Final Report
on Work of Space Team -
Phase 1 Objective: Figure out if the
congregation believes there’s a problem with space and, if so, what people
would like to do about it.
Process: Our work
consisted of small dialogues, research, contact with UUA support staff, and a
congregational survey. See History,
Attachment 1.
Summary of Results
About
75 Members and Friends participated in the 13 dialogues held from June and
August; in addition, there were 88 surveys that were returned of the 310 that
were distributed to Members and Friends. This is roughly 30%. Most of those who
participated do think there’s a problem with space, although there was
no clear mandate about next steps. In general, participants would like to (a)
make minor renovations to the current building to ease the space problem in the
short term, (b) make a major renovation to the current building, within the
current covenants or by changing the covenants, (c) rebuild on the current
site, or (d) find another suitable building or build elsewhere. In terms of
financial support for an option, they would like to (a) build on this site, (b)
pay off the existing mortgage first, (c) move to another site, or (d) renovate.
There was about the same level of support for each option. Participants were
less inclined to start a new congregation, encourage members to attend
geographically-closer churches, or do nothing.
For
the most part, this was a reality-oriented process—not visionary. And it was not part of a strategic
planning process; that is, we were not trying to figure out strategies for
achieving the mission and vision of Sunnyhill. For this reason, the results do not “mesh”
with the existing vision statement.
Recommendations
for Phase 2
1. Immediately set
up a small team that includes an engineer and a systems-thinker[1]
to implement no or low-cost suggestions (made during our process) in the near
term. Provide a budget and oversight; ensure that changes are made continuously
between now and June 2007, when the summer schedule begins.
2.
Consider revisiting the strategic planning
process, knowing that the low response to the Space Issue may be a sign of
congregational burn-out or disinterest. John Luff would like to be involved
with any further developments related to space; he may be willing to lead the
strategic planning effort as well. Note
that, the UUA consultant on Congregational Fundraising, Dr. Wayne Clark,
strongly recommends that we develop a Strategic Plan with maximum
congregational participation. If this
plan identifies a new facility as a need for the future, then the mandate for
doing so has been achieved. We recommend
using the 2004 Vision as a beginning for this effort.
3. Open the thinking
of the congregation about the capital campaign process and space possibilities
by (a) implementing a process for members to visit other churches, including
other denominations; (b) informing the congregation of how capital campaigns
work, including grant possibilities.
4. Exercise
leadership in getting the congregation to put time and energy behind something
that’s a part of our mission, e.g. social action. If you decide on an issue, a good beginning
would be to sponsor an Open Space Forum in March 2007.
5. Ensure that the
Endowment Committee is functioning and that funds are growing. This will help
bring a sense of financial stability and open the congregation to more
visionary possibilities.
Dialogue Results
This
information was included with the survey packet and has been previously-presented
to the Board. See Attachment 3.
Survey Results and
Analysis – Based on Analysis and Report by
There were 310
survey packets distributed—either after services or mailed; 88 were returned, for
a 28% return rate. The number of responses for each survey group, and the
percent that this represents of the total possible number of responses, is
shown in the table below. Members of 30 or more years clearly had the greatest
rate of return.
A report on each
question and an analysis of results follow. Comments for all questions are
included in Attachment 4.
Analysis of Survey Results
1.
There
was agreement that we have a space problem and that space is important to the
quality of life in the congregation.
2.
The
option of doing nothing and splitting the congregation both received the least
support.
3.
The
options of staying at the current site and building with minor changes or
making major changes to the current building received the most support. The options related to a new building either
at the current site or another site received a somewhat lower preference.
The data below
provides further insight and explanation of congregational response.
Notes for the following charts:
1.
The
averages and standard deviations for all the numeric questions have been
charted for question groups 1-5 (Is Space a Problem), 6 (Space Problem
Locations), 7 (Service Format), 8 (Solutions), and 11 (Financial Support). In these charts, the distributions of
averages of responses were also plotted in groups by years of membership.
2.
A
response is considered strong when the average was high and the standard
deviation (or variation) was low. There
were few cases where this was the case.
3. The comments made on the forms along with
each of these questions, plus those with questions 9 – 10, and final
“additional comments” follow the charts of data.
The first
question group asked respondents to assign a value of 1 (strongly disagree)
to 4 (strongly agree) or DK (don’t know) to five items related to space.
Results are shown in the next three charts below, sorted by all respondents, by
groups related to length of membership/friendship, and by those with or without
children in RE.
All groups
By length of membership/friendship
By respondents with or without children in RE
The points held
most in agreement indicate that people believe growth is important and that quality
of programming depends on space. Newer Members/Friends indicated most strongly
that growth is important. In the second and third charts, responses are similar
for each item in this group, regardless of number of years a Member/Friend and whether
respondents had children.
Question 6 asked
respondents to assign a value of 1 (very much a current space issue) to 3
(space is acceptable) or DK (don’t know) to 11 areas of the building. Again,
results are shown in the next three charts below, sorted by all respondents, by
groups related to length of membership/friendship, and by those with or without
children in RE. DK responses were assigned a value of zero (0).
All groups
By length of membership/friendship
By respondents with or without children in RE
The lobby is the
greatest pinch point across all groups. Other areas are the Dining Room and RE
space. The 30+ group showed RE space as
one of the areas most presenting an issue. Note that respondents with children
tended to indicate that space for infant care is not an issue.
Question 7 asked
respondents to rate options according to their preference: 1 – least prefer, 2
– prefer, or 3 – most prefer. Options are shown in the charts below.
By length of membership/friendship All groups
By respondents with or without children in RE
Over-all,
respondents most preferred the service format as it stands, with adding a
second service in summer the second-most preferred option. The membership group
0 – 5 years had the strongest preference for this option of all groups. There
was little to no difference in responses from those with children in RE and
those without.
Question 8 asked
respondents to rank-order options according to their preference: 1 – least
preferred option to 7 – most preferred option. Options are shown in the charts
below.
All groups By length of membership/friendship
By respondents with or without children in RE
Making low
cost changes was the preferred option across all groups; this response was
strongest for the 6 – 10 years group. Of all options, the least agreement was
for rebuilding on the current site.
Question 9 was: Is there a
UU church closer to where you live than Sunnyhill?
Question 10 was: Would you
be willing to move to a new satellite location? If so, where?
|
9. Is there a UU church closer to where you live than Sunnyhill? |
□ Yes |
□ No |
10. Would you be willing to move to a new satellite location? |
□ Yes |
□ No |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6 |
79 |
|
14 |
58 |
About
7% of respondents indicated that there’s a UU Church nearer to them than Sunnyhill.
Of the 72 respondents who answered this question, about 20% indicated that they
would be willing to move to a satellite location.
Question 11 asked respondents to rate statements according to their
willingness to financially support the options: 1 – unwilling to 3 – willing to
commit whatever can be afforded. Options are shown in the following charts,
along with response tendencies.
All groups
By length of membership/friendship
By respondents with or without children in RE
Except for
starting a new congregation, all options are equally preferred. Note that the
group of 6-10 year Members/Friends most strongly supported paying off the
current loan, with a close second by the 30+ group. The 21-30 year Members/Friends group showed
the strongest preference for financially supporting a move to a different site.
Conclusion
Although there is
no over-whelming mandate, there are some clear preferences as described
above. The first step is to ensure
that—at the very least—some no and low cost suggestions are implemented; this
will let the congregation know that they were heard, that their participation
was valued and helpful.
The challenge in
going forward will be to exercise sufficient leadership to energize the
congregation for whatever path the Board chooses, and to sustain both the
leadership and energy through to accomplishment.
Attachment 1: History
of Phase 1
Team
assembled in May 2006:
·
Developed protocol and held 13 dialogues between
the end of May and the end of August.
More than 70 members and friends participated. Kept notes and aggregated
the comments.
·
Created stand-up map of the geographical area and
invited members/friends to “pin” where they live; map is available for display.
·
Developed survey based on comments from dialogues.
Prepared packets for members and friends that includes: history of
·
Sponsored two general forums—2nd one
after 2nd service 10/15 to present what we’ve learned to date and
answer questions. Based on his travels
this summer, John Luff presented a snapshot of what other UU congregations are
doing about space.
·
(
·
Began implementing some of the easier, no/low cost
ideas for freeing up space, easing traffic flow: no sales in Dining Room
between services, moved podium closer to front window (summer services).
·
·
Provided final report to the Board, including our
interpretation of results of Phase 1 and the data collected.
Attachment 2. Suggestions
for Short-Term Interventions
|
*Get
people to park on side streets *Educate
people to park between the lines *Park
on *Encourage
people to carpool/walk *Run
a shuttle from someplace (Mt. Lebo Pk. Garage e.g.) |
|
*Work
with an engineer to figure out better traffic flow |
|
*Hold
2nd service in summer *Add
a non-traditional service different day/time geared to particular audience,
e.g. Young Adults *Reconfigure
room set up: move podium & chairs *Use
folding chairs for last few rows; move them out quickly after service and
replace with vending tables |
|
*Mark
a designated space for wheelchairs in the Main Room *Reconfigure
how the Main Room is set up; get expert advice |
|
*Get
expert advice from within Sunnyhill to help re-design location of destination
sites (coat rack, coffee, RE e.g.) and traffic flow |
|
*Educate
people to use any one of the four entrances |
|
*When
food is being served, make the Kitchen off-limits *Eliminate
vending in the Dng. Room |
|
*Hold
special events (Thanksgiving dinner, e.g.) off-site *Hold
LifeCraft at a different time—between services, it interrupts conversation *Schedule
rooms per typical size of group *Give
LifeCraft 1st choice of space; other groups can choose 2nd |
|
*Educate
people to use any/all of the entrances and exits *Educate
people to leave coats in cars or carry them into the service *Move
the name tag box; it adds to the congestion *Educate
people to move along—not converse in the middle of traffic flow patterns |
|
*Make
& enforce effective building use policy; groups outside Sunnyhill should
be paying if using the building |
|
*Move
the bushes out toward the road; set up an area for active play |
|
*
Get rid of the rack and chairs and move the coat rack back in the closet off
the foyer. |
|
*
Put Margy’s “goods” for sale on the wheelie cart and put it in the closet
between the foyer and the 1st classroom (right now folding chairs
are kept there) during and between services? Margy could sit on the
bench just outside the closet. But where to put the chairs… *
Buy more stacking black chairs; leave those in the Main Room and get rid of
the huge rack and folding chairs altogether. *
Start using the double doors in the breakfast nook as a secondary
entrance/exit on Sunday mornings. *
Remove coat racks so the breakfast nook would be clear. But where will
people put coats? *
Remove the oak cabinets in the breakfast nook and install a closet rod there.
We could have double rods on the left half (for short jackets) to get double
the space and then have a single rod on the right side for long coats.
But where to put coffee and RE snack supplies? *
Purge, toss and cull the cabinets in the kitchen to store the coffee making/RE
supplies. *
Replace the skinny table in the dining room (under the bulletin boards) with
a work surface of the same size but with cabinets below. Use this to store
table cloths, napkins, etc. Of course, then we would need to find a new
place for recycling! *
Add a drop-box in the dining room for forms to alleviate the congestion in
front of the office every Sunday morning. |
Attachment 3. Summary of Dialogue
Ideas
|
Category
of Approach: → ↓ Space
Issue: |
Use
Existing Space Better |
Renovate
or Add-on |
Buy,
Build, or Lease |
Reconfigure
Congregation |
|
Parking/handicap parking
is limited |
*Get
people to park on side streets *Educate
people to park between the lines *Park
on *Encourage
people to carpool/walk *Run
a shuttle from someplace (Mt. Lebo Pk. Garage e.g.) |
*Lease
or rent space from Beverly Heights Presbyterian *Expand
existing lot; pave over grass, cut down bushes |
These
ideas generally apply to all Space Issues: *Build
a separate building for RE *Lease
a separate building for RE *Buy
a property adjacent to Sunnyhill *Sell
the current property and build a new building *Raze
the building and build anew *Buy
an existing building |
These
ideas generally apply to all Space Issues: *Split
the congregation; a “daughter” fellowship could meet at Sunnyhill on an
evening, renting space if they chose to separate or continuing to pledge if
not *Encourage
people in different geographic areas to attend a UU-church nearby *Encourage
people who are highly-interested in social justice to attend *Establish
a satellite at a different location |
|
Hallways, stairwell too
narrow |
*Work
with an engineer to figure out better traffic flow |
|
|
|
Dialogue
Idea Summary (cont’d)
|
Category
of Approach: → ↓ Space
Issue: |
Use
Existing Space Better |
Renovate
or Add-on |
Buy,
Build, or Lease |
Reconfigure
Congregation |
|
Crowded services |
*Hold
2nd service in summer *Add
a non-traditional service different day/time geared to particular audience,
e.g. Young Adults *Reconfigure
room set up: podium & chairs *Use
folding chairs for last few rows; move them out quickly after service |
*Use
outside space better: buy or lease an awning or build a canopy for the patio *Install
electrical outlets in the front and back outside walls *Add
a balcony *Install
a video system so people can watch the service real time from the basement |
(See
above) |
(See
above) |
|
Building is not
handicap/wheel chair friendly |
*Mark
a designated space for wheelchairs in the Main Room *Reconfigure
how the Main Room is set up; get expert advice |
|
|
|
|
General congestion and
over-crowding |
*Get
expert advice from within Sunnyhill to help re-design location of destination
sites (coat rack, coffee, RE e.g.) and traffic flow |
|
|
|
|
Too few bathrooms; not
conveniently located |
*Educate
people to use any one of the four |
*Replace
toilets with fast-flushing, water savers |
|
|
Dialogue
Idea Summary (cont’d)
|
Category
of Approach: → ↓ Space
Issue: |
Use
Existing Space Better |
Renovate
or Add-on |
Buy,
Build, or Lease |
Reconfigure
Congregation |
|
|
Dining Room &
Kitchen are too small |
*When
food is being served, make the Kitchen off-limits *Use
only “skinny” tables for vending in the Dng. Room, or eliminate vending in
the Dng. Room |
*Build
dropdown tables on the walls at the back of the Main Room. At the end of the
service, clear the chairs and use the dropdowns for coffee/conversation *Add
a deck for coffee/conversation *Organize
urns so they are NOT in the Kitchen *Widen
(or eliminate) the doorway between foyer and Dng. Room *Build
out towards *Expand
the building southward *Remove
the Dng. Rm. Fireplace *Incorporate
the “breakfast nook” into the Dng. Rm. space |
(See
above) |
(See
above) |
|
|
LifeCraft classes &
programs/activities are constantly shuffled around |
*Hold
events off-site *Hold
LifeCraft at a different time—between services, it interrupts conversation *Schedule
rooms per typical size of group *Give
LifeCraft 1st choice of space; other groups can choose 2nd |
|
|
|
|
|
Dialogue Idea Summary (cont’d) |
|||||
|
Category
of Approach: → ↓ Space
Issue: |
Use
Existing Space Better |
Renovate
or Add-on |
Buy,
Build, or Lease |
Reconfigure
Congregation |
|
|
Foyer gets extremely
congested |
*Educate
people to use any/all of the entrances and exits *Educate
people to leave coats in cars or carry them into the service *Move
the name tag box; it adds to the congestion *Educate
people to move along—not converse in the middle of traffic flow patterns |
*Build
out towards *Add
a double-entry door *Reverse
the front door so that it swings outward *Expand
the entrance at the end of the building (opposite the Kitchen end) |
(See
above) |
(See
above) |
|
|
Difficult to have social
events for whole congregation |
*Hold
events off-site |
|
|||