GROWTH  & PRESERVATION

Develop and facilitate a process to determine a congregation’s future.   This results in an articulated mission for the congregation and plans for achieving it.  The plan is reviewed regularly to assess accomplishments and set new goals.

• Develop and implement a process for tracking and sharing the history of the congregation with current and future members.

• Monitor and revise the Long Range Plan annually.

• Gather and conserve information/items of historical interest to the congregation in a safe manner.

• Make historical Information available to interested parties.
   
  Contact Person:  Jan Kooiker

            Archives
                             Bob Hatfield
                             Linda Hopp
                             Rex Rundquist

            Long Range Planning
                              John Cowley
                              Alma Hatfield
                              Rex Rundquist
           

Archive Guidelines:

To preserve important memorabilia of the history of this church and its membership please refer to http://www.uua.org/documents/uuhs/preservingarchives.pdf on the best methods for organization and preservation.

• Create an inventory of all archives and artifacts.

  1. Legal documents (deeds, constitution, bylaws and contract).
  2. Annual reports and financial statements.
  3. Membership records (dedication, marriage, and death records).
  4. List of ministers and officers by year.
  5. Pictures, newspaper articles, congregational newsletters.
  6. Invoices, bank statements, cancelled check and studs records of the years financial canvass should be kept for seven year after audit. Duplicates of congregational published items should be discarded as they are outdated.

• Ascertain which, if any, items are in danger of deterioration and work to preserve them. (i.e., photo copy newspapers on archival quality paper.)
• To preserve the First Unitarian Church of Sioux City's legacy of the past and demonstrate its relevance for the present and future by making information from the church archives available to be viewed, electronically if possible, by all interested parties.
• Arrange displays, give talks, provide historical information for anniversaries, new members orientations, and prepare articles and brochures. Conduct ongoing video/oral history tape interviews and coordinate with the Publicity Committee.

Long Range Planning Guidelines:

• Design the long range planning process.
• Develop a timetable for the process.
• Build commitment among leadership, staff, and membership for engaging in a long-range planning process.
  
• Facilitate the articulation of a vision for the future.
  
• Lead the congregation through a mission-statement process.
  
• Determine the opportunities and challenges (or threats) the congregation faces within the community that you aim to serve.
  
• Assess the strengths and weaknesses of the congregation in the face of your vision, mission, opportunities and challenges.
  
• Discern what critical issues, scenarios, or goals the congregation needs to resolve and plan for.
  
• Engage the congregation in feedback on the critical issues, scenarios, and goals.
  
• Prepare a report of recommendations.
  
• Develop a plan to implement the report.
  
• Monitor the plan and revise it annually. (Committee begins planning in November; Involve congregation in process by January; Complete evaluation by March, Include information in Annual meeting report in April.)
  

1. Are we meeting our goals?  If not, why not?
   
2. Are our vision, mission, critical issues, scenarios, goals and strategies for the future still sound?  If not, what changes are needed?

© First Unitarian Church of Sioux City, IA 2008