In this feature we seek out answers to questions of broad interest, drawing on experts in congregations, the UUA, and elsewhere. If you would like to submit a question or respond to any of the questions below, please write to InterConnections.

Q. We have a cultural event in the area that we think could earn money for the church (UU Church, Tallahassee, FL, 159 members) if we provide lodging in our homes for out-of-town UUs. Since I have never organized anything like this, what is the best way to go about it? Do we need insurance? What about publicity? And finally, who are the people with experience I might contact?

Dick Leinberry
1824 Seay Court
Tallahassee, FL 32303

A. There are a number of UU congregations that provide lodging for special events. Members of the First Unitarian Church of Albuquerque, NM (537), have annually opened their homes to visitors during an international balloon rally, and the First UU Church of New Orleans (130), invites guests to an annual spring jazz festival.

Julie Gooding,  who has helped coordinate the Albuquerque church's fundraiser, says results have been mixed. Last year, with 10 guests, the church made about $2,000. In other years it's been much less. Gooding says the question becomes, if you're putting all this time into this event, could you have done something else and made more money?

"It's definitely worthwhile," says Vanessa Murphree in New Orleans. She says her church makes $1,000 with relatively little effort. Homeowners and guests work out their own arrangements as to airport pickup, etc. Both Gooding and Murphree said lining up homes can be a problem since many members tend to host out-of-town family and friends during these big events. Neither congregation had special insurance. New Orleans advertised in the UU World, and Albuquerque did a mailing to UU congregations.

You can contact First UU at 5212 S. Claiborne Ave., New Orleans, LA 70115, and the Albuquerque church at 3701 Carlisle Blvd., NE, Albuquerque, NM 87110.

The following is a response to a question on the REACH-L e-mail list for religious educators and parents about whether to hold an annual parents' orientation session.

The UU Congregation, Atlanta, GA (722 members), started a parents' orientation session several years ago, says Robin Kottman, a member of the congregation's Religious Education Council. The session was used to explain to parents a variety of topics including the calendar for the year, the curriculum, the RE Council structure, and the goals for the year. They also introduced staff and volunteers. 

The council also passed out a volunteer form that spelled out commitments for each volunteer job.

"The only problem we had," Kottman says, "was needing more than 20 minutes to relay all of this information! We also offered an open house in the classrooms after the meeting to let families roam and meet teachers, ask questions, etc.This communication set the tone for parents to pitch in and be active in our RE program." 

Q. I'm interested in information about leadership councils, especially ones that utilize the experience of past board members. Who is on such a council, how are members chosen, and what is the charter/purpose of the council? What is its authority/responsibilty?

Jan Taddeo
UU Congregation of Fairfax (648)
Oakton, VA

A. Our nine-member Leadership Development Council is chartered by our board and reports to it, says Steve Owen, president of the UU Church of Arlington, VA (870). Members serve three-year, nonrenewable terms. The church's charter gives the council the authority to oversee and guide policy with respect to all aspects of lay leadership. The LDC suggests its own potential members and submits the names to the board for approval. The positions specified in the charter are: chair, vice-chair, secretary/communications coordinator, training coordinator, evaluation coordinator, and volunteer coordinator. The council submits a budget request in the congregation's annual budget cycle for funding.