UUP is a thriving small community of committed individuals. The life of the community requires we create an environment that is responsive, and offers its members access, inspiration, and appropriate support. The life of our community also requires that we continue to grow. This means keeping current members and including new members on a constant basis. The Membership Committee, identified as the group responsible for many of the tasks that respond to interest from potential new members and reach out to current members, is a key link in our ability to grow. The Membership Committee has no current members.

We need to make known the vital and pivotal role of the Membership Committee. We need to create a mission that is pared down, attractive and creative, so we can recruit active participants who are committed to growth and connection. Part of being able to do this is simplifying its tasks, and hiring administrative assistance for the fellowship to allow the Membership Committee to focus on larger issues. The following ideas are also recommended:

• Support Terilynn Pennisi as consultant/mentor to the Membership Committee.
• Focus on the functioning of the Membership Committee: the needs there that are not being met are emblematic of the larger need in our fellowship; we need a Chair who can be a master organizer but not do all the work him/herself. Recruit for organizational/delegational/inspirational talent/interest. (Nominating Committee assistance?)
• Create a task/responsibility list, minus administrative tasks, and minus Social Action roles. Focus on Greeting, calling and talking with potential new members, advertising/outreach, community visibility.
• Orientation: require each new member to identify areas of interest and personal need and to sign up for one thing with orientation/joining that addresses this; explain the small community needs and that involvement is a benefit and expectation; have their mentor/contact person be on that committee and frame it as one way to get connected/known. Talk with all members who have not yet identified their place on a Committee/community task.
• Non-members: once they have come several times, ask them to do something each week, or on a monthly basis, and make sure it is something they are doing with another person not alone, so it gets them connected (not feeling used).
• Coffee sign up: a month at a time, two people each month. Arrange the whole year, so people have plenty of notice and it seems far off, easy to commit to.
• Set-up/take down: a month at a time, two people each month. Arrange the whole year, so people have plenty of notice and it seems far off, easier to commit.
• Have simple but detailed write-ups for each of these functions so it is easy and clear. Maybe pair a newer person with a more seasoned person too.
• Create a pamphlet on the UUP Community, for front table and for joining/packet, including a description of all committees, including their roles/missions, what vital function(s) they perform and a member list.
• Have a service(s) devoted to our specific and larger needs: ask Lee to deliver/develop. Address:
  1. honoring and thanking the key founders and members who have multiple roles and have taken on multiple responsibilities
  2. establishing that the life of the community depends on community involvement
  3. identify the general needs of the community: rotating leadership, and outline the roles/responsibilities of the committees
  4. identify the specific needs of the community: Membership, coffee and bagels, set up/take down, greeting
  5. ask for participation, concrete commitments by people: frame it as a relationship: ask what it is that drew each person to the community, and how they each plan to create that as a member/participant.
• Maybe have part of several/periodic services, a brief one or two minute section, following the announcement to give updates on committees/work of the church, not always solicitations, but highlights and vignettes/stories to make it more accessible and interesting to potential new members. "Community Candids" or something.
• Include in the Welcome and Announcement section of the service: when we ask new people to stand and introduce themselves, also offer that people who feel they want to be more involved, or better known also stand and introduce the themselves.