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RPUCC Long Range Planning Team Meeting Minutes
July 15, 2024, 7:00 PM, RPUCC and Zoom
Attendees: Emily Braun, Tracey Fluegel, Kathy Jo Gausman, NormaRae Hunt, Kath Itzin,
Lisa Lindasmith, Jim pu er. Consultant: Jim LaDoux (Vibrant Faith)
Assignments for August 1st meeting:
1. Review publications and communications platforms (website, newsletter, FaceBook
page) through the lens of a visitor. The longer we've been part of a church, the more
things we kind of tune out. It is important to make sure that you're aware of what
you're already o ering across the board and what you're lifting up and promoting. Is
the information insider language and I have no idea what those pictures are there
and you know, one common thing with some churches, well, they're, you know,
they're $20,000 behind in their budget already. Is that a message we want to present
to visitors. Don't just surf over them quickly. Think about it to do this make sense?
And I will share with you in fact, I want you to pay attention to this element. Most
churches are reasonably good about providing information but they're not always
really good about explaining why it actually matters. How will they benefit from that?
What's the purpose of this? Nor are they really good about them? How do they
create that call to action? What what's going to make it easy for them to say yes or to
register or whatever.
2. Identify what the church o ers and what inspired you.
3. 4. 5. 6. 7. List what would stand out if you were a first time visitor
List what you learned and what suggestions you have
Be prepared to choose a name for this Team
Read minutes from previous meeting and be prepared to discuss any changes
Jim P: Get Futuring documents on the shared Google Drive and prepare two page
summary of information relevant to this Team’s work.
8. Jim LaDoux send a copy of the contract with RPUCC to the team members and send
Otter notes to Jim P and Emily B and attend a service at RPUCC. Provide samples of
monthly leader updates from other congregations.
Opening Prayer: Kathy I.
Why don't we just take a breath and try to let go of all of the experiences of the day that
have brought us to this point.
Picture that breath of God, the wind blowing across leaves in the trees or the waters or
whatever is relaxing image for us. Knowing that we're starting a new thing, a new time in ourevening and a new chapter for church. So let's be open to the Spirit and its nudges and the
wisdom within us and to listen well to each other. Amen.
Introductions: team members share why they joined the church, current involvement and
why said “yes” to this team and identify their “superpowers.”
 Why joined: Liked minister, sermons and lived 2 block away, inclusive support,
looking for a place to get married, liked the church, church active in social justice
and lived 2 blocks away, 3rd generation church member, open and a irming and
welcoming congregation, believe passionately in the UCC, when visited we couldn’t
get away and were greeted, choir and music were important, had 1 1/2 and 3 1/ year
olds, saw people in church who look like us, know this to be a vital and alive
congregation, served as young minister here in mid 80’s, wanted church for my
sister-in-law, because this is a great community, came her with the consolidation,
oved the UCC, PWUCC and RPUCC, deeply believe in everything we stand for.
 Current involvement: various committees and teams, on Hospitality, youth
programs for years, help wherever I can,
 Why “yes” to this team: I enjoy this kind of work, important to have some
institutional memory, concern about what church needs to do to be thriving in 3
years, want to make sure some the old stu is included along with the new, don’t
want to totally lose our identity, COVID caused many changes, youth are very
important, we are very open to many di erent people's ways of connecting with a
greater power. and source, and we honor and respect that, believe and longing for a
need to be part of this this is a healthy, vibrant congregation, we have to be creative
and take risks but we also have to say what is it that we love that we want to bring
forward from our past into our future, we're necessary. UCC has the kind of
Christianity that is essential for the world right now, it is very important for us to
market ourselves e ectively, we have a brilliant marketing plan, this is an
opportunity to have big goals, objectives, timelines and really make it happen. We
want to make sure that everything that we promote and everything we do is in
alignment with our values alignment with where we're going and alignment with our
primary purpose.
 Superpowers that bring to this team:
o Emily: organize messes, marketing degree, focus on bottom line/outcomes
o NormaRae: tap into tools and experience that have been successful in other
churches
o Tracey: Observation, learn from others by what they say
o Lisa: See all sides of an issue, find way forward, not afraid to speak to power
o Kathy Jo: Creative, come up with new ways of doingo Kathy: Connecting people, know the people in the church and know other
church formats
o Lori: Passion for this church
o Jim P: Analytic approach, systems orientation, looking at systems and what
are they doing what are some possibilities
Roles/Housekeeping: team name, start and end date, who will take notes and where
documents will be stored.
 This is the first of 8 meeting to be held between now and the end of October
 Meetings will be one hour at 7PM every other week. August 15th meeting will be 1 ½
hour to accommodate NormaRae’s experiences and information about revitalizing
churches.
 Jim Pu er and Emily Braun will share preparing meeting minutes.
 Kathy Itzin will have someone set up a Google Docs file for this team.
 Jim LaDoux: regarding plans and strategies; statistically, the longer we can look out
when we're trying to picture the future and what it looks like. the greater success we
actually can end up achieving as a part of the group and that doesn't mean, today
we're here to do tenure work planning side.
 For the moment, the name of the team is Long Range Planning. Other names
suggested were Strategy team and strategic planning team. We will decide this at
the next meeting.
 Jim LaDoux will follow up with Jim Pu er on the work done by the Futuring
Committee and Ashley’s Marketing Plan.
 We need to work with the Council to clarify the tasks, roles and duration of the
Futuring Team and the Long Range Planning Team.
Establish Norms: roles we will play, meeting dates, hours of work between meetings and
what we need from each other to thrive
 There will be 2-5 hours homework between meetings.
 The next two meetings will be Aug 1 and Aug 15 at 7:00 PM. Future meeting dates
will be set at next meeting.
 Jim LaDoux will send out an agenda and checklist(s) before each meeting
 Jim LaDoux recommends that we not have more than 2 people absent from any
meeting
 Make sure elected leaders are on-board and current with the work of the Team. I'm
always thinking of di erent tiers. How do we let the elected leaders and sta knowand usually there's some requests also, here's what's happening, here's some
decisions. Here's our next steps. Here's how you can help the process.
 We need to set when and how the congregation will be kept abreast of the Team’s
work including specific goals including dollar impacts. come September, there
should be some things that we're saying. Here's some steps. Here's what we're
considering. Here are some of the learnings we took away from a normal raise, you
know presentation, things like that, to be able to put in there so people know that
there's movement. Sometimes there might be one articles where we want to get
their feedback, and we might even engage the worshipers in particular, they might
give us index cards on di erent things and we want some clarification.
 It's important for this team to identify who would be a natural point person if
someone had questions about this team and what we're doing.
 Create an email distribution list of all your key leaders, your sta , the elected
people, people that are in di erent committees and ministry teams. Send them a
monthly crib notes about what we are doing or have done.
 Jim LaDoux: I really liked the phrasing of what worked and what didn't that type of
thing of what normal ratio is. But I do want you to know that a lot of the action steps
will be related to systems because systems, what you consistently say and what you
consistently do create your culture. So often the fulfillment of the planned, thrives
or dies based on the systemsyou set in place. Systems of decision making systems
of communication systems of leadership development, and systems of hospitality.
 Closing prayer: “Loving and gracious God we give you thanks for this. For this time
together and forthese talented team members that are willing to wonder and
discern and to imagine your dreams fortheir community and for how they can use
their gifts or talents or assets to be a source of hope andblessing in the Robbinsdale
area. And we just pray that you will continue to guide us that we are opento the Spirit
leading us to do your intentions and that we can be this church. This vital
congregation that seeks to help people take their next step in their journey of faith
shows and expresses God's lovein some clear and compelling ways that they create
a culture of hospitality and that we truly exemplify what it means to be the church in
this day and age. So guide us and direct us in our plans and our next steps. Help us
to remind us be mindful of one another throughout our weeks to pray for and
encourage one another. And we just ask your blessings on this team and the work
that we will be doing together. Probably this would give you things God's name.
Amen
Initial Steps: map-out next 45 days, document what we have already learned, create
“Next Steps” assignment sheet Aug 1st meeting: see above
 Aug 15st meeting: NormaRae will share her knowledge and experience in revitalizing
a church
Q&A, feedback: s