<humanrel>

HUMAN RELATIONS COMMITTEE

Ensuring an environment within the congregation that supports the building of community in numbers and spirit.

Contacting potential new members, welcoming newcomers, helping to integrate new members into the life of the congregation.
Scheduling greeters and coffee hosts
Member/friend recognition
Contacting ill and hospitalized
Potluck dinners, friendship dinners.

Contact Person: Bob Hatfield

Caring & Hospitality
              Judy Cowley
              Susan Peete
              Marlene Sturdevant (Friendship Dinners)

                  Membership
                               Ginny Duncan
                               Linda Hopp (Advisory Member)
                               Terry Leahy
                               Jill Lary Sand
                               Patricia Elwell Zetelumen

Caring & Hospitality Guidelines
The Caring & Hospitality portion of the Human Relations Committee is responsible for setting up the Greeters and Coffee Hosts. It is also responsible for arranging various potluck dinners throughout the year as well as the Annual Thanksgiving Potluck Dinner, and for setting up Friendship Dinners. They are responsible for sending cards/flowers to members when appropriate and for seeing that members who are ill or in need of care receive personal visits.

In August, each year volunteers from this committee go through our membership roster and assign two members (spouses, partners, or two separate single individuals) each to handle the task of "greeters" and two members to handle the task of "coffee hour hosts" every Sunday throughout our regular church year (Sept. through May). Printed calendar sheets showing the assigned tasks and names are posted in the Safford Room and printed on the back of our monthly church calendar that is mailed out in our newsletter the VOICE.

If members see that they will be unable to fulfill their duties for a particular Sunday, it is their responsibility to find someone to fill in, trade with another person, or notify the Hospitality Chair so that the Chair can then find a replacement. Our church secretary mails out reminder cards each week to both the assigned "coffee hour hosts" and "greeters" for the next Sunday. When a new person joins the church, they are made aware of this duty as part of their membership/stewardship responsibilities. Because we are a small congregation, members are asked to both "greet" and serve as "coffee hosts" at least once or twice each during the church year.

Coffee hosts are responsible for making the coffee, providing a snack (i.e., bagels, fruits, cookies, etc.), cleaning up the kitchen and wiping off tables in the Safford Room afterward. There are printed instructions for Coffee Hosts posted on the wall in the church kitchen. These instructions are also mailed or e-mailed to Coffee Hosts just prior to the Sunday in which they will serve.

Greeters are asked to warmly greet and hand out Orders of Service to each person arriving at the church on Sunday Morning. They are instructed to be alert for first time visitors, including visiting friends or families of church members and to ask all visitors to sign the guest book in the atrium. Greeters are encouraged to speak with guests after the service and invite them downstairs for Coffee Hour. If visitors appear alone, greeters are encouraged to sit with them.

Juice, fair-trade coffee and tea, napkins and paper plates are provided by the church. Greeters are also responsible for doing a count of the number of people present for a Sunday Service, passing the collection plates to take up the morning offering, placing the offering proceeds in an envelope and taking the envelope to the church office. There are detailed printed instructions for greeters posted on the desk in the entry atrium area. These instructions are also mailed or e-mailed to greeters as a reminder of their duties just prior to the Sunday in which they will greet.

Membership Guidelines
The Membership Portion of the Human Relations Committee is responsible for maintaining accurate membership data, encouraging and welcoming potential new members, working to retain and integrate present members, providing new member orientation classes twice a year (as needed) as well as New Member Welcoming Ceremonies when needed. Members of this committee are asked to:

Be mindful of the “10 Suggestions for a Healthy Congregation”

To be well versed in the principles of Unitarian Universalism, information regarding this congregation and it’s programs, and to be able to formulate reasons for people to join.

To welcome newcomers and help them to get acquainted.

Plan orientation programs/classes for those who indicate an interest in learning about Unitarian Universalism, and see that they are advertised to the larger Siouxland Community.

Coordinate with the Worship Committee and the Board President in creating new member welcoming ceremonies.

Examine the membership roster on a quarterly basis to assist in keeping it current. Send appropriate letters to members who have been absent for a period of time, or who have shown no visible interest in the church for some time.

Keep the printed information in New Member Folders current.

Create a membership calendar of events in September mapping the activities of this committee for each upcoming church year.