Income/Debt Graphs May 2010

Below are graphs to accompany the letter from Board President, David Gifford, which is copied below the graphs.
We invite you to join us in a visioning gathering on Sunday, May 30th at 10:30 to set the future course of our Unity of Berkeley community.

This Graph represents monthly income from January-March, 2010 and weekly income in April 2010

This graphs represents our outstanding financial obligations as of April 30,2010

Letter from the President, Unity leadership Team
May, 19,2010

Dear Unity Family,

You are all aware of the tenuous financial situation that we are experiencing. To address this situation we, the Leadership Team, invite you to spend some time with us on Sunday, May 30 during service as we open to our vision and create a strategy for rising to achieve that vision.

As I spend time with the Leadership Team focusing on our challenges, I am often energized by reflecting on the magic that brought each of us as individual members to our community. I am motivated by the relevance, need and good prospects for our future.

I’m immensely grateful for the learning experiences I’ve had at Unity and am amazed at the incredible line-up of notable speakers that have graced the doors of our small congregation. I’ve grown significantly from interactions with teachers from many paths and have had the privilege to make a home with this incredible family called Unity of Berkeley. I want to celebrate the many opportunities and divine appointments Spirit has brought my way.

At the same time, as your President, and with our cash reserves depleted, I need to underscore the need for us to start living within our means. This means a future of increasing revenue and/or reducing costs. The attached graphs portray our current financial circumstances. Aware that our membership is weary of hearing about money challenges, I must again call on you for help. Please know that the Leadership Team is well organized around our community needs and focused in our work to move away from the drain of existing in a day-to-day survival mode.

I must announce to the community that Rev. Patricia will be taking an unpaid furlough for the month of June. We are unable to bring her pay up-to-date (not counting past obligations). We also owe two month’s rent. The unpaid leave is a decision that Patricia supports and she looks forward to using the time to write, pursue passions and re-energize. We all need to be aware that this means Patricia will not be available for any of her organizational or pastoral roles during this voluntary furlough. She has planned a Healing Focus for June with outstanding speakers: Rev. Kerry Chinn, Rev. Glenn Dunning, Rev. Felicia Searcy and Rev. David Hiller. Patricia will return in July to share her renewed and deepened energy and passion with us.

We continue to work on developing the means to draw on resources outside our community. But as you may imagine, turning our financial circumstances around may not be a quick or easy process. We are looking at other measures with dramatic impact on our expenses, including the possibility of downsizing our space rentals. I believe that our family characteristic can sustain us through most any challenge. The Leadership Team’s intention is to see that our community connections evolve well beyond survival, and to see our full potential blossom.

As we investigate other revenue possibilities and explore potential cost savings, we need your immediate help to generate a sufficient level of income. Our first priority is to maintain our obligations and then to start paying down our longer term debts.

We need your expanded support, including bringing more people in to the community. We need you to join in our growth through increased participation. Please do what you can to help sustain our viability during this transitional period.

I look forward to visioning and planning with you during the May 30 Sunday Service Session.

Much Grace to each of you,

David Gifford
President
Unity Leadership Team