 3:59 PM, Ted Goertzel <
>> tedgoertzel at gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>> Perhaps Tom or someone could begin by explaining why they are proposing
>> this. Is there some perceived fault in the way we have conducted
>> congregational meetings? Is there something that we haven't considered that
>> someone wants to bring up? Does this have something to do with the recent
>> concerns about the minister's performance? Or is this just Tom being a
>> lawyer and wanting to formalize everything? I have a vague feeling that
>> something is going on that isn't being discussed. Why is changing the rules
>> viewed as a priority?
>>
>> On Tue, Aug 15, 2023 at 2:33 PM Teresa Hayes via Fuusm-l <
>> fuusm-l at fuusm.org> wrote:
>>
>>> Dear Tom and other members of FUUSM,
>>>
>>> The proposed Policy and Procedure on Congregational Meetings seems to
>>> need an editor. Policies and procedures are often written is such a way
>>> that the average person has difficulty understanding what is being said,
>>> when in fact they need to be written in clear and concise, simple and
>>> understandable language. I am not a writer or an editor, so this isn't
>>> offered as a service. It is offered as an observation after reading the
>>> proposed policy.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> On Tuesday, August 15, 2023 at 10:51:38 AM EDT, Tom Cunningham via
>>> Fuusm-l <fuusm-l at fuusm.org> wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>> Dear FUUSM congregation,
>>>
>>> Attached is a proposed Policy and Procedure on Congregational Meetings.
>>> If adopted, its purpose would be to strengthen FUUSM's process of
>>> democratic governance by promoting efficient congregational meetings, in
>>> which voting members have an informed and meaningful opportunity to vote on
>>> FUUSM business.
>>>
>>> At our meeting last evening, the Board of Trustees decided that we want
>>> to move forward with adopting this. To do so, we decided we will discuss
>>> and vote on a motion to adopt the Policy and Procedure at our next meeting,
>>> Monday, September 11 at 6:30.
>>>
>>> As always, anyone interested can attend that Board meeting. Or, if you
>>> prefer, please let any trustee know your thoughts or questions on this
>>> proposal anytime before. (The seven trustees are cc'd individually on this
>>> email.)
>>>
>>> Thanks!
>>> Tom Cunningham
>>> President, Board of Trustees
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> *--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------*
>>> *I've changed my email address -- please use: *HoldtheG at proton.me
>>>
>>> *Thanks,*
>>> *Tom*
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>>
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