2012 Budget Drive
"Building the Beloved Community"

January | February | March | April

April

We had a great kickoff with the Fellowship Dinner on March 31. Now the Annual Budget Drive begins in earnest. Many of you have already received a copy of this year’s Drive Brochure. Please review it, along with the Fair Share Giving Guide. Most of you will be called upon by a visiting steward, who will talk with you about UUCLR, ask how well it is meeting your needs, accept your financial commitment, and answer any questions you may have.

The Personal Statements from church members and friends, “Why I Pledge,” began on March 18 and will continue through most of the month of April. James Thomson and the YoUUth of the church have constructed a “yardstick” that will track the church’s progress toward meeting the budget drive goal of $180,000.

NOW IS THE TIME!! Several members have already made their financial commitments. Now is the time for you to decide what your financial commitment to UUCLR will be. Ask one of the Team members or your visiting steward if you have any questions. One more month to go to meet our goal!

Many thanks to all who have helped:

The Annual Budget Drive Team: Dave Rickard and Bill Kimpel, Co-Chairs; Jan Bowen, Dan Chambers, Cathy Jett, and Nell Matthews
Andy and Vicky Kessel Bob Klein Chris Jett Dan Danielson David McCullough DeAnn Shields-Marley Edith Bradberry Emily Jones Fred Roberson James Thomson Jeff Bowen	Jerry Blackburn Joanne Kreihn Joe MeehanJohn Adams John Hill John McNee John Perez Karen Walls Kay Danielson Margaret McLellan Melissa Brown Nancy Kimpel	Rachel Finley and UU Children Rich Roy Rob Ebert Rudy Rieple Ruth Ward Sarah Prickett Steve Hodge Sue McDonald Teresa Knight UUCLR Choir Virginia Arouh

Jan Bowen, member of Annual Budget Drive 2012 Leadership Team

March

In March, the activities surrounding the Annual Budget Drive will really “rev up.” Mark your calendars for the Fellowship Celebration on Saturday, March 31.

Beginning on March 18, we will hear Personal Statements from church members and friends, who will describe for us in three to five minutes on Sunday mornings, the value of UUCLR to them and the factors that drive them to support the church financially. Visiting stewards will be recruited (and please say “yes” if you’re asked!) and will have a training session the morning of the Fellowship Celebration.

It’s only a few more weeks until we will all be filling out the Annual Pledge forms. Please begin thinking about your financial commitment to UUCLR. Please take a look ahead of time at the Suggested Fair Share Giving Guide. More next month...

February

An introduction to the 2012 logo and “yardstick” sign is in order. You can see our theme logo at the top of thips page. The core of the design, the heart, represents “beloved,” while the drawing of our church building refers to “building” in the theme. The string of cut-out and brightly decorated children demonstrates the concept of “community.”

What is most exciting to me is that the children in our Religious Education program came up with this design during one of their Sunday morning gatherings in early January. I went into service at 11am, came out at noon, and the design that you see was sitting on the stage in Thomson Hall! Many thanks to Rachel Finley for working with the children. We will use this logo on all printed materials prepared for the Budget Drive. The youth of the church will be working on the “yardstick” sign, so I’m sure we’ll be equally pleased with their creativity.

January

Well, they say that “time flies when you’re having fun.” Obviously, UUCLR has been having fun, since 2011 has flown by and 2012 is here. The arrival of the new year is bringing with it the church’s annual budget drive!!

The theme for 2012’s budget drive is BUILDING THE BELOVED COMMUNITY. Plan now for the Fellowship Event on March 31, and the Pledge Drive during April of 2012. Look forward to hearing various members describe their reasons for financial support of the church during February and March.

I’m would like to introduce you to the Suggested Fair Share Giving Guide. The Guide is remarkably similar to the progressive income tax with which we are all familiar. There are three levels of giving within the Guide – Helping, Supporting, and Sustaining. Within each level, the suggested Fair Share is based on a percentage of one’s income, with the percentage increasing as a person’s income increases. For example, at the Supporting level, the suggested Fair Share percentage starts at 1.5% for someone with an adjusted annual income of $10,000, and terminates with a recommended 7.5% pledge for someone with an adjusted income of $500,000. The income is adjusted by the addition and subtraction of various financial items. Much more information about the Suggested Fair Share Giving Guide will be available as we move forward with the 2012 Budget Drive. In the meantime, please begin to ponder which level fits with your finances.

Questions can be directed to Dave Rickard, Co-Chair of the Leadership Team, Co-Chair Bill Kimpel, or members Jan Bowen, Dan Chambers, or Cathy Jett. More next month.