Board of Trustees

The Board of Trustees is made up of seven members who are elected for two-year terms at the Annual Meeting each June. Four Board members are elected in even-numbered years, and three in odd-numbered years, to assure continuity over time. Board meetings are held twice monthly. The planning meeting usually takes place on the 2nd Tuesday of the month from 10:00 a.m.-12:00  noon (Zoom only). The regular business meeting is held on the 4th Wednesday of the month from 3:00-5:00 p.m. (Hybrid). The Agenda, Meeting Minutes, Financial Reports, and other documents to be addressed are available for members to review. If you wish to attend, please contact Paul Barnette, Board President, to be included in the Zoom invitation.

At the first meeting of the new Board (typically occurring in early July), the Trustees elect four Officers: President, Vice President, Finance Officer, and Secretary. More than one person may be elected to fill an office, e.g., there may be “Co-Finance Officers.” Officers serve one-year terms. Board members who are not officers are  Members-at-Large.

The Board is focused on ensuring that the work and resources of the congregation serve UUSD’s  mission and vision. To that end, the Board’s duties include policy making, long-range and strategic planning, stewarding all congregational resources, representing the congregation, and assessing the health of the congregation. Each Board member is assigned as a liaison to a UUSD committee to assure good communication between the Board and the committees. A full description of the Trustee duties is available here. The Board operates in covenant with the congregation, minister, and each other, and its practice is to sign a Board Covenant when a new Board is seated. (See signed FY 2025 Covenant)

To better serve the growing UUSD congregation, the Board began a transition from an organizational board to one more focused on planning, policy-making, and comprehensive stewardship. To accomplish this, an Executive Team was established to manage administrative operations, and a Committee on Congregational Life was created to monitor and assess the health of the congregation and advise the Board. With the successful establishment of the Executive Team and Committee on Congregational Life, the Board continues to make strides toward operating as a Strategic Board.  The charges for these committees are below.

Questions about leadership or the Board of Trustees may be directed to our Board President.

Board Member Contacts

Committee on Congregational Life

Committee on Congregational Life Charge

Contact: CongregationalLife@uussd.org

Executive Team

Executive Team Charge

Contact: ExecTeam@uussd.org — Rev. Heather Rion Starr (Lead), Linda DeFeo, Judy Hayes, Ellen Lytton, and Don Peterson.