Mar 30, 2025

Special Congregational Meeting

Dear UUSE Voting Members:

UUSE's Policy Board is calling a special congregational meeting to take place on Sunday, March 30th, following the second service. The purpose of the meeting is to vote on recommendations from our Constitutional Change and UUA Discernment Task Forces. There will be an option to join and vote on Zoom using the Sunday Service link.

Our Constitution requires a quorum of voting members to be present at the meeting to vote on business items. Please plan to attend either in person or on Zoom to help us accomplish this important Society business! And please feel free to bring lunch and eat during the meeting.

The agenda for the special congregational meeting will include:

1) A vote to approve the Constitutional Change Task Force's recommendations. Any changes approved will enter the UUSE Constitution. The final version of these recommendations after congregational feedback is here. You can also pick up a copy on the UUSE Welcome Table in the Meeting House lobby, or contact the UUSE office to have one mailed to you.

2) A vote to approve the Discernment Task Force's recommendation to change Article XV of the UUSE Constitution, known as the Dissolution clause. This change, if approved, will also enter the UUSE Constitution. The proposed new language is the following:

In the event this Society ceases to function and the membership votes to dissolve the corporation at a duly called Congregational Meeting, the net assets of the society shall be distributed to charitable 501(c)(3) organizations that the congregation determines have similar values to those of the Society and may include the Unitarian Universalist Association, and also with the objective of caring for the needs of the Memorial Garden. The vote to dissolve the corporation shall be by a two-thirds vote of the quorum present at such meeting.

There are four ways you may vote at the March 30th meeting: A) in person at UUSE; B) by mail/email absentee voting form; C) by proxy; and D) by Zoom vote during the meeting.

Mail/Email Voting Form: If you are unable to be present for the meeting but wish to vote absentee, click here for the form or pick one up on the Welcome Table. You can also contact Annie in the UUSE office to send you a copy. Print and return a hard copy to the UUSE office at 153 Vernon Street West, Manchester, CT 06042, or email a photo of the completed form to uuseoffice@uuse.org by Friday, March 28th at noon.

Proxy Form: If you would like to vote by proxy, click here for the proxy form or pick one up from the UUSE Welcome Table. You can also request a copy from Annie in the UUSE office. Be sure to advise your proxy of your wishes in advance of the meeting. Your proxy can bring your completed form with them to the congregational meeting, or you can send the completed proxy form to the UUSE office by Friday, March 28th at noon.

To request childcare, please contact the UUSE office by Monday, March 24th. We look forward to seeing you on March 30th and keeping our connection to UUSE strong!

Sincerely,

Peggy J. Webbe, President
Anne Carr, Vice President
Rev. Josh Pawelek, Minister