We Need to Count on You

We Need to Count on You

For those of you who missed it, we had a great time at Bringing in the Green last night. The chocolate was delectable, the entertainment was very funny, and the sociability was best of all.

Even better, we’re off to a great start with our pledges for the coming year. By the end of last night, we had received 96 pledges totaling $242,984, representing 75% of our goal. Even better, and more exciting, pledges by those who have pledged so far have increased by 26% over those members’ pledges last year – an enormous and heartening increase, and a great start – but not finish – to this year’s campaign.

As you’ve heard before, we need to increase our pledge income for the coming year from $275,000 to $325,000, an increase of 18%. Our Board has pared the budget extensively, and it’s no secret what we need the money for. In fact, there are no secrets about our finances -- it’s all on the web, and Margaret Leicach, our Treasurer, will be glad to answer any questions. We need this increase to pay for four things:

To hire a part time religious education administrator. We’ve been incredibly lucky to have Nina Binin Berg volunteer her services this year, but that can’t and won’t go on.
To pay fair cost of living increases to our great staff
To pay the increased costs of our utilities – the same problem we all face at home, and
To pay for our great new minister

If we don’t meet our goal, we can’t do these things. It’s that simple.

While many of us are generous in many ways, and give to many worthy charities and causes, the Unitarian Society of Hartford is not a charity. The Meeting House is a community of spiritual growth, friendship, and especially a community of caring. The Meeting House helps us raise our children, put our ideals into action, deal with our sorrow and grief, work through our fears and illnesses, and celebrate our joys. It is of us and for us. Except for our families, there is nothing else at all comparable in most of our lives. When we get on an airplane, they tell us to put on our oxygen masks before we help our children or others. This Meeting House is our oxygen mask, and we need to put it first, for ourselves, so that we can do better ourselves and do more and better for others.

When Diane and I joined, we always gave significantly, but still, when we were told that at least 2% of our adjusted gross income was a fair share, and then thought about it and began to give 2% -- with 3 kids to send to college -- it seemed like a lot. It still does, but now that we've increased our pledge this year by an additional 22%, to $5,600, quite far beyond 2% of our income, it also feels good and right. Still, some of our members give 5%, or even a full tithe of 10% of income, and don't necessarily even want to talk about it.

When I first joined the Meeting House, parents were asked to help teach in the Religious Education Program. It seemed only fair to me. We had three kids in the RE program, and all of the teachers were volunteers -- obviously I should teach. Now, about 23 years later, I've been teaching for over 20 years, and on the RE Committee for many of those years. Why? It's been fun and rewarding, and our kids are great, but I started for a simple reason -- it's only fair.

And so, when I'm asked to give at least 2% of my income, and I think about our needs, and what this community of our spirits offers us, it seems only fair. In simplest terms, it's the right thing to do. Fairness is a core UU value. If you don't give at least 2%, and you want us to thrive, then you're really asking your friends in this community to give more, so that it's ok for you to give less. It's not ok.

If you’re giving $500 or $1,000, and your income is $25,000, or $50,000 -- Great! If you're giving less and your income is less, then bless your hearts! But if you're giving $500 or $1,000, and your family income is $85,000, $125,000, $200,000, or more, please think long and hard about what this Society offers and about what's fair to your friends in this congregation. It's not their job; it's the job of every single one of us. More than one of our most generous donors has said to me, “I'm increasing my pledge by another 20%+ this year, as you ask and as we need, but what are you doing about those who don't give their fair share?” This is my answer -- I'm asking them, as strongly and sincerely as I can, to be fair to this loving community.

Many other members have already stepped forward for this year, stretching themselves and their budgets very generously. For that we are very grateful. But if all us don't do the same -- stretch ourselves as generously as we can, which is often much more generously than we thought we could -- then we won't make it. We won't meet our goal, we won't be able to hire an RE admin, and we won’t be on a path to thrive.

If you weren’t there on Saturday night, you’ll receive your pledge card in the mail this week, along with CD of last Sunday’s moving and inspiring service. If you missed it, I hope you’ll listen. When you get your pledge card, don’t leave it on the radiator or the table by the door. Complete it and mail it right away.

I'm confident that we all share the goal of a thriving community, and that we're all prepared to work together to make it happen. Please do it for yourself and your loving community, and do it now. Reach beyond what's easy, or usual -- reach for the best for you, and for all of us. We're counting on each other; we need to count on you. – Joe Rubin 3/18/07

Let us know of any comments, errors and corrections - thanks (revised 03/20

/07)