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December 2006 / January 2007
At the September Board meeting, the Rev. Dr. Stephen Austin presented a proposal for enhanced and augmented communications be-tween the Board and its constituents, and was appointed by consensus as Communications Facilitator of the Board – the primary duties of which are to take actions of the Board and to suggest what should be communicated, to whom and by what means.
“The Board is dedicated to communicating its work, perspectives and motivations,” said Austin. “We realize that communicating is a vital aspect not only of a healthy infrastructure but of internal relationships at all levels. The Board of Directors is strongly committed to this philosophy, and we hope that by creating this new position, communications will be improved and information will be relayed to the appropriate members in a timely manner.”
June session in conjunction with UCC 50th; September session to include Jim Antal installation
The 2007 Annual Meeting of the Conference will be conducted in two stages. Stage I will take place June 21-22 immediately prior to General Synod in Hartford, Connecticut. This session will include condensed business and a worship service. Instead of Massachusetts Confer-ence-specific workshops and programs, delegates will have the opportunity to participate in the myriad worship and program opportunities presented as part of the 50th Anniversary Celebration.
Stage II will be held September 29 in Worcester, and will feature United Church of Christ General Minister and President John Thomas as keynote speaker and a worship service including the installation of Conference Minister and President Jim Antal. The major item of business will be to hear and act on recommendations emerging from the Listening Process for a new Conference structure to be tested during 2008. Details will be conveyed as they become available.
A sewer dispute between Framingham and Ashland – which several years ago interfered with the possibility of sale or development of a portion of the Conference Center property in Ashland – has been resolved.
And in the western part of the state, a cost estimate for bringing Warner Farm, a Conference facility in Cummington, up to code and make it accessible is $336,000, which was determined to be too costly, given the minimal contribution of this property to the Conference’s mission.
Small task teams will be recruited to consider how to best move forward with these two properties, and any significant changes to either would require an action at Annual Meeting. The Board is inviting those with expertise in real estate, affordable housing, open space issues or other related skills to join these task teams. For more information, contact Dawn Hammond, Associate Conference Minister, at 508-875-5233 x228.