<div dir="ltr">Hello all -<div><br></div><div>Here is the budget guidance for the Church year 2018-19, which begins on July 1, 2018. It is very similar to the guidance we have sent to you in the past few years.</div><div><br></div><div>The deadline for submission of your budget request is <b>Friday January 26, 2018</b>. I have attached a copy of the guidance as well as included in the body of this email.</div><div><br></div><div>If you have any questions please contact me. As usual, submissions should be emailed to me.</div><div><br></div><div><div>Thanks so much and have a joyful Holiday Season!!</div><div><br></div><div>Paul </div></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><p class="gmail-MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span style="font-size:14pt">Unitarian Church of Montpelier<span></span></span></b></p>
<p class="gmail-MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span style="font-size:14pt">Budget Guidance for Church Year 2018-19<span></span></span></b></p>
<p class="gmail-MsoNormal"><span> </span></p>
<p class="gmail-MsoNormal">The Finance Committee has started the process of preparing a
proposed budget for the 2018 – 19 Church year, which starts July 1, 2018. <span></span></p>
<p class="gmail-MsoNormal"><span> </span></p>
<p class="gmail-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. <span></span></p>
<p class="gmail-MsoNormal"><span> </span></p>
<p class="gmail-MsoNormal">As you all know, our Mission Statement is: <span></span></p>
<p class="gmail-MsoNormal"><span> </span></p>
<p class="gmail-MsoNormal" style="margin-left:0.5in"><b><i>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.<span></span></i></b></p>
<p class="gmail-MsoNormal"><span> </span></p>
<p class="gmail-MsoNormal">The Finance Committee has in the past several years asked
those who prepare budgets to explain why any additional funds that are being
requested are needed and what is hoped to be accomplished with the funding. We
have also asked people to let us know how they believe any additional funds
requested will help meet the Church Mission. <span></span></p>
<p class="gmail-MsoNormal"><span> </span></p>
<p class="gmail-MsoNormal">As you know a UCM 5-Year Strategic Plan, including a
compilation of outcomes, action steps, and indicators of success was adopted in
the February of 2016. There is an ongoing
focus on the 5 year strategic plan, and the Finance Committee continues to hope
we will receive information in the budget process that will identify how
Committee and Staff activities and proposed funds will advance the vision
statements in the Plan. This will be helpful in the budget drive process<span style="font-size:14pt"> </span>to encourage generosity and also create an
understanding of the way the budget advances the Mission and goals of the
Congregation as articulated in the Strategic Plan. The Plan can be found on the
Church Web site at: <a href="https://ucmvt.org/church-leadership-governance/governing-board/">https://ucmvt.org/church-leadership-governance/governing-board/</a><span></span></p>
<p class="gmail-MsoNormal"><span style="color:rgb(31,73,125)"> </span></p>
<p class="gmail-MsoNoSpacing"><b><u>Timeframes and Submission Guidance<span></span></u></b></p>
<p class="gmail-MsoNormal"><span style="color:rgb(192,80,77)"> </span></p>
<p class="gmail-MsoNormal">Here are the highlights of this year’s budget submission
timeframes and guidelines, which are similar to those that have been sent out
in the recent past:<span></span></p>
<p class="gmail-MsoNormal"><span> </span></p>
<ul style="margin-top:0in" type="disc">
<li class="gmail-MsoNormal">The
due date for submission of budget information is <b>Friday</b> <b>January 26, 2018.</b><span></span></li>
</ul>
<p class="gmail-MsoNormal"><span> </span></p>
<ul style="margin-top:0in" type="disc">
<li class="gmail-MsoNormal">If you
as a committee chair, staff member, program or task force leader <b><u>do not</u> need any increase or
change in the amount budgeted for the current year, it will not be
necessary to submit a request.</b> If we do not hear from you by January 26,
we will use your current budget amount for next year. If you are uncertain as to the amount
budgeted for the current year, it can be found in the May 2017 Annual
Report at: <a href="https://ucmvt.org/church-leadership-governance/governing-board/annual-reports/">https://ucmvt.org/church-leadership-governance/governing-board/annual-reports/</a><span></span></li>
</ul>
<p class="gmail-MsoListParagraph"><span style="font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><span> </span></span></p>
<ul style="margin-top:0in" type="disc">
<li class="gmail-MsoNormal">If 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.<span></span></li>
</ul>
<p class="gmail-MsoNormal"><span> </span></p>
<ul style="margin-top:0in" type="disc">
<li class="gmail-MsoNormal">If you
are anticipating a need for an increase in funds you will need to submit
something by January 26, 2018. Please include the following:<span></span></li>
</ul>
<p class="gmail-MsoNormal"><span> </span></p>
<ul style="margin-top:0in" type="disc">
<ol style="margin-top:0in" start="1" type="1">
<li class="gmail-MsoNormal">Let
us know how much money is needed (the total amount, not just the increase
over this year); <span></span></li>
</ol>
</ul>
<p class="gmail-MsoNormal" style="margin-left:0.75in"><span> </span></p>
<ul style="margin-top:0in" type="disc">
<ol style="margin-top:0in" start="2" type="1">
<li class="gmail-MsoNormal">An
explanation of why it is needed and what you hope to <b>accomplish</b>. 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<span></span></li>
</ol>
</ul>
<p class="gmail-MsoNormal"><span> </span></p>
<ul style="margin-top:0in" type="disc">
<ol style="margin-top:0in" start="3" type="1">
<li class="gmail-MsoNormal">To
the extent you are able, let us know how you believe the funds you are
asking for will further the Church Mission and specific objectives set
out in the Strategic Plan.<span></span></li>
</ol>
</ul>
<p class="gmail-MsoListParagraph"><span> </span></p>
<ul style="margin-top:0in" type="disc">
<li class="gmail-MsoNormal">It is
not necessary to send requests related to staff compensation increases, as
these are addressed by the Finance Committee and Executive Team. <span></span></li>
</ul>
<p class="gmail-MsoNormal"><span> </span></p>
<p class="gmail-MsoNormal">It is best to send your information to me via email at: <a href="mailto:pwallacebro@gmail.com">pwallacebro@gmail.com</a><b> </b><span></span></p>
<p class="gmail-MsoNormal"><span> </span></p>
<p class="gmail-MsoNormal">Please let me know if you have any questions, thanks for
your help, and have a good Holiday Season!<span></span></p>
<p class="gmail-MsoNormal"><span> </span></p>
<p class="gmail-MsoNormal">Paul Wallace-Brodeur, Chair <span></span></p>
<p class="gmail-MsoNormal">Finance Committee<span></span></p>
<p class="gmail-MsoNormal"> <span></span></p>
<p class="gmail-MsoNormal"><span> </span></p>
<p class="gmail-MsoNormal"><span> </span></p>
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