October Tricks, Treats and Fun(draising)

By Rhiannon Roselle, BoardTrustee
October is a month of many spooky things - pumpkin lattes, bats, ghosts, and goblins. It's also time for one thing that ISN'T scary . . . a return to the Annual Pledge Drive! First UU's yearly operations are made possible by member and friend financial commitments which make up 60% of our annual operating budget. It helps keep the programs, facilities, and music you love running. This year's Pledge Drive theme is Back to Basics: Building Our Community. With everyone longing for connection, the Annual Pledge Drive Team is planning something special. By the end of the month, every member will have received an invitation for a personal phone or zoom call or, if they're comfortable, an in-person visit. These personal calls and visits will be a chance to spend time with a fellow First UU congregant and are much more than simply making your financial pledge.

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At this past May's Funding Our Future forums, congregants expressed this year is not a good time to embark on a Capital Campaign. A Capital Campaign would have funded new programs and addressed many deferred maintenance items. This is different than the Annual Pledge Drive which supports our everyday needs and keeps First UU running smoothly month to month.

The Annual Fund Drive is a time to build our connections with each other and with our First UU community. It's a time to get excited about the things we can do in the future? things that will only happen with our financial and energetic volunteer involvement.

When we come together to support our community, we can do amazing things. That deserves celebrating! At the end of the Drive, on Sunday, November 7, we'll have Celebration Sunday, to honor all the hard work we've done to keep our community going.

Did you know?

• A gift of $4,000 pays for a Sunday Morning worship service.
• A gift of $800 allows us to put on Social Hour for three months or cover our kitchen expenses for six months.
• A gift of just $100 covers our cost of art supplies for our children or pastoral care for someone in crisis.

Your financial gift isn't the only contribution to make! If you?re interested in donating time or talent, ask your Annual Pledge Drive Team member about volunteer opportunities. Please contact DaveHunt if you?d like to schedule your call or visit in advance or if you'd like to volunteer to be part of the fundraising outreach. Your help is greatly appreciated! Look for more information at upcoming Sunday worship services, in The Window, and in a special letter you'll be receiving shortly.