Now wouldn’t that be an awesome headline!
Given the magical things that are happening at TUCW these days, there is no reason we can’t turn this into a reality!
This is, in fact, our goal for this year’s Canvass (aka Annual Pledge Drive or Budget Drive) – to think magically, and to raise $700,000! That is what is needed from us to collectively fulfill our financial needs for the coming fiscal year. As an entirely self-funded entity, this how we pay staff salaries, maintain the building and grounds, etcetera.
So with Spring just around the corner, we are asked to spring into action and recommit to our beloved spiritual home and our fellow members with our hearts, our energy, and our money.
The Canvass will officially kick-off on Sunday March 20th with Rev. John’s proverbial “Sermon on the Amount”, and will run for 5 weeks, until Sunday April 17th. This is the period in which we will invoke magical thinking and magical giving.
The primary way the Year Round Stewardship Committee will be reaching out to members this year is via “Visiting Stewards” – members from our congregation who will have been trained to call on other congregants for a one-on-one conversation about how this place moves us, why we give, how funds are spent, and what one’s pledge might look like. These conversations can be house calls, or can be held at the church before, after, or in between Sunday services. The particulars of when and where are up to the Visiting Steward and the member(s) being visited to decide.
While we already have a small cadre of Visiting Stewards from previous canvasses, we need more help. Can you please lend your time and energy and help us create the magic?
There will be a training session from a UU consultant at the church on Saturday March 12th from 9:00 am-12:00 pm. Being a Visiting Steward is a fantastic way to meet other members and get more deeply connected to this loving and supportive community. For more information and to volunteer as a Visiting Steward or Stewardship committee member, please contact one of our co-chairs: Mary Money or David Smith.
To help us think more magically, and to celebrate our remarkable community and one another, we will have a congregation-wide party; an evening of food, fun, song and, yes, magic – with a professional magician — for the entire family. This event, “A Night of Living Magically”, will take place mid-way through the canvass. So mark your calendars and SAVE THE DATE: Saturday April 2nd from 6:00 to 8:30 pm.
In preparation for the upcoming Drive, we remind you to check Realm, our on-line church database and giving system, to be certain your 2015 pledge payments are up to date. You can email Dorothy Adams with any questions or issues with the Realm system.
Finally, a here are a few data points from our 2015 Canvass to mull over as we start thinking about our financial commitment to TUCW.
| Families Pledging in 2015 Highest Pledge Four families pledged Top 20% of Members Pledged Top 50% Pledged Average Pledge was Total Pledges |
315 $35,000 $20,000+ $6500 $3690 $2050 $646,000 |