Board & Finance 

Board Bits

February 24 & March 10 Board of Trustees Meeting

• We are pleased to recognize and accept Rose Ann Scanlon and Jim & Margie Spencer as new members to UUCGN.  Welcome to our congregation!  We’re pleased to have you join us on our journey to building a more peaceful, just, and loving community.

• We are most appreciative for the great effort by the Stewardship Committee led by Linda Allan with Steve Espinosa serving as the lead spokesperson for the Campaign.  The committee worked hard in organizing and providing personal testimony about the importance of UUCGN in their lives.  The Campaign looks to have exceeded last year’s pledge total with a growth of about 4%.  Congratulations to the committee and the congregation for answering the call for financial support to enable UUCGN to continue our efforts for building a beloved community that engages more openly with the greater Naples community!

• While we are pleased to learn about the successful results with the Stewardship Campaign, we are concerned that some pledges for the current fiscal year have not been forthcoming as planned. We recognize that circumstances can change in people’s lives, so not all may give as originally pledged.  Linda Allan reported a group of Finance Committee members will assist as we close out this fiscal year in March. Thank you to all our members for their respective contributions of time, talent, and treasure.  UUCGN remains vital and vibrant due to all of our commitments at whatever level we are able to provide!

• We received the update about the good work of the Strategic Plan Task Force led by Al Curran as they continue to develop the Priorities and Objectives for UUCGN over the coming three years. Our priorities are emerging as a result of the 11 focus groups and two congregational workshops involving well over 100 members during the past year.  We appreciate the dedication of the Task Force and look forward to the upcoming March 22nd congregational gathering to provide feedback on the first draft of the Strategic Plan.  We encourage all members to participate in the discussion about this first draft of the plan following the March 22nd worship service.  The meeting will also be conducted via Zoom and Facebook so remote members can participate.

• We appreciate the good work and dedication of Linda Allan, Mike Kurko, Susan Musick and the Finance Committee for their thoughtful analysis and development of the proposed 2026-2027 Fiscal Year budget.  In a collaborative process, the Board and the Finance Committee have crafted a proposed budget and the Board called for the Annual Meeting on March 29th for the congregation to consider and vote on the new budget as well as 2 new Bylaws and election of new leadership for the Board of Trustees, Endowment Board, and Nominating Committee.  We encourage a good turnout for the congregation to exercise its voice and vote for our future in 2026-27.

• We recognize the importance of members being able to review the annual budget in depth and we’re thankful to Linda Allan for holding a Zoom-Only meeting on March 23rd at 7:00PM for members to be able to review the details of the budget and ask questions.  Larry McCarthy, chair of the Endowment Board, will also be on hand to share information about the Endowment Report and finances.  To attend the meeting, please contact Anna Riazi at office@uunaples.org. 

• We continue to be grateful and blown away by the multi-faceted, multi-tasking effort of the 50th Anniversary Committee led by Steve Espinosa, Cheryl Nunes, and Ann Fullarton and a legion of committed members who have created numerous events, recognitions, and celebrations for recognizing this milestone year for UUCGN.  The complexity of activities has been well coordinated by the Program Council under Skip Lundborg’s skillful leadership and demonstrates the vitality of a congregation in action.  What a great effort by everyone in making this year so memorable!

• We learned plans for the 50th Anniversary Gala (held March 14th) and the April 11 Open House events are well underway and we’re looking forward to the excitement these major events will bring!  Such good work by so many members!  Thank you to Jane Graham, Elaine Cockcroft, and others on the Gala Committee as well as entire 50th Anniversary Committee for the upcoming Open House event!

• We are grateful to the Aesthetics Committee of Ann Fullarton and Cheryl Nunes and especially Vincent Keeys for providing his outstanding collection of Black History art, historical memorabilia, and items for display during Black History month (and a bit beyond) in the Menaker Gallery.  What a wonderful contribution!   Thank you, Vincent!

• And, as Rev. Tony has noted, we are also most grateful to Diann Keeys for providing an exceptional evening of culinary traditions as part of our Black History celebration.  Special thanks to Maria McCormick and other members who worked with Diann to help make the event a special occasion for UUCGN and our partners and guests from other social justice organizations.  Diann, thank you for your generous nature in sharing your culinary talents!

• We continue our support for UUCGN members to be involved in the Sunday Vigils at the Detention Center in the Everglades.  The donation of funds for bus transportation and the dedicated presence of our members and other in religious organizations throughout South Florida in respectful protest against the lack of due process and inhumane treatment of our immigrant neighbors is needed now more than ever.  

• We appreciate the efforts of the YRE Committee’s Patty Freydberg, Linda Swears, Janet Hoffman, and Tabitha Stadler as they look to sustain the youth Sunday classes through the rest of the school year.  Moreover, the YRE Committee and Personnel Committee will soon begin to develop the job description and requirements for a potential YRE leader in the future.  We are grateful for their commitment to help nurture the children and youth in our Religious Exploration program.

• We look forward to the YRE children’s Time Capsule presentation on the April 26th Sunday Service when, appropriately, UUCGN’s first fulltime minister, Jay Abernathy, will be conducting the service.

Endowment Notes

The UUCGN Endowment Fund was created to ensure that the mission, values and work of the Congregation continue well into the future.  The Fund’s principal was started with and continues to grow with donations from members of the Congregation.  The Endowment Board is responsible for managing the Fund (independent of the UUCGN Board of Trustees).  

Prudent investment of the Fund’s assets by the Board is crucial to preserve the principal long term and to generate return on investment which can be reinvested to grow the principal.  It also allows for the potential of annual support of the Congregation’s mission apart from its general operation.  When the Fund exceeds $500,000 in any year, the Board is empowered to review/approve proposals to allocate up to 5% of the Fund for these purposes:  program enhancement, building and grounds enhancement, community outreach and/or UUA’s wider mission. 

So far this year the EB has funded the 50th Anniversary Open House Celebration in March and the creation of a choral piece by Shawn Allison dedicated to the 50th anniversary to be premiered by our choir at a service in March.  Last year these funds paid for the new riser in the sanctuary and supported the installation of the handicap accessible doors.  

In these challenging times, the significance of UUCGN’s ongoing mission cannot be more clear.  Your gift to the Fund helps to ensure that the opportunity for connection, support and service to the community you found at UUCGN will be available for the generations ahead. 

1.  You can honor someone with a memorial or testimonial (for someone living) donation in their name to the Fund at any time.  Contact the office. 

2.  Please consider a future gift in your name as a member of the Fund’s Legacy Circle.  You can choose from among several planned giving options to include the Fund in your estate plans.  You will join other Circle members whose own legacy furthers the legacy of UUCGN.  Contact the office to have someone from the Endowment Board contact you.

3.  Make a gift in your name to the Fund any time.  Contact the office.

Thank you from the UUCGN Endowment Board! Click on this link for our brochure.