Dear All, we just finished our October board meeting and my November Newsletter message was due 3 hours ago. I think Gretchen will forgive me. 

At this board meeting we began the review of a new sabbatical policy.  Last month the board approved two month-long sabbaticals for Telos, one in January and one in July.  Be on the lookout for Telo’s plans for exploration, inspiration, and rejuvenation.  We approved these sabbaticals because they have been included in the minister’s contract, and because we strongly felt they are well-deserved.  However, we discovered All Souls did not have a sabbatical policy.  The Committee on Ministry was asked to prepare a policy, which we reviewed, and will be voted on next month.

The job description committee has been working diligently and presented the board with draft job descriptions for the board, officers of the board, and auditors. The committee is still working on the nominating committee. Previously we had what was in the by-laws, which was pretty abstract, and very little about what a board member or treasurer or clerk  or auditor actually did. The board will be reviewing and critiquing these descriptions for further discussion next month. These will become important tools to orient new officers and elected officials and will help the nominating committee recruit for these positions. 

The board was pleased to affirm the 2027 Share the Plate recipients (see list in the Social Justice article).  As we did last year, we will hold the 10th slot open for the committee to determine, leaving time in case an urgent situation arises. Otherwise, the Brattleboro Walk-In Clinic would be next with 10 votes.

Another board goal is to continue working on safety in a proactive not reactive way. We are clarifying what that might look like.  We have already done quite a bit including initiating regular fire drills and setting up a door team. The door team/critical response team was formed so that we have trained individuals should there be a challenging situation during church. As we move forward we intend to get a better handle on what we are already doing well. Then we can become clearer on what our next steps might be. We will continue this discussion next month.  

We are still looking for members who might want to be on a Memorial Team, which will look at the many ways we can remember our dear members: ideas include but are not limited to a Memorial Garden, a Memorial Path, a Memorial Wall and more. The team will start by exploring  ideas and gaining inspiration from other church communities and ways that they honor and remember their own. Please let me or Telos know if you are interested. 

I find November starkly beautiful. November is the perfect time to slow down, reflect, and appreciate how far you’ve come. May you embrace the quiet beauty of November and let it inspire your next chapter.  

Blessings to you in this time when we begin to move inward.  

Norma