Q.We tend to put our fund-raising drives together at the last minute. Are there any guidelines on how much time to allow?

Fund-raising efforts should be carefully planned over an extended period, says Wayne Clark, the UUA's congregational fund-raising services director. Annual fund drives should be planned a year in advance, while capital campaigns and endowment efforts might require two to three years. The planning should include as many people as possible because participation creates ownership and commitment.

A.Fund-raising has little to do with money, Clark reminds. "People do not make contributions based on an organization's financial need unless they feel passionate about their relationship with the organization. Passion is the most important element of any fund-raising drive. For a successful fund-raising drive a congregation must have a clear vision and a concise mission statement."

Q.Our congregation would like to augment the Social Security benefits of our retired lay minister through monthly payments. Must these payments be reported to the IRS?

A.Some employers set up deferred compensation plans through which they provide ongoing income to retirees, says Ralph Mero, the UUA's church staff finances director. Payments made to a retired employee in connection with past services are considered taxable wages and must be reported.

Q.I have always understood that the check-in process should be brief, personal, and without interruption. Is it possible that some of the objections to the process are due to sometimes letting check-in become too lengthy and more interactive than it should be? Many of us may have a totally different idea of what check-in really is. Where can one find an official written definition of the check-in process?

A.There is no single definition or process for check-in, says the Rev. Tracey Robinson-Harris, the UUA's deputy director of the Department of Congregational, District, and Extension Services. "When used at the beginning of a meeting or in a setting like an adult RE class or in church school, here's what I usually do. Start by lighting a chalice. Share a brief reading for centering/focusing. Ask a guiding question or give simple directions for sharing, including a sense of time. (Two minutes each in a group of 10 seems fine; less for larger groups). The facilitator goes first. Check-in is not time for conversation but a time for connecting. If you hear something during check-in that you want to talk to a colleague about, make time at a break or the end of the meeting for that. Have in mind a polite but clear reminder to folks who go on a bit long."

Q.The idea of providing child care for church and committee functions has not been a priority in our congregation. As the RE committee, we feel strongly that it is not our responsibility to be baby-sitters and that committees planning events should plan through a child care coordinator. The trouble is, we can't seem to recruit someone for such a position. How do other congregations deal with providing baby-sitters?

A."Each year I put together a child care hiring procedure handout," says the Rev. Jory Agate, minister of religious education at Cambridge (MA) First Parish UU Church (190 members). This tells people how to go about getting a child care provider for a committee meeting or church event. I list all of our First Parish 'approved' providers (high school students and adults who have worked for us in the past and whom I have oriented to the church). It also has a neighborhood college baby-sitting service as a back-up. It list fees, cancellation policies, etc. and it is available from the office. That is all I do each year to arrange for child care for a non-RE event. We hand people the list and say 'go to it.'"