<div dir="ltr">The following is the Budget submission guidance for the 2016-17 Church year. The key date is <u><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:
normal">Friday</b> </u><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><u>January 29, 2016</u>, </b><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">which is</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"> t</b>he
due date for submission of budget information<span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">. If you have any questions, please flee free to contact me. <br><br>The guidance follows, and it is also attached to this email as a separate document. <br><br></span></span><br>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:14pt">Budget Guidance for Church Year 2016-17</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Finance Committee has started the process of preparing a
proposed budget for the 2016 – 17 Church year, which starts July 1, 2016. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In our governance structure, the budget is guided by our
mission statement and the priorities of the Congregation as articulated by the
Board and Executive Team. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">As you all know, our Mission Statement is: </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:0.5in"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:
normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">We welcome all as we build a
loving community to nurture each person’s spiritual journey, serve human need,
and protect the earth, our home.</i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">As you know the Board has created a 2020 Vision Task Force. A
vision and strategic plan will be developed in two phases. This fall, the Congregation
has participated in developing a five-year vision for what our Church may
become and accomplish during that time. The current plan is to present the
proposed vision to the Board for review and approval in January, and to the Congregation
for discussion and approval in February.</p>
<p>Based on the vision, the 2020 Vision Task Force will develop a five-year
strategic plan to be presented to the Board for review and approval in the spring
of 2016. It is uncertain, but possible that the five-year strategic plan will
be completed in in time to affect the budget approved by the Congregation in
May. </p>
<p class=""><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><u><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt">Timeframes and Submission Guidance</span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Here are the highlights of this year’s budget submission
timeframes and guidelines, which are very similar to those that have been sent
out in the recent past:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<ul style="margin-top:0in" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in">The
due date for submission of budget information is <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:
normal">Friday</b> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">January 29, 2016.</b></li></ul>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<ul style="margin-top:0in" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in">If you
as a committee chair, staff member, program or task force leader <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><u>do not</u> need any increase in the
amount budgeted for the current year, it will not be necessary to submit a
request.</b> If I do not hear from you by January 29, we will use your
current budget amount for next year.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">
</span>If you are uncertain as to the amount budgeted for the current
year, it can be found in the May 2015 Annual Report. </li></ul>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<ul style="margin-top:0in" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in">It you
don’t need as much as you currently have budgeted, please let us know how
much you need. We are always very grateful for any budget reductions, no
matter how modest.</li></ul>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<ul style="margin-top:0in" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in">If you
are anticipating a need for an increase in funds you will need to submit
something to me by January 29, 2016. Please include the following:</li></ul>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<ul style="margin-top:0in" type="disc"><ol style="margin-top:0in" start="1" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level2 lfo1;tab-stops:list 1.0in">Let
us know how much money is needed (the total amount, not just the increase
over this year); </li></ol></ul>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:0.75in"> </p>
<ul style="margin-top:0in" type="disc"><ol style="margin-top:0in" start="2" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level2 lfo1;tab-stops:list 1.0in">An
explanation of why it is needed and what you hope to <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:
normal">accomplish</b>. This can be helpful in the budget drive process.
If there are increases/reductions in more than one part of your budget,
please provide an explanation for each area reflecting an increase or
change; and</li></ol></ul>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<ul style="margin-top:0in" type="disc"><ol style="margin-top:0in" start="3" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level2 lfo1;tab-stops:list 1.0in">To
the extent you are able, let us know how you believe the additional funds
will help meet the Church mission.</li></ol></ul>
<p class=""> </p>
<ul style="margin-top:0in" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2;tab-stops:list .5in">It is
not necessary to send requests related to staff compensation increases, as
these are addressed by the Finance Committee and Executive Team. </li></ul>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It is best to send your information to me via email at:<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><a href="mailto:pwallacebro@gmail.com"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast">pwallacebro@gmail.com</span></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"> </b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Please let me know if you have any questions, thanks for
your help, and have a good Holiday Season!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Paul Wallace-Brodeur, Chair </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Finance Committee</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
</div>