Strategic Plan 2008

Living into our Strategic Plan:
The Next Step
In 2008, the Unity North congregation spent a significant amount of time using the tools of Appreciative Inquiry (A.I.) to develop a three – five year Strategic Plan. Out of that A.I. process three teams made strategic recommendations that were received by the Board of Trustees and the congregation at our Destiny Day last August. The hiring of a Youth Minister (Richard Burdick), the installation of the elevator, and the re-modeling of the Admin building basement into a Youth Center all flowed out of the Strategic Planning process.

The Board of Trustees in their November 2008 retreat began to visualize the next steps to implement the strategic recommendations. In their May 2009 meeting they have approved two proposals that will put into reality recommendations from both the Community / Connections team and the Technology Team.

Proposal #1: The plan is to take the Holy Grounds Café into the 21 century and make access to internet tools available to all congregants. What does this mean?

• In place of registration tables we will have internet kiosks where information and online registration can take place easily
• Free Wi-Fi access in the Café will facilitate social networking and assist in capabilities for classes and small groups
• Large flat screens and/or a projector with a retractable screen:
• Will allow the projection of announcements via Power Point slides and the use of video clips and multi-media events in the Café
• Make movie nights more enjoyable
• This will also allow the church to offer webinars and web based live events from speakers like Eckhart Tolle, Deepak Chopra, Wayne Dyer, and Marianne Williamson
• A revamped media control booth that will have:
• Computer to run power point and provide Wi-Fi
• DVD to play movies and film clips
• An improved sound system: speakers, wireless mikes
• This media booth would have security and storage capacity for equipment
• An improved sound board with capacity for up to 6 instruments and 6 voices
• Ability to use the café in conjunction with the main sanctuary:
• For overflow of the second service on Holidays and Special Events
• As a family friendly venue for watching and participating in services
• This will include upgrading the camera and sound from the main sanctuary room
• Providing a re-vamped Kids Zone
• Upgrade on window treatments (that includes some ability to control outside light)
• Funding to come from the Technology Reserve Fund and interested donors with a budget not to exceed $16,000 from reserves

Creating this space offers opportunities for increased connection both to the ministries of the church and with each other. The new Holy Grounds Café will become the hub of new services, learning opportunities, fellowship events, and community interaction.

Proposal #2: Begin to offer some diversity of format and style in our Sunday service presentations by moving the early service from the main sanctuary to the Holy Grounds Café beginning September 20.

• Provide a more intimate space for the smaller service
• Some variation in the musical format to match the room
• Utilize technology to enhance the Sunday Morning experience
• Café style seating arrangement, seeking to build more connection among the congregants in attendance

The second part of Proposal #2 includes changing the Sunday morning service times from their current 9:15 and 11:15 to 9:00 and 11:00.  This would put us more on how we all live – on the hour!

Changes!!  Yes, changes. While change is never comfortable the Board of Trustees is honoring the hard work of the A.I. process and the work of the staff to implement change. But your input is encouraged.

A meeting will be held in the Holy Grounds Café, Tuesday night, June 16 at 7:30 p.m. Everyone is welcomed. Your input is welcomed. Your help in moving forward is welcomed. If you are unable to be there in person, please send your comments, suggestions, and/or ideas to Gregg Carlson, Director of Operations at gregg@unitynorth.org.

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