Annual Meeting Minutes for the Covenant of Unitarian Universalist Pagans
Thursday June 22, 2006, 8:00 AM
Room 266, Americas Center, St. Louis, MO
Board members present: Maureen Duffy-Boose (Aisling), Don Schutte(Spiritwalker), Niko Tarini, Bonnie Dlott, and Adam Robersmith. Board Agent Shari Storm was also present.
The meeting was called to order at about 8:05 am by the CUUPS President, Maureen Duffy-Boose, who gave a welcome and introduced the board members and board agents.
Our first order of business was nominating the polling committee for the upcoming election. Two nominations came from the floor; Tom Hackett volunteered his chapter in Poughkeepsie, and Megan Spangler volunteered Omaha CUUPS. Motions were entertained to accept these nominations, and subsequently passed. Tom and Megan agreed to split the duties with one chapter sending out ballots and the other counting and reporting. Bonnie will follow up with them about this. Because our bylaws require that there be at least three individuals on the polling committee, Karen Bowerman was added from the Omaha chapter.
Nominations were solicited for Membership Chair. Niko Tarini, the current Membership chair, described what the job involved. Niko offered to run again and there were no further nominations.
Nominations were solicited for an individual to fill in the ministerial relations board position that Krista Taves vacated earlier this year. Steve Storm nominated himself, and this nomination was moved and passed.
Nominations were entertained for the position of Treasurer. There were no nominations from the floor. There was a short discussion of the possibility of the current Treasurer, Shannon Cocheo running again, and also David Lane from the Rainbow Chalice CUUPS chapter.
A motion was made to reduce the minimum number of trustees required by the By-laws to serve on the Board. An amendment was proposed, allowing the board to appoint a task force that could explore whether it would be a good idea to reduce the number of trustees required by the by-laws.
This business being taken care of, the floor was opened for announcements. Chris Bradley wondered if we could create regionally based networks that would provide a way for chapters in given areas to support each other and share resources. Preferably, this new system would not mirror the UUA District system.
A representative from the Gaia Community made an announcement about the CUUPS Solstice Ritual taking place Saturday morning at Robert Baer Plaza, just adjacent to the Convention Center Dome.
Bonnie Dlott made an announcement about our 2007 Convocation, which is to be held April 6-8, 2007, at DeBenneville Pines, a UU conference Center located about 70 miles east of Los Angeles, California. Cost is $170 before September 21, $200 from September 21-December 21, and after that $230.
Shari Storm announced that next year is the 20th anniversary of CUUPS, and Sophia Creathnan made the comment that the GA planning committee should know about this immediately. Both Shari Storm, as our GA planning person, and Maureen Duffy-Boose, as President, are already in touch with the appropriate people to get this done.
Talks being given by Margot Adler and Shirley Ranck on Saturday June24th were announced.
Maureen Duffy-Boose opened the floor for questions, and one member asked what defined a "family" with respect to our family membership category. Maureen responded that the CUUPS board respects CUUPS members' definitions of their own family.
Maureen Duffy-Boose declared the meeting to be adjourned at exactly 9:15 AM. Thanks to everyone!!
