Strategic Planning Task Force 

You Are Invited on December 6 from 9 to 2!

Please click here to listen to Cliff’s presentation!

Building Our Congregational Strategic Plan

Over the past 6 months, our Strategic Planning Task Force (SPTF) has interviewed over 100 members in demographically similar focus groups to understand how well UUCGN is meeting members’ needs, how UUCGN might support them in the future, and explore ideas about UUCGN’s future.  

There will be upcoming focus groups of seasonal members, young adults, and YRE teenagers as the Task Force completes this “listening and learning” Phase 1 in mid-November.  The Task Force will be sharing our learnings from the focus groups with the congregation over the coming weeks leading to an in-person Congregational Workshop on December 6, 2025. This membership workshop will be to discuss the focus group learnings, identify our priorities, and introduce the methodology for developing the 3-year UUCGN Strategic Plan. And, don’t worry if you are not able to attend the December 6th workshop, there will be several opportunities to contribute your voice and ideas.

Following the Congregational Workshop, Phase II will be a collaborative process involving five membership groups: 1) the Strategic Plan Task Force; 2) the Program Council; 3) a voluntary Advisory Team of 20-30 members; 4) the Board of Trustees; and 5) the entire Congregation. These groups will contribute to the creation of the Strategic Plan draft with the first Draft Plan workshop presented for member feedback on January 24, followed by a final Draft Plan workshop on March 22. A full Congregational vote on the final plan will be held on April 19.  Please mark your calendar for these upcoming meetings as opportunities to meet with and work with fellow members as we consider our future path as a congregation!

This approach is a different and broadly inclusive collaborative process. Together we will craft the top strategic priorities to guide our congregational investments of time, talent, and treasure over the next three years. This Strategic Plan will be our commitment to live our UU values in our beloved community and the world in line with our Mission and Vision as a congregation. All members’ perspectives are valued, and we encourage you to take the opportunity to help build UUCGN’s future. 

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We are eager to hear what each of you would like to see UUCGN focus on over the next three years. Your Strategic Planning Task Force has spent the last six months exploring member priorities. To continue with our current healthy and successful Congregation we must adapt to changes in the world and be agile and responsive. There are external opportunities and threats to which we can respond and be proactive. We have identified many internal strengths on which to build, and opportunities for improvement and growth. We have been conducting member focus groups for gathering input from members, conducted a  Congregational survey, and engaged UUCGN  leadership.

NOW is the time to hear from you if we have not heard from you yet. We are conducting two more focus groups in October and a Congregation wide open meeting on Saturday, December 6  from 9 am to 2 pm (with lunch and childcare provided).

We have heard many compelling recommendations. We are ultimately looking to identify 2-3 major themes, or initiatives, that will engage, energize and empower individual members, our  UUCGN community, and our responsibilities to the greater SWFl community.

Some of the possible themes or initiatives that have been identified include:  

• Membership diversity

• Spiritually nourishing programs

• Social Welfare programs

• Securing our financial resources 

• Energize our new member engagement  program

• Expand our successful YRE program

• Create an excellent Communications Plan

• Continue to improve our buildings and gardens

The best defense to these challenging times is a more energized and focused membership. The December 6th Congregational meeting marks the end of our information gathering. Next will be a four month collaborative process engaging the entire Congregation. The Strategic Plan will be completed by the end of March with the selection of our guiding initiatives and action plans for the next three years.  You the members will identify UUCGN’s passion going forward! We need to hear from you NOW! Please be sure to attend December 6th to be engaged in charting the future of UUCGN.