Unleashing the Power of Unleashing the Power of Unitarian Universalism Unitarian Universalism through our Social Action through our Social Action CommitteesCommittees

SpeakersSpeakers::

Gary D. NissenbaumGary D. Nissenbaum, ,

Chair, Social Action CommitteeChair, Social Action Committee

The Unitarian Church in SummitThe Unitarian Church in Summit

Lauralyn SmithLauralyn Smith, ,

Senior Associate, Membership Senior Associate, Membership Development Development

Unitarian Universalist Service Unitarian Universalist Service CommitteeCommittee

© copyright G.D. Baum, LLC© copyright G.D. Baum, LLC

The Crisis For The Crisis For Unitarian UniversalismUnitarian Universalism

Given our modest numbers, how can Given our modest numbers, how can we have the most impact on our world?we have the most impact on our world?

Through Social Action Through Social Action

Social Action Starts With Social Action Starts With Our CongregationsOur Congregations

The engine of creative innovation The engine of creative innovation and growth in Unitarian and growth in Unitarian Universalism starts with our Universalism starts with our congregations. congregations.

It is up to our congregations to It is up to our congregations to transform and enhance the Social transform and enhance the Social Action component of this religious Action component of this religious movement.movement.

Therefore, we must Therefore, we must superchargesupercharge the impact and the impact and effectiveness of our effectiveness of our congregational Social Action congregational Social Action Committees.Committees.

Four Ways to Four Ways to Supercharge Our UU Supercharge Our UU Social Action Social Action Committees.Committees.

1.1. Operate more effectivelyOperate more effectively

2.2. Obtain more robust congregational Obtain more robust congregational financingfinancing

3.3. Transform local outreachTransform local outreach

4.4. Transform international outreachTransform international outreach

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Operating More Operating More EffectivelyEffectively

Our Social Action Committees Our Social Action Committees must function in a way that must function in a way that invites broad congregational invites broad congregational participation. participation.

In order to do so, they must In order to do so, they must conduct themselves in a forward-conduct themselves in a forward-leaning and professional manner.leaning and professional manner.

Thirteen ways to make our Thirteen ways to make our Social Action Committees Social Action Committees run more efficientlyrun more efficiently

A Professional Approach A Professional Approach to Running a Social to Running a Social Action Committee Action Committee MeetingMeeting

1.1. Meetings should start and end on timeMeetings should start and end on time

2.2. Keep written minutes of every meeting; Keep written minutes of every meeting; circulate the minutes after the meeting circulate the minutes after the meeting concludes; and correct and approve the concludes; and correct and approve the minutes at the next meeting. minutes at the next meeting.

3.3. The meetings should be held in a space that The meetings should be held in a space that is conducive to focused, confidential and is conducive to focused, confidential and interactive discussion (not a public space). interactive discussion (not a public space).

Social Action Committee Social Action Committee Meetings Must be Meetings Must be Focused and EffectiveFocused and Effective

4.4. Meetings should have a clear Meetings should have a clear agenda to prevent drift. agenda to prevent drift.

5.5. Meetings must not devolve into a Meetings must not devolve into a support group or social club. support group or social club.

6.6. Avoid the safe zone of dwelling on Avoid the safe zone of dwelling on how bad things are. how bad things are.

7.7. Focus on initiatives to address the Focus on initiatives to address the larger, more difficult topic of just larger, more difficult topic of just what we will do about how bad what we will do about how bad things are.things are.

Social Action Social Action InitiativesInitiatives

8.8. Initiatives must be high quality, clear Initiatives must be high quality, clear and achievable. and achievable.

9.9. Each year, the Committee should Each year, the Committee should repeat and refine initiatives that have repeat and refine initiatives that have worked before and explore new ones.worked before and explore new ones.

10.10. We must encourage Social Action We must encourage Social Action Committee members to lead. They Committee members to lead. They must take ownership of the initiatives must take ownership of the initiatives that move them and commit to see that move them and commit to see them through.them through.

Promote creative and Promote creative and inspired leadership.inspired leadership.

11.11. Each initiative should be led by a Each initiative should be led by a member of the Committee who will member of the Committee who will report on it and be held accountable report on it and be held accountable for its success.for its success.

AllAll the members who wish to be the members who wish to be empowered, should be. empowered, should be.

We must lead leaders.We must lead leaders.

Taking Emergency Action Taking Emergency Action Between Meetings.Between Meetings.

12.12.Meetings Should Never Officially Meetings Should Never Officially Adjourn.Adjourn.

13.13.Emergency action should be Emergency action should be available by conference call and available by conference call and email.email.

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Obtaining robust Obtaining robust Financing for our Financing for our

Social Action CommitteesSocial Action Committees

The Base BudgetThe Base Budget

1.1. There must be a sufficient base There must be a sufficient base budget to address emergencies and budget to address emergencies and for basic Committee functionsfor basic Committee functions

2.2. To do that, have a dialogue with the To do that, have a dialogue with the Ministerial and Board leadership to Ministerial and Board leadership to understand what is achievable. understand what is achievable.

3.3. The Social Action budget should be The Social Action budget should be the result of that dialoguethe result of that dialogue

The Plate CollectionThe Plate Collection

Perpetual offering plate collectionsPerpetual offering plate collections

may create plate burn out.may create plate burn out.

We must develop a more focusedWe must develop a more focused

way of utilizing the plates.way of utilizing the plates.

Limited Plate CollectionsLimited Plate Collections

1.1. One approach that has worked for One approach that has worked for the Unitarian Church in Summit is the Unitarian Church in Summit is to schedule the offering pate to schedule the offering pate collection in groupings of four collection in groupings of four successive Sundays. successive Sundays.

2.2. This is done three times per year.This is done three times per year.

3.3. The aim is to develop a set time The aim is to develop a set time period to create a sense of period to create a sense of urgencyurgency that promotes that promotes generosity.generosity.

First Sunday – First Sunday – Introducing the Introducing the InitiativeInitiative

Explain the initiative in detail, Explain the initiative in detail, set out the financial goal.set out the financial goal.

Second Sunday – Second Sunday – Explaining the Explaining the InitiativeInitiative

Invite an outside representative Invite an outside representative to give a presentation on the to give a presentation on the initiativeinitiative

Third Sunday – A Third Sunday – A Sense of UrgencySense of Urgency

Start by disclosing what has been Start by disclosing what has been collected and by what percentage we are collected and by what percentage we are under or over 50% of our goal. under or over 50% of our goal.

If under the goal, invite the If under the goal, invite the congregation to become active congregation to become active participants in addressing the shortfall.participants in addressing the shortfall.

If over the goal, invite the If over the goal, invite the congregation to become active congregation to become active participants in resetting a new, higher participants in resetting a new, higher goal.goal.

Fourth Sunday – a Sense Fourth Sunday – a Sense of Increased Urgencyof Increased Urgency

Start by reporting to the congregation Start by reporting to the congregation on whether we have met or exceeded on whether we have met or exceeded 75% of our goal. 75% of our goal.

Make a full court press to complete Make a full court press to complete the solicitation with a redoubled the solicitation with a redoubled sense of urgency. sense of urgency.

Fifth SundayFifth Sunday

Report to the congregation on Report to the congregation on itsits successsuccess in meeting or exceeding in meeting or exceeding the goal. the goal.

Complete the arc in a way that Complete the arc in a way that lays the groundwork for the next lays the groundwork for the next set of plate collections (which will set of plate collections (which will take place several months later).take place several months later).

Directed DonationsDirected Donations

The drawback of directedThe drawback of directed

donationsdonations

Effective use of directedEffective use of directed

donationsdonations

Other Forms of Other Forms of FundraisingFundraising

Creative fundraising to widen Creative fundraising to widen thethe

circle of donors, such as:circle of donors, such as:Halloween Ball Halloween Ball Friday Night Dinners Friday Night Dinners AuctionsAuctions

Emergency Donor ListEmergency Donor List

Setting up an emergency donor list Setting up an emergency donor list forfor

assisting individuals. These are assisting individuals. These are initiatives that are an inappropriate initiatives that are an inappropriate use of Social Action fundsuse of Social Action funds

– Non-deductibility Non-deductibility – ConfidentialityConfidentiality– Generosity burn outGenerosity burn out

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Supercharging Local OutreachSupercharging Local Outreach

Effective Local Effective Local OutreachOutreach

1.1. LimitedLimited

2.2. PracticalPractical

3.3. NimbleNimble

4.4. Focused on Emergent and Non Emergent Focused on Emergent and Non Emergent NeedsNeeds

5.5. With clear and achievable goals With clear and achievable goals

6.6. With a lay leader(s) who will take With a lay leader(s) who will take ownershipownership

For example, we adopted an For example, we adopted an entire Town.entire Town.

Irvington RésuméIrvington Résumé Writing Writing InitiativeInitiative

An Example of Effective Local An Example of Effective Local OutreachOutreach: : The Irvington Schools InitiativeThe Irvington Schools Initiative

Irvington School Irvington School Supplies InitiativeSupplies Initiative

Additional Irvington Additional Irvington InitiativesInitiatives

1.1. Donations to the School: musical instruments, Donations to the School: musical instruments, audio visual equipment, computers, printers audio visual equipment, computers, printers and books. and books.

2.2. Vocational presentations for Irvington high Vocational presentations for Irvington high school students “Career Ambassador” school students “Career Ambassador” program.program.

3.3. Parenting workshop.Parenting workshop.

4.4. Tai Chi stress reduction class for the teachers.Tai Chi stress reduction class for the teachers.

5.5. Food baskets for the December holidays.Food baskets for the December holidays.

6.6. Winter coat drive for the kids.Winter coat drive for the kids.

7.7. Computer seminars for senior citizens.Computer seminars for senior citizens.

8.8. Lactation class for expectant mothers.Lactation class for expectant mothers.

Examples of other Local Examples of other Local Outreach InitiativesOutreach Initiatives

– Affordable HousingAffordable Housing– HomeFirst (Housing the HomeFirst (Housing the

Homeless)Homeless)– Hunger InitiativeHunger Initiative– Immigration InitiativeImmigration Initiative

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Supercharging Supercharging International OutreachInternational Outreach

Creating a partnership Creating a partnership between the Social Action between the Social Action Committee and UUSCCommittee and UUSC

1.1. UUSC can be trusted to vet the initiatives.UUSC can be trusted to vet the initiatives.

2.2. UUSC initiatives align with UU principles.UUSC initiatives align with UU principles.

3.3. UUSC has a variety of shovel-ready UUSC has a variety of shovel-ready projects with its partners ready for projects with its partners ready for funding.funding.

4.4. UUSC understands the unique fundraising UUSC understands the unique fundraising issues of UU congregations.issues of UU congregations.

The Social Action Committee The Social Action Committee Should ask UUSC for a list of Should ask UUSC for a list of Shovel Ready projectsShovel Ready projects

1.1. Pick a project that is tangible and Pick a project that is tangible and will effectuate international social will effectuate international social action. action.

2.2. The funding should be just under The funding should be just under the amount expected to be the amount expected to be collected in the particular set of collected in the particular set of offering plates. (or perhaps, take a offering plates. (or perhaps, take a leap of faith and try to collect leap of faith and try to collect more than we think we can.)more than we think we can.)

2009 Darfur Women’s Centers2009 Darfur Women’s Centers

In 2009, UUSC was seeking to In 2009, UUSC was seeking to construct 10 women’s centers in the construct 10 women’s centers in the camps for internally displaced camps for internally displaced persons in Darfur. persons in Darfur.

The women of the camps could: The women of the camps could: – Gather to form a communityGather to form a community– Obtain medical care for their childrenObtain medical care for their children– Coordinate their forays outside of the Coordinate their forays outside of the

camps to gather firewood with the U.N. camps to gather firewood with the U.N. Peacekeeper patrolsPeacekeeper patrols

– Start microenterprise businesses to feed Start microenterprise businesses to feed their families their families

2009 Darfur Women’s 2009 Darfur Women’s Centers (cont’d)Centers (cont’d)

It was estimated to cost $8,000 to It was estimated to cost $8,000 to both construct each center and staff it both construct each center and staff it for one year. for one year.

UUSC and its partner in Darfur had UUSC and its partner in Darfur had only built twoonly built two

The Unitarian Church in Summit The Unitarian Church in Summit Raised the $8000 to Build a Third.Raised the $8000 to Build a Third.

2010 Uganda Oxen 2010 Uganda Oxen ProjectProject In Uganda, a working ox can be shared In Uganda, a working ox can be shared

by families to till their soil for food, by families to till their soil for food, crops and rented to other villagers for crops and rented to other villagers for a modest income. a modest income.

This was especially important since so This was especially important since so many families need to replace oxen many families need to replace oxen killed or lost in the civil wars that have killed or lost in the civil wars that have ravaged Uganda. ravaged Uganda.

2010 Uganda Oxen 2010 Uganda Oxen Project (Cont’d)Project (Cont’d)

Over four Sundays, The Unitarian Over four Sundays, The Unitarian Church in Summit collected over Church in Summit collected over $7,000 from the offering plate. $7,000 from the offering plate.

UUSC calculated that our donations UUSC calculated that our donations would buy enough oxen to sustain would buy enough oxen to sustain 119 people. 119 people.

2011 Haiti Camp Oasis 2011 Haiti Camp Oasis ProjectProject

Camp Oasis is a pilot project in which Camp Oasis is a pilot project in which unaccompanied girls in Haiti will be unaccompanied girls in Haiti will be provided with secure living quarters, provided with secure living quarters, medical care and education. medical care and education.

It also will provide a nurturing It also will provide a nurturing environment, instead of unsafe camps environment, instead of unsafe camps of institutional orphanages, to help of institutional orphanages, to help them recover from the trauma of the them recover from the trauma of the earthquake and its aftermath.earthquake and its aftermath.

2011 Haiti Camp Oasis 2011 Haiti Camp Oasis Project (Cont’d)Project (Cont’d)

By the fourth Sunday, The Unitarian By the fourth Sunday, The Unitarian Church in Summit had collected over Church in Summit had collected over $11,800. $11,800.

There was a additional 3:1 match from There was a additional 3:1 match from the Unitarian Universalist Congregation the Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Shelter Rock. at Shelter Rock.

Therefore, the total provided for the Therefore, the total provided for the initiative would be well over the $40,000 initiative would be well over the $40,000 threshold to fund the inaugural Camp threshold to fund the inaugural Camp Oasis pilot project. Oasis pilot project.

We are selling a book on how to supercharge We are selling a book on how to supercharge a Social Action Committee. Proceeds support a Social Action Committee. Proceeds support UUSC’s initiatives for human rights & social UUSC’s initiatives for human rights & social justice.justice.